Today’s the day they call Get Ready Day ... T

THE picture of Huddersfield Market Place in 1960 that was used last week, complete with underground toilets and a graph showing the number and severity of road accidents, prompted Dave Whitworth from Mount to get in touch on two counts.

“What you might not realise is that there is quite a large electricity sub-station down there also. The sub-station remains although the toilets have been sealed off. It can only be accessed now via some removable covers in the paved area.

“There was a set of urinals to the right of them but these had to be blocked off due to rather ‘unpleasant’ liquid seeping into the sub-station which is at a lower level.

“As a former YEB engineer I’ve been in them numerous times. The substation was originally installed by Huddersfield Corporation, probably in the 1920s, which is why the fountain would have had to be moved.

“Incidentally, my wife Von was one of the persons injured in the list on the board next to the paper seller. We’d had a motorbike accident.”

When the underground lavatories were built in 1906 workmen discovered earlier excavations of cellars with vaulted roofs. It’s believed they could HERE has been publicity for World Gratitude Day which takes place on Thursday.

This started in 1965 as a way of inspiring and reminding people about the importance of gratitude.

The idea is to be nice to people, smile and say hello and express gratitude for the small things in life we too often take for granted. Like food, a roof over our heads and a good pub.

Charles Dickens said: “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”

If that sounds a bit formal, just be grateful for a glass of wine and the smiles of children in the street.

While this day of observance is worthy enough to be backed by the UN, it prompted me to check what other days are happening at this time of year because we don’t want to miss the chance for a good binge, which is lucky because Binge Day is next Monday.

I also discovered that today is Get Ready Day.

This is when we practice how we would react in case of natural disaster, pandemic, invasion and other crises. Easy really: make sure your cellar is packed with baked beans and bottled water, you have enough boards to nail over your windows have been built 80 years before – in the 1820s – in an attempt to provide four wells of drinking water. Back then, there were no hot and cold pipes and well water was all folk had.

It was speculated that the plan didn’t work because of a slight gradient between St George’s Square and the Market Place so the work was paved over.

Huddersfield Corporation did, however, add a drinking fountain in 1888 with four dog troughs around the base, and four marble basins complete with “electroplated drinking cups” for use by the thirsty public. and a shotgun to repel intruders. Well, this is an American day.

It coincides with International Talk Like A Pirate Day so you could combine the two and carry a cutlass, make ready the mainbrace, load the broadside and pull up the plank. Talking about pirates, I knew a chap who had a wooden leg called Fred. I don’t know what his other leg was called.

Sunday is Hobbit Day and my name, converted into the language of the Shires, is Elfstan Sandheaver which refers to tunnel construction. Well, I’m the right height for it.

This is also the extremely important Punctuation Day.

“Why does punctuation matter?” you may ask.

“Because some people find inspiration in cooking their families and their dogs. Others find inspiration in cooking, their families and their dogs.”

That quote is not an original. I pinched it.