27th May: Ten Things of Thankful

Things for which I give thanks this week…

We managed to get out on two of my non-working days this last week! Barbara’s COPD caused us to buy a “boot-scooter” before our holiday in Holland as without it, she would be too breathless to go anywhere and we were determined to keep up the momentum of days out. So on Friday, we went to Knaresborough, about 45 minutes’ drive and I duly unloaded the scooter (it separates into a number of components without which it would take two people to lift it out) and we set off for the round of favourite spots. After the Crystal shop, we went to the square for a coffee (see below). all was well until we were ready to move on whereupon we simply could not find the ignition key to the scooter – searched high and low – gone – complete mystery! I had to push the scooter back to the car… Where’s the grat in that you may ask? Well, it turns out that for this make of scooter, all units have the same key, so I was able to purchase a new one the next day, from the local supplier. I said to Gavin – “Doesn’t that mean that anyone could take it easily?”, “Well,” he said, “the incidence of crime amongst the disability scooter community is very low -in the 20 years I have been dealing with them, I have known of only two thefts – one of our forecourt and one in which the purchaser of the stolen scooter came in to buy a charger and we were able to reunite the scooter with the owner!”

On my way to purchase the spare key, I drove the scenic route over the top as it was a lovely day and stopped to take this picture of our village, Silsden, more or less in its entirety… As you can see, we are in Buttercup season!

Then on Sunday, we went to Hebden Bridge, which I have shown you something of before, but there is always something new to notice there…

This lady is always in the square in Hebden Bridge – all weekend! She has advocated for the Palestinian cause for many years prior to the current genocide and given the current Labour government’s disgusting attempt to repress support for Palestinians in favour of the zionist occupiers, this lady risks arrest for waving the flag. Mind you, if the police tried to arrest her, they would instigate a flash-protest-mob and so probably know to leave well alone…

Before the industrial revolution and the advent of large mills, weaving was a cottage industry and weavers’ workshops were on the first floors with long rows of windows to give the maximum light to work by. This one is now a café but you can see the rough-hewn stone work of the windows…

A magnificent climbing rose on the Hebden Bridge Arts Centre…

Lastly, we are having a heatwave and I took the redundant heating controller outside to record this temperature in the shade! The grat is that we don’t have a hosepipe ban as yet, this year…

I hope you are all having whatever weather it is that you need or desire and that you are all having your most gratifying week possible…