A few weeks ago, hubby went out in the evening to pick up some takeaway. It wasn't even 7pm when he came back and said town look really sad and deserted, kinda eerie. Since then, he's been buggy me to go and do a night walk to see for myself. Yesterday we had to get some groceries, and we decided to go out later on in the day when it was dark, just for the fun of it. It was actually quite nice!!
前幾個星期有一晚老公出外買晚餐，回來跟我說晚上市內情況很悲慘， 著我要出外逛逛看看。昨天晚上我們抵著寒冷，晚間出外散步。 我覺得情況沒他說得的悲哀， 反而我覺得很溫馨。 聖誕雖然過了，但當地政府還留著街上的燈飾。 加上有街燈和 一些店內發出的燈火， 讓整個環境變得很柔和。
我住的小鎮近海邊 ，而我從來很少在夜間到海邊散步。 原來夜間景是很美麗。 海裏雖然漆黑一片， 但小鎮裏最有名的景點 ， 沿著開了燈的行人步道伸延到海裏面， 這個景很漂亮喔。 雖然當時只有負1度，而手機更說感覺上是負11度， 除了脫下手套拍照那一刻手像冰僵了，基本上也不覺得太冷。
Although Christmas has gone, they (whoever's responsible) have kept the lights up. Nothing fancy, just strands of simple lights running down either side of the high street. That, along with some street lights, and lights from some of the shop windows is enough to light up the high street making it rather welcoming on a cold winter's night.
This is the first time I've seen the high street like this. Normally, there are at least a few people around during daytime, even during these Covid days. Shoppers visiting the few shops that are still allowed to stay open, people sitting on the benches sipping a coffee, and some elderlies just sitting there watching the world go by, maybe reminding themselves they're not on their in this lonely world. Tonight it was so quiet, and clean, that's another thing I noticed. I mean, we don't have a dirty high street, but there's always going to be the odd bit of rubbish flying around when there are people about.
The street art on this shopfront was painted last year when Covid started. This used to be Marks & Spencer, a large UK department store, they closed down in town a few years ago even before Covid hit us. It's a tribute to all the front line workers and people who continue to support us during these hard times. The backdrop is against the seafront which is where we are based.
Superdrug is a UK drug store, I go there quite often for my toiletries. I found it quite amusing that someone had written Covid 19 on their shop front out of all shops.
The rest of town was very very quiet and it was only six'ish. I could count the number of people around with one hand.
I continued walking towards the seafront which is what our town is famed for, if you can use fame to describe us at all. Perhaps focal point would be more apt. The Winter Gardens Pavillion is where all the shows and exhibitions are held, but I've never been inside in all my entire life living here. It faces the seafront....
And this gorgeous view of the pier. I've never seen the pier at night time and was really taken back at how magnificent it looks. The Grand Pier is without a doubt the town's most famous landmark. That's mainly because we don't have anything else, but it does it job and lives up to its name. Even during daytime, the view is very impressive as it extends 366 meters out into the see. Those lights are from the pavilion walkway.
Night time photography is so difficult especially when you're a noob like me and only have a mobile phone. Despite the cold, I spent a considerable amount of time trying to get some decent shots. It took me some courage to brave the cold and come out at night time and I didn't want to waste the opportunity.
After a while, I didn't feel the cold too much as I was focusing on taking the photos. Except.... when I had to take off my glove for a long period of time to use my mobile phone. My hand was freezing!!!! The temperature? According to my phone it was -1 degrees feeling like -11 degrees!
Ok, I know that's not cold compared to many places further up north, but us Brits down south aren't so well equipped for the cold, and because us Brits always like to talk and moan about the weather!!! Don't you just love us!