Ive been suffering with yet another bad cold this week. I haven't had a cold for years, then I go and get 2 stonkers in 1 month!! I have struggled into work, but I have collapsed on the sofa and slept once home - so that's why you have got to see so many of my photos from last week. Here's one last look at some of my walk around the city.
Its true that parts of the city are a bit run down, and the rejuvenation programme that was all set to launch just as the current economic crisis hit has had to be shelved for a while, but if you go looking for the good things, there is so much to see.
I think in the 60's and 70's, we looked too much towards America and flattened a lot of our heritage in favour of building big and new. Certainly the huge American style shopping mall on the outskirts took a lot of trade out of the heart of the then bustling city. But I think that most of us realise now that the European way, preserving and adapting our heritage buildings is far more aesthetically pleasing.

The old "Wedding Cake" registry office and council building was pulled down a few years ago - I didnt ever think it was very pretty, but I suppose if you were married there you might be sad to see it go. I think that the old Town Hall is an amazing building - as many northern town halls are.

Once again, clever town planners managed to mix old and new when they built the spectacular Winter Garden and stuck the Millennium Galleries on the side too.

Many of the old buildings have old symbols on them. My daughter thinks its like the Davinci code!

And I love the young Egyptian on top of the Library/Art Gallery (in fact I love all of this building - inside and out!)

Rowan, I'm waiting for you to tell me what all these symbols mean!

The City Hall is a wonderful building too. It is spectacular from the front, and the back, but I loved these pretty balconies on the plainer sides too.

The recently revamped Leopold Square (that no one knew existed until it was revealed!) was once the main school in the city. The doorways all have really ornate stone carvings over them. The square has restaurants and "nicer" bars around the edge of it. Its a bit disappointing that most of them are "chains" (once again, the American touch I suppose, although locals kicked off big style when "Hooters" applied for a place and they were sent packing!)

And around the Cathedral, you get a real mix of old and new buildings. I think this is where you can stand and see the evidence that the Blitz had on the city. It would be lovely to step back and see what the City looked like before, but at least they rescued many like this.

I hope you enjoyed my saunter around Sheffield at the weekend. I can't understand why folk flock to Meadowhall (Shopping Mall) on Sundays. The city shops are open and very quiet - a joy to wander around! (and that's from a non shopper!). No queues for changing rooms, a huge TK MAXX and a great wodge of culture and history to feed your soul at the same time!