Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 23rd February, 2024)

Was it half day closing?
That’s how it used to be on a Wednesday Colin, it’s like that all the time now.
How come you’re in Costa Coffee upstairs did it cost you?
That reminds me Spec Savers have sent a letter to say my eye test is due. I will be visiting next week- by train I hope - all being well.

Ho what a desolate spot no the norm for parts of Wigan where are the people never mind pigeons?

What a cold photo.
Nothing warm and bright about this. I've just had another look at Dennis's Robin again from yesterday's PAD that's put the spark in my day.
Sorry Colin that's just my Opinion.

Wigan boasts many and varied building styles, these being just two.
The B&M store though is in need of the front repainted and the flag pole reinstated.

I wish this was one of those "before-and-after" pictures that we occasionally have on p-a-d, with TWO pictures....the one shown above and another one showing BHS and Timpson's on a Saturday afternoon long ago. That pavement would have been heaving with shoppers. Veronica, I go to Boots opticians and have also just had an eye-test reminder but they have moved to Robin Park since my last eye-test so it's now a two-bus journey there and a two-bus journey back home, just to get my eyes tested!

Ignoring the desolation of Wigan and lack of people and stores, just look above that to the old Architecture of the buildings. And also there are the pigeons too!

Veronica, it was a Wednesday which was traditionally half day closing in Wigan, now it’s often so quiet it lt look like a Sunday morning!
Regarding the coffee, I had just had one in The Royal Arcade so just popped upstairs and took my chance!!

Apologies, I think I just spotted some pigeons on the roof!

Wiganer, no need to say sorry, everyone is entitled to a polite opinion.
I too loved Dennis's Robin, thought it was lovely and a credit to his patience and skill. Nothing warm or bright about feral pigeons!
Wigan is what it is, you do see much more though in the Winter when the leaves are not on the trees.

That’s not good Irene. I could have nipped in Spec-savers at Middlebrook but I thought no I’ll still go to Wigan. How long will it be before that branch moves? There’s a Boots at Middlebrook for sight testing and in Asda too Irene. I go up there now it’s much better than coming into Wigan. TK Max as well and Home Bargains. More expansion up there where there’s less in Wigan. Plus M&S.
Aside from that Westhoughton has some good shops.
I didn’t know you could go upstairs Colin in Cost-Co. Hope you didn’t trip up over the customers outside. I do like the little split cafe in the Royal Arcade. It’s lovely with the miss- matched china cups and saucers. Very nice assistants in there.

But it is still an awful sight now compared what it used to be in the 60s 70s there is nothing worth going to wigan anymore wigan and the whole country now is damaged!

Good photo Colin, and from a viewpoint not many have looked out from, yes Pigeons on the roofline opposite and reigning magnificent, and they'll ruffle a few feathers of some on here too.

Irene, I can understand the going to and from Robin Retail by bus would be an ordeal, but I'd imagine negotiating those crossings at the Saddle Junction would also be a nightmare, it's bad enough driving through there, so I wouldn't like to be a pedestrian and crossing over the maze of traffic lanes. Could you book a home visit?

That is true Ex Wiganer. Bolton is worse. I never go there it must be a few years since I went there. I have heard terrible things about Bolton town centre.

As Pat commented, lift your eyes, see what's above.
I dislike that brash, coloured sign on a nice looking building, there should be some sort of guidance for signs....I bet I heard a few voices muttering when they read that '' Another ****** rule ! ''
In God's County we call Costa Coffee..... Costalot Coffee !

Ex Wiganer, I cannot disagree, Bolton is not much better, that’s why we usually go to Chorley, Bury and Warrington each week.
Having said that there are still some very interesting buildings see, each with a story to tell, even if most look or are abandoned!

I don't like the type of coffee they serve in these coffee shops that have sprung up all over the place.
I believe they use the Norevica coffee bean, which is very bitter.

