Pretty Hot and Tempting

I was walking down Market Street a week ago and noticed the sign that said PHAT "Pretty Hot and Tempting".

At first I thought it was referring to the food on offer at the "Desi Chill" but whilst the sign for the former takeaway is still hung on the outside of the building, it is in fact now a ladies only gymnasium, sauna and fitness centre.

It used to be the Cheshire Cheese public house (2007) before it was closed in 2009 after which it first became the Cheshire Grill (2010) and then the Desi Chill (2011)

It isn't the first place in Hyde that has gone from pulling pints to pulling iron.

A contribution to signs, signs.

Shadow Shot Sunday: Douglas Street Playing Fields

Another autumn shadow shot - this time looking across the Douglas Street playing fields towards the back of houses in Nelson Street.

For Shadow Shot Sunday.

Blue Monday: Ewen Fields from the end of Leigh Street

I took this about 10am this morning. It was frosty overnight but the sun was shining.

The view is through a gap in the gate to the field that formerly belonged to Leigh Street school over towards the blue terrace and stands of Ewen Fields, home of Hyde F.C.

The "Tigers" used to be the reds but after a re-alignment with Manchester City they are now the blues.

See how this looked in October 2010.

A contribution to Blue Monday.

ABC Wednesday: K is for Kingston Football Ground

A rather isolated football ground accessible only by footpaths, seen here from the path leading from the towpath of the Peak Forest Canal.

On the other side it can be approached via the footpath that leads to Jet Amber Fields from Broomstairs Bridge alongside the River Tame.

For more Ks visit ABC Wednesday.

Fisherman by Bridge #5

The Peak Forest Canal runs for 15 miles between Ashton under Lyne and Whaley Bridge. It was built to link the Ashton Canal with the tramways that brought limestone from the Peak District quarries.

At bridge #5 the canal passes under Nursery Road and the M67 motorway. The fisherman is using live maggots as bait and looking for pike and roach.

See him from the opposite direction on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Sunday Bridges at San Francisco Bay Daily Photo.

Hyde Leisure Pool

On Walker Lane.

Operated by Tameside Sports Trust. The facilities include a 'Red Ripster' Aqua slide, wave machine, white water channel, water cannons, cafe and air conditioned eating area, fitness suite, dance studio and disabled changing rooms.

For Skywatch Friday.

Weekend Reflections: No Mirrors

"No Mirrors, No Lycra, No Men" so it says on the window of the new ladies only fitness and toning salon on Market Street.

I'm not certain, but I think it may be the same business that had recently moved into the former Crown Inn. Now they've re-located into premises on the corner of Edna Street previously occupied by a bathroom showroom.

There may be no mirrors on the inside but the plate-glass frontage acts like a mirror reflecting the buildings opposite.

You can see the whole building on Hyde DP Xtra.

You can see other reflections at Weekend Reflections.

Blue stands at Ewen Fields

Ewen Fields is the home of Hyde FC and Manchester City Reserves (or rather The Manchester City Elite Development Squad as they are now known). It used to be red but now it is blue.

There's a photo of the entrance on Hyde DP Xtra.

A brief history of Hyde FC can be found on Old Hyde.

The official website for the club is http://www.hydefc.co.uk/ and there is also a Facebook page for the club.

A contribution to Blue Monday.

Kitty at Hobson Moor Quarry

Photograph © Karl & Ali.

Is it a mural or just graffiti?

Karl & Ali found this at Hobson Moor Quarry, a popular climbing venue on the outskirts of Mottram-in-Longdendale.

For more information and a wider view of the quarry see Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Monday Murals.

Hyde FC the Champions

Hyde FC have just completed a successful season winning the Conference North championship.

Yesterday they took an open bus tour around Gee Cross to Hyde Town Hall to celebrate and I captured the scene as the bus came down Dowson Road.

A closer view can be seen on my photoblog sithenah.

A brief history of Hyde FC can be found on Old Hyde.

The official website for the club is http://www.hydefc.co.uk/ and there is also a Facebook page for the club.

Garden Boules

With scorching temperatures currently in Poland, what better way to relax than a game of garden boules.

Croft Millennium Green 2010

Today's photo is by Mavis Nichols. It was taken in July 2010 and shows a game of cricket on the Croft Millennium Green. Since then a Multi-Use Games Area has been constructed on the Green.

In the background is the Theatre Royal. Muriel is secretary of the Theatre Royal Onward Trust dedicated to seeing it eventually reopen.

I am away in St Annes until next Monday. A series of posts have been scheduled over the period but as I expect to be offline they won't be tweeted by me nor posted on Facebook.

