Saturday used to be a busy shopping day in most towns……but on line shopping and Covid hastened the decline of our favourite shops.What can towns do to brighten things up? Rainbow buses orcheerful toilets orhave an arts festival with sunshine thrown in.
Strange objects waiting for a performance later.
This looked interesting, but I don’t do queues, so I can’t tell you what it was like inside alas.
You will have to read the book instead.
What is it like to be a bee?Everywhere was busy.We may keep losing shops, but at least we have a permanent upside down house.I decided it was time I looked inside and out of the upside down window.
Find out about upside down houses and the arts festival.
32 thoughts on “Silly Saturday – Busy Bournemouth”
We were there a month ago. The number of boarded-up shops was shocking. Mrs B lived in Bmth before we were married. I worked in Poole. That’s how we met.
Yes I remember your local links. We moved here 18 years ago and the town centre is completely different. I met a confused couple on holiday the other day wondering where you actually bought clothes. I have been in town four times for non shopping reasons in the past 8 days, but have been pleasantly surprised how busy and buzzing it has been, perhaps all the new students. Thumbs up for Waterstones who are still there, have a nice cafe upstairs and I managed to find a perfect ( not a book ) easy to post birthday present; ironic to get excited because you actually manage to buy something!
We chose a lovely day so enjoyed walking along the front, but in the town itself, the only thing I bought was a burrito! It’s all service now. Salisbury has gone the same way.
I have a client who goes down there regularly and who assures me that Castle Point is still thriving but the last time we went over there… must have been before the stroke, which was almost 7 years ago.
Yes at least you can enjoy the sea and the lovely gardens. I could write a blog about Castlepoint – work is being done and shops blocked off from each other…
Yes! My friend’s late husband was working on the project and told them it was the wrong spot, the wrong sort of ground and they ignored him. We hardly ever went there, but now it has our only M&S; my mission was successful once I had taken the circuitous route to get in there. But I could not find my way into B&Q, upstairs or downstairs.
Ha ha Liz; yes I nearly fell over when I walked in. Apparently you can book upside down houses for parties – I can’t imagine a whole evening upside down!
Hello Jill, yes there is a story behind our local buses, but that’s for another blog. I went in the upside down house with trepidation, but it was okay if you took it slowly.
Ha ha Pete, yes there was an upside down house at the top end of town a good few years back and a person came out saying ‘Don’t go in there, it made me feel sick!’ So my late husband certainly wasn’t going to pay five pounds to feel sick and we never went in. I felt better than I expected. Now I wonder if i will ever go on the zip wire from the pier to the beach…
I think I can imagine what it is like to be a Bee without queueing to go into that place to find out. But I do have a soft spot for the upside-down house, I have to admit.
Best wishes, Pete.
It seems a lot of businesses gave up during lockdowns an restrictions. Luckily the small towns here seem to be recovering. There are very few large chain stores, just lots of small independent shops and although some sites are still empty there re enough start ups to keep things humming.
That’s good to hear. Where I actually live, Southbourne Grove is full of interesting shops and eateries, improved a lot since we move here 18 years ago.
Times and Tides of a Beachwriter 
We were there a month ago. The number of boarded-up shops was shocking. Mrs B lived in Bmth before we were married. I worked in Poole. That’s how we met.
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Yes I remember your local links. We moved here 18 years ago and the town centre is completely different. I met a confused couple on holiday the other day wondering where you actually bought clothes. I have been in town four times for non shopping reasons in the past 8 days, but have been pleasantly surprised how busy and buzzing it has been, perhaps all the new students. Thumbs up for Waterstones who are still there, have a nice cafe upstairs and I managed to find a perfect ( not a book ) easy to post birthday present; ironic to get excited because you actually manage to buy something!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We chose a lovely day so enjoyed walking along the front, but in the town itself, the only thing I bought was a burrito! It’s all service now. Salisbury has gone the same way.
I have a client who goes down there regularly and who assures me that Castle Point is still thriving but the last time we went over there… must have been before the stroke, which was almost 7 years ago.
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Yes at least you can enjoy the sea and the lovely gardens. I could write a blog about Castlepoint – work is being done and shops blocked off from each other…
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still? Jeez, they were propping up that car poark last time we went! Monumental screw-up!
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Yes! My friend’s late husband was working on the project and told them it was the wrong spot, the wrong sort of ground and they ignored him. We hardly ever went there, but now it has our only M&S; my mission was successful once I had taken the circuitous route to get in there. But I could not find my way into B&Q, upstairs or downstairs.
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Tell me you had a go at dancing on the ceiling while you were in there.
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Of course Doug.
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I’ve never understood the appeal of the upsidedown house. I can feel disoriented without any help. 😉
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Ha ha Liz; yes I nearly fell over when I walked in. Apparently you can book upside down houses for parties – I can’t imagine a whole evening upside down!
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So, if all the furniture is on the ceiling, and the floor is the ceiling, where is one supposed to sit?
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My favourite sort of party, NOT, standing all the time.
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🙂
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I have never seen a literal upside down house but have been living in a figurative one for a long time.
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Yes Geoff, if someone apologises for their house being ‘upside down’ perhaps they really mean it – hmm gives me an idea for a story!
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Go for it!
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The rainbow bus is a great idea! Would love to see more buses used featuring artists in the United States.
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Parties in an upside-down house would have to be strictly stand-up affairs, I would think. And dancing on the ceiling, perhaps.
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Yes Audrey, dancing on the ceiling and holding your drinks all the time!
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I LOVE the rainbow buses and the upside-down house, though I think I would come out feeling a bit dizzy and disoriented!
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Hello Jill, yes there is a story behind our local buses, but that’s for another blog. I went in the upside down house with trepidation, but it was okay if you took it slowly.
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I’m intrigued and will keep an eye out for that other post!
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I don’t think I’ve ever been in an upside-down house, but I’m surprised how uncomfortable it makes me feel just looking at pictures.
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Ha ha Pete, yes there was an upside down house at the top end of town a good few years back and a person came out saying ‘Don’t go in there, it made me feel sick!’ So my late husband certainly wasn’t going to pay five pounds to feel sick and we never went in. I felt better than I expected. Now I wonder if i will ever go on the zip wire from the pier to the beach…
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I think I can imagine what it is like to be a Bee without queueing to go into that place to find out. But I do have a soft spot for the upside-down house, I have to admit.
Best wishes, Pete.
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The upside-down flowers made me laugh. Well, it’s good that people are doing things to lift spirits.
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Yes Deborah we all want a bit of fun.
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It seems a lot of businesses gave up during lockdowns an restrictions. Luckily the small towns here seem to be recovering. There are very few large chain stores, just lots of small independent shops and although some sites are still empty there re enough start ups to keep things humming.
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That’s good to hear. Where I actually live, Southbourne Grove is full of interesting shops and eateries, improved a lot since we move here 18 years ago.
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Life is much more fun with good cafes!
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That’s for sure.
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Wow those buildings there are fascinating and damn very creative architecture there😍😍🔥
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