Beautiful Lancashire

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by Propagator

Not sure, I have a couple in one of the gardens that I work in, nice red flower on the stem up to about 8ft high. I believe them to be in the Yucca family but am as of yet unable to find any ref to them

Thanks Props..

I'll keep an eye on it and hopefully catch it in bloom, then I can post a few photographs of the same.


It certainly looks like it will be a good flower.

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by patsycat

You look like Tom Jones!!

Only much better looking.

[Mathos]

It's surprising what you come across out in the hills
from time to time.



What's likely to go off you think to yourself.



It looked like somebody was really getting a soaking
though whilst we were high in The Dales.



The real scene looked good,
and I'm really pleased with the photograph.




I cropped it slightly from the original,
but I'm not really too sure which is the better.

So I'll place them both on line.

Another 'Watch It Mate' sign on a gate here.




Plenty of interest.



The countryside is untouchable.

We went along the Cat & Fiddle.


The Old Public house is still standing.



It looked good.




I'm certain it looked just like that when I was kid.

It's the second highest Public House in the country.

I located a review which was interesting.

The built in 1830 bit surprised me though.

Islotated Robinson’s pub built in 1830 by Macclesfield Banker John Ryle after new A357 completed. At 1690ft asl is 2nd highest pub in UK. Caters for all who venture over the pass with Carvery, Lounge Bar, & Walkers Bar with pool table. 3 Robbies beers in good condition and takes in-house guests. Good food especially the home made pies. Pie & Pint nights are great value at £8-95. Open all day, but closes earlier in winter. Friendly Landlord. Accomodation at nearby Stanley Arms.
Reviewed 4/12/08 by SADCATS on Tour! SCORE- 8.

I'm quite sure the road is still the most dangerous in the whole of GB.


Bit of interresting information and a decent map on this link:

Cat 'n' Fiddle - Peak District - SR - Driving Roads - Driving Roads
11 Aug 2008 ... Named after the Cat and Fiddle pub which lays at the summit. This... ... Police will also set up speed camera's along this route to catch out speeding motorists. Google Map: ... Woodhead Pass - Peak District - SR ...
Cat 'n' Fiddle - Peak District - SR - Driving Roads - Driving Roads - Cached - Similar

[Mathos]

I'd driven to Blackpool this morning to drop my car off at the agents for a bit of work that needs doing.

They loaned me a courtesy car, B Class Merc. which I don't like, but at least it got me home.

Phone went just after I got back home, it was TSR2.

He was in England.

Anyhow, he called round this afternoon, we had a drink and a chat for a couple of hours almost.


Nice guy.

We are going to have a bit of a meal and a drink prior to him going back to LOS.


Looking forward to the same.

Hopefully we can get a few photographs as well.


TSR2 tells me he is hoping to do a thread on Preston. He certainly knows the City well, so it should be interesting.

[Happyman]

Those HSL warning signs are - I am pretty certain - for the UPVCE test site which is somewhere up that way

UPVCE you ask ?

Stands for Unconfined Percussive Vapour Cloud Explosion.

Set up when UK went over to natural gas and the HSL and the gas people had to define safety limits for a cloud of gas being released and hitting an ignition source .
This set the spacing between process units in a distribution centre .

Through my insurance work I saw a HSL film showing these tests - BLOODY SPECTACULAR !!!

Ka-bloody-boom !

Now used by the petrochem industry

[Mathos]

[quote]

Originally Posted by Happyman

Those HSL warning signs are - I am pretty certain - for the UPVCE test site which is somewhere up that way

UPVCE you ask ?

Stands for Unconfined Percussive Vapour Cloud Explosion.

Set up when UK went over to natural gas and the HSL and the gas people had to define safety limits for a cloud of gas being released and hitting an ignition source .
This set the spacing between process units in a distribution centre .

Through my insurance work I saw a HSL film showing these tests - BLOODY SPECTACULAR !!!


Ka-bloody-boom !

Now used by the petrochem industry

Thanks Happyman.

Interesting information.

Many years ago when I was involved in the Petroleum Industry. We were doing various research into LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) this was with regards to safety aspects relating to retailing the same from public places. ie Petrol Stations.


Have you ever seen that stuff go up?

We witnessed a demonstration of a mug-full of the stuff being thrown into a source of ignition.

Wow!!!

However, the same is retailed throughout the world in general nowadays, the safety aspects appear to be good.

Of course it has been retailed as Calor Gas, or Bottled Gas in General for many decades,

Unless of course you know different.

I am vaguely aware of a major disaster and explosion about twenty years or so back at a Camp Site in France.

Do you know what happened there?

I think a tanker load of the stuff overturned down an embankment and burst.

Curious.

[Mathos]

I was looking into a few old photgraphs and drifting tonight.


I'd been getting carried away on a thread of Jandajoy's on the Northern Thailand Forum.

"Mae Sai,, Has Anyone been there recently."

