July 17th, 2007 11:32am
Stephen Dixon
If you thought there was nothing more to Bolton than an industrial town and a Premiership football team, think again. Bolton is surrounded by beautiful countryside as the walking group discovered last month.
Starting near Turton Tower, we passed through woodlands, alongside reservoirs, and up into open countryside with fine views - and all that in temperatures in the mid 20s. Who needs to go abroad! Remembering to be Good Samaritans, we rescued another sheep - the 2nd this year. Why they keep toppling on their backs we don’t know, but we’re getting pretty skilled at rolling them over.
Six miles on the Witton Weavers Path, by the Jumbles, the Turton & Entwistle and Wayoh Reservoirs made for a good day out. Thank you to the organisers/leaders and the chauffeurs.
October 15th, 2006 04:56pm
John Hardy
John Hardy writes:In the Holmfirth Circuit there is a Circuit Walking group which meets monthly.
Each month it starts from a different church and after about two hours ends up at the same church. There a picnic lunch is enjoyed and there are cups of tea provided, After lunch there is “an event” organised by the host church, last month we had a talk by a member who had been a dancer in the fifties.
My photographic record of walks is being kept upto date……though I still have some to add from my days at Brierfield.
July 22nd, 2006 02:05pm
John Hardy
The walking Club meets Monthly on Monday Mornings…..usually a couple of car loads meet at 10.30 armed with rucksacks, packed lunches, flat waterproof cushions and the determination to have a good time. The walks which have usually been walked the day before by one or other of the leaders, take us through some of Lancashire’s loveliest areas.
Mountains and river valleys, lakeside and moor land, villages and the mill town give a varied backdrop for our strolls in fellowship- never too strenuous(well almost never) but sufficient exertion that afterwards otherwise underused muscles know they have been exercised. Our average weather experience happily gives the lie to the old joke that in Lancashire it rains on 364 days in the year and the other day it simply pours down…… we have been showered on but in the main the sun has shone for us. We have gloried in the experience of the flowers of the field and hedgerow, seen birds on the wing including lapwing and heron, and seen rabbits and hare, fox and weasel and once a magnificent antlered red deer struggling to cross a fence.
July 22nd, 2006 02:01pm
John Hardy
Yes, says Anne Dixon with a wry smile, this started as a “one off” back in 1992 and it’s just carried on since then.
The Church Hall is encircled by tables and there are more blocks of tables in the middle. The Vestibule is set out as a Café, with crisp clean cloths, a simple floral centrepiece and salt and pepper and sugar on each table.
Stall holders vary from a couple selling up before emigrating through church and community groups to local crafts people. You might find anything from traditional WI fare, cakes and jams, pictures, books, plants, flower arrangements to chocolate eggs at Easter and Christmas gifts towards the year end.
The banner on the railings proclaims “Car Boot Sale this Saturday 9-1) but the stall holders are there much earlier and the cosmopolitan buying public are queuing patiently to be let in usually about 8.30.
Before 9 one of the regulars is demanding “Is it ready yet?” “It” being the hot lunch of the day usually Corned Beef hash,(with carrots onions and potatoes) or potato pie( made with minced beef and onions)….sometimes with red cabbage and beetroot as optional extras. Stall holders book lunches for their helpers, up to a dozen at a go. There are sandwiches and cakes and a constant demand for tea and coffee.
Dozens of charities have benefited over the years. The crowds of customers leave happily clutching their purchases. By twelve thirty customers and traders are usually dispersing- the final stages of washing up are being done and the hall is cleared…… the Saturday dancers will be in later.
The next Car Boot Sale is Saturday 15th December 2007 (9 until 1)
