Aylesbury, England

[Sundae]

A walk to the shop, to show you where I live.
From what I gatjer, a Council Estate equals The Projects.
I'm not sure that's true, so I thought a quick vid might be helpful.


The poor mike makes it sound mucho windy, but wouldn't you know, as soon as I got home I tried to fly Tiger's new kite (to replace the parachute that got strung up in a tree) and couldn't get the damn thing beyong arm's length!

[Trilby]

thanks for the walking tour of your 'hood.

I don't think Council Estates=Projects.

1) Where's the gun violence?

2) where are the drug dealers?

3) Where are the women with 6 babies on the porch?

4) Where are the pitt bulls?

5) Why are there cars and garages? People in the projects use the bus.

6) Why is there a shop you can walk to that doesn't have coolies hanging out front harassing potential customers?

7) Where is the sound of sirens and wailing?

8) where is the television crew?

9) where is the vomit?

10) Where is the ambulance?

[DanaC]

Depends on the council estate.

I have known a few like you describe Bri. The distinction between estates and the projects is probably more to do with the different history behind them. Ours weren't developed to house the poorest, so much as provide affordable housing to all, including the poorest. So, the estates have been working-class homes for a long time. They vary greatly from area to area. Places with a large underclass tend to have more roudy and troublesome estates.

I lived on the edge of one in Salford in the 90s. Used to have to walk through to the little precint in the centre to use the cashpoint (ATM). I recall walking past the wreck of a burned out car, still smoking, and with a small gang of kids clambering about and smashing what was left of the glass. There was the obligatory collection of unleashed fighting and guard dogs wandering about.

The main estate in the ward I represent as a councillor is like the land that time forgot. It is perched on the top of a hill, the back of the estate literally overlooking a cliff. It feels like a forgotten place. And it sounds like a war zone at night. The police more or less leave it alone unless they're actually called out. They've given up patrolling it entirely. When the fire brigade have to go up there they face gangs of youngsters throwing rocks at the fire truck windows as they approach. Nobody goes to the shops after dark if they can help it. The kids have fuck all to do and basically wander the streets looking for trouble. Every other house is dealing with addiction problems. The entire place simmers with tension.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Depends on the council estate.

I have known a few like you describe Bri. The distinction between estates and the projects is probably more to do with the different history behind them. Ours weren't developed to house the poorest, so much as provide affordable housing to all, including the poorest. So, the estates have been working-class homes for a long time. They vary greatly from area to area. Places with a large underclass tend to have more roudy and troublesome estates.

I lived on the edge of one in Salford in the 90s. Used to have to walk through to the little precint in the centre to use the cashpoint (ATM). I recall walking past the wreck of a burned out car, still smoking, and with a small gang of kids clambering about and smashing what was left of the glass. There was the obligatory collection of unleashed fighting and guard dogs wandering about.

The main estate in the ward I represent as a councillor is like the land that time forgot. It is perched on the top of a hill, the back of the estate literally overlooking a cliff. It feels like a forgotten place. And it sounds like a war zone at night. The police more or less leave it alone unless they're actually called out. They've given up patrolling it entirely. When the fire brigade have to go up there they face gangs of youngsters throwing rocks at the fire truck windows as they approach. Nobody goes to the shops after dark if they can help it. The kids have fuck all to do and basically wander the streets looking for trouble. Every other house is dealing with addiction problems. The entire place simmers with tension.

"Harry Brown". Love this flick.

[Trilby]

Dana, your description made me think of the TrainsPotting song, Miles End:

We didn't have no where to live, / we didn't have nowhere to go
'til someone said / "I know this place off Burditt Road."
It was on the fifteenth floor, / it had a board across the door.
It took an hour / to pry it off and get inside. / It smelt as if someone had died;
the living-room was full of flies, / the kitchen sink was blocked,
the bathroom sink not there at all. / Ooh, / it's a mess alright, / yes it's
Mile End. / And now we're living in the sky! / I'd never thought I'd live so
high, / just like Heaven / (if it didn't look like Hell.)
The lift is always full of piss, / the fifth floor landing smells of fish
(not just on Friday, / every single other day.)
Below the kids come out tonight, / they kick a ball and have a fight
and maybe shoot somebody if they lose at pool.
Ooh, / it's a mess alright, / yes it's / Mile End.
[mumbled mutterings... you love it...]
Oo-ooh / Nobody wants to be your friend
'cause you're not from round here, / ooh / as if that was
something to be proud about. / The pearly king of the Isle of Dogs
feels up children in the bogs. / Down by the playing fields,
someone sets a car on fire I guess you have to go right down
before you understand just how, / how low,
how low a human being can go. / Ooh, / it's a mess alright, / yes it's
Mile End. / (don't do that! Leave it out!) / Bababa...
Lalala...

[Pete Zicato]

Thanks for the vid, Sundae. I enjoy getting a taste of England.

If it wouldn't get you into trouble, I'd love to see a vid of the inside of the shop. Is it more of a convenience store or would people expect to do most of their weekly shopping there?

