Despite the relatively unpredictable weather over the last few weeks, local artist Ken White has done stirling work on repainting his mural. Swindon Centric talked to Ken last week and he remarked that he would dart for cover into the small container when the rain began, fortunately none of the repainting has run in the wet weather.
Swindon Centric Says ; Ken expected to be finished by the end of today.
Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.
10. She's the grandmother-in-chief.
9. The clock is running.
8. Road humps be damned, here I go!
7. It smells worse than Destiny's armpit.
6. You say potato, I say ; potential chip-based meal.
5. They are mounting like a pile of unsold cardboard recycling.
4. He wrote the whole series and didn't go mad.
3. I know all the lyrics, but don't know the tune.
2. The cholesterol is washing over me right now.
And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...
1. When they misspelt my job, 'booker' on the website, I had to change my phone number.
Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.
Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.
10. I faked an English accent all the way home.
9. A stand-up bloke if there ever was one.
8. Would you like to get a cup of coffee?
7. There are no depths to which he will plunge.
6. You have to tell her the truth, that one leg is shorter than the other.
5. Don't sit there, that seat is cursed.
4. Deep, deep down, I wonder what she's thinking.
3. Your sense of style could put the fear of the devil into Donna Karan.
2. The flooding is a ploy, there is a secret plot afoot in this town.
And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...
1. He died with his balloon on.
Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.
There seems to be some (more than usual) confusion emerging about a town centre developer going into administration this weekend.
As Swindon Centric reported Thursday, Swindon Borough Council officially announced that the Regent Place plan was dead, due to "Modus Ventures' financial difficulties" (read financial difficulties as, in administration) on Tuesday. This was despite Modus being reported as in administration on 29th of May by the BBC.
Swindon Centric Says ; So, there isn't ANOTHER developer going bust, it's still Modus. Meanwhile, we're still waiting for our town centre.
No, the headline doesn't refer to a service being withdrawn, indeed, some buses seem to be thriving, in stark contrast to others.
According to their Annual Report for the year to April, Stagecoach West lists the number 49 route (Swindon to Trowbridge via Devizes), the 'Trans-Wilts Express' as seeing a 14.8% increase in passengers.
Hooray to all staff and passengers!
Swindon Centric Says ; Will this inspire Swindon Borough Council to reinvigorate the Groundwell Park & Ride and make it work? Probably not.
Swindon Borough Council have now officially announced that the Regent Place scheme, championed by Modus, is dead.
However we're assured that the Union Square (old Fleming Way Post Office site) scheme, to be carried out by Muse, is "moving ahead".
But this small piece of news from last year shows an ironic twist. A celebratory lunch (was it on expenses? Surely not!), organised by Anne Snelgrove MP wasn't attended by the group it was arranged for, Muse (in recognition of the Union Square deal). So instead, the crustless sandwiches and little cakes were in honour of the people from Modus, celebrating the Regent's Regent Place deal.
Oh the irony.
Swindon Centric Says ; If the Union Square scheme gets built, I'll give Anne Snelgrove and everyone at the New Swindon Company a jam donut*. Probably, depending on the current economic conditions and what the response of the market is to a donut-based investment in the vibrant hub that is Swindon.
* Offer is subject to withdrawal at anytime.
Swindon Centric is wondering if the wedding gossip will turn up on next week's top ten list.
Congratulations to Elaine and Mark.
Swindon Centric Says ; New route, exact 'yes' or 'no' only please, no waiting.
Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.
10. I would only ever consider that if I was a major lead in a soap.
9. I hear they got it worse in the street opposite.
8. Grab your cockles and lets go.
7. The 14, 29, then 1 and 1A.
6. Why does everyone have to like The Beatles?
5. Sarah Perry is hotter than a bag of chips.
4. I'm meant to get off at the stop after the shopping centre, which one?
3. Keep your eyes on me and see if I lie.
2. I have a selection of options available, but I can't remember any of them.
And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...
1. Would you care to start with a cocktail, or should we just get down to it?
Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.
The New Swindon Company may have been around since the town centre didn't quite look as bad as it does now, but not much has happened of note since then.
So Swindon Centric declares that the best part of anything in the town centre is the repainting of the Golden Lion Bridge Mural by it's creator, Ken White.
Swindon Centric Says ; You can tell this isn't a New Swindon Company project, because this one is actually going to happen.
Where else should we have a new generation of murals in Swindon? Ideas welcome.
Letting you know that local band, The Boy Done Good, have their debut single, Walk On Woman (the video of which is above) out now, to download on itunes, play.com, plus the B-side, You See Her, the video for which is below.
Swindon Centric Says ; As she comes and she goes, walk on woman.
As Komadori has noted, the council seem to be taking a very picky attitude to anyone who's a street trader in the town centre, which in a recession seems foolhardy.
The one saving grace, at least, for the minute, is the delaying on making a decision until the committee has more information (a shocking flash of honesty there).
Swindon Centric Says ; Similar to pulling a plughole out of a lifeboat after the ship has sunk and the lifeboat is all you have. Those street traders better invest in some armbands.
Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.
10. She's hot, take a look.
9. Have you tried readjusting your RAM?
8. The icing thicken rather too quickly for my liking.
7. She'll go into the next year with a new tutor and an old attitude.
6. I shouted, threw a few things, seemed to do the trick.
5. We're at a category 3, when it goes up to 4, things will start falling from the sky.
4. I'm sick of people going on about the weather, but it has been hot, hasn't it?
3. Once they reach the end of the route the driver gets out and has a little dance.
2. Your positive thoughts have been duly noted but I'm still scared to death.
And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...
1. I can't believe I've just had a letter from Marks & Sparks recalling my three year old hammock, due to weather deterioration.
Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.
Searching for pictures for use in the bus list for last week and the week before, I stumbled on Graham Carter's blog, with the fantastic name The Foghorn Bloghorn.
Swindon Centric Says ; There's a link to Graham's site in the right hand column and here's one too, a great addition to Swindon's online presence.
Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.
10. It's their golden years, more like gold-plated.
9. I couldn't even spell the word, never mind say it.
8. It's a fares boundary, like a church, it's hallowed and special ground.
7. By now the situation's a level playing field.
6. It's a press release from a marketing company dressed up in a news story's clothes.
5. There are several reasons I didn't go, none of which are true.
4. Whether they might try and tell, you should never try and bake a fishcake.
3. I'm easy, but don't put that around, I have a reputation to uphold.
2. They didn't have any unconcentrated orange juice, so I had a double-brandy.
And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...
1. His car sounds like a washing machine which could be a cunning marketing ploy, but he never said so if it was.
Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.
