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| Tony heading towards "The Cock and Pullet" in Sheldon |
Mostly I walk alone. There's no chattering and no need to adjust to anyone else's pace. But today I walked with my good friend, Tony. I was the best man at his first wedding in 1988 and I am going to be the best man at his second wedding in January of next year. A gap of thirty two years.
We went out for a curry last night and afterwards had tickets for a comedy show at "The Lescar" public house. Shirley came too. We had some good belly laughs but also some misgivings. You have to be brave to do stand up comedy. You are very exposed when you are up there on that stage.
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| St Michael and All Angels Church in Sheldon |
Today we drove out to the charming Peak District village of Sheldon before undertaking a varied six mile walk that took in The River Wye, Ashford Bobbin Mill, Deep Dale and the abandoned Magpie Mine that for four hundred years witnessed lead mining activity and the hard labour associated with that industry.
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| Magpie Mine |
Back in Sheldon we tried to order sandwiches in "The Cock and Pullet" (genuine name!) but we had arrived five minutes after lunch ordering time finished. Consequently, we then drove on to "The Eyre Arms" at Calver where food is available all day.
Tony lives in Beverley in East Yorkshire - an hour and a half away from Sheffield by car. Soon after returning to Sheffield he had to head home. As always, it had been good to see him again. It's nice to have people in your life that you have known for many years and in whose company you feel eminently comfortable. People with whom you can really be yourself.
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| Peacock butterflies by Wheal Lane |
I guess the "Dick and Head" is just down the road from the "Cock and Pullet"...
ReplyDeleteOld friends are the best friends...
Stand-up comedians are very brave, in my opinion. It would not be easy -it would take a lot of guts to do. One alone in front of a critical audience of varying senses of humour.
For some reason I do not understand, "The Cock and Pullet" is very popular with gay men. A stand-up comedian might gain some traction by referring to this pub's name in a stage routine.
DeleteWell, a pullet is a young hen...and a cock, in the true sense of the word...is a male bird...for example, a rooster. No feathers ruffled here...
DeleteThank you for the expert follow-up information Lee.
DeleteI can sorta walk with people but I can not cycle with them. You can't set a pace and keep it.
ReplyDeletein some zones of life being on one's own is, I think, best.
DeleteThat made me laugh in recognition, Red. Father-of-son (before we got hitched and before the Angel arrived) suggested us getting a tandem. It was a bit of a, largely ignored by me, red (!) flag. Follow the leader! Oh my god! No leeway, no turning off or stopping at my own volition. To be fair to him (and whatever his subconscious motives may have been)I think he saw it in a more romantic light. And to bring this little tale to its happy end we never did ride in tandem though did walk together for quite a while till the road petered out naturally, amicably. Whether he ever tried to sell the idea of riding in tandem to my successor I do not know.
DeleteAnd yes, YP, I so agree with your reply to Red. Unfortunately some people take your sentiment as rejection when nothing could be further from the truth.
U
I like your use of the tandem metaphor Ursula. Quite poignant.
DeleteI'm disappointed this was not about the Big Bang Theory.
ReplyDeleteBut it was! We had a curry the night before.
DeleteMany a good night has been had st the lescar
ReplyDeleteNice to see the tradition continues
I am confident that you could make a good bit of money on the side as a stand-up comedian - with tales about Winnie, Trelawnyd and past patients and workmates.
DeleteI have a friend like that. We don't see each other often as we live in different countries. But what are phones for if not to be used. When he introduces me to others it's usually "We have known each from the sandpit". Indeed. Whilst it's good to collect new friends on the way, old friends have shared your formative years. Which is one of the reasons I will call those who meant something to me, yet our paths diverged, out of the blue just to revive the odd memory, the old connection that once was there. And still is.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, YP, this morning I opened the latest edition of the co-op magazine (the proper co-op not the franchised one, being more or less my corner shop, over at the Marina) and what do you know: "The boys from BOSH!" page 30. Now, where do I "know" them from?
U
My friend Tony has a very good memory and often reminds me of things I thought I had forgotten. As for the Co-op magazine, I am unable to answer your final question as I am not a big fan of POSH boys - like David Cameron and The Blonde Oaf.
DeleteFab photo of the peacocks! Love it! It IS great to have old friends with whom you can share so much history. I can't stand amateur stand-up comedy. It stresses me out too much -- the few times I've been someone always bombs and it's just painful to watch.
ReplyDelete