Delays and Diversions

 

Not a whole lot going on over the weekend (in my little corner of the world) except the recent snow melting and turning to rain. All gone again now; but leaving behind some early spring flowers who still seem to be wondering what hit them... 

This afternoon we're actually up to temperatures around +14'C (57'F) - but even if both my own kitchen window thermometer and my usually trustworthy phone app agree about that, it still does not feel like it to me! (Rather chilly winds blowing...)

Friday was Delivery Day for me, as in receiving and unpacking and putting away my fortnightly home delivery of groceries around noon. That usually tends to add up to rather enough activity for one day - usually finished off with a walk to the recycling station in the afternoon. (The downside of regular home deliveries is that one ends up with more large paper carrier bags than any normal single person is likely to be able to find other use for...)

Yesterday was one of those days filled with bits of Everything and Nothing, as in keeping me busy enough, but still leaving me with very little to report when looking back. Snow-free again outside, but still rather dull. I decided to devote part of my afternoon walk that day to inspect the consequences of a major road work project nearby - repairs of bridge crossing the railway, which involves that bridge now being closed for traffic over the next three months. During which times cars and buses and cyclists and even pedestrians are being redirected to use other streets and cycle lanes and walkways. 

Peeking through the fence

 

Luckily, there is a separate footbridge for cyclists and pedestrians nearby - a bit to the left from this view, and for me personally that is "on the right side", as in closer to where I live. And as I'm usually on foot, no need for my own sake to be all that concerned about the main road being closed for three months - except for the few occasions when I might feel like taking the bus for a change. Because those will obviously not be passing by here for a while now.

 I went to check on the sign at the nearest bus stop. It told me to "choose a stop nearby" and "search your destination". (They do not even include the word "online" but just assume everyone to be able to handle such searches from their phone nowadays.) 

I walked on a bit further to see if they had perhaps added some extra temporary bus stop on the way towards the city centre, before the next permanent one (which is by the railway station). They had not. That means that over the next three months, my two "most nearby" bus stops are each 15 min walk away from home - and whichever one I choose, I'm then already as close to the city centre as the bus will take me anyway... (Which is why I rarely bother about taking the bus at all, unless I'm going further than that.) 

I'm not too worried for my own sake (as I'm used to walking that distance, and thanks to the  regular home deliveres rarely have to carry much now) - but I'm still wondering what on earth The Authorities behind the planning are thinking. What about people in need of walkers or crutches, or with heavy bags of groceries to carry? Or parents with small children? Most of the people living around here are either pensioners or young families.

Azaleas, Rhododendron & Street Art

We’re having another heat wave this week, and it’s been (and still is!) too hot to spend much time at the computer.

It’s also really too hot just now to be out and about much in the afternoons; but on Monday I was, anyway. I decided to go and visit a park I don’t go to all that often (as it’s a bit out of the way for me), but which is worth some attention this time of year as they specialize in azaleas and rhododendrons. And with the heat increasing, it struck me I had probably better go ‘a.s.a.p’ if I was to catch those in their glory… 

It is a sight worth seeing, although not quite as idyllic as it might seem from photos – because even if the park is located up on a hill, it’s really quite close to heavy traffic below.

Coming down from the park, across the street there is the office of our local newspaper, which was one of the buildings to get its share of mural art last year:

In a street nearby, there is also this wall, which I think was painted the year before:

And opposite the painted wall of the newspaper building you also find this 9 meters high bronze sculpture by Jim Dine from 2008:

This sculpture – entitled ‘Walking to Borås’, but usually just referred to as Pinocchio –  was really the start of our international sculpture biennales and street art festivals in my town which have followed since then.

We’re having another sculpture biennale this summer and I have been round to look at some of the new additions, too – I just haven’t found the time/energy to blog those photos yet…

Linking to Through My Lens

A Stroll Around the Mall

On Sunday, thanks to sunny weather, I was able to combine a trip out to our House in the countryside with an errand to the Big Mall across town in that direction – and a stroll around with the camera while waiting for the bus out of town.

Florist’s display at the entrance

Two photos from inside the main mall

   

“Mall Wall” art… Perhaps inspired by the zoo, which is located at this end of the town as well.

An old house across the street from the main mall stands out - purple is a very unusual facade colour. (The name and sign suggests that it is a “new age” kind of giftshop; I’ve never been inside.)

Looking south from the bus stop. The red complex in the background to the right is the town’s big sports arena; rather new.

Looking north. The white sign gives information that a new bypass road project is going on (to lead the traffic out of town a bit more smoothly).

Just near the bus stop where I stood waiting, there is a memorial stating that the original road was constructed in 1921-22 as an emergency relief project financed by the government.