This is our bench. The wobbly bench. The bench Little A and I have shared many a ham sandwich and blueberry muffin picnic on. It sits between two large trees in the playground of our local park. The wobbly bench is a place to relax, to wonder, to dream, it's a rickety station from which to appreciate all the running, chasing, jumping, clamouring, and the very special place where our alter egos - Piggy (me) and Bunny (Little A) - come out to play.
Until a couple of weeks ago, that is, when upon returning to our favourite playground after a brief hiatus - I don't enjoy being coated in damp drizzle - we were greeted by this post apocalyptic sight...
Apart from a lone climbing frame, everything had been excavated, dismantled, removed. The toddler swings. Gone. The big children swings. Gone. The round-a-bout. Gone. The small climbing frame. Gone. Our wobbly bench. Obliterated. All that was left were heaps of upturned tarmac and rubble.
"The swings have gone Piggy."
"I know Bunny."
"Look, the big slide is still there."
"For the moment."
"Are they going to build new ones Piggy?"
"I hope so Bunny. I hope so."
The workmen eyed me with suspicion upon clocking my taking photos of their bombsite.
"Can I ask what you're doing love?" A fluorescent jacketed workman asks taking large strides in earth covered boots towards me.
"Erm, I'm just a mum, I, err, I'm taking pictures for my blog" I reply sheepishly.
"No worries, we sometimes get dodgy types taking pictures."
"Oh, okay. Fine." I'm left wondering why a 'dodgy type' would take a photo of a building site.
The playground is under renovation, which is a good thing, but according to mister workman, a job that was supposed to be completed within a month is now - surprise, surprise - taking longer than originally anticipated. Apparently the council is averse to footing the bill for digging up the tarmac. I just hope we have a new playground by next spring.
In the mean time Little A and I will have to kick leaves in another park.
R.I.P wobbly bench.
This is the first day of the seasonal linky One Week. Over the next five days (Monday till Friday) I'll be posting a photograph(s) and a few words that diarises and distills my experience of autumn '12. Take a peep at the details here. You can join in for one, two ... or the full five days. And don't forget to add #oneweek on Twitter, and comment on each others posts...
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I love that - great pics.Glad you are not a dodgy type ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you - not too dodgy ;0)
DeleteOh no, what happened to the lovely park? And what dodgy types do they get taking photos of a heap of mud? Glad to hear you're not one of them ;-)
ReplyDeleteYes quite. Where's the park gone? I'm a very respectable lady wot takes pictures of mud! :o).
DeleteOh, that's quite tragic to have all those memories ripped away by bulldozers :(
ReplyDeleteI hope the new bench has character and a bit of a wobble for old times' sake!
Will be linking up tomorrow x
Yes it was! I'm most miffed about it. We'll make the new bench have wobble! Fab you are linking up. X.
DeletePiggy and Bunny will go on to play another day! My contribution may be sketchy this week... perhaps more pictures than words as typing is driving me a bit nuts and i have tsken loads of autumn snaps in prep.
ReplyDeleteExactly! Stiff upper lip and all that! We will not be defeated. In your present condition - don't worry about words :o). Just up load your pictures!
DeleteWhat a shock! Hope everything is replaced soon. Will be linking up soon too X
ReplyDeleteYes it was! I wasn't very happy about it - neither was Little A. Fab that you are linking up! X.
DeleteThis traumatic experience seems to have passed very calmly between yourself and Bunny. I hope you have a good alternative park to play in. I remember that park time was always very special when my boys were little, how they enjoyed the climbing and spinning and swinging whilst I watched from a bench marveling at my new family.
ReplyDeleteBunny and I shall get passed this :o). Yes, we have a few other good alternatives around here. We love our local park too - It is an integral part of the familiar routine - a safe place to be!
DeleteOh no - RIP Wobbly Bench:0(. Sometimes I wonder what is happening to the local London parks. The 'fish' park (our local) has now lost it's little climbing frame house with no sign of being replaced, so sad, as Pip served some very good 'cino's from the 'cafe' at the top. Then there was the incident when they ripped out all the play equipment nr Stamford Brook without any resident consultation whatsoever. (Power to the people though...after an uproar they soon had to replae it all). Really hope your special park gets a fab makeover soon. We Londoners need our parks, it's so important for the children for the freedom, the socialisation, and for sardine squashed in London Mum's to get a breather. x
ReplyDeleteI know! I really hope they get it sorted soon, and at the very latest by next Spring :o(. It isn't helpful for us London mums when children are deprived of their outdoor play areas. I remember when the play equipment got replaced at Stamford Brook - I didn't realise that the council or whoever hadn't consulted the residents! X.
DeleteFrightening thinking of dodgy types hanging around play parks!! Fingers crossed for a shiny new bench for Spring!
ReplyDeleteYes, quite! Fingers crossed the play area gets rebuilt soon and we get a bench that wobbles!
Delete