Now with less

This picture, taken from the bus on my way home, shows a little piece of 20th century history. The building on the right is the remains of the National Picture Theatre on Beverley Road. It was destroyed in an air raid on the night of the 17^th March 1941 during a showing of The Great Dictator. One hundred and fifty people sheltering in the foyer escaped with their lives. Since that day the ruins have just been left and now it is the last blitz damaged civilian building in the country.

So what to do with the site? Well there were plans to turn it into restaurants and flats but the great bankster driven recession has put paid to that. There's now a plan to turn it into a ‘tribute to the home front’ whatever that means. As far as I know they are still seeking funding for this so it may be another seventy years before anything happens.

Now I've only ever passed the front of this ruin and was unaware of what lies behind until I came across this little web page while researching this post. All I can say is what a mess!

As for the building on the left that was a pub called the Swan. I only ever went in there once many, many years ago. I recall it was full of big tall Kerry men drinking a strange black liquid and singing Country & Western songs. I did not stay long.

Canned Laughter

Here's an odd little shop in the Hepworth Arcade. Dinsdale's has been selling laughter for seventy years or so, they stock everything from itching powder and whoopee cushions to fancy dress costumes and harmonicas.

Warhol at the Ferens

There's been an Andy Warhol exhibition at the Ferens art gallery most of this Summer. I went earlier in the year and was underwhelmed. I suppose it was worth seeing just because of the hype that surrounds him but it was a totally unmemorable experience. I wouldn't call him a great artist more a great self-publicising conman. Just as well that it was free to enter.

Lost at sea

The Flourish,  a  16-metre potter, was on its way back to Bridlington Harbour when it was in collision with the 88-metre vessel Nautica 28 miles off Flamborough Head. Three crew members including the skipper's son were rescued but the skipper John Collinson was never found. [Read more]

This is one of several memorial plaques on the south pier at Bridlington, reminders of the dangers of going to sea to earn a living.

Taphophile Tragics

Tat shop

Attention grabbing sign in Bridlington for the Identity tattoo studio on Manor Street. They have a website and it's here.

From the train

Farmers always moan. Earlier this year they moaned there was no enough rain, then there was too much rain then not enough sunshine and on and on.  If you believed the reports the potato harvest was doomed, bread would cost lots more and the end of the world was nigh. Well judging by the scenes on the way to Bridlington the harvest was coming in and it looks pretty much the same as last year and the year before that. The weather was perfect, dry and sunny and staying that way for about a fortnight just at the right time. And though some yields are down others are up. I guess you shouldn't always believe what you read in the papers.

Matilda

Matilda has been around by the harbour for a few years now, mixing with the ducks and geese. She sees no reason to go elsewhere. She has found happiness by the water's edge. No, not the lady with the bag; the barnacle goose. Obviously flying back and forth to Spitzbergen every year was too much of a drag when there's a free meal to be had every day. She's become a  bit of a favourite with the local fishermen who also feed her.