What is happening to Pannal?

I have not written since before Christmas. What has been happening since. My computer stopped again after I changed from Windows 7 to Windows 10. New computer but it was nothing to do with the computer it was my yahoo account. It eventually came back but I lost, once again, everything. Loosing contacts is the worst. In my address book I have everyone's names and home addresses but not their email addresses. Since have found out people who were on yahoo have changed as they said it was a terrible account to be on. Kept breaking down. I can agree with that.
Pannal still in turmoil. The housing and offices at the Dunlopillo site going ahead (nearly 200 houses). Seen the plans yuk to the offices. ~Bellway are building the houses, Nuff said.  Houses are going to be up by the A61 whilst Pannal Village is having the offices and light industry in the village and a through road running through the site from the A61 right through Pannal Village by means of a narrow bridge. Now, never mind then, Pannal is used as a rat run so heaven help us when all this goes through. "They" plan to demolish our very well used post office and Steve's house to widen the road for all the traffic to go through. North Yorkshire County Council Highways Department have made mistakes before as I think they do not visit only look at maps. I would be surprised if they knew where Pannal is. I have written to our local Conservative MP who sends out newsletters but does not mention us at all to come and see for himself and also hold a surgery in Pannal and not always Harrogate. Housing planned further towards Harrogate on the A61 which will link Pannal to Harrogate. We are all most annoyed as Pannal was here long before Harrogate. What about the gypsy site, the head of the gypsies has stated they do not want a site in the Crimple Valley, We despair of this Council. All the residents who have lived in the Harrogate area for many many years (in my case 52 years) state that apart from the Council that planted flower beds on The Stray and all lost their seats this is the worst council we can remember. Talking of The Stray our council wanted to open it to many more events without having to apply to the Duchy of Lancaster for permission. Warning signs went out and the residents said no way and the council had to withdraw their plans. Residents 1 Council 0. So sad what is planned for Pannal. We shall loose our green fields where we walk and just have the small recreation ground left and take turns walking round it single file.
I went out before breakfast and did some gardening today. Good job I did as it is now pouring. Whilst out there big fat Tigs caught a very large squirrel It did not stand a chance nor did I in trying to stop her. She is a horrible killer but very affectionate with me. Can't say Marble is affectionate. She has her moments but I honestly think there is nothing in her head. When I come home Tigs run to me Marble runs in the other direction, My friend Sarah who landed me with Marble as her landlord at that time would not allow pets. Sarah now has her own house and her own cat (did not want Marble back as she said she was happy with me. I sense I am the simple/conned one here) which she says is very clever. You see I was landed with the numpty.
I am back to golf and I am still walking by myself or with walking friends. I do love walking and I walk some lovely places. Very lucky to live here as there are so many places to go. History is an other one of my passions. I both write and read about places. Visit them and find out more.

Pannal in dispair

Not only is Pannal in dispair but I am to. My computer decided to shut itself down. I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 as I was told it was free. Not so but I was not informed all I saw was this computer will shut down in 29 days. I thought it was a scam and never bothered but alas it was true. I am able thanks to my clever children to send and receive mail but nothing else. Also lost all contacts, mail etc. Nuff said.
Pannal still has the gypsy site and housing hanging over us. I have the feeling the gypsy site could be a red herring and the council will withdraw it and say ok no gypsy site but more housing and people will say well thats better than a gypsy site. Conned. To sell a house in Pannal not a good time as when solicitors are doing searches for potential buyers the gypsy site come up and they are withdrawing. Heard of two cases. Poor Pannal I have certainly seen the best of it. There will be no green fields only concrete.
Other news is. I organised the Christmas trees on Pannal Green as the villagers donated money when I asked if we would like a tree and lights. Harrogate Borough Council were very good and helped. They also helped when Yasmin ( whom the boys worked for delivering newspapers as that is the business Yasmin runs and congrats to her as she has just been voted business of the year) and I decided that we would like more lights in memory of three boys from Pannal Green who were tragically killed in a car crash. They are blue and white as they supported Leeds United .Again HBC helped and have been helping ever since. Until this year, As we have a Parish Council the responsibility now falls on them So we shall see what happens, so far no lights.
Happy time of year for children and my grandchildren but sad for me and my children missing my husband and their Dad. One remembers the happy times but tinged with sadness. We loved Christmas and went all out. At one time most decorated house in Pannal. I shall have to be good and try not to show the sadness for the sake of all.
My leg that I ran through with a tree branch has healed as I used Manuka Honey a tip given to me by a lady I met out walking as she say the bandages and told me to try it. I did and it worked. Still not quite right but better. Have been told my immune system to pot as a result of being so very sad.
Having "lovely" surprises from Tigs as she now brings creatures - birds, mice, frogs through the cat flap. Fortunately I have been able to rescue a few which involved crawling behind the washing machine, freezer etc. The worst one was when she trailed a baby rabbit through. I got it and set it free she caught the stupid thing again. I had to get in the car, drove one handed up to the top of Church Lane and set it free in the fields. Marble just looks on. She is the Stan Laurel of the cat world.
I wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and I hope 2017 is a better year for us all.

