Away in France

I got so excited that the blog worked on the ipad, I missed explaining what we were doing. Granny, grandad, daughter (Louise), son-in-law (Matthew) and grandson Jenson (aged 4) are in Brittany after two eventful travelling days.
It's a tad tedious logging in every time. 

Another moment

Flying down the M1, Jenson wanted a wee. Well not possible to stop. Louise, quick as a flash, seat straps off, trousers down, Jenson's willie in the neck of an oasis bottle. All Jenson could do was laugh. No performance. Not to worry, service station close.

A converted barn belonging Louise's best pal.

Senior moment en route to Portsmouth

Called in Costa off the M1. "How many shots in a medium?" I asked the girl behind the counter. "Depends what you have. Two in cappuccino and latte. Free in americano?" "Free, how come it's free?" I then twigged a speech impediment. Embarrassed or what? "It's been one of those days," she smiled.
"Nice try," said my wife. She can be withering.

Junior moment

Most things went well (see senior moments) until we got on to the M27, leaving Southampton. Louise had booked an overnight caravan within easy reach of Brittany Ferries - within 15 miles or so. Easy for us to make it by 0700. Except the satnav was routing us to the Isle of Wight. Booking.com had found us somewhere within 15 miles, but it was overseas. Went to Portsmouth instead and had a great stay at Holiday Inn. Louise is in complaints mode where she won't let go.

The message is to book direct. Our difficulties up in Hadrian's Wall were partly due to booking.com.

senior moment

just checking that this works from France

Inspiring ageing - walking football - new lease of life for JRR

John Rotchell dressed as a sea captain for a concert set in the 1940s
John Rotchell as a sea captain for a forties revival weekend, run by Honley Ladies some years ago



John has started playing walking football. A group of guys from Shelley over 60s club set it up and they have now played three games. 5-a-side, 30 minutes each way, no heading and no bodily contact (psychopaths can't join), only when it's fine during the summer, friendlies amongst themselves, next to Shelley cricket pitch, £2 per game to cover tea in the cricket pavilion, no subs bench.


There have been some strains and pulls, presumably muscle.



Last Friday in the searing heat, John scored 2 goals. He was present in the second half, just.


He's pleased that he has still got something, though quite what is unclear. And it's a new social outlet.

I think constantly moving about for an hour (except last Friday) counts as part of his 150 minutes exercise a week - don't you?


Those wishing to partake must first join Shelley over 60s
Contact - Olwyn Berry
Secretary, 7 Albany Drive Dalton Huddersfield HD5 9UR
01484 301232

Two local links to get into walking football
https://www.htafc.com/news/2013/may/try-walking-football-with-town/
http://www.walkingfootballunited.co.uk/west-yorkshire

Senior moment in Burnley

Senior moment in Burnley - Leeds Liverpool canal

This is a long straight bit of the canal, a mile to be precise. Turf Moor in the background.
We'd taken a walk after lunch in Wetherspoon's (The Boot) where one of my senior moments had just occurred. I needed the loo, searched and followed what I thought to be the sign. Upstairs and round several corners, lots of empty untidy and chaotic rooms. Nobody lived here in the upper levels. Finally a toilet, with a dozen used safety razors stored on the cistern. At the bottom of the stairs during the return journey, there was the toilet. Obvious. An elderly regular at the bar looked at me incredulously, shaking his head.


Couldn't keep away - Leeds Liverpool canal

Skipton boatyard
Quite tricky getting the car down to the boat. We had two gos because we wanted to shop at Morrison's, only to be told that, within 100 yards of setting off, we could moor and just pop across the road. There was an extensive induction, and by the end, we had forgotten how he started. Nice lad. Basic boat and facilities. We wondered how much stuff is at risk of being stolen. No Blue. Several water leaks. Leisure battery needed a good five hours of engine daily. No fenders, so mooring could be noisy in the wind or when another boat passed. No safety pins for the pilings. We were given tuition at the first lock - doubles so possibly tricky going upstream as a single boat. Second lock ground paddles were totally different so we had to blag it anyway. Took me a day or so to remember how to do things.
The water level appeared to be quite a bit down and it was easy to ground within six feet of the bank. On one occasion we couldn't get off however hard I tried and the stern turned in the wind. We had to go with it and backtrack to the previous winding hole. Good job the cut was wide enough. As it happens we also grounded in the winding hole. The farmer was about, but ignored us.
Gargrave a great wee place. Good visitor moorings though difficult to find amongst the long termers. BBQ went well. Two days of bad weather. Turned round just beyond Salterforth. The Anchor is right by the cut but dark and expensive.

Burnley
Turf Moor, Burnley FC behind the girls. Burnley Wharf and the embankment, 60 ft up in the air and a straight mile long.
Monday, incessant rain, finished at Barnoldswick. Andrew went in search of a pub and failed twice. Leisure batteries flat as pancakes.
Tuesday, very windy, caught the bus to Burnley. Went to Burnley Wharf and The Inn on the Wharf and watched the London terrorist news which we had missed because there is no TV signal out in the wilds. We did listen to the radio a bit, but not the news. Nice lunch in Wetherspoon's. 
Cruised in the afternoon in seriously windy conditions. Full revs. Other boats tried but had to moor. Trousers flapping - Sheila thought they might blow off. Never seen full waves on the cut before. Lockeepers great on the Newton flight.

Settle
The White Lion and the station. Giggleswick school church and Ingleborough in the distance. Caught the bus from Gargrave. Good lunch at The White Lion where Pete, Geoff and myself have been several times, much to Andrew's annoyance. The picture of the school church is not brilliant, but it overlooks the cricket pitch where we played a Sunday game against the Cryptics, against an Oxford College OB side. We lost but not by much. Great venue. It's always nice to visit the station.


In the middle of nowhere

Overall, 8 out of 10. A bit of adventure. Amazing N Yorks scenery. Plenty to eat and drink.
Not in the same league as the Oxford.




Docs and Detectives (2)

Clearly a brilliant guy. Reminiscent of many a famous fictional detective who’s search for truth and justice results in battles with the Chief Superintendent and marriage in tatters. My favourites are Morse, Bosch and Rebus.

Sherlock is said to be modelled on Joseph Bell, Conan Doyle’s Edinburgh teacher. He is often quoted that illness ‘recognition depends in great measure on the accurate and rapid appreciation of small points in which the diseased differs from the healthy state.’ The physician must allow the patient to tell a story. The words, delivery and demeanour will reveal her secrets to the wise and tolerant listener. Music and harmony of sorts, but not what is written in the score.


http://hekint.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=160%3Amedical-mysteries-and-detective-doctors-metaphors-of-medicine&-catid=74&Itemid=435



http://www.housemd-guide.com/holmesian.php


  Then the rest of the police procedural
 Does it sound a bit like Stephen?

the answer vs uncertainty

professional brilliance and socially clumsy

Ian Rankin
His first noel he didn't write or plan a crime novel. That's what it turned out to be. But he was writing about social issues is a specific context. Housing unemployment etc in Edinburgh. So it's a great genre for anything.

These detectives and Rebus tend to be loners because it's too difficult to remember details when there is a load of characters

Even then makes mistakes, DI in one episode and a DS in the next

First post from the mobile

couldnt keep away
leeds-liverpool canal, right by The Anchor pub, Salterforth
diabolical weather