Proud New Mum and her Kittens

Here it is! The scoop none of the other blogs have got!

As promised a few days ago, here are some photos (taken on Hannah’s mobile phone) of Dolly and her kittens. The 2 tabby ones are males and the 2 black ones are females.

They have originally been given the temporary names of Mozart, Debussy, Beethoven and Sibelius!

Proud new mum feeding her brood



It's a strange and bewildering world when you haven't yet opened your eyes!

A Day Out at Downham

Today is a very auspicious day. If you’ve no idea why, it’s no good looking today’s date up in any of the standard reference books – you won’t find any mention of it in them! You are about to learn something which “not a lot of people know that” It is exactly one year today since I started this blog!

It’s another Sunday afternoon, so we took another trip out in the car. The problem was that we have recently visited Thirk and Helmsley, Pateley Bridge, Ramsgill & Lofthouse, Settle, Ribblehead, Wensleydale, Aysgarth, Kettlewell, etc. etc, so there was only one direction left with some country scenery in it and that was to go towards Lancashire!

We took the road to Colne and then turned off at Barrowford and headed for Downham. Downham is a pretty little village which gained fame some years ago when the film Whistle Down the Wind was filmed there.

We stopped for a meal at the Assheton Arms in the centre of the village. Dot had a Vegtarian Tagliatelle and I had a traditional Lancashire Hot Pot, complete with mushy peas! The food was served piping hot and was very tasty.

We then had a wander round the village, pausing to call in at the Post Office,

and the Church.

There are some magnificent views of Pendle Hill from the churchyard.

This is the part of the world famed for the Lancashire Witches, and I even found one by a grave in the churchyard!

We then drove on through the Lancashire coutryside and eventually headed towards Barnoldswick. On the way we saw some intriguing sights, as well as some signs of Spring!

All the Latest News From Ruby

Hi there folks! It’s Ruby here.


I’ve just been doing a check on the gardens to see if the family are keeping them tidy. On Friday her ladyship spent a lot of time in the garden trimming edges, pulling up weeds, re planting and generally tidying up, and Lord Malcolm came out to trim some of the bushes with the electric trimmers.

There was great excitement when her ladyship discovered that the pond was laden with frog spawn.





The next door neighbour was cleaning out his pond yesterday, and he had lost all his frog spawn, so we offerred to let him have some of ours.





On Saturday afternoon there was much mowing of the lawns, both front and back. It all seems fairly ship shape, so after an exhausting inspection (by me) I took the opportunity to have a relaxing afternoon in the sun, and get in a bit of sunbathing too!




Later on in the afternoon we were visited by Mollie,





who had been taken to Keighley by Hannah, supposedly to be measured for her bridesmaid dress, but in reality to have her ears pierced. I’m just glad that none of the family has come up with the idea that it might be a good idea to have my ears pierced!

Gervaise Phinn as Minister for Education!

There was an interesting atricle in the Opinion and Analysis section of the Yorkshire Post this morning, written by none other than Gervaise Phinn (the ex North Yorkshire Schoos Inspector)

Gervaise commences his article by stating that the DES (Department of Education and Science) as it was when he was first involved in education has gone through many changes of title. It became the DfEE (Department for Education and Employment, the DfES (Department for Education and Schools), there were probably many others, and it is now the DfCSE (Department for Children, Schools and Families) or as teachers prefer to call it - The Department for Curtains and Soft Furnishings. The more cynical have an even better version – The Department for Comedy and Science Fiction

He states that politicians have failed the test on education, but suggests nine points as to how they can get it right.

1. Let teachers teach. Stop bombarding them with ridiculous amounts of paperwork.

2. Celebrate the teaching profession and give those who work with young people some credit for what they do. Teachers, just as much as their pupils need support and thrive on recognition.

3. Scrap the League Tables. They tell you very little about the quality of education in a school.

4. Scrap the Standard Assessment Tests (Sats) which have been proven to have a deleterious effect on teaching and learning. Replace them with a system of teacher assessment with external moderation.

