Saturday 9 November 2024 - Wilmslow parkrun #433

A few of us gathered at Wilmslow for Greg's 600th parkrun. Here's an extract from the official run report:

On a perfectly still, cool November morning, we started with an annual Wilmslow tradition on Remembrance weekend. Run Director Mandy started her briefing early; this allowed time to play the Last Post, and observe a one minute silence, to honour the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and who continue to do so in conflicts around the world. After this moving tribute it was business as usual, and a mention for Greg Barber on the occasion of his 600th parkrun! An astounding milestone achievement. We also welcomed visitors over from Ireland.

Little did we know at the start that we were in the presence of Olympic royalty! BBC presenter and Wilmslow regular Rachel Burden had persuaded her co-presenter Rick Edwards to do his very first parkrun, and none other than cycling legend Laura Kenny was there to enjoy the fun too! All this was recorded for the BBC 5 Live Breakfast programme on Monday morning - tune in to find out how Rick and Laura got on.

Here, the 223 participants mill about at the start.

I know I'm slow, but really...!

I did manage to overtake a few folk to finish in 32 minutes, position 165, and I was there to greet Jeanette at the finish.

Meanwhile, the full results are here, but Andy, one second ahead of Sue, and Sue adjourned with the rest of us for coffees, oblivious of their having finished just a few seconds ahead of Dame of the Realm and multiple Olympic Gold Medalist, Laura Kenny and her friends!

Well, that was a jolly start to the weekend!

Autumn in Timperley

Richard's 60th birthday. Readers have I know been waiting for this entry. We treated him (and me, Sue and Jenny), to some of Daryl's excellent salmon fillets. Mary Berry's 'Make it Easy', 'Salmon and Herbed Hollandaise Pavé', with suitable starter (asparagus), accompaniment (Sprouts with Peas, Shitaki Mushrooms and Cashew Nuts) and dessert (Raspberry Parfait). This made for an excellent meal, helped by a bottle of Bollinger that we won in a Jazz Club raffle!

Autumn in Timperley has provided some lovely colours despite there being grey (but mainly dry) days with not much sunshine. I think we had half an hour of sunshine in 11 days.

The following pictures were taken more or less a stone's throw from home from the canal towpath, but De Quincey Park has also sported some lovely autumn colours.

Near Walton Park

Walton Perks cafe doing good business

By the cemetery near Marsland Bridge

Sale Marina

The above pictures were taken on 12 November. The couple of snaps below were taken on the misty morning of 13 November on the bit of towpath that you can see from our house. The water must be quite good here, sustaining lots of fish. This is evidenced by the frequent sight of fishermen. 

Kingfishers fly up and down, and there's a resident cormorant as well as an egret and a family of jays. Grey wagtails get under your feet, but not as much as the Canada geese. On the water there are lots of mallards, a few moorhens, and the occasional coot. Swans glide past looking for bread, and herons take their places at regular intervals beside the path, ignoring humans. At this time of year the peace can be shattered by a flock of black-headed gulls, and a colony of starlings who roost in a poplar tree. There are numerous hedgerow birds as well - blackbirds, robins, sparrows, song thrushes, sometimes blackcaps, and an assortment of tits, below which feral pigeons, wood pigeons, and sometimes a collared dove, all scavenge for left overs.

Here are some pictures from De Quincey Park taken on 17 November.

De Quincey Park - 18/11/24

De Quincey Park - 19/11/24

De Quincey Park - 19/11/24

Bridgewater Canal - 21/11/24

Tuesday 5 November 2024 - Shutlingsloe

Today was one of those days when but for the advance planning we would probably have stayed at home. As it was, Graeme and Andy joined Sue and me for a familiar and enjoyable 12km stroll over Shutlingsloe from the Leather's Smithy, to Wildboarclough and back via the Hanging Gate Inn and the Gritstone Trail.

On the summit - cool and misty - three fell runners who were doing the 'Cheshire Three Peaks' - Tegg's Nose, Shutlingsloe and Shining Tor - appeared out of nowhere, the only people we saw out walking today. Photos of the respective groups were taken, and the jolly threesome set off towards Shining Tor.

