Friends of DalesRail
What a summer! The Olympics were a huge success despite most people’s cynicism and dire predictions. Even the most dedicated couch potato found themselves caught up in the excitement and saw some amazing events on television or in London. I was totally bemused by the Keirin cycling event where they seemed to be following an old duffer on an ancient bike going very slowly. Why didn’t they overtake or someone come and take the poor lost fool away? Please don’t write in: I’ve since had it explained to me!
Our boy Andy won Gold and then the US Open so he’s now definitely British – he seems to be a Scot when he loses!
Those who went to London were surprised by the excellent organisation and fantastic ambience and downright shocked when Londoners were helpful and actually smiled. I hope that lasts but I won’t bet on it.
The Paralympics were watched and enjoyed by millions and brought talented athletes who just happen to be handicapped in some way into the limelight.
Then there was the weather. Double the annual rainfall in many places and Hebden Bridge under water again. Droughts in North America and hurricanes so food prices will be up again. The recession continues.
However, good news from Friends of DalesRail! The membership fee is NOT going to increase!
On the health front, some truly wonderful news for those of us who are not exactly sylphlike: research shows that you can be fit yet fat. Regular exercise can keep you metabolically normal (no more likely to have increased cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes) even if you are obese. You’ll still wear out your knees and hips faster than your svelte friends though. As Botox is so expensive, I’ll keep my fat to fill out the wrinkles!
Penny Smith
CONTENTS ENCLOSURES
Moya’s Musings AGM Nomination Form
Walk Report Form AGM Lunch Booking
AGM and New Year’s Dinner AGM Agenda
Event Secretary’s Report New Year Dinner Booking Form
Walks:Updates Keswick Booking Form
Holiday Reports Membership Renewal Form
2013 Holidays
Get Well Wishes
Moya’s Big 60
Olympic Report
Emergency Text 999
Renewal Reminder
Penelope’s Pantry
Correspondence
Dates for Your Diary
This edition’s rib-ticklers are all from complaints to the Council ….. allegedly.
My lavatory seat is cracked; where do I stand?
Moya’s Musings
It’s been a hectic summer what with the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics and we’ve suffered the wettest June on record and July and August continued in the same way. However, Friends of DalesRail have continued our walking programme regardless and numbers on walks have generally been high. The main exception to this is the Caldervale walks programme where numbers have been low. This was exacerbated by the appalling floods suffered in Calderdale and work on the railway line on Sundays. The committee is considering reducing the number of walks on this line to every other month.
Once again it is time for the Annual General Meeting and the Agenda and associated papers are enclosed. Please attend and let your voice be heard. This year Chris and Tony Grogan will be our guest speakers. The title of their talk will be “A Dales High Way - 90 glorious miles."
Several officers and committee members are due for re election on the two year cycle. Whilst most existing committee members and officers have indicated that they are happy to stand for re-election, Angela O’Keefe is standing down. She will however be continuing to assist Joyce with publicity issues. I would like to thank Angela for the work she does on behalf of Friends of DalesRail. If you wish to join the committee please complete the enclosed election form – the committee always welcomes “new blood”.
This year we are able to hold the subscription at £8 per household. I would like to thank those who have made donations to the Society.
For the first time I can remember, we had to cancel a train walk through the lack of a leader. This had to be done at relatively short notice and fortunately had no serious repercussions. It does however emphasise the need for a constant supply of leaders.
In our last newsletter we printed a letter from Jack Wood. Such contributions are always welcome but if you have any related issues that you feel need addressing then it is possible that your committee may be able to help, so please let us know. We have subsequently taken up some of the matters that Jack raised.
We had yet another very successful holiday in Scotland. We used Lochs and Glens, the same company we used 2 years ago and another exciting programme for next year has been organised.
Moya McNamara,
Chairperson
Leaders Report Form
The committee is ever keen to seek new ways to save money and improve efficiency so earlier this year committee members carried out a trial using a revised leader’s report form. This is an electronic version and after a few amendments it was launched to all leaders of train walks at the beginning of August. Don’t worry if you don’t “do” computers, there is a printed version which follows the same format as the electronic version.
Please don’t forget to complete your report and return it promptly. The information is vital to update our database and report any issues.
I wish to report that tiles are missing from the outside toilet roof. I think it was bad wind the other day that blew them off.
