New Years Eve at Arbor Low

With the temperatures below -3 all day it was a well wrapped up family of BW's that set off for the tradition of watching the sun set on New Years Eve at Arbor Low. It was even colder up there. The mist had a habit of shifting about so that one minute the view was obscured and the next trees and stones emerged from it.




The teenagers disappeared into the mist almost as soon as we arrived. Of course they were trying to sneak up on us, a game they play when ever the opportunity arises and has evolved from a game called Monsters that I used to play with them when they were much younger. They once shouted out excitedly in a public place with a load of other families about that "Dad Dad this would be a great place for you to be a Monster and try and get us like you did last night." You could just feel the animosity build up around us, and people hurriedly gathered their children up, warning them of strangers. However on Arbor Low we were alone. Well apart from the spirits and ghosts of the people that had lived and died there over the past 6000 years.



The sun set and the cold got colder but the light lingered longer and for a few minutes a silence descended over the stones and the thoughts of the old year faded away gently. Both Mrs BW and I left a little something for the ancestors. The Weasel was beside herself with amusement at this. I did not bother to explain, partly because there isn't one really, but mainly I did not want to spoil the peaceful feeling.



So that's it for another year. What ever you are doing have a safe and happy evening, and good luck for 2009.

Happy Midwinter Festival 2008

Was going to post a rather long winded thing about Christmas Eve and Time. Unfortunately I have been at the Vodka Martinis so it will have to wait. Instead I give some photographs of the Peak District yesterday (Christmas Eve).

Wishing you you all the best for the next few days and for 2009. To quote the great and much missed Dave Allen "May your god go with you".

The Elderly Toyota Feels the Heat

Reprieved! It was only the water pump. Admittedly quite an expensive water pump but it meant a little longer on the road for the world's most embarrassing car. And I was pleased. So by way of celebration on the way back from Matlock I bought a large bacon and egg roll, a couple of bags of cheese and onion crisps (you've got to have vegetables after all) and a mars bar to eat as I drove back to cold and snowy Buxton. Gosh we BW's know how to celebrate! I was half way through the roll and balancing a packet of crisps on my lap and had finished chatting (hands free) to my boss when an official looking cove in a uniform, reflective yellow jacket and topped off with a helmet leaped from behind a bush and flagged me down. It was of course a member of our friendly lovable police force. I was asked to pull into a lay by where it transpired the entire Derbyshire police force was hiding. "We are conducting a spot check on elderly cars, Sir, so we would like to run through a few things with you." this from a spotty faced youth who by the look and sound of him had only just reached puberty. "Right, okay, unfortunately officer one of my headlights has just gone so I have had to purchase a replacement bulb today, and of course I am going to fix it as soon as I get home, and of course its daylight...." He noted it down on a form. He then proceeded to go through a number of checks all of which the ET passed with flying colours, apart from one of the tyres which was on the limit.

"Will you please step out of the car and follow me Sir" It was more of an order than a question so I obeyed. We sat in a cold and grim police van. Apparently I had committed a moving traffic offence. He was going to have to breathalyse me and then caution me. So I go the full works, including anything you say etc. Of course the breath test was negative a big fat Zero. He gave me a yellow slip and told me that I had 14 days to rectify the fault and if I failed to do I could be arrested and charged etc etc.

I stomped back to the car passed the mass ranks of constabulary and set off for Buxton. The egg and bacon roll did not taste quite as good now.

The elderly Toyota feels the cold

I pull my coat tightly around me as the flakes of snow sting my face. I am hurrying to my next meeting, though hurrying is a little bit optimistic as I slither and slide at the slightest hint of an incline. Mrs BW had to drop me off this morning, as the elderly Toyota misbehaved over the weekend, choosing the onset of the cold snap to deny me any heating and to empty the contents of its radiator all over the drive. It may be something simple like the water pump, but the pessimist in me fears the worst. Its all my own fault of course. On Friday I bumped into Mark who works for the Princes Trust. We were discussing this and that, "Hows that heap of junk of yours?" he said. I assumed he was talking about the Toyota. Of course he was. "Oh its fine" I boasted. "Never fails to start". "Quite a remarkable car really its done 150,000 miles you know." The next day it lets me down. I slide past the garage on the way to see Sarah. The doors were almost closed, but through the gap, in the gloom I could just .see the mechanics peering intently into the interior of a car. I shuddered and trudged on. I await the phone call with a certain amount of dread.