So I was on a walk I wasn’t really interested in and was all set to go home. Then I had thoughts of the day before, popping into Reeves for stationery for Mrs NHS (my wife Yvonne).
It was then this piece was born. Why? Well they have such a diversity of things from maps to pens to jigsaws, which sort of relates to our great town centre. Yes there’s the outstanding Market Cross, now a tourist information centre, yes there’s the picturesque Cross Keys where those awful plant pots were.
But no I’m not interested in all that, I’ll just tell you what I saw and some of it’s not nice. There was a rather scruffy man asking for money as he sat on the pavement covered in something keeping him warm and a bottle of Coke by his side and a strong smell of cigarettes around him. I stopped for a brief chat, not to part with money but just because everyone just gave him a wide berth notwithstanding in this current climate there’s many people who may soon lose everything and he reminded me of that. Personally if I give money it’s through food banks or housing charities because of that reason and the money is in my opinion used wisely.
Hemstocks Jewellers, my favourite place for birthday gifts and a total opposite to the man on the pavement. They’ve made a real effort with seriously stunning decorations around their windows. They were a real statement: “please come through our doors, we’re special, selling things for special people. Forget your woes for a moment and look beyond our splendid window decorations and treat yourself to something good.”
Over the road was a shop up for sale. No one wants to see empty properties in town centres again, they’re a sign of our food bill going up by 17% and petrol at stupid money per litre. Try as I might, I couldn't remember what was there before that for sale sign. I think it was an estate agents which would be ironic.
There were other more successful shops on the way past, looking towards our famous Beckets Chapel it looks like the scaffolding hiding its exterior was being taken down, or at least I hope that’s what they were doing. In all these uncertain times history that matters so much is being restored as it should be. On the same theme, The Green Dragon (as was Elementals Magickal Emporium) is getting a face lift, new roof, new paint and a completely new look to one of our most important part of Wymondham’s past.
Another of my favourites Nicky, of The Enchanted Willow flower shop. She moved to her current site only a short time ago into the hugely popular butchers shop that was. The meat etc from there was legendary as was its owner Peter Parker, the theme carries on with fantastic flower arrangements at decent prices, delivered on time and looking pretty darn cool, or at least Yvonne thought so recently when I organised a bouquet for her.
Finally there’s that garden next to the Royal Mail sorting office which usually begs people to place their bums on the well positioned seats and just be at one with your surroundings, no it’s no longer appealing though with bright orange netting on either side of the footpath. I just grunted whilst walking past which isn’t good.
Our town centre is doing remarkably well right now in general and yes I love it. I never really appreciate it as I’m always flying round getting stuff that could wait for a while whilst I look around.
In future I’m not flying around. I’m taking my time, looking, enjoying and loving every bit of our ever changing Town Centre.
