On the Road Again with Merle

[Primble]

Grand tour in grand fashion Mr. Jack !
Thank you for the Leeds picture show ! Very much enjoyed it.

 

[Jack Black]

Grand tour in grand fashion Mr. Jack !
Thank you for the Leeds picture show ! Very much enjoyed it.

Thanks Mr P, I just got back from another mini adventure/misadventure!

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks Jack a great tour!

 

[Jack Black]

I met up with my pal at the cafe in one of Leeds' large parks, housed in the old mansion house. I introduced him to Merle while we had coffee and cake

Then we headed towards the woods with our slingshots, passing some new parents on the way

Half a mile into the woods, I hung up a fizzy-drink can for us to shoot at. Merle cut the paracord

We were both firing 9mm steel balls, and all was going well, until I discovered a 14mm ball mixed in, and decided to try out a new slingshot I got last week, which arrived with very heavy bands fitted. The bands are not only powerful, they're also a bit short for me, and I managed to fire the ball straight into the back of my hand! I've never hit my hand before like that, and it was painful, but fortunately, I didn't break anything

Those big steel balls remind me of a certain film starring Humphrey Bogart

My mate had to get off, so we headed back through the woods...

I decided to take Merle for another coffee

As it was lunchtime I decided to have something to eat. The menu was very short, but I ordered a sausage sandwich, which turned out to be very overpriced, and very under-whelming

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks Jack a great tour!

Thank you Dave

 

[sbh06]

All of your pictures have been nothing short of amazing, Jack Black , thank you for sharing. I will be the first to say that I am thankful I don't have to follow you with Merle, as I could never reach the bar you've set.

 

[Jack Black]

All of your pictures have been nothing short of amazing, Jack Black , thank you for sharing. I will be the first to say that I am thankful I don't have to follow you with Merle, as I could never reach the bar you've set.

That's very kind of you Jeremy, but I'm sure Merle has many more adventures ahead of him

 

[Nature Boy]

Ouch!

 

[btb01]

Great pics of Cardiff Market Barrett I'll have to go sometime Yes, the Huddersfield market is also Victorian, there are quite a few markets of that style in the area, though sadly, more and more of them are being closed down

That’s a shame, they’re beautiful spaces.

Fantastic tour of Leeds yesterday, Jack! I’ll quote just a few of your photos since the software won’t let me quote them all, but they were all excellent.

I could have sat in the sunshine all morning, but I wanted to show Merle around the city centre more, so we boarded a bus, and alighted outside another of Leeds' Victorian shopping arcades...

Another really nice space. And is that the Queen in the second photo??

Then there was a power-cut! This affected half of the city centre. I don't think I've experienced a power-cut since the 1970's - a lot of things are reminding me of the 1970's recently

Being at home when the power goes out is inconvenient, but being in a public place when it goes out always feels more unsettling.

Beautiful place, Jack. Looks likes it was fairly quiet when you were there, which I always find preferable when visiting a place like that.

Great photo of Merle! That would definitely pass for a Jack Black photo in one of the old photo imitation GAWs.

This proved to be a very good idea!

Now that’s a lunch! Hope it tasted as good as it looks!

We were both firing 9mm steel balls, and all was going well, until I discovered a 14mm ball mixed in, and decided to try out a new slingshot I got last week, which arrived with very heavy bands fitted. The bands are not only powerful, they're also a bit short for me, and I managed to fire the ball straight into the back of my hand! I've never hit my hand before like that, and it was painful, but fortunately, I didn't break anything

Sounds like another fun outing. Hope your hand is ok!

 

[Jack Black]

Ouch!

That's what I thought Mike!

That’s a shame, they’re beautiful spaces.

It's criminal Barrett, they're also a resource

Fantastic tour of Leeds yesterday, Jack! I’ll quote just a few of your photos since the software won’t let me quote them all, but they were all excellent.

Thank you very much my friend

Another really nice space. And is that the Queen in the second photo??

Yeah, she came up to Yorkshire because the tea-bags are cheaper than in London

Being at home when the power goes out is inconvenient, but being in a public place when it goes out always feels more unsettling.

I'm glad I wasn't in the elevator!

Beautiful place, Jack. Looks likes it was fairly quiet when you were there, which I always find preferable when visiting a place like that.

I was lucky Barrett, it can get busy, particularly at the weekend, with all the events they have

Great photo of Merle! That would definitely pass for a Jack Black photo in one of the old photo imitation GAWs.

Thank you, that's the pic I always try to get when I visit the abbey!

Now that’s a lunch! Hope it tasted as good as it looks!

It was delicious my friend They even had some hot sauce

Sounds like another fun outing. Hope your hand is ok!

Thanks again pal, I think it'll hurt for a few days, but that's a lot better than breaking something I think

 

[Jack Black]

Me and Merle are heading down to my local market in the morning Guess who's on Cake Duty?!

 

[Jack Black]

My Thursday trip to the second-hand market in Leeds, is often the highlight of my week. I know all the traders there, and many of them are friends, but my pal (photographed here, last week with Merle) has a second-hand tool stall.

I go down early, and we have a good laugh, eating cake, and chatting to the other regulars. It can get quite raucous!

Unfortunately, as my mate was driving into Leeds early this morning, with his Landrover stuffed to the gills with heavy old tools, the hood flew off, smashed the windscreen, and then ripped one of his tires as he ran over the hood. He ended up on the other side of the road, unhurt, but unable to get to the market. He gave me a ring, and sounded quite excited! Fortunately, the roads were quiet because of the early hour, and no other vehicles were involved.

