What a week! Sir Terry Wogan announces he leaving his breakfast show on radio 2. I for one will miss his banter from 07.30 until 09.30 weekdays, things just wont be the same.
Well Terry is not the only one who will be getting a lie in it seems. Yes, after nearly 31 years of getting up early and working Saturdays, yours truly has been asked if I would be interested in taking early retirement. I'm 55 years old now and have enjoyed every minute of working for The Royal Mail, especially the last 8 years delivering around Whitwell. But and there is always a but things have changed so much at the sorting office, that I have come to the conclusion I'm going to take up Royal Mails offer if it is suitable. I thought long and hard along with Jan, and there is so much we want to do. Yes I'll miss all the lovely people on my delivery, who have been so fantastically kind, they have become such a big part of my life. But I will not disappear, I shall still be about.
So what do I want to do with my time? We are planning to travel across the USA, I would like to do a degree in geography, just to name a couple. So we will see what the future holds, who knows I might be still delivering your letters this time next year. As the Beach Boys once said "God Only Knows"
Sunday 13 September 2009
Monday 24 August 2009
All Quite On The Western Front
Its all been very quite around the parish for the last couple of days, with everyone seemingly on holiday. The wildlife though has put in more than the occasional appearance, on Thursday morning last week I saw a beautiful white Fallow deer doe with her fawn right by Jim Smith's place at Shilley Green. What made this even more exciting, was that she just stopped long enough for me to get a really good look at them both before the ran off to join the rest of the herd. Then on the way back to Easthall Farm where the tree close over the road, flying at eye level no more than a yard or so in front of me was a Red Kite, absolutely stunning! What a morning.
Friday wasn't bad either, fish and chips in The Maidens Head at lunchtime,with Jan, if you've not tried the food before treat yourself, its to die for. Best fish and chips ever, it made up for getting soaked by the down pour at 11.15 that morning. Once it stopped raining and I was suitably revived I counted 11 Buzzards above the school, it looked like a couple of families as there was a few younger ones learning to glide. This is another big bird of prey that breeds locally at Myers Corner just this side of Preston.
What makes my job seem like the best job in the world is that I never know what or whom I will see or meet. On Tuesdays I always like to have a chat with Ian the Fishmonger, a real mind of information on things Piscatorial, always ready the explain how to fillet or cook what he has on his van to sell.
Well that's Monday over, I was supposed to be resting this week, but Staff shortages mean no rest week, and I'm at work, still there are worse places to be!
Friday wasn't bad either, fish and chips in The Maidens Head at lunchtime,with Jan, if you've not tried the food before treat yourself, its to die for. Best fish and chips ever, it made up for getting soaked by the down pour at 11.15 that morning. Once it stopped raining and I was suitably revived I counted 11 Buzzards above the school, it looked like a couple of families as there was a few younger ones learning to glide. This is another big bird of prey that breeds locally at Myers Corner just this side of Preston.
What makes my job seem like the best job in the world is that I never know what or whom I will see or meet. On Tuesdays I always like to have a chat with Ian the Fishmonger, a real mind of information on things Piscatorial, always ready the explain how to fillet or cook what he has on his van to sell.
Well that's Monday over, I was supposed to be resting this week, but Staff shortages mean no rest week, and I'm at work, still there are worse places to be!
Friday 14 August 2009
Kingly 1 Dakota and Friend 
Dennis and JohnI had the chance yesterday to chat to a couple of old boys who can be seen in the village, Dennis the baker from Katie's and John from Thrussells the butchers. It was interesting talking to them because they were reminiscing about their pasts, Dennis from Newcastle and John from London both tyring to convince each other that they had had the hardest upbringing. It was like listening to that scene from The Secret Policeman's Ball,they both look so hard done by. I hope a candlestick maker might come to the village, now that would make an interesting picture.
On things bovine, Kingly 1 Dakota is in love, I saw him today with a lady friend, a few minutes later I saw them in a passionate embrace, bless them.
There seems to have been so many babies born in the village this years, I hope over the coming week to take some photos of the newcomers and their mums, to introduce them to you all.
Tuesday 11 August 2009
Old Bats In Limetree House
Well what a treat this morning, as I was delivering in Limetree House there was a bat yes a Pippestrell (Hope spelt right) Bat! It was flying around the top floor, it was a nice treat to see such an animal at reasonable close quarters.
Talking of things that fly, I was treated to a stunning flying display by a Red Kite this morning she was only a couple of metres above my head as he swooped down and across towards the Church and back again towards Sue Ryder. Breathtaking.
More things that fly. El Al who started flying into Luton earlier this year from Tel Aviv, are seemingly planning to upgrade from a Boeing 767 to a Boeing 777. This is a big plane, it will call in at Frankfurt for fuel as it would be unable to take off fully fueled from Luton due to the length of the runway. Another new airline to fly into Luton is Blue Air, they are from Romania, and fly in at 22.45 and fly back at 0015, to Bacau. Yet another new airline to make use of our local airport is Wind Jet from Italy, they fly to Forli. Lots of new airlines looking to take advantage of Luton. Just one other thing on the airline front, in times of financial hardship Sky Europe has ascended from the grave. We can once again see the blue and red Boeing 737's overhead. Well done to all concerned who struggled and refused to give up, they had there planes repossed, but clung on and have managed to get a couple of them back and are back in business.
