A couple of blogs previously I mentioned that I was looking forward to a particularly busy time during December. I had somehwere in the region of sixreen appearences to make at church for various services, carol services, choir practices etc. Then there were three dates as Santa, plus two or three dates when I was speaking to various groups and organisations.
One of the groups I spoke to was the local retired businessmens group, known as the Janus Club. They informed me that it was their Ladies event, when they invited their wives along, and concluded the proceedings with a Christmas Lunch. As I was speaking I was asked if Dot would also come along and we were invited to join them for their Christmas Lunch.
What I didn't mention in previous blogs was that I had been persuaded to go on a diet. "What a wonderful time to start a diet," I hear you say! Well with the exception of the aforementioned Christmas Lunch I have stuck to it like superglue, and the result was that 6 weeks after I commenced it I went to pay a return visit to the dietitian and was delighted to be informed that I had shed one and a half stones!
Dot has booked a trip to the local Aagrah Curry House on Saturday for my birthday treat, and Sarah has invited me for a meal at the Busfield Arms on Sunday (another celebration of my birthday), then there is the Christmas lunch on Dec 25th., with Hannah cooking the Turkey and Potatoes and briging them up to our house, so I am really going to have to watch the food intake!
Well, here we are on December 21st. and I have more or less managed to get through it all unscathed! Well, not quite - my wife insisted that I pay a visit to the local hairdressers so that "You will at least look repectable." I haven't yet worked out how having a hair cut and a beard trim can do that, but to keep the peace I visited the said hairdressers.
Whilst I was in Bingley I paid a visit to two of the local charity shops (which I hadn't been in for some time) and, simple soul that I am, I celebrated the loss of weight by purchasing eleven dvd's and a cd. The sum total for all this lot was £1.20 believe it or not!
I've already watched one of the dvd's - Slum Dog Millionaire, a very entertaining story of a poor boy who manages to get on the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" and finishes up winning 50,000,000 rupees.
Oh! We have three temporary residents with us over the Christmas period. Hannah had brought the school rabbits home and they have taken up residence in our garage (in a new hutch - I hasten to add). Ruby is busy doing her motherly bit and paying regular calls on them to see that they are settled in and happy!
So just a couple of birthday meals, a Crib Service, A Midnight Mass and a Christmas Morning Service, then it will be a couple of nights relaxing at the King's Head in Masham!
Friday, 21 December 2012
Sunday, 9 December 2012
Fame at last! (Well Almost!)
I was taken by my youngest daughter to the Christmas Show of Gervase Phinn. He was appearing in Darwen, so it was something of a novelty to be chauffeur driven. Never having been to the library theatre before, we set off in plenty of time so we could find the place. It turned out quite easy to find, being well signposted once you entered Darwen, so it was, that we were in the theatre foyer killing time, when Gervase Phinn appeared, mingling with the people who would make up his audience.
He eventually came over to Hannah and I and during the course of conversation he asked us what we did. I told him I was a retired head teacher and Hannah was a teacher. In his introductory patter about parents supporting children and helping them decide the course of their working life he made mention of the fact that there was a retired teacher in the audience who had encouraged his daughter to go into teaching!
Those of you un-familiar with Gervase Phinn may like to know that he is billed as the James Herriot of the education world, and he really is just as funny, with his tales being firmly rooted in school life.
One of the pieces he does is about what droll and strange names some children have to suffer these days. He mentions a boy in his class called Duane, and eventually tells you his surname was Pipe [Duane Pipe - Drain Pipe] He then goes on to tell you about a boy in a Catholic school who had been Christened Innocent. When he asked the head teacher of the school how came to have such an unusual name, and how embarrassed he must be with it, the head responds with the fact that he was named after the pope, but unfortunately his family surname causes even more embarrassment. It is Bystander [Innocent Bystander!]
The real "gem of the night" was the story about the infants teacher who takes all her class to York Race course. Soon one of the children requests to go to the toilet, and being a teacher wise to the ways of infants, she takes all the boys along to the toilet. The first child goes in to the urinals, and comes out complaining that they are too high for him, so the teacher has to go in. She lines all the boys up and in they troop. One by one she pulls down their trousers and underpants and lifts them up the height of the urinal, carefully shaking them at the end of the time. She picks up the last child and notices that he seems extremely well endowed compared to all the other boys. When she puts him down she realises that he is not one of her boys, and asks who he is.
"Well madam", the boy replies, "I'm Frankie Detorri, and I'm riding in the 3.30!"
He eventually came over to Hannah and I and during the course of conversation he asked us what we did. I told him I was a retired head teacher and Hannah was a teacher. In his introductory patter about parents supporting children and helping them decide the course of their working life he made mention of the fact that there was a retired teacher in the audience who had encouraged his daughter to go into teaching!
Those of you un-familiar with Gervase Phinn may like to know that he is billed as the James Herriot of the education world, and he really is just as funny, with his tales being firmly rooted in school life.
One of the pieces he does is about what droll and strange names some children have to suffer these days. He mentions a boy in his class called Duane, and eventually tells you his surname was Pipe [Duane Pipe - Drain Pipe] He then goes on to tell you about a boy in a Catholic school who had been Christened Innocent. When he asked the head teacher of the school how came to have such an unusual name, and how embarrassed he must be with it, the head responds with the fact that he was named after the pope, but unfortunately his family surname causes even more embarrassment. It is Bystander [Innocent Bystander!]
