Oscar the Dog, RIP

It's with great sadness that we report that Oscar the Dog passed away last Friday after a short illness. He was 13 years old, which is good going for his breed, who are susceptible to heart problems. But his heart was fine - it was a suspected tumour that caused the illness. He was happy at the very end, pictured below in his final minutes with his snout appropriately in a Happy Meal.

 
I enjoyed many 5km walks around Bacup with Oscar. He was more than happy to be fastened to a fence post and smell and eat the grass whilst I admired the landscape.

"Come on boss, I'm ready to walk, there are no good smells on this tarmac..."

"I really do love the heated floor in mummy's new bathroom!"

Condolences go to Kate, and to Jacob and Jessica who have had Oscar as a companion for their entire lives.

Monday = Isabella Day (34)

'Bean and Brush' in Sale, was our first venue. Whilst Sue and I enjoyed the (coffee) 'bean' element, Isabella wrestled with a variety of 'brush'es and paints.

Eventually, after about an hour, a tree had been daubed with the requisite three layers of paint and was ready to go to the kiln. We'll discover how it turns out next week.

Then Mickey joined us for a long tram ride - a favourite occupation for Izzie, whilst I jumped off at Timperley in a bid to prepare lunch.

But before lunch, there's a Christmas tree to decorate.

The tree was quickly dealt with, then the Ted family needed to be 'tinseled'.

All good fun for the junior reindeer.

Then after lunch and a nap, there was a long session of washing a doll who kept being sick, and then the trusty Duplo house provided its usual endless fun. This toy in a previous generation had kept Isabella's dad and aunt entertained for hours on end, and the red and yellow car was brought back from Amsterdam after a visit by Grandma Whoosh for her 40th birthday. (Quite some time ago!)

Reluctant to go home, the little minx decided that 'the way to travel' was on the red car's parcel shelf! 

Mum and dad will be pleased to hear that this mode of travel did not meet with universal approval, and some bribery was needed to negotiate a 'safe passage' back to Didsbury!

Meanwhile, up in the freezing north (Bacup), Kate has a new bathroom. Oscar has discovered its underfloor heating...

That's it for now.

Christmas Day

A lovely day.

After a gentle start, R + J joined us for a stroll around Dunham Massey.  Sadly Dot was a bit poorly and confined to barracks.  We set off as the sun tried to bore through the early mist, but it was still very cold in the park.

The canal was solid, even under the bridges, and a small area had been cleared of hoar frost to permit skating.

We had to return home, both to escape the cold and to prepare a meal for seven, plus Oscar, seen below trying to unpack his lunch.

The rest of the day vanished in a bit of a haze, but there’s a slide show of what may be one of our last frosty days before a thaw, here.

Saturday 9 October 2010 – Oscar visits the Bridgewater Canal

Oscar is growing up.  Today he managed the three mile walk from Sale Water Park to Timperley.

Unfortunately he fell into the canal.

He survived the ordeal, but we found it so hilarious that we failed to record the incident on ‘film’.

Wednesday 18 August 2010 - Visiting Oscar

Introducing Lord Oscar of Osborne (aka Oscar Milnes), Kate and Simon’s new ‘baby’.  So I have a ‘Granddog’?

Sue and I visited him the other day.  Sue took the easy route.

I took the cycle paths – to Stretford beside the Bridgewater Canal, then beside the River Mersey to Simon’s Bridge in Didsbury.

Shortly before leaving the river bank, I passed this sad sight in Northenden.

Below, is Simon’s Bridge, linking Northenden with the more affluent suburb of Didsbury.

From here I tried to follow the Trans Pennine Trail, but tram line workings (perhaps the trail has been taken over by a new tramline project - not a bad thing) and confusing signage, with a few missing signs in the scally zone of Brinnington [that’s a first – blaming scallys for my pathetic map reading skills!] hampered my efforts.

I was on the route (briefly) at this spot in Heaton Norris…

…and here in Reddish Vale.

Here’s confirmation…

…and this tunnel in Brinnington is definitely on the route.

The off-route excursions were mainly through housing estates, and along a busy but thankfully downhill main road between Brinnington and Haughton Green.  Here I regained the trail beside the River Tame and enjoyed my lunch at a picnic bench before continuing on to encounter Aussie Chris and his Belgian girlfriend, pootling along on their way from Lands End to John o’Groats on their heavily laden steeds almost as vintage as my own.

Here, tall barges may easily navigate the lift bridge, but could come a cropper on the pipe line!

The Peak Forest Canal, part of the Cheshire Ring Canal Route, sports a selection of Information Boards, Dukinfield’s contribution being this plaque to David Livingstone’s mother-in-law, bless her soul.

There’s lots of industry around Dukinfield, where the River Tame runs along beside the canal.

I turned right at the canal junction, headed towards Stalybridge, and left the towpath too soon.  Then I became stranded on a horrific traffic island between Ashton and Stalybridge.  It housed, amongst other things, a bus station.  After a couple of laps I spotted an underpass that provided a partial escape route, leaving just a scary dual carriageway to negotiate.

Soon, though, I was to be seen heading north up Ridge Hill, ascending into the Pennines. pausing near Hartshead Pike to admire the flatlands of Greater Manchester some 150 metres below.

Up at Scoutshead, The Old Original (“renowned for the best steaks and grills in the area”) looks a nice place to visit.

But not today.

There’s a very pleasant view from here across the Pennines to the northern ramparts of the Peak District.

Here’s today’s route – 52 km, with 800 metres ascent.  It took me a little less than 5 hours, including stops.  I was slowed by the realisation of the fact and the resultant discomfort – from last Friday’s ‘vineyard sprinting incident’ which appears to have torn a cartilage that is sensitive to cycling, especially uphill.  Ho hum!

I finally reached my destination in Sholver, north of Oldham, where Sue was already cuddling the good lord, Oscar.