Monday 11 November 2019

Pannal Query and news

Just heard that the Mill Pond (duck pond) is being cleaned. Diana Clark of Mill Cottage told me as she lives there and is very much involved. The leading light in this is, and sorry I do not know his name, but he has come to live by the pond and is from Argentine. This is amazing good news as Dunlopillo were a disaster for the wildlife round the pond especially the ducks with all the chemicals from Dunlopillo that leaked into the pond. The ducks egg were sterile. So pleased that Dunlopillo have gone as it was a well known fact at the Pannal Surgery on Leeds Road, in days of old, that children who had coughs and went to the doctor were treated for Pannal cough. A resident has a letter that stated it was felt that the source of the coughing was Dunlopillo.
Attended the Remembrance Day Service in Pannal Memorial Hall today and it was a lovely Service. I have been attending for many years.
The SouvenirValley Garden books are selling very well and we have another book signing at Waterstones on Saturday 23rd November. People are buying them as Christmas presents for their children who used to play in the Gardens but have now married and moved away from Harrogate. Also a number have been posted overseas to expats. The Souvenir Guide costs £5 and does not cost a lot to post.We also do talks on the Valley Gardens and also in the summer a Walk and Talk through the Valley Gardens starting at the Main Entrance up to the King Edward V11 Memorial Gates continuing up to the New Zealand Gardens past the Sun Pavilion through the Colonnades and back to where we started
Now my query is Mr Tom Wright who was Headmaster at Pannal Primary School (where the Scout Hut is now) during the Second World War. All the children he taught have never forgotten him and speak very highly of him. My second book Postcards from Pannal contained a number of his photographs which he gave me. He had two daughters. Does anyone know where they live? Do they have families? I would appreciate information please. My email address is annesmith.pannal@yahoo.co.uk.
Once again no golf due to a waterlogged course. In between showers and any free time I have from the book I am gardening and picking up thousands of leaves. The cats are in. Enjoying their beds so winter must be approaching.
I have given my email address so if anyone wants to email me about anything to do with Pannal do so by all means. Love to hear from you.

Monday 4 November 2019

Pannal weather and me

I know I am not the only one fed up with the weather. Seems like months since I last played golf never mind the gardening. I am rushing out between showers or even heavier stuff to cut down bits., only two more times for the garden bins to be collected. Think we all shall all be going to the tip as we can not manage to get everything in the bins.I have lived here over fifty years having lived in Harrogate where my parents lived and then when we got married in Kirkby Overblow. and I have never known weather like this but I can tell you we had a far better summer than the poor souls in Glasgow did. My life long friend lives there. We have known each other since we were four and Terry and her husband Bob came here in the summer and stayed at the Hotel Majestic which I wish I had not recommended as it was rubbish. I complained about the service we received sent 2 letters to the manager (named) and never had the courtesy of a reply. I digress as when they were here the weather was fantastic for a whole week. They said Is it always like this I lied and said Oh yes. Well we have to blow our own trumpet once in awhile eh?
Valley Garden books are selling amazingly well. Now in Weatherstones and we did a book signing in WH Smiths on Saturday which was fun selling books and asking do you want it signed? Does signing enhance or deface? Now there's a question.  Most people said yes they wanted a signed one .Pannal Post Office is selling the books but they are at the rear of the shop amongst magazines and comics. So if you want a book that is where they are. I am told they are useful Christmas presents. Parents sending them to children who used to play in the Valley Gardens but now married and living elsewhere in the UK. It really is a nice book for £5. I am a journalist and this is my sixth book but my co-author Jane this is her first. We had a lovely time writing it and sorting out the photographs to be put in. Many cups of tea were drunk and the occasional beer. Jane and I take people round the Gardens telling them the history of the buildings, the gardens and the plants and we also do talks Have a talk and a walk round the Gardens on the 20th for the Gift of Life Celebration Walk and the Mayor and Mayoress will be walking with us.. Did a talk last week at Southlands and had a chat to long time Pannal resident Pat Lamb. She is in her nineties and looked well.
I started this blog with a moan about the weather and I will end it with a cats moan about the weather.When they go out into the garden they look back at me as if to say what do you call this? Wet underfoot and overhead.