Real Ales for Real Men !

My nephew Michael is to marry his beloved Katrina on 31st March, and an obligatory part of this journey is the ‘Stag Do’ – I had missed the ‘away’ leg in Berlin, but had been invited to the ‘home’ fixture – you can tell they like football ! – and so, with some wonderment I arrived at Piccadilly Railway Station for the mystery ‘do’ !

I was initially greeted by hordes of Police and English Defence League supporters, en route to a big demonstration in Hyde http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1486586_video-hundreds-gather-in-hyde-as-english-defence-league-protest-passes-off-peacefully I initially mistook them for uncouth City fans !

However as the rabble passed through the station, and calm descended the party group arrived..including Mike, Anthony, Stu (Bro in law),Katrina’s Dad Colin and her brother,my son David,nephew James,and others who’s names I’ve forgotten !

So, the ‘mystery was revealed…. we were to go on a train real ale beer tour into Yorkshire and back.. http://www.realaletrail.net/ Well, it sounded different, although I wasn’t sure what ‘entertainment’ would be on offer !? We were all handed the itinerary, with train times, bars to attend,with detailed timings for ‘Minutes in Pub’, and after a swift beer in the concourse bar we were off, almost late, running along the platform to catch the 1257 to Dewsbury…a 40 minute train journey..and time to chat between ourselves, then , on arriving at Dewsbury we were straight into the ‘West Riding;’ buffet bar at the station platform, and considering it was only just after 1-30 p.m. on a Saturday I was amazed to find the place absolutely ‘heaving’, lots of people…also doing the ‘beer tour’, some even in fancy dress…as ??

yes, she’s always around is our ‘Wally’ !!

Then it was on to Huddersfield, for a drink in the ‘Kings Head’, and a gathering around the statue of Harold Wilson (born here), as you can see all ‘establishments’ offered an extensive (and ‘posh’ food menu) before heading on towards Greenfield, which was changed en route for Marsden and the Brewery Tap, a lengthy walk of…at least 50 yards (downhill)… and as you may guess, things were definitely going downhill from here… then it was on to Stalybridge ‘Buffet ‘ for an exhilarating meal of steak pie,mash,and combined  black eye and mushy peas…Poooh !

That being the final stop where we were joined by my son in law Gavin, and finishing there it was back into Manchester and a trip to O’Sheas bar,http://www.osheasirishbar.co.uk/ for a final drink, and rescue by my daughter Anna (thanks !)…who took me home..

A great day, good weather,good company,and good drink !

-I think !,

highly recommended

It’s all Down Hill from here !

 

A Happy Birthday to Sian for yesterday, a ‘significant ‘ Birthday – I’m not allowed to tell you she’s XX !!

So, the great, good and degenerate headed for Wales, to Llangollen http://www.llangollen.com/ ready to help the celebrations along…

The original plan had been to climb Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, but poor weather and snow forecast forced the plans to be altered – I don’t think anyone could be bothered to get up at 0600 !!

So several people arrived in Llangollen, almost by midday, firstly calling at Sian’s parents, in the hills above, and then down to the town centre, ready for a walk.

As we were gathering we saw the wonderful sight of steam trains on the railway line, and it being a ‘special day’… Thomas the tank engine and friends http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/img/uploads/134_4c16c1f0549e241191e880327804391b.pdf although we couldn’t persuade Sian to travel on them !

Then it was up the hillside above and to the old castle of Dinas Bran http://www.castlewales.com/dinas.html, we got the timing perfect, as the sky changed from bright blue…to snow and hail ,just as we arrived at the top..

So, a run downwards, passing a convenient signpost…and in to the town for a night of wine,food,wine and celebrations…

I finished the night in ‘Wally’ alongside the river, waking to fresh snow the next day…and a trip home with David

Oh to be beside the Sea side !

A bright and breezy day saw me having a trip to Woodley to collect Tristan & Lincoln, my grandsons, then to Manchester to collect my Dad and we all headed off along the motorway, in to leafy Cheshire, arriving in Meols http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba62/feat3.shtml shortly after midday…the link is very interesting…read it !