Amendments to Walks
Whilst we strenuously attempt to keep to the advertised walks, there are occasions when they have to be changed. This can be due to poor weather, works on the rail line or numerous other causes. In order to avoid inconvenience and wasted journeys you are advised to check the website to keep abreast of any changes.
I request permission to remove my drawers in the kitchen.
AGM and New Year’s Dinner
The AGM will be held on Sunday 25th November 2012 at a new venue - Herriots in Skipton.
Once again Martyn Benton has kindly agreed to help by putting together a montage of members’ photos. Please contact him at to find out how best to send your pictures.
Martyn is able to accept photos for inclusion in the slide show up to a week prior to the AGM but the earlier he receives them the better.
The venue for the New Year Dinner is also Herriots in Skipton on Saturday 5th January 2013. This venue is easily accessible from public transport being next to Skipton rail station.
I want some repairs done to my cooker as it has backfired and burnt my knob off.
Event Secretary’s Report
I won’t mention the weather, the mud and the torrential rain interspersed with wonderful sunny intervals! As ever Friends of DalesRail have turned out to walk, testing their gear to its limits and enjoying good days out and well planned walks. Our thanks go to our wonderful and intrepid leaders and their backups.
The Ride2Stride week at the beginning of May was a resounding success with walkers joining us from as far away as Basingstoke, Teeside, Wrexham, Barnsley, Sheffield and even New Zealand. Most had found the information on the web. The week provided us with a wonderful opportunity to show off our Yorkshire scenery and hospitality. The folk music in the pubs rounded off the days and the weather stayed fine until the last day, bucking the national forecast! A big thank you to all who turned out to walk and to the leaders. The event is being repeated next year with more walks, talks and music so make a note of the date in your diaries: 30 April-6 May 2013. This week should be even better with more on offer.
A big thank you to John Crouch for arranging the week holiday at Loch Tummel. What a splendid setting by the loch side…and excellent weather! Friends of Dales Rail seem to have succeeded in being away in sunshine against the current trend! (As I write this the forecast for the Grinton YHA weekend is dry and warm.) Some forty seven of us went to Loch Tummel and enjoyed walks from Pitlochry, Glen Shee and in the Cairngorms…some bagging Monros, others following Glens. A visit to Balmoral was on offer on the free day to view Her Majesty’s frocks and garden while others preferred to climb Schehallion or Ben Vrackie! Thank you to John and to all those who led. We look forward to what John has on offer in 2013.
A big thank you to Penny Smith who has arranged the weekend at Grinton YHA … by the time you read this it will have taken place…bound to be great fun with excellent walks (Swaledale).
The AGM takes place on 25th November and the Speakers are Chris and Tony Grogan, authors of” A Dales Highway” and “ Dales Rail trails”, a book I highly recommend of walks from the Settle and Carlisle train. Chris and Tony are the instigators of the Ride2Stride walking and music week. Do come along to the AGM and support your committee….always a good social event. Don’t miss the film show: remember last years? You could be a star. Let Martyn have your photos in plenty of time please. Booking forms are in this newsletter.
The New Year Dinner will be at Herriots in Skipton again and will be preceded by three walks. Just what you need after the Christmas festivities and a chance to catch up with friends. Booking forms are in the newsletter.
And of course, true to form ….I have jute bags for sale……stop me and buy one; a snip at £4……
Diane Taylor
Will you please send someone to mend the garden path. My wife tripped and fell on it yesterday and now she is pregnant.
Train Walks – Updates and Corrections
SATURDAY 20 OCTOBER
The walk has been changed due to engineering work on the Settle/Carlisle railway and will now be:
Settle Circular
via the Stockdale Skyline
Book, alight and return Settle
13 miles Moderate/Strenuous
Additional Information from the leader (Martin H):
Trains will not be running beyond Skipton on the weekend of 20th/21st October, due to engineering work at Hellifield Junction and a replacement bus service will be provided. So a Settle Circular has been devised instead of the planned Garsdale to Kirkby Stephen walk, to reduce time and frustration of travelling long distances on replacement buses.
Anyone intending to do the walk on 20th October should now book a return ticket to Settle. People coming from Leeds and the Aire Valley will have to change at Skipton. Please catch the 0856 train from Leeds to Skipton, arriving at 0940, then the 1010 bus replacement service from Skipton to Settle, arriving at 1051.
