Excitement in Pannal

Oh the excitement in Pannal at 8.30am when fire brigade, police, ambulance raced down Station Road and Main Street and up Church Lane to Rossett Green Lane sirens blaring to be followed by the Air Ambulance. Some of the vehicles were from West Yorkshire and there was a large fire engine of the type that Harrogate does not have. What had happened? I was walking round the village (not at 8.30am I wasn't but a bit later) up Church Lane along Rossett Green Lane down Yew Tree Lane and down Spring Lane. My usual walk but not that morning as I was stopped on Rossett Green Lane by the police and the ticka tape across the road. Sorry love you will have to go back. Why? Because there is a workman trapped down a hole. Oh ok. Householders were coming out with cups of tea etc. The British spirit. A cup of tea will cure everything and it very nearly does. Hours later the poor man was released and taken to hospital fortunately not too badly hurt but it must have been awful being trapped that long.
This followed on from the flooding at St Roberts when the little Pannal Stream at the bottom of my garden ( a most benign little soul most of the time) flooded, joined Clark Beck which in turn joined the River Crimple.
Pannal Golf Club (I am a member) seems to have been closed most of this year. Well on Tuesdays - Ladies Day it has. Yesterday was a beautiful warm sunny day, Spring is here. No it was only for the day. Today very heavy rain (Tuesday) and the course is closed once again. Having lived here 52 years this is the worst prolonged rain I remember.  Poor daffodils are not upright and I noticed a few nurseries are selling their spring plants cheaper. Have you noticed that with every disaster there is always someone who profits. This time umbrellas and waterproofs.
I had the great excitement of being away seeing  my four children and their families at Easter and coming home trainwise . Delayed (incident on the line - so sad but that is what it is called when someone jumps in front of a train. Sad for them, their families and the poor train driver) missed my connection ended up at Leeds Station awaiting the Harrogate/York train. On the board TBC - to be confirmed - then cancelled next two trains due to flooding at Horsforth. All milling about we were, and Leeds is not the warmest of stations, Then platform on the board all rushed there no train there. A passenger said TBC on the board again. Back we all went then hurrah announcement there would be a train which was going to go through the flood very slowly and it did but by this time far too dark to see why. Walked down the road, very heavy raid, through puddles at the bridge,got soaked and then home at last. A great welcome by Tigs and Marble. Who said where have you been? We want in the lounge. We have had no one to sit on for over a week.
Must just tell you this. Have you noticed down by the Information Board by the patio bit by St Roberts that I look after, Have you seen the tyre marks across the grass and patio by drivers mounting the pavement in order to avoid the speed bump. Well I have asked "the powers that be" if they could put a bollard there similar to the ones on the railway bridge at the top of the road. Either do that or place a memorial to me as I have nearly been run over twice when doing the little garden but in all honesty I would prefer a bollard.