It's good when people surprise you with their wisdom and insight. It'd 'appen be good to bottle it but then you'd lose something of the joy of the unexpected. I know a few wise old folk - one in particular whose had several regenerations and hence has an advantage in the old pearls of wisdom stakes.

But it's the young uns who sneak up on you and make you stop and think 'why didn't I spot that?' that cause you to wonder and help you realise you really don't know it all ..... nor would I want to!

After a successful ladder purchase and clutter-free gutterage it was an up and down day last Friday. A long term ambition was achieved with a descent of Gaping Gill - the largest chamber in UK caving. It doesn't match Derbyshire's Titan with its 150m depth but it is 104m deep and can contain York Minster (if anyone would like to hide it!).



The descent of 340ft (sounds further than 104m) was speedy and damp but the reward was stonkin'. The blurb said good photos could be taken with flash - the didn't specify the flash had to be the result of a Very pistol. The above photo was from some website and the one below from yours truly - I'm sure there's deep meaning to be unearthed from that.


One thing I'd forgotten going down the cave was a torch. It didn't take too long for my eyes to adjust to the darkness and then I began to see some of the splendour of Gaping Gill. I reckon there's truth in that too.




Well the day was a cracker and after going down it was going up as Ingleborough was nobbut a cock-stride away! Then back to Linton for lunch on the green - what a day.

It's funny the conversations you can have with your nearest and dearest. We were sitting in Kirkby Lonsdale churchyard on our wedding anniversary dicussing the length of ladders! Is the stated length of a ladder its extended length or the height it reaches up a building taking into account the angle of inclination? Needless to say my confusion of some time was ended by the incisive wisdom of HS and now I can proceed with confidence - but still an element of caution as I ponder the height of bloked gutters and flaking weather boards. Every onwards, ever upwards!!

So what is so comical about racing pigeons? I suppose it is rather unfair whichever approach you go for - I can't fly and their legs are much shorter than mine. I do know that on a long distance race they might not get lost as easily as I do - but then are female pigeons better or worse at reading the map. The picture must be a male as the map is the right way up!

I don't know - I hope you don't mind that I post this picture. I've so many cherished memories but some just stand out and to be Uncle Purple Pippin ..... Well I'm glad that role continues - how ever much time passes the 'unc' bit will never go away.

I saw this picture this morning and it is such a strong image of the Cross and Resurrection!! The sunrise doesn't remove the cross but it shines through - and as I write this, the sun here in the dale is burning off the cloud and bringing its light and warmth.

Happy Easter!!!

I must be having an idle spell as I'm here again. I'm in work doing bits and pieces and should be back up the dale by lunchtime. HS was being scientific and religious this weekend and I got lost in Leeds trying to find the station. Maybe there's a connection between one of the seesions - "The Influence on Christian thought of Einstein's Theories of General and Special Relativity"? I was relatively close to the station but it seemed to keep moving away from me. Another thougth too that came up on our walk round Malham - how do we know we can only 'see' 5% of the universes if we don't know how big it is? It is one of those questions that keeps many folk awake at night - like why doesn't Fred Flinstone follow the pet sabretooth tiger through the window back inot the house rather than banging on the door? Ah life is full of mystery - I've got too much time on my hands ...... back to Einstein.

What a day - the sun is shining, the washing's on the line and I'm blogging after too long an absence. I keep being pestered by my Tiger to hit the keys so here I am taking notice of that cool cat!
This morning saw a gang of us hitting the hills around Malham. It was going to be a scrabble up Gordale Scar followed by a wander round to the Cove but we were persuaded to go up Pike Daw first and then the Cove - what a good idea. A splendid view point from high spot above the village. The big disappointment came near the end of the ramble - no bacon-buttie van! We were assured that the local the gastro-van would've been in the lay-by near Gordale Scar but no!!
It had to be a buttie in the village with the compensation being that I had another buttie when I dropped in on Bunny's Yorkshire Lass later. Having now overdosed on such delicasies I'll have to content myself with pizza for tea - ah well may be salad tomorrow.