A couple of Sundays ago I vowed not to cycle round town again due to road traffic and general nincompoopery.
Well, as with most things I say, I contradicted myself just two short weekends later.
However, I did have the forethought not to go to that end of town. No. Stick to the quieter end. Which also happens to be the pedestrianised end. Who would have thought it?
Preston, in case you are not aware, is one of the nation’s forgotten about towns. Sorry, cities. It’s not a city. I dare anyone who has been to a proper city to seriously classify Preston as a city. Where’s the cathedral, eh? Call me a traditionalist.
What we do have is a lot of run down buildings and a growing homeless person’s population.
It’s honestly pretty disheartening to see so many tents and sleeping bags in shop doorways, sometimes two to a doorway. I’m not saying I have solutions, but it does make me wonder whether the powers that be (and God knows I pay them enough in taxes) have ever taken a trip around town early in the morning and seen the situation first hand. Another ‘victory’ for the bicycle.
Now, where am I going with this?
Well, through town, obviously.
But more specifically the sights one sees whilst cycling around.
This morning I saw a man in his duvet and slippers wandering into his local (I assume) newsagents.
Is it just me who had nightmares about this as a kid? You know the one: You’re sat in your school class, still in your underpants or whatever?
I’ve never seen anything like it.
And I’m convinced he wasn’t homeless, either. It woz the slippers wot gave it away.
I mean… fair play… but equally what the actual?
So not a usual write up then but I thought I’d capture my feelings.
Preston city centre: it’s a pretty good visual representation of the wider decline of England as best I can see. But hey, that’s just my opinion.
And once you head out into the country side, it’s actually blooming lovely. Shame so much of it is getting bulldozed and turned into motorways and housing estates.
Well I’ve cheered myself right up. Have a good weekend & thanks for reading!
