Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 25th November, 2020)

They have to temporarily close the Channel Tunnel sometimes due to seaweed on the track.

Made my day and cheered me up my favourite place haigh hall and the little railway. I have always loved this place since I was a child in the early 70s, it will always bring me some good memories and happier times. thanks Dennis.

I like pictures like these . A lonely secluded place with a track leading somewhere . If you've ever been hopelessly lost , the relief of suddenly stumbling upon a path , no matter where it's going , is overwhelming .
As kids we always seemed to be messing about on old railway lines . Reminds me of the film 'Stand By Me'. A nice evocative photograph Dennis.

Beautiful photo Dennis which picks up all the wonderful colours of Autumn.

Lovely shot Dennis :)

Looks like you might have been on a Oy walking photo tour

That is a really lovely photo, Dennis. I agree with Julie although my early memories of Haigh Hall are from the late 1950s as a young child, but there is something timeless about it. Poet's words about the relief of finding a path really hit home. I remember many years ago walking our dog from Abram all the way to Haigh Hall. It was early evening when I eventually walked up the silent driveway with the Hall in front of me and I suddenly felt uneasy and very much alone. I hurried as quickly as possible past the Hall and up some stone steps and heard voices, and a little further on I came to the children's playground with children playing and parents watching....like Poet, I felt overwhelmed with relief!

Irene it sounds like you walked up Birmingham steps, did you have to walk all the way back to Abram or did you get a lift.

I had walked from Abram to Ince, Mick, and then along the canal from Rose Bridge, Ince, up to Haigh Hall. After passing the children's playground I carried on through to Aspull and walked down Hall Lane, Aspull into Hall Lane, Hindley, then down Market Street, then Liverpool Road to Platt Bridge and back to Abram. A HUGE circular tour! Our dog thought it was his birthday, going for a walk of such epic proportions!

That was a very good walk Irene

That was a big walk Irene so is that where you live Abram I always thought that you lived near to Apull.

No Julie. I was born in Ince 1952. Lived there til 1971 when they demolished our house and moved us to Platt Bridge, Got married 1974 and moved to Abram. My husband is from Hindley so never lived near Aspull. I was in my thirties when I did that walk....not sure I'd want to do it now! It was a very hot day too! xx

That was quite a trek Irene and I bet you woke up next morning with a spring in your step ready to go round again?

I hope you weren't wearing your tall heels on that walk Irene, I know you like them. This morning I walked down to Hindley by the 'scenic' route. It was lovely when the sun came out. Nice photo Dennis.

You seem a nice lady Irene, I am in my late 50s and I was born in Aspull, wish I still lived there. Take care xx

I have just posted a reply and don't think I added the verification code so am re-sending....sorry if it appears twice! Julie, what a lovely thing to say. Thankyou so much.....that has made my day! Dennis, I can't remember whether I ached next day but I know I enjoyed the walk and so did Our Ziggy....he was a rescue dog from Leigh Dogs and Cats' home and he lived to 17 and was much loved. Veronica, I doubt I would have worn my 1940s heels but talking of the forties, I have enclosed a cutting about Brief Encounter in your Christmas card. I am not posting them until December but have written them. Have you walked from Westhoughton to Hindley? Wow!

Only to the border Irene, but with flat comfortable shoes, It's a fair stretch of the legs as the crow flies.
( ps I have a trapped nerve in my shoulder blade and because I can't go swimming I walk more instead... it's been agony !) xx

lovely photo Dennis, who doesn't like Haigh Hall.We are so lucky in Wigan to have both Wigan Park and Haigh Hall. Lovely memories Irene.x Veronica its lovely to hear you have been out.I will email you at the weekend, take care on those walks.xx