Cyril, it's actually my own fault for going on two buses as we DO have a car, (well, two actually, counting the old Hillman Minx), although I don't drive myself. But with us having bus-passes, and with hassle and the cost of parking, we tend to use the bus, I admit! However, there ARE people without transport and Robin Park is a fair way off, especially in Winter weather. If Peter wasn't there to accompany me I wouldn't even attempt to cross those roads you mention at The Saddle.....I only cross roads even near home now if there is a crossing point with traffic lights and I wait until the traffic is at a standstill....owd age, Cyril! Oh for the confidence of youth that I once had! Lol! But thankyou for your thoughtfulness.... it is much appreciated. xx

Your absolutely right veronica its like a very very bad 3 world country i would not go there if you paid me anymore its worser than wigan with all of the people that live there its a scruffy sight. I to stop going.

That coffee bean sounds similar to the stuff the Russians use…I’m keeping away from those places.

ex wiganer, love your fond memories of Wigan but if it is so terrible why do you keep commenting on WW?
It sounds like you live somewhere idyllic, please share location then we can all use our bus passes and come.

He means Bolton Colin.. it is terrible far worse than Wigan.

Irene, why don't you go to Robin park in Dorothy, your old Hillman car??

Apologies ex Wiganer if Veronica is correct. I used to love Bolton but it seems to have gone down hill more rapidly that Wigan. The Town Hall is still a beautiful building, I passed through last week on my way to Black Pudding Country, blocks of flats spring up like weeds all over the town centre.
It used to me in the past to have seemed a very prosperous town, great schools and vibrant town centre, sad to see how it has declined.

Parking is free at Robin Park.
Dennis a really brilliant photo yesterday.

In the left hand doorway to B&M the original letter box embossed British Home Stores used to be still visible but the last time I looked it was taped over.At least the scaffold has been now been removed.I agree Bolton is not a good place to go shopping.

Bangers and Cash, (whoever you may be), we tend to use Dorothy more in the warmer months of the year and Peter works on her, getting necessary jobs done, in the colder months. You can actually WORK on the old cars, rather than everything having to be observed via a computer. There is nothing stopping us going in our modern car except the reasons I have given above......parking costs , traffic jams etc. We have bus passes now we are retired so we may as well travel free and let someone else deal with the traffic, the never-ending road-works etc. in and around the local areas. We use the car to go further afield.
If it's pouring down or snowing when I get an appointment at the opticians, we will go in the car; if not we will go by bus. I hope that answers your question.

Bangers&cash Have you tried driving around Robin park? its a nightmare and plenty of blind turnings and traffic coming from all directions.

Mick, I don't give those coffee shops the time of day either, but I had to have a Google of your Norevica coffee bean and it came back with "do you mean Norwich coffee," which also I've never heard of.

I've heard of the very expensive Monkey coffee and the beans which Monkey's (that are really caged Civet Cats) are forced to eat and have then passed out, they're then collected and bagged up. It's a very cruel way to treat those Civet Cats just so as folk's who have more money than they do a sense of taste or smell can brew cups of s**t coffee.
https://www.coffeedrs.com/blog/what-is-monkey-coffee

It would be almost as bad as drinking the coffee that Baldrick would conjure up for Blackadder etc., when in the trenches of Blackadder Goes Forth.

That is sooo funny Cyril. Poor Baldrick he got blamed for everything.

Aspuller, Robin Park is not entirely free. My wife and daughter-in-law went over Christmas quite early to beat the morning rush. Most shops were still closed so they went for breakfast until the shops were open then went in most shops for quite a while, then had a coffee and came home having spent a small fortune few days later a parking fine for £100 came through the door, it cost £60 for paying early.
I think maximum stay is 180 minutes!

Cyril, it might be Novichok Coffee but how would I know, I mainly drink tea.

The Saddle looks like a forum on its own !
Yet , those who thought it out , will be long ago on Clint Eastwoods white horse , having sorted the bandits / problem . Thank you progress , long may your wings fly to heavenly spaces !