We thought of another Andy, who last night said he would be able to spot us on the summit from his living room above Bury.

Once we were out of the cool breeze, we stopped for coffee and chocolate digestives. Here there was a good crop of assorted Wax Caps.

Down in Wildboarclough, despite the greyness of the day, autumn colours were most attractive.

There's a well marked path from the Crag Inn to Lower Nabbs. We thought of Sir Hugh (aka Conrad), a friend who has recently been having a few problems with stiles and gates, and we thought he might be able to negotiate this metal kissing gate without too much of an epic adventure.

There were more Wax Caps near here, and further on, as well as this pretty Petticoat Mottlegill that we left in situ.

It was good to see that the Hanging Gate has reopened, but not on a Tuesday.

So we continued onwards, eventually reaching the small ravine from which the steep exit brings you out at the Ridgegate Reservoir a few metres from the Leather's Smithy, which was inundated with customers today.

Tomato and basil soup went down well.

Here's the 12km route, with about 400 metres ascent, taking us a leisurely four hours or so.

Here's a sample of our findings, and there was also a bag of Meadow Wax Caps that made for an excellent starter.

Monday 4 November 2024 - Some Jazz and a Park

Monday night jazz at Eagley Jazz Club brought a great evening, courtesy of the 'Night Owls' and their repertoire of jazz classics from around a century ago. The present band members appear to include Justin Trudeau and William Hague!

That was after one of our many visits to De Quincey park, returning home via the canal towpath, currently home to a family of kingfishers and a lone cormorant, amongst the usual selection of wagtails, ducks, geese and swans, etc.

Common Ink Cap

Saturday 2 November 2024 - Wythenshawe parkrun #592

Wythenshawe was a popular parkrun venue for run number 592. Above, you see many brightly coloured runners gathering ten minutes before the start. Large numbers of 'Couch to 5K' and 'MileShyClub' runners had decided to join us. That was great for me, as it offered a chance to finish in the top half of the field, which is very rare.

A few minutes later the 'Couch to 5K' brigade were joined by the regulars, making a total showing of 468 participants, the third highest ever at Wythenshawe and a good hundred more than usual. Here they are at the start.

I start very slowly these days, and can sometimes accelerate a little towards the end, which brings familiar faces into view every week. Here's Paul, with another friend, who I sometimes pass in this way. Other times they finish some way ahead of me. It's not a race, but we do have a bit of fun passing and mutually encouraging each other and those around us, especially the children.

Not pictured here at the finish is Colm, who in my last two runs has finished just behind me, not for lack of trying, he tells me.

It's a rare occasion that I can picture Sue coming through the finish. I had to wait 17 minutes for this!

Full results are here. We enjoyed the usual post run coffee/cake/socialising.

Friday = Isabella Day (78)

After a nice ride in her new car seat with drinks holder that will stay in my car, obviating the need for recovery expeditions when the seat gets accidentally left in another car, Isabella spent some time with the campervan and it occupants.

Then the farmyard was visited, together with some of its naughty animals who didn't undersand the meaning of the fence.

After that, it was time to paint her nails to match today's pink outfit.

Then, while Grandad went for a coffee and chat with Fechin and Mike, Grandma and Isabella went 'scootering' at Wythenshawe Park. Fresh air and fun as usual, but no pictures.

Lots of beans and fish fingers later, a drawer in the living room yielded a fold out haunted house. This new toy provided endless fun, and it finished up at Isabella's house in Didsbury.

The campervan lady with the pink hat did lots of exploring.

Strange things were afoot at the back of the haunted house.

Jenga is always around in our house. Isabella hasn't got the hang of the actual game, but the tiles are good for making towers.

And what do children really enjoy?

Isabella decided a dance floor, with suitable music, was needed for the campervan family to enjoy their holiday.

Then there was time for some colouring - Isabella has got much better at this over the past couple of months - before she went home. She had been awake since 5:30am so we were instructed to avoid napping, and we managed that thanks to light traffic for the 20 minute journey and much rendering of  'There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly'. We hope she woke a bit later on Saturday...