5. Invest more resources in Early Years and Special Education and give greater support for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children. At the present moment 70.000 children are in care, and 30,000 children live in Children’s Homes

6. Allow headteachers and Governors, in consultation with staff and the local authority to have a greater level of autonomy based on the National Curriculum.

7. Enhance the work of HM Inspectorate of Education, and, as it was in the past, make the school education system more supportive and less threatening. Replace school improvement officers and inspectors with education advisers who will work alongside teachers, demonstrate good practice, and offer a comprehensive programme of training.

8. Make parents more accountable for their children’s behaviour in school. Children are surrounded by the formal and informal fabric of the home. Some children are fortunate to come from homes where there is acceptable behaviour, family friends, positive attitudes to others, with parents who don’t swear infront of them, slap them and tell them they will never achieve anything in life. Others do not.

9. Listen more to the successful managers and leaders who work at the chalk face.

There is nothing revolutionary in this. It seems to me it is basic common sense, but unfortunately many of our politicians are sadly lacking in this commodity. Gervaise Phinn has stated what many teachers were wanting 30 or more years ago when I was actively involved in education.

From my own point of view, the system is top heavy with men and women running around with clipboards, filling in tick boxes, who probably have little real idea about what it is like at the chalk face. I would love to see some of the Ofsted inspectors placed into a classroom and left to get on with it, or as Gervaise has suggested, “work alongside the teachers, demonstrate good practice…..” I reckon it’s a pretty safe bet that most of them wouldn’t know what good practice was if it came up and smacked them in the face. They might well be full of hot air and the latest theories, but what about the practicalities of teaching a bunch of 15+ year olds last lesson on a Friday afternoon, when all they are thinking about is getting out of school and enjoying the weeekend? Suppose they are made up of a large proportion of those 70,000 who are in care, or 30,000 who are in children’s homes, or come from a background where their parents swear infront of them, tell them that they’ll never make anything of their lives. Then What?

With Gervaise Phinn's 9 points I suggest we make him Minister for Education!

The Joys of "Talking Books"

I have enjoyed the Inspector Rebus Novels written by Ian Rankin, since I read his first novel. These have all been best sellers. I think I probably discovered him when I was bought a ticket to attend the Harrogate Crime Writers Festival, a few years ago. One of the authors attending was Ian Rankin, and I purchased three of his Inspector Rebus novels, which he duly signed for me.

I recently changed my car, and the old Zafira had a cassette player in it. The Meriva has a CD player in it. You may well be wondering what changing cars and Ian Rankin novels have in common, but persevere and all will be revealed…..

Ian Rankin

As the regular readers of this blog will be aware, whenever I visit certain towns (Ilkley, Harrogate, Skipton etc.), I usually make it in my way to call in at the charity shops to peruse the shelves for CD’s DVD’s etc. On a recent visit to a charity shop I purchased a 6 CD set of Ian Rankin’s last Inspector Rebus Novel “Exit Music.”

I had to take an early morning trip to Pateley Bridge on Wednesday morning, and then return to Skipton, so I took along the 6 CD set of “Exit Music” and was entertained as I travelled.

If you haven’t discovered Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus novels and you enjoy a good crime thriller I can thoroughly recommend them to you.

Retirement Party and Blubberhouses Church

An interesting 24 hours. Let’s wind the clock back to Tuesday 6.00 pm. That was the time I had to be at a certain hotel to join in the celebrations of a colleague who was retiring from TIC. She had no idea what was waiting for her when she entered with her husband, who was “taking her out for a meal with friends.”

Approximately 40 work colleagues had gathered. She was presented with various momentoes of her time at TIC. – Known for her ability to point any visitors in the dirction of the times and availability of any buses which operated within the area, she was first presented with a collection of bus timetables. This was followed by a presentation of a BABA form (Book A Bed Ahead to the uninitiated), then a small woolly sheep (which often featured largely in her window displays), an envelope containing £100 worth of Caravan Club Vouchers – (she and her husband are planning on doing an extended tour of France and Spain) and finally a huge bunch of flowers.

