The topic of all conversations around the town, drivers to complain about roads being blocked off and pedestrians to comment on the nightmare maze of metal screens to be negotiated around the pavements.

People stop to look at what actually lies beneath our feet, and never given a thought to. A tangle of water pipes, gas and electrical wiring buried deep in the bowels of the town.

I felt rather sorry for one particular tree, its roots which had taken years to establish laid bare to the elements and being torn out and hacked to pieces. It was so dense it was taking several days of repeated attempts to remove it. Once a beautiful, living thing being unceremoniously destroyed.

We have to remind ourselves that all this upheaval won’t last forever.

That one day our new town may look something like the pictures displayed around the town. Opinions are still very much divided as to whether it will be to the good or not, only time will tell us that.

The red brickwork of the old pavements is torn up, brick by brick and heaved into wheelbarrows to be taken to the huge industrial hoover never to be seen again.

These bricks, although a nightmare to walk on are on the whole in good condition. We asked a few of the workmen if they were going to recycle them, but none could answer that.

Surely with the millions this whole project is costing the council someone, somewhere would have thought of a way to save some money, perhaps by donating the bricks to build out buildings for schools or perimeter walls for public gardens?

I resisted from asking if I could take some home to build a barbecue!!
Whatever your thoughts on all the upheaval one thing is obvious.

It is progressing, and it is going to look different to our old Wokingham town, of which all long term residents hold fond memories.

Meanwhile, I still have to negotiate a mobility scooter through the metal maze!