As I needed a haircut, I went to the market, and spent an hour talking to some of the other traders, and two visiting knife collectors, before going to see Brian, whose shop has barely changed since the 1960's.

Brian also collects knives, so as I had with the couple earlier, I let him admire Merle, and after he had cut my hair, I went off to buy some groceries. As I walked through the centre, I snapped a few pics. Between the larger streets, there are still old 'ginnels', (as they say in Leeds), many of which contain old pubs. The one below is called 'Angel Inn Yard'.

 

[Jack Black]

Merle helped me slice a post-lunch pear

 

[abbydaddy]

Sorry to hear you whacked your hand with the slingshot, and sorry to hear about the Tool Man's vehicle, but I am loving the adventures you are having with Merle. I especially appreciated the old Monastery ruin.

 

[btb01]

Unfortunately, as my mate was driving into Leeds early this morning, with his Landrover stuffed to the gills with heavy old tools, the hood flew off, smashed the windscreen, and then ripped one of his tires as he ran over the hood. He ended up on the other side of the road, unhurt, but unable to get to the market. He gave me a ring, and sounded quite excited! Fortunately, the roads were quiet because of the early hour, and no other vehicles were involved.

Sorry to hear about your mate’s vehicle, Jack. I’m glad no one was hurt.

Between the larger streets, there are still old 'ginnels', (as they say in Leeds), many of which contain old pubs. The one below is called 'Angel Inn Yard'.

That pub looks nice and tucked away back there. Probably a great place for a quiet pint.

 

[Jack Black]

I had some friends round for dinner last night - in Merle's honour of course - and it turned into a late and boozy evening I can't say I exactly sprang out of bed this morning, but I didn't feel too bad, so I headed out to my local cafe, with Merle, for coffee and a croissant.

I first started coming to this cafe, because their sign reminded me of Charlie waynorth , but it's a nice, friendly place, where the coffee is consistently excellent

After leaving the cafe, we walked into town, and I picked up a few things I needed for the weekend. I decided to take Merle for a Thai lunch.

I don't drink many fizzy drinks, but I thought Merle might like a Coke

There's supposed to be a 'Waterways Festival' on in Leeds this weekend, and I thought I'd have a walk down to the river, and see if there was anything going on. I couldn't find any sign of the festival, but I took a few pics of the river.

The river is the River Aire, and the photos above look to Leeds Bridge, while the ones below look to Crown Point Bridge.

Leeds Bridge has an important place in the history of cinema (by coincidence, on the way to the river, I bumped into an old friend, who now works for the trust which puts up those blue plaques).

I'm seeing a lot of swans this week!

A few more pics from the area, including a few traditional Leeds pubs

 

[Jack Black]

Merle has been hanging out with my 2018 Guardians Lambsfoot today

 

[btb01]

I had some friends round for dinner last night - in Merle's honour of course - and it turned into a late and boozy evening I can't say I exactly sprang out of bed this morning, but I didn't feel too bad, so I headed out to my local cafe, with Merle, for coffee and a croissant.

I first started coming to this cafe, because their sign reminded me of Charlie waynorth , but it's a nice, friendly place, where the coffee is consistently excellent

After leaving the cafe, we walked into town, and I picked up a few things I needed for the weekend. I decided to take Merle for a Thai lunch.

I don't drink many fizzy drinks, but I thought Merle might like a Coke

Sounds like a fun time, Jack!

You and Merle are definitely eating well! I also try not to drink Coke too often, but over there you’re fortunate that it’s still made with sugar, and not high fructose corn syrup like it is here. I’ll usually buy the glass bottles imported from Mexico, which are still made with cane sugar and taste far superior to the standard version here.

Leeds Bridge has an important place in the history of cinema (by coincidence, on the way to the river, I bumped into an old friend, who now works for the trust which puts up those blue plaques).

That’s really interesting. Does the owl on the plaque have some significance?

A few more pics from the area, including a few traditional Leeds pubs

Great pics, Jack.

 

[Jack Black]

Sorry to hear you whacked your hand with the slingshot, and sorry to hear about the Tool Man's vehicle, but I am loving the adventures you are having with Merle. I especially appreciated the old Monastery ruin.

Thanks a lot buddy

Sorry to hear about your mate’s vehicle, Jack. I’m glad no one was hurt.

Yeah, it was lucky it happened at 6.00am Barrett, he ended up crossing three lanes!

That pub looks nice and tucked away back there. Probably a great place for a quiet pint.

It's a Sam Smith's pub, so there's no jukebox to drown out the noise of the snoring drunks! It does have a bit of a reputation I used to drink there a lot in the first few years I lived in Leeds

Sounds like a fun time, Jack!

It was good Barrett, think I'm going to have an early time tonight though

You and Merle are definitely eating well! I also try not to drink Coke too often, but over there you’re fortunate that it’s still made with sugar, and not high fructose corn syrup like it is here. I’ll usually buy the glass bottles imported from Mexico, which are still made with cane sugar and taste far superior to the standard version here.

Got to look after him buddy Yeah, I've heard folks post about that before Barrett, the Mexican stuff sounds good

That’s really interesting. Does the owl on the plaque have some significance?

Yeah, they're on the Leeds Coat of Arms , and kind of all over the place pertinux would love it here!

Great pics, Jack.

Thanks a lot pal

 

[btb01]

It's a Sam Smith's pub, so there's no jukebox to drown out the noise of the snoring drunks! It does have a bit of a reputation I used to drink there a lot in the first few years I lived in Leeds

No cell phones, either… unless of course you own the place.