Out for a walk…

I wasn't expecting there to be such a contrast between the Old Town and Quay and the main High Street. Poole’s Maritime Trail currently boasts 3 light features and an electric blue traffic cone. The Quay has a green tree, a lit-up anchor, and the shops and pubs are all lit up and have gorgeous window displays. I know which I like better, and it reminds me of a legendary conversation between the Harbour Commissioner and a local councillor who thinks he's amazing. Other opinions are available. I'm abbreviating Harbour Commissioner to HC and Councillor to LC

LC - Your trouble is that this is a Disneyland version of a port.

HC (with an evil smile) No, you've got it wrong.

LC - (still snooty but not quite so superior) What do you mean?

HC (Smile goes up a couple of notches on the evil scale). It's a profitable Disneyland version of a port!

And there's the difference. The Harbour Commissioners listen and have an active community that I partly base the Ladies of Swansmere and Windy Bay on. The Council are sure they know what's best. Again, other opinions are available.

This is the sweet shop that is my model for Pam and Rob’s sweetshop at Swansmere in my Amy Hammond series. It trades as ‘The Pink Sugar Mouse’ online, and it is a dangerous place that makes the most amazing fudge. Luckily, walking down there and back burns lots of calories. Not enough to make it possible for me to give in to temptation in the way I’d like to, but definitely enough to make me feel not too wicked. Or at least, nothing like as wicked as I very easily could have been.

Here’s a picture of the bright blue traffic cone. I’ve heard rumours that it’s meant to be a Christmas tree, but I’m afraid I’m not all that convinced. A lot may well look better in the dark, but at the moment, we’re looking forward to our street walks to see everyone’s decorations. So far, we have a light-up reindeer opposite, snowflakes in the window, lots of candy canes lining the paths and a massive inflatable gingerbread man. I am not responsible for any of them, but we will start decorating the house on Monday.


Till then, have fun!