Sue, the manager, had asked me to recount a funny and slightly embarrasing story about her. It happened that one day there were four of us behind the counter inTIC and as the space is somewhat limited I was sitting in a chair with my back against the wall. A tourist came in who required a bus timetable, and these were kept in a plastic container which was affixed to the wall above my head. I had said to the retiree (who was quite small) I’ll move out of your way, but she said “No, It’s all right stay where you are, I can reach over you.” I leaned forward to make room for her to reach up for the timetable at the same moment as she leaned over me. Result – My nose buried in her bosom!

Wind forward to Wednesday. I had to take the Meriva up to Pateley Bridge as an Exhaust Emissions light had come on. It turned out to be nothing more serious than a failure of a sensor in the exhaust, but unfortunately the garage didn’t have one in, so I will have to make a return visit. Fortunately there is a 6 months warranty so it will not cost me anything!

On the way back to Skipton - It was my TIC Day - I passed Blubberhouses Church, which looked beautiful in the Spring sunshine, so I stopped to take a few photos.

Maternity News!

The latest bulletin on the new arrivals.

Hannah has been hard at work sexing the kittens and tells me that the two tabby ones are males and the two black and white ones are females.
Mum and babies had a good nights rest and the babies are suckling well!

Should be photos on the way in the next 24 hours.........

Maternity Ward Ten!

I have just returned from Hannah and Ben's. There has been great excitement there due to the fact that Dolly has given birth to (at the latest count) four kittens!

The first one was a black one with white paws - very similar to Socks, the second one was a real little tiger, the third was another black one with a white blaze on its chest, and the last one was another tabby.

We saw the first one being born. Dr. Ben was on hand to administer mouth to mouth (if necessary), but Dolly managed on her own. Midwife Hannah oversaw the birth of the second kitten, and by the third and fourth kittens Dolly was giving birth without too much difficulty. (She had got into the swing of things) and was biting through the umbilical cords and cleaning up the placenta before the next kitten arrived each time.

All four were busy feeding from Mum as we left them.

No pictures as yet, but I don't think it will be too long before there are some available!

Wharfedale Environs

Having collected the Meriva yesterday, and on leaving church this morning I noticed that it was a lovely sunny Spring day, so when I got home I suggested that it would be nice to go for a run in the new vehicle somewhere.

The decision was made to have something to eat at the “Naked Man Café” in Settle and then head up to Dent.

But sometimes, things don’t always turn out as planned. When we got in to Settle the market place was heaving with visitors, who had obviously all had the same idea of getting out for the day as it was so sunny! The “Naked Man Café” looked to be filled to capacity, so we continued on our way in a generally northerly direction, and eventually stopped in at Austwick. I’ll bet you’ll never guess where we ate………. (No prizes for coming up with the correct answer!)…………………

"The Gamecock”

After a superb and leisurely lunch, which took round about an hour, we headed to Helwith Bridge, Horton in Ribblesdale, and the Ribblehead Viaduct. We paused to take some photos of the viaduct, and then continued to Hawes and Aysgarth. (Incidentally if you want to get the best shots of the viaduct, the window over the mens urinals in the Station Inn near the viaduct is the place to be. I've seen more women armed with cameras coming out of there than you would believe!!!)

As George and Patricia live very close to Aysgarth (Carperby) and we had been told that we must come and see their new landscaped front garden, we called in to see them.

We returned home via West Burton, Buckden, Kettlewell, Kilnsey, Hetton, Gargrave, and Skipton. We had covered about 110 miles and given the Meriva a good trial run!

The New Baby Has Arrived (Nothing to do with Dolly!)

Yesterday when I got back home from taking Nana to hospital, and doing a “Big Shop” at Booths, there was a large brown envelope at the back of the door. It was stamped as being posted in Manchester, and it contained what I hoped would be the papers for the Meriva. For once the DVLA had got something right, and all the necessary paperwork had been completed and upon presentation of the documents at the garage I could have my old plates transferred to the Meriva and collect the car from Nidderdale Motors in Pately Bridge.

