YI at The Factory (via Oldham)

David's band (Your Illuminations) were playing The Factory in Manchester and not wanting to drive to Princess Street on a Saturday just before Christmas, I hit upon the cunning wheeze of taking the van to a site and getting a tram in from there. I found a place called The Hawthorne's Nightstop and after a couple of emails I was all booked in.

All in all it was successful, but the pitch was a slot on a very scruffy car park, in a very scruffy area. You definitely don't want to go there for any other reason than to stop over on the way to somewhere else!

But it was walking distance to Oldham Mumps MetroLink station, and that took me straight in to Manchester Victoria for £3.80 return.

I went to see the Alan Turing memorial, just outside the area on the map labelled Gay Village. Then had a fabulous Chinese at Middle Kingdom before saying hello to the chaps backstage in The Factory. (Then I nipped off for a relaxing drink in the Lass O'Gowrie until show time).

The support band Petra Flowers were pretty good and then there was a sudden increase in people and a surge for the front before YI came on in spectacular style. A great set, including a short Christmas singalong, some crowd participation, a nice sit down for a sad song (and pledge to donate to Cancer Research) and some leaping around to Dead of the Night. All topped off with Hey Scarlet. 

Tram and taxi back to the van, which was all in one piece and untouched, thankfully. A peaceful night except for the music ringing in my ears!

Attack of the ladybirds

Up to Grassington in the snow,  weather was pretty poor and I spent the night killing ladybirds,  wasps and flies. They had been hibernating in the roof canvas and my heat and light woke them up.

On Saturday I had a quick walk from the site to the Linton Falls hydroelectric station but mainly I kept in out of the sleet.

On the way I passed a house with a model railway layout in the garden.













On Sunday I drove over Greehow, deep in snow, to meet Jacquie in Pately Bridge. We went up to Wath and Ramsgill, where I picked up a print at Ramsgill Studio.

Then in to a community coffee morning for two soups (oh! Victoria) and bought a slab of ginger cake. In the afternoon, we attended the Pately Playhouse to see a great little comedy called 'Who'd Have Thought It'.

Grounded for October

At the end of Sept I had another operation, so no driving for several weeks, and no vanning for a few more.

However today I couldn't stand the wait any longer and have booked in to Grassington for a weekend in November. I can always cancel if I need to.

Also the farm where I store the van has sold the land for houses, so I need to find another place to keep it. Not proving very easy.