Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 7th June, 2024)

Not many people about was you early Colin taking this photo.

We used the lift because of Yvonne/s wheelchair. When I have been shopping alone then I use the escalator but a couple of times I have had a tingle through my body with a build up of static electricity.Also with being tall you have to be careful and duck under the escalator if you come from the right and side for the lift,

Are there any actual shops, you know those places you can go in & buy something ?
Interesting photo Colin but souless...that is if any shopping mall could be said to have any soul at all.

My challenging choice is to trot up the escalator... the wrong way. Then slide down the curving stair rail, and trot out.. sharpish!

Who needs Silcocks Fair when you can ride up the escalator and slide down the stair rail banister all day for fee.

Escalator going up but stairs coming down for me... (I just can't step onto a "going down" escalator!). Or the lift....all together now....."First floor perfumery, stationery and leather goods....going u-up!".

Helen, all the big stores have gone. Debenhams, M&S, BHS, and Smiths but there are still some nice shops open.
At least it undercover and saves walking around a wet and windy weekend in Wigan walking around town.

John (W) it was a Wednesday at 11:45 and usually quite weekdays.

Helen, if you turn left at the top of the stairs there are a couple of cafes on the top floor, but the shops are mainly on the ground floor. However, they out of sight on the photo, making it look very bare!

Helen of Troy werever which town you go there isnt hardly any shops you can go and buy anything interesting anymore everywere you go any town are all like a 3rd world country down to these lot who are getting booted out at last they promised us levelling up and giving money to each town as what time i have left on this earth i hope that i never ever see these b-s-t-r-ds ever in power again!

I see the ‘Hope’ store has moved up above. Is the old Debenham’s empty again? It looks haunting to me. Nothing like when the Grand Arcade opened in 2007
( I think it was.)

Veronica, Hoe for the moment is still in the old Debenhams, the one you see seems to sell mainly household furnishings. I’ve been in the new one once or twice but for me nothing much of interest.

Currently in Bury in the Art Picture House for lunch. Three bus rides to get here but well worth it.
Shop and streets busy, market buzzing with amazing choice and value, veg, meat and fish stalls aplenty with quality family owned businesses.
Two pieces of Hake for tea tonight with new potatoes and asparagus. Sirloin steak pies and pork pies topped with black pudding for the weekend.
For now I’ll get back to my large glass of Chardonnay!

There’s far more shops in Westhoughton. I never thought I would say that but it’s true. Never missed coming to Wigan for years and years ( it was as if I had never left!). I go more to Middlebrook instead. I just miss the Wigan I knew. A lot of people say the same.

Labour have a Plan, Conservatives have a Bold Plan. If so why can’t either of them tell us what this.
I have a Cunning Plan, don’t vote for either, both all out for what they can get to feather their nest with.
Promise the earth never deliver, apart from what seems like eternal austerity.

Baldrick you are correct the best party anyone can vote is for nigel farage as he tells the whole truth and nothing bit the truth he tells it what it is we need a complete change of both parties i am afraid to say people may not like it but he is the only person i would truly trust in he does not lie and make things up .

I’ve never been into the Grand Arcade.

It's looking very aged now. The last I was in there was when T. K. Maxx first opened and was in the store where Hope is.

Baldrick, so very true, they are all full of nothing but blather and always have been, and the only change we will see will be the price of everything going up yet again to pay for the plans - no matter who gets in at Number 10.

So Baldrick, be a nice chap and prepare two of your best frothy cappuccino coffees for Rishi and Kier.
https://youtu.be/_CtdYqVK_R4?si=8kNhxTA-mbWud1cI

I don't hold politics in very high esteem whatever views they have but the Goverment of the day paid the 'levelling up cash ' out to County Councils , Local Councils, or Whoever to use or dish out, is that right ? If it is perhaps questions should be asked of your WMC as to how wisely they spent it the cash they did or did not get ??

I see Wigan you are an ' X' like me...so we can only see from the sidelines.

You are right Veronica,Westhoughton is a much better place to shop.I also used to love going to Wigan but it's very disheartening to visit now.

