Walking Round Langsett Reservoir

The weather is barmy at the moment, very warm for October and we've been walking round Langsett Reservoir in t-shirts!

There was a very slight drizzle all the was round but that was quite welcome and kept us cool when the going got quite hard.

Lucy's little legs were black when we got back to the car and our feet weren't much better after sinking into the boggy mud. We're chilling out now for the afternoon, just trying to stay awake after all that walking.

Paul

Morning Ride

With all the little jobs taken care of around the house, I've been out for a ride on the mountain bike this morning. It's some time since I've been on a bike and I was on my knees gasping for breath after about two minutes!

I kept going though and navigated a circular route going up and down a few country lanes.

Noticing a public footpath sign, I took a bit of detour and came across this old cart next to the track.

The sky was a miserable shade of grey when I set of but the sun finally broke through to reveal what promises to be a lovely sunny Autumn day.

Sitting down now with a nice cup off coffee and tuning into Last FM.

Paul

Mobile Surfing

It's been a while since our last update, partly because we've not been out and about lately, partly because I was struck down with man-flu last week and partly because I've been surfing the world wide web on my mobile.

Last month I upgraded my mobile package with Three to include web surfing, up to a gigabyte of internet browsing for a an extra fiver a month seems like a pretty good deal. I've been browsing away on my little K800i and have hardly switched the computer on at all over the last few weeks.

The experience of navigating the web on a mobile has actually been better than I expected, I can now post to Blogger via Gmail, do quick updates in the sidebar using Twitter Mobile and of course check out my usual haunts - every weather page known to man!

It's not a breeze though and sometimes downright annoying! The handsets own browser is limited and to view non mobile pages you have to go through either Google's or Yahoo's mobile converter thingy which by the time it's stripped out non mobile compliant stuff, there ain't much left to look at. The built in rss reader wouldn't work with many feeds and now doesn't work at all.

I downloaded Opera Mini which is much better at rendering web pages and is a whole lot faster too. The included rss reader is great and I use that alot as using the mobile version of Google Reader is royal pain in the butt.

One thing that is missing from Opera Mini 3.1 is the ability to upload pictures, if you try to do that it just starts the camera which isn't any good if you want to load a picture you've already taken. For loading pictures I have to switch back to the built in browser and then switch back again to view them!

There is a new version of Opera Mini coming out soon, I've tried version 4 but it's still in Beta and there is no picture uploading or rss reader as yet so I'll hold off that one until the full version is released, which hopefully won't be too long.

I'm also finding that any applications I try to download now just report as invalid, I've tried the Opera Beta again and that now won't install. It's not for the feint hearted this mobile surfing lark but it does seem to be getting better and while I still have to use the PC for certain tasks, it won't be too long before the mobile will be able to handle pretty much everything.

I'm on holiday this week so I'll have plenty of opportunity to explore without Debbie's current favourite catch phrase, "will you put that bloody phone down", ringing in my ear...

Paul

The Heights Of Abraham

Last weekend we ventured out to the The Heights Of Abraham at Matlock Bath. We drove through here last year but couldn't get parked up as the place was overrun with bikers. No problems parking this year though and we had a fantastic day out exploring the underground lead mining caverns.

We were out at a party on Saturday night then on Sunday we were up at the crack of dawn on the lookout for heather and shrubs. We got loads loaded into the car and spent a couple of hours getting everything planted in the newly cleared border. It looks great now and Debbie wants to do the same on the other side.

By then we were completely knackered and didn't have the energy to go back out and take any pictures, we'll nip out soon and get some snaps.

Paul

Otters & Owls

Last weekend we had an afternoon out at the Chestnut Centre which is not too far from Castleton in the Peak District. It's an animal sanctuary mainly for otters and owls. It was a much bigger place than we were expecting, walking through the field with sheep and deer was great and reaching the bottom you walk along a stream surrounded by trees. It's lovely and dark for the owls of which there a are loads but the pictures we took aren't too cleaver.

Following the winding through the trees, we came across another family of otters and more owls round every corner. The otters were great, loads of different kinds from small noisy little monkeys to a giant otter that loved to throw stones about.

We had a great time there despite the battling with the camera against the dark conditions and the mesh cages.

