Photo-a-Day (Tuesday, 15th April, 2025)
Douglas House and Daffodils

Photo: Colin Traynor (iPhone)
There's always a good display of dafts to be seen around Wigan.
The beauty and the beasts. The contrast between the beautiful flowers and the concrete jungle of the high rise flats.At least the residents look down onto a sea of yellow/white and green instead of concrete
It takes one to know one Mick. I bet you’re a dab hand at that.
Aspull always has a very good display of Daffodils and Crocuses. Infact, everywhere in Wigan District has a great array of flowers. Driving or walking you can miss them as your photo shows.
I think every Council has beautiful displays of Daffodils, I went through Horwich ( Bolton ) the other day, thousands of yellow flowers showing Spring is here. It does need to rain though, they are crying out for a drink.
Just over 60 odd years ago you would hardly see a blade of grass or a tree in that locality - now it’s ‘grass and greenery overload’. It can’t last there’s not enough housing today. It would be interesting to have a glimpse into the future of another 60 odd years. Will there be more buildings and less green spaces?
Today is D day , and at dawn's despatch
The flowers of spring are on the march .
Of winter's Occupation , Enough !
Now the yellow bugles in their ruffs
Are trumpeting freedom across the morn ',
Retaking ground and garden lawns
In squadrons assembling everywhere ,
Divisions of daffodils assaulting the air ,
The winter foe shall be put to the Sword
By Juno's lemon flowers of Gold ,
No more appeasement ! They'll make a stand
And on D day will reclaim the land ,
Today is the day of the daffodils ,
Brave liberators on window sills .
Poet
I am not fond of Daffodils or Douglas House.
Veronica, that is so true.
60 years ago, I would be 17 and from where I have taken the photo with my back to the River Douglas I would have been stood in Palatines Pop Yard and the backs of a row of shops, one a Ladies Hairdressers (I think her name was Margorie Fayne), another Bradshaigh's Newsagents.
Towering above would have been the the stone pillars of the Railway Bridge from Central Station as it continued its elevated position through to Darlington Street, with Douglas House poking out behind.
Fourth window down from the top on the nearest corner was our flat, 84. The front looked out on Scholes and the kitchen window looked out towards Station Road, Central Station and The Ritz Cinema.
I wish I still had copies of the many photo's I took from the windows in those days, chronicling all that scene as the old was bit by bit demolished and the new arrived along with those rare commodities, trees, grass and flowers!.
Thats a great sonnet Poet. Stirring Stuff !
Loved it.
I would not have expected any better comment from you Sir Bob living in your Mansion covered in Poison Ivy. I believe it’s a nice aperitif when distilled.
Very nice indeed Poet.
PS. I overlooked to say that a resident allowed me access to Douglas House (roughly 40 years since i was last in there) and I took a few pictures from the tenth floor annex linking the two blocks.
One looking up Scholes and one towards Darlington Street. They might or might not appear on PAD, let’s see.
we dont want anymore houses built veronica we need these green belt left alone instead of these retards who are in and ruining this country more than what it is now by building houses for other people who are not from here and giving them a free ride our own people need housing first never mind anyone else i am fed up of hearing about imigrants and refugees.
I’m afraid it’s too late Sue. It doesn’t seem anything is being done. We just keep on taking them in. We are done for in this country. The only thing St.Harmer does is smash the hopes of ordinary people.
I rather like Bluebells and Mannion House.
Poet, you're a talented wordsmith - what a beautiful and clever poem. Thank you. Liked this photo Colin - the clean lines of the flats and the beauty of nature complementing it.
Only just been able to catch up with p-a-d today. Lovely poem, Poet.....I love daffodils.
Thank you Pat for your comment and you are so right regarding our Poet.
He composes such lovely words.
Give me an Irene Robert’s or a Tom Walsh any day , to any WW poet !
Some can see or find beauty in all things, others find or seek negativity and darkness in everything and try to impose their will on others.
Take this as you find it.
Daffs are having an off year, not many blooms to be seen anywhere, Roughly one in five are flowering this spring.
A poem suffused with layers to ponder over with this years anniversary.….
One of your best Poet.
Beg to differ Pru - we are having absolutely glorious shows of daffodils. They line the roads into our village, like a yellow carpet, and the same in the gardens in the area.
Your absolutely right veronica it is to late what i cant get is that its been happening for quite a long time and nobody has done nothing about it if people were bothered this could have been stopped i do not trust my own people they are all brain washed i can truly say that i hate my own at least when we are not here its for the better we wont know whats happening in this pathetic society.
There will come a day of reckoning in the future Sue…People are worried and depressed. There’s no real leaders anymore they don’t care. Most of them are well paid freeloaders.
Yes, I believe that day of reckoning is coming and not a day sooner if you ask me! Bring it on!