Today it is 1 year since my Mother died. I cycled to Pleasington Crematoruim to see her entry in the Book of Remembrance.

Lettice Harris (1916 - 2010)

- - - - -

I was out for a cycle ride this morning and stopped to watch a few of the competitors in the Ironman UK 2011 triathlon event which started in Rivington and finished in Bolton. The cycling part of the event followed a 3 lap course of a 37 mile circuit which went through Abbey Village, Hoghton, Wheelton and Buckshaw. I took the photos as the riders passed through Hoghton.

This evening caught the bus to Chorley then walked to the Chorley Bowling Club on Windsor Road. The event was the 60th birthday party of Charles Binns, a friend of many decades. His actual birthday isn’t till tomorrow so I told him he wasn’t allowed to open his present till then.

The fabulous birthday cake made by Charlene.
On our Scottish mountaineering expeditions around 30years ago Charlene used to bake us a huge malt loaf for each trip. They kept us going on many an arduous trip.

This afternoon I gave blood via a pre-arranged appointment. The NHS had already sent me a form to read, complete and sign. I was greeted by a stern faced receptionist. She told me to use a dispenser on the desk to sterilise my hands before I touched anything. I explained I’d just had a shower and didn’t think it necessary. She replied “Oh, you’re refusing to use it then”. I said I was. She then told me to read a 6 sided sheet of comments and questions. As I started to read I realised than many of the questions had already been asked on the form they sent me through the post that I’d already handed in.

I commented that it would save time if all the questions on the desk were incorporated in to the sheet they’d sent me through the post, thereby saving time as people queuing having to stand there reading a questionnaire. She said if I didn’t read the sheet I couldn’t give blood. I read the sheet and moved on to the nurse who took a small sample of blood to check for iron level. I asked her the same questions about combining the questionnaires to save time. I was told quite clearly that this is the National Health, that’s the system, that’s how it has to work and there’s nothing she could do about it. I then went to the donation area any lay down on the trolley. The nurse who put the needle in my arm was polite but at the same time as she was inserting the needle she was carrying out an administrative discussion with two nearby colleagues. At such a time I expect 100% attention. When the needle is in she can chat to whoever she likes. I wasn’t treated as a donor or patient, just a commodity to get blood from. I looked at their website to see it I could send some feedback. I found a suitable page but at the bottom of the form it said
‘By entering and submitting my details on this form, I hereby consent to the National Blood Service processing my personal data.’
I have no idea what processing personal data is. The NHS needs a major review of its duplicated systems. But we all know that.

I cycled to St Mary’s Church, Leigh to hopefully look at the memorial plaque to Sir Thomas Tyldesley which is supposed to be inside. As with many churches these days it was locked. Presumably God is away on holiday.

I was cycling to catch the ferry at Craignure when I stopped by the closed narrow guage rail station station. There were several of these old advertising notices.

wide view of Port Ness near the Butt of Lewis

heading for the ferry from Berneray to Leverburgh

waiting for the Barra ferry in a very wet Oban

This morning caught the 06:31am train to Edinburgh to make a welcome return to the Queen Gallery at Holyrood House. An exhibition of work by Durer and Holbein is on, with a few others thrown in. When I last visited it was March and raining. The ticket I bought then was valid for 1 year so I didn’t have to pay again to get in. This time the weather was fine and sunny and I enjoyed the walk along Canongate to the Queens Gallery which is just in front of Holyrood House. Opposite the gallery is the Scottish Parliament building which I still think looks rather odd.
 

arriving at Edinburgh Waverley Station

wide view of the Holyrood Parliament Building

The Holbein paintings are amazing and seem to have an extra quality about them, almost more than lifelike.
After the visit I returned to the Waverley Railway Station area and walked along Princess Street to get a close up view of the Scott Monument. I was amazed to see that it was open and visitors could climb 287 steps and 61m to the top level. The ticket was £3 but I thought it worthwhile. There were lots of tourists going up and down and the narrow circular staircase was a problem at the top level and many people were squeezed in at the viewing area.

the Queen's Gallery

part of the Northern Renaissance Exhibition

Mary Quuen of Scotts seen in a shop on Canongate

Mary Queen of Scotts

wide view of the Abbey behind Holyrood House

the Scott Monument

on the top level of the Scott monument

magnificent view from the top of the Scott Monument

I was out for a cycle ride and decided to investigate the Moss Bank area near Bolton. I was impressed with the magnificent chimney and also the picturesque Barrow Bridge Road.

