9
9
6
6
9
4
=
43 + 996650 = 996693

996692

D'oh. Brain cells clearly not working before I went away, so sorry, Alan, if I'd been less self-centred I'd have thought of it.

We were on the edge of Cumbria, taking a very expensive break at centerparcs (why can't they call it centreparks???) as it was a compromise holiday for the 14yr old, 2 of her pals, and thankfully my eldest too. The youngsters loved every minute, the eldest and I sadly shook our heads at the expense, blatant selling, and kicked ourselves every day for not insisting we went somewhere warm...
On the plus side we found a great farmer's market on the interweb which was a fabulous drive to and such a pleasure to chat to the producers, which stocked us up with fabulous food for most of the week. I went down the scary slide once and needed (well, enjoyed!) the hugs and tlc following my screaming in abject terror all the way down. In my defence, without my glasses I'm well insecure anyway...

Who'd be a mother? I'm glad to be home.

996,691

I'm glad you had a good time, Fia. Be careful, however, what you wish for. I remember with huge pleasure the family holidays where it was all planned with the children in mind.

Now, thinking of holidays that are ok for one can be pretty crap. I think I may have cracked it with the interest holiday, and the first week in August I am spending a week in Dundee at the summer school of the Lowland and Borders Piping Society, learning to play my Scottish Smallpipes.

Ah Penrith, used to be a lovely little market town, I don't know what it's like now.
Did you by any chance get up to Alston? Right opposite the centerparks (sic) site. It's the highest market town in England and the views are spectacular, when I was delivering bread for a living (late 70s early 80s) a colleague was stuck up there for three days due to the snow.

996,690

996,689 Nope, that side of the valley was constantly covered in cloud
However, the village of Orton, where the farmers market was, was delightful, despite the monsoon...

996688
Alston? Is that over near the R Eden where there are some fascinating man-made caves a hermit used to live and where there is a bookshop that thinks it is a cafe?

996,687

No answer, was the reply.

Guess you'll have to Google Maps it, or Google Earth it, or......sod it?

http://www.english-lakes.com/lacys_caves.html

996,687

I could have gone there to find out - the time it took for that answer !

996685 (?)

Thanks Dave B for Lucy's caves. I was there about a hundred years ago with a load of school kids.

Cn't beat that, 35 years ago for me!

996,686


#996686 color model values
RGB 153,102,134
HSL 0.90, 0.20, 0.50
HSV 322°, 33°, 60°
CMYK 0.00, 0.33, 0.12, 0.40

Counting DOWN, Dave, counting down! 996683

Incidentally it was also around 1975 - 80 for me - and I was the teacher taking the kids!

Oh bugger! Sorry, brain slightly dissolved in fermented grape juice.

996,681

Ahem! You've done it again!

There is no hope for me!

996,680

[Hey, I must still have at least one active brain cell!]

996,679

My mate says I only need one more brain cell to qualify as an amoeba. Two more, and I'd be dangerous.

996,678

Well I'm working on the principle of rubbing the 2 brain cells I think I have together in the hope that some spark of understanding will set the brain alight with sharper intellect... but they may be a little damp...

996,677
I'm in Dundee having a fab time at the Common Ground summer school, learning to play my bellows blown smallpipes. It's going well so far.

996,676

Lewis, that is absolutely marvellous!! Will you be going on tour when you're finished?



Fia, about those damp cells. I was thinking they might have been overcome by smoke inhalation.

996,675

Hey Marian, do you mean Fia smokes? What's she on........?
Cigars or pipe?

996,674

Drum, in the blue packet, actually JJ. Although i did smoke, as you do when trying to fit in as a teenager, I didn't really like it (it was all ready rolled or Old Holburn, which was the old man's choice, in the UK then) until I went to the Netherlands when I was 16. I've rolled my own ever since. I still can't stomach a ready rolled, they are like teabags, all the dross and sweepings. I'm a real baccy and real tea woman. Don't get me started on coffee, beer or bread