Today I shall be Mainly...

[Julie in Norfolk]

Am in the Tempest. Stopped at a couple of places on the journey - Bath St and Ringstone Crescent, Nelson - childhood memories flooded and so did my eyes. Carried on to Earby where grandad spent some of his childhood, located (at last) the Earby mining museum - one day I will get there.

Can define HACCP and quote the legislation. Cannot remember why I wanted to know any of this!

Hello everyone and thanks for the good luck wishes.

[Tizer]

Level 4 HACCP - Hazard analysis and critical control points. It's a food safety system invented initially by Pilsbury Foundation for NASA to prevent their astronauts getting food poisoning. Hmmmm! I do pick some exciting things to do.

Ah, HACCP, that brings back some memories. I remember that one of the biggest food safety catastrophes in Japan was due to the technical staff at the dairy product manufacturing company all being so busy compiling HACCP procedure reports on their computers that none of them noticed they were sending out contaminated food!

Good to see you back Julie and good luck with the exams. If you pass you might get a badge from Michael Gove!

[Wendyf]

I passed the Tempest on my way back from Skipton this afternoon, it always looks busy! Are you taking the exam at Broughton Hall Julie? The Lead mining Museum is only open on a Sunday these days due to a lack of volunteers.

[elise]

Had tea at Tempest Tuesday, packed! last minute trip to Spread Eagle organised for tonight, diet gone for a Burton again.

[Julie in Norfolk]

Broughton Hall is indeed the location for tomorrow's exams. Just had dinner, stuffed, don't think I will ever need to eat again! Had a pint of Ilkley Black which is holding the belly pork and trimmings in place. My grandma would be upset that I didn't clear the plate, but pleased that I left a polite amount that indicates I have had enough and my hosts haven't been stingy.

[Stanley]

It's a long while since I was in Pickhill pub. It used to be a regular watering hole and darts venue for us over fifty years ago, but in those days it was just a pub. A concerned citizen once rang my boss Billy Harrison to inform him that three of his wagons were parked outside the pub at 7pm. He asked if they had their lights on and when the man said yes he said well that's all right then.... (In those days you had to leave the sidelights on if you parked in the road during the dark)
Let us know how the exam went Jules so we can tell you how brainy you are....

[Marilyn]

Febby cleaned the windows this afternoon. I kept well out of his way, lest I got drawn into the operation.

[Cathy]

Put some reins on that man, give him sedative, something...

[Stanley]

No, buy him a new ladder!

[Marilyn]

He's a bit energetic at the moment.....

( I was getting through my jobs this morning ( had cleaned one loo and walked past him with bleach in one hand and cloth in the other to clean our second loo)...when I noticed he was locking the house up in a systematic fashion. Apparently we were going out! Now!
Dropped everything and grabbed the handbag. The smell of bleach on my hands as we backed the car out of the drive was quite over-powering. I couldn't even recall if I had brushed my hair yet this morning...AND I missed Corrie ( a crime in itself).
He can be a bit of a bother on his days off. I never know what we are doing next. I certainly don't have any opportunity to get bored.

[Sue]

I am glad he is so fit and well now.

[Marilyn]

Oh, so am I Sue.
( though we seem to have gone from one extreme to the other)

[Stanley]

They must have adjusted his governor while they had him in hospital. Find the adjusting screw and cut him back a bit!
F1 practice today, apart from that usual maintenance!

[Sue]

A trip to IKEA to purchase another set of storage units for my sewing/ art/ craft room. I have started the toy bag to match the bedroom curtains for number3 grand child's nursery. I went to the wool shop for some wool for the knitted Jemime puddleduck that I am making. Number one grandaughter had Pudsey bear, number two had bag puss and number three will have Jemima.

Did a bit of washing and ironing too.

Making a nice wholesome stew for tea in the slow cooker.

[Wendyf]

All I have managed today is a bit of shopping, some cauliflower soup for lunch and mucking out the stables.In the middle of making a fish pie for tea just now though!

[Stanley]

Wendy, I hope you don't have to spend today doing running repairs to the polytunnel! The wind was tending towards the north and I thought of it sweeping up the hill at you from Earby! F1 today and a good day for reading and keeping the stove lit!

[David Whipp]

Taking down hanging baskets and putting up Christmas trees.

[Stanley]

Don't get blown off the ladder....

[Wendyf]

No damage to report this morning, just a disturbed night. It got very noisy in the early hours when the gusts were heading towards 40 mph. I can see that the turbines on top of Bleara are facing slightly more towards the North West, but we are getting a steady Westerly channeled up the clough. It has calmed down to between 20 & 25mph now.
No plans for today as yet, it depends on the weather.

[Gloria]

We had some really severe gusts during the night, I expected the odd tree or two down this morning, but everything appears upright.

[Stanley]

The forecast said West but the way the leaves were blowing in Barlick yesterday was definitely nearer NW. Dry, calm and clear this morning with the first real frost of the winter. Glass is still low though at 28.4", bit puzzling. Quiet forecast, dry and sunny at times 'til later this evening.

[David Whipp]

Attending several meetings today.

We had good conditions yesterday to transform Barlick from summer hanging baskets to winter Christmas trees and an excellent team of volunteers doing the work. 160 odd trees erected and even more flower containers taken down, plants rescued and remainder off to compost heap. The work went that well, we even managed to make a start on Santa's Grotty yesterday afternoon. If meetings are short enough, I hope to get some more time in on the grotty today as well.

[Sue]

But it's only the first week in November!

[David Whipp]

But it's only the first week in November!

What's good enough for Regent Street is good enough for Barlick!

We've invested a lot in electric supplies, voluntary effort etc. If we can get an extra couple of weeks with the town lit up, this investment is more worthwhile.

One of the reasons for having a colourful display is to help create trade for local businesses. Having the lights on earlier should help extend the season.

Having an early Switch On event means we stand out more and avoid clashes with other towns.

Another reason is having Switch On Saturday immediately before Remembrance Day - we get to use the marquee on the square for the service on Sunday as well.

[Sue]

Sorry, but early lights put me off shopping for Christmas, I hate the way commercialism takes over at this time of year, December 1st is the date I work from.