Saturday ought to be one of my many days of rest and instead I have twice wandered slowly around the town searching for things and also spent time in the museum. I wandered in there out of habit and found the lass once again on her own. This is not a good situation and I hung about for a while as I was in no hurry and enjoyed the chat. I heard about the reasons for the failure of the Christmas lights, the chap responsible left the job and no-one bothered to replace him. This meant nobody headed up an organised Christmas, no money, no working together and no efficient result. A wasted opportunity to put the town on the map.
This however was not the only turkey in town. This guy and his mate spent much time showing off to the kids and indeed frightening them by his cry. "Gobble Gobble" sound OK on tv or in cartoons but when a bird yells it in your face many kids ran for their lives. I followed them!
The 'little donkey' was not that keen to meet folks, he spent much time with his head stuffed in his feed. Reindeer last week, donkeys, turkeys and sheep this week, I suspect the animal lovers who grumbled about having them in the town are at this moment writing to the local paper demanding these beats are put out into the fields. Actually by this time they probably are, or tucked up nicely for the night.
The whole point of having such attractions is to bring folks into the town centre, this however is harmed by a lack of political control. The council will not reduce the rates, small shops canny survive and we now have many very good charity shops but wandering about the town today I realised how little is on offer beyond the basics. Sure some big shops have premises but most are loss leaders and many have closed, that leaves two big supermarkets and many disgruntled shoppers. Big towns 15 miles away benefit.
I was much tempted to visit the 'Bull' as I passed but not only was it crowded my knees indicated home was preferred. The 'Bull' has stood there at least since 1769 when it was 'licensed' as an Inn but I expect it operated as an Inn before that. The shape of the building makes me wonder if it was originally a house at the edge of town, possibly a farmhouse, the 'Nags Head' standing me as I took the picture certainly was a farmhouse. Much changed over the years and extended into the one time Saddlers next door it is one of the towns most 'popular' pubs. Few pubs are not popular and at least this one has not been closed down by police request as one or two others have been.
Until the 1960's the pub was popular with farmers and their men who came in on Wednesday and Saturday for the market. Cows were still seen here in the 60's and in times past small stockholds would operate outside the pubs, sheep or pigs held therein. A lovely aroma for the townsfolk.
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