Westgate Inn

The Westgate pub is funnily enough just across from the Westgate. The Inn was originally a private house and was converted in 1892. The pub used to be known as the Westgate Hotel until 2005 when it changed its name to the Westgate Inn to comply with EU regulations. It still has overnight accommodation and its rooms are named after famous people who have visited Winchester, such as Keats, Wren and Raleigh.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Favourite door

In Sussex Street I have a favourite door - this is it. This light green colour is all the rage for front doors in Winchester! And I just knew that this one would have a lovely festive garland on it

Home decor

Love those 'curtains', a new trend for 2012 perhaps! What do you think - students?

Light of Bengal

 It doesn't look like the classiest place, perhaps not the best choice for a first date? However the Light of Bengal does a very nice Indian take away and is the closest to home. Very useful when no-one wants to cook!

Quirky window

When I walk to my piano lessons I pass by this house which has this unusual sculpture in the bedroom window! Well the sculpture is not unusual in itself but its location is!

Merry Christmas

I know I have not kept up with the daily aspect of my blog recently! But thanks to everyone who has visited or commented its really appreciated. I think I am getting a new camera for Christmas so hopefully that will inspire me! Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Market has finished

The Christmas Market is over now, it seemed to be more popular than ever this year.

New bollards?

In the Brooks Centre there is a 'pop up shop art shop' where I noticed bollards being (re)painted. Here are in some of them in The Square.

Brooks Centre

Here's a photo of the Christmas tree at the Brooks Shopping Centre, it has some lovely colours. Here are some of last year's decorations at the shopping centre

Ducks

The Itchen River runs alongside the River Park Leisure Centre and there are always a lot of ducks around.

A wet Sunday

It rained a fair amount this afternoon as you can see from this photo. I have also noticed over the past few weeks more and more market stalls in the High Street, they are actually sometimes a bit of a nuisance, especially when it is as busy as it has been in the last few days, crossing from one side of the street to another becomes very difficult at times, and it seems that shop owners aren't too happy either.

Skaters

The ice rink in action this afternoon, pretty quiet which is good as skating with a whole bunch of people is not fun! The Independent newspaper has recently voted Winchester Ice Rink as the 2nd best in Britain!

War memorial

The poppy wreaths were still in place at the war memorial in front of the cathedral, looking very bright on the misty morning that I was there

Misty path

The path to the cathedral from The Square was shrouded in mist the other day. Here is the same view from last December!

Gravestones

A a misty morning at the cathedral

Cryptic Post!

I wish I could post more on what happened near our house 2 nights ago, but I'm not quite sure what it was! The label of this post gives some clues and I have been scouring local websites such as this one or this to find out what went on, but nothing so far! At the time it was very tempting to take photos but my other half said I might get in trouble (see here)! The next morning we found something highly suspicious in the location of this photo and believe it must be somehow connected to the previous night's activity...

Penguins on ice

A spotted these penguins waiting on the ice rink before it opened, I'm not quite sure what they are for, any ideas?

Houses of Hyde

These houses in Hyde Street have 4 stories by the looks of it, as you can see the basement 'window' at street level. One of these properties sold about a year ago for £345000. These houses have a flint and brick facade which quite a few houses in the Winchester area have.

Caracoli

This is a new coffee shop that has just opened in Winchester. Despite the recession apparently the owners had to wait 2 years for a vacant unit in the High Street. The previous occupants Shakeaway have recently moved round the corner.

The cafe also serves lovely cakes I'm reliably informed that are made down the road in Twyford.

Leaves

 

Leaves in the cathedral grounds

Grey

The weather the other day was very wet and grey at the cathedral.

Christmas Market

Some of the stalls at the Christmas market

Christmas

The Christmas market & ice rink are now open and in full swing. Some photos from there tomorrow.

Christmas Tree

In the High Street the Christmas tree has arrived along with the Christmas lights

New Co-op

I hadn't noticed this before, but just round the corner from me a new Co-Op small supermarket has opened. The new shop is in City Road on the way to the station and opened on 10 days ago. The store is open from 0700-2300 every day.

Autumn day

Last weekend outside the Cathedral

Christmas lights

Last week in the High Street the Christmas lights were put up. They are not switched on yet, that comes on Thursday. This year's 'celebrities' are the cast of the Cinderella Christmas pantomime, the University of Winchester Choir, girl group Vanity and the main attraction of the night will be last year’s X-Factor Contestants, The Reason 4.

Remembrance Sunday

 
At the Cathedral a service was held today to mark Remembrance Sunday when we remember those in the armed forces who have lost their lives in service. Just outside the Cathedral was this collection of crosses and poppies.

Chalet

 

In a few weeks time when the Christmas Market opens this chalet will be one of nearly 100 selling any number of things such as Christmas decorations, hats, food, drink, art, gifts, toys. The market is open from 24 November to 21 December

More Ice Rink

Another photo from the Ice Rink, pre-ice by the looks of things. Winchester last year was selling itself as the England's Christmas capital, and with the Christmas market, services and carols at the cathedral, pantomime etc it has a lot going on!

Ice Rink is coming

 

The Ice Rink is now being set up in the Cathedral grounds. It always seems very popular and opens on 24 November until 2 Janaury. I have been before and would like to go again if I could find a quiet session. Tickets cost up to £9.95 for an adult

Work in progress

Work is currently taking place in The Square and Market Street in Winchester to pedestrianise part of it. Some shop owners apparently aren't too happy about this as The Square is one of the last roads in Winchester city centre where shoppers can legally park their cars directly outside businesses.

Wolvesey

Please forgive my lack of posts over the last week or so! A trip to Venice followed by Brussels for work and various other things have left little time to go out and get some photos! I'm posting one I took a while back from the ruins of Wolvesey Castle where the Bishops of Winchester used to live, with the residence of the current Bishops just peaking over the right side of the ruins.


Normal service at the blog will resume shortly!

16th Birthday

It was my son's 16th birthday today, and I'm posting a 'personal' photo from our meal out at the Rimjhim Indian Restautant in Winchester.

I am away for the weekend, so won't be posting for a couple of days. For my nearest location whilst away see Venice Daily Photo

Garden by the river

The photo doesn't capture it too well but there are a number of houses that back onto the River Itchen and have gardens down to the river bank.

Christmas is coming!

Yesterday I mentioned Halloween and now I'm already onto Christmas! I noticed that near the Cathedral the chalets have appeared for the Christmas market already. The market doesn't open until 24 November, so we have a while yet, but I guess the chalets have been dropped off early!

Halloween on its way!

I always think of Halloween as an American invention, or at least much more popular in the States! As a kid back in the early 80's I did go trick or treating once and a lot of people didn't know seem to know what we were doing! There are a few houses with pumpkins outside but around the corner from me I spotted this house really taking the Halloween theme seriously!

Winnal Moors

Footpath through the Winnal Moors

Entrance to Winnall Moors

I've been a bit busy with work recently, hence stock photos with not much info! I hope to get out more this weekend!

Itchen River

Winnal Moors

St Giles Hill

Optical illusion

This photo was taken at Winnal Moors, the more I look at it, the more it all seems to merge into one! Or maybe it's just me!

King Alfred

The back of our King Alfred statue with the tower of the Guildhall to the left and a lovely blue sky from yesterday morning.

Swans

A photo of some swans on the bank of the River Itchen on the Winnal Moors this morning

Exhibition

Another photo from the current exhibition of animal drawings at Winchester Discovery Centre.

****I am away at the moment, back later today****