So this morning after dropping the good lady off for work I went over to Pateley Bridge to collect the Meriva.

I had always vowed that when I took delivery of another car which would have the same plates transferred to it, I would take a photo of both cars together, showing the same plates. I had never got round to doing this on the last two transfers, but this time I managed to do it!

I left Ruby sprawled full length on the floor of the office in the garage whilst I was talking to the salesman, and after about ten minutes a garage hand turned up with Ruby on her lead. “Has anybody lost this dog?” he asked. “It’s just wandered into the garage!” She had obviously got fed up of waiting and gone to explore!

I had no difficulty in getting her to jump into the Meriva as I had taken her sheepskin and put it on the floor of the Meriva! We then went up to How Stean Gorge Cafe for dinner, and Ruby had a romp around the field there.

She seems to thoroughly approve of the new vehicle and has already given Macey and Pixie a conducted tour of it!

An Evening with Gervase Phinn

I have just returned from “An Evening with Gervaise Phinn” at St George’s Hall Bradford. The ticket was a birthday present from Sarah and Greg.Truth to tell my sides are aching (with laughter!)

He tells some wonderfully observed and equally funny stories of life as a school inspector, and the characters he has come across during his time as an inspector.

Let me just give you one of his tales. He is visiting a Catholic Infants school in York, where the head teacher is an Irish Nun. She is berating Gervaise due to the fact that nowadays one has to more than watch what one does where children are concerned. She tells him that each day before the local races all the infants were taken to York race course to sample the atmospehre of the races. One particular year as all the children have finished their picnic one little boy is jumping up and down and holding himself in the only way an infant can when he is desperate to go to the toilet. Sister asks him what is the matter, and he tells her he is desparate to go to the toilet, so rather than take twenty odd boys one at a time she lines them all up and marches them to the nearby portaloo, leaving another member of staff to look after the girls in her absence.

The first desparate little boy enters the loo, and after a short time comes out, still clutching himself. The good sister asks whatever is the matter and he explains that the loos are the kind you have to stand up to and they are too high, so she takes him in, drops his underpants and trousers and holds him up, after carefully directing him towards the urinal. She shakes him when he has finished, and then pulls up his underpants and trousers and tells him to go wash his hands.

She does this for all the remainder of the boys, and notices that the last boys is particularly well endowed. She is about to lift him up when she realises that she doesn’t recognise the last boy and comments on the fact. “No!” says an embarrased voice, “I’m the jockey riding Red Rum in the 3.30 tomorrow!”

Filling the Cavities and Not a Dentist in Sight!

Today was Cavity Wall Insulation Day. The people from Npower trading as EAGA called to fit the cavity wall insulation.






This required umpteen holes drilling in the outside walls, then a long pipe and nozzle were connected to some mysterious machine which was hidden in the back of their van, and at the press of what looked like a remote control a whirring indicated that the insulation material was travelling up the tube through the nozzle and into the cavity between the inner and outer walls. One of the fitters told me that the material itself was recycled bottles and windscreens! It looked white and fluffy – a bit like cotton wool. When all the holes had been used to inject the material they were duly refilled with a cement mixture.

A Breakdown of heat loss - what goes where!








The two fitters then hosed the drive and surroundings down, swept up and departed.
It will be interesting to see how much heat is retained now that we have both cavity wall and loft insulation. Certainly during the cold spell I noticed that the house cooled down only half the amount it usually did overnight, just with the loft insulation fitted. Presumably it will retain even more heat now that the walls have been insulated too!

A Day Out at Helmsley

We decided to go for a run out yesterday, as the weather was reasonbly kind. (We even saw some sunshine!) The decision was taken to take a trip to Thirsk and then on to Helmsley.

It was quite busy in the market square in Helmsley, and there were lots of people browsing in the shops there. Looking at the way the shops had hung out their hanging baskets was ample evidence that the locals took a pride in their village.

This was the display outside one of the shops which could be found in the top corner of the market square.

