Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 21st March, 2022)

Lovely, lets hope the dog walkers stay off them

Spring, is it really here ?
A host of, not daffodils but crocus, lovely David.
Trying to place where the park is, is it before Cherry Gdns ?

We used to go to this nice little park a lot during our courting days...memories.

Absolutely beautiful, David.

Calendar material indeed.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
Around the park at Marylebone ,
When all at once I did behold
A host of purple Crocuses ,
Shouting to me to say it's spring ,
Cheerful voices trying to sell me things .

" Would you like to buy some new sunglasses ,
A fishing rod or a tennis racket ,
Swimming trunks and canvas shoes ,
A Hawaiian shirt for the barbeques .
Perhaps sir , we may interest you in
A sun hat to watch the cricket in ? '

For a moment I was taken by surprise ,
My thoughts were turned to June ,
They were like those shopkeepers windows
That advertise things too soon .
Their optimism dazzled my winter eyes ,
I'm not yet used to this light .
I must slowly adjust to the brightness
Like Barabbas coming up from the salt mines .

Yes it is Helen, between the Infirmary and the Cherry Gardens.
Nice one David.

This brings childhood memories of Easter-time and our first walks up Wigan Lane to get the "tractor" through The Plantations to Haigh Hall, when it was warm in the sun but still cold in the shade, but we knew the days were lengthening and Summer was in sight. "If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"

Growing up in Swinley in the 50's we used to call this the little park to distinguish it from the big park, Mesnes park. Does anyone know the origin of the use of the word "Mesnes" in Wigan, the pronunciation does seem to have a French influence.

A lovely Spring scene to fill us with hope.
There seems to be a lot more purple crocus this year, the yellow are not as much in evidence.

I was up at Haigh Hall yesterday and couldn't believe that some parents allowed their children to pick the daffodils

Helen, the first day of spring, is next Sat 26th. So it says 9n my calender..Also Syd, people will pick anything,we used to plant nasturtiums on a patch just outside the back gate,as well as other seeds.I once saw a man trudging through the flowers, when I asked what was he doing, he said gathering the pods, and seeds.I said well I bought those from Wilko's £1 a packet, so could you leave them were they are.Needless to say.I just got abuse.

Thanks goes to Councillors Lol Hunt, George Fairhurst and Michael McCloughlin who purchased spring flowering bulbs and benches from their Brighter Borough Fund and the children from Woodfield School for helping to plant them in the grounds of Marylebone Park.

Mesnes was of Norman origin Tony, and if I remember correctly it was land (demesne) owned by the Rector of Wigan who was then Lord of the Manor - https://www.lexico.com/definition/demesne

Dogs help with fertilizer Mick.

Hi Irene , are you the author of the wonderful and heartwarming piece called The Dream ? I came across it on a retro site and just wondered . If you are, I hope others , now and in the future get to read it as it is an absolute gem of a read . If it is not you I apologise, but all read it anyway , as your soul will benefit from it .

Good photo David, I can nearly see our house from here. it's a lovely space, much improved since the dodgy toilets were demolished.

Hello Dave. Yes, I did write "The Dream" and Thankyou so much for your kind words. I used to write regularly for Past Forward, the local history magazine, where it was published, and wrote quite a few articles over a number of years but I don't know the retro site you mention.

Irene I agree with Dave re : The Dream I think I have a copy somewhere. I think it would be nice to print it on here similar to Tom's story's. Next time a photo of Ince comes on I think that's what you should do.

Edna I can just imagine you with your hands on your hips telling that bloke off for foraging in your plants...;>))

Standisher I think you should put quotations around those words as they belong to another raconteur! Having said that he's leaving so I don't suppose it matters!;>))

Thankyou Veronica for those kind words but I wouldn't know how to add it without typing the whole thing out via my computer. I think it can still be accessed online via Past Forward on Google, and, ( according to Dave), also on a retro site, but I wouldn't have a clue how to transfer it to photo-a-day. Tom's articles are a joy to read but he is much cleverer with technology than me! Dave, it will be 20 years in 2023 since I wrote "The Dream" as I ended it with my son's wedding and he and Beccy have been married for 20 years next year. Every word of it is true and I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

Yes Veronica, I was quite annoyed as you can imagine.He wasn't just picking seeds, he was trampling on the rest of the plants.Some people think they can just do as they wish. PS.Irene, I am going to look on Google for " The Dream" something tells me it will be good to read.xx

Lovely picture, David, Mick you can't resist, can you?

