Nina's Blog - Friday 26th June 2026

Friday 26th June 2026, 19:18

The first thing I did when I got to thee gallery floor was to nip to the loo to change into my newly acquired skirt and top.

As I as standing at the sink washing my hands I was approached by an attractive but confused looking young woman. It was obvious that he was looking or the Ladies and had seen me in the distance as she walked along the corridor but missed te sign for te ladies. So I explained that the ladies was back down the corridor a few metres. She turned that way still looking confused. :-)

I finished washing my hands and headed back to the galleries and that's where I took the selfies of the new skirt and top. As I was walking around I heard a squawk of a walky talky saying something like "Assistant to gallery ..." I guessed what it meant and a few seconds later was confronted by a plump woman of indeterminate age who abruptly told me I had to put shoes on. When I replied "I can't, I don't have any" this seemed to be difficult to process and she said something about having a meeting last week where it was said that people had to wear shoes and went on to say what happens if you step on some glass outside.

I'm beginning to get a bit tired of this drivel so I replied "I don't step on glass, that would be a stupid thing to do." This seemed to be beyond her and she didn't reply even to say I should leave but started walking purposefully away, perhaps to obtain reinforcements. I called after her saying that she should ask what the reasoning for the rule was but she didn't respond. I continued to the exit, the museum wasn't dramatically interesting from what i had seen although I have seen reviews saying that the Egyptian section with mummy and a recreation if its tomb is very good.

But I was no longer in the mood for museums so I headed back to my car via Bolton Market

Friday 26th June 2026, 16:52

Well today has been a bit mixed.

On my way through Queen's park a young couple sitting on a bench in the shade remarked on my feet. They asked politely how I got on so I told them I go barefoot all summer and that shoes are bad for feet, squeezing toes, etc., The young woman then remarked that she had lived by the sea in Spain and walked barefoot on the beach every day and that her feet had never been better, that the sand scrubbed all the dad skin away. We exchanged a few more sentences but the young man was looking a little sceptical so I said he should try it on the grass and waved an arm to encompass the expanse of grass behind him. He smiled and said he might do that.

I walked on and came to the end of the park. At the junction is the Portcullis war games shop

I walked on in the general direction of the museum detouring to a couple of charity shops d keeping a lookout for cafes. In the YMCA shop I I bought a top and skirt


Then I went on to the museum which is quite an imposing building and had a snack there as I hadn't seen any cafes that seemed worth a visit.

.. continued in another comment

Friday 26th June 2026, 13:55

Decided to stop at Bolton on the way to Wigan. So now I'm in the Cafe Crescent which is in the entrance to Bolton central library, museum, and aquarium.

Normally I wouldn't patronise a place that serves drinks only in plastic and paper cups but unusually I feel hungry, possibly because I haven't eaten since 19:00 yesterday.

Having a chicken, cheese, and pesto sandwich and an orange Fanta.


The sandwich is acceptable but I feel that they aren't making the most of the location.

Friday 26th June 2026, 14:07

Lots of quite grand architecture here and of course a lot of heavy industrial heritage.

Friday 26th June 2026, 21:54

I originally intended to go to Sparkle on Saturday but after looking at the weather forecast I think I'll go on Sunday instead.
Should be a lot more comfortable.

Friday 26th June 2026, 14:02

On the way from where I parked, about 1.5 km away, I walked through Queens Park

Friday 26th June 2026, 19:10

At the museum. First I visited the Aquarium in the basement which is rather small but apparently world renowned.

Here are a few of the fish, it has only tropical freshwater fish.

Stingrays

Catfish and others

Tiny fish

Then I went back up the stairs to head for the galleries



I have no more pictures of the museum, for a reason to be explained in another comment ...