Plans

This will be my first weekend in Yorkshire for what feels like a very long time! Tonight Stef and I are going for another short walk before meeting some of the KCAC / Cononley mafia at the New Inn for a drink. Tomorrow we're going to go to the coast for the day if the good weather holds; either east to Filey, or west to the Morecambe Bay / Fylde peninsula. I'm also hoping to get a reasonable length run in at some point; probably early on Sunday morning. We've got tickets to see John Cooper Clarke as part of the Ilkley Literary Festival next Tuesday, which I'm looking forward to greatly!

Another girl, another planet

I thought about my former colleague Steve last night when we paused for a moment or two to watch a guy fly-fishing for grayling on the Wharfe. Steve would have loved this wonderful weather during the last week or so and would have been dashing frantically down to catch the last hour of light after work to fish his local stretch of the Derwent in Cromford. I hope they're rising for you up there old friend!

Blinded by the light

The Old Hall, Haworth

Our club run last night was my first head-torcher of the 'winter'. We ran nearly eight miles from the Old Hall in Haworth (at the bottom of the cobbly-road) over to Top Withens and back. It was a great run on a perfect night for running. I wore t-shirt and shorts but wished I'd run in a vest. It really was warm, even at 8-45pm when we got back to the car park

After the run Jennings Snecklifter was taken and Stef (who sat in the pub while we were out running) and I had a nice catch up with Tim, Emily and Richard H. Our night races, err, 'timed training runs', start again soon and I'm really looking forward to lots of head-torch action this winter

Disney Girls

Surf's Up has been a favourite album of mine since I bought it on vinyl from Selectadisc in Nottingham when I was doing day-release at Trent Poly around 1982. This is Bruce Johnson, solo on the OGWT, and yes, he does the whistling bit near the end! If it doesn't bring a tear to your eye then I suggest you turn off your computer and 'phone the undertaker because there's no hope for you

Bolton Abbey sunset walk

We managed another short walk in the dale last night. After parking by the cricket ground near the Devonshire Arms we walked up to the priory ruins along the river, and back down the road. Two dippers, a few bats, a green woodpecker and a little grebe were spotted along with a field of handsome tupping rams and loads of conkers. The photo above was taken on my phone from opposite Lishmans butchers. I think it's about time I brought a proper camera

The mandarin and the owl

Stef and I went down to the river for a walk last night. On the way to Barden Bridge Stef finally saw a little owl! I've been promising her for nearly two years that there's often one near the Devonshire Arms and last night it was there. Later by the river we spotted two dippers, a heron and a lovely pair of mandarin ducks. I've seen a few males over the last few years but I think it was the first 'lady' mandarin I've seen. The female is a lovely looking bird but appears drab at the side of a magnificent male

Incidentally, I play around with imaginary names for bands with my blog titles sometimes. 'Douglas and the weekend' is probably still my favourite but I think 'The mandarin and the owl' could be a grower. Now all I need to do is to form a band!

Human behavior

Tribal War

Little Roy is the guy who recorded a reggae version of Nirvana's grunge classic Nevermind album recently. This is possibly his most well-known song from before

Donkeys, a pie and a rare wader

We've had a nice relaxing weekend so far in Devon. Yesterday we went to The Donkey Sanctuary near Sidmouth. I'd never been before but Stef's family are regular visitors. The sanctuary is a charitable organisation that looks after donkeys and mules that need a new home. The site is very well looked after and they have 400+ animals currently, many of which are 20 to 30 years old

In the afternoon we went over to Black Hole Marsh nature reserve. There was a real buzz about the place because several local birders had found what they hoped was a semipalmated sandpiper among a flock of 15 to 20 dunlins. The small waders were very mobile and there was a procession of birders moving from one hide to another. Devon Bird News is reporting this morning that the bird was indeed a 'semi-p'. We managed another nine species of wader including curlew sandpiper, greenshank and common sandpiper along with shellduck, little egret, heron and kestrel

Last night Stef's mum served up a rather splendid steak and ale pie with fabulous shortcrust pastry. A great way to round off a good day!