Ulverston, Cumbria — a walk in May

I can’t say that I felt like walking yesterday, I felt old and weary! I was also trying out a Nitrolingual spray, which I have not used since I was told my arteries are pristine! But having certain problems I was asked to try it out for diagnostic purposes. Okay, so I started out with head bursting, muscles aching, bones creaking, spirit flagging! Even so, determined to get to the top of Hoad hill, via the Flan (hill) footpath, across the road to the bluebell woods, over the footpath ladder and the long stretch up to the Monument. (Long for me, a few minutes trot for accomplished runners!)

The pleasant paths and magnificent views are worth the physical endeavour and it is always a joy to accomplish the self-given task. Pleasant too, to walk down the other side with its different views, and have a cuppa at Booths before setting off home a different way. What a great feeling to have made the effort!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let him without guile cast the first stone

 

While not defending outright fraud and dishonesty I think we should be wary of tarring all MP’s with the same brush. It is right and just that men and women serving in Parliament should have allowances and expenses to cover essential needs, otherwise only the well off or financially sponsored would be able to serve in Parliament.

What is truly abhorrent is a system, perpetuated by greedy members, that encourages MP’s to make excessive claims. If a bank opened a safe and allowed customers freedom of access in exchange for worthless slips of paper, (I seem to have heard of a similar scandal involving bankers!) then the inevitable would follow — bankruptcy of character.

How many citizens, including those who express disdain for MP’s greed, could resist an open invitation to make a little extra money, or improve their quality of living at the taxpayers’ expense? After all, we are ALL taxpayers!

Yes, condemn ruthless greed, but let him without guile cast the first stone at others doing their best in a confusing situation.

What is worse than than making the most of a twisted system is accepting bribes. Now that IS corruption!

I rarely delve into politics but this subject goes beyond the political scene into the very heart of society and what is wrong with it.

While not defending outright fraud and dishonesty I think we should be wary of tarring all MP’s with the same brush. It is right and just that men and women serving in Parliament should have allowances and expenses to cover essential needs, otherwise only the well off or financially sponsored would be able to serve in Parliament.

What is truly abhorrent is a system, perpetuated by greedy members, that encourages MP’s to make excessive claims. If a bank opened a safe and allowed customers freedom of access in exchange for worthless slips of paper, (I seem to have heard of a similar scandal involving bankers!) then the inevitable would follow — bankruptcy of character.

How many citizens, including those who express disdain for MP’s greed, could resist an open invitation to make a little extra money, or improve their quality of living at the taxpayers’ expense? After all, we are ALL taxpayers!

Yes, condemn ruthless greed, but let him without guile cast the first stone at others doing their best in a confusing situation.

What is worse than than making the most of a twisted system is accepting bribes. Now that IS corruption!

Walking in Derbyshire

 

Cowslips by the path leading to a tunnel

 

 

Gorse on the hillsides

 

Cold afternoon in the Goyt Valley!

It is a wonderful thing to be able to enjoy the blessings of the countryside in spite of old age. Of course, it is not essential to be able to walk but you can get to far more places if a few miles can be managed in reasonable comfort.

 

 

We have just returned from a break-away in the Derbyshire Peal District. In places there is little to be seen other than wild moorland, only broken by limestone walling. Other areas, sheep and cows graze on

Mum calls from the top but babies can't make it!

rich grass watered by many streams flowing down from rocky peaks. And, out of sight of both traffic on roads and roaming walkers are the magnificent deep dales flowing with sparkling water. Out of sight that is until the spot is reached where these glorious glimpses of heaven suddenly come into view. To add to the blessings of nature are the old railway tracks, now devoid of rails, that once carried passengers and goods to the remote areas where mills stood by rushing streams, country houses and villages nestled in valleys, mines and quarries worked by strong men with muscles earned by toil. These railways were cut through rock and hillsides and sometimes built on raised ground. Other footpaths follow the edge of rivers and mount hillsides, but wherever the walker wanders there are views to make the heart sing, wild flowers to enhance the senses and wild life to gladden the eye.

Monseldale

 

 

 

Here I am putting a few photographs of Goyt Valley, Monseldale, Milldale and Wolfscotedale. All taken in May 2009 when an abundance of wild flowers lifted colourful petals to golden sunlight filtering through trees with young leafy growth – sweetly green as only seen in spring. Here we saw ducks with their young swimming on rivers, and laughed at the mother duck calling to her little ones to follow her up the steep weir — they couldn’t fly up so swam around looking for a way to follow. No use mum quacking, she had to turn back and take them in the opposite direction. And what magnificent engineering we saw — railway tunnels and bridges spanning the deep valleys.

The old mills are now lovely apartments!

 

Typical Derbyshire houses and bridge