Friday, 16 October 2015

Harrogate & other matters



I sometimes have visions that hotels in Harrogate are permanently full. Or maybe they don’t like wheelchairs. Either way I seem to have spent hours trying to sort out a hotel for our proposed stay there. So far I’ve still not found a room.

It never used to seem so bad. It’s really only become difficult since Harrogate has been regarded as one of the best places in England to live. It’s always had a certain cachet. The waters long drew the aristocracy there. These days it’s the renown of Betty’s Teashop that draws people in. The Stray & the Valley Gardens always provide colour. Harlow Carr, the RHS garden, is just outside Harrogate. All sorts of events are organised to draw people in, especially at the weekend.

The one hotel I have managed to find rooms wanted £777 for a couple of nights. That’s B&B. That’s enough for a two week holiday in Spain! I’m not surprised so many holidaymakers head off to sunnier climes.

Yesterday we were down at the village pub, catching up with the latest news. One pair of friends have lost two friends this week. Monday is going to be funeral day for them. First one friend who died from Motor Neurone Disease – we thought of Mike our friend who died with MND – then half an hour later, a friend, totally unrelated to the first, who died of cancer. It sounds like it’s grim day ahead for them. Hopefully they will manage to get to the pub for the regular Monday afternoon knitting session & the rest of us can do our best to cheer them up.

Well I’m amazed. Carol, our gardener has just turned up. She arrived before 9am! That’s early for her. Still I must be off to attend to her. She’s already planted the remaining daffodils in the back garden. We’ve decided the front garden will be the place for the violas.

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