Whilst I was passing the churchyard I came across this young blackbird having a tasty meal.

The usual view (on calendars) of the village of Helmsley is this one, taken looking down the stream which runs behind the market square.

We then drove on to Coxwold, where we had planned to have a meal at the local pub, but it was too early for meals, so we drove on, and just through the village came across these views of the famous "White Horse"

We called in for a meal at the "Chevin" on Otley Chevin, and got talking to the lad behind the bar. We mentioned we had been near the White Horse at Kilburn and he told us he had been up it a couple of weeks before, with his girlfriend who is at University in York. I wonder who it was that said "What a coincidence!"

42nd Wedding Anniversary

April 6th 1968 – I wonder if it rings any bells with the Bentley Girls. Although none of you were around at that time you may well recall it as our Wedding Day!

Forty two years and still plodding on!

Highlights of that time? Obviously our Wedding Day. As I recall it, it was a crisp cold but bright Spring Morning. The service as at Kelbrook St Mary’s where Dot’s Dad was the Vicar. I remember the gates being tied up as we attempted to leave the church. There was a tradition that you had to throw coins to the local village children so that they would leave the gates for you to unfasten them.

Chris, Dot’s brother, had thoroughly decorated my Morris Minor van, convinced that we would be leaving Kelbrook in it. I can still see his face as we left in Dot’s Dad’s car to head for Skipton station, and then quickly off the platform at Forster Square and into the Midland Hotel. I remember my Best Man, Barry asking me where we would be staying that night (as he knew we were flying to Jersey the next morning) and working on the idea that whichever hotel I told him he would not believe me, I told him The Midland. He apparantly phoned lots of Bradford hotels to see if we were there, but never tried the Midland!

The birth of our three daughters - Rachel, Sarah and Hannah. One of the memories I have is of attending all three births, and I think it was at Rachel’s birth that Dot grabbed hold of the tie I was wearing at the time (one of those knitted ones) and tugged with all her might. It’s a good job I got my hand betwewen it and my throat or I may not have been here to tell the tale! When I got home, the only way I could get the tie off was to cut it!

I recall picking Dot up at the bus stop at Steeton, one day after school, and she was holding a carefully wrapped sheet. In it was out first kitten who we christened Jess! She was eventually followed by Susie, then Tabby, another stray who it soon became obvious was expecting. One Sunday morning she presented us with four kittens who we called Tiger, Tabby Blackie and Clown. Much later Tommy came on the scene. Then followed an assortment of animals – umpteen hedgehogs (we looked after these for the local hedgehog hospital until they were sufficiently grown and recovered to be set free in the fields behind our house), three rabbits (at different times – Snowy, Buttons and Miffy), Chinchillas (Dolce & Gabbana were the two who arrived first, later followed by Chilli), and eventually our much loved Labrador, Ruby.

There were always pets at home during the girl’s schooldays, and it is interesting to see that this love of pets has rubbed off on to them even now when they are grown up. Rachel has two cats (Milo and Wilson), Sarah has two cats (Tillie and Socks) and Hannah has a cat (Dolly) a miniature Pinscher (Pixie) and a Shih-Tzu (Macey).

During our married life we have gone through a few cars. The original was a Morris Minor Van (863 DEA), and when this eventually began to fail, it was replaced by another Morris Minor Van (CWU 772B). This was succeeded by a Ford Anglia (DKU 475C) and eventually by Dot’s Dad’s Hillman Imp UTJ 118H). Later came a Vauxhall Cavalier, Three Vauxhall Astra Estates, a Vauxhall Zafira, and a soon to be collected Vauxhall Meriva.

The two Minor Vans did sterling service and were ideal when babies and prams came along. A full size pram could be simply loaded into the back of the van. I recall when I swapped the last Minor van for a car I really missed the space that a van provided and vowed that one day I would get an estate car. The Hillman Imp proved very versatile, and carried all the timber, sand and cement required for the two storey extension we had built on to the house! The estate cars proved very useful when we went on holiday, (self catering), and we were able to easily pack a full size cot, a pram and all the necessry paraphinalia required for a fortnights holiday! We have been spoilt with the Zafira, and when we go on holiday we simply throw everything we need into it, including cagoules, wellies,cameras, binoculars, groceries (for self catering for a fortnight), suitcases, all the dog’s food, bed etc. The only thing that seems to be missing is the kitchen sink!

