Thursday 30 October 2008

Strawberry Duck - October 2008

As Kirsty and Pla had ventured north to mark the event that was Kirsty's 40th birthday, we decided to meet up and drink beer, the location for this mass consumption would be the Strawberry Duck, former venue for many a drunken night out. The Duck was one of the only pubs in the area at which you had a wide variety of real ale, and for our return visit, we hoped that this would still be the fact. Luckily for us it was still home for many an oddly monikered ale of three.

Those attending this cold wet evening would be Pla, Kirsty, Kieran, Sandra, Myself, Lee and Gillian (Sandra's sister), she had nothing better to do and is taking the picture.

Merriment and consumption of ale began, continued though a game of musical chairs, well we moved from one room to another, and ended via the train back to Blackburn in the Napier. Fortunately this pub had quite a few more fellow drinkers than the Duck, a bit sparse was the Duck, the barstaff nearly outnumbered the patrons.

gallery


Strawberry Duck - October 2008

As Kirsty and Pla had ventured north to mark the event that was Kirsty's 40th birthday, we decided to meet up and drink beer, the location for this mass consumption would be the Strawberry Duck, former venue for many a drunken night out. The Duck was one of the only pubs in the area at which you had a wide variety of real ale, and for our return visit, we hoped that this would still be the fact. Luckily for us it was still home for many an oddly monikered ale of three.

us loveable funstersThose attending this cold wet evening would be Pla, Kirsty, Kieran, Sandra, Myself, Lee and Gillian (Sandra's sister), she had nothing better to do and is taking the picture.

Merriment and consumption of ale began, continued though a game of musical chairs, well we moved from one room to another, and ended via the train back to Blackburn in the Napier. Fortunately this pub had quite a few more fellow drinkers than the Duck, a bit sparse was the Duck, the barstaff nearly outnumbered the patrons.

click here for more pictures


Monday 20 October 2008

A Painfull Loss


On the 10th of October 2008, my father was taken from us. No warnings, no illness, nothing. One minute he is taking stuff upstairs for my mum, the next a massive heart attack, and his no longer with us. Unfortunately i was in Cornwall at the time, and so had to rapidly get myself back up to Blackburn. Pla and Kirsty did all they could to help me, even offering to drive me home, but a flight was available and was booked.


The next few days were a surreal blur, but arrangements had to be made.

His funeral was in a strange way a happy occasion, the minister we had for the service had talked with me at length about my father and so was able to say a few kind and yet personal words on our behalf. Me my brother and sister all wanted to say a few words in tribute, but it was left to me to say what we all felt.

We even managed to get some of his favorite music played during the service, which even had a few feet tapping to the sounds of Jackie Wilson.


He was my hero, my teacher, my guide.
Taug
ht me to swim, ride a bike,
and encouraged me in whatever i was interested in.
He taught me how to be the person i am today.


I always looked up to him,
and despite having the same shoe size,
i could never fill them.

He will never leave me,
and his mark will stay with me forever.
I have his bald spot to prove it.


Always in my heart.
Love you and miss you.

One strange request he had was for a brass band to be playing at his funeral, we have no idea where that came from, but due to practicality this was not possible, but back at my mothers we raised our rum filled glasses to him and had a brass band version of Sweet Georgia Brown playing while we toasted him.

Friends and family have been very supportive and understanding, and i thank you all for this.

Since then we have all had our moments of sadness and joy when thinking about him, but he will always be with us. As a tribute we have purchased a tree at Pleasington Cemetary, so we have somewhere to go to when we feel that need.


Dad, you are not sleeping
Just resting your eyes
You will always be with me
In Thought, and my heart

Love you and miss you
David x

Sunday 12 October 2008

Cornwall October 2008

So finally i made it to Cornwall this year, what with one thing and another, no festival, an early Easter, and no slots being available at the Plirsty summer house of fun. Anyway, i was here, standing on the beach with both Pla and Kirsty, watching Mango dive into the sea to retrieve as many stones as your arm could hurl.

Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control my visit was to be cut shot, but despite this, we had a great time, eating out, watching the sunset, even seeing Willow in her Harvest Festival. But it was Friday night which was to rock my world forever.

As per usual many pictures were taken during my brief visit, and can be viewed at the usual place, or by clicking the title at the top of this entry.

Sunday 5 October 2008

Back to Blackpool, 27th September 2008

So here we are again, twice in the same year, what is going on you may ask, well the answer is really quite simple. My good friend Kasia, had invited her friend Jola to England for a few months and so we decided to treat her to a visit to Blackpool. Is this really a treat? Well for someone who had never experienced the tackyness that is the pool of black, seeing is believing.


Fingers were crossed that the weather would be good, for the majority of this summer we have not had many days of sun, you could probably count them on Beadles stunted fingers. But hope springs eternal, and we were gifted with a clear day, hurrah for us. So off we went, bumped on our way on Englands wonderful train network, and arrived in that pool of black and began our day of fun.


First port of call was to see the sea, and then the wanderings began. Beach based meanderings, and donkey spotting followed, and was ended at this stage with a beer on a pier. Feeling hungry we backtracked to Harry Ramsdens for traditional fish and chips, and another beer. Two surprises here, first being that you can have a beer with your food, and secondly that we would be served by Polish waitresses, for both Kasia and Jola are Polish also.

Bellies full it was time to roll those balls again and race the horses. Many games later Kasia emerged victorious, and was rewarded with a stuffed purple rabbit. More meanderings followed and retreatings to another pier for more beer and watch the sunset. Braving the chilly evening air no more, we headed inside to finish our beer before heading back for our return journey and to gaze longingly at the pretty lights. It is just a pity we only had a short time to look at the illuminations, but we did have a train to catch.

Our cameras had been clicking and shuttering all day, so it was a relief to sit down on yet another prime example of Englands train network, and bump our way home. I think that may be it for Blackpool this year, but you never know, it may have a third visit in the pipeline, who knows.