Meols being the home of my eldest sister Letitia and her family – with her grandchildren visiting from Northern Ireland…we were there for a ‘Birthday party’ for Jack, who would be 3 yrs old over the weekend, and Tristan & Lincoln were really looking forward to the party and the ‘seaside’…

We soon ran from Letitia’s up to the seafront and all 3 of us ran along the sea wall, basking in the sunshine…and fierce winds !

Then it was back to Letitia’s for the party, joining all the family for a chaotic children's party – with an exclusive guest list , and excellent party ‘fare, including egg sandwiches,pizza and cup cakes !

Then it was down to the ‘serious business’ of party games, with Tristan being remarkably accurate in ‘pinning the tail on the donkey’ –there was a suggestion he could see through the blindfold !! swiftly followed by the big birthday cake,candle blowing ,songs….

and a quick  dash back to Manchester…Happy Birthday Jack

Dark Skies and Black Clouds

I set off Monday morning, after a hearty ‘full fry up’ –(thanks Dot !), and firstly stopping at a local Sainsbury’s, to stock up…and then traversing Devon and into Somerset and it’s environs, my destination being Exmoor http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/visiting a large expanse of moorland, and recently being nominated an ‘international Dark Sky Park’

Well, as everyone knows I love the stars, and so thought as it was on my ‘way’ I could look in ,and see if anything was evident.

I firstly called in at a National Park information centre, in Dulverton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dulverton, where they laughed at me when I said ‘I’d come to look at the stars’ !! It being a rather miserable looking sky, with no real prospects of clearing up !

Undeterred I found myself a reasonable place to camp, up near ‘Brandon Common’, an identified dark sky good location…and settled down for the afternoon and evening hoping the skies would clear – they didn’t ! Although occasionally I got glimpses of the stars, through a ‘light mist’ !

As the night got colder, and windier, I eventually decided it was going to clear, and so to bed…..ffffrrrrreeeezing !-although I did get warmed up with the van heater, and several blankets, on a quiet dark moor…

The next day was not much better, the sky was bright, although still cloudy, and what was supposed to be a ‘sunny day’…was still cold and overcast !

I rang Elijah my Grandson, to wish him ‘Happy Birthday’- I think the first he’s ever celebrated in England !, and then with the sky getting darker, and bleaker.. decided that I might as well travel home, for a warm bed, before the weekend in Wales -

so that’s what I did !

Sunday, a Day of Rest..

 

A relaxing day in Devon saw me at church in the morning, and then me and Dot went to the Old Market House http://www.oldmarkethousebrixham.co.uk/ for lunch, a great meal, although what my ‘friend’ the Red Gurnard thought of it…well ?

A very pleasant lunch…

then after a quick look around the harbour , we were off to Kingsweir to see Leslie and family, including Gimley..

 

Then, back home for a relaxing night, before I set off tomorrow, for a few days travelling and on the road..to where…who knows , I’ll let you know when I get there !

Should have brought a Map !

A cold, but sunny Saturday in Devon, had me out riding the back roads and byways from Brixham to Totnes.

Firstly ending up outside Greenway http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greenway/ the holiday home of Agatha Christie… although I then had to re-trace my steps, as I was a little unsure of which was the correct route !

I eventually ended up on the other side of the river, and on the correct, but long way round and into Totnes http://www.totnesinformation.co.uk/ I wandered around the streets and market stalls of Totnes, regarded by many in the South West as the centre of the ‘hippy culture’, and from what i saw still remained ! There were  great little craft shops/stalls, lots of tea shoppes and eating places…I was a little overwhelmed.. and cold, as by then the sky had become overcast, and the air was frosty.

I had a great lunch of a ‘chorizo wrap’ with chilli’s etc (for £3 !), followed by a Devon Cream tea, in a disappointing tea room ( I picked the wrong one )! and was then ready to brave the journey back, up what I remembered as some large hills !

I soon managed to get up on top of the hills, away from the main road, and wending my way back to Brixham. As I stood there looking down on the rolling farmland, with sunshine overhead, I wondered what it was like shivering in the rest of the country ! (jealous ?),

and now knowing the correct route, I was soon whistling back into Brixham, on a far shorter journey than my outward one !

