People Power Day

Walked down into town at midday. Passed this newspaper board marking the buying out of "The Bell" on Walcot Street by share subscription from customers and supporters.  It has been a big music venue for years, so locally resident musicians like Robert Plant and Peter Gabriel added their support to the campaign.

 Forsythia on Gays Hill finally coming out.

Great pinkish red cladding around this scaffolding - with the branches of the trees in Hedgemead Park, made it look as though it might be an art installation.

Walked down Walcot Street and past the Bell with its poster about the share offer on display.

Florally adorned bicycle on the other side of the road.

We went down into town to see another film.  In complete contrast to "Arbitrage" (the good film we saw on Wednesday about a very wealthy capitalist free market trader) we saw Ken Loach's " The Spirit of '45". This was about the achievements of the 1945 Labour Government, including the National Health Service and many other great social changes - since overturned by Thatcher, Blair and Cameron. A timely reminder of the dreadful poverty and expoitation that existed before the Second World War, which fuelled people's desire for change and social justice after that.

Later this afternoon, it was time to take Bella out for her afternoon walk - a bitter East wind made it a challenging outing, but I was rewarded by the sight of this thorn in full bloom despite the chill.  Snow forecast for tonight…

This day a year ago, the van was down in Larkhall getting a new bumper fitted in readiness for its MoT test. Took Bella down with me and we walked up in the sunshine past these allotments at the bottom of Croft Road.

Su's news story of the day (from the Mail online - click on the title for full story):
'No weirdy beardies in my pub': Historic bar axed from national beer guide 'because it discriminates against visitors who aren't regulars
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