To market to market

I had to go down to town this morning to bank the refund cheque from British Gas.  Bastards still only refunded thirty two pounds when they took fifty.

I arrived five minutes before opening time and despite the cold, the sun was shining and the market was on.

Took this picture with the phone cam.  I used to shop a lot at Walsall market and can vouch for both the quality and price (good fish mongery and fruit and veg).

 

Walsall market was established in 1219 (four years after the Magna Carta was signed) and has occupied pretty much the same place since then.  In fact it is only in the past six months the market stalls have been pitched where this one is today in a controversial move to bring it right into the shopping area (as opposed to running up the hill towards the church).  For this with a penchant for history, see this PDF on the history of the market  Download Walsall_market

I saw a lady let herself into the bank a minute or so before 9:30, she closed the doors behing her.  Then a couple of minutes after, the doors slid open and I went in.  The doors closed bhind me and I saw there was no one in the bank.  When two girls came through an internal door and saw me standing there, they were visibly shocked.  I explained that the doors had opened on their own.  I still think they believe I prized them apart myself.

As you can see from the picture, we had a little snow overnight.  This caused the buses to stop running to any sort of timetable.  The ten o clock 51 didn't come and neither did the 377, but there was a 51 parked up all this time if you wanted to look at one.  When a 51 did arrive, all the people who'd been waiting since ten to ten (me included) got on and then we had a fifteen minute wait before we went anywhere.  I was glad to get home but still haven't got myself warm three hours later.

My brother managed to cement his position as techno Philistine on Saturday.  He called me to say he'd been out with Anita and bought a refurbished HD video recorder, but they think they're going to have to take it back, because it didn't come with any discs !

I then had to explain in some detail how HD recorders work and just how superb they are, no messing about with start and end times and single or long play...  I think I managed to convince him not to take it back for a refund.