It is 11:17 am and I am eating a quick snack whilst taking in everything around me. I am sat on a dark green wooden bench in Alexandra park in Edgely under a tree. I feel the sun shining on the back of my shoulders. The play area is full of laughter and shouting from children and parents.
The atmosphere is calm and relaxed. I observe mothers chatting to each other whilst pushing their children in the orange toddler safety swings. The children swinging backwards and forwards giggling with excitement. The warmth against my skin is interrupted by a slight breeze every now and again.
The park is situated away from the main road out of the way of the busy traffic. I am drowned by the colour green around me from the trees, plants and grass. The sky is pure blue, with only a scatter of clouds in the sky.
Outside the green metal fencing of the play area is a black dog stood waiting for its owners to finish in the park. I then spot a small boy trying to squeeze through the fence tugging at a tree, then running off to explore the playground. Parents are walking slowly whilst children are riding on trikes and daughters pushing their dolls in prams. The weather is warm yet breezy. Children dressed in T-shirts and shorts, few children wearing hats protected from the sun.
As I sit here I can hear birds singing, I cant see them but I can hear them. The play area is bright and colourful, it feels safe and well looked after. I gaze across to see a brunette middle aged mother on the small roundabout with two children, one sat in front and the younger child sat on her lap.
The play area is quite busy with children of all ages and children who are just learning to walk. The play area is also litter less, the only debris on the floor is the brown, crisp leaves that have fallen off the trees.
I look over at a small girl wearing a read jumper with blonde hair running around without a care in the world. I then notice a small child crying, I assume its because she has to leave. A small boy with a Thomas the tank engine T-shirt climbs onto the light blue, wooden rocking bird, the paint peeling to reveal the wood underneath.
The wagging tail of the dog as is it being stroked by children. Women of mixed ages, some mothers some possibly grandmothers.
One small girl on the swings is being pushed by her father who has been on his mobile phone for what seems a long time, takes her to the small roundabout and continues talking. I sense a bit of ignorance.
Women strolling at slow pace with buggies. One mother trying to deal with her small son who is having a tantrum. She is wearing a pink top with dark jeans and has blonde hair, she looks quite young. The silence is broken by the roaring of a plane.
I feel like I don’t quite belong here as I haven’t got children.
As I look to my right I notice that the flower beds needs tending to, it is taken over by weeds and bright yellow dandelions. Behind me is a brick building with green windows. The grass area with small chairs and tables is deserted, they must be preparing for dinner as it is 11:44 am.
Over the neatly cut hedge I can just about see the top of the houses on the main road. You are unable to hear the traffic as the park is situation so far away.
Silence is broken again by another plane roaring in the direction of the airport.
The play area is surrounded by dark green metal fencing.
As the man gets off his mobile phone he places the small child dressed in a pink coat into her buggy to take her home. I somehow feel slightly disheartened for the child as the man spent most of the visit on his mobile phone.
At 11:57 am I decide to leave, above the sky is now blanketed with white, fluffy clouds.
As I open the gate to the park entrance I stroll along the grey concrete path towards the exit, placing my food wrapper in the grey, metal letter bin.
I continue strolling past huge, colourful flower beds. As I approach the exit I can hear birds singing loudly, the front of the park is more calm and quiet. I stop for a second to scan the bush on my right, as I hear a rustling towards the bottom, I assume it must be a squirrel. Towards the front of the park there are a few older people enjoying a game of bowls.
Leaving the park I hear police sirens whizz by. The road is very busy and loud. Across the road from the park is Edgeley methodist church,
next door but one is the library next to some derelict toilets.
Walking towards the centre is a parade of shops in view, many estate agents, pubs and charity shops. The atmosphere isn’t as quiet and relaxed now as it is very loud and busy and somehow quite unsafe as you hear the cars drive by at speed. Approaching a pelican crossing I see a mother waiting to cross with her buggy. A few steps away from the pelican crossing I see two men in suits in the middle of the road waiting to cross, yet all the cars are continuing to drive, knowing it is unsafe the men continue to stand there.
There is a break in traffic and then a brief moment of silence till I walk past Mercian motors I hear people working and engines revving.
Walking past the college car park I feel a little unsafe / hesitant to cross as a car could sped out of nowhere. The atmosphere is very different from the park. Around me is busy roads with traffic and buses, people on mobiles and people in a rush. As I walk over the bridge I notice a cigarette on the floor still burning. Walking along Greek street I see a small boy admiring the Monsters vs Aliens advertisement and his mother pull him away.
The atmosphere is unsettled as I hear cars drive by with loud music. The college car park is full of cars trying to squeeze in to get a space.
A teenage girl is walking directly towards me with her head down messing with her mobile phone, yet I move out of her way to stop her from walking into me. At the back entrance of Greek street there are people congregating to chat and socialise. As I make my way through the canteen I hear a muffle of voices, people chatting and eating dinner. I also notice a guy shouting at the vending machine. As I leave the canteen I make my way up the stairs and I am greeted with nothing but the sound of my own footsteps.