The real "gem of the night" was the story about the infants teacher who takes all her class to York Race course. Soon one of the children requests to go to the toilet, and being a teacher wise to the ways of infants, she takes all the boys along to the toilet. The first child goes in to the urinals, and comes out complaining that they are too high for him, so the teacher has to go in. She lines all the boys up and in they troop. One by one she pulls down their trousers and underpants and lifts them up the height of the urinal, carefully shaking them at the end of the time. She picks up the last child and notices that he seems extremely well endowed compared to all the other boys. When she puts him down she realises that he is not one of her boys, and asks who he is.
"Well madam", the boy replies, "I'm Frankie Detorri, and I'm riding in the 3.30!"
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Christmas Bookings.........
You may well remember that a couple of blogs back I made mention of the fact that at this time of year my life becomes rather chaotic due to the number of engagements I have to take on board.
I have just finished sorting out the engagements for December, and the final plan looks something like this.......
Between Dec 1st and Dec 31st I have sixteen church events I am required to be present at. I have various other activities at church - 4 weddings, a Carol Service for the Alzheimer's Society, and a couple of appearances as Father Christmas.
Then I have a wedding to play for at Rudding Park, a talk to give to the Bingley Janus Club, three funerals to play for at Nab Wood, an appearance as Father Christmas at the Cottingley Pre School Playgroup and a service to play for at the Toddlers Praise Group. If you total this lot up, it is 30 events over the next 31 days!
I have had to give back word on another Father Christmas request and accompanying the Nativity Play at one of the local Primary Schools - sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day!
The one good thing is that we are booked in to the Kings Head at Masham for a couple of nights after Christmas. It will be an escape from all the Carols and Ho - Ho - Ho - ing.
Next year I plan to hibernate!
I have just finished sorting out the engagements for December, and the final plan looks something like this.......
Between Dec 1st and Dec 31st I have sixteen church events I am required to be present at. I have various other activities at church - 4 weddings, a Carol Service for the Alzheimer's Society, and a couple of appearances as Father Christmas.
Then I have a wedding to play for at Rudding Park, a talk to give to the Bingley Janus Club, three funerals to play for at Nab Wood, an appearance as Father Christmas at the Cottingley Pre School Playgroup and a service to play for at the Toddlers Praise Group. If you total this lot up, it is 30 events over the next 31 days!
I have had to give back word on another Father Christmas request and accompanying the Nativity Play at one of the local Primary Schools - sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day!
The one good thing is that we are booked in to the Kings Head at Masham for a couple of nights after Christmas. It will be an escape from all the Carols and Ho - Ho - Ho - ing.
Next year I plan to hibernate!
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Ark Building, Flooded Roads, Books and This and That
The weather has not been particularly kind over the last few days. It has poured with rain, but thankfully we have not had the flooding that has taken place in Devon, the North East and various other parts of the country. Although we did have to take a diversion due to flooding on our way to Harrogate yesterday. I had planned to call at the Blue Barn to pick up a sack of dog food for Ruby, but when we got into the centre of Otley there was a sign in the middle of the Pool road saying ROAD CLOSED. This meant a trip via Leathley then back along the Harrogate - Pool road to Pool. All this water prompted me to emulate Noah and think along the lines of building an ark.
Then the weather changed for a couple of days and it became extremely cold. We even had the gritters up the road on a couple of occasions! This in itself created a problem. Should I build an ark or an ice breaker? As I type this, the rain has stopped and a strong winter sun has appeared in the sky. Oh, well, maybe I'll shelve the idea of ark building (or ice breaker building) until later.
Due to the the nights drawing in, and the dark weather, I have spent quite a bit of time reading. I have finished the book I bought on Arran whilst we were on holiday [Mysterious Arran] and have just started one of Maureen Lipman's collections of short essays, articles and the like. I think it is her latest book. It is called "I Must Collect Myself - Choice Cuts from a long Shelf Life", and as usual it has lots of very funny tales in it.
Let me give you an example.........
A blonde is on a flight to Toronto when she suddenly gets up and goes to sit in first class. She is spotted by one of the stewardesses who approaches her and points out that as she only has an economy ticket she will have to return there. The blonde replies, "Look honey, I'm blonde, I'm beautiful and I'm staying in first glass till we get to Toronto so fetch me a drink!" Worried the stewardess goes to tell the senior steward, who immediately goes over to reason with her. The blonde stretches her fabulous legs, flutters her eyebrows and says, "Look honey, I'm blonde, I'm beautiful and I'm damned if I'm moving from this seat till we get to Toronto!" Several other stewards and stewardesses try to get her to move, but have no success. Eventually the pilot of the aircraft is informed of the situation. The pilot says "Leave this to me, I speak blonde!"
He hands over the control of the aircraft to the co-pilot and goes to the seat where the blonde is sitting, and whispers something in her ear. She immediately leaps up out of her seat, thanks the pilot and returns to the economy section of the plane.
The stewards and stewardesses gather round him and ask him what he could have said to get her to return to her economy seat so easily. "Oh, it was simple really. I asked her where she was going and when she said Toronto I said I was very sorry she hadn't been told this at Heathrow, but the front part of this plane doesn't go to Toronto!"
Some of her chapter titles are wonderful - like the stories she tells about her mother Zelma - they are just not quite right!!
