Friday, May 11, 2007
19th April Trip to the local post office Part 3.
Probably the most frequent route back from Southgate Parade takes us along Southgate Drive and over the footbridge crossing Brighton Road and passing the school where both Jamie and Ashley were pupils and where I did a lot of teaching.
This is view down Southgate Drive from one end of the shops. It is one of the roads we might drive to reach the town centre or to go to Three Bridges and beyond.
The footbridge over Brighton Road. The bridge always makes me think of Jamie.
The bridge appeared during the 2 days that I was in hospital giving birth, March 1969. It wasn't there on the Monday when I walked to the shops and when the ambulance brought me home on the Thursday we passed underneath it. Jamie was born on the Tuesday.
This is the view from the bridge, looking South. Our house is about a quarter of a mile away on the right.
Just over the bridge is the local community centre. And close by is a children's playground.
This is the main entrance to Southgate West School - now named Hilltop School. When we were involved with the school there was no fencing around the grounds.
The playground at the school. I like the fact that shelters have been provided for the children who want to spend their free time quietly. There is also an area for climbing close by.
The roads in this part of Southgate are named after Sussex villages - our Ditchling Hill is nothing like the real Ditchling Hill with its beautiful views. But we do have lots of trees to enjoy.
We are quite close to home now - at the bottom of Ditchling Hill and looking across Downland Drive.
From Downland Drive we can look down Wensleydale - the roads on this side of Southgate are named after Yorkshire and Lake District Dales.
The road is on the left side of this grassy area with oak trees. We use this road to drive to our back entrance to the house. We use the back door far more than we use the front door.
The Half Moon pub has been a Brighton Road landmark for many years - a hundred years ago it was not painted pink!
It is a popular pub, but it is many years since we have been inside - although it is only a couple of minutes walk from home.