The replacement walk is called ‘The Stockdale Skyline’ as we circumnavigate the Stockdale Valley via Rye Loaf Hill. Hopefully it will be a slightly different route to normal. The grade remains Moderately Strenuous but at 13 miles it is slightly longer than the original walk. It involves 2500 feet of ascent and descent (according to Memory Map) and also a short stretch of ‘yomping’.
We aim to finish for the 1720 bus replacement service from Settle, arriving into Skipton at 1801. The train for Leeds departs at 1816, arriving at 1859. There is also a 1730 service bus from Settle to Skipton, so anyone with a national bus pass should bring that just in case.
SATURDAY 27 OCTOBER
A wrong description for the strenuous walk is printed in the members’ calendar. The full and correct details are:
Garsdale to Kirkby Stephen
via Hell Gill, Mallerstang Edge and Nine Standards
Book and return Kirkby Stephen: alight Garsdale
17 miles Strenuous
The above updates have been incorporated into our website. Please check there for any subsequent ones. Additional information about individual train walks is normally posted online the Monday before the walk.
Their 18 year old son is continually banging his balls against my fence.
Holiday Reports
Loch Tummel
Off to the land of water, woods and mountains and the well-honed organisation of the Loch Tummel hotel with its well-trained staff and wonderful views. Lulled into a false sense of easiness we all started walking from nearby Pitlochry. Some trod the sylvan paths trying to keep on the right side of the river. Others watched some bungee jumping with alarm and scurried on to Soldiers' Leap, which looked even more painful. Some went on to try and conquer Ben Vrackie but ran out of time and others came to it via Meall na Moine. The rest made for the teashops of Pitlochry.
Next day reality struck and the Munros began to fall like ninepins. The debate was whether to do 3 or 4. The result was a 5/5 split. The debate for others was whether they would get there at all. An exhilarating ride over the moors brought us to the land of the Caterans, cattle thieves of a dastardly nature and not to be trifled with. However, they left some useful drove roads, as did General Wade, which we cheerfully trod, some of us visiting Queen Victoria's tea hut on the way where she had paused to write up her diary and have a brew with John Brown before fighting off the midges and continuing on her way.
Even on the "day off" some people could not resist the lure of the mountains. While most of us rode up the Valley of Peace to enjoy Crathie church and the broad acres of Balmoral with a peep at some of the Queen's frocks thrown in, others were busy conquering Schiehallion thanks to silver (should that be Sylvian?) tongue and a kind receptionist. A small group went up Ben Vrackie. One member said it felt like a Munro (so does that count?) but they managed to time their descent just right for the coach to pick them up in Pitlochry. How miraculous is that?
Tuesday brought a visit to the Cairngorms and several route variations. The funicular railway took some people to the top to view the spectacular panorama and back to the bottom where another optional walk was offered. Others strode out to conquer Cairngorm via a circular route involving the crossing of mighty snowfields, while others took in Cairngorm and Ben Macdui adding to the sum total of Munros climbed. Rumour has it that a version of "Strip the Willow" was danced at the top but you can't believe everything you're told, can you? One of our members contributed another dimension to our experiences by introducing us to the excellent medical services at Aviemore. We hope her knee continues to improve under the Yorkshire system of medical care.
The last day brought that rare miracle, sunshine! Off to Blair Castle, the erstwhile home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl, who had great difficulty in securing heirs and finally had to go to South Africa to find one. 'A' party took a taxi to seek more Munros, conquered two and slid successfully down the hillside to rejoin us. Others contented themselves with some brief research into the local retail opportunities and a beautiful waterfall walk before enjoying the fascinating collections housed in the castle. Others strolled up Glen Tilt, avoiding the low flying jets and the possibility of being caught in some crossfire, some coming back down to visit the castle and others exploring a bit further up the valley until they came to a bridge and could get back down again.
Of course it was not all walking boots and anoraks. The evenings brought entertainment and the chance to fling our aching legs and arms about on the dance floor. Heavy competition for the right version of the now-famous "Slosh" led to some confusion but "Strip the Willow" won outright in the confusion stakes with women being men and changing back to women half way through. Better entertainment than most soaps!
Many thanks to all the leaders and helpers who made the holiday possible and especially to John for masterminding the whole operation.
Diane Exley
The next door neighbour has got this huge tool that vibrates the whole house and I just can’t take any more.
