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.

Sunday 11 December 2022 - NOT The Tatton Yule Yomp

Here's Sue, standing where there should have been hundreds of people assembling to start the annual 'Tatton Yule Yomp', a 10km race through the grounds of Tatton Park.

With icy conditions, the organisers decided to cancel the event. Probably wise. Someone would be bound to get injured and perhaps blame the organisers for going ahead.

Anyway, Sue and I went down to the park and walked a 'virtual' 10km in about two hours - over twice the time it should have taken us to run it. We did not adhere to the Yule Yomp route - it's easy to make up a 10km circuit in this park.

There was sunshine in the distance over Winter Hill and parts of the Peak District, but a thin layer of cloud hung above us for most of the morning, giving the pictures a rather bleak look.

The fallow deer, above, and red deer, below, were scampering in the localised inch or two of snow.

Here's our 10km route - click on the image for a version you can see properly.

Well, that was a nice walk, even if we didn't get to take part in the race. The medals will need to be collected from the organisers' shop in Wilmslow. (Picture to follow.)

Saturday 10 December 2022 - Trentham parkrun and some grandchildren

With light snow falling in Timperley on an icy morning, Sue and I headed south for a family function, pausing en route at Trentham Gardens for a 5km jog/walk (parkrun).

The course had been gritted - how many parkrun venues would receive that sort of support from their 'sponsors'? - and was quite safe to run on.

Other local parkruns had been cancelled at the last minute due to the slippery conditions, so the run director kindly delayed the start to enable folk to regroup here.

We milled around and made new friends as the 266 participants slowly gathered at the start of the scenic one lap course.

Luckily, there were no trains to watch out for - I think they were just out of season, not on strike like their grown up brethren.

It was a lovely sunny morning, as Sue and I jogged and walked slowly round the lake that is circled by the course.

At the end of the lake is a cafe that appeared to be open. I was sorely tempted, but I didn't want to be told off by the 'Tail Walker', so I made do with a photo from where I could have purchased a mid run coffee!

Further on, the sun had melted some of the frost/snow, and the mallards came waddling up to the runners in the hope of a few crusts.

After 3km there's a loop where runners turn to the left in the picture below, returning over a mat to the right of this jolly marshall who keeps everyone in order. No short cuts allowed!

Here's a view from the same spot.

Then it's a pleasant downhill jog to the finish near the entrance to the Gardens, with good views over the lake.

Sue found Alan and Alice, regular Wythenshawe parkrunners to chat to whilst waiting for me to finish at a very leisurely pace, as we were booked to run the Tatton Yule Yomp 10km race the following day. More about that later.

Despite the flood of runners from other nearby events that had been cancelled, this 266 person turnout on the 40th Trentham Gardens parkrun event was the lowest in its history. The cold weather must have discouraged some of the regulars. Full results are here. And the route is shown below.

Meanwhile, our grandchildren had active days:

Isabella had fun in the snow in Didsbury.

Jessica went to the gym with her mum to take part in an all day event.

And Jacob went to a Mid Lancashire running race event in the snow....

Well done, everyone.

Friday 9 December 2022 - Pete Varley, Around Timperley, and Nessit Hill

Friday was a sad day. I attended a wake following the death from cancer of a fellow TGO Challenger, Pete Varley (aka Lilo). Pete was a real character, a really nice bloke, and a role model to which few people could aspire. Sue and I met him on several Challenges, and we spent a few days with him and Trish in Chamonix in 2009. 

The picture above shows Pete finishing the TGO Challenge with me in 2013, at a very windy spot in Frazerburgh.

Pete's life was celebrated with speeches, readings, pictures and music, and we got to know a bit more about his multifarious activities. The TGO Challenge and other long distance walks were a love of Pete's life, and five of us - John Enoch, Dave Wood, David Milton, JJ and I were present to pay our respects, as did other Challengers - in particular Biaggio, Sue and Ali - on this sad occasion.

Pete loved the outdoors, and I'm sure that he would be quite content to share this posting with a few contemporaneous images. A bike ride that passed through Wythenshawe Park found me surprised that some of the trees had retained their leaves so far into December.

A couple of days later, and Lindow Moss on a bright, sunny day, was altogether more wintry, with leafless trees towering over the frosted moss next to Black Lake.

Later that day, I admired sunset from Timperley Bridge, looking towards Altrincham.

A few minutes later, the sun was still in evidence as I walked from Timperley Bridge towards Brooklands.

After Pete's wake in Otley, I returned to Manchester, to wrestle my way past closed roads with a long, foggy, single track diversion, to Trentabank, for our annual winter walk up Shutlingsloe. Sue arrived separately, but unsurpisingly, nobody else turned up. 

We were not inclined to risk the slippery rocks (frosted with a thin layer of snow) on the final foggy ascent of Shutlingsloe this time, so instead we took the track over Nessit Hill in a 4km clockwise circuit from Trentabank.

After failing to fall over, and meeting just a couple of dog walkers, we got back to our cars, then headed down to the Leather's Smithy for refreshments.

It was a tedious drive home, trying to get around closed roads and roadworks. And in my case failing, but comforting myself by imagining Lilo's laughter if he could see the antics involved in what should have been a straightforward journey home!

Monday 5 December 2022 - The Worth Valley Hot 7 with Ruth Gardziel at Eagley Jazz Club

We enjoyed another of Eagley Jazz Club's Annual Christmas Dinners, this year with the excellent Worth Valley Hot 7 and their brilliant guest singer, Ruth Gardziel.

This full house event was a fine way in which to start this year's festivities. Thanks go to Reg, Ann, and all the other committee members for their considerable efforts in achieving a very successful 2022 for the club. Well done.

Monday = Isabella Day (33)

Just back from holiday, and the car needed its MOT, packages were to be delivered, etc, so Isabella's commute to Sale was with Sue, while I got on with an assortment of duties.

I think she enjoys the commute as much as the destination - a pre-booked play area at a cafe in Sale.