Hi,
Today was ‘leg day’ so that always brings a bit of joy – well, after the ouch at least 🙂 Likewise the day off to run errands, and just be out & about a bit.
I had two sets of boots that needed collecting and some parcels to return. In my defence, only one of the parcels was mine. The Ever Lovely Mrs J required a new dress for an up coming work thing, so we had a look, and I ordered two. A duo to nudge us into free postage, and because Lessons Learned 🙂, sometimes the thing you picked, doesn’t always work out.
Buildings & history
A few weeks back, the old Maid Marion way car park was demolished. It was an big old concrete tower that sat under the gaze of the castle. Part of the park straddled the dual carriageway, allowing access – at the time – to the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre.
Now, I won’t say I’m attached to the building. It’s not like it was attractive, stunning, or any of those things. But, it did have memories associated with it. Perhaps in the same way there was the wig shop in the arcade between Upper Parliament Street.
Talking of Upper Parliament Street, the old Co-op House remains – although it was repurposed decades ago. That was certainly a ‘go to’ shop for us as a family. Partly down to Dad’s staff discount, but sometimes we’d get a peak behind the scenes, as he new folk who worked their. I’ve never worked in retail, so seeing what magic – or moreover, hard work – goes into the shopping experience was interesting. Besides, I’m nosey 😁
[ NB: Sadly, I was never given the freedom of the shoe and fashion departments. Probably for the best given it was the 80s! 😁 ]
I certainly remember Dad parking up in it, and the novelty of us walking over the traffic, with the cars far below us. Not to mention the view the upper deck gave over south and east Nottingham. I think it drove home – no pun intended – the difference in architecture of a city to a small town boy like me.
Years later, I would park in their as a young man, and make the walk up the hill to Games Workshop up on Friar Lane. Yes, that shop was in the Broadmarsh for a time, but it moved in the mid 80s. In nerd news, about the time Games Workshop launched there Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader game. Jeez, that’s a while ago now!
Mrs J and I would park in their when we went into town for a meal. In later years, that would be the place when we had our first child, and again with our second.
From a trans point of view, while I usually pick side street parking these days, I did park up in the old place the once. I felt somewhat… jarring, maybe? given that usual goto had all that “history”, if you will. Crossing roads and walking the routes that would usually be in bloke shoes, not in heels or boots. The change in awareness, knowing that bloke mode comes with it’s free Don’t Mess With Me force field.
So the old place is gone and the view of the castle has returned to that part of the city. What comes next I’m not 100% sure. I guess like old trees falling in the forest, something new will arrive to replace it. Talking of woods, the Urban Park the city has put in, is very nice. I wonder if what was five lanes of traffic, might become a wide paved space, peppered with greenery? That might be nice.
On a conversational note, are there any places that are now gone, that have memories for you? I know Pink Punters was lost to a fire earlier this year, sadly. That seemed a rite of passage for many queer folk.
New ‘Do
Nicola who owns Wigeroo got back to me this week, and it looks like we’re on for a visit in late November.
It’ll be good to catch up, and also as we’ve had a number of new folk, a chance for them to ask questions about wig care….
Or maybe, just maybe, treat themselves to a new ‘do. 😉
Whatever you’re up to this weekend, I hope it goes well!
L x