Passing off as Pizza Parlours

Upper Holderness Road; Lower Beverley Road

I suspect that neither Mr Brando, Mr Pacino nor yet Mr Coppola are aware of these establishments and if Mr Puzo ever found out he'd have to make them an offer they couldn't refuse.

New for old

You've heard, no doubt, the one about the hundred year old broom that's had four new handles and six new heads, well 'old' Cleminson Hall has got lots of new walls and windows and is now getting a brand new roof. Still at least it's standing which is testament, I guess, to the protected building legislation and similar laws have saved most of the magnificent trees on this site.

On your bike ...

Bike hire schemes are nothing new in big cities such as London's Boris Bikes and Paris' Vélib'; well not to be outdone Beverley now has this Bike and Go scheme at the railway station. Hull's council was considering developing a bike hub two years ago but nothing seems to have come of it (the usual lack of funds and/or a sponsor) and there's a brand new bike hub at the University but apart from that hiring a bike in Hull seems to be a no-go. A shame really given how flat the area is and how much congestion (and pollution) caused by cars is clogging up the place.

Taking liberties

So I go to see that old tree as I always do when I'm around the Westwood and I found it surrounded by cars. There's usually a couple of cars parked here, people visiting the place and that's no problem but the other day I counted sixty or so cars on this stretch and I doubt there were sixteen people on the Westwood that afternoon. Clearly the place has become a 'free' car park for people working in the town. I could see there's damage to the road edge and footpath so this is going to cause trouble sooner or later. I read somewhere that cars spend over 90% of the time parked up and I guess they have to go somewhere but on the local beauty spot? Surely not. 

The Weekend in Black and White is here.

"When gorse is out of bloom kissing's out of fashion"

Took myself off to Beverley Westwood and had the place practically to myself, just an occasional dog walker, an errant golf player or two, a few crows, oh and a couple of skylarks to lighten the spirits. There were banks of wood anemones and this large gorse bush blooming away which was just as well if that old saying has any truth to it.

Winding your way down on Baker Street

At the end of the 18^th century Hull was, to use a recent newspaper headline, "one of the UK's fastest emerging cities". A savvy local tobacco merchant, Richard Baker, bought up land to the north of the new dock and two new streets were built Albion Street and Baker Street. The eastern end of Baker Street is now in a pretty poor state and due for demolition and the erection of apartments to join up with a particularly bland block of living units (but don't hold your breath). The other end is in a much better state and being looked after. There used to be a public convenience at the western end but though the building is still standing it is permanently closed; if you want to pee in the city of culture you must seek relief elsewhere.

In case you were wondering