Mellow Yellow

Sunday 20th, a short five miles up in farthest Arkengarthv dale.  Meadows in bloom.

Lovely

In and around the river.

Red Lion in Langthwaite for a cleansing beer

No doubt? It's Wrynose

High pressure building - so out west with high hopes of a good day - destination Black Crag up on Pike O'Blisco.

Somewhat surprised to find the crag festooned with top rope type folks from clubs out of Manchester and Aberdeen, otherwise there was just us S-types and another pair of E-types.

The chaps knocked seven good routes off 

whilst I pottered up to the summit of P O'B at 700m.

Looked across from Gimmer many times but never been up there for the opposite view.

Some climbing cuts here; movie

It ain't nothing but a party

Word went out there was a party ban.

But there was a rumour about a rumble, and when Vikki and Pete arrived on Thursday, then Roger and Sue lunchtime on Friday, Mags thinks what's the rumpus?  But the fix was in, and by Saturday lunchtime the righteous hordes arrived in a mass demonstration of their right to party.

The good people at the Bridgewater did their bit with lunch - and got straight in the mood hurling beer all over Nancy's party(sic) dress (oops!).

Some folks blatantly and with no little sange froide relocated the unfinished wine bottles back to the West House Whoopitup unparty.

Party free cakes courtesy Robineau, de-partied bubbly from Lindauer, partylessly perfect weather gifted from God (thanks your almightiness), a garden full of natter, banter and bunting.  Speeches unfortunately(?) remained verboten..

But nonetheless welcomed the Lanagan Ladies, the Southern Contingent, also a bunch of Oakland Girls, the Dukes Retainer (GFMO and Bar); The Brighton Rockers, the Norwegian Hordes, the East Yorkshire Ever Presents, the Stillington Gang, the Four (Soft) Tops, the Birmingham Barn Stormers, The Raby Road Ravers; the Newcastle Sun Glass Mob, also with Phil Pentangeli, Ann the Hat Addy and Don Ron Tommsoni himself.  Assorted Rope Holders, Runners and Riders rocked up a bit later; and finally some fellow Winstonians.  Fantastic do!  (if not actually a party......!)

Can't beat a long slow drizzle on a hot summer day.

More pics at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/andrew.thompson21/Mags60?authkey=Gv1sRgCPuZ6-3218Ovbg#

I shall be released

Any day now....Any way how....
Margaret leaves North Road School 25th May 2010....

And before we know it the day has finally come


Leaving for work for one last time

                Andy says ta rar








    Mags arrives at Northwood School

                 

and gets down to work(?)  (picture at desk supposed to be here but censored by Mags)
 

        

   Everyone says bye

Back home with bountiful gifts

Flowers
Wine
Jigsaw?  (It's CHOCOLATES Mrs Thompson!)
A card each from all the kids, and a song.
Poems from Beryl and David

Adieu alarms
Bye Bye breakfasts at 7.30
Ciao commuting

Hello bus pass

Boris Goes West

Friday 21st May - topless convoy to Borrowdale - transport to Grange eventually and lovely walk back up the west side of Derwentwater.

Views across to Shepherd's Crag Borth Buttress.

Boris leads the way.

Sneaked in some shopping either side,
and a nosh up at the H&F to finish us off.

Remake Remodel

Pensioner's meet out west 13 May 2010.  Similar pattern to last year.  Thomski encore hors de combat (more ski fall-out) so once again in charge of pixels and bait.  Norm and the G-Man working the routes.  A nice couple of warm ups on Brown Slabs, then Donkeys Ears minus Ears.



Peter high up on Brown Slabs Arete.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTN_QQ48B-w

 Brown Slabs looming large

Final pitch of Donkey's Ears

(c) J Moss with thanks

The Lions lie down with the lambs

Lions tour 2010 was somewhat more low key than other barn storming efforts.  At least two members of the hard core party hampered by surgery and back episodes, and Steve E a late no show, something to do with boy scouts.... 

Barn (left centre), Thornthwaite farm (right centre)

So the party was distributed between the barn, a cottage on site, and a Greyhound B&B down the road.  Mike Harding’s Fell End Barn venue (can you ‘ear me at the back?) was always at the heart of things, and the recently installed wood burner was an unexpected god send.

Low key short walks were the orders from on high and after a noisy natter we headed off down to the beach to mix it with the cockles, which took us nicely to happy hour and a CJ sausage special washed down with copious shiraz.  Staggered back to the stable cottage in the dark with a clockwork torch thing!
Sunday saw us sailing across the lake (Steve’s counter Rich-plan plan) and a mooch (another Steve invention) along the shore and a visit with the Ruskins.  Lovely people.  Waitress not  sure about Steve’s new coffee stirring action...  Waved adieu to the Stockton contingent, think CJ was ready for a long lie down – left over Lions did a nice walk around the Rigg which took we happy few safely back to happy hour

Sancerre, chilli, and more Shiraz.  Light fantastic  evening, talked until late finishing with Rich’s notion that society could be fixed by a system “RESET” .  Night sky full of cosmos, and another sound sleep.

Monday dawned pinging – knocked up by barnstormers 8am – breakfast and great walk along the Cumbrian way, views across to the barn and farm.  Homeward via tea at Newby Bridge.