42nd Birthday

This year as it would be my 42nd birthday it was decided that I would have some kind of do, that do being a fancy dress do, and a do to be held at St Albans club in Blackburn. Some people did ask, why 42, and the obvious reply was, well it's the meaning of life isn't it. To which I would be issued with a puzzled look and a brief shaking of the head. Many of my friends embraced the idea and came in some kind of Pythonesque attire, even Michelle flew over from Spain for the weekend, just to join in with the crazyness.

As the venue had to close around midnight, and not wanting to transform into pumpkins, we ventured into the night and sought refuge in a local drinking establishment, The Napier. A few heads were turned, but some patrons saw the joke and kindly got into the spirit of it all. In all a splendid night was had by all, a few old faces made their current faces visible. Images of such have been digitally captured for posterity and made available by the wiggle and click of a plastic mouse.

Thanks to all those who made it a night to remember.

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April 2010

April, bathroom is pretty much finished now, hurrah you may say, and what took so long, well, I didn't want to rush it and make mistakes (that's my excuse and am sticking to it). Actually a few distractions needed to be not so, and my focus had to be shifted for a few weeks to ensure those distractions where completed (yes I am being cryptic, but nevermind).

As the weather is beginning to improve it means more days out in the outside. New camera needs new bits, so new lens has been purchased and needed to be put through its paces. So a nice wander around Entwistle Reservoir with Gill was undertaken, and a few nice pictures taken to prove it.

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Of course having a new lens I had to venture back to my local park and snap some more.....

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October 2009

October brought the one year anniversary of the death of my father, still cannot believe it, and it being a year already. We marked the occasion with a few helium balloons, which we let off by his tree, and attached to the balloons we had tags with my email address in case someone found it and would be willing to get back in touch. Guess what, a few weeks later someone did get back to me, informing me that it landed later the same day in Hillsborough Sheffield, what kind chappie he was.

Kirsty ventured up north for a visit and so we went out for a few beers, but sadly no pictorial evidence is in existence from me. Halloween was spent without fancy dress, but a quick visit to Blackpool with Gill to see the pretty lights was undertaken, and on returning to my house, pumpkins carved and illuminated. The evening was completed with a nice bowl of curry and a viewing of the remake of Halloween.

October also saw the start of something, but more of that later, fingers crossed (bet your wondering, he he he)

Skipton Castle - June 27th 2009

Its a bright Saturday afternoon, Gill is meeting up with me, and we are gonna drive out to visit Skipton Castle, well why not. Not the most amazing place to go to, but it's a day out and considering what the weather will do later in the day, it;s a good job we did.

The castle itself is ok, it's still standing after many years of changes and use. We are given a photocopied guide of how you are supposed to meander around the rooms, but we throw caution to the wind, and find our own way around. As most rooms link up with other rooms, and some areas are off limit to the the public, we soon find ourselves back at the beginning looking down at the cadets who have been 'marching up and down the square', having their photo taken.

Tea, coffee and ice cream follow, Gill attempts humour at my expense, she is looking at the precious things as while the collection of potted plants take mine (my distraction is the source of her attempt). In a secluded area of the castle ther are performances of Shakespear's Merchant Of Venice, which looks interesting, but you have to pay extra for this, and being without picnic we decide to wander off.

It's off along the canal and woods we go, for the next hour or so, the sun is out best make the most of it, for back in Blackburn, the skies have opened and torrents of rain are decending. So the method in our madness has paid off, we are dry and in the open, ha.










Of course I have my camera with me, yet I nearly didn't bring it, it was a last minute decision, prompted by Gill, yes Gill, she of camera picture shyness. Not so many pics taken today, but enough to mark the day. Anyway, it was home later for curry and drinks.

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Southport - 30th May 2009

I think the last time I visited Southport I was about 13, and burnt my ears in the sun. It would have been a family based summer holiday at Pontins. Fortunately today is just a daytrip, so there will be no Crocodile Club for me. My accomplice for the day would be Gill (she of the cartwheel and sand writing ability) for she was also free for this glorious Saturday and also wanted a day out by the sea. So off we went, suitably attired, well I had shorts on.

A few 80's tunes later and we were paying for our ticket, you have to pay to park everywhere, even outside my own house, but anyway we were in Southport, hurrah. First things first, Gill wanted ice cream, not that whippy stuff, but a 'proper' scoop, I must agree, not about the consistancy of ice cream, but ice cream itself, it does go well with a stroll down a pier, and so we did.








Ice cream consumed, or rather licked away, we continued our meanderings, right upto the sea, which for those who know Southport, can be quite a distance. Getting there was something of a feat in itself. So the shoes and socks had to come off. Gill had flip flops, so they were easily flipped off and we flopped our way via the squelchy black mud/sand to the sea, and paddled.

Paddling done, and small shell collecting achieved (according to Gill, I have a house full of 'stuff' and more 'stuff' is always welcome), we continued our meanderings until we found respite in the smallest pub in Britain and consumed a couple of beers. The lakeside view is what it says on the tin, so perched on the veranda we quenched our thirst before heading home to burn stuff.








