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BB2135
: It's Been A Long Time Coming
Thursday
21st October 2021
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You
might possibly think I mean
that
this report has been a long
time coming. After
all, it is over a month since
the last one.
But
that's not it.
Or
maybe you think I am referring
to the words in the verse of "A
Change Is Gonna Come",
the song that Sam Cooke wrote
because he thought Dylan's "Blowing
in the Wind" should have
been written by a black man.
It's
worth listening to, watching
the video and reading about
its "unlikely
story".
However, it is not what
I have in mind.
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To
discover my meaning, you have to go back
to 3rd April 1950. That was the day
Terry was born. What has been a long
time coming is his 70th birthday celebratory
BOOTboys outing. It should have happened
back in April last year but something got
in the way. Something called lockdowns.
I'm sure you've heard of them. Any
thoughts of a party had to be deferred.
And deferred. And deferred until at
last we would be able to celebrate
his 71½th birthday. Or
to be nerdly precise, his 71.55th.
Given
our long lay-off, the brief was for something
relatively close to home, not too taxing
and beware soggy ground. Given the
recent heavy rain that meant looking for
limestone. Fortunately there is sufficient
to the west of Kendal to satisfy.
We
convened for coffee and cookies at Sizergh
Castle then made our way down through Brigsteer
woods to the Park End Wetland Bird Hide.
I had heard that it was open again,
having been covidly closed for months, and
so it was.
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It
was a lovely morning with fine views over
the moss once you opened the flaps. There
were quite a few ducks and the like but
how rare they were I couldn't tell you.
The
climb back up the hill steep felt steeper
than it looked. Surprise, surprise,
we are all getting older. Another
surprise was that a horned ram, possibly
a Jacob's, took an unusual interest in me.
At first I thought it was just being
friendly, then it started biting my trousers
before moving round for what seemed likely
to be a full frontal attack. Fortunately
I escaped and was able to continue up the
hill.
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Once
up on Helsington Barrow, it was glorious.
The stroll along to the Scout Scar
Mushroom, our lunch spot and turning point,
was a delight.
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On
the way back to the Castle we met Stephen.
Unfortunately something called "business"
had got in the way of him joining us earlier.
I am sure I have heard of the word
but not for a long time.
In
the evening, Terry had arranged for us to
sample the delights of the Brewery, which
has been extensively refreshed. A
table had been booked for us in the restaurant
and we had a very enjoyable meal.
There
was just one problem. A major one.
Sadly, Terry hadn't been with
us all day. He had been taken ill. To
quote from his message "It seems I’m fated not to celebrate my landmark
birthday."
No
Terry, that is not right. You will
celebrate your 71.5th (and a
little bit moreth) birthday with
us. It has been a long time coming
but it can wait a little longer.
Don,
Thursday 21st October 2021
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