Sky Watch: Seasonal Weather

To start of the New Year with a truly seasonal photo, here is a view looking down across Greenfield from Quick Edge, Mossley, about 5 miles from the centre of Ashton.

The whispy whiteness of the streaky sky is almost a continuation of the whiteness of the ground! What you can't see is that was a bitterly cold wind blowing!

See Birds Eye View of this location.

A  Happy New Year  to all readers of this photo blog - today's post marks the end of the blog's second year!

Sky Watch is a regular weekly feature on this photo blog. It will link with websites all over the world with the general theme each week of looking upwards. Please take the opportunity to visit some of these other sites. I hope some new visitors have found their way here today, watching the skies!

Stamford Street

While the weather can't make its mind up whether to snow again, I have more photos to share with you of the snow in Ashton before Christmas. Today's photo is looking along Stamford Street from Old Square.

It was a Sunday, so most of the shops have their shutters down, as the Sunday opening of shops in other parts of the town centre has not generally reached Stamford Street.

The towers of the Old Baths and St Peters Church can be seen in the distance.

A view looking in the same direction a bit further along Stamford Street was seen here almost two years ago.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

Christmas Market

I know that all the snow has now melted, but here is a reminder of how Ashton Market looked about a week ago when the snow was falling. The stalls were still selling Christmassy things.

In the background is Ashton Town Hall.

(Click photo for larger versions.)

"Christmas Market" is my contribution to this week's "My World" feature. Please check out the other blogs participating in this week's My World.


See Birds Eye View of this location.

Christmas in The Arcades

Today's photo shows the Christmas lighting in The Arcades, Ashton's indoor shopping mall.

The great Christmas Shopping Rush has only just finished and already the Great January Sales rush has started, even though it is not January yet!

If you compare with last year's photo, you will notice that the space previously occupied by Woolworths is now empty.

Last year The Arcades had a special Christmas display featuring a yeti and other creatures. Unfortunately they haven't bothered with anything like that this year.

Town Hall Christmas Tree

Here is a photograph of the Christmas Tree next to the Town Hall steps, facing the open market.

In case you are wondering where all the snow has gone, I should point out that this photo was taken before the arrival of the snow. There were several Christmassy photos that I intended to show you last week, but were postponed so that I could share the snow pics with you.

Snow on Lily Lanes

This week's Sky Watch image shows the snow at Lily Lanes, the popular walking route to Hartshead Pike and Broadcarr.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

A  Merry   Christmas  to all followers of this blog! Thank you for visiting.

Sky Watch is a regular weekly feature on this photo blog. It links with websites all over the world with the general theme each week of looking upwards. Please take the opportunity to visit some of these other sites. I hope some new visitors have found their way here today, watching the skies!

Hartshead Pike in the Snow

Yet another double-bill of snow photos! Today's photos were taken on Hartshead Pike. Six inches of snow did not stop people from making the journey up to this local landmark. Of course, the opportunity to have a go at tobogganing down the grassy slopes can make the journey even better.

See Birds Eye View of this location.


The second photo is looking south-eastwards from Hartshead Pike with the low sun lighting up the Pennine moors.

Photo of the year 2009?

Can you remember which photos that appeared on this blog during 2009 you liked most?

Here's your chance to vote for your favourites!

If you are a recent visitor to this blog, perhaps you might like to spend a while clicking the "Older Posts" links at the bottom of each page and looking back through the photos.

You can let me know by posting a comment below this message.

Alternatively, you can reply to the topic on the ashton-under-lyne.com discussion forum (you need to be registered), or you can contact me by email through this page: http://www.ashton-under-lyne.com/contact.htm

If you can't remember what a particular photo was called or what month it was in, just describe the photo in some way.

You can choose up to three photos! If you can, please give the titles and dates.

Please let me know by January 10th. The winning photo will be shown on January 15th, at the same time as "Photos of the Year" on other photo blogs around the world.

Wintry Waterside

Another double-bill of snow photos today - this time down by the canal. This is the scene at Portland Basin, looking across the Ashton Canal, past the historic wooden boats towards the stone bridge at the junction leading to the Peak Forest Canal.

See Birds Eye View of this location.


The second view is of the Peak Forest Canal from the entrance to Portland Basin Marina.

See Birds Eye View of this location.

White World

Ashton has turned white this week with several snowfalls over the weekend. The first picture, taken on Sunday afternoon, shows the busy Wellington Road that runs through the town centre. On the left of the picture is the Market Hall and in the centre the Town Hall.

The photo shows a bus heading out of town. Less than an hour later, First Bus recalled all its buses to the depot, leaving shoppers to get home as best as they could. Luckily for many the Stagecoach buses continued to run.

See Birds Eye View of this location.



The second photo shows nearby Cowhill Lane and St James Church. There is plenty of room to park but you might have a problem knowing where the yellow lines are!

See Birds Eye View of this location.

(Click photos for larger versions.)

"White World" is my contribution to this week's "My World" feature. Please check out the other blogs participating in this week's My World.