I kind of hi-jacked it a bit, not meaning to, but I did get carried away somewhat.

Sorry JJ.





It's been a somewhat peculiar week this week.

TSR2 called on Monday, that was a nice meet.

Took my Mercedes to the body-shop at Blackpool. Picked it up today, all finished and like new.

Costly..

Very Costly.

One of the 'grandson's being a bit of a bugger. That's life though.

We are in the middle of a recession and he tells his boss where to go.

Really clever that!



However,

The one who is into the boxing, he's working on his fitness at present.

I took him to Manchester last night for a bit of alternative coaching.

It's good to vary the options.

It has been a hell of a hot week.

We escaped most of the rain until today, then it came down in torrents.

Houses hit and set alight by lightning etc. One or two deaths as well.

A young lad of 17 swimming in a reservoir.


It's so sad to hear of foolish, accidental or any deaths in such manners.

God Bless Him.






These particular photographs are from Pateley bridge.





So much beauty.




In simplisitc manners and creations.


I worked on in the heavy rain this morning, it was different, I was saturated.

Cool though.



This is so beautiful.


How Stean Gorge.



I understand it is a phenomenal place to visit in the ice and snow days. must head out there this winter.


Time passes so quickly.

July now and by the time we reach September,
the nights will be really drawing in.

It's being here that matters though.

Not the length of the days.

Whoops Edit

Forgot to add this interesting link.

How Stean Gorge in Nidderdale

How Stean Gorge, a visitor's guide to this tourist attraction in Upper Nidderdale, North Yorkshire.
www.yorkshire-guide.co.uk/nidderdale/how-stean-gorge.aspx - Cached - Similar

[Mathos]

It's always nice to keep busy.

Sometimes there doesn't appear to be enough hours in the day.

Gardens looking quite nice though.



Quite lush.

I was wondering about the steel post holsters I put in last week.

I don't know if I should give them a coat of black hammerite or leave them in the brown as supplied.



There's a certain level of serenity you get in the garden, which is not easy to come across elsewhere.



I sometimes put the hammock up in this section, let time pass by whilst I think or read. I've fallen asleep here many a time over the years.

Very pleasant.



I cleaned the cars early this morning as well.



The Mercedes will be four years old come October.

It's in brilliant condition though.

Looks like new.



The Willow tree is not catching any harm either.

[Mathos]

I'm still having problems with this heavily shaded area.



I'm making a route into the woodland area to the left of the photograph.

Probably start that about October, let the ground growth die back, there is a tremendous amount of bramble and thorn to move.


I'll hire a brush cutter, or perhaps buy one.

I bought a new strimmer a few weeks back.

You never seem to stop with gardens and plant.



A selection of shots I took earlier today of the Mercedes interior.

I put a fancy frame round the above.

Just messing.



This one as well.




I try to clean it every week.

That way it's much easier to keep on top of.

Takes me about three hours to do it properly though.



It's good to keep a top level shine on the body-work.




Younger daughter, husband and her two lads are going to Dubai next week.

"Can I drop my car off with you Dad, it needs a really good cleaning?"



"Oh, and can you fix my decking fence surround, it's broken? "

Hubby has been too busy to fix it.



That's what Dad's are for I suppose.

If I think on, I'll take some photographs, before and after.

It makes a change.



I think I'll keep the Merc for a good few more years.

Probably up to ten years.

It's the only way to get value for your money out of a car like this.

I kept my Shogun for just over ten, there was a fair old queue of folk wanting to buy it as well.

To be honest, I wish I hadn't sold it, I should have kept it.




Cars..

They can be a nuisance at times.




It's still like new though, inside and out.

[Happyman]

Last company car I had was a long wheelbase diesel Pajero - think it was 3 litre - who cares - it would climb up a brick wall if you asked it.
Was used for site work in Malaysia- 95% off road on plantations etc and was cleaned inside and out by the lad in the company carpark every time I had trouble finding it 'cos it was like a mobile mudball !
Seriously though - I have had just about every 4X4 as site vehicles over the years and the old Paj was the second best !
Best was the original Toyota Landcruiser - the one with the 'jeep' type mudguards and a soft top - absolutely unbreakable !

Cheers

[Mathos]

A customer at the garage managed to get a burst fuel tank whilst filling up and it poured out (diesel) £43..00 worth they told me.

He had just driven off the concreted area when somebody who saw the fuel gush out stopped him.


Bloody hell.

Talk about Big Brother gone mad.

The site had to be shut down and cordoned off.



Fancy tanker came in with all the specialist equipment.




It must have cost Shell a small fortune.





I asked the man in control why they could not simply make sure the spillage was washed down to the interceptor.

"When he went off the concrete onto the tarmac it (the derv) started to melt the tarmac and the interceptor channels do not run along the tarmac.

Consequently,

It could have polluted the normal drains and brook at the bottom of the forecourt"


He advised me.

Such is life.




Everything is geared up to support total bull-shit.




