On the Road Again with Merle

[JTB_5]

Looks like Merle is getting a great tour already Jack Black ! I'm glad he got inaugurated to the chip butty, too. Looking forward to more, mate!

 

[Jack Black]

Looks like Merle is getting a great tour already Jack Black ! I'm glad he got inaugurated to the chip butty, too. Looking forward to more, mate!

Thanks Joshua

My gas fitter finally turned up at 3pm, and I wish I hadn't him in now. A flue seal on the boiler failed, and now I have no heating or hot water until Monday afternoon

 

[Jack Black]

Did someone mention a curse?! I've just found out that there's a triathlon running in Leeds this weekend, bringing with it 3 days of road closures and transport disruption, and preventing me from leaving the city to the north, (which is how I'd usually get out of the city to the countryside) Leeds has lots of huge parks, where you could triathlon away to your heart's content, in lovely surroundings, and not cause any travel disruption at all. But everyone wants to pretend they're in the Olympics now, and race through the finish line in the city centre. It'll be the marathon soon, then the cycling, then various parades, and religious marches. Mine is one of the few areas in the city affected, and it gets worse every year. Why can't people just go to the bloody pub?!

 

[mbkr]

Did someone mention a curse?! I've just found out that there's a triathlon running in Leeds this weekend, bringing with it 3 days of road closures and transport disruption, and preventing me from leaving the city to the north, (which is how I'd usually get out of the city to the countryside) Leeds has lots of huge parks, where you could triathlon away to your heart's content, in lovely surroundings, and not cause any travel disruption at all. But everyone wants to pretend they're in the Olympics now, and race through the finish line in the city centre. It'll be the marathon soon, then the cycling, then various parades, and religious marches. Mine is one of the few areas in the city affected, and it gets worse every year. Why can't people just go to the bloody pub?!

It could be bulls

 

[Jack Black]

It could be bulls

I'd like to put some bulls in there!

When I lived in France, I was having a drink one time with two guys, one French, one Basque, and the French guy mentioned 3 people had been injured running the bulls. The Basque guy replied "Touristes! Pas graves!"

 

[Jack Black]

The curse continues! I've been looking for things to do with Merle tomorrow, I thought I might take him for a ride on a steam train, but this weekend, it's their 'Diesel Extravaganza'! Next, I thought about a visit to a ruined 11th century Cistercian abbey, with a great pub nearby, but....

So, I think we're going to head out of town to a place called Huddersfield, which I haven't visited since before the pandemic. Hopefully the darn train won't break down!

 

[Jack Black]

Earlier, Merle got to taste his first British pie (chicken and mushroom in this case), and help me open a new bottle of Henderson's Relish

 

[btb01]

When it rains, it pours, eh Jack? Sorry to hear about your boiler; hopefully no heating won’t be too bad this time of year, but no hot water for three days is a bummer. And sorry for using the laughing reaction to the triathlon thing, but that last bit (“why can’t people just go to the pub?”) cracked me up.

The curse continues! I've been looking for things to do with Merle tomorrow, I thought I might take him for a ride on a steam train, but this weekend, it's their 'Diesel Extravaganza'!

Is that like the train equivalent of the ‘60s and ‘70s buildings in Sheffield?

Next, I thought about a visit to a ruined 11th century Cistercian abbey, with a great pub nearby, but....

Well, there is a way…

Earlier, Merle got to taste his first British pie (chicken and mushroom in this case), and help me open a new bottle of Henderson's Relish

 

[mbkr]

The curse continues! I've been looking for things to do with Merle tomorrow, I thought I might take him for a ride on a steam train, but this weekend, it's their 'Diesel Extravaganza'! Next, I thought about a visit to a ruined 11th century Cistercian abbey, with a great pub nearby, but....

So, I think we're going to head out of town to a place called Huddersfield, which I haven't visited since before the pandemic. Hopefully the darn train won't break down!

