The Area Around Us

We’ve been watching the vlogs that Jane’s been making out and about. Since lockdown began she’s been taking videos of the area around us for our Visit Fylde Coast YouTube channel.

I must say that, putting aside the fact that she’s my daughter, I have enjoyed watching what she’s been doing. She suddenly disappears in a puff of smoke from the house and we watch them when our lunch is over.

Now we know about the area around us

I have learnt such a lot of things from them that I never knew about our adopted home. We’ve been to Lytham, St. Annes, Fleetwood, Blackpool along with goodness knows how many other places. All the places she’s been to from the comfort of the sofa and learning loads of interesting things about the place. I for one have certainly learnt a lot of interesting facts that I never knew, so I hope she helps other people to understand the history behind the places she visits.

I was particularly interested in a few of the videos, one being Wilko. I assume that most people have been in the shop over the years and to watch it being pulled down while you are sat at home is good.

She is videoing different stages of the demolition. This is the latest one – on a very windy day which you’ll hear on the soundtrack!

I think I mentioned before, we became the proud owner of a piece of history in the form of one of the old Finefair panels that were on the building. It’s quite large when you see it away from the shop but it’s brightening up a shady part of the garden. Plus we now own a piece of history.

New Hotels

I also enjoyed watching the old Yates’ wine lodge being built and as it’s nearly ready for opening that will be a red letter day for them.

Blackpool Council have also done a deal with Marco Pierre White’s restaurant chain for the new Holiday Inn hotel. Wow we are coming up in the world aren’t we! The good thing is that it will create 50 more jobs which will be great news for the area around us and people who are wanting a job, don’t you think.

They say that the restaurant is going to offer ‘friendly casual’ dining, rather than the posh end I suppose. That makes more sense to me, and be more profitable, rather than having to dress up like stiff-shirts and have to pay a fortune for the privilege. That’s not my cup of tea thank you very much. I bet that most people would rather enjoy their food in a relaxed way, rather than worry if your elbows are on the table.

Digression to a past memory…

I’m just going to do a bit of digression here if you don’t mind. Hearing myself saying ‘elbows off the table’ immediately transported me back to lunch time during my grammar school days.

We had tables with bench seating for four on either side, without a backrest. There was always a member of staff on duty while we ate and boy did they have eyes in the back of their heads. They missed nothing, and to us schoolgirls they seemed to be almighty tall when they towered over you!

We weren’t supposed to talk and woe betide you if you dared put your elbows on the table. They would stand behind you and say ‘tuck your wings in girls, elbows off the table’ which has stuck with me all these years.

Anyway, digression over.

Changing all At Once

I was amazed at how Blackpool is changing so quickly all at once. The Sands hotel is now built and doesn’t half make that corner look a lot nicer than it was. My reservation about both these hotels is that I hope they all have good soundproofing!

The Clifton has been covered in scaffolding for ages, and about time too. I don’t know what they are going to do for the finished refurb, so if anyone else knows please let me know.

The Winter Gardens conference centre building is also shooting up like mad. Maybe I’ve seen the big difference in them all as I haven’t been to Blackpool since the lockdown first began.

All these things will hopefully pull people in and let them see what Blackpool is up to. Maybe it will dispel the image that it is a tatty seaside town, past its day. It certainly isn’t is it. I just hope with the present virus that they can make a go of it, especially when you hear all about the doom and gloom that surrounds us at the moment.

If good old Blackpool keeps developing like this it will be great for the economy and people who need work in all these new buildings. I must say that I am itching to see them when they are finished and showing off their glory. All that needs to be done now is to get rid of the tat that there still is and gives Blackpool its bad name. Somehow I think that will never happen do you!?

Are you interested in all the weird and wonderful things that are happening and places to visit in the area around us?

Subscribe to the Visit Fylde Coast YouTube channel and hit the little bell at the side of the subscribe button. Set it to ‘all’ and you’ll get an alert when new videos are posted. You might even see me… oh here I am!