Pannal Co-op and commuters

At the weekend I went down to the Peak District where our daughter Susan lives. Bas did not feel like coming so I went on my own. Had a great weekend. It was Alex 11th birthday. We visited parks and museums. They still had a lot of snow there which made walking difficult as the pavements and paths were very icy. I came back on the Sheffield to Glasgow train on the 25th which is Burns Night and the guard on the train said the train was going to be packed as everyone would be getting on at Leeds go to Glasgow to celebrate. Fortunately I got off at Leeds but the train to York was packed. I know how far Pannal is from Weeton so I could judge it but it was pitch dark and the stations were not announced. All who got off the train with me got into cars that had been parked outside the new co-op. So that explained it. I had taken the car to shop there (getting a heavy shopping) but there was nowhere to park so I and another woman (in the same predicament as me) had to shop elsewhere. I saw the assistant manager at the co-op and asked if they owned the parking area outside their shop he said yes I explained what was happening and he said we have had lots of complaints from customers and we are putting up signs on the wall to say parking for customers only. Now whether that will stop the commuters I do not know but hope it does. Mr Selfridge is back so that is pleasing Marble. Who now lies on the carpet in front of the fire watching. She watched Call the Midwife then wandered off as she is not keen on Last Tango in Halifax. Notice we have a Questionnaire in re the village from the Pannal Village Society. I think we are still a village at the moment but when the houses are built at the old Dunlopillo site I wonder what we will be. There was a bit about my Dad receiving his Arctic Medal and Star in Howard West's column. A reporter from the Advertiser wanted to follow it up but wants a photo of me holding the medals which I am not keen to do. Alex is going skiing at half term so he won't be around to take my place and other grandchildren live too far away. So stalemate at the moment.

Bits about Pannal and nearby

I am fed up with the Hookstone/Leadhall Lane/Leeds Road Junction. I have written to all our councillors and asked for it to be put back as it was. Coming out of Hookstone Road and trying to go across to Leadhall Lane can be a nightmare one is either held up by the traffic turning right towards Harrogate or else one has a car alongside one on the left going to Leadhall Lane. As it was arrow pointing left and straight on and adjoining lane arrow pointing right. Simple. All that is needed is a lick of paint.  On the A61 traffic going to wards Leeds or turning right to Leadhall Lane can be backed all the way to the Prince of Wales roundabout at any time of the day. I would like that returned as it was. Can NYCC do anything right. M&S has made no difference why NYCC thought it would I cannot imagine.
We have been for lunch to day with friends to the restaurant at the old Leeds Road/Brookside Garden Centre now grandly names Crimple Hall. It was very busy and is popular. The staff are friendly and it is a nice set up except when one is alongside the door and the constant coming and going freezes one. We know this so we had a lovely round table for six at the back where it was warm. Food good too.
Have told Marble Call the Midwife and Mr Selfridge returning. She can take up her position in front of the tv. Last Tango in Halifax does not do a lot for her which is surprising. A cold day and our two cats Marble and Tigs curled up together which is unheard of. We have had them five years. Rescued individually. Marble first when she was about three. Tigs a couple of months later when she was about six months and a bossy little madam even at that age, and a thug as she is bigger than Marble and poor Marble has never stood a chance. But and I say but perhaps things are changing and they are not only tolerating each other but dare I say like. We have had cats before and they have never done what these two do. The have a path down the garden which they have made on the grass and follow it exclusively. One behind the other. Large indents we have and funny thing the ginger stray cat that we feed follows the same path. What is going on?
At last an appointment for a vertigo clinic in York. Can they sort me out? I hope so. Sixteen years I have had this and sometimes it is really bad. Vertigo suffers will understand.
Our oldest grandson is 11 tomorrow so secondary school beckons but he is still at that age where he likes us all and does not sit in his room. Long may that continue.

Pannal and 2015

A Happy New Year to you all. Apart from the Christmas lights on a number of houses which were lovely Pannal has been quiet. A very nice Carol Concert. It was mild and a number of villagers turned up. To enjoy the carols and the mince pies and punch in St Roberts Chapter House afterwards. We had a fairly quiet Christmas then everyone arrived a couple of days after. All fourteen of us. One missing as she thought we were all getting together for Christmas, but no it was for New Year and she had booked to go to Glastonbury to do a witchy, wizard, druid thing. Anyway a lot of beer was drunk and a lot of food was eaten. I did all the meals and there was a good variety and I was very pleased with myself. Four grandchildren amongst the party and Leonie got chicken pox as a New Years present but apart from the spots seemed ok .Santa never came here at Christmas as we had a letter down the chimney saying he was running out of time and he knew the children were not in Pannal so he would call in on his way back to the North Pole when they would be there which he did. Everyone stayed for a week. Im still cooking. Now everyone has gone, on Sunday they departed,  I am doing all the washing. The windy weather is helping. House is very tidy and quiet now. I miss the action. Our cats don't Marble did not get watching tv. She is fond of Call the Midwife and Downton. Tigs took herself off chasing things in the quarry.
Visited the co-op yesterday and it is well stocked apart from Stork margarine. Few people complaining. It was not crowded but it will be useful to many Pannal people. The news is we are to get another Marks and Spencer Simply food at the BP garage. At one time Pannal had thirteen shops and in the 1960s it had a grocers and bakery at number 3 Station Road, then the post office and general store. Further down  Walkers the butcher and fruit and veg. which had been a wet fish shop (Ken Walker I keep in touch with and he is fine) Then the newsagents and on the bridge a grocery shop. In front of the church an ironmongers now demolished. Opposite the Black Swan there was a grocer and sweet shop.
As I am writing this a knock at the door and it was a special delivery addressed to me. On opening it was the Arctic Medal awarded to my father and I was sent it as his next of kin. Dad CPO AD Grant DSM Royal Navy was a distinguished war hero and the medal was for the Arctic convoys to Murmansk and Archangel. Very hazardous journeys as the ships were always attacked. Wave after wave of planes would attack from their bass in Stavanger and other airfields. In the winter it was 23 hours of darkness and one hour daylight ands in the summer it was 23 hours of daylight and one hour of darkness and that was when most ships were sunk by the enemy. My parents lived in Hookstone and when dad died he had a military funeral in Harrogate.

