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BB1740
: Drizzle, Drizzle, Fog & Mist
Wednesday
20th December 2017
We are in Nice. There is not a
cloud in the sky. The sun is shining on
the sea so that the Cote d’Azur lives up to its name. In the distance we can see the magnificent
snow-capped hills of the Alpes-Maritime.
What a contrast to the driving rain and gale force winds at Liverpool.
Wait a minute. That’s the wrong
way round. It’s Nice that has the
driving rain and gale force winds. We boarded the plane in Liverpool then an
hour later had to disembark as
Nice airport is
closed. Our flight has been cancelled.
We’re
now at Southport where the sun is shining and the sea is blue. It is the distant Lake District hills that
we see snow-capped.
And there, across the
Ribble estuary, that really is Blackpool Tower.
Aye, there’s nowt like it in them froggy
places.
That
was last week. Things are a little different now.
It's our last outing before Christmas and we don't
know where to go. Wednesday is the preferred day
but the forecast is for drizzle, drizzle, fog and mist.
Bryan
has a plan. He's going for a walk on the Northern
fells, 14 miles and 4,000 feet. To make it jolly he
intends to stop over night in the Great
Lingy Hut bothy,
2,000 feet up and miles from anywhere.
He
wonders if anyone fancies joining him? Responses
are predictable:
- Thanks
but I'm washing my hair
- Sorry,
got to wrap my presents
- Love
to but it's my turn to visit my mother-in-law
- Great,
I've always wanted to go there in the
depths of winter when it goes dark
at 4 p.m.. What a fun night we can have!
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That
was Monday. On this cold, damp Wednesday morning,
the one thing we can see clearly is that the forecast
was right. Drizzle, drizzle, fog and mist. Even
Bryan has abandoned his adventure (he would say postponed).
From
our house I look out the window to find that Scout Scar
has vanished. Even the Helm has disappeared.
The only walk today will be across the north face
of the car park and into the Strickland Arms.
That
was this morning. Robin made me feel guilty. Dismayed
by the lack of enthusiasm on the part of Mike, Terry,
Tony and John, he
emailed to say that he would be going for a lonesome
stroll with his dog. It made me wonder if I should
walk to the Strick. It's only a couple
of miles and the exercise would do me good.
Then
another email arrived, this time from Tony. "Want
a lift?" Well, what would you do? Of
course.
Then
another email arrived from Tony saying we would need
to blag a lift back. "Or walk?" I suggested.
That didn't
go down terribly well. Fortunately, John saved
the day, or at least the late afternoon, and thankfully
offered to run us home.
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It
was a jolly lunch.
Tony
was amused to see that neatly stacked on
John's plate were nine chips. Three
more than the six that are served at a certain
other establishment; something about which
he often reminds an hotel proprietor who
happens to be a fellow BOOTboy.
Sorry,
that is a bit of an Inn joke and I don't
intend to elaborate for those not in the
know.
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As
we stand outside the pub saying our Christmas farewells,
our decision was confirmed as being the right one. It
was still drizzle, drizzle, fog and mist. All
rolled into one.
Happy
Christmas!
Don,
Wednesday 20th December 2017
Comitibus
:
John, Don, Mike, Robin, Tony, Terry
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Voting
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