Hare & Hounds (8)

It is hard to imagine that any Hare & Hounds I ever visit could possibly have a more glorious approach walk than this one.

Last Friday I did not go to work. Instead I took the day off and went for a walk. And what a beautiful day it was - immaculate, crisp, bright autumn weather. I started at Edale and followed the Pennine Way up Jacob's Ladder.


(photo by hoshisato)

On to Edale Cross, then across Kinderlow, down through Coldwell Clough to Hayfield, and then finally along the Sett Valley Trail, through the woods, to New Mills - to this, my eighth Hare & Hounds:


(photo from Google Streetview)

It was closed. Ten fucking miles, over hill and dale, I walked to get here and the bloody place wasn't even open. Friday, 4pm - you'd expect every pub in the country to be open, wouldn't you?

So instead of the pint I should've rewarded myself with, I sat in the tent, drank the last of my water and had a cigarette.

I have not been applying a rating system to the Hare & Hounds I've visited, but if I had this one would've scored a few points for the smoking tent, and also for the dog kennel by the front door. It's those little touches that help make a pub, even if it hasn't got the decency to be open.

Hare & Hounds (7)

This is where I went yesterday.



As usual, the photo has come from Google Streetview. At some point on this project I might just remember to take my own camera with me. Nine months into the year and the only time I've taken my camera with me the battery went flat before I'd snapped any Hare & Houndses, then I slipped crossing a stream, landed on my arse on a pointy rock and ended up with soggy undies and a massive bruise.

But I digress. This is the Hare & Hounds in Mill Brow. And everything about it was lovely! I visited it at about the halfway point on another walk starting at Middlewood, this time via the Macclesfield Canal. Yesterday was hot and sticky, so I sat on a bench at the front, sipping my pint and watching the horses mooching about on the hill opposite. Idyllic.

A day earlier, we were knocked out of the FA Cup, early and in an unflattering manner. Sometimes you need a beer.

Hare & Hounds (6)

Hasn't Number 6 been a long time coming?



After a good start my Hare & Hounds Project had lapsed somewhat.

Never mind. I am back on track, and yesterday I visited the above. It is the Hare & Hounds in Dooley Lane, Marple, and it was at roughly the halfway mark on a lovely early autumn walk from Middlewood to Marple. The photo was taken by the Google Streetview Jelly Baby - the weather was much nicer than this yesterday.

The whole walk was a cracker! As well as a refreshing pint in the Hare & Hounds and a walk in the woods, we visited the 16th century Chadkirk Chapel, with its lovely walled garden:


(Photo from Wikipedia, more info here.)

and this:


(Photo from Geograph.)

and umpteen locks on the Peak Forest Canal. Then we got tired so we sat down and drank more beer.

I love my life!

Tiny little teeth

I feel like someone or something with tiny little teeth is chewing on my earlobe. Maybe someone like this:


(Photo from here.)

It is not entirely unpleasant, but it is not right either.

Looting, Pillaging and Plundering

I was busy on Tuesday night, so didn't get to do any looting or rioting.

Last night I was tackling a mountain of ironing so again I missed out. And it was raining, so wouldn't have been bothered anyway.



Now, if you didn't live here you might think this country was beyond hope, but for every robbing scumbag there's someone ready to take the piss. More of the above here.

Elsewhere in town, the rioting was more subdued.


(from YouTube)

Sam's gone to Skem

I hope he knows how very loved he was with us, and how much he will be missed.



Here is Sam in happier times, celebrating his goal against Retford last season. Oh how we laughed! Neilboo's video is on YouTube if you haven't already seen it.

Goodbye Sam, and all the very best of everything in the future.

I'm sad.


To cheer myself I had a look at the FC Forum and found this:



Viva Ken Barlow!

Now I am happy again.

Prince Philip and the Ood

A state visit with a difference.

I hope the Duke managed to get through it without making any of his usual cracks about slitty eyes or being too fat to be an astronaut. Although the Ood isn't fat at all, he has a very trim figure - and a rather natty suit, I think.

I made these myself. The pattern for Prince Philip came from Fiona Goble's book, "Knit Your Own Royal Wedding", which I tackled as one of my Spring Projects. The Ood is my own design.

I knitted a corgi and the Queen and Prince William and Catherine Middleton and Prince Philip (all from the Fiona Goble book). By then I was heartily sick of the Royal Family. I couldn't face knitting any more of them - not Harry or Charles or Camilla or even the Archbishop.

It was because of this that the Ood ended up officiating at the Royal Wedding.



It was when I started seriously considering knitting Lord Sugar that I realised it was time to put the needles and wool away and return to real life.



PS: For those of you not familiar with the Ood, they have a song:


(From YouTube)