Grinton Lodge
As we all keep saying: the weather has been very kind to us!
Grinton Lodge was fantastic and really comfortable thanks to its recent refurbishment. We’ve even converted Stuart to the delights of hostelling and the boys staying at a local hostelry had to do so because of their dog rather than not wanting to be in the hostel. We were also pleased to see Jack who came up to support us.
The sun shone on us for two good days walking and a few of us managed a walk on the Friday as well. The food was excellent and the wine wasn’t half bad either!
The party feeling was boosted by celebrating Angela O’Keefe’s 60th birthday on the Saturday night.
Many thanks to Glennys, Jenny, Mark, Stormin’ Norman, Jon and Yvonne for planning and leading the walks.
And a HUGE thank you to Pat Wilson who does all the booking forms and administration for our holidays. We never fully appreciate how much behind the scenes work goes on. I only book the dates: she does the real work and should get the credit!
Penny Smith
The toilet is blocked and we cannot bath the children until it is cleared.
FDR HOLIDAYS 2013
The holidays this year have been well supported and so far we have been very lucky with the weather. Again for Spring and Summer, I have managed to arrange two very reasonable hotels at prices that are exceptional. Therefore, I expect these to be in great demand and encourage you to get your bookings in on time to avoid disappointment. Single rooms are always at a premium, so please try to share where possible.
As in the past there will be a date for receipt of deposits and then if there are too many bookings a draw will take place.
FDR WEEKEND – Keswick, Lake District 22 – 25 March 2013
The Keswick Country House Hotel
The Keswick Hotel sits at the heart of Keswick. The hotel is recently refurbished with an excellent reputation for food.
The hotel was originally owned by the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway Company and was built in 1869. There have been many famous visitors, including Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm, Lord and Lady Churchill and HM Queen Elizabeth II. In 2002 Choice Hotels (owners of the Patterdale Hotel) bought the hotel and continue to improve the facilities.
This is a self drive trip and, as it is easy to walk from the hotel, on this occasion we will not have the use of a coach on the Saturday and Sunday. However we may need to use public transport or a minibus on the Saturday.
Speak to anyone who goes on our weekends and they will tell you what a great time is had by all. So this is a weekend not to miss and at a cost of £180 per person for bed, breakfast and evening meal for three nights. Note that there is no single supplement, but be aware that there are a limited number of single rooms.
We will be looking for leaders on each of the days, so if you think you might be willing to lead an A, B, or C walk please indicate on the booking form.
John Crouch
SUMMER – Brighton, Sussex 11th July – 17th July 2013
For the Summer we again visit the South Coast of England and a chance to walk the South Downs Way. The town also offers all the advantages of a seaside destination. The hotel is the Royal Albion and is an attractive three-star hotel nestled on Brighton’s seafront. Accommodation is all ensuite with a mixture of doubles, twins and singles with breakfast and evening meal included.
See for hotel website.
We will have our own coach for the week with pickups in Bradford and Leeds.
Approximate cost £280 per person for 6 nights. There will be a single supplement of £90.
John Crouch
AUTUMN – YHA 6th – 7th September
I have booked the hostel at Alnwick for our YHA weekend. This will be 2 nights, the Friday and Saturday, and will be half board as usual. Several people at Grinton Lodge recommended it and it should be easier to get to by public transport than some, though we will always help organise lifts and car-sharing. I would expect it to cost £65-70.
It’s a lovely area for walking and there’s oodles of interesting places around to visit.
Penny Smith
AUTUMN – Beddgelert, Snowdonia 18-21 October 2013
The Royal Goat Hotel is perfectly situated in Beddgelert for exploring the magical region of Snowdonia. See for hotel website. This is a self drive trip and we will be able to walk from the hotel. Accommodation is all ensuite with a mixture of doubles, twins and singles with breakfast and evening meal included. Approximate cost £170 per person for 3 nights. There will be a £30 single supplement.
John Crouch
Will you please send a man to look at my water, it is a funny colour and not fit to drink.
GET WELL SOON!
A few of our members have been having a very interesting year!
I’m sure we’d all like to express our best wishes to Bill Hunt and Dave Banks who are both looking marvellous (and back to walking) after surgery and to Megan who’s not as well as she’s every right to expect to be.
Pat and Eric Bottomley could do with some sympathy too after a traumatic time in Scotland.