[Gravdigr]

Merkins would prolly call that an apartment complex. It looks like you're at least a generation from becoming "The Projects". Most of our Projects start as apartment complexes...

[Sundae]

I hadn't watched it back - I might not have posted it if I had. What hideous sound quality! I pretty much remember what I said (rambling as it was) and even I can't work out some of it.

I'll make another one when it's not blowing a gale force wind.

Pete - it's definitely a convenience store.
Some of the old people on the estate might do quite a bit of their shopping there, and you could live from it as it has a decent selection. But most people use it for newspapers, mil, booze, fags, lottery tickets. With the added benefit that if you've run out of something (from baking powder to toilet paper to garlic) they'll probably have it in stock as well.

When I make my next film, I'll iclude a bit of the shop, but I assume they're the same anyway.

Bri - if I didn't think it would have repercussions I'd take a few shots of the garden belonging to our neighbours-across-the-close. It's still a council property (most of the older houses you saw in my vid are now owner-occupied) and is a classic "council tenant" garden. Where all that's growing is the rust on the abandoned toys and kitchen appliances...

[Sundae]

Pete, as it turns out something quite hideous happened in that shop just the other week. I'd be wary of trying to film in there now that they are all on high alert for anything odd going on. I'll try it later this year.

From the Bucks Herald:
Horror as Man Stabs Himself With Bottle in Aylesbury Shop

So, yesterday was Fathers Day.
But before that, Ste came over to drop off a card and pressie.
I had the camera on the wrong setting, (oop!) so it's blurry.
But I did nothing to enhance the colour and I just thought the blue of his eyes came out really well.

Ste + Diz.

[Carruthers]

Not too far away from the unfortunate incident outlined by Sundae (above)

Camera feels the heat after second attack

One of my colleagues, at my last place of work, was heading home when he was caught by the above camera.
Not sure how fast he was going, but the limit is 30mph so the camera was probably set at 35mph.

Now, if you have read the article, you will see that the camera is positioned on the central reservation (median).
Overnight, the powers that be turned the camera to face in the opposite direction. My erstwhile colleague, in a rush to return to his place of work the following morning, triggered the camera again!

I'm not sure what the penalties were, but I believe that a fine of £60 plus three penalty points on the licence is usual.

I can categorically state that the gentleman concerned was not guilty of arson as he died about three years ago. Although perhaps he intervened from the great beyond.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by Sundae

Pete, as it turns out something quite hideous happened in that shop just the other week.

From the Bucks Herald:
Horror as Man Stabs Himself With Bottle in Aylesbury Shop

Looked at their site for thirty minutes, couldn't find that story.

But, I did find this one. I lol'd. Twice.

BTW, how do I get the gov't to buy weed for me?

[Pete Zicato]

Originally Posted by Sundae

Pete, as it turns out something quite hideous happened in that shop just the other week. I'd be wary of trying to film in there now that they are all on high alert for anything odd going on. I'll try it later this year.

Yikes. Yes. Best wait.

[Sundae]

So. Off to the Dairy Maid for lunch.
We've been there a couple of times recently, so I bought a book of vouchers from eBay with various deals in it. Of course they were given o9ut/ sent out free, but we didn't get one and anyway it cost me 49p.
So we got a free round of drinks (about £9 worth) and everyone was very pleased with me.

Also, Dad got a free pint glass (Number 1 Dad) which he is also pleased with.

No starters. The meals were HUUGE!.
Dad had the rump steak. Ordered it well done. Fool. It was like a piece of shoe leather. But that is how he likes it and he ate every bit.
Mum was the piggiest of us all and had Surf and Turf and Cluck. Steak, scampi and chicken. She couldn't finish it. I had meant to bring a tupperware box for leftovers, but forgot. The only thing she left in the end was her steak - same as Dad, she ordered it well done. I declined it on behalf of Diz.

[Sundae]

I had steak and ribs. So yeah, I was a pig too.
But I didn't have any tea afterwards, because I ate the lot (apart from the grilled tomato) and was stuffed as a tick.

I asked for my steak rare, in the hope it would be medium rare. It was, and in fact was the nicest steak I have had in a long, long time.
Absolutely gorgeous.

We only go to this place because it is the nearest pub to the house, but we've been very lucky with our meals. Oh except the last time, when Mum moaned about everything. But the portions are large, the staff attentive and the prices prettty good.

Yumyum

[Sundae]

Someone got the dessert order wrong.
I won't say who, but it is someone who posts on here.

There are two different Raspberry Ripple desserts.
I know - stupid, right?
One of them is tiny and costs 79p.
The other is a full sized dessert.

The nameless person ordered her own dessert, only to find that they'd run out. She then changed her order, and ordered for both her parents. Only in the confusion (not) she ordered the really ickle dessrt for Dad.

Look, I did offer to go back up and change the order. I would have been happy to do that. But Dad doesn't really like "fuss". He realised he was getting the tiny dessert because of the price, and accepted it.

I just felt awful when my Knickerbocker Glory turned up, alongside his teeny weeny Raspberry Ripple

Still, back home and as you can see, all was forgiven.
Happy Farters Day for yesterday Dads.