Interesting times

Well, today was interesting! Set off for a Garden Centre/Nursery extravangza with my friend Rebekah this morning. Knew the EDL were planning on holding a march in Sheffield, and also knew that there was to be a counter event about multiculturalism in Sheffield - our wonderful students led by president Abdi  produced a great video about it:



Didn't think it would affect us particularly although we do live very close to the City Centre. How wrong I was. As I was on my way home, Stuart sent me this photo:

Right outside our house. Apparently things were kicking off - the EDL had marched up West Street and the police were trying to keep them away from anti-facist demonstrators who were also close by.

I had real trouble getting anywhere close to the house as all the roads were blocked off. I had to sweet talk my way past two police blockades, and eventually got close to home to see this at the end of my road:

Talking my way past police on motorbikes was one thing. Decided that getting past 10 horses might be harder, so parked car and walked home!  But, then I had a chat with a lovely police officer in full riot gear who told me that it was his job to ensure business as usual for local residents, and moved the horses sideways so I could get the car past.

The horses were very impressive in their protective gear, and all the local residents were out on the street supporting the police

 

All of the roads nearby were blocked  as the police did a fantastic job:

The EDL had overrun one of our local pubs just up the road which promptly closed, called the police, who came and cleared the pub, and the thugs (scum, racist b******ds, whatever) started throwing bottles and glasses at anyone nearby. Suddenly they marched down West Street, and the line of police strengthened:

and they held them off, until the police decided to march them down the street under heavy escort. Suddenly all was calm again. It had all been a bit surreal. Police in riot gear, horses, motorbikes, and the EDL thugs. And all the time me and my neighbours were out on the street chatting to the police and taking pictures. I have to say - the police were fantastic. They knew exactly what they were doing, and I never felt anything other than safe. They were also very funny and chatty. My favourite comment was one of them telling me, when I asked where they were walking the EDL to, was "Grimsby, then we're going to keep them walking till they're all in the sea"

So, the EDL showed themselves up for what they are - racist thugs, and the multicultural event in the Peace Gardens passed without  hitch and was a calm and fun place to be.

Sheffield 1, EDL 0.

Sheffield in the Sun

Sheffield has really come alive today. The sun is shining, and the new students are starting to come back. Freshers are arriving today and tomorrow, and within the next couple of weeks about 40,000 students will come into the City.

Also today is the food festival. The City Centre is buzzing and packed.


Fargate is full of food stands selling all sorts of local produce, and giving away samples, including some very tasty Strawberry and Rhubarb vodka. The Peace Gardens has loads of pop up restaurants, selling everything from pizza and burgers to authentic Turkish food and freshly made sushi. There's even a beer tent selling Sheffield beer from the many breweries we have here. In the glorious sunshine I had a mohito, a mini Yorkshire pudding, an excellent burger and salad, and a selection of deserts washed down with a half of Farmers Blonde. You can't beat Sheffield in the sun! There were some pretty classy carved watermelons as well.

Olympic torch comes to sheffield

Last week on an unusually sunny Monday, the Olympic torch came past the University. The University Arms was packed with a BBQ and jazz band,



and when we arrived at 5.30, about an hour before the torch was expected, there were already crowds on the pavement, and spilling onto the road, despite the best efforts of the police.



It was a real carnival,atmosphere, and the police told us that the torch would change bearers at then of Favell Road, which is where we positioned ourselves. We kept up to date with what was happening via the police radios, and twitter, and the police were out in force, and the outriders were high fiving the crowd.



Suddenly, the first part of the convoy came past. From a bus carrying the torchbearers, one was dropped off, and he stood in the road just by us. He looked very happy, and in no time at all, everyone wanted their picture taken with him, especially our international students and he was a real hit with the Chinese girls. He was from Madrid, and his mum and Dad who spoke no English at all were standing next to us.


The sponsors lorries were next, with loud music and lots of free bottles of coke!



Eventually we saw the torch bearer coming up the road, and the torch party gave instructions to the bearer near us. We got a really good view of "the kiss" as the flame passed for one torch to another



After wishing each other good luck, he was off on his leg, surrounded by the security team from The Met.


It was then a mass exodus into town, hundreds of people walking down West Street and Division St, as the torch took a slightly longer route via Ecclesall Road. The City Centre was packed,



but we managed to get fairly close to the stage, and just about saw the final torchbearer of the day come in.



And the cauldron lit. Seb Coe was interviewed by Toby Foster,



And the afternoon finished with some singers and dancers round the flame



Eventually the torch team lit a Davy lamp to keep the flame going over night, and the cauldron was extinguished. All in all, a great experience.

Spectacular Morris

It's fairly obvious I'm into folk, and all things related to it, and that (especially if you know my twittername), I'm a clog dancer. I dance northwest clog morris with a team called Yorkshire Chandelier, and have been doing so for over 25 years!  I get really p****d off with the national pastime of knocking our heritage and our traditions, when most other countries take great pride in them.  We can all take a joke - and let's face it, if you admit to being a Morris Dancer you have to be able to :-)   -  but we should celebrate our folk heritage more. This weekend we had a great opportunity to when the National Morris Spectacular took place in Sheffield - about 50 teams of all different traditions danced all day around the city centre - I was pleased to be one of them, although I'm not sure my feet agreed with me at the end of the day. Here's some pictures, hopefully demonstrating the variety of different styles of morris.

And if after all that you want to see some really good, arty ones, Stuart has posted some here.

Sheffield City Centre

Walked into town yesterday, and because of the Great North run today, there's a continental market in town. Sheffield City Centre looking really good now, I like it when there's a buzz about the place.  There were loads of  street entertainers about, and some great food on offer.

Every year two plant sculptures make an appearance outside the Town Hall - Sam the Steelworker and Mary the Buffer Girl.

Today we're off on a family picnic in Clumber Park, and then off to a surprise couple of nights away for Stuart's birthday.