Palm Tree and Banjo

A couple of photos that just about sum up Torquay at the moment.

The blue wall has been resurrected from Rock Walk and put up round the Banjo. Those with long memories will remember that the Banjo was reopened with much publicity by our elected mayor earlier this summer. Now it's closed again while the top bit is cut down. Well it was only closed for 6 years last time, how long will it be closed this time.

The other photo is the palm tree at the entrance to Torbay. There was an item in the paper stating it had been vandalised recently. There was even a photo to show that bits had been pulled off the trunk. My photo was taken the day it was erected, if that is the right word, and it clearly shows bits missing even then.

Now, and I don't have a photo, the tree has been wrapped up for the winter. The whole tree is covered in sacking and it looks like a big phallus symbol. And it's still flood lit at night.

Sorry Mr Mayor, what ever your name is, this has been one great big PR disaster for you and Torbay.

PS Well done to the 83% of you that didn't vote and so expressed your contempt for David Cameron and his big idea for a new way of running the Police. (at the same time hiding the fact that our police service will be so underfunded as to be almost totally ineffective.)

 

Big Wheel Closes Down

To celebrate the final day of operation of the English Riviera Observation Wheel, Mellors Group, operators of the wheel, will be holding a free firework display for the public on Sunday 4 November at 6pm.

The fireworks will be launched from the Haldon Pier, Torquay Harbour and spectators are invited to come and watch the display from the observation wheel site at Princess Gardens in Torquay.

Now if I'd known the Wheel was going to have a closing down sale like that I'd have let a couple of bangers of in Cockington on Wednesday afternoon.

 

It is hoped the wheel will be back next year but sadly there doesn't seem to be anything in the pipeline for the 50.

Well, that's me, a retired bus driver.

This is me in Cockington on Tuesday which was a nice sunny day. It was also the penultimate day of bus service 50 which used to run between Paignton and Cockinton.

 

I shall miss my nine trips a day up and down Cockington Lane and I am sure many of my passengers will also.

 

In a few weeks I am of to Australia for Christmas so I'm not all that worried about finding an other bus driving job but come next year when I get back I will have a look round and see what turns up.