IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Pine Road, BOURNEMOUTH, BH9 1NB

The planted area to the right used to house the groundsman's shed, when these were employed in every park. There was also a paddling pool around to the right, this side of the climbing frame. Out of picture to the left is a fenced basketball hard court. Two days after heavy snow earlier in the week had all thawed, this fresh lot fell from the north this morning, despite the fact that the day started rainy, with large puddles all around. By nightfall, the main carriageways of all roads were clear of snow and ice, so this was a very heavy fall considering that it started and had almost disappeared on the same day.

The playground section of Image has had the fence replaced in recent years. Two days after heavy snow earlier in the week had all thawed, this fresh lot fell from the north this morning, despite the fact that the day started rainy, with large puddles all around. By nightfall, the main carriageways of all roads were clear of snow and ice, so this was a very heavy fall considering that it started and had almost disappeared on the same day.

While its parallel neighbours are pretty straight, this section of Portland road contains a fairly pronounced double bend at its steepest bit. Caution was required just now, in these conditions. Two days after heavy snow earlier in the week had all thawed, this fresh lot fell from the north this morning, despite the fact that the day started rainy, with large puddles all around. By nightfall, the main carriageways of all roads were clear of snow and ice, so this was a very heavy fall considering that it started and had almost disappeared on the same day.

These gates have had pine-tree-shaped sections added to the original railings. Image ground is named after Pine Road, which runs alongside behind the trees in the background, rather than either Bemister or Calvin Roads, which meet on this corner. Two days after heavy snow earlier in the week had all thawed, this fresh lot fell from the north this morning, despite the fact that the day started rainy, with large puddles all around. By nightfall, the main carriageways of all roads were clear of snow and ice, so this was a very heavy fall considering that it started and had almost disappeared on the same day.

These steps lead down from Pine Road into Image

There used to be a florist and a newsagent, and a conservatory/glazing place on the corner that laid dormant for years. Now, the Grape Vine comprises off licence and newsagent, while the shop next door is an electrical and fire protection stockist. There was once also a post office here but that closed on 16 March 1985. Seen here a few minutes after noon on Christmas Day, the shop is open for two hours for all those last-minute things that have slipped people's minds.

Vandals have scribed the letters TB above the BT livery on this side of the phone box outside Image

This George V-reign box stands outside Image, which included a post office till the mid-1980s. Opposite, we see two former shops – the right-hand one was Ray's Hairdressing until a few years ago, while its neighbour was a video hire shop which was converted to residential probably at the beginning of the 90s.

This house, on the corner of Muscliffe and Pine Roads, is about to be demolished – probably to make way for more flats.

The big freeze of the last couple of days is gradually turning into the slow thaw. The considerable snow is starting to melt as fresh falls turn into hail and sleet. It is about 9 o’clock and there is hardly anyone about – fortunately, because you are deploying a peculiar gait which is difficult to achieve and difficult to describe. Each footstep creates a squelchy sound and an imprint behind. The newly melted water creates a constant trickling sound as it flows into drains – this and soft thuds from small lumps of semi-thawed snow falling from roofs and cars are the only sounds that join one’s footsteps in breaking the silence: it brings to my mind the atmosphere of being in an ill-lit cave. The texture of the slush on the roads is similar to that of the road surface, so when you step out to cross the road you sink half an inch lower than you thought you would. This is not a night for wearing those jeans that are really just that ½ inch too long for you, and when a car approaches you give it a wide berth lest you get sprinkled with cold, muddy sleet. All that to pop out to buy the paper.