Summer fashions that leave a lot to be desired

Summer’s nearly upon us as we can tell by the skinny white legs emerging from absurdly patterned shorts and the occasional pale, pimply, pigeon chest parading down the High Street.

And that’s just the men, many of whom are clearly old enough to know better than to parade themselves in such a silly manner.

And speaking of such things, I see that tragic, fashion-victim females have again fallen for the silly-looking trousers and leggings with gaps for the knees to poke through.

I spoke to a grandmother a few days ago who told me that her granddaughter had paid £80 for such a garment.

Whether this was true, or whether the young girl had exaggerated the price in order to shock the old lady who knows.

Regardless, the sales lady to whom I spoke in one of County Square’s fashion emporia confessed – and I thought a little shamefacedly – that such garments did, indeed, command an absurdly inflated price.

She also mentioned that some women, desperate to appear of similar age to their daughters, have adopted the same fashion. Ladies, it doesn’t work. I was interested to learn that the Park Mall Arti-Gras, apart from being a great success in its own right, had had a markedly positive effect on trade in the mall making it clear that, when people are having a good time, they’re more likely to spend money.

The event was organised by Betsy Aidinyantz and her small platoon of dedicated volunteers, who seem determined that we should all get happily creative – whether we want to or not.

We have become accustomed to buskers pouring music on to our streets but, last Saturday, we were treated to a proper street entertainer. Masked, dressed as a chimney sweep and, according to his bucket, coin-operated, the fellow cavorted, blew soap bubbles and danced to cheery taped music, while brushing the street, nearby shop windows and the occasional member of the 20 or so grinning onlookers with one of his brooms.

It will be good to see life returning to the empty Merchant Chandlers building. Some years of neglect have left bits of the exterior in a pretty sorry state; rotting window frames and suchlike.

I have been given to believe that the council has the right to compel property owners to keep buildings in a decent state of repair. Judging by the state of the doomed Prince Albert, I guess I was misinformed.

‘It will be good to see life returning to the empty Merchant Chandlers building. ’