We work in a Library. In a University. If ever a place was going to be full of enchantment and wonder, with the potential to change not just the future of mankind but of the very universe itself, this would be it.
Isn't that a cracking name?! It would be churlish not to celebrate.
It is, of course, PANCAKE DAY.
The scene in my kitchen tonight will be something like this - but only a bit. There are no chubby-cheeked tots in my house, and nor are there any wizened crones. I won't even be wielding a frying pan.
But later on I will microwaving some zesty lemon pancakes from M&S. I am a lazy trollop. Happy Fat Tuesday!
PS. I have heard that Americans will eat pancakes for breakfast. That can't possibly be true, can it?
Oh, the pubs are coming thick and fast now, aren't they?!
This is the Hare and Hounds in Uppermill. The photo is from Craig H1's flickr set - more pictures of his Saddleworth Pubs here.
After a long, happy and muddy ramble yesterday I popped in here for a well earned pint.
Many people have a perception that Saddleworth is bleak. Much of this, I think, is rooted in history - some VERY BAD THINGS happened here in the 1960s. And Saddleworth Moor does present a rather forbidding aspect if only ever seen from the motorway.
But if you get off the motorway and get out of your car and go for a walk, it is a lovely area. High craggy hills, green valleys, woods, streams (like this), Yorkshire villages, impressive examples of Victorian engineering (and this) - and some jolly fine little pubs. And all of that only 20 minutes by train from Manchester Victoria.
Speaking of which. Despite what we saw on Corrie on Friday night, and despite Leanne Battersby's best attempts, you cannot catch a train from Victoria to London. Never could, never will. Especially not from that platform - the best she could have managed from there would have been, err, right back to Saddleworth.
This one was an unexpected (and delightful!) bonus. I've not been here since early October and at that time it had closed down.
This is the Hare & Hounds at Bower Fold in Stalybridge - and Hurrah! it is open again.
Once again the photo is from Google Streetview. It didn't look like this last night - it was dark (okay, there was a full moon) and there were a lot of happy FC fans outside. Nice little pub, isn't it?
What was I doing in Stalybridge last night? No, I have taken up midnight rambling. We were playing a home game at Bower Fold against Chasetown.
And we won! 4-2! With only ten men. And, my god, those ten men played well!
What an all-round excellent evening that turned out to be!
Today is the Chinese New Year, and this year it's the Year of the Rabbit. Woohoo!
Or if, like me, you grew up somewhere with a substantial Vietnamese population, you will know it as the Year of the Cat.
Here is a lovely painting of some cats on their way to a party.
This is from Look at Vietnam - click the link for more happy cat paintings.
A long time ago I was told (by a Vietnamese person, so it must be true) that being an agricultural nation, the Vietnamese don't like rabbits (they eat the crops) but they do like cats (the farmer's friend, they eat rats and mice) - hence Year of the Cat, not Rabbit.
Something like the Australians, who for similar reasons have an Easter Bilby instead of an Easter Bunny.
Don't know what a Bilby looks like? Here he is:
How cute is that?!
Cats, Rabbits, Bilbies. They're all good. And on that mellow note, here's Al Stewart to sing you into the New Year.
As I have mentioned before, more than once, I love walking. Walk, walk, walk. All over the place. I love it. At final count, I'd racked up 1,870 miles last year.
This year it is my ambition to walk with a purpose. No more aimless rambling for me! It is my resolution to involve as many pubs called Hare & Hounds as possible in my walks.
Why the Hare & Hounds? 1. There are a lot of them. 2. The first pub I went in, on my first real walk this year ('real' in the sense that it involved hills and a friend and a pint) was called the Hare & Hounds. 3. We will soon be entering the Year of the Rabbit, and Hares are as close to the theme of Rabbits as I could get.
Here is Hare & Hounds no.1:
This photo comes from Google Streetview. I didn't have my camera with me at the time - and to be honest, the weather wasn't this nice last Sunday. By the time we got to the pub it was pissing down.
Never mind! The pub was cosy, clean, friendly and thoroughly comforting. We didn't eat there, but the food looked and smelled gorgeous. Should you wish to visit yourself, it is in Simmondley Village, Glossop.
Hopefully I will have more Hare & Houndses to report on in the coming months. Please wish me success in the my brave and intrepid quest!
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you've all survived the festive season, and Santa has seen you right.
To be honest, 2011 is not looking too promising for me so far: new boss, new regime. It's grim.
No chat. No laughing. No happiness. No motivation.
It's like being buried alive.
A bit like poor Rita in the Kabin, except Rita had choccies (albeit slightly dusty ones) within her grasp. And Rita was rescued within a few days - unlike us, trapped here in misery with no hope of salvation.
I've been to the Top of the World, I've been to Rochdale, I've been to Brighton (in case you're wondering, 1-1, replay on Wednesday night, live on ESPN), and I've walked 1,777 miles (slowed down a bit lately, due to the snow).
That's me done for this year.
I'm off on my holidays!!!
I'm going to be warm.
I'm going to be happy.
I'm going to be far, far away.
I'm going to be like Tim.
I'm going to be drinking white wine in the sun!
I really like Christmas It's sentimental, I know, but I just really like it I am hardly religious I'd rather break bread with Dawkins than Desmond Tutu, to be honest
And yes, I have all of the usual objections To consumerism, the commercialisation of an ancient religion To the westernisation of a dead Palestinian Press-ganged into selling Playstations and beer But I still really like it
I'm looking forward to Christmas Though I'm not expecting a visit from Jesus
I'll be seeing my dad My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum They'll be drinking white wine in the sun I'll be seeing my dad My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum They'll be drinking white wine in the sun
I don't go in for ancient wisdom I don't believe just 'cos ideas are tenacious it means they are worthy I get freaked out by churches Some of the hymns that they sing have nice chords but the lyrics are spooky
And yes I have all of the usual objections To the miseducation of children who, in tax-exempt institutions, Are taught to externalise blame And to feel ashamed and to judge things as plain right and wrong But I quite like the songs
I'm not expecting big presents The old combination of socks, jocks and chocolate is just fine by me
Cos I'll be seeing my dad My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum They'll be drinking white wine in the sun I'll be seeing my dad My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum They'll be drinking white wine in the sun
And you, my baby girl My jetlagged infant daughter You'll be handed round the room Like a puppy at a primary school And you won't understand But you will learn someday That wherever you are and whatever you face These are the people who'll make you feel safe in this world My sweet blue-eyed girl
And if, my baby girl When you're twenty-one or thirty-one And Christmas comes around And you find yourself nine thousand miles from home You'll know whatever comes Your brother and sisters and me and your Mum Will be waiting for you in the sun Whenever you come Your brothers and sisters, your aunts and your uncles Your grandparents, cousins and me and your mum We'll be waiting for you in the sun Drinking white wine in the sun Darling, when Christmas comes We'll be waiting for you in the sun Drinking white wine in the sun Waiting for you in the sun Waiting for you... Waiting...
I really like Christmas It's sentimental, I know...