West Side Glory [West Side Story]
Dr Who's Who [Dr Who and Who's Who]
No Smoke without being fried [No smoke without fire]
Mugger All [Bugger All]
Barkless up the wrong tree [Barking up the wrong tree]
I've only read about twenty pages so far, but have already had a good chuckle.
Then the weather changed for a couple of days and it became extremely cold. We even had the gritters up the road on a couple of occasions! This in itself created a problem. Should I build an ark or an ice breaker? As I type this, the rain has stopped and a strong winter sun has appeared in the sky. Oh, well, maybe I'll shelve the idea of ark building (or ice breaker building) until later.
Due to the the nights drawing in, and the dark weather, I have spent quite a bit of time reading. I have finished the book I bought on Arran whilst we were on holiday [Mysterious Arran] and have just started one of Maureen Lipman's collections of short essays, articles and the like. I think it is her latest book. It is called "I Must Collect Myself - Choice Cuts from a long Shelf Life", and as usual it has lots of very funny tales in it.
Let me give you an example.........
A blonde is on a flight to Toronto when she suddenly gets up and goes to sit in first class. She is spotted by one of the stewardesses who approaches her and points out that as she only has an economy ticket she will have to return there. The blonde replies, "Look honey, I'm blonde, I'm beautiful and I'm staying in first glass till we get to Toronto so fetch me a drink!" Worried the stewardess goes to tell the senior steward, who immediately goes over to reason with her. The blonde stretches her fabulous legs, flutters her eyebrows and says, "Look honey, I'm blonde, I'm beautiful and I'm damned if I'm moving from this seat till we get to Toronto!" Several other stewards and stewardesses try to get her to move, but have no success. Eventually the pilot of the aircraft is informed of the situation. The pilot says "Leave this to me, I speak blonde!"
He hands over the control of the aircraft to the co-pilot and goes to the seat where the blonde is sitting, and whispers something in her ear. She immediately leaps up out of her seat, thanks the pilot and returns to the economy section of the plane.
The stewards and stewardesses gather round him and ask him what he could have said to get her to return to her economy seat so easily. "Oh, it was simple really. I asked her where she was going and when she said Toronto I said I was very sorry she hadn't been told this at Heathrow, but the front part of this plane doesn't go to Toronto!"
Some of her chapter titles are wonderful - like the stories she tells about her mother Zelma - they are just not quite right!!
West Side Glory [West Side Story]
Dr Who's Who [Dr Who and Who's Who]
No Smoke without being fried [No smoke without fire]
Mugger All [Bugger All]
Barkless up the wrong tree [Barking up the wrong tree]
I've only read about twenty pages so far, but have already had a good chuckle.
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
As the late Lance Corporal Jones would have said "DON'T PANIC!"
I don't want to cause a panic, but do you realise that it's only another 41 days (NOT SHOPPING DAYS) to Christmas!!
I look at my calendar and always hope that there will be a bit of peace and quiet between now and Christmas Day. Why is it that from now until Christmas Day things seem to come at me thick and fast. I am convinced that time implodes and that there are less than 60 minutes in each hour.
Although I only have 6 more weddings to play for this year, why is it that five of them are in December, and four of those are in the last two weeks before Christmas - just when I need the time to practise the choir for the round of Carol Services, Christingle Services, Crib Services, Street Carol Singing etc?
Completely out of the blue, the Alzheimers Society have requested a Carol Service in Church on Thursday 6th December at 2.00 pm. I even had a phone call on Sunday lunchtime requesting my services to play for a funeral at Nab Wood!
At least, being an ex teacher, I am in the habit of working a few weeks ahead. Music has already been chosen for the Lessons and Carols Service. Next week I should have all the music planned and chosen for all the services up to December 25th, so that we can go into full Christmas Mode with the Choir Practices!
I have been pressed into starring as the fellow with the white beard and red gear for a couple of appearances at Church (both on Sundays and in addition to the organ playing!)
I look at my calendar and always hope that there will be a bit of peace and quiet between now and Christmas Day. Why is it that from now until Christmas Day things seem to come at me thick and fast. I am convinced that time implodes and that there are less than 60 minutes in each hour.
Although I only have 6 more weddings to play for this year, why is it that five of them are in December, and four of those are in the last two weeks before Christmas - just when I need the time to practise the choir for the round of Carol Services, Christingle Services, Crib Services, Street Carol Singing etc?
Completely out of the blue, the Alzheimers Society have requested a Carol Service in Church on Thursday 6th December at 2.00 pm. I even had a phone call on Sunday lunchtime requesting my services to play for a funeral at Nab Wood!
At least, being an ex teacher, I am in the habit of working a few weeks ahead. Music has already been chosen for the Lessons and Carols Service. Next week I should have all the music planned and chosen for all the services up to December 25th, so that we can go into full Christmas Mode with the Choir Practices!
I have been pressed into starring as the fellow with the white beard and red gear for a couple of appearances at Church (both on Sundays and in addition to the organ playing!)
Thursday, 8 November 2012
Christmas is Coming - and so are the Books!
Last week I was in the process of scouring the book catalogues for Christmas presents. The problem is that once I get engrossed in the catalogues I see books which I would like for myself. I do tend to read quite a lot, and not the latest popular "50 shades of" type of novel. In fact you will usually find non fiction on my bedside locker.
