I've taken some time out from work to recharge my batteries from what's been a crazy few months. So much has changed and I've not had the time to take it all in, any who that's a different post.
I decided as I had some time off I would make the effort and spend some quality time with Lotti so a plan was hatched to take her on a mini adventure into the hills and valleys not too far from whence I came. The final destination, kept secrate as we ventured through the various A roads was to be a little town called Skipton, famous for it's picuresqe setting, building society and modest castle.
Now before I continue I should warn you that i'm no word smith, creative writing is not my strong point and spelling and grammer is literly my nemisis. I'm currently only 124 words in and i've have to spell correct at total of 25 words (i'll leave you to guess which ones). Also L will have written about these events on her blog am sure in a much more amusing way. So I might suggest that you might want to go see her version of the events.
Still here? Ok here's how the day went down mainly in picture form ;0) Cheat? me? no? I like to like just creative.
This was the 1st time we stoped, briefly to get my bearing, for some reason L decided this was a good photo to take? from here I knew the day would be far from boaring. (anyone else think this looks like the lamp post from the Lion the witch and the wardrobe?).
1st spot was a cattle market I'd been to years ago. On a Sunday they do a car boot which is popualr to the locals. After treating L to a jigsaw for a massive 50p I then finnished her off with a genrous purchase of a cone of chips then we hit the road again. To her suprise this was not the end of the days activies... 
I couldn't keep of from L any longer I had to admit the the finnal destination was to be Skipton partly coz I was dying to tell her coz i'm crap at keeping secrets but mainly becuase of the big sign saying WELCOME TO SKIPTON couldn't be ignored any longer. We parked up by the canal and took a look arround.
After walking for what seemed like ages we really need to sit down and recharge our batteries. It was here where I notice clue 2 that i'm getting old. Clue 1 was the simple fact I chose to come to this Mecca for golden oldies they call Skipton. The clue was the place we chose to eat. Not McD's or a cool and trendy coffee place no no no. It was an old cafe tucked away in a mini precinct which house a selection of boutique styled shops selling various wares.
But I'm shamed to say the clues didn't stop there. The big clue slapped me right in the face like i'd been hit with a giant wet fish! There I was chatting away with L about how much we were enjoying our order when I looked down and there is was Clue 3! what we BOTH had ordered was a bloody CUP OF TEA and a Jam and a creamed filled SCONE! WHAT... THE... FUCK!!??? What the conversation was about how much we were enjoying our brew and sumised that it much be down to the fact the cafe used only Yorkshire tea. OMG what has happened to me??
We rounded our trip off to the town with a nice little 30 cannal boat trip BOOM Clue 4 which took us up to the castle where we had a local history lesson told by the boats captin. We heard how the cannal behind the castle was built by the castle owners to be used to ship lime stone from the local quarry. They would drop the mined stones down the shoots into the boats.
You could guess from the photo they quickly discovered this method would result in a high instance of sunken boats so a lower path was made. I bet you didn't think you was getting a history lesson in this post. I was hit with it too, unexpenctantly. I thought I was just getting a quiet little boat ride, a chance to rest my tired legs Clue 5! We also learnt that the toe path was dangerously narrow for hourse as they were worth concidereable money so it was decided they would employ a man to pull the boats through this stretch at they were far more expendable?? The man given this job was named Tommy Often, nick named so because when people asked "How many time do you have to pull the boats in a day Tommy?" He would reply "Often enough" becuase he knew they wanted to know how much he was earning. Sounds like a wise man.
After the boat ride that was us done for the day. All in all it was a good trip which went down very well. As you can tell it was a bit of an eye opener for me but you know what? As a proud owner of a new box of Yorshire tea purchased today, I don't care. I like what I like and I'll make no excuses for it. And besides all that we both know i'll never really grow up ;0)
Peace out
G
P.s. I really shouldn't but I can't resist posting one more photo, enjoy...
Graham Royston 