As it was such a fine evening, we sat outside and warmed ourselves by burning stuff (not my collective 'stuff' but wood and paper) in my chimnea. Quickly making a chilli, which I intended to have with jacket spuds cooked inside the chimnea, but turning out as blackened pieces of charcoal, mash became a substitute. A few more drinks and music rounded the evening, until Gill headed home.








A nice day with a nice if not a little burnt evening.

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St Annes & Blackpool, May 2nd 2009

Saturday morning, the morning after the night before, and the night before had only comprised of a few beers, so a clear head was in the building. A Saturday morning usually has a few tasks attached to it, tidying up, vacuum living room, the usual mundane chores, then laze about until monday.

But today, me and Gill had decided to visit the sea, St Annes to be the exact expanse of sea in question. So following her usual saturday rituals, some not too dissimilar to mine, she picked me up around 3 and off we went.







Parking up at a cafe in St Annes, we indulged in a cup of tea and dodgy cake, then a set about walking. I hadn't been here for many a year (am not sure if I have actually been here before), so it was quite a new experience. Plenty of photo's were a taken. Gill is quite phobic about her picture being taken, but managed a couple. After wandering up and down the pier and back to the car a further jaunt was undertaken.......Blackpool.







We only made it as far as the south pier before the tackyness that is Blackpool became too much and the money ran out of the parking meter. But our allotted time allowed for the pondering over of the prom sculptures, the writing of names in the sand, and to peer upon the giant disco ball. Ice creme was consumed with great gusto before i was persuaded to make a fool of my self by attempting cartwheels upon the sand. Gill would be quite adept at the cartwheel, me on other hand, just fell over utterly hopeless.









All that was left was to drive home for a homemade curry and a few beers. A good day.

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Bowling For Christmas

It used to be the tradition that we would all meet up for something to eat between Christmas and New Years, often at someones house for a buffet. The last few years we have not been bothered to do it, for one thing or another, but this year, it would return.

Michelle would be over in England for Christmas and excuses made & a meet up arranged. This year we would be eating out, and then later, bowling. The eating part had been added at the last minute and so not all could meet that early. Fortunately the eating place was only round the corner and so walking to bowl easy. A slight delay in seating and a shoddy service at the eatery made sure that those waiting for us at the bowling had to join us for a beer at the eatery. Now we are all together, names can be revealed.

Me, Michelle, Sandra, Gillian (Sandra's sister), Kieran & Lee.

Bellies full of Mexican digestables, we waddled our way over the road to view the Vue, and bowling for Christmas. Having paid money and exchanged our shoes, our lane awaited. I had only been bowling the once before, and Lee had been a few, the rest of us were innocent in the kind of fun that would follow.

3 games, many hurling of bowls, Lee having Wii arm, silly strike dancing, beer, my winning of the 1st and last game, Gillian the winning of the 2nd game, lots of hillarity, applause at strikes, Sandra being crowned the gutter queen, and me having the highest overall score.

With this all said and done, we heading back into Blackburn for a few more well earned beers. Sadly Kieran was to go home before more drinking, but it did not stop the rest of us.

Maybe we will do this all again, sometime.........

Strawberry Duck - October 2008

As Kirsty and Pla had ventured north to mark the event that was Kirsty's 40th birthday, we decided to meet up and drink beer, the location for this mass consumption would be the Strawberry Duck, former venue for many a drunken night out. The Duck was one of the only pubs in the area at which you had a wide variety of real ale, and for our return visit, we hoped that this would still be the fact. Luckily for us it was still home for many an oddly monikered ale of three.

Those attending this cold wet evening would be Pla, Kirsty, Kieran, Sandra, Myself, Lee and Gillian (Sandra's sister), she had nothing better to do and is taking the picture.

Merriment and consumption of ale began, continued though a game of musical chairs, well we moved from one room to another, and ended via the train back to Blackburn in the Napier. Fortunately this pub had quite a few more fellow drinkers than the Duck, a bit sparse was the Duck, the barstaff nearly outnumbered the patrons.

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Strawberry Duck - October 2008

As Kirsty and Pla had ventured north to mark the event that was Kirsty's 40th birthday, we decided to meet up and drink beer, the location for this mass consumption would be the Strawberry Duck, former venue for many a drunken night out. The Duck was one of the only pubs in the area at which you had a wide variety of real ale, and for our return visit, we hoped that this would still be the fact. Luckily for us it was still home for many an oddly monikered ale of three.

Those attending this cold wet evening would be Pla, Kirsty, Kieran, Sandra, Myself, Lee and Gillian (Sandra's sister), she had nothing better to do and is taking the picture.

Merriment and consumption of ale began, continued though a game of musical chairs, well we moved from one room to another, and ended via the train back to Blackburn in the Napier. Fortunately this pub had quite a few more fellow drinkers than the Duck, a bit sparse was the Duck, the barstaff nearly outnumbered the patrons.

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