A nice journey of around 27 miles

Blogging on…..The Blog !

A rather relaxing ,but wet day in Devon, had me idling my time reading the paper,drinking tea, and doing...nowt !

However in the afternoon I paid for my keep after me and Dot had gone to B+ Q Torquay, for a new toilet seat (and drive round the area).. and then, on returning home replaced the broken toilet seat in the house, which resulted in a toilet seat…that not only looked good, but stayed up ….hoorah ! from all male visitors !

A good days work….don’t you think ?

Sunshine , No Showers..Who cares about the Snow ?

I had awoken to brilliant blue skies and sunshine, whilst hearing on the TV about the rest of the country ( Britain) shivering in freezing ice rain, snow and shivering temperatures – makes a change it’s normally Jotown in bad weather whilst the rest of the country ‘basks’ in sunshine !

So, to celebrate I went for a bike ride along the coast, to Paignton http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paignton and various coves and beaches along the coast.

It was cold, and frosty, however in the sunshine it was really nice, as I looked out to sea, and across the bay towards Torquay

As I rode back along the coast, in and out of the various coves I was revelling in the pleasantness of what I was up to, and being glad to be in this part of the country

I saw the remains of a large tree, which had a number of faces carved in to it  http://www.bigtreeholidayflats.co.uk/torbay.htm 

Then it was back to Dot’s for a quick shower and change before chatting to her fellowship group about ‘Being a Catholic Today’ …enlightening ?, they seemed to enjoy it.

Oh what a day …hope no one is jealous ?

On Our Way to The Palace !

Today was the third anniversary of when my beloved wife Susan had died in 2009, and what could have been a sad day… although what I did with her mum today, actually cheered me up, along with the sunshine and blue skies of South Devon.

Firstly we went up to Dartmoor http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/, and by a circuitous route (she couldn’t remember the way!) we did a full tour of the high ground , with great views in the sunshine, until we eventually arrived at the foot of Haytor http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/Hay_tor.htm for a walk up onto the moor, and to the foot of the big granite Tor.

This was an especially significant spot, as it was where Susan’s Father Dennis’ ashes were scattered after he died in February 1998, and me and Susan had last visited together a few months before she died.

So both Dot (the beloved MIL) and me had various memories as we walked around Haytor, she revealing the exact spot where the ashes had been scattered, and me imagining Susan climbing the rock of Haytor,  as we had joked in the September sunshine (on my birthday!).

The streams were frozen, and the ground rock hard, however, unlike the rest of the country there was no snow, and the sun was shining, especially in the area of the old Haytor quarry, where the pond had frozen, and remained so in the sunshine, with quite a number of people walking around.

Having walked a while through the Dartmoor ponies all munching whatever they could find to eat , we wandered back to ‘Wally’ and eventually made our way back to Brixham

The evening was to be spent in a celebration dinner at The Palace Hotel ,Paignton http://www.palacepaignton.com/index.php with Dot and David ( Susan’s brother in law), a sumptuous feast followed - amongst the oldest clientele I’ve ever seen at a Hotel restaurant, however a lovely evening remembering the moments.

Happy memories and times !

‘Jotown’ Shopping ? – Not really !

 

I had a nice lie in this morning, after a false start due to my alarm going off at 6 a.m. (yesterday’s time!), but I soon fell back asleep, until a more reasonable 9 a.m.

The sun was shining in Brixham, looks like I’ve left the snow,ice and rough weather behind me, up North !

After breakfast me and Dot (the beloved MIL !) went off to the famous (well down here anyway) Trago Mills http://www.trago.co.uk/center/Newton_Abbot.html  where you can buy anything, and everything, including most things you didn’t know you needed ! –although I didn’t purchase anything, some things never change !

From there we went to The House of Marbles, at Bovey Tracey, on the edge of Exmoor http://www.houseofmarbles.com/shop a great shop with loads of unusual gifts (not the usual rubbish and tat !), a great restaurant –where we had lunch, and also incorporating Teign Valley Glass http://www.teignvalleyglass.com/shop/index.php where we were able to watch some unusual glassware being made, I was tempted by some of the ‘seconds’ pieces for sale, but resisted !, for the time being at least..If you’re ever down here, and want an interesting place to visit…this is it !

