Bradford City of Culture

Not be driving anywhere now for a wee while methinks.

 

Barkerend is lawless bandit country. Should be avoided at all costs.

 

Yep, looks like he round and stuck breaks on and jumped out and grabbed something from the boot. My first thought was he was going for a gun and the car behind rammed him to stop him.

 

https://news.sky.com/story/ten-men-arrested-over-historical-child-sex-abuse-allegations-in-bradford-13404989

Not before time, but just the tip of the iceberg.

Mentions the age range, but no other demographic factors, so I'm going to assume that's because the men arrested represent a diverse mix of races, religious and cultural backgrounds, and so it's irrelevant. Right? I mean, that must be it, right?

 

Interviewed and bailed pending further investigations?
Interviewed and bailed pending disappearance back to Pakistan more like.

 

Only 10? They waiting for more vans or summat?

 

Returning this thread to the subject title - I attended an absolutely fantastic event the other day as part of the City of Culture events programme:

https://bradford2025.co.uk/event/the-railway-children/The Railway Children | Bradford 2025

I can’t speak highly enough of this. A ride to Oxenhope on the Worth Valley Steam Railway, a decent pie and a pint, followed by a superbly imaginative staging of the Railway Children story in an old engine shed. The seating was on either side of the track and the excellent acting took place on both platforms and on mini stages wheeled up and down the track. The whole experience was terrific.

 

I usually attend the beer festival which isn't too far away now and it's always a great day/ evening with some (usually) decent music in that shed.

Everyone should check it out if they've never been.

 

It also brought back memories of my first job after leaving school. Got the train from Grays to Fenchurch Street on what became known as the ‘misery line’. The tiny compartments all had doors either side and opposing bench seats - no middle aisle or passage along the side. You sat there like peas in a pod with six people either side, usually with people standing in between for the whole 35 minute journey. It was basically a Petri dish for viruses. I’ve never had so many colds in my life. The return journey carriage from Oxenhope was the same but, thankfully, with only four of us in it.

 

The wider metropolitan district of Bradford has some lovely areas. Skipton, Ilkey, Thornton Village to name a few. They're just the areas nowhere near the city itself.

 

Along the river and canal by Saltaire, Shipley, Apperley Bridge, Bingley, up towards Basildon, as you say pretty much anywhere going on the opposite direction of the city centre. Not unique as quite a few centres struggle these days but Bradford suffers from having no focal point. Just a non descript bowl in the bottom of the valleys.

 

The centre of Basildon is pretty grim too.

 

Bloody autocorrect.

 

And there are even worse places nearby

 

We took our grandson to a lovely free City of Culture event in Ladyhill Park in Allerton this morning. It is called The Great Big Build and is designed as an adventure playground that children can add to. For ages 4-11.

He got to use a hammer and nails, saw wood and use an electric screwdriver on various bits of wood.
He also got to climb up and down several towers and use a swing and do somersaults on gymnastic rings.
He completely ignored the crafting and painting opportunities, which was fine.
He loved it

 

Went to another City of Culture event in Roberts Park Saltaire this evening. It was called Painting the Sky and featured 600 drones celebrating the art of David Hockney.
Depending on the weather it might be on again tomorrow at 5.30 pm.
There were thousands of people in Roberts Park. It was rammed.
It only lasted 10 minutes but was really good, something different. All the hospitality venues in Saltaire were very busy.

Credit to our friend Hobo Tom Photography for the picture.

 

Watched it from my balcony... bloody amazing

 

We were planning to go today but the weather forecast is terrible so I doubt it will happen.