Wolds Diary: Talking tour reveals hidden gems as I clock up the miles

Of course I needed new spectacles, which hopefully will make sewing and close work easier. I’ve been struggling to read music with my varifocals, as well as occasionally watching the conductor.

Tuesday was a very busy day; I’d been invited to speak to the Men’s Forum at Knaresborough. I left early and had time to look round the centre of Knaresborough and then arrived at the venue, Knaresborough House, a fine and impressive building at the bottom of the High Street. It has lovely grounds and is used for the town council as well as meetings.

The Forum consisted of about 80 lovely gentlemen and I had their undivided attention for over an hour. They were a great audience and after I had spoken they were very interesting to talk to.

Then it was back home and in the evening I went to the amazing village of Acaster Malbis, just outside York. Had I not been due to speak I would never have discovered this delightful and impressive village, with many very posh dwellings and immaculately kept.

The village hall is very smart and soon I was giving the second talk of the day. The ladies, of the Yorkshire Countrywoman’s Association were a splendid audience and I was made most welcome. I must admit by the time I got home I was a little tired.

The next evening, I went further afield, much further. I was heading west and took the opportunity to call in en route to friends who run the charity I support, Wes Yorkshire Animals in Need, based in Ilkley. I managed to give them quite a few items to sell on stalls and having enjoyed a cup of coffee with them, I drove on roads well-known to me, to Clitheroe, where I was speaking at a Wednesday club at a very big and well run pub called the Calf’s Head in a village just off the bypass there.

The manager had prepared the room and soon I was chatting to a regular at the pub called Woody. The group arrived and I spoke until 9pm, when the ladies were served an evening meal. I’d kindly been offered a meal as well but regretfully declined as I needed to get home. It took me two hours and I was very tired when I got back.

Meanwhile Brock, my Staffie had decided to re-configure a large ball of sock wool. I have no idea how she got hold of it. I thought it was in a safe place but I was wrong. I laboriously untangled it and wound it into several smaller balls for use at another time.

I had a doctor’s appointment the next day but the surgery rang to apologize and cancel it and I rebooked and then took off into York. I wanted to visit the big post office there because I’d been informed that I could get an international driving permit there, or at least an application form for one. Wrong! I was informed that I would either have to go to Leeds or Scarborough or do it all online. As I had looked it up on the internet in the first place and it stated you could get them from the post office I was not very happy.

I then went to shop for some much needed clothes, smaller than the ones have that are falling off me because I’ve lost weight.

That evening I was at a rehearsal for The Sorcerer and the next day embarked on a lovely long walk in the woods with the dogs. I managed to keep the dogs relatively clean until the last 100m when they found a really muddy morass to squirm round in. Once home I just failed to shut my bedroom door in time so had then to wash the bedding.

I helped my neighbour pick some to the apples from his Russet apple tree and he generously gave me plenty. There was a church choir rehearsal that evening and I was not unhappy when it was suggested that we adjourned to the pub for a pint afterwards. I felt I deserved it.

On the Saturday I began a clear out from my sitting room as I have new carpets and vinyl fitted next week.