Things To Do in Bridgend Town On a Wet Friday Morning

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

In the end it became all very sitcomesque. A few weeks back I had booked MOT test for the car in a garage near where I work in Bridgend. Not living in the area anymore it was booked for about one o'clock last Friday before starting my afternoon/evening work shift. The wife would later come down to pay the bill.

However some days after that realised that I'd forgotten to book for a service as well. Not a problem. Contacted them to arrange it. On confirming that it was booked the garage added a sting.

"Please bring the car in at eight thirty".

Where I live in near Penarth is about a thirty five minutes car journey to Bridgend. On public transport however it's an eternity. I had I realised roughly five hours to spend in the town. A place without any museum or some place of entertainment for the morning. What was worse was that it was raining. And when I say raining it was as if it was auditioning to become a monsoon. Indeed just to add a sprinkle to the general deluge when I left the garage stepped into a puddle. So was going to be spending the time with a sodden right foot before doing anything else.

This is remember July

This was going to be fun.

Here then. If you have to spend five hours in Bridgend Town on a wet Friday morning is a guide of Things to Do.

Look For Changes Since The Last Visit: Regular readers of this blog will know how I've monitored the decline of the town mainly due I would argue to the arrogant incompetence of the Labour council since I last chatted about this there have been some differences. In the good news category Bridgend Town has resumed its status as a two Greggs the Baker town and there is a new bar/coffee place/lounge that is where the Queen Victoria pub was which had been closed down for years.

In a pub context what is a lounge

However

This was either a sweet or one of those smelly soap shops

There is this.

Not Closing But Moving

This clothing company is moving with the local Poundland. Whilst I don't know how they will handle this cohabitation what it does mean is that from the middle of next month a major retail space will be empty.

Was mainly a clothing store

Must admit had been suspecting this store was going to close for a while now as it was offering half price on everything in stock. Still sad to see it go. It's been around for years.

Not a closure I know but you may remember that I've spoken previously of the Nolton Arcade in the town. The small shopping arcade where apart from the two shops that back along to the street every shop has been closed down. Well nothing has changed. But when I went to have a look noticed this.

"Thank you for visiting the arcade" it says. How sad is that?

And of course what is probably the oldest disused McDonald's is still there.

Popular with Penguins

Have a breakfast: In Bridgend there are many cafes that will sell, depending on your viewpoint, a full English,Welsh or large breakfast. Not an easy choice but eventually went for Ty Coffi near the bus station.

Ty Coffi

The View From Ty Coffi

So what should you do whilst waiting for your full English/Welsh/Large breakfast?

Read a Russian novel of course

And as for the breakfast itself.

Large it certainly was

Not only was it so full I couldn't finish it. I was too full to have lunch later afterwards. And for the record very tasty.

And after you've had a full breakfast you need a walk. Bridgend Town can provide such a service. Thankfully the weather was dry for about two hours in the morning for me to do this.

The Library Walk: I have written before of how Bridgend Labour Council moved the town centre library to outside the town centre. I decided to walk between the two buildings.

From Here

To this. Part Leisure Centre Part Library

It took me ten minutes.

Now I'm not going to say that I took the quickest route. You might be able to do it in nine. Still that means that if you live in the other side of town a walk to the library could take at least twenty minutes and possibly more. A decision of Bridgend Labour madness.

River Watching: Bridgend Town has the rivers of Ogmore and Ewenny that runs through it. Sometimes it's rather therapeutic just to cross a bridge and watch the river flow through.

Worth Hanging Around For A While

Visit a Church: Even for an atheist like me. I do prefer traditional looking churches. Bridgend Town has a worthy one in Saint Mary's

Now that's what I call a church

When I visited there was a service being performed there. Sparsely attended. Must admit I wish I could believe in an afterlife. But no. Once we are gone we are gone.

And inside

Seagull watching: Regular readers of this blog will know that I'm not a fan of seagulls. Still when you see them as far inland as Bridgend Town it's a warning of bad weather to come. And must admit to admire the fact that they're not afraid to wander the streets even when humans are present.

Bridgend Town Seagull Action

And even more seagull action

Buy a part owned Penguin paperback and have a capperchino: Must admit for old times sake I wandered around the charity shops in the town looking for a vintage Penguin paperback. Amazingly I found one. Go Down Moses by William Faulkner. So went to a nearby café to celebrate.

Civilised Living

It was about this time twelveish that the weather turned on the taps again. Indeed it poured so much there was a moment when I wondered whether the town would be flooded.

Nervy

Amazingly the five hours flew drenchingly by and even better the car passed with flying colours.

Until the next time.