Sue Woodcock: Warm day for drystone walling but winter is on the way

The fields were already partially under water. I have a large four-wheel drive and just managed to get through the waters but some cars had to turn back. At home the water was lapping at my front door and the ducks and geese were swimming in the pond surrounding the house. It was already dark and I considered whether it was a sensible thing to go up the dale for choir practice. I rang a friend up there to check. His advice was to give it a miss. as the roads was severely flooded. I lit the fire in the front from and got some chores done instead.

On the Saturday, I had agreed to help at Scargill House with a drystone walling day. It was one of those sunny autumn days when it is just perfect to work outside with good warm clothing. They gave me breakfast and we set about taking down and rebuilding a stretch of wall. We made a good team and worked well together. Tea and coffee were brought out and the result of our labours was no great thing of beauty but it will stand firm for a while. After lunch we were so inspired that we extended it.

There were squirrels in the trees near where we were walling and a host of pheasants in the cover of the woods. The views up and down Upper Wharfedale were very fine that day. The two dogs that accompanied their owners played in the field and squabbled about sticks.

One, a border terrier, insisted on assisting us by putting a stick twice her size into the wall as we were building it.

It was a very happy day and I returned home very tired and having had a good physical workout. I ached I think because we had moved some massive boulders into the wall between us.

Sometime during the day I had been stung or bitten by something and I had a huge swelling on my arm because of it. This was in addition to a bruised finger which is an occupational hazard when walling.

The next day it was the culmination of a TV competition about Grassington, when we determined who won the house. A camera crew once again wanted to come up here and film my friend and I discussing it and it took ages.

Once again we were asked to knit and spin outside and had to retreat inside to warm up. Then down to the village to vote only after yet another interview. While we were trying to do that in the square we had to delay and wait while a group of men with retro scooters spent at least 15 minutes revving up their engines and pottering about.

Most of the bikes were displaying L-plates and I could see why. Their riding skills were certainly limited, as were their manners. They refused to move on when asked to do so. The air was still full of fumes for sometime after they finally left.

By this time I had begun

to suffer from a head cold which I had picked up somewhere and I was feeling

a bit like death warmed up and not in the mood to be very tolerant. I voted and headed home and then walked the dogs. I did

call in at the town hall later on my way to the pub for the weekly quiz to find out who had won. It was a very close thing. I left them to their celebrations and went to run the quiz.

By the next morning I felt ghastly, the bug I had caught really knocking me sideways. First thing when I looked out there was a sprinkling of snow on the higher ground so winter is definitely on the way.

I did the essential chores and then retreated back to bed. I don't normally do ill

so I was very frustrated but after some rest I felt a little better and managed to light a fire in the front room and get the dogs out for a short run, but the foul weather had returned and the best place was to be inside.

I have a very busy week ahead so I need to get fit

again to accomplish all I

need to do. I am already on the mend.