Our lavatory seat is broken in half and now is in three pieces.
60 Years, 60 Hills, 60 Days
In the last newsletter Penny announced several notable birthdays; one of them was my 60th. I decided that I would set myself several personal challenges to celebrate and after a lot of deliberation decided that my walking challenge would be to walk the 60 highest hills in the Yorkshire Dales area in 60 days.
The 1st part of the challenge was to identify the hills and with the use of the Internet found a list of hills in the Yorkshire area and selected the 60 highest (including the Howgills). The next task was to plot them in batches which were geographically close to save on travelling. Lots of hours pouring over maps!
I completed my 1st four on 26th May 2012 on a glorious day (the one and only day I wore shorts). Now only another 59 days before we left for London as volunteers for the Olympic Games! This would give me long fine days through June and July! Some hope – June was the wettest on record and July began in a similar manner.
Only 12 done before we went on the Loch Tummel trip (8 Monros and 1 other hill higher than any in Yorkshire were completed but these didn’t count). When we got home I realised that a big push was needed if I was to complete the challenge in my allotted time. Therefore John and I went to Kirkby Stephen for a few days where I completed 22 tops in 3 days.
I experienced some wonderful days and very many awful ones. During my walking days I was on the road early and home late. One of the biggest problems turned out to be that very many of the hills were on Access Land with no footpaths. I tramped through miles and miles of bog, round and over peat hags more than 6ft high, yomped through ankle twisting heather and reed clumps. Often visibility was down to about 20ft on the tops and I had many moments of “why am I doing this?” The worst was on top of Baugh Fell when I had been up to my knees in bog, it was raining, visibility was appalling and I could get no reception on my mobile phone to let John know that whilst I was 1 hour behind schedule I was OK.
But despite all that I had some terrific days, some sunshine and I did manage to avoid torrential rain. I went to areas I had not previously visited and revisited lots of old favourites but now need to return in better weather e.g. to see the glorious Buttertubs. In total I walked for 12 days and it was a great sense of achievement when I finished 6 days ahead of schedule.
In total I completed more than 220 miles, 43300 feet of ascent and 42000 feet of descent. The shortest walking day was 13 miles and 2 tops; my longest was 11 hours when I walked with Jack Wood on his mega train walk; and the largest number of peaks in one day was 10. Apart from joining 2 FDR train walks I did the remainder (54) alone. It would not have been possible without Open Access and my very old GPS helped enormously. I also drove hundreds of miles. My thanks go to Mike Cleminson for his help in plotting the distances etc and to John who acted as chauffeur on some days and on others was at home with a hot meal when I returned tired and wet.
Moya McNamara
I want to complain about the farmer across the road. Every morning at 6am his cock wakes me up and it’s now getting too much for me.
Our Olympic Experience
On 24th July 2012 Moya and I travelled to London to begin our Olympic Games 2012 experience. It started with final venue specific training and our thoughts after this were “it can only get better!”
And it did. We took up the offer of seats to the dress rehearsal of the opening ceremony and although we also watched it on TV you had to be there to experience the wonder of the transition from rural England to the Industrial Revolution. The number of people involved was amazing and they seemed to be really well co-ordinated.
Our roles were as scorers and timekeepers at the fencing event in the Excel arena, possibly the best volunteer role available as when we were on duty we were in the field of play and saw all the fencing. Some volunteers saw no sport whatsoever.
Whilst Moya and I have been involved in running many major events this was something completely different. The bouts were on a schedule to fit in with TV timetables, video appeals were in place and all results were instantly viewable and sent around the world. The whole event was televised and at times I think there were more camera people than athletes.
Usually there were only a few spare seats in the audience who were very enthusiastic and at times seemed to disconcert the fencers with their cheering, particularly when the British were fencing.
Unfortunately there was an incident during the semi-final of the women’s individual epee match where the scorer was wrongly blamed which did undermine the morale of our team a bit but never the less we continued with our role.
Whilst the performance of the British fencers was disappointing, except for the men’s foil team on the last day, it was enjoyable and interesting to witness the sport at this level. The organisers must be congratulated on the excellent job they did bringing the whole event together.
