Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 24th June, 2022)

Green always works, no matter where you put it ,
Cover mans sharp edges , to make it less severe,
When Nature folds its arms , around our place of shelter,
We rest within the knowing , the blanket is our own..

I love trees but sometimes you can feel a bit too ‘hemmed in’ when surrounded with them. It can cause arguments when they’re planted too near boundary fences.
A familiar scene pity about what was done
At the bottom end with the monstrosity.

What a pretty lane. Lucky people who have got the house with the "sold" sign outside.

Lucky people who have got the house with the sold sign outside.

For all you know missis, they might have had to sell up because the economic crisis that we all are experiencing.

SYD
or its because of the supported living/ halfway house in the complex opposite besides Swinley club

Sid, I meant the people who have BOUGHT the house were lucky. If my comment was badly-worded and gave the impression that I meant the SELLERS were lucky then I apologise. It just looks a nice lane and I was pleased for the people who have been lucky enough to buy a house there.

Coppull lane may very well look pretty.

Unfortunately, it provides a convenient shortcut for certain undesirable elements to get from the hostelries , or the plethora of fast food outlets on Wigan lane back home to Whelley, or Bottling Wood, or wherever, after having had one sniff too many of the barmaid’s apron on a Friday evening.

Just ask the residents about the wanton damage inflicted on their vehicles over the years by these bottom feeders.

And while you’re about it, ask them about the substance abusers , drug dealers, cider freaks, or the p*** taking , so - called “homeless” wild campers scattered among the trees within yards of their homes.

A familiar story across many parts of Wigan these days I fear….and not just Wigan.

Dossers bedded down in shop doorways , under bridges, and even bus shelters recently…for Christ's sake.

I could probably cope with all of the above, but for me , anyone choosing to live on Coppull lane would first of all require the constitution of a Nepalese Sherpa , or that of a resident of La Paz, just in order to handle that brew on a daily basis.

And that’s before you include the number of steps leading up to their front doors.

Just offering another viewpoint, nothing more.

So to conclude,…although ugly may very well go way down to the bone, pretty isn’t always all that it’s cracked up to be either.

Irene, it was a lot quainter too when the road was still cobbled with setts, but, as Veronica mentions, since when the excrescence at the bottom was built the setts look to have been covered over with tarmac, probably so the construction trucks tyres had traction going up/down the hill.

Irene, I left a link on PaD 22/06 re canal or cut, I too thought it was a local term, if not seen here's the list of interesting canal jargon. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/planning-and-design/planning-and-waterway-jargon-busters/waterway-jargon-buster

Forgot to say, Superb photo Dennis, haven't been along there for many years, I would walk the dogs down there for a run-around on the fields.

Irene, you commented positively… it does look a decent area in fact any streets around Wigan Lane were always considered very ‘posh’.
It’s worrying these days with the younger element walking round with cans in their hand and drunk as skunks. I was on my way to St Mary’s on Wednesday and two youngish (fortyish) men went staggering past me and it wasn’t 12 00 ! What a world we are living in -it’s worse than Victorian times. But even then there wasn’t drinking all day… perhaps it’s time to call time and go back to how it used to be …. But I suppose that’s impossible now. Especially with the dreaded drug scene.

Added to Ozy's list of - "Dossers , substance abusers , drug dealers, cider freaks, or the p*** taking , so - called, “homeless” wild campers scattered among the trees within yards of their homes" - you can add the dog-walkers who let their animals drop parcels anywhere apart from on their own gardens.

Oh, and it's "brow", Ozy, not 'brew'.

Thank you for your observation James, although I was already perfectly aware of the the fact that it was
“ brow “, and not “brew”.

I just like to slip the odd colloquial pronunciation in from time to time to ensure that the dullards at the back are keeping up.

That’s all.

Oh! , and since you appear to be wearing your mortarboard, you may like to point out the difference between the words “ as “ and “ has “.

Has it appears to be beyond the comprehension of many
on here.

See what I did there James ?

Yes, it's "brow", but in Wigan we've always spelled and called it "brew" or even "broo". My Auntie was a pit-brow lass but she always pronounced it "pit-brew". I don't even know where Coppull Lane is....I just thought it looked pleasant when I made my comment about it. I agree, James, about the dog-walkers....we've had three dogs, one after the other (sadly all gone now), so I walked dogs every day for thirty years before the last one passed away. It takes five seconds and a plastic bag to pick up after them; there is no need whatsoever to leave it for people to step into. Same with litter....put it in a bin or take it home. I do, my children do and my grandchildren do.

I don’t know what the world is coming too, what with drunken skunks staggering round St Mary’s every dinner time and doggies dropping parcels hither and thither.
And why are Nepalese sherpas climbing up Coppull Lane when they have perfectly good mountains of their own to climb up? Send ‘em all home that’s what I say!
And another thing while I’m on a run, why are all those wild campers not in Glastonbury? And what are they wild about anyway? O yes, I’ve seen them on the Telly, whirling their arms about like a can of maggots! Perhaps there’s only one camping stove and they’re all trying to make a “brew” or is it a “brow”?
I think I’ll have a cup of Horlicks and go back to bed now.

