I was just about to write the following. "There's nothing worse than being in a place of great interest to some people that leaves you completely cold."
Well of course that's an absolute nonsense as there are many many many worse things. In fact there are hundreds of worse things. But you probably get my drift.
We were in Holmfirth and there was a man with a camera and that man wasn't me although I was a man with a camera. I am a man with a camera that was slightly wonky due to having been dropped a couple of weeks ago. That's the camera and not me
So we got chatting to this other man and he was a fan whereas I was not. What the hell are you talking about I hear you say?
Well a few years ago I was in my element as one iron said to another iron. I visited the set of Coronation Street. I'm sure you can see where this is going.
I loved every minute of walking on the cobbles but ultimately this was a made up TV set. Holmfirth is a real Yorkshire town. It just also happens to be the setting for one of the most popular comedy series of all time.
I needed some help here as I've never been a great fan of Last of the Summer Wine. In fact I've probably never watched more than three or four episodes. So I felt like a fraud. I wanted to go to Holmfirth simply because it was pretty close to where we were staying and sounded like an interesting place to visit. I didn't have a great urge to see Nora Batty's Steps or to have a coffee in Sid's cafe although we did.
The man with the camera (not me) pointed out Nora Batty's Steps with more than a touch of excitement. They just looked like a set of steps to me. Then there was a cafe called The Crinkley Stocking Tea Rooms or something like that which also got him very excited.
"I wonder where Peter Sallis' house was. I think it might be up there," he said pointing vaguely upwards.
I nodded sagely although I couldn't care less where Peter Sallis' house was or is. But I twigged why he was chatting to us in this manner.
2/ I was a man with a camera so was obviously there to take pictures of places associated with the programme.
.
But I wasn't.
I might watch a few episodes now I've been to the place but can't promise so to do.
Another thing that struck us was the number of disused mills running to rack and ruin. Others have been turned into flats and apartments.
Incidentally we couldn't park in the National Trust car park at Marsden because there was a film unit there. Haven't been able to find out what was being filmed. Anyone know?
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Spent yesterday morning finishing off and publishing the October Hethersett Herald and then turned my attention to finishing off the Le Paradis book which seems to be taking forever. Just when I think i've cracked it, something else comes up like having to re-write a chapter to avoid copyright infringement, expanding another section and then copying and pasting the narrative to a Word document for proof reading. We are very lucky that a descendent of one of the soldiers killed in the massacre is a professional proof reader who has kindly agreed to check it. I never knew there was so much involved in writing a book and we still have a bit to do.
Sometimes I like to work in silence and sometimes I like to have background noise which can be the radio, music or even the television.
Yesterday for a while I had the TV on and I was struck by how many people want to see my demise. I know this because I'm being asked to leave money in my will to the RNLI, any number of animal charities and a few other things as well. They all want me gone but they are all so chipper about it. It all smacks of "give us your money."
There's another advert that annoys me. Actually there are lots of other adverts that annoy me. Things like the beaming jackanape who is always hyper cheerful because he's taken out a life insurance policy and don't get me started on the celebration of those who've just taken out funeral plans.
Is there really anyone in the entire universe who sees these adverts and automatically rushes to the phone to take out a policy?
And don't get me started on Ian Botham. He has to be the worst actor ever. Even worse than me in my appearance in Sheringham Little Theatre as an anarchist.
At least the actors who appear in most of these dreadful adverts are reasonable at acting which is more than can be said for Botham.
One of the greatest all round cricketers this country has ever had - yes
A very decent footballer - yes
An actor - definitely not.
Firstly we had the nonsense of him not being man enough to eat three shredded wheat. He later admitted he never touched the stuff.
Now we have him promoting what is described as the best kept secret. It's Revitive for tired legs and feet. How can it be a secret if it's promoted to hundreds of thousands of people and why would you want it to be a secret? Short answer you don't and you wouldn't and of course you have to question Botham's motives and does he really use Revitive? I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
There's another advert that annoys me. This one is about a husband talking about how his wife has regained her mobility thanks to a new mobility scooter. It's not that which annoys me it's more about the man's attitude.
"It's good for her to get out and about," he says in a hugely condescending tone as if he's talking about "the little lady back at home."
And on that very subject we saw a pub sign in Yorkshire which is just an impossibility. The pub was called "The Silent Woman" and before you say I'm as condescending as the mobility scooter man, I would point out that the comment wasn't made by me but by the other threequarters.
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Our parish council publishes coming agendas on social media which is a very good idea but I had to laugh at a coming Extraordinary meeting agenda.
It starts with an invitation for press and public to attend. Then come apologies and then there's a chance for the public to make comments (although of course they won't have anything to comment on unless they come with something pre-prepared). Then we have declarations of interest. Then we get to the main business of the meeting which is to discuss staffing matters. But before that is done the press and public will be excluded!