3. Slow.
Don’t sit at home bored come and hit some balls Open 7 Days & Nights regardless of weather
If Eric doesn’t stock it, you probably don’t need it.
www.padihamhardware.co.uk WHITE PATIO CHAIRS, IN STOCK NOW
TALES FROM THE HARDWARE STORE We will probably look back on the summer of 2011 as the Summer that never really got going…. it was so marvellous in April and we were all full of expectations for a brilliant few months but then it fizzled out in a rather disappointing manner and we just had the odd few days of sunshine to enjoy, here and there. (When we consider the weather extremes in other countries though, you might say we actually had a good one). Oh well, there’s always next year! As a nation we’re always fascinated by the weather and I must admit it does help take your mind off the doom and gloom of the recession, and prices which are spiralling out of control, We are all finding things tough and are having to make difficult financial choices. During our week’s holiday in Poole I was more than a little surprised to see so many empty shops in what many would consider prime sites. Poole and surrounding areas are considerably affluent, when compared to East Lancashire, but even down there they are feeling the pinch. Our changing shopping habits have done much to contribute to the decline of the High Street, and as large names hit the dust, and rising fuel prices make us think twice about driving to out of town shopping centres where we are encouraged to spend money we don’t really have, will we start to see a reversal back to shopping locally? As the big names in retailing find it uneconomical to run large stores, will we start to see the return of the independent in large numbers? Here in Padiham we have several exciting new businesses which have opened during the summer. So many, you would be forgiven for thinking we’re not in a recession! A new business doesn’t ‘just happen’, it is the result of a person’s passion and pride and demands massive commitment, both financially and physically. A1 Motor Stores have recently completed their move from Rose Grove to Padiham, having taken over the former White Horse Public House. It’s absolutely brilliant that such an important building right in the centre of town has been refurbished to such a high standard… and more importantly is now attracting shoppers from outside Padiham. The Fat Giraffe has re-opened too under new manage- ment. Eric and I recently enjoyed an evening meal in the Fat Giraffe bistro and I can sum it up with one word – ‘WOW’. I haven’t got enough space here to tell you how much we enjoyed it, but have a look at Claire’s website
www.thefatgiraffe.com for more details. As you walk or drive through Padiham, just have a look around and count the new businesses. Yes, we have got our fair share of empty shops, but let’s focus on the positive and thank those individuals who through their passion, are doing their bit to bring new life and energy into the town, During the summer months we get many people calling in the shop who are visiting the area; particularly visitors to Gawthorpe Hall. They are so complimentary about Gawthorpe Hall, Towneley Hall, and East Lancashire and the Ribble Valley generally. It’s strange isn’t it how we take for granted what is on our own doorsteps! Talking of visitors, those ‘unwanted visitors’ who regularly spoil your gardens, yes we’re back on the subject of cats, have had a fun time recently as supplies of moth balls have now well and truly dried up. Ideas for alternative ways of deterring cats have been much sought after and I was delighted to recently receive some new suggestions to share with you. (With many thanks to the person who passed them to me). Diluted surgical spirit sprayed onto fences, can keep unwanted cats away, as can vinegar and garlic although interestingly cats are attracted to the smell of bleach! Also, cats dislike wet earth, so water the flower beds last thing at night, assuming of course we haven’t already had a downpour. Finally, a new plant on the market is Coleous canina (‘pee-off’) with an attractive blue flower. The flower’s scent is undetectable to humans, but cats dislike the smell and will keep away! …….. May you stroll sweetly into September with a big smile on your face… Carol Broadbelt
Free Golf Lessons for juniors on Saturday Mornings Please ring for details: 01254 884222
www.lee-valley.co.uk
2.
East Lancs Weather Report for July/Aug 2011 You will recall that it did rain on St Swithens day (15th July) but fortunately the myth did not prevail, as it
failed to rain on 10 days
after that as the weather improved no end. Would this lead to an Indian summer, well, not really, as the sun got fed up and stayed behind the clouds most of the time towards the middle of August.
Throughout the whole period temperatures for high
summer were very poor. We did however have a couple of warm days on the 30th & 31st of July when the mercury rose to a staggering 23.9c. I’ll bet the bbq’s locally, were in fine form that weekend. With little sun around, that was the exception rather than the rule, and we saw no more sustained sunshine until the middle of August. Humidity however was very high, with damp days, overcast days, and nothing like what we were supposed to get around this time of year. With light winds and nothing at all to write home about, we were subjected to really poor weather, and on the 10th/11th of Aug. we had a complete downpour of biblical proportions, whereby it eased off to a deluge a couple of days later, dropping 53mm in a very short space of time. This cannot continue, can it? If it does we are in for a very long winter, I’m afraid, so keep everything crossed, and I shall report back favourably, hopefully, next month. Frank Whittaker. Supporting MacMillan Cancer Care.
The Spanish hotel we stayed in was good in one respect, it overlooked the sea. Unfortunately it overlooked hygiene, good service and edible food.
17.
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