Charity shops

Isn't it amazing what little bargains you can still find in charity shops.  Normally some of them have e-bay accounts, and savvy manages, who look up what something is worth, what condition it is in before they set a price.  I find it quite amazing really, because what is given is given freely, being a charity they get cheap rent and rates, they should pass on they lucky finds to their customer.  Unfortunately everything is about making as much money as possible, so a lot of charity shops look just like normal  shops with everything itemized together, and some even colour coded, even the prices, are not much cheaper.  However you can still find bargains.  I went into one shop that had all the items nicely displayed, and in the windows items laid out to buy, at the front of the window  was a violin for £24 not bad, but on top of it where a load of little bits and bobs for 50p or so. Surely if you want someone to pay £24 for something it should have pride of place in the window, hanging or free standing, but clear of other items.  The bargains however are still there to be had so have a little roam around town and go and have a rummage, who knows what you will find.

Olympic Fun and Games

Well  the games have started and despite the problems, with the security staff, tickets not being allocated properly and  Lococ playing God, stealing the Olympic ideal and making out it is their's so that they can make more money. The opening ceremony went really well and was very enjoyable to watch.  A pat on the back time, the press and the public loving it, and everyone  in accord.  So this morning we are told that there are to many empty seats,  these are not any seats, these are the front expensive seats that the wealthy and the corporate bunch where supposed to buy. So what shall we do with all these empty seats, get in touch with the people that missed out and offer  it to them? No! How about we open a box office and let people know that tickets will be for sale, we can reduce them a little so that they will sell? No!  Oh I know all those soldiers being drafted in for security, lets tell them to fill the seats, they can sit there in their uniforms, and as they are on duty they cannot refuse? What a good idea, Lococ have done it again brilliant; and who would have thought of that one? not me.  Well they finally decided to sell the tickets on line, and I know a few people who have taken the opportunity to get to tickets, so good look to you if you decide to go.  This will be our best chance of getting all those medals, being at home with a home crowd there is nothing like it for raising moral and boosting confidence.

 Good luck Team GB

The Olympic Torch

The Olympic Torch left Luton at 6.45am with Lewis Hamilton carrying the Torch.  Here are some pictures from the North end of Dunstable as it makes it's way to Milton Keynes and on it's way to Aylesbury.  The crowds got there early, and in the centre of Dunstable it was packed.  Kevin and I watched it on the live stream till it got to MacDonald's  on the A505, then we got our coats and strolled down to the High Street.

The final torch bearer was Penelope Green who has worked for 20 years fund raising for Down's Syndrome. She arrived wearing a pair of Golden Slippers, for her short stint to French's Avenue, before the flame goes by car, on to Milton Keynes and through Bletchley, Buckingham and Aylesbury to Oxford.  Well that was early enough for my day off back to bed.

Bridgnorth Re-Visited

As I lost my camera after the last trip to Bridgnorth, I only had a few pics that I had taken with an old camera, while I was charging the battery of my new camera, and Kev, gave me some of his.  So when we decided to go up a second time I thought now's my chance to post some really nice pictures.  I took loads as usual and some are on Flickr so take a look.  The journey down wasn't as eventful as last time, and we had a pleasant journey.  Unfortunately we couldn't get the same hotel as last time so we stayed in the Croft Hotel, it is a lovely old hotel, where the passages where narrow and you seemed as though you are constantly turning corners. Lots of creaks and groans, (from the hotel not the guests) and floorboards that moved beneath you.  The room was lovely and clean, if a little cramped, and the bathroom was tiny only as wide as the shower unit at one end and narrowing to the width of the sink at the other.  The staff where very friendly, and not overly chatty and the rooms where cleaned daily, with clean towels and a top up of any tea's and coffee's used.  I have stayed in places where once you have booked in you don't see the cleaners again until the day you leave.  Breakfast was of the all you can eat variety with a selection of fruit, cereals and juices, followed by your 'Full English' or any variation.  The only problem Kev and I have with most B and B's or small hotel's is the times of breakfast, I know they have work men staying, I know the staff have other things to do,sometimes they have other jobs to go to, but seven through to half past eight, in the morning is too early, after all I am on holiday.  On Tuesday we had a good look around Bridgnorth and  spent a long time at the Railway Station taking lots of pictures and video's of steam and diesel, they are having two historic weekend's and unfortunately we arrived mid-week so will miss them both but there was plenty of engines getting ready, and the coaches where ready for their 'evacuee's' which where local school children dressed ready to do their bit.  On the Wednesday Chris came to see us for the day, and we went to Much Wenlock, there is an old ruined abbey there and lots of lovely old buildings, and much to my pleasure the post office stocks doll's house furniture, so I spent a happy hour looking at all the goodies while Kevin and Chris went into the bookshop.  We then spent an hour or two in the abbey grounds it is hard when your in a place like that, to gauge time, as no matter where it is situated, everything is peaceful and tranquil and time seems to just stop.  It is opened by English Heritage and is opened daily, well worth a visit if your in the area.  Much Wenlock and the Abbey is worth another blog and so is the Severn Valley Railway.  We then went onto Shrewsbury, which had a lot of nice shops and lovely buildings, we walked over the Welsh Bridge,and then to get back to the car park we crossed the English bridge didn't get to many pictures because it was a very busy town. On the Thursday we had a thunderstorm, we had planned to spend the day on the railway, and take some pictures and video's of the trains, somewhere else other than Bridgnorth, but it wasn't to be, but never mind maybe next time. Kevin went off to take pictures and I had a snooze, by 2pm it had brightened up and we spent the afternoon going around the antique shops and taking pictures down on the Station.

Steps f

Antique shop in Bridgnorth unfortunately it was rained
 out and we never got to see around it.

The Shakespeare Public House

Low Town

The Boatyard

Cock of the Bridgnorth looking for food.

Base of drinking fountain

Victorian Drinking Fountain

The Leaning Castle Ruins

War Memorial in Castle Garden

War Memorial in Castle Garden

a little rockery in the Castle Grounds

Ice Cream Parlour