Following the end of the fencing Moya and I went on to be scorers in the one hit epee element of the Pentathlon. This was run more like events we were used to with a large number of pistes and several bouts on at the same time. Fights are for 1 minute or 1 hit with double defeats if no hit is scored so things moved quickly before the competitors moved on to their next event in the Aquatic centre. In the afternoon we managed to get seats to see the show jumping at Greenwich which was another venue.
All in all we had 3 weeks of a wonderful, once in a lifetime, experience.
John and Moya
The man next door has a large erection in his back garden which is unsightly and dangerous.
EMERGENCY SMS
A couple of people have asked me about the emergency SMS system so I thought a reminder would be useful.
When out walking, there’s usually someone with a mobile phone so you can ring the emergency services if necessary but the signal is sometimes a bit iffy. The advantage of texting is that it will use all available networks and may get through when the signal is too weak for a voice call.
It was originally set up for the deaf but is available to everyone to use if it is the only option. You would still try phoning first as that is quicker; the text may take 3 minutes for a reply if it gets through.
More information is available at:
To register, text “register” to 999. You’ll then get a reply with further instructions.
I hope I never need it but it’s well worth having as a backup.
Our kitchen floor is damp. We have two children and would like a third, so please send someone round to do something about it.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Please renew your membership ASAP using the enclosed renewal form. Receipts, membership cards and calendars will be given out at the AGM or posted out shortly afterwards.
At £8 per household, this is remarkably good value as you get the calendar, newsletter and the access to innumerable walks from train and coach and wonderful holiday opportunities.
To allow us to give you updates promptly (and cut postage costs), we’d be grateful if you would give your e-mail address. This still entitles you to receive your newsletter by post if you wish. Postage costs are now a huge drain on the budget and we’d be grateful if you would consider making a donation if you need to have the newsletter by post.
Remember, to take part in member only events, lead or back up walks or join the holidays, you must be a current member.
To renew, please complete the membership renewal form and send a cheque for £8.00 payable to Friends of DalesRail to Elizabeth Myers, 35 Waincliffe Drive, LEEDS LS11 8ET. Please state names of each person in household who wishes to be a member.
Elizabeth Myers
I am a single woman living in a downstairs flat and would you please do something about the noise made by the man on top of me every night.
PENELOPE’S PANTRY
Easy Shortbread Bars
These are yummy: really light and tasty. Remember to start well before you need them as the mixture needs to be frozen for a few hours. It is then grated, using a normal grater or a food processor if you’re brave – I pressed too hard and broke the machine!
Ingredients:
225g butter, softened 200g caster sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large egg yolks 275g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder 300g seedless raspberry jam (or whatever you’ve got) 1 tablespoon icing sugar
Method:
Using an electric whisk, beat the butter with the sugar and vanilla extract until pale and fluffy.
Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time.
Sift the flour and baking powder over the mixture then beat with a wooden spoon until it’s smooth and light.
Divide the dough into 2 equal portions and make them into balls. Wrap them in clingfilm and freeze for 2-3 hours or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 170ºC/ Fan 150ºC/ Gas 3 ½ .
Grease a 20cm square cake tin with butter and line the base with baking parchment.
Warm the jam in a small saucepan until fairly runny, stirring occasionally.
Take a ball of dough out of the freezer and coarsely grate it into the tin, making sure not to press it down.
Using a dessert spoon, dribble the jam over the grated shortbread but do not spread it.
Take the other ball out of the freezer and grate it onto a board then sprinkle it over the jam, taking care not to press it down.
Bake for 40-50 minutes or until pale golden brown and set, and leave to cool in the tin.
Carefully remove from the tin and peel off the paper. Dust with the sifted icing sugar and cut into about 12 squares.
Blackberry Vodka
I didn’t have time for blackberry picking this year but managed to find just over a pound whilst dog walking. I decided to try making Blackberry Vodka, adapting last year’s Sloe Gin recipe. I’ve used Kilner jars and the cheapest supermarket vodka I could find. It can be further sweetened to make syrup to pour over ice cream or other desserts or diluted with tonic or soda for a delicious drink. It should be ready for Christmas and I look forward to testing it. Perhaps it’ll come out for the New Year dinner walk if it works!
Please send a man with the right tool to finish the job and satisfy my wife.
CORRESPONDENCE
At last people are writing to me!
I’ve had some great recipes from Pat Childs which will appear in future issues when I’ve tested them to make sure they are idiot-proof i.e. that I can do them!