Tony, "Mesnes", in the case of Wigan land, is land retained by the crown. As you probably know, Wigan was once part of Newton le Willows and the mesnes land stems from then, with Newton le Willows also having a "Mesnes Park".

In the case of Worsley Mesnes, the name came as a result of the Worsley's witholding that land as part of their estate.

Cyril, no land was actually "owned" by the Rector of Wigan, merely "held" along with the position.
All land is owned by the crown and held by either the lease holder or the free holder.

And that's reet that is.

Irene, it's on pages 24 and 25 of Past Forward Number 34. Summer 2003.
Hope you don't mind me putting the link on.

https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Docs/PDF/Resident/Leisure/Museums-and-archives/archives/Past-Forward/pf34.pdf

It is an excellent read, and the mention of privet blossom reminded me of driving along the east lancs road when there was plenty of privet hedges bordering the fields, on hot summer July days the aroma coming from the blossoms was so amazingly strong. We would look for Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillars that fed on Rosebay Willowherb, some of them were massive.

I've been reading through the magazine too and forgot as to how good they were, some really good stories.

Nice poem, poet.

Edna, Google "Past Forward Issue 34" and scroll down until you come to The Dream. xx

Cyril, thankyou for the link....I am useless with this sort of thing. You're a Star! xxx

Such a beautiful scene David, thank you.
Irene, I like many on PAD today, will have gone to read your 'Dream'. What a truly talented lady you are. I was so very touched by what you wrote - you painted a vivid picture of a bygone era, a slower pace of life when family meant that most people in the street were Aunty or Uncle somebody, even though they were no relation. Thank you.

Irene your stories are wonderful, the one I particular like is ' My Mothers Eyes' although they are excellent. I have the pages numbers and issue dates somewhere on this contraption of Past Forward they can be viewed on line . I try to find to find then and post them on the site . Everyone will be delighted by your talent .

Irene, I have found your story The Dream.What wonderful memories this brought back,. It was excellent, and very heart warming.Like Dave said " it was good for the soul-destroying I remember the Divi, at the co op. I got a treat when mum collected it.You are so talented, you should write a book.xx

Edna, a friend of mine, Neil, paid me the wonderful compliment of having some of my stories put into book-form for my birthday some years ago. I have a copy here but the others were given to family and friends. Mr, Gillies, who was the editor of Past Forward at the time, wrote the foreword for it. You can imagine how thrilled I was! I'm so glad you enjoyed "The Dream". I have a ticking clock on the wall and people say, "Doesn't that drive you mad. ticking away all day?" and I tell them honestly that I'm so used to it I don't hear it. But I vividly remember writing "The Dream" here on our couch and when I wrote "I can see that room yet and I can hear the clock ticking and the fire crackling", I suddenly heard it as clear as a bell....isn't that odd?

Thankyou Pat Mc and Tom, for your lovely words. xxx

Irene, when I wrote, it was good for the soul as Dave said. I don't know were destroying came from. I didn't type that.xx

Don't worry Edna...I realised that. Sometimes these "spellchecker" and "predictive text" things ate a bit TOO quick! Tom kindly asked me to list my stories, (which issues they are in and on what page), which I have done on today's p-a-d, (22nd March). Unfortunately, Tom's favourite story, My Mother's Eyes, isn't available to read. Anyway, if you read any of them, I hope you will enjoy them. xx

Aww thank you Irene, I will have a look.I was hoping to find, "My mother's eyes But maybe I will if I try..xx

Edna, google "Past Forward Issue 52" and it DOES come up with "My Mother's Eyes" in its contents. I have no idea why it isn't listed with the other issues.