Paul

Wentworth Castle Gardens

While we were on holiday a few weeks ago, we visited Wentworth Castle Gardens in Stainborugh, Barnsley.

It was on BBC's Restoration in 2003 but failed to win. The restoration of the gardens is going well anyway, still a long way to go though. The glass house is in danger of collapsing and they're currently having a big fund raising push to try and save it.

The gardens are lovely and will look fantastic when their finished. The main building is Wentworth Castle and at the other end of the gardens is Stainborough Castle.

We've been back at work two weeks now and Debbie's not been having a great time. A week ago on Friday she started with a pain in her legs and by Sunday morning Debbie was in agony with her back and legs plus a thumping headache on top of that.

No better on Monday, Debbie stayed at home and on Tuesday went to the Doctors who prescribed antibiotics which we think ended up making her sick. Debbie was violently sick on Wednesday morning and I popped home to see how she was at lunch time. I called the doctors and was promised a call back within the hour. The hour came and went and after I chased them up I had to get back to work.

When I got home, there had still been no call so I called again only to be directed to after hours care who couldn't help because they didn't take over until 6pm and our surgery shouldn't have switched off their lines until then.

I called back after 6pm and we got an appointment at the hospital where we managed to get to see a doctor but he couldn't pinpoint the problem. His best guess would be a very bad migraine and he prescribed stronger pain killers. Debbie took two in Asda car park and by the time we got home she was feeling much better.

Debbie went back to work on Thursday, feeling better but still not brilliant. The pain killers seems to be keeping on top of whatever the problem is and we're now enjoying a nice chilled weekend!

Paul

Robin Hoods Bay To Ravenscar

Yesterday we headed off to Robin Hoods Bay, the weather forecast wasn't brilliant but we didn't see any rain on the way there and when we arrived the sun was breaking through.

Having remembered to check the tide times, we arrive just in time to make out of the main bay and along the beach to Ravenscar. About half way we came across a cave in the cliffs, probably used by smugglers in days gone by.

Debbie found a rock in a pool, of which there are thousands, but this one was sporting a wonderful design made by the water in the sand.

Venturing further afield than before, we came across fossil imprints in the rocks and even found a couple of whole ammonites that we brought home with us.

As we entered the bay next to Ravenscare, Debbie found this waterfall, it was amazing to see the water cascading over the cliffs.

When we got to Ravenscar, we turned round and could barely see Robin Hoods Bay in the distance.

We spent over four hours walking on the beach and weather held off the whole time, then just after we left it started chucking it down with rain!

Paul

Dad's Back On The Road

We took Dad to the hospital this morning for a checkup with the eye specialist. After a month of not being able to get behind the wheel, he's been given the all clear to hit the road again which is great news.

We've been out for a walk round Newmillerdam this afternoon. About half way round we came across a bloke and a teenage boy running out from the trees and then loitering on the path. We walked round them but Lucy was reluctant to pass by and took some coaxing. A bit suspicious and the camera's were back in their cases faster than you can say "leg it back to the car, we've got a couple of fruitcakes here".

Paul

Perfect DIY Weather

I've been on holiday since Monday and it's been raining much of the time which has been great news. If it had been hot sunshine, I'd have been dischuffed hat having to get a few jobs done over the last 3 days. With the lovely cooler weather I've managed to get all the edging down over the laminate floor and made a wooden bath panel. Still loads to do but that's it for now, I'm on strike!

Debbie finishes work today and then we're both off until a week on Tuesday! I think we'll be getting out and about more than we managed during our May holiday. I'm not sure Mablethorpe will be on the cards, even though we've not been for a whole week!

Paul

And The Moral Of This Story Is....

I ran the facebook phenonemon by Debbie earlier today and got the green light to add a profile for each of us, Yorkshire Snowman and Buttercup.

Second rule of the land in these parts is never sign up for anything when your drunk. So, I passed the first rule, ask Debbie first, and then fragrantly pooed the second rule, nver sgnien up when your drunk.

It's like playing Mr & Mrs for live, except when on telly, the contestans weren't usualy 2 bottles short of colapsng on stage.

So I've signed us both up, just waiting for the sober realisation of tomorrow...

Paul