Some memories in March.

 Hoober.

 Topiary.

A stranger I met in Rotherham General Hospital, someone I have know about for forty years.

 First stage of the Barnsley project completed.

Finally decided to stop digging the allotment. 

The morning 31st March.

All set

25th Feb 2016 the inaugural run Flying Scotsman.

Tuesday 23rd February I had heard through the grapevine that the Flying Scotsman was travelling from York to London passing through Donny around 11am. That journey did not happen, it had a broken spring on the train tender which needed repair, it made the journey the next day.
There were hardly any people knocking about which made me wonder if I had heard right!
So that day would not be a complete loss I took a couple of shots of Una.
   

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The inaugural run of the most famous train in the world.

Thursday 25th February, it was definitely on today the station platforms were packed. I stayed on this side and Una went on the other side just in case either of us got our view blocked by another train.
Una is in the centre of the above photo, same gear as Tuesday believe me the sun was shining but it is still cold.
 

I was undecided whether to film or photo, I chose multi shot photo and glad I did, it's the first time I have used this method, it's good.

I was a little disappointed at the speed it passed through Doncaster the place it was built, but it was on the mainline and not allowed to slow down. At least we all got to see it and smell it mmm there's something about old steam engines, beautiful but inefficient.

 No sooner here, than it's gone!

The train was delayed by half an hour, we were half an hour early Una was on the other platform me and lady with the gloves got chatting for the full hour as you do, needless to say we are now facebook friends.

The only thing left to do now, a walk round the market a bite to eat and home.

Out with the old.

16th November 2015. The start of the demolition of the old council officers in Barnsley, the building in the centre of the photo.

A crowd gathering outside the bus station to see the first moves, the Mayor of Barnsley can be seen among them.   Before the event started there was a firework display which many people including me think was in bad taste. We were in the indoor market knew nothing about what was going off when suddenly all that could be heard was lots of repeat bangs like machine gun fire, this was only days after the atrocities that had gone on in Paris, half the market traders were unaware of what was happening.

Crunch. Cuts through concrete like a knife through butter.

I have been told this machine cost £4,500 a day to use and £2,500 when it stands idle.

Una soon loses interest in the demolition work. The multistory car park we are on is due to come down March 2016 along with the indoor market.  

The building with the tower is the car park above the indoor market, the next thing to go.

8/12 /15.

20/12/15

20/1/16.

The large digger is on the move to the other end of the building.

Another approach 25/1/16 work is well on the way.

5/2/16. the last day of work, the machine is to be off site tomorrow.

The sky is blue but it is a cold day 38'F

Another market day, the building is almost down. It is going to be replaced with a temporary market hall which is supposed to open mid March?!?! So that the demolition of the car park and indoor market can commence.

I hope I am wrong but I think this will be the end for Barnsley.
Wakefield and Sheffield both had fantastic markets, the planers moved in knocked them down replaced them with smaller more expansive units but they have never taken off, the change killed them off.
                           
                                                             GROUND ZERO 12/03/16
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The next place to go is where I am standing, the multi storey car park.
Structurally there is nothing wrong with the building all it needs in my opinion is a make over.

       

Ford make good exhausts.

I had the exhaust and catalytic converter changed yesterday to my surprise it was the original one from new.
It had done 97,547 miles, better than that it is 16 years old. I will be lucky if I get 3years out of the replacement.