Saturday and Sunday 8 and 9 August 2026 - Brueton parkrun and Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb

Shelsley Hill Climb was one of Sue's father's favourite outings and has featured on these pages in the past (here). So Sue and har mother chose this occasion to scatter a few of Richard's ashes. If weather and opportunities permit, we may come in the future, but Richard's membership, over a period of 30 years, has not been renewed.

The day before, 8 August, Sue and I had traveled to Solihull to visit her mother and take part in the 5km Brueton parkrun.

Our respective aspirations can be gleaned from the next two pictures.

With over 500 participants, getting to the start within 30 seconds of the starting gun was quite an achievement.

Results are here. I took a leisurely 42:30 in position 481 out of 516 finishers, and Sue took 25:06 in position 131. Well done!

And so to Sunday 9 August, and a perfect day at the hill climb, albeit our luxurious picnic lunch was taken crouched in the shade of the car. My camera battery expired early on so most of the photos below are Sue's. No commentary is really necessary, though we thought we spotted Sir Hugh in a blue and orange Fiesta. Or was he in the single seater that crashed?**

Try clicking on any image to access a slideshow

A view from the top of the hill

Sue took a fancy to this old three wheeled Morgan

Views towards the parched landscape

On the way up to the finish, huge speeds are reached.

After waiting in a holding paddock the vehicles free wheel back down the hill

It was hot.

The nearby church has some lovely stained glass windows.

** Neither. It turns out that Sir Hugh had chosen to visit the heights of the Yorkshire Dales rather than the depths of Worcestershire.

30 July to 7 August 2026 - Diary Update

30 July - we have a smart new roof just three weeks after Tony the roofer came to inspect the leak in our kitchen. That roof lasted less than 30 years. The main roof was nearly 100 years old and was showing its age. Very few houses on our estate still have the original roofs, so it seemed a good time to relace ours.

30 July - Sale Sizzler number 4. I took a break and left Sue to take part. She ran the 5km in 24:19 and came 7th out of 17 in her age category. Results here.

1 August - Wythenshawe parkrun #676. A routine parkrun, with Sue chaperoning Owen on this occasion. Full results are here.

In the tea room courtyard, 11 of us - runners and supporters - wrestled our way around a couple of tables.

1 August - dinner in Adlington with Robert and Lyn, and Gerry and Chris. Nice BBQ, and Sue had collected plenty of blackberries for a wonderful tart.

2 and 3 August - feedig Millie, who is slowing down and getting arthritic. I know the feeling!

3 August - Wyre Levee Stompers at Eagley Jazz Club. The last performance before a 6 week break whilst the venue is refurbished. An excellent night; we'll miss these Monday night performances.

4 August - a visit to Bridgewater RHS gardens. A trail of Lego constructions provided interest as we  admired both the flowers and the Lego, not all of which is pictured below.

The chickens were entertaining, this one enjoying a dust bath.

Lunch was delicious, the mussels, prawns and squid (their plate is empty) being especially popular.

Then 45 minutes of Lego building, presumably with leftover bits from the constructions in the garden.

More Lego.

The Chinese garden, and behind me is a mammoth new construction in progress.

Pictures from a compost bin...

5 August - Nick Taylor's work next to Pickering Lodge Park looks pretty much complete. It's really rather good.

7 August - That's all for now, thanks to time constraints and a failure to get the camera out earlier when seven 'Oldies' turned up for their monthly natter at Wythenshawe Park - Martin, Fechin, Keith, Mike C, Mike H, John and Richard.