21 January 2022

Babbling

Weather-wise, today did not live up to expectations just north of Barnsley. I was there to bag some more squares for the Geograph project. Okay, it didn't rain but sunshine was in short supply as I tramped through Staincross and Mapplewell. 

I headed down a very treacherous, muddy path to The River Dearne yet thankfully avoided falling on my arse (American: ass or butt). Crossing the babbling Dearne, the mapped path heading south did not seem to exist so I had to improvise.

There were some raggedy horses looking sorry for themselves. They are probably owned by travellers or gipsies who often claim that they love their animals. Lord knows how long those sad horses have been surviving by the river without proper husbandry or stabling.

Clint and I suffered traffic issues both on our way to the location and on the way back. We found ourselves stuck on the M1 motorway for a full hour in the morning and meeting Friday rush hour traffic both in Barnsley and Sheffield on the way back. Of course these matters were connected.  The lost hour meant that I finished the walk later than I had expected.

Former cinema in Staincross

Grey heron before it flew off

"The Old Bakery" in Mapplewell

32 comments:

  1. Ah, those neglected horses !
    You got a lovely shot of Dobbin and the heron.

    As for the abandoned Picture House (Staincross) and the Old Bakery (Mapplewell) they look like the Last of England.
    There is a painting by Ford Madox Brown titled The Last of England.

    You ever think of writing for The Oldie, Neil?
    I bought the December 2021 issue, still in its cellophane wrap.
    Leonard Rossiter is on the cover: *Rising Damp* was a genius sitcom.

    I also read The Fortean Times (along with The New Scientist).
    You could be the Strange Meteorites Correspondent for The Fortean.
    Tasker could be Volcanic Lava Correspondent for The New Scientist.


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    1. I have never heard of "The Oldie". Is it a soft porn magazine for senior citizens?

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    2. The Fortean Times does UFOs, Ghosts, and the Green Children of Woolpit.
      The New Scientist does Black holes, Superstrings, and Bugs in Live Yoghurt.

      The Oldie does, Do You Remember England? and Will Petula Clark ever come back from Gloomy Geneva and visit her Auntie Emily in Sunny Surrey?

      As for the Other, I recommend *Carry on Camping* (YouTube).

      Bernard Bresslaw, who reminds me of yourself, plays Bernie Lugg.
      Sid James, who makes me think of Tasker, plays Sid Boggle.
      As for Young Barbara Windsor, she plays mostly in shorts.

      Delete
  2. Is the Old Bakery in business? It looks like it is! Those horses do need some care. It makes me sad to see them.

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    1. Yes. It is in business but I didn't see anybody go in or out.

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  3. Those horses have pretty pinto coats and I hope they are well cared for. It is hard to tell from the photos.

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    Replies
    1. They are neglected. I doubt that they have received any food supplements through the winter.

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  4. Traffic issues... they are the reason why O.K. did not drive the 150 km to my place last night, there were just too many accidents, construction sites and other hindrances reported for the three motorways he has to use. I hope today will be better.
    The Old Picture House is a fine building! It could be used as a film set.
    Not sure how sorry for themselves those horses need to be. They look hardy and their patch green, not all trampled down so that they'd have to stand in wet mud all the time which causes their hooves to rot.

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    1. They have to get down the muddy river bank for water or wade into the nearby swampy area. I am not an expert on horses but those creatures did not appear to be in a good way. And there were other similar horses nearby.

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  5. Anonymous8:42 am

    Don't you use the word bum in polite circles? There is a very popular Australian children's book called The Day My Bum Went Psycho. Maybe Phoebe will enjoy Gramps reading it to her in a few years.

    With only a little knowledge, I think the M1 and M25 are English roads best avoided. Look for an A road alternative or catch the train.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Up North the M1 is usually trouble-free. Thanks for the hint about "The Day My Bum Went Psycho". For me this only happens after a curry.

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    2. I cannot stop laughing at your reply.

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  6. That does not appear to have been one of your most enjoyable walks, YP.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was the extra time spent in the car (Clint) what done it.

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  7. Great photos of the pie bald horses YP. They are like a still picture from The Virgin And The Gypsy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Eee...What's tha want milady? Does tha want t'stroke mi 'oss?"

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  8. Well, at least you didn't call it Stanicross.

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    Replies
    1. Did I call it that before? I don't remember.

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    2. No, but you called Stainforth Staniforth.

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  9. We're so used to joining you on a sunny day that the grey skies come as something of a surprise.
    The horses look as though they have carthorse in their genes - they are sturdy and their coats are long, but they do look neglected.
    The old cinema looks reasonably well cared for, and I notice that they sell takeaway packaging. I had to enlarge the photo to read what it was they sold, and had expected something more exotic!

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    Replies
    1. The Old Picture House is home to a vending machine company.

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  10. I thought that the term "gypsy" was considered disrespectful these days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know some people think that but most people with a gypsy heritage are more than happy to use that term.

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  11. Those are some very shaggy horses! They look well-fed, at least from here.

    What is the Old Picture House now? Looks like a poster of smoothies or something on the outer wall -- a cafe, maybe? Or do they really sell packaging, as the banner proclaims?

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    Replies
    1. I believe it is home to a vending machine company.

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  12. Staincross isn't far from my niece's family in Penistone. It's a couple of years since I've been there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Penistone is a nice town with real character.

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  13. I'm curious. "The Old Picture House" appears to be some kind of kitchen supply house, also selling cups and lids. While "The Old Bakery", established in 2017 (not VERY old) appears to be a micropub serving ale and cider and live music on Sundays. What has become of historic "old" England anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Somewhere along the line it changed. The Old Picture House is home to a vending machine company.

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  14. The Old Picture House reminds me how we called the cinema the "picture show" when we were growing up. (and we saw movies rather than films)

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    1. I always resist the term "movies" as it is an American import. In England we used to say things like "Are you going to the pictures?" and we always used the term "films". I am well aware that my resistance is futile.

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  15. I'm quite glad that films are mostly called movies these days because I know so many people who can't say film, instead saying fillums.

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