I have always enjoyed reading about the places we visit on holiday to widen my knowledge and experience of them. So it should come as no surprise that when my eyes came across books with such titles as:
Dryburgh Abbey
The Kingdom of MacBrayne
The West Highlands
Northumberland Strongholds
Castles - Scotland and the Border Country
I was tempted!
I have resisted the urge to read any of these books at the moment, although they are all sitting in my office just begging to be read!
Dryburgh Abbey is situated in Border Country. Whenever we do the "Border Abbey Trip" we usually visit Kelso Abbey, Dryburgh Abbey, Melrose Abbey and Jedburgh Abbey.
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Dryburgh Abbey nestles in wooded seclusion by the River Tweed. It was founded in 1150 by the Premonstratensian Order (or White Canons as they became known due to their white robes.) Dryburgh Abbey never quite aspired to the heights of wealth and influence achieved by its neighbours at Kelso, Jedburgh and Melrose, and on the whole the monastic life was lived out quietly. The sound of war occasionally visited the secluded spot, most famously in 1322, when Edward II’s retreating army, on hearing the abbey’s bells ringing in the distance, turned back and set fire to the place.
Dryburgh Abbey is the resting place of Earl Haigh and his wife. Earl Haigh was the leader of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from 1915 to the end of World War I. His name is associated with the Poppy Appeals.
One of the things I most remember about this building is the Chapter House, which you entered by going down a flight of about 12 steps, into a large vaulted chamber. This chamber was wonderfully resonant.
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One of the names synonymous with early travel in the remote west of Scotland is David MacBrayne. He owned a fleet of coaches which travelled the highways and bye ways. He also moved into shipping, which were often the only routes to some of the more remote Western Isles. Even today, the name Macbrayne conjures up travel by the red funnelled ferries complete with a lion emblem, which serve some 24 Scottish Islands.
We have travelled on the following routes by Macbrayne Ferries:
ARRAN
Ardrossdan - Brodick
Lochranza - Claonaig
MULL
Oban - Craignure
Lochaline - Fishnish
Kilchoan - Tobermory
Finnaphort - Iona
OUTER HEBRIDES
Uig - Tarbert
Leverburgh - Berneray
Lochmaddy - Uig
The company is now known as Caledonian MacBrayne, and is usually shortened to CalMac.
+009.jpg)
This book is a series of photographs taken in the West Highlands. Some years ago we took a holiday by crossing from Skye to the Outer Hebrides and then on our return we travelled all the way up the west coast to Durness which is the western equivalent to John O' Groats.
+007.jpg)
If you want to explore castles and fortified buildings there is no better place to go to than the Border region. Northumberland is the county south of Scotland, so has more than its fair share of castles, peel towers, bastle houses and the like. The photo on the front of this book is of Alnwick Castle, with the Percy Family Lion stood on the bridge over the River Aln. It was in Alnwick Castle that many of the Castle Scenes for the Harry Potter films were filmed.
I have always enjoyed reading about the places we visit on holiday to widen my knowledge and experience of them. So it should come as no surprise that when my eyes came across books with such titles as:
Dryburgh Abbey
The Kingdom of MacBrayne
The West Highlands
Northumberland Strongholds
Castles - Scotland and the Border Country
I was tempted!
I have resisted the urge to read any of these books at the moment, although they are all sitting in my office just begging to be read!
Dryburgh Abbey is situated in Border Country. Whenever we do the "Border Abbey Trip" we usually visit Kelso Abbey, Dryburgh Abbey, Melrose Abbey and Jedburgh Abbey.
+010.jpg)
Dryburgh Abbey nestles in wooded seclusion by the River Tweed. It was founded in 1150 by the Premonstratensian Order (or White Canons as they became known due to their white robes.) Dryburgh Abbey never quite aspired to the heights of wealth and influence achieved by its neighbours at Kelso, Jedburgh and Melrose, and on the whole the monastic life was lived out quietly. The sound of war occasionally visited the secluded spot, most famously in 1322, when Edward II’s retreating army, on hearing the abbey’s bells ringing in the distance, turned back and set fire to the place.
Dryburgh Abbey is the resting place of Earl Haigh and his wife. Earl Haigh was the leader of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from 1915 to the end of World War I. His name is associated with the Poppy Appeals.
One of the things I most remember about this building is the Chapter House, which you entered by going down a flight of about 12 steps, into a large vaulted chamber. This chamber was wonderfully resonant.
+008.jpg)
One of the names synonymous with early travel in the remote west of Scotland is David MacBrayne. He owned a fleet of coaches which travelled the highways and bye ways. He also moved into shipping, which were often the only routes to some of the more remote Western Isles. Even today, the name Macbrayne conjures up travel by the red funnelled ferries complete with a lion emblem, which serve some 24 Scottish Islands.
We have travelled on the following routes by Macbrayne Ferries:
ARRAN
Ardrossdan - Brodick
Lochranza - Claonaig
MULL
Oban - Craignure
Lochaline - Fishnish
Kilchoan - Tobermory
Finnaphort - Iona
OUTER HEBRIDES
Uig - Tarbert
Leverburgh - Berneray
Lochmaddy - Uig
The company is now known as Caledonian MacBrayne, and is usually shortened to CalMac.