Then it was back to Brixham in the evening sunshine, yes sunshine for a nice roast dinner – this is the life !

Once More Into the Mist…

An extremely early start from home, into the remaining snow , which had not frozen overnight, and onto the misty and foggy roads towards Stockport and Manchester. I had a dental appointment at 9 a.m., and thought I left in plenty of time (at 7-10 a.m.) ! However only just made my appointment due to the ‘traffic management’ along the infamous A6 !

I was soon back on the road, with my glinting new gold tooth, and minus £204 !, en route to Bristol, and into the foggy M6 motorway,arriving shortly after midday at Westbury on Trym to see Susan’s sister Zoe’, who now lives in Westbury on Trym,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westbury-on-Trym  a delightful ancient suburb of Bristol.  We were soon walking in the area, and up to Blaise Castle estate http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/goingout/2004/parks/blaise/blaisecastle.shtml, again a very interesting estate and grounds, with an interesting History, then it was back to the village centre, through the local park, where coincidentally there was a monument, celebrating the Diamond Jubilee (60 years) of Queen Victoria, and here was I on the very day that H.M.Queen Elizabeth II was celebrating her Diamond Jubilee…congratulations Your Majesty !

Then it was back to Zoe’s for a very enjoyable evening meal –thanks Zoe’, and chatting about all sorts, including her daughter Bethany, who’s currently in Peru at a children's project – she also doing a blog, read all about it !http://pemoo.wordpress.com/

So I was then off ,back on the road, and on to Brixham to Susan’s mums, for a welcoming Toasted Crumpets and cheese, washed down with tea, and a warm bed !

It had been along days driving and socialising, so I was ready to snooze all night !

Perfect Weather for Packing…

I’m off to Devon tomorrow, via Bristol and Manchester ! so although the overnight snow that had arrived in Derbyshire looked pretty…but, as for being useful when I had ‘Wally’ to pack …not quite !

Being up bright and early I cleared the snow away from around Wally,drank in the views, and set  off for Mass at New Mills , riding the mountain bike for grip, although I later regretted it – wrong gear,wrong bike….no mudguards – wet bum !, and to cap it all on my return home, got a puncture from a tack that had pierced the front tyre !

By now, everything had started melting, although it was a bit misty and foggy, and I soon had ‘Wally’ packed with anything and everything – not knowing how long I’ll be away, and even, what I’ll get up to !

So, being ahead of myself I went to the local hostelry, to watch Manchester United V Chelsea – an exciting game, where United gave Chelsea a 3 goal start (just to make things interesting..) and then came back to draw the game 3-3 – rather undeservedly for Chelsea, United being the far superior team (well, I would say that !)

Then it was back home for an evening meal, and early night, ready to start out early tomorrow morning…

It’s Bracing Up North !

Having returned from the South by trains and buses, I was greeted by a snowy home .. it was cold,although sunny, and after a couple of days clearing things up, decided not to miss the opportunity of a walk up and onto Kinder Scout http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinder_Scout

Firstly clearing all the snow off Wally in the driveway, and putting her batteries on charge, I then went into the lovely morning sunshine, up towards the moor – it’s great to be able to walk from home into such beautiful,and wild country, and the snow and sunshine also helps !

I was soon flying up Williams Clough, towards the final climb up and onto the plateau, where the icy wind really cut into me, but with a little help from my windshirt I remained warm, as long as I kept moving !

I didn’t stop at the ‘downfall’ which was frozen, but not particularly icy, and carried on along the top of the plateau, drinking in the views, which although I’ve seen hundreds of times, still enjoy, especially when it’s snow !

As I got towards Kinderlow End , the sun was already dropping in the sky, becoming slightly hazy, but the fierce ‘breeze’ kept me going ! along the top, and then dropping down towards home. I had dropped out of the wind, so finally sat down to have a snack and drink, and take in the scene below me…home ,this is where I live…

Now for the wander back, bumping in to various people, and a hot bath, luxury…

Now for a few busy days, preparing and packing for my journey down ‘South’ next week…