Family holidays have been spent on Lindisfarne (Holy Island), Isle of Skye, Isle of Mull, Isle of Iona, Isle of Arran, Lewis, Harris, North & South Uist and Benbecula, Northumberland, The Borders, The West Coast of Scotland, and as far North as Durness, as well as a memorable Cruise to the Norwegian Fjords on MV Discovery.

We have three grandchildren Olivia, Mollie and Tom who have given us much happiness and pleasure.

Like all families there have been sad times, fortunately few in number, but being human one tends to put these to the back of ones mind and dwell on the happier moments, of which there have been many. As we toddle gently on to our twilight years I can only hope that our children and grandchildren have as happy and contented a life as we have had!

Easter Monday - How Did You Spend Your Holiday?

Well, here we are on a cold, wet, miserable bank holday Easter Monday. Surprise, surprise!

Easter Monday has little religious significance but is the occasion for numerous secular customs. I wonder if you took part in any of the following………

Egg rolling
Egg rolling is very popular in England and the rest of the UK and is an Easter Monday sport. Hard-boiled eggs are rolled down a hill. Customs differ from place to place. The winner's egg may be the one that rolls the farthest, survives the most rolls, or is rolled between two pegs.

Biddenden Dole
At Biddenden in Kent, the Biddenden Dole, in the form of bread, cheese, tea (formerly beer) and cake is distributed. The cake bears an image of two women said to be the founders of this charity, a pair of Siamese twins who were born in 1100 and died within a few hours of each other at the age of 34.

Hare Pie Scramble and Bottle Kicking
At Hallaton in Leicestershire, the Hare Pie Scramble and Bottle Kicking, an unruly rugby game between the village of Hallaton and Medbourne, takes place every Easter Monday. Hallaton is picturesque village with lots of old thatched cottages and set in beautiful countryside.
Small wooden barrels filled with ale are used as rugby balls in the no-holds barrel contest, the object of which is to get each of the three casks to a touchline in either village.
One of the barrels is brightly painted in red, white and blue.

The history behind the Hare Pie Scrambe and Bottle Kicking
The custom dates back to 1770, the Rector of Hallaton was allotted a piece of land on condition that he provided two hare pies, two dozen loaves of bread and a quantity of ale, which has to be scrambled for in public.

What happens
On Easter Monday a large hare pie is paraded in a procession through Hallaton Village from the Fox Inn to St. Michael’s Church. The procession is led by a man wearing a green robe who carries a pole topped by a metal hare, and a woman in old fashioned costume carrying a basket of penny loaves. Two young women follow them, carrying a large hare pie, followed by three men in football shirts carrying three bottles above their heads, followed by a band with bagpipes and drums.
At the gates of the parish church, slices are cut up, blessed by the rector and pieces thrown into the crowd. The proecession then leads to the cross where the penny loaves are broken up and thrown into the crowd.
The procession finally ends on a hill overlooking the village. There follows a football game, played across country with the bottles (barrels) instead of a ball.

The game
Two teams fight over three small beer barrels, in an attempt to get each barrel across the stream in their village by any means possible. The two teams are the Hallaton team, made up exclusively of villagers, and the Medbourne team, open to anyone.
The Hallaton side try to get the barrels down the hill and over the stream behind the Bewick Arms, whilst the Medbourne team try to get the barrels over the fields for a mile or so towards their village.
The game is played as a best of three with one barrel in play at a time. It is a very tough contest that can last for hours, crossing numerous hedges, lanes, ditches and even barbed wire to reach their touchlines.