+009.jpg)
This book is a series of photographs taken in the West Highlands. Some years ago we took a holiday by crossing from Skye to the Outer Hebrides and then on our return we travelled all the way up the west coast to Durness which is the western equivalent to John O' Groats.
+007.jpg)
If you want to explore castles and fortified buildings there is no better place to go to than the Border region. Northumberland is the county south of Scotland, so has more than its fair share of castles, peel towers, bastle houses and the like. The photo on the front of this book is of Alnwick Castle, with the Percy Family Lion stood on the bridge over the River Aln. It was in Alnwick Castle that many of the Castle Scenes for the Harry Potter films were filmed.
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
A Bit of a Wallow in Filmic Nostalgia!
I mentioned a few blogs previously that I had visited a whole load of charity shops whilst we were on holiday, and as well as purchasing lots of CDs I also purchased some DVDs.
These were just a few of the ones I bought........
+011.jpg)
One of the classic Westerns, made in 1958, with theme music by Jerome Morross, starring Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carol Baker, Charlton Heston & Burl Ives, it tells the story of a New Englander who arrives in the Old West, where he becomes embroiled in a feud between two families over a valuable patch of land.
+012.jpg)
The Original James Bond Film. I have fond memories of this as I was working as a cinema projectionist at the time (on my summer vacation) and we got a pre-release copy of the film, which played to full houses for two weeks solidly. I can still remember one of the reel change overs, when there was a close up shot of the centre wheel hub of the Aston Martin with a gun emerging from it! Because there was so much action and blur of colour it was a devil to spot the cue dots which told you to change to the other projector!
+013.jpg)
This is one of those typically gentle British comedy films, directed by Mike Newell. Lots of gentle humour and a bit of pathos too. It's incredible to think that it was made way back in 1994.
+014.jpg)
+015.jpg)
This crime drama was made in 1954, and I remember seeing it in a cinema around that time. I recall that there were rave reviews about the film, but I came away disappointed, probably because I was too young to appreciate what it was all about. Since then, and having seen it again I can now appreciate the gritty realism of the plot, which tells of an ex-prize fighter turned longshoreman who struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses.
+016.jpg)
Another one of those films which gets an airing at Christmas - the saccharine sweet story of the true life Von Trapp Family Singers told via the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein. I recall seeing this film in the Majestic in Leeds in 1965 and being very impressed with the stereo sound. In the opening sequence when Julie Andrews moves across the screen singing "The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music" it was incredible to actually hear her voice move across the screen with her!
These were just a few of the ones I bought........
+011.jpg)
One of the classic Westerns, made in 1958, with theme music by Jerome Morross, starring Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carol Baker, Charlton Heston & Burl Ives, it tells the story of a New Englander who arrives in the Old West, where he becomes embroiled in a feud between two families over a valuable patch of land.
+012.jpg)
The Original James Bond Film. I have fond memories of this as I was working as a cinema projectionist at the time (on my summer vacation) and we got a pre-release copy of the film, which played to full houses for two weeks solidly. I can still remember one of the reel change overs, when there was a close up shot of the centre wheel hub of the Aston Martin with a gun emerging from it! Because there was so much action and blur of colour it was a devil to spot the cue dots which told you to change to the other projector!
+013.jpg)
This is one of those typically gentle British comedy films, directed by Mike Newell. Lots of gentle humour and a bit of pathos too. It's incredible to think that it was made way back in 1994.
+014.jpg)
A remake was made of this film, but the original (the one above, made in 1947) was far the better of the two. A whimsical tale, it tells of a nice old man who claims to be Santa Claus who is institutionalised as insane. A young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing. Just the right kind of light story which gets put on over the Christmas period!
+015.jpg)
This crime drama was made in 1954, and I remember seeing it in a cinema around that time. I recall that there were rave reviews about the film, but I came away disappointed, probably because I was too young to appreciate what it was all about. Since then, and having seen it again I can now appreciate the gritty realism of the plot, which tells of an ex-prize fighter turned longshoreman who struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses.
+016.jpg)
Another one of those films which gets an airing at Christmas - the saccharine sweet story of the true life Von Trapp Family Singers told via the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein. I recall seeing this film in the Majestic in Leeds in 1965 and being very impressed with the stereo sound. In the opening sequence when Julie Andrews moves across the screen singing "The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music" it was incredible to actually hear her voice move across the screen with her!
Progress Report
Hi There!
It's Ruby here again, with a progress report. The day after I got back from the vets I took things nice and easy, but the next day I had got fed up with just sitting around, and when Her Ladyship and the Lord and Master decided to go out, I was at the back of the car like a flash, and before they knew it I had jumped in!
Ive actually got a picture of where they shaved me......
+005.jpg)
and must confess it looks a bit like a barn door in my side, but its healing up nicely now!
It's Ruby here again, with a progress report. The day after I got back from the vets I took things nice and easy, but the next day I had got fed up with just sitting around, and when Her Ladyship and the Lord and Master decided to go out, I was at the back of the car like a flash, and before they knew it I had jumped in!
Ive actually got a picture of where they shaved me......
+005.jpg)
and must confess it looks a bit like a barn door in my side, but its healing up nicely now!
Friday, 2 November 2012
Major Operation, but I'm Feeling Much Better Now
Good Morning!