I dont like to complain, but dog walkers dont just leave dog muck, they also leave big sticks that the dogs been playing with in the middle of the tow path.

I'm with Ozy on brow being brew or broo, as that's how it is pronounced, as in the saying - “Doo poo on the broo’s considered guid luck ye ken – ye should be happy.” or “Pigeon poo dropped on the forehead (brow) is considered good luck you know – you should be happy.”

As for your rant about dogs, even 8 out of 10 cats are siding along with the dogs, just because it's you!

Come on now Joan, stop being modest. Everyone likes to complain …..
…..I know I do.

It’s probably an age related thing, but I find that a good moan or grumble first thing in the morning , followed by the odd cynical remark during the day , interspersed with the occasional choice expletive here and there, and a bloody good cuss at the telly at teatime, culminating in an explosive whinge just before bedtime , sets me up for the day ahead.

Perhaps the Nepalese Sherpas are searching for the Camel’s Hump … I know I went to look for it a few years ago, but it seems to have disappeared under all the trees and vegetation! I think I’ll go and make brew. Have you any tips Cyril to keep those 8 out of 10 cats coming into my garden? The marmalade one especially who just stares back at me wondering why I'm banging on the window going frantic.

“Dog muck!” Reminds me of the masked cyclist with one of his ‘colloquialisms’….

With the greatest respect Veronica my dear, although I have never received any formal training in psychology , I do believe that it may be in your best interests to forget about the mad err, masked cyclist completely.

He resides in the Metrolopse now you know.

I say this in your very best interests as it’s becoming increasingly apparent to even my untrained eye that some developing mild form of paranoia may well be in its embryonic stages here.

Bit late to add my pennyworth but dont areas of Wigan Borough have that public law where drinking alcohol etc is banned n certain areas .....but then who is going to enforce that law when you never see any police on the streets. All going to the dogs, excuse the pun.

I grew up 5 minutes walk from here and there had been a domestic murder in one of the houses in the early 1960’s. Whenever anyone walked past the house they would always comment “there was a murder in that house”. Nowadays it would not be anywhere near worthy of comment.

I wonder if any Wigan Worlders could help me find my lost cat, Tiddles? He's a ginger Tom and he wears a brown collar with a bell on it. He was last seen in the Park Road area of Wigan in 1965.
He's probably dead now, but I will never give up hope.
Thank you.

Violet Horse,
Shevington.

I did see a elderly feline answering Tiddles’ description in the location you mention ms. Horse., but this would have been around 1992 ish..

A bit difficult to describe his colour , as he had no fur on him , and it looked as if he’d been in one or two scraps, as his face was shiny, and had the appearance of polished leather….Does that sound familiar ?

I’ll keep an eye open for him however, next time I’m in the vicinity of Park road, and if you leave your contact details with Ron Hunt , and I do happen to come across him, I’ll let Ron know.
Best I can do I’m afraid.

Good luck. . Ozy .

Did Tiddles have an eye patch Violet?

Ozy my good man, the mad err masked cyclist may be gone to the nether regions of the country but he’s still here in spirit and posting his diatribes (as at least one regular poster can vouch). Going off the subject I think I may have seen the ginger Tom on Wigan Lane sporting a set of false teeth, retrieved from a hole in the Mab’s Cross area…? Could that be ‘Tiddles’ …in spirit ?

Thank you Wigan World'rs, the comments recently on this PAD have cheered me up this morning. From Coppull Lane to drunks, drugs, perverts, dog muck and finally a missing cat from '65. I was "close to the edge"( a 1982 hit from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five), as I look after my wife recently discharged from hospital. Taking a break, the comments at the end by Ozy, Dtease, Veronica etc had me in stitches. Back to the photograph, the turning on the RHS at the top of the hill was the contractors compound for the construction of the Dam. the setts remained uncovered until all works were completed. Finally, in this day and age of world strife etc a bit of humour from a photograph goes a long way. By the way, we, on The Wirral" have the same problems with new buildings replacing old ones eg-Birkenhead Market is due for demolition (rebuilt 1975) for the "new Birkenhead" development already started.

I know what you mean Barry - I’m in stitches sometimes with Ozy and Dtease el al. It’s all good fun with Wigan down to earth humour. It takes me back to when I left school and started work and meeting all kinds of people with a great sense of humour… it makes life worth living to have a chuckle.
I do hope your wife is on the mend I'm sure you will look after her very well. I will look up the music ‘ Close to the Edge’ I feel like that my self sometimes…..

Veronica, the title of the track is "The Message" and part of the refrain goes like this -" Don't push me, cause I'm close to the edge, I'm trying not to lose my head Ha-ha-ha-ha (I have a printed out copy on my keyboard rest and another by the front door for "Official visitors")
I've put another comment on yesterday's PAD relating to nature.

I walked up this lane, many moons ago going to work, so have lots of memories about this photo.Irene, the Lane is next to Swinly Labour club.Yes Barrie, your right about the humor on here,its better than watching telly.

I remember the days when all the kids would go down Coppull Lane on their Sledges in the snow. If you got to Bridge you had a perfect run.
Nice memories.