And the money clock is ticking away all the time.

£ £ £ £ £ £ by the second.





I bet these complete units cost a few quid as well.



It was a really nice looking tanker.




The forecourt looked well for it's high pressure wash.


I wonder what they would charge to blast my patio flags over once a year.

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by Happyman

Last company car I had was a long wheelbase diesel Pajero - think it was 3 litre - who cares - it would climb up a brick wall if you asked it.
Was used for site work in Malaysia- 95% off road on plantations etc and was cleaned inside and out by the lad in the company carpark every time I had trouble finding it 'cos it was like a mobile mudball !
Seriously though - I have had just about every 4X4 as site vehicles over the years and the old Paj was the second best !
Best was the original Toyota Landcruiser - the one with the 'jeep' type mudguards and a soft top - absolutely unbreakable !

Cheers

I'm familiar with both of those vehicles Happyman,
and concur with you totally.


Cheers..

[Happyman]

^^

Should have just flicked a match on it and made an insurance claim

( Did I write that???)

[Mathos]

I'd a couple more garden snaps here,
I thought I may as well place on board.





The field next door to me incorporates a specialist cleaning unit for containers and fridge units/containers towed about the country and Europe by articulated vehicles.

There is little or no problem with them being there.

Alas, they have expanded somewhat of late, which means they have cut into their section of a beautiful woodland area between our two properties with joint ownership shared to documented boundaries.

To see the section they own, up to my boundary all ripped up this last couple of weeks, and made into a massive hard standing appears a criminal act.

I'm quite ****** *** with it.





I'll be planting some laurels and large conifers
when I go through later on in the year and sort
the land out, to cover up what I regard as an eye sore.

Such is life.

Just came across this one..




It looked good.

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by Happyman

^^

Should have just flicked a match on it and made an insurance claim

( Did I write that???)

I think me and you could get up to a lot of mischief if we got loose...

[Happyman]

Wot me Guv ??

[Mathos]

^ Nice One.

The King's Ransom:- Sale



It's always a decent place to pull in for a brew or a soft drink and bite to eat.



Nicely presented.

Obviously the House boat folk make it a regular venue as well.



The Boat crew (Octet) were making ripples on the surface of the Bridgewater Canal.

The Coxswain (female) to keep the weight down,
either that or they like shouting at the men,
and the experiences is reciprocated.



No pain, No gain.

They were putting a lot into it.



Probably from Manchester Uni, but I don't know for sure.




There they were.

Gone.

[Mathos]

Surprising as well, when you go out onto the moors
and other places we have been visiting of late,
just how many folk there are in the localities
with totally different interests.



Walkers.



Writers.
Photographers.
Bird Watchers.



Wild life enthusiasts.
Fitness fanatics.
Personal endurance pushers/survivalists.
Mountain bikers.
School Trips.
Campers.

Orienteering (very popular lately).

Probably more.



The moorlands can be very lonely as well.



Whichever way you look at them though.

There is a lot of enjoyment obtained from these places.

There are quite a few places set up for watching and sheltering.

These however are usually located in the lower regions along with additional woodland cover.

It can be very bleak and even dangerous in these locations
during winter months especially.

Nice though.



Oh to be in England.

'You can't touch that'

[Mathos]

There are some spectacular trees.




Outstanding homes and gardens.




Can't help but notice how variations in elevations
enhance a property and it's attachments.



The young lamb here was certainly getting his daily milk quota.



The farmers put some hours in at this time of year.



Mind you, you couldn't ask for a better workplace.

Quite spectacular.



I bet he needs more than a ploughman's lunch
to keep him going all day as well.



There are some really nice working farms out in these places.



Special locations.




All so wonderfully peaceful and attractive.

Magnetic even.




There are a couple of pointers below
from the general area above,
anybody interested can Google the
locations for additional information etc.



Or simply locate them on The Google Map pages.



Some interesting spots.

[Mathos]

It's extremely rare to see a 'Steam Train' nowadays.




I'm certainly not into train spotting or
anything akin to such a past-time,
but when I recall the old steam engines,
carriages with amazing comfort plus
central heating.

It takes me back to
my youth coupled with
the enjoyment of quite a spell
travelling here and there by train.

It was all taken for granted though.


They were good days.

I'm not making out 'The Good Old Days' scene either.

They were simply good days.



Both Flobo and myself like the old streets,
especially those with quaint cottages and cobble stones.



Rather special.




It's nice to come across older buildings which
have been converted to museums for the
local historical benefits of an area.


It's amazing how much quality there is on these shores.



Some of the public houses are amazingly beautiful buildings.



The Landlords take great pride in showing
them off with added style.





Basic cottages can have a rare beauty about them also.



Some much more than others.

There are buildings which once served a thriving business,
now converted to homes with amazing differences.




Variations granted by the passing of time.





Simplicity with so much appeal in an old cobbled pack saddle bridge.


Fantastic.


Or should that be:-



Spectacular.