Thursday 25 September 2014

A great summer in Pannal but sadness too

The weather is still great and I am still in shorts or a skirt. Have not worn trousers since March.  Golf has been good ( I have won a few things) apart from today where I was complete rubbish. Now the sad part. My lovely friend Rita Corbridge from Burn Bridge died in June. She taught at Pannal Primary School both the old school and the new one. She taught only one of our four children. Michael and he still kept in touch every Christmas. Rita was always the same kind and would do anything for anyone. We went to her 90th Birthday Party and it was lovely and she was surrounded by all her many friends. I had a chat with Derek her husband today about the First World War and I shall pop round and see him to hear more.
The second sad occasion is our next door neighbour Mary suffered the tragic loss of her son-in-law through drowning. David and Jane live in Sheffield but they have a cottage on a little and I mean little island called Hestan in Dumfries and Galloway. It is joined to the mainland by a causeway. What happened was David saw a log floating in the sea and obviously decided that it would do for his cottage so swum out to it and unfortunately got caught in the current and got into difficulties. Jane called the coastguard who reached David and pulled him onto his boat. Tried CPR and it did not work so summonsed an ambulance which met them at Kippford. Tried again in the ambulance then took him to hospital where he sadly died. He was a nice cheerful man and everytime he came to see Mary (my neighbour) he would call for a chat. Where he drowned was the Solway Firth and we know that area very well having spent a few holidays there. I went swimming the last time we were there and got into difficulties and very nearly drowned. I had swum into an enormous patch of seaweed which very nearly did for me but my Guardian Angel was on duty and I survived. Had a very nasty scare and have now decided my swimming in the sea days are over.

Wednesday 10 September 2014

A walk from Pannal round all of The Stray plus

Glorious weather ok lets go a walk from Pannal all round the Stray. Got to the bottom of Tewit Well Road walked towards the hospital crossed the road towards Skipton Road. I said there is a coffee shop in Devonshire Place. Bas said he wanted to go to the loo on The Stray just down from the coffee shop. I said I may as well go to. Only one toilet I shut the door and got locked in. Catch thing on the door clicked. I could not open the door. It was stuck. I shouted Bas Bas. No answer. I was there for ages slightly panicking still shouting. Bas who is deaf did not hear me and walked up to the coffee shop thinking where the hell is she? Not knowing this I am thinking surely he will come to see if I am ok as I have been in here for what felt like a fortnight. On the point of phoning police, fire brigade as I had my phone, not ambulance you will notice. Hesitating thinking God I am going to look a fool what will Bas think when police/fire engine drives up? Still bellowing Bas Bas. Eventually I heard him say "where are you" "I'm locked in". He had to kick the door to get me out. Honestly my legs were shaking. Blow the coffee where is the nearest pub. Found one sat outside and it was lovely. Continued the walk down to the Valley Gardens. Had an ice cream then walked the rest of The Stray back to Tewit Well Road.