It's your canine chum Ruby here! As a special favour the Lord and Master has allowed me to get my paws on the computer keyboard. It's a little while since I did a blog and I thought you might want to know what has been happening with me recently.
Well on Wednesday I got up as usual, and the usual order of events is I go out to stretch my legs (and do other doggy things) and then come in and have my breakfast. This Wednesday it was different. I hung around hopefully but no breakfast came my way. Then at about 8.45 we went out to the car, and as usual I jumped into the back. Oh, I thought, so that's it - we're going for an early morning ride and maybe a walk.
But by the time we had gone through Shipley we pulled up at the Vets. Ah I thought time for my booster vaccination. I got out of the car and we went into the surgery, and I had my usual annual check up. The vet weighed me, listened to my heart, looked in my ears, checked my paws etc. and then gave me an injection, but then he put a lead on me and led me into the back of the surgery.
Sometime later he gave me another injection and I felt very sleepy.
When I woke up I was still feeling very drowsy and do you know what. I had had some of my fur clipped from my leg!
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As you can see here I was still a little sleepy!
If you look closely you can see where the fur is missing from my front right leg.
Here's a close up of it.
When Sarah and his Lordship called to collect me I was still very groggy and I must confess that I don't really remember wandering round to the car. Sarah and his Lordship lifted me in, then when I got home they lifted me out and I wandered groggily down the hall and fell asleep.
By next morning I was feeling much better, and ate a hearty breakfast. Now I'm just waiting to get out and go for a long walk with her Ladyship, but I've been told I have to take things easy and won't be going for long walks until I've been home for ten days!
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
A Busy Seventeen Days Since our Return from Holidays
Well here I am on Wednesday 31st October, sitting at the computer keyboard and idly tapping away in my usual two fingered manner. Maybe I should rephrase that before someone takes offence - let's try - typing away using one finger of my right hand and one finger of my left hand. Yes, that sounds less aggressive!
It hardly seems two weeks and three days since we returned home from our holidays, but my, how has the weather changed. We were blessed with some lovely sunny weather whilst we were away on holiday, but the minute we returned home it was damp, grey and miserable. Then when we put the clocks back on Saturday evening the weather took another turn for the worse, and we got rapidly dropping temperatures as well as darkness at 5.00 pm.
As I mentioned previously I purchased a large number of CD's, DVD's and books whilst we were on holiday, and these should tide me through the cold dark nights!
It's pretty quiet in the house at the moment. Dot has gone off with Hannah to York for the day. Ruby has been at the Vets since 9.10 and has been spayed, so there will be no Ruby pups. The girl in the vets phoned me at 11.00 to say that she had just gone under the anaesthetic, and again at 1.25 to say that the operation had gone well, and Ruby was groggy, but coming round, but that she had been sick, so instead of collecting her at the pre arranged time of 3.00 pm, could I now call for her at 4.00 pm. She has also had her booster injections which were due.
So what have I been up to since we returned home. well, as usual life has been a bit hectic.
At the moment the church are looking to purchase another organ - the present one, installed in 1960 (second hand) and only maintained when there was an emergency is showing signs of coming to the end of its useful life, and a report on it by Harrison & Harrison, the well known Durham organ builders suggested that to get it back into A1 condition would cost in the region of £250,000 (yes, you are reading that correctly - two hundred and fifty thousand pounds - is it less painful to say a quarter of a million pounds?)
Obviously the church doesn't have that kind of money floating around anywhere, so it has to be a replacement digitally encoded electronic organ. I have already been in touch with three well known electronic organ builders and had quotes for replacement of between £25,000 and £100,000. Considerably less than the quarter of a million! I have met with all three Managing Directors in church, so that they could give me a fairly accurate costing, and am now in the process of visiting their workshops to play examples of the instruments, and also visiting churches where their instruments have been installed.
The week we got back from our holidays I had a couple of bookings to talk on My Kind of Music, a celebration meal for a colleague at Skipton TIC who was 80, a choir practice for the Confirmation service at church on the following Thursday, a service to play at the local crematorium for one of the local funeral directors and a wedding to play for on the following day.
Last week was no different. I was appointed to feed next doors cat (whilst they were away on holiday in Paris Disney World), I had to have an X ray on my left knee , which has been playing up for some time now, (on Monday morning), a Confirmation Service to play for on Thursday evening, and a wedding to play for at Hazelmere Castle near Tadcaster on Friday.
I have managed to read the odd book or two, which I purchased whilst on holiday..........
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The above book (Molaise of Arran) had caught my eye some years previously, but had gone out of print. Whilst we were on Arran this year it had been reprinted. As we stay in a studio cottage which looks out onto Holy Isle, (with a similar view to the photo on the front of this cover) I purchased this book.
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Bamburgh is an ancient settlement, with the fishing village of Seahouses just two or three miles down the coast. It is from Seahouses that you can sail to the Farne Islands, famed for their multiplicity of bird life as well as Atlantic grey seals.
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This booklet on Bamburgh was produced after numerous archaeological digs in and around the castle, and gives an excellent insight into the development of Bamburgh from earliest times.
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I used to play the organ for David Adam when he was Vicar of Holy Island (Lindisfarne) [Not to be confused with Holy Isle off the coast of Arran]. I lost touch with him when he retired, but imagine my surprise when four years ago I discovered he was living next door but one to the property we rent at Waren Mill near Bamburgh. David has written numerous books on Celtic Spirituality and Celtic Prayers, and I usually purchase one of his books when we are on holiday in Northumberland. This is his latest book - partly autobiographical and partly pleading for people to see the goodness God all around them.
