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thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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 Posted -
08/03/2011
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14:21
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A "Two part" look at life. Out and About, Here and There is intended to be a light hearted insight into everyday events wherever you are, plus your views on places you have visited.
Last week I went into Sainsbury's at Colne, instead of using the stairs I went up the moving walkway, as I got on, a metalic voice told me to keep quite still with a firm grip on the handrail, half way up and my hand was ahead of me, the handrail was moving slightly faster than the walkway, cue mental image of arriving at the top face down on the floor and still clutching handrail. My Wife works for Pavers Shoes of York within Boundary Mill and is used to ladies coming in with either an item of clothing ar a sample of material and looking for footwear to match. Yesterday a Lady approached her seeking help, "I am looking for a pair of pink shoes for my Daughter, something that will match this" She reached into her bag and came out with what my Wife thought was a thin pink belt, but no, it was a dog lead!, there was then a brief silence for restructuring of composure after which the Lady explained that her Daughter was showing a dog at Crufts. The Daughter then appeared and delighted with the shoes that Wifey had produced put them on and did her dog walking bit up and down the aisle, including the fast trot, other staff and customers were now on the scene and there was much hilarity.
Here and there, I still haven't been to Wootton Bassett or Nemphnet Thrubwell, but since my Daughter lives in Bristol which is within easy reach of both, and I have not yet seen my new Grandaughter, then it could happen this year. Bristol is one of the few Cities that I like, it has a charm about it that has not been eroded by modernisation, one of my favourite watering holes there is the Landogger Trow, a very old pub that has real atmosphere, I believe it was the inspiration for Treasure Island as that was where the Author used to go for a wet. I think the cleanest place I have ever been was Gothenburg in Sweden and unlike here, Servicemen go free on public transport, it was there that I spent a few hours in the company of the two A's and one of the B's of the well known Pop group from that country.
Over to you now, and I look forward to your comments and imput.
thomo
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thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 12/03/2011 : 14:28
I may be fairly "well travelled" but most of my favourite places are in Britain, Ingleton and the Falls, Burnsall and the river, Settle, Langcliffe and Stainforth being the more local ones, then there is Bosham and Singleton Forest in W Sussex, the New Forest and Salcombe in Devon, much further North there is Staithes on the Yorkshire coast, birthplace of Captain Cook. All of these I would class as favourites, but steering well clear of the big cities there isn't much of Britain that hasn't something of interest in it. To define somewhere abroad as a favourite would be difficult but high on that list would be Lagos in Portugal as would Gibralter, I have been there eleven times and can still find something new. The days of much travelling are gone now so I am very happy to be right here in good old Barlick.
Where I have been, in chronological order and by country.
Isle of Man, Douglas and Ramsey. Belgium, Antwerp, Brussels and Waterloo. Holland, Amsterdam. Germany, Willelmshaven, Bremen, Hamburg. Denmark, Copenhagen. Sweden, Gothenburg and Malmo. Norway, Oslo and Kolsus. Gibralter. Bermuda, Hamilton. America, New Orleans, Houston. Virgin Gorda. Peurto Rico, San Juan. America, Norfolk, Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown and Washington DC. Canada, Ottawa, Malta. South Africa, Capetown. Kenya, Mombassa, Nairobi and Killindini. Pakistan, Karachi. India, Calcutta, Bombay. Singapore, Hong Kong and Macao, The Phillipines Luzon, Manilla. Hong Kong.The Phillipines Mindanao, Daveo. Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Borneo Sabah, Kota Kinabalu. Thailand, Satahip, Rayong, Bangkok. Burma. The Seychelles, Victoria. Brazil, Rio De Janiero. Germany, Bremerhaven. France, Secondigny, Poitiers, Anger, Riems, Pont de Caudrey, Dijon. Gemany, Munich. Austria, Innsbruck. Italy, Forte dei Marmi, Florence, Pisa, Lucca.
Edited by - thomo on 12/03/2011 2:29:01 PM
thomo  |
HerbSG
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Posted - 12/03/2011 : 23:17
That's a whole lot of travel for a 30 year old. Too bad you only got to visit the seat of hot air in Canada, so much more to see.
cheers
HERB
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Bradders
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Posted - 13/03/2011 : 00:35
My (tackler) Grandfather used to have the fishing rights for two fields lengths of the Ribble "north side" above the wier at Stainforth....
He paid the farmer who owned it a very small amount (and shared it with his friend "fireman" Bert Hoyle) because the farmer was not at all happy with Settle Anglers , who stocked the stretches up, and downstream . I guess he thought they were a bunch of snobs.