An interesting cottage found by Stuart Ballard:
The Gordon Walker Chalet in Stair in the Newlands Valley in the Lakes which takes parties of up to 16 people. It has 2 bedrooms with 4 double bunks in each and ensuite facilities. It is only open to members of Ramblers and affiliated organisations.
The cost is £8 per night for members of Ramblers and £16 for members of affiliated clubs.
For further information, contact Denise Copson 01524 847868
Help with holiday planning on a budget by Michael Dean:
Michael is a member who has set up his own company to organise trips in Europe. He writes:
“If you'd like us to look into a trip for you between now and the end of the year please let me know and I'll make some enquiries. There are so many walking possibilities all across the continent from the easy to navigate Netherlands to spectacular Bavarian castles and the stunning scenery of Austria and Switzerland. In fact, if you fancy riding on the spectacular railways of Switzerland there are some great 2 for 1 deals on Swiss rail passes throughout the months of September, October and November.”
I know he is keen on using trains and keeping the price down and I’m all for someone else trawling the internet for hours!
Find the website on
From Alan Holgate I’ve had two interesting pieces from The Yorkshire Dalesman.
Yorkshire Surnames: Jagger
Jag or Jaggin is an ancient Yorkshire dialect term for a “load” or “pack” and thus a jagger was a term used to describe someone who moved the packs around. Most common of these would have been men who led packhorses laden with goods over the moors and dales to the towns. As far back as 1373 a John Jagger lived at Stainland, near Halifax, and up to a hundred years ago before people started to travel further afield for work, that part of the country housed the vast majority of those with the surname.
Clitheroe – Hellifield link
An interesting article, echoing many of Jack Wood’s points about improving links across from Manchester. There is still time to do the online line questionnaire at to add weight to the campaign.
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!
From Graham Walsh, a gentle correction to my inaccuracies in the May newsletter. History was never my forte!
Penny, thanks for the Newsletter as always and I enjoyed the classy insults. One, however, grated against my memory of A level history (many years ago - the long-term memory still works). I was sure it was John Wilkes, a century earlier than Disraeli, who said it and indeed my Oxford Dictionary of Quotations has it pretty much as I recalled it. It is even sharper, I think, than your version: Wilkes was told by Lord Sandwich that he would die "on the gallows or of the pox" (which were then the supposed likely fates of villains). Wilkes replied that it "must depend on whether I embrace your lordship's principles or your mistress". I love the punning use of 'embrace' and the added insult of 'mistress' [which also avoids being sued for slander by Lady Sandwich].
Churchill was a master of the put-down. Another reputed one of his, to a female MP after a late night sitting in the Commons to her "Winston, you're drunk" was "And you, madam, are ugly. In the morning I shall be sober"
Best wishes and thanks again, Graham Walsh
And a further omission pointed out by Ted Diggle:
Dear Penny,
A few of Friends of DalesRail older members may recall that Ted Diggle was active in the society’s affairs for several years until he left Otley for the Lake District in retirement, and was made an Honorary Life Member in November 1996.
I read in the May newsletter that Derek Little had had his 80th birthday and was still doing strenuous walks.
Unfortunately Ted is now much too decrepit to do likewise. However, he did manage to have his 80th birthday towards the end of August and was able to lead a party of selected children, grandchildren and other family members along the Ling Moor Fell ridge. Any respect which he may have gained during that epic journey was, unhappily, lost when the walk ended at Elterwater and it was found that the ice cream van had sold out!
Best wishes from Ted.
I had the clerk of works down on the floor six times but I still have no satisfaction.
This is to let you know that our lavatory seat is broken and we can’t get BBC2.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
11/11/12 Last chance to put in your nomination form for the committee; go on, be brave!
12/11/12 Last date to have the AGM lunch booking in
25/11/12 AGM + lunch + filmshow
16/12/12 Pat Wilson should have your deposit for Keswick
17/12/12 Brian Hall should have your booking for the New Year Dinner
05/01/13 New Year Dinner
31/01/13 Pay the final amount for Keswick
22-25/03/13 Keswick
30/04 – 06/06/13 ride2stride festival
11-17/07/13 Brighton
6-8/09/13 Alnwick YHA
18-21/10/12 Beddgelert, Snowdonia
I wish to complain that my father twisted his ankle very badly when he put his foot in the hole in his back passage.
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NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2012
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