Pannal and festive season

Hey anyone remember Herman Munster/ Well that is who my poor husband looks like. He has two rows of stitches across his forehead. Two black eyes, stitches on his neck and a cauliflower ear. I am out and about he is not. Hopefully he will be ok for Christmas when everyone comes up. All fifteen of us here. Be a tight squeeze but great fun.
I met Howard West today. He writes the column on Pannal for the Harrogate Advertiser. Only clubs and societies mind as that is all that is required now. My great friend Malcolm Neesam does not write for the paper anymore as his articles very much appreciated by the newspaper buying public but not by the newspaper decided he was being too restricted in what he was being told to say so has left exactly as I did. Shame. Wonder if through this policy there will be a newspaper in a few years time. Now back to Howard. I had not met him before so invited him round for coffee. Made a cake and he brought some lovely biscuits so we were set up for a long chat which we did. Can't say we set the world (Pannal) to rights but we tried.
Carols around the tree on Pannal Green on Monday. I hope to be there and hopefully Bas too. A nice start to Christmas. I will take this opportunity to wish everyone in the village a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Health (I don't do prosperous) New Year. Enjoy the relative peace as in 2016 building will start on the old Dunlopillo site and Pannal will never be the same again. On a happier note Fifty years we have lived here. My parents lived at Oatlands so there is not much I do not know about the history of the area and all the changes that have taken place. Looking back what am I proud of apart from my lovely husband and four lovely children and our grandchildren. It was being Chairman of The Harrogate Society and also Chairman of the Friends of the Valley Gardens in 1984 when there was every danger of the Sun Pavilion and the Colonnades being knocked down to provide a car park. Yes this is true. So I gathered together Geoffrey Smith, James Herriot (Alf White) and David Bellamy all personalities I knew a fantastic treasurer and right hand man Stephen Barnes and we did it. We saved the buildings. Nearer home Spacey Houses farm and outbuildings. English Heritage listed them for me as they said they were one of the most complete set of ancient (1600s) buildings they had seen. I am now trying my best with the old Police Training site which was Pannal Ash College and before that Southern College built in 1840. I have everything to do with the old school, trophies, school magazines, photographs, paintings and even school blazers and caps. I am also in touch with the headmasters daughter who lives in Eastbourne and is in her eighties. Unfortunately I could not save Ancient Spacey Houses Hotel and we went on holiday to South Africa and they demolished it in my absence. Such a dreadful shame.
See you all in the New Year. Be good!!!!!!

New shop in Pannal

The Co-op open its shop at Pannal Station last week. It replaces The Harwood public house. Is this a good thing or not? The Harwood was very hit and miss. When it opened at the old Station house (railway ticket office and house built about 1848) in 1980 as Platform One it was a success then a duff landlord and it was taken over and renamed The Harwood. Was used by the village under Clive the landlord and they had a golf team and a darts team. Clive then left and it was never much good after that, so inevitably it was sold but not as another pub the co-op purchased it. Pannal now after over 100 years (Spacey Houses Hotel demolished) is publess. Burn Bridge has The Black Swan and long may that continue. We, as a family, will use the co-op as it is open from 7am to 11pm but still continue to use Steve at Crimple Fresh in the Post Office as his fruit and veg very good and he sells produce the coop does not.
Heavy vehicles still coming through Pannal. Completely ignoring the weight restrictions and probably following their satnavs. These are the ones that use us as a short cut then there are others that miss Pannal Business Park and turn at Rosedale and go up the village again.
Now it is not only the children that love school holidays we in Main Street love them as well. Gone is the school traffic, gone are the pushy parents that park across drives and when tackled say I am taking my child to school.
Hey ho Christmas is coming, Santa too. We have our lights up, lit trees at all the windows and I shall open a window on Christmas morning and send the little lad that is passing to get the biggest turkey for Tiny Tim. There will be 15 of us staying here. A tight squeeze but great fun. So I will take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2015.