That's the beauty of going on the bus, Colin.....a large glass of Chardonnay that you couldn't have when driving....Cheers! But I will never be able to say "lunch".....the word sticks in my throat! However, those pies wouldn't stick in my throat....they sound delicious! Peter and I will have to have a ride to Bury someday....we have been to the forties' events on the railway but not round the town.

There is one episode of Last Of the Summer Wine where Compo, Foggy and Clegg are travelling on the top deck of a double decker bus , briefly , sadly . The joy of that meditation as we glimpse the vast open countryside and space around them travelling on an old double decker is pure Nirvana to me …. Should you call my number dear Lord , may i ask one thing !
I think sometimes I’m experiencing the Time Slip Phenomenon!
Thank you for posting Colin .

Good evening all, just got back from Bury.
Big disappointment in that they had sold out of pies and black puddings. Got the fish though!

Since you find the word
‘ lunch ‘ objectionable Irene , may I suggest that you replace it with the word ´ Déjeuner ´ .

As you are aware , both words have the exact same meaning , but with the added bonus that the latter contains your elusive accent aigu .

Ozy," lunch" gets on me wick, lad! My daughter-in-law is from London and she says "lunch" because that's what they call it there....that doesn't bother me at all., although thankfully she calls the evening meal "tea" and not "dinner"! What annoys me is that people I grew up with in Ince , , Hindley and Wigan who used to say, "I can play out but me Mam says I have to go in at twelve o'clock for me dinner" have now started to say, "We thought we'd try that new café, (get the e-acute in café!! ), for our "lunch"......WHY?? It's as if they are ashamed of their heritage, and no-one should be ashamed of where they come from. It's as if we think Southerners will mock us for calling our mid-day meal our dinner......who's to say they're right and we're wrong?? Who decides? And yes, I AM familiar with the word "déjeuner", (dinner at 12 noon), and "petit déjeuner", (breakfast), but I won't budge on "dinner and tea". That's one reason I would never go on a cruise.....you have to get dressed up to have your tea, AND call it your dinner! I'm who I am, Ozy, and I think I've known you long enough not to fall out over it! Each to his/her own, my friend. xxx

Now in bed, all fished out!
Mark, your comment really appropriate out top deck front seat over Rivington back and forth to Bolton from Chorley, fabulous views as far as the eye can see.
Ozy / Irene. Still cannot get the eereeeeeeeee of mind, still smiling.
Good night all.

Mark, I know exactly what you mean about the "Last of the Summer Wine" scene. I have watched that episode many times.

Colin you can get black puddings in Westhoughton and excellent pies maybe Veronica will put you in right direction for those.

Ex-Wiganer - would this be the same Nigel Farage who supports Trump - a man who advocated drinking bleach as an antidote for Covid? A man who incites violent uprisings - a criminal?

John, (Westhoughton). and Colin, we get our black puddings by mail-order from Charley Barley's, (Charles McCleod), in Stornoway, and they are the best we have ever tasted. That's not to knock Bury Black Pudding, which are excellent.....it's just a matter of personal taste. They are long black puddings which we slice and freeze.

Nobody makes pies as good as Pie Joe’s in Scholes and Vose’s opposite Mark Williams …It’s many, many years since I served pies in Greenhalgh’s and they were nowhere near as good. Although I was quite partial to the plain pasties at 36 pence then..they are probably £2 odd nowadays or even more! I haven’t had a pastie for 30 years. So I can’t advise where the best pies come from John. You probably know better than me.

Veronica I recon provenance will take some beating for meat pies,a good friends wife Paula Calderbank worked at Greenhalghs,Irene I’ve looked Charles McLeod up and will give them a try by post or visit Old Hall Street Manchester thank you.

It's all down to your taste buds changing overtime, that's why nobody makes cakes like our mams did.

Mick thea met bi reet mon.

That was after my time John I know who you mean. I did 7 years when the children were at school. You are right about Provenance it’s all good stuff.

I’m not an ‘Ex’, I’ve lived in the Springfield area of Wigan all my life. I’ve still never been into the Grand Arcade, it’s not for me.