 

[Jack Black]

When it rains, it pours, eh Jack? Sorry to hear about your boiler; hopefully no heating won’t be too bad this time of year, but no hot water for three days is a bummer. And sorry for using the laughing reaction to the triathlon thing, but that last bit (“why can’t people just go to the pub?”) cracked me up.

What's going on?!, No, the lack of heating will be fine mate, but I'm missing the hot water I don't know what's up with people Barrett??!!

Is that like the train equivalent of the ‘60s and ‘70s buildings in Sheffield?

Yeah, ugly!

Well, there is a way…

Blimey, I haven't looked that good in 20 years! Brilliant Barrett!

Thanks buddy

 

[Fodderwing]

Why can't people just go to the bloody pub?!

I'm glad Merle has found his way to you Jack. I'm sure Merle would enjoy a few pubs. What's his preference in spirits btw. Has he told you?

 

[Angry Waiter]

Sometimes I put ice in my bourbon (like now!), but not in the Scottish malts!

I think I'd use ice more if I lived in Texas Vince Sometimes I like some too, and a longer drink, and while I don't buy the cheapest Scotch, Irish whiskey is still reasonably priced here, and I don't think I'm adulterating it too much by occasionally adding some rocks. I certainly wouldn't add it to good Scotch!

I'm a heretic. I like to sip single malt neat, but also like it with an ice cube in it.

I must join the heretics. I do ice my scotch in the summer months. Texas is hot y’all!

 

[Prester John]

I must join the heretics. I do ice my scotch in the summer months. Texas is hot y’all!

I ice the blends (Johnnie Walker, Chivas, etc.), but the only single malt I ice is Glen Livet. That's pretty good on the rocks. I tried an ice cube in my Laphroaig once. Once.

 

[Jack Black]

Finally on the way to Huddersfield, after the first two trains were cancelled, but we had to get on the 'slow train' that stops at a dozen stations on the way! Have a good day everyone

 

[Primble]

The curse (did somebody say jinx) continues.
Be careful out there Mr. Jack !
Might be Merle ……….. might be Earl at work. Jealousy can be ugly you know.
As I recall, Barrett had some bad fortune when something was around.
and I recall somebody else having bad fortune lately and called that something a jinx.

Sincerely hope you don’t get run over by a truck ……………… or train !

 

[JohnDF]

I'm glad your adventure is finally under way. Have fun, my friend.

 

[Jack Black]

The 'slow train' to Huddersfield is, at least, a lot quieter than the express, which acts as a shuttle to the nearest airport, and a couple of other large English cities (Manchester and Liverpool). It is always crowded, and can be rowdy, and full of drunks on Saturdays. I might opt for the slow train the next time I go over to Huddersfield!

The commuter-belt stops were very brief, and the journey quite pleasant...

It was still nice to get off though, and arrive in Huddersfield. The town was built on the wool and cloth industries, and once a prosperous place. It's much less so now, but it's also unpretentious and down-to-earth, which I rather like

In the square outside the railway station, there's a statue of one of the town's most famous sons, former British prime minister, Harold Wilson.

Huddersfield has a second-hand market each Tuesday and Saturday, and it's a great place to hunt for pointy treasure, and all sorts of other curios

I found a few things

 

[Jack Black]

After leaving the market, we headed up through the town, to one of the old Victorian arcades, where there's a good cafe, and had a tasty second breakfast.

Huddersfield is surrounded by hills, and by small mill-towns and villages. We followed the picturesque canal to one of them, Slaithwaite, which locals call 'Sla'wit'. Some of the old mills have been turned into apartments.

The old mill pond forms part of a local nature reserve.

After a brief visit to Slaithwaite, we caught a bus back to Huddersfield, with great views from the top deck.

Back in Leeds, Merle helped me cook some burgers, but I forgot to take pics! Hoping to get out to the woods with my mate and his lad today, and maybe get a pint Have a good Sunday everyone

 

[mbkr]

Great pics!

 

[Horsewright]

Great pics and travels Jack!