WIDE WEDNESDAY - REMINISCING!

As Mr. HCB had been out all day yesterday, he said he would treat me to coffee at Jack’s this morning, so off we went, with our car boot loaded with jigsaws, many given to us by a friend, and a box full of junk treasures from my Quiet Room, and which someone might just want - to give to our favourite charity shop, DEBRA.  All the stuff was well received - and hopefully, will make lots of money for this very worthy charity.

We then made our way to Jack’s and just as we got in there, the door opened and Heather and Michael, friends we haven’t seen for a very long time came in.  They were on their way to the hairdressers, and had just popped in for a coffee, so we all sat together and had a good chat - and how lovely it was to see them again.  When I went to pay - Heather and Michael having left before us - I found that Michael had paid for us - how very kind - so thank you, Michael!

We then wandered down to the Co-op, which is in the old part of Swindon known as Old Town - to do some shopping and on the way passed this building so I immediately thought of Wide Wednesday.   Unfortunately, I couldn’t get any further back, as High Street is quite a busy thoroughfare, and although the pavement is wide, I didn’t think that standing in the middle of the road to get an even wider shot, would be a good idea

Many years ago - I worked at Number 6 High Street, when it was Bevan Ashford Solicitors, previously Kinnier & Co - whose origins can be traced back to the 19th Century - and it’s a Grade II Listed Building.  Although you can only see three steps up to the door, believe me, there were many, many more inside - and the theme for WidWed is “Steps”.  

I worked first of all in one of the attics on the 3rd floor, which was fine to get to if you didn’t have an armful of files, because in those days, there was no digital dictation!  I progressed “down” to the second floor, where I then worked for the Senior Partner and her office was just along from me, so that was much easier.  There was also a huge strong room down in the basement and you genuinely took your life in your hands going down the steps/stairs to get to that.  However, in those days, I was much younger and coped with steps/stairs much better!  

The property was sold and the owners of this beautiful old building, which now has 6 bedrooms, have done a lot to make it look “street smart”.   If you look carefully, you will see a tricycle with a huge box on the front and that’s where their children sit when they go out together.  I did stop and chat to them once and would love to go inside and see what they have done to it since they bought it.  You can also see on the wall, next to the Number 6, the place where the plaque stated the name of the firm.

In fact, when I got home and after I had looked at the shots, I realised that this building was where I had met Heather all those years ago, and we always got on well, and that friendship has continued, through many “ups and downs” for both of us.

Interestingly, I also worked in the property to the right of this building, Chalke Smith Brooks, also a firm of Solicitors, but fortunately, our office was on the ground floor, so no steps to go up and down.  This was a butchers shop many years ago - the old fashioned short with sawdust on the floor!  Yes, I am that old to be able to remember this!  

Seeing this property brought back some great memories - I must make sure that I send a link to my Blip today to Heather - and no doubt it will bring back some memories for her too.  Whilst we chatted over coffee, we reminisced about Lloyds Bank, a longstanding bank in Old Town, opposite 6 High Street, where Michael used to work, but which has now closed.  It is so sad to see the demise of many of the banks and shops in our High Streets, and sadly, there will probably be many more that close in the not-too-distant future.  

I guess that’s another sign I’m getting older, the way I reminisce about these sort of things, but if nothing else, it gets my brain working!