FRIDAY 3rd FEBRUARY

Would you believe that it’s 60 years since King George 6th died and Princess Elizabeth became Queen.  I can remember that day so clearly.  Being told when I was at school by my teacher, Mrs Peacock.  It’s quite wonderful how our lovely Queen has reigned for that long and she still looks magnificent.  I am, unashamedly, a strong Royalist and the celebrations that will take place around the world to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee will be teriffic.  I attended yet another funeral.  This time, no church service,  simply  at Thorncliffe Crematorium,  and the place was full to capacity.  I picked Kay up and fetched her through to Ulverston as she had a lunch date  with her friends Fiona and Liz in the Farmers.  I had a good day and finished at 5,  had a nice bath and got ready to meet up for “Early Doors” in the Farmers.  Sue and Dave Seeley were already there and I was quickly followed by Ding Dong,  Willy One-Eye and Alan Fry-1-Y.  Shortly after we were joined by Helen and John Stanton and we dominated the corner.  WE enjoyed each other’s company with much laughter and friendly banter.  ALan went off to order the curry takeaway from the Taste of Balti adn we left to join him at his house.  We managed to choose the WRONG house!  How stupid was that?  Had to make a swift exit!  Enjoyed the lovely curry and laughed a lot,  and toasted “Absent Friends”.  A very nice evening out.

THURSDAY 2nd FEBRUARY

Another beautifully crisp adn clear morning.  NO snow but very chilly.  The North West seem likely to escape the snow that is being forecast.  Seems the North East will be bear the brunt of  it all.  I was busy enough at work,  but we’ve still a long way to go to get back to what it was like “in the old days”.   There was a good crowd of folk out in town as it was Market Day.  It was a good day in the office as we managed to sell TWO!  Long may that trend continue.  The FT climbed up and momentarilly passed teh 5800 mark before falling back a few points to end the trading day at 5796.  That’s the highest it’s been for many a long week.  There were 23 teams competing in the Farmer’s Quiz and they all seemed to enjoy it.  The Rollover has climbed to £85 but Joe,  who got the chance to answer the Question got it wrong so it will be about £110 next week.  the Question was;  In which year was the new half-penny withdrawn from useage?”  Do you know?  I’ll tell you tomorrow.

WEDNESDAY 1st  FEBRUARY

What a gorgeous morning!  Bright sunshine and clear skies.  Freezing cold and snow on “the tops”.  Beautiful!  Worked well in the morning finishing up around 1 and then had a spot of lunch and took off for a ride-out in the Jag.  Went over to Kirkby Lonsdale,  which is a place that I have always loved,  and had a nice stroll around.   A lovely place but not very many folk around.  Afterwards decided to divert and had a run through to Bowness,  stopping off at Gummers How to enjoy the view.  And what a view!  Fabulous!    Home for just after 5 and made myself a nice tea and read the papers.  Can’t really see what difference it will make stripping Fred the Shred of his knighthood.  I know he caused untold losses at RBS and it cost us all a fortune,  but taking his knighthood back won’t alter much there,  I suspect.  Perhaps it’s just a bit of peke?  Stayed in for the evening and enjoyed a few drams whilst watching “The Hurt Locker”.  Then off to bobo’s.  ANSWER to yesterday’s teaser;  BILLET DOUS.  Did you get it

TUESDAY 31st JANUARY

A very nice morning though very cold.  Plenty snow “on the tops”.  Very picturesque.    Everyone is “wrapping up warm” to keep the cold at bay.  The forecasters are unsure about the weather this weekend.  Apparently it all depends on where the cold front collides with the  warm front. Eh?  So it could be either snow or rather warm!  Watch this space!  First time I can recall the forecasters making such a declaration.  There are plenty snowdrops out now  as well as crocus ( is the plural of crocus, crocus, croci or crocusses?) Whatever the answer they look lovely.  One of the most glorious of displays of crocus is the church yard at Beckside.  Fabulous.  They are not ready yet but another couple of weeks or so should see them in all their magnificence.  As far as daffodils go,  there is always a lovely display at the foot of Hoad Hill  ( I helped plant some of them) but my favourite spot of WILD daffodils is over  by the river at Ulpha.  When they are ready I will tell you and you can make a trip over there.  You will not be disappointed,  I am certain.  I managed to complete my crossword.  The last one was;  The term for an old-fashioned love letter,    literally meaning “sweet note” in French  (6 – 4).  I finally got it,  and  I will post the answer tomorrow.  If you think you know please send me an eMail. I watched Julia Bradbury in Wainright Walks.  She was doing Scafell Pike,  the highest mountain on England ( 3210 feet) and  I’ve done it!  Christmas Eve 2005.  I WAS THERE!!!!

MONDAY 30th JANUARY

A beautiful day!  Bright and sunny and very chilly.  The sun was surprisingly warm,  and as soon as you stepped into the shade,  it was distinctly colder.  Plenty to get on with and made preps for 2 AGM’s. I heard of the death of the wife of an old friend of mine.  She had been poorly for a considerable length of time.  A great shame.    Russ rang to say the Jag was ready at the garage after having some repairs done to the front brakes and it’s lovely having the car back.  I just love that car despite it being stupidly large and with a huge 4litre V8 under the bonnet.  It’s saving grace is that it is a “Gas Jag”.  That means it runs on LPG and I get,  I reckon,  about 35 to the gallon equivalent, so it’s not the “gas guzzler” that it first appears to be.  It is virtually silent and deliciously smooth, and of course,  it looks fabulous!  Ding Dong has been yammering on about getting one,  but I will only believe it when I see it.  He’s just like Willy One-Eye who’s been going on about an Audi TT for ages.  All talk and no action,  that’s those two.  Went up to Clare’s for tea.  It was gorgeous.  Salmon in a puff pastry jacket,  with soft cheese,  dauphinoise potatoes and peas.  Beautiful.  Home by 7 to listen to Paul Jones and his R&B programme followed by UC.  Manchester were on  sparkling form and  beat a very strong Newcastle team.  Had another shot at the crossword but I am struggling a bit.  A bit more than a “bit” really. “Stuck” is a more appropriate phrase.    Watched an episode of “Frost” than off to bobo’s.

