Winter Break 2009

First day back after a four day break by the coast and the opportunity to do some things I have never experienced since a very young boy on holiday with my Parents.

Up to the age of seven we used to holiday each year at Bispham in Blackpool for two weeks late June early July, then later in the year October at my Aunties caravan in Cleveleys for a week. As well as the annual street or Sunday School coach trip to see the Illuminations.

The trip to the caravan always allowed us to visit the world famous Blackpool Illuminations and a ride on one of the trams which are decorated in the lights. The Illuminations run from the end of August until the second week in November and are widely known as the greatest free show it has run since 1879 and attracts millions of extra tourists each year as the summer season draws to a close. The lights’ cable and wiring stretches more than 74 miles (120km) and there are more than 400,000 lamps of various types and styles. Electricity consumption has been reduced by nearly half in recent years with the introduction of the latest technology low voltage neon, lamps and micro processor controls.

So this year we decided to do an open deck double decker bus trip through through the lights, well on a cold November evening, just four of us did! but it did keep dry and the high winds of the previous days calmed.

The visit also allowed us to visit The Blackpool Tower, it was opened in 1894 after the Mayor had visitited the Great Exhibition in Paris. The Tower is 518 feet 9 inches tall and can be seen from a 30 mile radius, it features a lift which takes you to the glass windowed observation level at 380 feet in just 90 seconds. This level also features a glassed floor looking to the base of the Tower called the "Walk of Faith" many visitors refuse or do anything to avoid walking across it. You also have the opportunity to climb circular stairs for another three levels and the platforms are open to the elements but offer you an amazing view as far as The Lake District. I remember going up the lift when I was very young, but this time I braved also the stairs and wind to the top! If wind speeds go above 45mph The Tower lift is closed for safety reasons. The building itself also features a circus, aquarium, 3D cinema, entertainments, three restaurants and the famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom. The ballroom floor is 120ft x 120ft and is made up of 30,602 blocks of mahogany, oak and walnut. Above the stage is the inscription, "Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear" from the poem Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare. Each crystal chandelier in the ballroom can be lowered to the floor to be cleaned which takes over a week. From 1930 until his retirement in 1970 the resident organist was Reginald Dixon known affectionately as "Mr. Blackpool". The first Wurlitzer organ was installed in 1929, but it was replaced in 1935 by one designed by Reginald Dixon.

So you could say a bracing four days by the sea and a chance to relax bringing back some happy memories.