Another strange sight I saw last week was Tom Wilson wearing an Alice band, Well I did make a passing comment, once or twice, and today he was off to get his hair cut. I explained that he could do worse than look at me as a role model, and he has just stopped laughing, no regards for my feelings.
Talking of things that fly, I was treated to a stunning flying display by a Red Kite this morning she was only a couple of metres above my head as he swooped down and across towards the Church and back again towards Sue Ryder. Breathtaking.
More things that fly. El Al who started flying into Luton earlier this year from Tel Aviv, are seemingly planning to upgrade from a Boeing 767 to a Boeing 777. This is a big plane, it will call in at Frankfurt for fuel as it would be unable to take off fully fueled from Luton due to the length of the runway. Another new airline to fly into Luton is Blue Air, they are from Romania, and fly in at 22.45 and fly back at 0015, to Bacau. Yet another new airline to make use of our local airport is Wind Jet from Italy, they fly to Forli. Lots of new airlines looking to take advantage of Luton. Just one other thing on the airline front, in times of financial hardship Sky Europe has ascended from the grave. We can once again see the blue and red Boeing 737's overhead. Well done to all concerned who struggled and refused to give up, they had there planes repossed, but clung on and have managed to get a couple of them back and are back in business.
Another strange sight I saw last week was Tom Wilson wearing an Alice band, Well I did make a passing comment, once or twice, and today he was off to get his hair cut. I explained that he could do worse than look at me as a role model, and he has just stopped laughing, no regards for my feelings.
Monday 3 August 2009
Start of another week
3.08.09
Just as I was bemoaning the missing birds of prey, I spotted a Red Kite on the drive to the Bury. It let me get within 3m of it before it took off toward Whitwell. There was also a Kestral at Stagenhoe Bottom, he normally sits on the telegraph pole and watches me go bye.
Its now August and every youngster I meet is so bored, ah what its like to be young. Everything else seemed very quite today I think everyone away on holiday, Lucky or what!
Just as I was bemoaning the missing birds of prey, I spotted a Red Kite on the drive to the Bury. It let me get within 3m of it before it took off toward Whitwell. There was also a Kestral at Stagenhoe Bottom, he normally sits on the telegraph pole and watches me go bye.
Its now August and every youngster I meet is so bored, ah what its like to be young. Everything else seemed very quite today I think everyone away on holiday, Lucky or what!
Friday 31 July 2009
Kingly 1 Dekota31.July 2009
Well its been dry today and also an eventfull day. I officialy met Kingly 1 Dekota this morning and he is certainly a big beast, weighing in at what looks like well over a tun. An added bonus today was brunch, Julie the manager of Limetree house was cooking brunch for the residents today and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms, beans, tomatoes, 4 sausages and bread and butter, the way to a mans heart for sure.
There are so many butterfly's this year, so many different colours from Cabbage White to Red Admiral, the gardens and hedgerows seem to be full of them.
Just a word about the picture above I took this during the wet weather earlier this year. It was taken at Shilley Green, Shilley Green Farmhouse is on the right,notice the car upto its wheel arches. The pond that overflowed is now dried up awaiting the rains of winter.
Saturday 25 July 2009
The End Of Another Week
Well its Saturday afternoon and it coming to the end another exciting week in the Parish of St. Pauls Walden. The weather has certainly been changable, we've had sunshine and heavy rain all week and my van brokedown!
Its my intention to record my blog everyday from Monday, this is the start of something I never thought I would ever do, so here goes!
27th July 2009
As promised I am writing my blog as I travel around the Parish of St.Pauls Walden. Today saw the arrival of a new Hereford Bull at Easthall Farm, from the pictures I have seen he's a big boy. The present imcumbant, Mr. Darcy who is also a Hereford has been working hard, but looks a little tired so he now got help servicing the 80 or so cows. I will get a photo of him for you tomorrow.
Its been another wet day in Whitwell, everything looks so sad in the rain, never mind its got to get better soon.
28th July 2009.
A dry day what a difference! The Parish of St Pauls Walden looked glorius today, and I saw something that excited me at 11.55am, I had'nt seen any of our large birds of prey for a couple of weeks.The Buzzards have been missing from our skys for days, then today over Stagenhoe bottom I saw four Red Kits. But what was really exciting was that there were 2 adults and two smaller your birds, which means they have bred locally again. I think the buzzards are busy raising their young as well so keep you eyes peeled. Is there another village that you can see Buzzards and Red Kits flying down the High Street?
Its my intention to record my blog everyday from Monday, this is the start of something I never thought I would ever do, so here goes!
27th July 2009
As promised I am writing my blog as I travel around the Parish of St.Pauls Walden. Today saw the arrival of a new Hereford Bull at Easthall Farm, from the pictures I have seen he's a big boy. The present imcumbant, Mr. Darcy who is also a Hereford has been working hard, but looks a little tired so he now got help servicing the 80 or so cows. I will get a photo of him for you tomorrow.
Its been another wet day in Whitwell, everything looks so sad in the rain, never mind its got to get better soon.
28th July 2009.
A dry day what a difference! The Parish of St Pauls Walden looked glorius today, and I saw something that excited me at 11.55am, I had'nt seen any of our large birds of prey for a couple of weeks.The Buzzards have been missing from our skys for days, then today over Stagenhoe bottom I saw four Red Kits. But what was really exciting was that there were 2 adults and two smaller your birds, which means they have bred locally again. I think the buzzards are busy raising their young as well so keep you eyes peeled. Is there another village that you can see Buzzards and Red Kits flying down the High Street?
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