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Published: December 22nd 2021
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Without the need to find a new parking space at 9am meant that this morning was a more leisurely affair, which is just as well because, unusually for me, I slept in in till 8.30am! Yesterday's large breakfast had been a bit overfacing, so this morning, after cereals, I just had a 'Queens Hotel bagel' - a toasted bagel filled with a suasage patty smothered in cheese, bacon, fried egg and all dressed with sweet chilli jam.
Around 10am I sauntered out and after retrieving the car, drove a couple of miles to the Fairhaven sandhills, parking not far from the house in which George Formby lived for many years until his death in 1961. There is a blue plaque on the gatestone explaining this. Dressing up warmly in my big coat I took a wander amongst the sandhills and dunes. Although there were quite a few dog walkers around, I didn't see anyone dressed like this. With the temperature only registering 4 degrees C and a stiff north wind blowing it was a tad nippy for a swimsuit!
Cobwebs blown away I continued on to St Annes and ambled around the promenade and town. On the promenade there
was more activity than I expected, and people were playing pitch and putt and some of the refreshment and novelty emporium kiosks were open, thought the miniature railway and trampolines were not. No-one was occupying any of the beach huts either.
Stiffening up after my lengthy walk, and the cold, I sought refuge in No. 15, an impressive looking pub on the main street. It was very quiet inside with only four or five drinkers, and after ordering a pint of J W Lees 'Plum Pudding Ale', recommended by the barman, I found a cosy corner and supped it slowly whilst reading a book I'd brought with me. His advice had been sound and I was tempted to have a second, but I was feeling a bit peckish so I headed off to the chip shop on the pier for a chip barm (chip teacake to any of my 'southern' readers!). Determined to do the seaside visitor thing properly, I made for one of the splendid Victorian cast iron pagoda style shelters on the prom to eat it. An action which very quickly attracted the attention of a few dozen seagulls and several Starlings! Being inside the open fronted
shelter meant that the seagulls kept their distance, noisily protesting their inability to pluck the chip barm out of my hand, but the Starlings were braver, coming really close until one of the was perched on the seat only a few inches from me. He/she was very happy to take morsels out of my hand and it was a real pleasure to be so close to them.
Snack over I headed back to the hotel for some warmth and a snooze, followed by a bit of TV watching and reading until at 6pm I stirred myself to go and look for an evening meal. I had in mind to return to the pub I went in yesterday, as having perused the menu whilst I was there I remembered they offered a burger and a pint for only £6.95. Stepping out of the hotel front door into the rain I had a choice of turning either left or right to get there. At this point fate took a hand, I turned left and noticed an empty car parking space right next to the hotel down the side street. Ideal I though, as I'd had to park about a third of
a mile away. I quickly reasoned that as it was forecast to be raining in the morning, it would be better to get wet at the end of the day rather than at the start of it, so I set out at a quick march to retrieve the car and move it to the coveted parking spot. Ten minutes later I was parked up and had a big smile on my face, setting off again on foot toward my intended meal. The smile didn't last long however, as at the end of the street I spotted something lying on the ground. It turned out to be a woman's purse, with a considerable amount of money and cards in it. I looked round but could see no-one to whom it might belong. Not knowing if there was a police station in Lytham I looked around for a shop or pub that might be open and a few yards away spotted a Tesco Extra. Asking in there I was told that the nearest police station was in St Annes, four miles away. There was nothing for it but to go back to the car and drive over there. I'd been given a
general idea of where to go so i thought to myself 'I just have to look out for a blue lamp' as all police stations have one outside them. Turning into the street I thought it was on I could indeed see a blue lamp in the distance. Great, job done! But no, as I got closer several more appeared! Some bright spark had decided to fit every street light in that in part of St Annes with a blue light! I parked up and got out of the car, only to find that where I'd parked was a taxi waiting rank, so I had to get back in and move a bit further up the road.
I couldn't see anything with 'POLICE STATION' written on it, so I crossed the road nearly getting knocked down by a car being driven without any light on. I mentioned this fact to them and the lady driver was very apologetic saying that in her other car they came on automatically! Shortly after, I saw someone who looked like a local and asked them where the police station was. He pointed back to the building outside which I'd parked 'but it's shut at this time of night' he added.
So, a wasted journey, and guess what! When I got back to Lytham there was nowhere to park AGAIN!!!
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