Barrow Bridge Road

Drove to Brinscall for 09:30am for another of David Clayton’s guided walks around the ruined farms. This time we walked only through the woods. There was a bigger group than normal with about 25 there. It was advertised in the papers so more people knew about it.

the rain stopped while David told us about the farms nearby

This morning I drove my car to the Toyota depot in Blackburn for its second service. The first thing that hit me as I walked in the building was the high volume of the 'piped background music'. Except that thanks to the volume it was foreground sound. It was too loud to read so I sat in the car park to read my book. Another customer also complained of the volume. The staff didn't know how to reduce the volume. When my car was ready they'd found how to access the noise and had switched it off.

This morning I spent a very pleasant 22mile cycle ride round the new (still being constructed) Guild Wheel circuit of Preston. I was privileged to get a conducted tour by Peter Ward who designed the route and has helped to coordinate its construction. Peter was also one of my cycling companions many years ago when I was a member of the Ribble Valley Cycle Racing Team from 1965 to 68.

Peter Ward

Brockholes visitor centre cafe

As we approached the River Ribble we came to the Brockholes nature reserve visitor centre. it has only been open a month so we had to call in for a brew and check it out.
Its buildings serve the usual needs of such as cafe, shop, information and also host a large education space and a series of conference rooms.
Brockholes sits on a concrete raft, made buoyant by hollow chambers, held by four steel posts to stop it drifting across the lake. This is the building's way of dealing with flooding, to which the site is prone. It can rise up to three metres.

Brockholes nature visitor centre, its hard to believe that we're floating on the lake

After cycling through the Preston docks area we emerged
to the open view of the Ribble heading towards the estuary.

the GPS trace of the route we cycled

the interesting altitude profile of the route

- - - - - -

I joined 34 others with Chorley Historical and Archaeological Soicety for an evening visit to  Browsholme Hall near Clitheroe. The Elizabethan Hall is unique in that it has managed to retain many of its original art treasures and possessions as building modifications and improvements have taken place over the centuries. Due to the 14 generations of the Parker family being very careful with their allegiances they did not suffer the forfeits that many families did during the Civil Wars and afterwards.

Elizabeth Parker a 'Gentleman's Daughter'

The Dining Room was added in 1807

This remarkable window, a jigsaw of stained glass of various dates from the 13th to the 19th centuries, created from pieces said to have come from Whalley Abbey, Sawley Abbey and Skipwith, York.

After having a difficult time finding somewhere to park I joined members of Wigan Archaeological Society for an evening conducted tour of Wigan Parish Church.

Wigan Parish Church on a wet and dark evening

Wigan Parish Church interior, wide view.

Cllr Eric Bell asked me to take some photos of a “Balsam Bash” by pupils of the Whittle-le-Woods St John’s Primary School. The adjacent Whittle and Clayton-le-Woods War Memorial Garden was becoming overrun with Himalayan Balsam. The Himalayan Balsam plant is very invasive and a large area of the nearby Whittle and Clayton-le-Woods War Memorial Garden was becoming overrun as the plants were spreading from the river bank and over the lawn area. The head high plants were no match for the enthusiastic team of pupils who cleared the area and hopefully allow the grass lawns to re-establish themselves.

Himalayan Balsam encroaching on the lawns.

Eric makes a start

Pupils of Whittle-le-Woods Primary School.

This morning went for cycle ride via Oswaldtwistle. Along the main Union Road I turned right at Stone Bridge Lane, then Fielding Lane which became Broadfield. It was an exhilarating climb and at the summit I approached a large dark building which I’d seen yesterday while riding along Haslingden Road. The large building of Green Haworth Wesleyan Chapel stood before me. It was empty and starting its journey to dereliction. It’s such a shame when splendid buildings such as this are no longer needed.

Green Haworth Wesleyan Chapel
Built 1836
Re-built 1903

Cycling through Helmshore I stopped to have a look at the small Park and War memorial. The area is also known as Snig Hole.

There's not much to see in Skelmersdale. While I was cycling through this art form is all I could find to photograph.

Stopped to take a snap of the stone marking  the location of the ancient Hob Cross on Hobcross Lane near Burscough.