Aspuller , since and still seeing the reaction to Dennis’s Robin picture , I must ask are Robins rare now in Wigan ? I grew up in Wigan when my garden was full of Sparrows ( I don’t think there are any posts of Sparrows on WW) it would be horrible to find out Robins are leaving as well .
It was a nice picture of a Robin - a comment said , Dennis , you must be so proud , as if he’d captured a rare bird ! Worrying if Robins are becoming a rare capture in Wigan

If people can't do their shopping within 180 minutes, they deserve a fine. The range is the same and many more under parking times.
They fix the time clearly on boards all around the shopping carpark. So it is free to shop in the time limits they set out.
This also stops fans who attend Rugby and football matches to park there. The stadium provides large car parks next to the ground. so no excuses.

Irene car parking is free, and I'm certain when you arrive to have your eye test it doesn't take 180 minutes time scale your allowed.
there is traffic congestion even on the buses. I hope this answers your question.

Robin park....car park is free, but you will be prosecuted if you over stay your welcome. Signs are in position and clear.

Colin those buildings are certainly worth keeping and we nip in Costa for a coffee and blueberry muffin occasionally,Irene do you and Peter go to classic car shows?as I have recently sold my cortina and attended many shows I can recall chatting to a couple that had a Hillman Minx at Heaton Park Manchester Classic Bus,Truck,car and motorcycle show perhaps 9 years ago but I think they came from Leigh.Veronica I’m almost sure there is a opticians down the side of Wetherspoons Westhoughton that my daughter uses.

If you drink too much of that Costa coffee (made with the Norevica bean, according to form) the best thing to eat, to soak it up, is Nova Rice.
It's highly recommended.

https://media.karousell.com/media/photos/products/2017/05/11/novalac_nova_rice_1494511153_2b311bfd.jpg

Bangers and Cash, your comment , "I hope this answers your question". puzzles me... please refer back to my comment; I didn't actually ask a question..... I merely answered yours asking why we don't go to Robin Park in Dorothy, which I feel I answered politely. Thankyou for the information that parking is free at Robin Park..... I didn't know that as we don't go there normally, but will have to now as the optician has relocated there. John from Westhoughton, no, that wasn't us at the car show; we haven't had the Hillman for nine years.

Three hours is long enough to do shopping, what ever you want.
I think the firm they use is Parking Eye.
John...opticians are everywhere.

Irene, just an idea. There is free parking on the car park behind the bus station, going down Frog Lane on the left just before you get to the Deanery school. My friend lives opposite. You could park there, then just go round the corner for the bus to Robin Park.Sorry Colin. Just a thought for Irene. x

I’ve been going to Spec- Savers years John. I find them ok. If I were to change I think I would go to Boots.

he was Veronica, but ingenious with it, mud for coffee, dandruff for sugar and saliva for the milky froth.

Tea is my favoured drink too Colin, I'll be giving that Novichok coffee a miss though, as Novichok is what Putin used on his rival Alexei Navalny to be rid of him, and was behind those poisonings at Salibury too. Hopefully Putin too will be given a dose of it, though I wouldn't put it past him to have a personal food and drink taster.

Mark, All garden birds have declined since the 1970s sadly. Efficient Farming and removal of edge rows, adding fertilisers and pesticides made a impact, but farmers and the government are doing all they can to help.

He has Cyril… definitely I was watching a documentary about that rat. It was mentioned about his food being tasted first. Even if he was assassinated there’s others waiting in the wings.

Veronica your right in every respect it beggars belief how controls Russia.

Colin....if you can't shop within 3 hours you deserve the fine. Restrictions are in place so other people have the chance to park and shop. David.

Do you honestly think people have to pay for parking at Robin Park with so many cars there. 3 hours is ample time to shop and if your not back to move your vehicle, parking eye cameras pick you out, and fine you by post.
If people HAD to pay first to park, only half would use it.
So drivers look at the parking signs they are located all over the park, which are very clear.
So three hours free parking, after that expect a fine if you've not gone.