SUNDAY 29th JANUARY

I had a nice lie-in and then  a LDSB followed by my FE.  It was a chilly and dry morning and I pottered around for a while before getting all my kit on and I went out for a walk.  Up Gill Banks,  over Flan and then to the top of Hoad Hill then down again through Ford Park and home to a welcome cup of hot coffee.  Had a go at the Telegraph G.K. Crossword ( getting very much harder,  or maybe it’s just me getting thicker?) before meeting up with everyone for Cocktails @ 5 in the Farmers.  It was well attended by Helen and John Stanton,  Willy One-Eye and Sue,  Sue and Dave Seeley,  Alan Fry-1-Y and Becky,  Ding Dong and me.  We dominated the corner and  we all enjoyed some friendly banter.  A very pleasant weekend.

SATURDAY 28th JANUARY

A lovely clear morning.  Blue skies and a drop in temperature.  Out and about and finished around 1,  with just enough time to whiz around the town and pick up my weekend shopping before getting ready for the matinee of the Panto.  Got there in good time to help out “Front of House”.  500 screaming kids with their parents/grandparents! It was a super afternoon and everyone had a great time.  The Matinee finished at around 5 and we all went into the Pink Room for a very nice tea.  Back on duty just before 7 for the ”Last Night” performance and afterwards had a drink with the cast at the After-Show party.  Then up to the Farmer’s and the Capitola before stumbling off home.  A very busy day!

FRIDAY 27th JANUARY

Another changeable day.  Some bright sunshine,  then cloud and heavy rain.  Even some hailstones. It’s tough being an Estate Agent. Had an awkward problem to resolve,  but resolve it I did!  Both sides seem relaxed and settled now.  Phew!    I had delicious home-made fish adn chips for tea.  Fish from George on the market and it was scrummy.  A nice big piece of cod in Ralph’s Beer Batter.   Got all W&P into my penguin suit and joined Ding Dong, Willy One-Eye, Alan Fry-1-Y and several others to work “Front of House” at the Coro for another showing of the Panto.  The place was pretty full and  the atmosphere was wonderful.  Oh! Yes it was!  500 screaming kids ( and grand-parents) yelling and screaming.  Brilliant!   Finished there around 10 then called into the Farmers for a couple then onwards to the  Capitola.  There was a lovely crowd out and Ding Dong and I  felt just a  bit over-dressed with our bow ties and dinner suits.  Home then and when I switched the tv on,  Paul McCartney was on “Electric Proms”.  Excellent.

THURSDAY 26th JANUARY

A changeable day and it’s Market Day in Ulverston.  Always a nice atmosphere and there  were plenty good folk around. I had a good day too.  Had my annual review at the Bank which went smoothly and without any hiccups.  Took the Jag down to Young’s Garage as the nearside front brake has jammed on so Russ will release it for me.  Other than that with the car,  it is running so beautifully, virtually silent,  despite the fact that it has a V8 4-Litre engine.  It is quite gorgeous to ride in. Tony McCoy the 16 times Jumps Champion was riding again,  just 27 days after he had broken several ribs and punctuired his lung in an horrific fall.  What a tough man he is.  Sadly he did not win, but came a gallant second.   He is still well in the lead to retain his championship for the 17th consecutive time!! What a man!  The District Council haev APPROVED the revision of teh Parking regulations whereby the car-parks will be chargeable until 10 at night a dn tehre is to eb a charge for parking OVERNIGHT.  This is despite all the protests and teh personal representations by several organisation leaders directly to the Council including myself, Colin Pickthall and Paul Jarvis. The new charges will be in force by March.  I remain surprised and somewhat dismayed by the attitude of the general public to these charges, as well as being disgusted by the District Council itself.  Went out to the Quiz which was well attended adn teh Rollover  (£69) was won at the frist offering by Ron Savage.  Bingo!

WEDNESDAY 25th JANUARY

Burn’s Night!   Plenty porridge and  haggis about!  Had another good day and caught up with some other things.  Had a nice tea of home-made chicken pie follwed by home-made apple pie!  Home-made by yours truly.  Rather nice too.  There was an article in the Mail about George Tyson having the presence of mind to push Garry out of the way of the car that was careering towards them,  and by doing so saved his life. Sadly George was struck by the car and died at the scene.    I met up with Ding Dong, Peter and Willy at the Coro for another staging of the Pantomime,  “Jack and the Beanstalk”.  Oh! Yes I did!  Finished at about 10 and then we all went to the Rose where Radio KFK were playing.  The place was nicely full and I met up with two old friends Linda and Mike McDonald. Dave and Sue Seeley were comfortably positioned in the corner of the bar on the high-stools.  Left the Rose and had another at the Farmer’s with Derek, Bruce and Dave Abbott.  Then raced home trying to dodge the torrential rain!