Hi peeps hope the start to your week is going well so far?, yesterday we had a mummy and daughter day to the city to hit ‘primarny’ for our daytime shorts and vests for our upcoming holiday, Why are primarks clothes sizing so odd, you can have the same size label on the same item of clothing but each item of clothing is complety sized different (that’s another blog i’m guessing).

We headed into Carlisle on the train, great its not busy, I was dreading it being full with it being bank holiday Monday here in the UK, town is lovely and quiet just what i like, so daughter finds a dress she likes, remember were only getting shorts for by the pool, anyway she heads to the changing room to try on the dress, as she comes out, (i’m sat outside in my wheelchair staring at the door), we turn around and holy cow have 20 buses just pulled up outside the shop, its packed where did all these people come from, i’m wondering am i asleep? am i dreaming? nope its a mad for all dash, its the invasion of the clothes shoppers …

So what should have been a quick in and out turned into an obstacle course of meandering around ‘humans’ avoiding kids running around, forgetting about even trying to get near a table or rack of clothes, the purpose of getting up early and arriving early was to avoid the queue’s, i guess everyone else had the same idea.

When we go shopping why do we turn into monsters from another planet (if they exist), manners just go out of the window, i always say a smile is available in every language, there is no need not to smile or even nod out of respect. As the saying goes smile and the world smiles with you..

I have to say though the 2 highlights of my day were…. drum-roll please… the woman who was walking towards me chatting to her friend not even looking where she was going, (bear in mind the aisle is narrow so not really anywhere for me to move to), so we stop as not to ‘crash’ into her, she only comes to a stop when she walks into me, she looks down at where I’m sat and says are you going move? Me ‘yeah sure il just jump out of my chair and fold it up and breathe in and stand as far into the shelves as I can do YOU can get past 2by2’.. ‘or you could just pass by me in single file and keep your eyes on where your going’.. Geezzz.

2.. at the train doors waiting for them to open, I spot 2 seats close to where the chair would be stored and close to the exit, I mention this to my daughter quite loudly as the engine had kicked in, maybe a bit to loud think the whole station could hear me.. oopppss.. as the doors open I stand up from my chair to climb on the train woman behind me (who clearly heard what I said) pushes me back, jumps on the train and grabs the 2 seats I had mentioned throwing her case on the 2nd seat while giving me a dirty look, Geezzz what is wrong with some people, until I became disabled I didn’t realise just how 1 person can make you feel so demoralised and disadvantaged against the whole world…

But apart from those 2 incidents we had a great day out.

Umm have i just ranted or talked about my day out im not sure lol, maybe i need coffee or sleep i think i will go with the latter.

I thought i would close with a little bit of history about Carlisle, I have taken it all from wiki as i just don’t have the time at the moment to write it all out but i hope you enjoying reading up on its history, at a later date i will add another blog with up to date pictures aside old day Carlisle and chat when i next go into the city., To show its development over time.

I will be doing a history blog on where i live and its connections to the Titanic , which i hope you will enjoy.

CARLISLE
is a historic city and the county town of Cumbria. Historically in Cumberland, it is also the administrative centre of the City of Carlisle district in North West England. Carlisle is located at the confluence of the rivers Eden, Caldew and Petteril, 10 miles (16 km) south of the Scottish border.^[5] It is the largest settlement in the county of Cumbria, and serves as the administrative centre for both Carlisle City Council and Cumbria County Council. At the time of the 2001 census, the population of Carlisle was 71,773, with 100,734 living in the wider city. Ten years later, at the 2011 census, the city’s population had risen to 75,306, with 107,524 in the wider city.^[6]

The early history of Carlisle is marked by its status as a Roman settlement, established to serve the forts on Hadrian’s Wall.^[7]During the Middle Ages, because of its proximity to the Kingdom of Scotland, Carlisle became an important military stronghold; Carlisle Castle, still relatively intact, was built in 1092 by William Rufus, and once served as a prison for Mary, Queen of Scots. The castle now houses the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and the Border Regiment Museum. In the early 12th century, Henry I allowed the foundation of a priory in Carlisle. The town gained the status of a city when its diocese was formed in 1133, and the priory became Carlisle Cathedral.

The introduction of textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution began a process of socioeconomic transformation in Carlisle, which developed into a densely populated mill town. This, combined with its strategic position, allowed for the development of Carlisle as an important railway town, with seven railway companies sharing Carlisle railway station.

Nicknamed the Great Border City,^[8] Carlisle today is the main cultural, commercial and industrial centre for north Cumbria. It is home to the main campuses of the University of Cumbria and a variety of museums and heritage centres. The former County Borough of Carlisle had held city status until the Local Government Act 1972 was enacted in 1974.

Have a great rest of the week xx

photos: clip art and google search