At present I am reading.........
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This is a very interesting book which deals with all manner of mysterious objects and beliefs relating to the Isle of Arran.
I have also been busy cataloguing all the CD's and DVD's and Books I have purchased!
On a rather different note, [pardon the non intended pun] I am in the process of closing down Eldwick & Gilstead Male Voice Choir. I am their Musical Director, and was their accompanist before that. Like many of the local male voice choirs, we have been struggling with a dwindling membership over the last year or so. When we were due to re convene after the Summer Holidays (in September) it was decided that we would approach one of the other local male voice choirs who are having the same problems, with a view to combining. Sadly this has not been possible, so over the next week or two we have to hold an extraordinary general meeting to decide what to do in relation to the disposal of our assets. These include a piano, a library of 500+ copies of male voice songs, a music stand, three music cupboards, various minute books, photographs and records of choir concerts and some monetary assets.
It hardly seems two weeks and three days since we returned home from our holidays, but my, how has the weather changed. We were blessed with some lovely sunny weather whilst we were away on holiday, but the minute we returned home it was damp, grey and miserable. Then when we put the clocks back on Saturday evening the weather took another turn for the worse, and we got rapidly dropping temperatures as well as darkness at 5.00 pm.
As I mentioned previously I purchased a large number of CD's, DVD's and books whilst we were on holiday, and these should tide me through the cold dark nights!
It's pretty quiet in the house at the moment. Dot has gone off with Hannah to York for the day. Ruby has been at the Vets since 9.10 and has been spayed, so there will be no Ruby pups. The girl in the vets phoned me at 11.00 to say that she had just gone under the anaesthetic, and again at 1.25 to say that the operation had gone well, and Ruby was groggy, but coming round, but that she had been sick, so instead of collecting her at the pre arranged time of 3.00 pm, could I now call for her at 4.00 pm. She has also had her booster injections which were due.
So what have I been up to since we returned home. well, as usual life has been a bit hectic.
At the moment the church are looking to purchase another organ - the present one, installed in 1960 (second hand) and only maintained when there was an emergency is showing signs of coming to the end of its useful life, and a report on it by Harrison & Harrison, the well known Durham organ builders suggested that to get it back into A1 condition would cost in the region of £250,000 (yes, you are reading that correctly - two hundred and fifty thousand pounds - is it less painful to say a quarter of a million pounds?)
Obviously the church doesn't have that kind of money floating around anywhere, so it has to be a replacement digitally encoded electronic organ. I have already been in touch with three well known electronic organ builders and had quotes for replacement of between £25,000 and £100,000. Considerably less than the quarter of a million! I have met with all three Managing Directors in church, so that they could give me a fairly accurate costing, and am now in the process of visiting their workshops to play examples of the instruments, and also visiting churches where their instruments have been installed.
The week we got back from our holidays I had a couple of bookings to talk on My Kind of Music, a celebration meal for a colleague at Skipton TIC who was 80, a choir practice for the Confirmation service at church on the following Thursday, a service to play at the local crematorium for one of the local funeral directors and a wedding to play for on the following day.
Last week was no different. I was appointed to feed next doors cat (whilst they were away on holiday in Paris Disney World), I had to have an X ray on my left knee , which has been playing up for some time now, (on Monday morning), a Confirmation Service to play for on Thursday evening, and a wedding to play for at Hazelmere Castle near Tadcaster on Friday.
I have managed to read the odd book or two, which I purchased whilst on holiday..........
+004.jpg)
+001.jpg)
+002.jpg)
+003.jpg)
I used to play the organ for David Adam when he was Vicar of Holy Island (Lindisfarne) [Not to be confused with Holy Isle off the coast of Arran]. I lost touch with him when he retired, but imagine my surprise when four years ago I discovered he was living next door but one to the property we rent at Waren Mill near Bamburgh. David has written numerous books on Celtic Spirituality and Celtic Prayers, and I usually purchase one of his books when we are on holiday in Northumberland. This is his latest book - partly autobiographical and partly pleading for people to see the goodness God all around them.
At present I am reading.........
.jpg)
This is a very interesting book which deals with all manner of mysterious objects and beliefs relating to the Isle of Arran.
I have also been busy cataloguing all the CD's and DVD's and Books I have purchased!
On a rather different note, [pardon the non intended pun] I am in the process of closing down Eldwick & Gilstead Male Voice Choir. I am their Musical Director, and was their accompanist before that. Like many of the local male voice choirs, we have been struggling with a dwindling membership over the last year or so. When we were due to re convene after the Summer Holidays (in September) it was decided that we would approach one of the other local male voice choirs who are having the same problems, with a view to combining. Sadly this has not been possible, so over the next week or two we have to hold an extraordinary general meeting to decide what to do in relation to the disposal of our assets. These include a piano, a library of 500+ copies of male voice songs, a music stand, three music cupboards, various minute books, photographs and records of choir concerts and some monetary assets.
Saturday, 27 October 2012
Our Northumberland Holiday
We moved on from Arran on Saturday 6th October, and had to be on the harbour at Brodick for 07.50 to check in for the 08.20 departure to Ardrossan.
