Sundown. November.

I took this photo at 4.50 pm. of the Primary School opposite our house.It was almost dark.  As you can see we are directly opposite the main school entrance. There are actually two schools on this site. Co-location as it is known. The one on the left-hand side past the main gate is a Special School. 
Each morning there are around 10  minibuses who deliver children to the latter school from all over the City. 
     It used to be just an Infant and Junior School in two single-storey separate buildings surrounded by the shady trees. Then the powers that be felled a lot of trees including 11 ancient oaks which had protected status. 
There were lots of protests but to no avail. One of the oaks that survived it's fearsome lopping can be seen like a lone sentinel in the photo. All this took place just over 10 years ago. The grounds are kept really well but the traffic it has generated is horrendous at certain times of the day.
    I don't mind the school being there and like to see the children coming and going. In the summer we can hear them singing in their hall, or practising for concerts. 
  Our two sons both went to the school years before this all took place. 
It was originally an ancient coppice wood. 
Today we went on our deferred trip to IKEA to look for a desk for the newly redecorated loft bedroom. Our grandchildren love it up there when they come to stay. Their beds are always ready. But the carpet needed replacing after over 20  years of use!!  It was a big upheaval as we had to empty everything out! I won't write about the boring details! 
      We were mesmerised by the sheer size of the store and by 12.30 pm having seen a desk and a couple of chairs, I was in need of a coffee! 
They are being delivered here first thing in the morning. Too heavy for us to put in the car. 
I have included a couple of extras of two showcased rooms, a bedsit, (for less than£1000! so the blurb read!) and a traditional lounge decorated for Christmas.
    It was like walking through a maze. I felt as if I'd gone miles at the other end. 
One more thing ticked off the list and and at a really reasonable price. 
Time for supper.