Old Town Blues

The latest piece of irritating frivolity from Hull City Council is to change the street signs in the old town to a blue background with white lettering, Quite what was wrong with the old black and white signs I don't know.  No doubt a highly paid consultant has come up with this wizard wheeze. Can you hear the stampede of visitors to see this latest attraction? No? Me neither.

Going, going, and soon to be gone

Oh dear, I read the just other day that the charity that runs the Arc design centre [ 1 ] otherwise known as (take a deep breath) the Humber Centre for Excellence in the Built Environment has been forced to close due to lack of funding. Practically before you could blink the 'building', which consists of five upturned caravans (see below), was up for sale by auction and sold off for £21,000. Given that it originally cost £750,000 that's no small amount of money gone down the proverbial. The buyer now has to dismantle all this and find somewhere to put it all back together again. 

The sparkling toad that used to sit outside here has already hopped it but then it is Spring and it probably has others things on its mind.... 

Molly

Whenever we pass the pet and garden shop on Beverley Road we have to stop and say hello to Molly. Molly is a Moluccan cockatoo and usually sits in her cage but is allowed out now and then to meet and greet customers with her seductive "Helloooow".

Pictures taken by Margot K Juby.

Hull: City of Culture!

It's over two years since I posted about the Albemarle Music Centre on Ferensway. Pretty soon after that post the place was threatened with closure due to a funding crisis. Fortunately funding for three years was secured last year so it can continue to be one of the country's music hubs providing an opportunity for children to learn to sing or play a musical instrument. Money well spent I think you'll agree and I was happy to read recently that this July three orchestras involving about a hundred young musicians from the centre will play at the Music for Youth festival in Birmingham. So good luck to them.

While I'm striking a cultural note I suppose I must mention Hull's bid to be the UK City of Culture in 2017.  I kid you not. The Council's bid may have attracted some jibes from various quarters but I can see no harm in at least trying to bolster the cultural amenities of the city which are often overlooked in these desperate times. Even if they don't win, making the city a more pleasant place to live and work is surely a worthwhile investment (It's something they should be doing anyway and not waiting for patronising crumbs off the Government's table). And imagine the fun if Hull won!

After this piece appeared over the weekend bookmakers cut the odds on Hull winning to 6-1! Betting, like plagiarism, is basic to all culture. 

Keep Out

Taken by Margot K Juby

Although crime rates have fallen to their lowest for many years it still pays to take precautions against unwanted visitors though maybe not quite such drastic ones as these on Stepney Lane.

Scott's Square

All that remains of Scott's Square is this sign and a dark alley way leading off Humber Street and ending in nothing, just a cleared site. Mind you from what I can gather looking at old maps there wasn't much of a square to begin with more of thin rectangle really. Maybe the name was a Victorian joke.

Promotion

This is the KC Stadium, home of Hull City football club who managed to gain promotion back to the Premier League yesterday. So congratulations to them. I'm not a big sports fan and can't say that I'm excited by all this. According to those whose business it is to publicise Hull if you want make an impression abroad you must have a 'top flight' sports club. Seems like a load of old rhubarb to this grey beard loon but if it keeps them happy who am I to say nay.

It's quite possible the KC stadium no longer looks like this because I took this picture seven years ago. Finally I get to put it to some use.