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The Barn at Beal
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The MV Caledonian Isles at Brodick
We landed at Ardrossan at 09.15 and after refuelling at Morrison's at Kilwinning we then set off across country, heading eastwards through Border Country to Peebles, which is approximately half way along our journey. We usually arrive here about dinner time, and call for a meal at the Ramblers Restaurant, which is situated in a long established family department store.
Afterwards Dot will head for the shops she likes and I will head for the Charity Shops! We usually meet up about a couple of hours later and then continue our journey eastwards.
The Bridge Inn and church steps (Peebles)
Peebles High Street
Peebles High Street (opposite direction to the previous photo)
Leaving Peebles we travel through some beautiful countryside and pick up the Tweed Valley Tourist Route. The valley is extremely fertile and there are many Garden Centres in it. Some of the well known Seed and Bulb Catalogue firms are to be found here.
We usually arrive at Waren Mill (Cove Cottage) at about 4.30 - 5.00 pm
Cove Cottage
The Kitchen and Lounge are upstairs and occupy the whole length of the building.
Cove Cottage - Kitchen
Cove Cottage - Lounge
After unpacking and settling in we usually drive the three miles down to Bamburgh, and are greeted with this amazing view as we crest the hill and head into Bamburgh.......
Bamburgh Castle
We then head for a meal at either the Castle Inn or The Victoria Hotel. Both are situated on Front Street which runs parallel to the Grove - a triangular village green with trees and the village well at the southern end of it.
The Victoria Hotel
The Castle Inn
The village well (or pant)
On Sunday we drove down the coast to Seahouses - the point of departure for boat trips to the Farne Islands. Seahouses has a busy harbour, with boats always coming and going. Then a little further south to the picturesque village of Low Newton by the Sea. In the square at Newton is the Ship Inn, and we always make a point of calling here for a meal at sometime during our stay in Northumberland. All the properties in the square are owned by the National Trust. The square itself is open on one side, and this side gives access to the beach.
Low Newton by the Sea - The Village Square
The Ship Inn
The Ship Inn has its own micro brewery and produces three different ales. They are all mouthwatering. It also produces its own beer mats, so beer mat collectors rate their beer mats as "highly collectable!"
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Ship Inn Beer Mat
Low Newton by the Sea - The Beach
Being a Sunday there is not much open, so we drove up to Beal, which is on the approach road to Holy Island (Lindisfarne) and called into the "Barn at Beal" for a late Sunday Lunch. The "Barn at Beal" is an example of a farm diversifying. The barn has been converted into a superb restaurant, and we have called here for meals many times.
The Barn at Beal
After enjoying a very tasty and filling Sunday Lunch we went back to the car and I remember saying to Dot as I got in it "Goodness me its hot in here!" On turning on the ignition this is what met my eyes.......
Yes! you are reading that correctly - 23.5 degrees and on Sunday 7 th October 2012!
Monday we spent on Holy Island, Tuesday we visited Low Newton by the Sea, and then drove on to Alnwick, and having visited Alnwick Garden and Alnwick Castle many times, we gave them a miss this year, but I called in at "Barter Books" which advertises itself as "probably the biggest second hand book shop in the British Isles." It is housed in what used to be Alnwick Station. A large scale model railway runs around the tops of some of the bookcases
On Wednesday we visited Belford, which is a small village which has an inn called The Bluebell, which used to be a staging post where the horses were changed many years ago. Then we drove on to Wooler, which is the gateway to the Cheviots - the range of mountains which you see on the skyline as you look inland from Lindisfarne. We finished up at Kelso, which has some lovely ruins of one of the Border Abbeys. From the Millennium Viewpoint you can get a good idea of the layout of Kelso.
The large square tower is part of the ruins of Kelso Abbey
The bridge over the River Tweed and the spire of the North Kirk (to the left)
Millennium Park alongside the River Tweed
On Thursday we travelled to Melrose, which has a lovely ruined abbey where the heart of Robert the Bruce is reputed to have been buried. There are also the Priorwood Gardens which are run by the National Trust for Scotland. They specialise in dried flower arrangements made from the flower and herbs they grow. They also have an orchard of "Apples Through the Ages" which grows many ancient varieties of apples.
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Melrose Abbey
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Melrose Main Street
The Eildon Hills
Nearby are the Eildon Hills, where Sir Walter Scott's horse which was pulling his funeral cart is reputed to have stopped, because every time Sir Walter rode this way he stopped his horse to admire the view.
One of our favourite eating places in Melrose is Russell's which is at the top of the High Street. They serve traditional Scottish food beautifully prepared and cooked. The minute you have drained your coffee cup, Colin, the owner will appear and refill it, as many times as you want!
Russell's Restaurant
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Russell's Restaurant
On Friday we went into Berwick upon Tweed and did a bit of last minute shopping.
Berwick - looking up towards Marygate
Berwick Town Hall at the bottom of Marygate
We returned to The Barn at Beal for Lunch and had a last look at Holy Island and the views across the sands.
Fenkle Street Holy Island from the Village Green
House on Village Green
St Aidan Statue
Dot walking across the Causeway
Holy Island Priory (West End) and Castle in the distance
Holy Island Castle on Beblowe Crag
St Aidan Statue in the Church and Priory grounds
The Pilgrims Way (looking towards the mainland)
The Pilgrims Way
The Pilgrims Way
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