Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 19th September, 2023)

One of my favorite areas of Wigan.

We used to walk from Aspull to Rivington Pike every
Good Friday, then over to Winter Hill. These days, just get as far as the barn in the car.

Now, now Phil, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.
Mind you the way Wigan is going it will probably look like this in a few years time.

It is a long climb it seems never ending. The terrain is very scrubby in Winter. I remember doing it in really cold and snowy weather in the 90’s. I loved the view from where I lived when the snow was on the tops.

Looks like Winter Hill has completely recovered from that terrible fire from two or three years ago, not forgetting the loss of wild life. Nature has reclaimed its land.

Did that walk about twenty years ago and it was Winter...couldn't do it now.

It reminds me of Heathcliffe and Cathy in Wuthering Heights. Nothing wrong with the photo, Dennis....just the bleakness and loneliness of the area, although I know some people love that kind of scenery. Each to his/her own.

Phil Taylor Winter Hill is in Bolton BL6 and not Wigan.
We have a great view of the pike and looks even better with snow.

Good picture Dennis . Very Pennine in character . It's a grand squelsh , even in fine weather , and that dog will definitely need a good bath later .

Irene, it’s the bleakness and loneliness that attracts me to this area.
I like the wide open spaces and the long distance views, the ever changing cloud formations skimming the tops and the old stone walls that criss cross the moors.
As Monty Python sang “When you’re chewing on life’s gristle just give a little whistle” and make your way up here for a breath of fresh air.

They recon the weather can change hour to hour up there Dennis, do you agree.

I love the countryside, Dennis, and I adore dry-stone walls, but I prefer fields that are more what I call "meadowy", with lusher grass, a few wild flowers and perhaps a farmhouse or a cottage in sight. As I mentioned the other day, my daughter lives on Lewis and today's photo puts me very much in mind of it; a beautiful place, but not for me. But your Monty Python words made me laugh, and are so true! All together now, p-a-d gang....."Always look on the bright side of life, da-dum, da-dum, da-dum da-dum" da-dum!"

The last time my Son was up there was a few years ago when they were putting out the fires.

It's quiet here , among the dry stone walls .
Apart that is from the drumming wind
And the trickle of the beck ( that is the source
Of the Douglas )
The great humpedbacked hill with the mast
Like an harpooned whale ,
That never seems to get any closer
As you slur up it's sloppy slope .

And when you get to the top
It's like something from science fiction ,
An oasis of bleeps and out buildings
With nobody there , only wire netting fences and giant cables ,
Like a shanty town on the moor .

Then home at night our Irene
Sees through the window that dotted red pole ,
And looks up and shudders at where she has been ,
Then pours a sherry and throws on more coal .

Poet

Dennis , would they arrive at the source of the River Douglas going that way?

There aren’t many places to take shelter if you get caught in the rain Sandra, that’s for sure.

Kath H, do you ever see anyone from class 4a these days? I sometimes wonder where they all finished up.

Something completely different for todays photo Dennis, a wild and wonderful walk on the moors.

You've got excellent vision Poet, or do you get your glasses from somewhere other than that what's never off the telly ads? I'm asking as the dog in todays photo is far more camouflaged than the crows on yesterdays, and I'm needing a magnifier and glasses to find both, also I'm thinking will the dog be looking forward to the hot bath and a rub down with warm fluffy towels - a definite no.

Dennis did you zoom in form the pike to get this photo,it’s bad under feet going from pike,you could drive up to the Winter Hill mast via George’s Lane,we delivered loads of concrete for the anchor points for the cables that secure the latest transmitter and it’s always a welcoming site when driving back from Cornwall on a clear evening as you can see the lights well before going over the ship canal when on the M6 and we could see it most days from our house up Snydale before we moved.

Oh my word, Poet, that's two poems in my honour in only a few weeks....one from DTease and one from you! I'm beginning to feel like The Lady of Shalott! But I think you're mixing me up with Garry, with the sherry and coal fire, although I would be happy with both. You do have a way with words though, Poet....I loved "the drumming wind". I shudder to think what it's like up at Winter Hill today in this wind and rain so I might nip round to Garry's for a warm in front of thecoal fire; are you coming with me, Veronica? Garry, put another shovelful on and get two more glasses out, lad!

Yes I’ll come irene and I’ll bring some crumpets for toasting. ( and my knitting! )….I’ve started early this year it keeps me quiet.

Hi Dennis. I am still in touch with Kathleen
Tait and Olive Brown, that’s all though. Kathleen still lives in New Springs and Olive lives in Appley Bridge. I live in Wigan. Do you still lives in Aspull
It really was a good school wasn’t it, and we had some really good teachers. You certainly get around. Every time I see your name it takes me back to school days.

A gift is a moment,
the older we get
Filled with emotions
what treasures we get
Feel but a wind
on the place of your face
this is a picture
that feeds me to space ..

Mark/John, this photo was taken from the back of Winter Hill.
The two people plus dog are climbing up the hill behind the Blue Lagoon near Belmont.
Coming from Belmont just beyond the Blue Lagoon there is a small car park on the left about half way up the hill and this is where I took the photo from.

About 20 could well be 30 years ago? There was a TV series about workers in a mill, I think? set around this area. One scene showed a car crashing into the Blue Lagoon Can anyone remember it?

I remember once walking up to the mast when thick cloud came down and we were disorientated.We carried on going up and finished up near one of the big concrete blocks that secured the cables that support the mast.

I remember those two Kath H. wasn’t Olive into Brass Bands?. I think you know about David Marsden, but what about May Hough, Kathleen Crompton, David Hammond, Peter Gregory, Irene Burns and others?
I hope they are all still with us and keeping well.

I know where you mean Dennis I ride past that car park but never stop there you certainly get about. I worked with a very pleasant girl called Olive at Lostock Mill around 1966 but I think she lived at top lock she would probably be around 74/75 ish now that couldn’t be the same Olive could it?

One of my favorite areas of Wigan is Southport.

Without doubt my favourite haunt is Wigan Pier.
https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=3&id=30248&gallery=Police.&offset=0

Ron, was it Clocking Off? That was a series about people working in a mill .I never watched in in TV but bought a dvd many years ago with about six episodes on because I thought it sounded good; believe it or not, I have only ever watched one episode! But I still have it and I will get round to watching it one of these days!

Hi again Dennis. I don’t know about the others, they came from Bolton Road. Peter Gregory married Vera Santos. I know because Vera’s mother was in Hollydene when my Dad was there. Did you know our Bernard passed away a couple of years ago.
Yes Olive was in the brass band, she married David Turner, who was also in the band. I think Arthur Blinkhorn lives in America. Do you look on Wigan School Albums. Lots of photos there of the school, non of us thought.

I didn’t know about Bernard Kath. There is a photo on the Album that I took in 1961 (#27432) of Bernard, Peter(Joe) Crossland, Jimmy Abram and I’m the one taking the photo.
It seems that I’m the only one left now.
Bernard was a grand lad, I’m sorry he is no longer with us.

Yes Dennis, I have seen it and did show it to Bernard. It’s a cracking photo. You were obviously into photography, even as a young lad. They all look so happy on that photo. I remember you saying it was Mr Wilkinson that got you into photography. I still think of Miss Gardener sometimes when cooking in the kitchen. Some things just stay with you. xx