The Chilterns

This will be an enlarged supermarket to complement the new shopping centre. It is ten minutes walk east from my house.

However, the local shops are on this road.

Here’s one of the local tyre depots seen from across a parking lot. But I was more interested in the clouds.

Another parking lot, again my head was in the clouds.

Yet another parking lot, made available from a demolition. St Birinus Church in the background, where all the big West Indian funerals take place, blocking the traffic on the local shopping street (see above).

I like the Bridge Street Sawmills. They don’t waste money on smart frontage, but they are still in business.

The following photos are all taken within a few yards of my house. This one shows where the sawdust comes out from a local furniture factory. They don’t make furniture “from scratch”. There is only one factory in town which still does that, making solid wood tables, chairs and so forth.

The Saracen’s Head, a pub built in 1895. Since the district is now 95% inhabited by Saracens (Muslims) who don’t drink, its bars closed more than ten years ago.

The Saracen’s Head from the rear, with a view of The Pastures. As you see there is no pasture land there now. Our house is down at the bottom of the valley.

This old factory has been extensively “done up” (renovated).

This is now the largest factory building left in town I think, after the Broomwade factory was demolished in the last few months. That one was used for a scene in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and I hear that Johnny Depp nearly caused fainting of female staff at the local supermarket when he went there to buy a snack in between filming.

This workshop stands opposite the derelict factory in the previous photo. In the foreground are things designed to sit on roofs, catch sunlight and take it down into illuminate interiors. They also make windcatchers, using an idea known for a thousand years to architects in the Middle East. They extract heat and stale air but unlike air-conditioning use no energy. The owner (pictured) is soon to retire. He doesn’t think anyone will take over this business (making fibreglass & plastic components). He can’t get any white person to work for him. They don’t like the hard work and the fumes. I nearly offered him my own services. But then I reflected that I don’t want to work in a factory and breathe acrid fumes either.

This is taken from a dead-end part of our street. It shows the old school, now a community centre, with the old school yard in foreground.

Here’s another view of the old school, with Burt’s Hill in the background.

The factory opposite our house. It produces doors and laminated worktops, e.g. for kitchens.

View from my backyard, showing the row of houses adjoining mine.

My backyard.

Just after I’d taken down the dry clothes from the washing line. I love the trees. In the corner are my tomato plants.

View of the Pastures and my next-door neighbour’s backyard, from study window.

Where I wrote this post.