In late February 2020 I made a trip by bus to Mountsorrel to visit Stonehurst Farm. Buses used to be part of my way of life with regards to transportation; however, this would be the last time that I rode a bus outside of Loughborough to date, as within weeks lockdown hit, and since then (apart from one more bus journey from the town centre to my house) I haven't ridden even one bus (or any other motor vehicle, for that matter). But enough of that now, here we go... Ashby Road The Rushes Lemyngton Street Cineworld The Aumberry Gap site, with pile-driving in operation Southfields Park Entrance to the Shelthorpe Estate The Great Central Railway, with the Trinity Gardens estate in the background The Trinity Gardens Estate across the railway. The field between Loughborough Road and the railway is being developed by William Davis Homes Loughborough Road, Mountsorrel Loughborough Road, Quorn The Shelthorpe Estate entrance The new entrance to Southfields Park High Street (For much of this...

  This next church building that I will exhibit is Saint Mary's Catholic Church on Ashby Road.    The church building was built in 1833 and extended (and given its present façade) in 1926. It is a Grade II listed building, and was listed on the 5th of November 1984.  (Are you thinking what I'm thinking... the fifth of November, Bonfire Night? The night that a bunch of Catholics tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament 379 years previously to the very day? But then again, the date that it was listed could as well have been purely coincidental, as it was on this day in 1984 that several other buildings were listed.) In one way, the church is unusual as it is perhaps the only Catholic church I can really think of that is named after the Virgin Mary that isn't called something like 'Our Lady of this and that'! (Although churches named 'Our Lady' are most common within the Roman Catholic church, it appears that this naming tradition isn't unique to Catholic ...

 The next series of photos were taken in late March 2021. Traffic continued to flow in both directions along the future westbound lanes; the eastbound lanes are unfinished in this picture. The bare slopes on the side of Junction 23 of the M1. The A512, looking eastward towards Loughborough. Earthworks near Junction 23. One of the slip ramps of the M1. One can only truly grasp how much of a long way down it is down the slope by being here! Looking east from Junction 23 towards the new roundabout. The new roundabout under construction. A new drainage pond next to the new roundabout. The new eastbound lanes of the A512. Looking eastwards towards the new roundabout. Looking west towards the M1. The new roundabout. Looking towards the M1. The stub of road on the north side of the roundabout that will eventually form the new main route through the Garendon housing estate.

 In mid-February this year, on Old Ashby Road, at the corner of Naseby Drive, I saw what looked like a leafless bush with a few interesting-looking orange flowers. (Which one isn't a bush?) However, upon closer inspection... ...it turned out to be just the rusting metal frame of an old mattress tied to itself with orange cable ties. Disappointing, though perhaps it does give a measure of artistic inspiration: something like it could be put in a contemporary art museum to masquerade as a leafless bush with flowers, just like here!

 Here are some assorted pictures of streets here and there in or near Loughborough. Rupert Brooke Road, in Thorpe Acre, was built in the early 1950s as part of the Knightthorpe Estate, and the road is named after the poet Rupert Brooke (1887-1915). To the left is the end of Knightthorpe Road and to the right is Thorpe Hill. (10/20) Burton Street. The painted Georgian house in the centre looks way nicer than its dull-looking neighbour. (11/20) Castledine Street. This roughly 250-metre long private road (that's better than a few other private roads I've seen in town) has some interesting looking houses, as well as a strange octagonal garage and a plaque marking the location of the residence of the suffragettes Kathleen and Nora Corcoran. (11/20) Garton Road. In the distance is Our Lady's Convent, belonging to the Rosminian order (The Sisters of Providence). The building itself looks surprisingly modern (as I'm sure it is) for a nunnery. (11/20) Ledbury Road, with a nice v...