World Coal Carrying Championship
On Easter Monday, The World Coal Carrying Championship takes place in the village of Gawthorpe, in Yorkshire. Contestants run for one mile, carrying a 50kg bag of coal.
History behind the customThe contest dates from an incident at the Beehive Inn in 1963, when Lewis Hartley said to Reggie Sedgewick: "Ba gum, lad, tha' looks buggered!" to which an affronted Mr Sedgewick riposted: "Let's 'ave a coil race from Barracks t' Maypole." And they did.

London Harness Horse Parade - Easter Monday South of England showground, Ardingly, West Sussex.The first parade occurred in 1885 to encourage drivers to take a humane view of their horses. Today a huge variety of vehicles can be seen in action from rarely used horse drawn fire engines to the Harrods delivery ‘unicorn’ which is used every day.

Hungerford has an interesting tradition
The tradition of having a holiday on the Monday after Easter stems from the medieval festival of Hocktide. This was a two day festival on the Monday and Tuesday after Easter, originating in the eleventh century. Some stories say that on the Monday the men of a town tied up the women and demanded a kiss from them before they were freed. Others say that a man had to carry a woman for a certain distance or lift her up a given number of times in return for a kiss. Now Hocktide is only celebrated in the town of Hungerford in Berkshire and the main events are on the Tuesday after Easter.

Easter Get Together

It being Easter Sunday today, a traditional time when most families meet up for a meal and a chin wag, all the Bentley girls, their respective husbands /boyfriends/fiancees and offspring (including canines) were invited to our house. Nana II also came along.

Here are a few photos of the occasion……..

Olivia and Macey

Tom and Pixie

Mollie and Pixie

Tom and Ruby

Olivia, Nana II with Macey

Lucy, Sarah with Macey

Pixie getting a cuddle

Rachel & Nana II deep in conversation

Tom finding out about Nana II's wartime experiences

Snoring in the Service......

I received an e mail from one of my Eldwick & Gilstead Male Voice Choir Men today which contains lots of cartoons basically about old age. The one below particularly appealed to my sense of humour.

Gervaise Phinn

We went to Harrogate yesterday, and as is my habit, whilst the good lady does her shopping thing I usually browse all the charity shops. It is very rare I return without having made a purchase of a CD, Cassette, DVD or videotape. Yesterday was no exception.

Whilst I was in the Shelter shop my eyes lit on two story tapes written and read by Gervaise Phinn – the ex North Yorkshire Schools Inspector. Having been to his concert over the Christmas period the year before last, and also having read one of his books, the two double cassette story tapes were purchased for the princely sum of £1.00.





Gervaise has the knack of telling a wonderfully funny story about children without making fun of the children in his stories. Let me give you an example…..

A little girl from farming stock has been taken by her father into the barn to witness the birth of a calf. The vet is in attendance, and after having seen the whole process the vet turns to the little girl to ask her what she thought of the event. “Alright” was her reply,” but how did the cow swallow it in the first place?”

Next Friday evening I will be going to Gervaise Phinn’s “An Evening with” in St Georges Hall, and am looking forward to an entertaining evening.

APRIL FOOL?

It’s April 1st. today!

April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is a holiday celebrated in various countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbours, or sending them on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. Traditionally, in some countries, such as the UK, Australia, and South Africa the jokes only last until noon, and someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool". Elsewhere, such as in France, Ireland, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Russia, The Netherlands, Brazil, Canada, and the U.S., the jokes last all day. The earliest recorded association between April 1 and foolishness can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1392).

The Yorkshire Post (our morning newspaper) usually has an April Fools piece of news printed somewhere in it. I remember one year when an article claimed that gold had been discovered on the east coast! Having carefully read through the paper today I think the item entitled, “Songbird Offers Genetic Clues” must be the April Fools News Item.

In the article it states:
A songbird has had its genetic code mapped for the first time, revealing surprising discoveries which could help humans. The Zebra Finch is only the second bird to have its DNA blueprint or genome unscrambled, after the humble chicken. Results from the international research project which included seven British groups, shed new light on the complex brain circuitry behind language. The results could help resolve human disorders.

Hope you didn’t get caught out by any April Fools hoaxes!