Nelson Street, Stroud

This afternoon I read that Stroud has been chosen by the compilers of a list for the Times newspaper as the "nineteenth most cool place to live in the UK". Hmmmm. Only nineteenth? And what values are they basing this on? Eighteenth in the list was Cheltenham's Montpellier, which is close to millionaire territory in terms of residential property. As for the rest? Hebden Bridge came in at no 1, with its giant hedgehog parade, and Louth, where fellow blipper Trotsky lives, was no.12.

It certainly was cool today, bracing even! Work and shopping were uneventful, apart from finding a Maigret anthology for CleanSteve in the Oxfam shop. I went to Waitrose for a free tea, and then headed up the hill towards home. Luckily I had snapped this building on the way to work: it's a house in Nelson street that has been used as a clinic or fostering agency since I've been here. It's had many incarnations, but is an older building with sloping floors and high attics, and the outer fabric is not allowed to be altered substantially. I assisted on a course there once, but we moved mid-term, as the landlord was prone not just to moving the furniture but also the goalposts, by installing partitions and new facilities without thought for the weekend occupants.

The building next door to this one was knocked down in 1994, and planning permission was sought to build new dwellings. Some houses were built, and the area in front was left a wilderness. It has now been planted up as an attractive garden area, with a memorial bench dedicated to a child. The coloured bollards you can see to the right are what separates it from Nelson street, one of the arteries to town from Old Stroud, which lies above the present day high street. I hope to blip the little garden when it is looking lively again. This may take some time. Tomorrow is the last day of term, but snow is forecast. Personally, I hope it'll be raining hot cross buns.

PS I have made a total pig's ear of erasing the power lines!