10 and 13 December 2025 - Around Altrincham and Wythenshawe

We'd not seen Ernst and Bianca for some time, so we enjoyed a couple of hours with them on 10 December. Sue and I walked towards their house along the towpath, past the Linotype Works buildings that have mostly been converted to housing, until we reached a policeman. "Go back, there's a body in the canal" he said. We were very lucky not to be the ones to discover it. Ten minutes earlier...

So we retraced our steps and reached Seamons Bridge via Broadheath. We were soon joined by Ernst and Bianca, for a short walk along the towpath to Dunham.

The picture above seems to have blurred everything except Ernst, who is happy at having been made captain of Sale Sharks rugby team and has had his contract extended by three years to 2029. This has motivated the couple to buy a house, on which they should complete soon. Well done them.

We left the canal to pass by Little Heath Farm, after which we went through the golf course and Devisdale, where the next two pictures were taken.

Our timing was perfect, as we reached SO Marrakech in Altrincham in time to enjoy coffees and croissants before Bianca headed off to another engagement. It was great to see the two of them happy with life, and now even happier as Sale beat French opposition - Clermont Auvergne - at the weekend, when players and their families were treated to a chartered flight in order to simplify travel arrangements.

Saturday morning was dry. Sue and I drove to Wythenshawe Park for their parkrun #644 on a surprisingly sunny day. The sun rose as we milled about at the start. With just 244 people taking part, numbers were well below the summer figures of around 400.

Run Director Richard set us off after the fastest ever briefing.

Afterwards, the usual socialising, and sorting of bar codes that hadn't arrived when the next picture was taken.

At least the bar code tokens were dry today! Full results are here.