Bring on the Irish!

All images courtesy of John Barrington

It may still be 5 months away...but Euro 2012 fever has already started. Toruń won't be a host city (that role is shared between Poznan, Wrocław, Gdańsk and Warsaw). However, that doesn't mean it won't see any football action!

TORUŃ DAILY PHOTO has learnt that over a 1,000 Irish fans will be making Toruń their base for a couple of weeks during Euro 2012! And why not? It makes sense...the Republic of Ireland will be playing 2 games in Poznan and one in Gdańsk. Toruń lies in a perfect central location between both cities. The city also offers much cheaper accommodation and beer!

Over the past few weeks, I've been in contact with quite a few of the fans...and am offering them loads of advice and tips about visiting Toruń. I personally can't wait until June now...looks as if Toruń will be party central for a few weeks! The Irish certainly know how to have a good time! Roll on June!!! Not sure if we have enough Guinness though!!! :-)

Many thanks to Irish football photographer John Barrington for personally allowing TORUŃ DAILY PHOTO to use his images.

***Irish fans (and indeed any other Toruń visitors): we have produced a special 2 page guide to some of the most well-known restaurants here in Toruń. Check it out here: http://freepdfhosting.com/bcbe21bcb2.pdf***

Football on Croft Millennium Green

I was walking down Henry Street the other day and was rather surprised to discover that a football pitch had been built on the middle of the Croft Millennium Green.

It wasn't there when I was by it in March.

Only one more day left to vote for the Best of Hyde 2011. View the twelve contenders at Best of Hyde 2011 and vote for your favourite three photographs. Voting is very close this year so the winner has yet to be determined. Voting closes 12 noon GMT, Friday 30th December 2011.

ABC Wednesday: V is for Voting

The time has come to vote for the best of Hyde DP 2011.

View the twelve contenders at Best of Hyde 2011 and vote for your favourite three photographs.

Voting closes 12 noon GMT, Friday 30th December 2011.

For more V posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Wheelie bins in Tinker's Passage

Tinker's Passage leads from Lumn Road down the side of St Thomas the Apostle church towards Ewen Fields the home of Hyde FC.



The wheelie bins belong to the houses on Boston Street on the left and are probably waiting to be emptied.

Sepia Scenes: Frames Snooker & Pool Hall

Frames Snooker & Pool Hall was housed in an old mill on Mount Street.



I'm not certain but I think it has closed down. A taxi-driver I asked yesterday said he hadn't heard of it closing but when I tried to telephone the advertised number for the club it was unobtainable.



Other parts of the mill are still used by a variety of small businesses.



A view of the mill from across the garden of nearby Chartists House can be seen on Hyde DP Xtra.



For more sepia visit Sepia Scenes.

Shadows across the Bowling Green

Shadows flow across the lower of the two summer bowling greens in Hyde Park.

In the background is the new pavilion built in 2008 to replace the old pavilion which was gutted by fire in 2007.

The other summer green is on the other side.

Hyde Park also has a winter green.

For more Sunday Shadows visit Hey Harriet.

Stonepit Reservoir Looking Overgrown

Stonepit Reservoir is now used by the Tameside Federation of Anglers.

It was fully restored about five years ago but now the vegetation seems to be taking it over somewhat.

Previous photographs of Stonepit Reservoir.

• July 20th 2006 Stonepit Reservoir
• September 6th 2006 Twigs & Barbed Wire
• September 14th 2006 Stonepit Reservoir Again
• December 14th 2006 Stonepit Reservoir Yet Again
• December 22nd 2006 A Glimpse of Stonepit Reservoir
• January 11th 2007 Reservoir Filling Up
• May 15th 2007 Reservoir Nearly Ready
• July 7th 2007 Waterfall flowing at Stonepit
• August 11th 2007 Stonepit Reservoir Not Quite Ready
• September 17th 2007 Missed the Birdie
• November 2nd 2007 A Licence to Fish
• November 23rd 2007 Another Sign at Stonepit
• February 27th 2008 A Frosty Morning at Stonepit Reservoir
• April 20th 2008 April Morning at Stonepit
• April 27th 2008 Heron at Stonepit
• May 4th 2008 Danger Deep Water
• May 11th 2008 Gone Fishing
• 4th February 2009 Round the Bend
• 12th March 2009 Ice on Stonepit Reservoir

Treetop Adventure

People come from all corners of Poland to try this exciting treetops assault course deep in the Barbarka forest (12km north of Toruń). Come and try it sometime...are you brave enough?