My Grandpa Dugdale taught me to catch trout there,as a boy (on a worm or maggot...NEVER on a fly ,and there's a reason for that ,which could be discussed later), and in recent years I have revisited that riverbank a few times .
I have been amazed at how little it has changed ......and I'm talking about a span of over 50 years ..........The lies and runs,shallows and deeps are still there , and I feel I know every stone . There is a walkway bridge across the large pool below the wier now , but apart from that it's just the same......
Except for a sign that says "Private fishing -Settle Anglers" (or something like that) ....Ah well!
Edited by - Bradders on 13/03/2011 12:43:18 AM
BRADDERS BLUESINGER |
Anni
Regular Member
634 Posts
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Posted - 13/03/2011 : 00:58
Bradders - related to the Dugdales of Settle by any chance?
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Bradders
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Posted - 13/03/2011 : 01:09
I don't think so Anni (although I can't be sure).....My Mum talks a lot about Scottish connections , and I understand that David Wilfred Louis Dugdale (Grandpa ) was born in Blacko...But you never know ..eh !
I'll ask her tomorrow if there's a Settle connection .......it's late !
BRADDERS BLUESINGER |
thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 13/03/2011 : 17:14
There may be quite a few names on my list of places visited, but there are just as many that aren't, some were small enough not to warrant having a name, some I can't remember and a few that will remain undisclosed. The first two of these groups were probably the most interesting, smaller communities far inland and single dwellings in remote but beautiful surroundings. I always found that the best, quickest and most agreeable way of getting familiar with a place on my first visit was to get into company with the locals, not only do they know what is best to see, but what is safe or otherwise. Bearing this in mind there are rules that are at all times critical, and the first is: Yourself, smart and well "turned out", polite and with an open but neutral mind, respectful in regard to other peoples persuasions, and above all cheerful. The best place to start is at the top, it easier and quicker to lower your sights if need be than it is to claw your way up. In the larger City or Town the parks and zoos or seafront, better still the more upmarket hotels, The Hiltons, Hyatts, Sheratons etc, it is better to have to pay more for a drink and acquire more generous company than to spend your time in the "spit and whistle" areas where you are doing the paying and at the same time leaving yourself wide open to trouble. Secondly, never make the first contact, remain approachable but do not seek out what you desire, if you have been careful, it usually works out for the best. Never, ever be pushy. Give others the time to get to know you and let them make the suggestions as to what you can see and do. This way of doing things has always served me well. So well that after a short time the word got around on board and I was never short of company when going ashore. On two occasions, where I come from and my care of how I was dressed has got me into places where others of my calling have been turned away, the first was in the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I Was having a drink at the pool bar and six American Sailors came in approached the bar and ordered drinks, the barman, who was a local lad refused to serve them, they made the point that why then was I there having a beer, His reply staggered me, "He is correctly dressed, and you are not!" I was wearing the full No,6 uniform, they were only half dressed. At the Heerengracht Hotel in Capetown, two of us went in and were refused service being told that they don't serve their sailors in the Hotel and that there was a bar next door where we could go, and we had seen it, sawdust on the floor etc. This had attracted the attention of several guests who insisted on sending for the manager and they explained that they were appalled by the way we had been treated as we were guests in their country, a young couple who were on honeymoon at the hotel even went so far as to tell him that they would move out of the hotel and go elsewhere if we were not allowed service, we sat in their room drinking Champagne until the wee small hours and were treated well thereafter.
Another Golden Rule that I almost forgot: "Flatter" but never "Flannel"
Edited by - thomo on 13/03/2011 11:01:44 PM
thomo |
Tizer
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Posted - 14/03/2011 : 10:05
The mention of Cape Town prompts me to relate how my father was treated when he was in South Africa with the RAF for several years during WW2. He spent most of his time in Kimberley and Port Elizabeth and was treated very well by the locals, welcomed into the best hotel bars, given free drinks, invited home for meals by families, even given use of cars (he taught one man to drive and pass his test and was given a holiday at the man's farm as reward). Of course, most of this was from South African's of British lineage and the Afrikaners were not so welcoming.
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thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 14/03/2011 : 12:33
We generally got the same Tizer but sadly Apartheid was still in place, I will be doing a piece about Capetown shortly.
thomo |
thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 16/03/2011 : 14:59
One of the oddest places I have ever been to is Sidmouth in Devon, we spent a night there whilst on a touring holiday. We booked into a hotel on the seafront, this itself was unlike most seafronts being totally devoid of all the usual amusements etc, what nightlife there was being away behind somewhere. In the evening there were many people walking along the seafront and back again, this went on until about 10.30 pm and then ceased abruptly, we went back to the hotel to find that everyone else had gone to bed. It was a bit like taking a step back in time and the following morning at breakfast it transpired that "Gentlemen got two eggs" whereas the ladies got only one! On leaving I had the notion that were we to return the following day it would all have vanished.
thomo |
thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 21/03/2011 : 14:35
I must away to the mighty sea, and thence to roam, like a spirit free.
