Pannal still here but are we?

Not only Pannal but the world has never seen anything like this. I do not remember the Second World War but I remember my parents talking about it. My Dad joined the Royal Navy as a boy seaman and so had years of experience when he was sent to defend Britain.He won the Distinguished Service Medal for an act of extreme bravery and my Mum like thousands of other mums was on the Homefront hoping that they never received the dreaded telegram. Uk was fighting a common enemy there was the awful Blitz but there was companionship, there was entertainment, there were restaurants and pubs open. The morale was high. There was a marvellous community spirit both at home and with the Forces and they had the brilliant Winston Churchill who told everyone We were going to Win. We would beat Germany. Coming up to VE Day in May. That spirit of euphoria not with us now as we battle this dreadful, dreadful virus. We do not know the answers. We are in lockdown. We cannot meet up with our families, we cannot meet friends. We are told to protect the NHS by staying in. We are clapping on a Thursday at 8pm to thank the NHS but I think we should not only clap them for keeping us safe but applaud ourselves for staying safe for our own sake and for the sake of others. Now that is my stirring bit over. Applaud yourselves.
Pannal not as quiet as it was. In Main Street the traffic lights are back. Are they looking for the elusive gas leak or is it something else? Probably find out soon. I have been going on lovely walks through the Crimple Valley across Leeds Road and up to the Viaduct or through the woods but one is taking their life in their hands now as more traffic on Leeds Road and the cars that are there are going so fast. Where are they all going? I always tread carefully crossing  that road as my friends parents-in-law were killed doing just that. So that is always on my mind. One day last week gave up as it was deadly so many fast cars.
Interesting on social media people are putting photographs of paths on and saying do you know where this is I have just walked it. Answer yes we have always known where that is so pleased you are out walking and you have found this well trodden path. Well.....at least they are out walking. Only good thing about this virus people are discovering where they live.
Steve at the Post Office is always so smiley and I am pleased he is doing well. Lovely fruit and veg. Also pleased we now have the co-op. When I think of all the shops Pannal had and then there were none when Ken Walker the butcher left only the Post Office which is now better than it was. My children have fond memories of the VG and of past winters taking a sledge down to the shop and collecting the bread order. There were so many children in Pannal. They played together and made dens it was wonderful. Now all the children gone but we the parents are still here. I was married here and have lived here ever since and I love Pannal. Wonder if i will be able to get my book out by Christmas I do not know. There is a lot to do that I need to be able to meet people etc so I do not know but I will plough on.
After the lovely sunny weather that we have had and which I hope returns soon Tigs and Marble have reverted to their winter habits and come in to find their comfy spots usually on top of me. Sometimes wet as well.
I am thinking of us all. Keep safe and we shall get through this. 

Pannal in lock-down or is it?

Is the virus in the village. Yes it has been but people who have had it say they are now immune.Can't confirm that as nobody knows as yet.
I have a lovely walk each day across and round Crimple Valley. Have always done this as I live very near and it is always one of the last places to lose the sun. Last week I needed some money so thought I will walk across the Valley and then walk up Leeds Road to the Post Office when it is closed. Have my gloves on and use their ATM. So off I went. God how boring is walking up Leeds Road. Two cars (only ones on the road) coming in the direction of Leeds or Bradford to Harrogate and one overtook the other!!! Then when I reached the new football area there were some big lads and some young ones with their Dads kicking a ball around.Is that allowed? One of my neighbours across the road said he was furious as at the rec a Mercedes car pulled up and a Dad with two children walked over the rec and he lifted the children over the railings and into the closed play area. 
Myself and my neighbours have never seen so many people walking around with maps. Two stopped me and asked where Mill Lane was. I told them as they obviously wanted to walk to Burn Bridge what I did not tell them was the path was closed because of a landslip. Oh I am mean but they were strangers.We are all being good and walking round our area. Some people are walking not around their area. Oh perhaps I am being rotten and they are entitled to but most villagers are keeping to Pannal.
Thank goodness the weather is so lovely and thank goodness we have gardens. So very sorry for those that don't.
Cats love this isolation as the summerhouse is open all day and they are in lolling around on the comfy chairs in the sun and out of the wind. Followed by me catching up on reading after gardening. I skype with my big family every day so that is great and my lovely young neighbours get me some shopping on a Friday. I text my publisher to say I am not writing the book, at the moment, as I am making the most of the weather. Terry text back to say Yes that is what you should do as this weather can't carry on forever. Apart from family skyping the "highlight" of the week is Thursday 8pm when we all are out clapping.
After last times rant I had a few emails with people agreeing. Happy for you to email me as I will always answer you.

Pannal in isolation

Don't usually start my blog with a rant. Now I know I have had rants before somewhere in the column but this one has made me mad. The Crimple Valley is on my doorstep and I have been walking it. It is big enough to avoid people and it is lovely all of it right up to Fulwith Mill or Follifoot Road but the part behind St Robert's Church so many people are using it that I have never seen before. They are coming down Main Street with maps in their hands and most of them have dogs. A couple of evenings ago after a long day in the garden I went for a short walk behind the school and up towards Sandy Bank Quarry and in the distance I wondered who had planted the daffodils. When I got closer I saw no not daffodils yellow bags of dog poo. A change from the usual black bags that are to be seen. Now the fields have been ploughed to plant wheat and coming back along the footpath I stepped in by the remains of the old tree that blew down a couple of years ago as there was a well built young man coming along and his dog had a poo in the ploughed field and he just kicked soil over it. I was on my own he was a big lad. I did not say hello as I normally do but I was so annoyed. People are coming into Pannal who do not live here (hence the maps) and it is so annoying. I wrote about this on Neighbours site and other people have said yes the Pinewoods, the cricket ground, Hookstone Woods are in the same state. What is the matter with the idiots. Why go to a beauty spot and then desecrate it? Some people have been threatened when they have tackled these idiots and others have been afraid of the dogs. What does one do? Just hope this is soon over and they will stop coming to Pannal. Ok rant over but I am still annoyed.
Walking down Church Lane last week I had to step out onto the road as there were two lads on bikes on the pavement. Think this is the wrong way round but nowadays cannot be sure.
The footpath from Mill Lane to Malthouse Lane has been closed off as there has been a landslip at the Malthouse end and it will not re- open until August.
I know of some people in Pannal and Burn Bridge who have had the virus and recovered. So bad news and good news.I am in two minds about the Conference Centre/Nightingale Hospital.HAS BEEN STATED VICTIMS OF THE VIRUS ARE TO BE OR BEING BROUGHT THERE FROM ALL OVER NORTH YORKSHIRE. (did not mean this to be in capitals but cannot be bothered deleting and typing again) Wonder if we would have needed that if we still had the General Hospital.(there was the General and the District) Always thought that was a mistake demolishing it.
Last night out again clapping. Last Thursday I went out and stood in the middle of the road - no cars (one benefit) and started clapping. All on my own for a minute and feeling like a numpty. Then everyone came out. This Thursday we clapped and shouted see you next Thursday.
I have done so much gardening a weed dare not show its head. Bins not collected, mine is very full. When it is collected I have an enormous pile of branches etc to fill it up again.
My lovely daughter before all this (virus) started brought me some cat food but unfortunately she brought wrong type of biscuits and I never noticed. So when I put them out I noticed then so did the cats. They took one look at them looked at me said "and this is - I'm going out". Well they have had to eat them - nothing else - so have got used to them. I have two lovely young neighbours and they are getting me some shopping. I am ok freezer wise as I have always kept a well stocked freezer when there was six of us to feed. Still do for unexpected visitors or even expected ones.
Enjoy Easter as best we can and Stay Safe.