Tag: Guildhall Square

Marathon views

Team Hamwic

The return to post-COVID normality continued on 24 April 2022, with the ABP Southampton Marathon. The last one, back in May 2019, had been eventful, and I was hoping for a more relaxing time. As usual, Commando was acting as a pacer for the Half Marathon, which meant I had access to the VIP changing rooms. This year they were in the MAST Mayflower Studios rather than across the road in the Sir James Matthews Building. Pre COVID, this was the NST Nuffield Southampton Theatre, which opened in February 2018 as part of the new Cultural Quarter. The original Nuffield Theatre opened on Highfield Campus in 1956. I was lucky enough to see a performance of The Tempest there back in my college days. As far as I can tell, the new theatre was supposed to run alongside the old rather than replace it. Sadly, both were victims of the pandemic and went into administration.

Continue reading Marathon views

Giant deckchairs and a beach in the city

31 July 2018

There is a giant deckchair trail going on in the city centre, part of an event called Seaside in the Square, centred around Guildhall Square where GO! Southampton have set up a beach, including imported golden sand. The event, planned to coincide with the school summer holidays, includes live music, beach yoga and an outdoor cinema in the evenings. The trail looked like a lot of fun so, today, CJ and I thought we’d go and check it out ourselves. We certainly had the weather for it. Continue reading Giant deckchairs and a beach in the city

A snowy walk of the walls

1 March 2018

In the battle between parks and walls the walls won. The snow seemed to be getting harder so staying close to nice warm shops and cafes seemed the sensible thing to do. The precinct was almost deserted. All the really sensible people were probably in WestQuay enjoying the warm and dry. We walked past and headed straight for Bargate. There was less snow than I’d hoped but the medieval gateway stood on an island of white with flurries of fat flakes fluttering all around it.  Continue reading A snowy walk of the walls

Postcards from Watts Park

7 March 2017

The day seemed to be getting warmer and warmer and, even though I’d taken my coat off and stuffed it in my bag near the start of our walk, I was overheating. After yomping into town, running an errand and wandering all over Andrews Park taking photographs, CJ and I were in need of a coffee. We both agreed to head for Artisan Coffee in Guildhall Square. Maybe we’d even have a cake.

Continue reading Postcards from Watts Park

missing zebras and painted shops

image

8 September 2016

A little bird told me that the zebra we hadn’t found yet was now in Marlands. Not Ticket To Ride, the zebra who took a swim in the Itchen, he is still being repaired, but Sam who was supposed to be in the park but wasn’t. Checking through my list I also realised there was also one more baby zebra we had somehow missed. Today, with blue sky and cotton wool clouds, seemed like a good day to go and find them.  Continue reading missing zebras and painted shops

Thieves, Vandals and a definitive answer

image

11 August 2016

The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe who are believed to have migrated from Southern Scandinavia during the second century BC. They moved around Europe establishing kingdoms and were, reputedly, barbarians who sacked and looted as they went. They gave their name to vandalism, or senseless destruction, particularly defacing artwork. Sadly, there are modern day vandals roaming around the city of Southampton. Some of them are also thieves. Not only have several of our lovely zebras been damaged, one has actually been stolen. This added a sense of urgency to our zebra hunting and today, while Commando went for his X-ray, we went to visit as many as we could while they were still there.  Continue reading Thieves, Vandals and a definitive answer