To see the sights and smell the smells, of a distant land where the stranger dwells.
I spoke earlier of the pleasure of approaching somewhere for the first time, but due to my being a Special Sea Dutymen for a greater part of my career I used to miss the best bit, the final approach. This had its good side however as I didnt have to do duties in harbour and this gave me as much time and freedom as was possible, this meant that I could go beyond the port and into the countryside. This allowed me to meet people in their own environment, yet ever mindful of the possible dangers that such forays can present, snakes and the amazing number of wee beasties that bite or sting, bad tempered animals with a size and speed advantage, and not to mention nubile women looking for a fresh start. Food was something else to be careful with, what the natives thrive on can have you hors de combat in minutes, water was never a problem as I only used it for toilet purposes. Some of the local brews can be a bit iffy as well, there was one place where a bottle of the local beer would result in a mild headache, a second bottle would shift it, only for it to return shortly at double strength, that was the time to change drinks and endure the pain until it passed naturally for if you do not, then the final headache is cataclysmic. Refusing hospitality can often be regarded as an insult, but if you are faced with a plate of something that you know will re-appear within seconds should you try it, there is a useful get out clause, there will usually be a number of small children stood there with their tongues hanging out, this is a good time to insist that the food is given to them as you had a large meal earlier, it might sound corny but it works. Capetown was where I first used it and a brief look at that place will follow in due course.
thomo |
Bradders
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Posted - 21/03/2011 : 23:02
Sidmouth is Special .....Budleigh Salterton in Specialer ....and Lyme Regis ....Ooooph
I Love all three. ..!
BRADDERS BLUESINGER |
thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 27/03/2011 : 15:58
Its not been a bad day, I have finally finished pressure washing all the paths and yards we have. So it must be BST as the local tosser has done his first run of the season on what looks like a different bike, same lime green but bigger, I could here him coming for at least ten minutes before he got here and boy was he upset, he is reduced to less than 30 mph as there is heavy traffic, he was waving his arms about in frustration when he passed here, I suppose there is always the possibility that some day his journey will terminate enbeded in a tree or some other poor sods car bonnet,
thomo |
panbiker
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Posted - 27/03/2011 : 16:12
It will be a Kawasaki Ninja Peter. They do make quite a din as they rev quite high, unlike my Pan which red lines at 8K at which point I would be doing around 150 but still purring, grunt versus verge of engine melt down would be the best way to describe the difference.
Ian |
thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 10/05/2011 : 12:02
I met "Herb" for the first time last Friday afternoon, yesterday it gave me great pleasure to drive him around for a couple of hours, sort of a trip down memory lane. We started of with a visit to No 19 King St and then did a tour of the town before picking up some flowers and going down to Ghyll Church where we spent a while chatting in the tranquil suroundings, and in the company of several of our ancestors. Then off through Elslack and onto the moor stopping for a very windblown half hour at the little picnic spot above Earby. A panoramic vista from beyond Clitheroe right across to Skipton and then finished off with a look at the Marina. Herb is now on his way elsewhere for the next part of his trip to UK.
thomo |
thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 21/05/2011 : 12:46
It is past midday and a welcome "up spirits", a time to reflect on the mornings observations outside on the East Lancs/ A59 expressway. Fairly high rate of traffic flow with a high percentage at higher speed than should be, the late starters heading for the Lakes, the rural gentry "Just popping into town" in their shiny often black and blacked out massive UAVs, the agricultural contractors heading for the vast plains of the North, this requires enourmous machinery of course, and mostly driven by those otherwise known as "boy racers". But there has been an interesting diversion today, imaculately turned out vintage and classic cars heading into or through the town, Austin Healeys, a fair number of Jaguars of the 120 series, a Bristol Coupe, a Rally Mini Cooper S and a similarly attired Triumph Vittesse, Spridgets, Sprites and Midgets, an MGA and a beautiful old BMW/Frazer Nash, this brought back memories of the time I nearly bought one off Ken Nutter, but it was closer to being a racing car with all the attendant restrictions, later overlooked when I owned a Tojero Jaguar, and two Vintage MGs. Ah, happy days.
thomo |
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Out and About, Here and There.
