It's 10.30 on Saturday morning and I am on the bus to Halifax to participate in the Summer Event. Bankfield Museum is a good fifteen minutes walk from the bus station. This Italian-style building was once a private residence but has been a museum for 100 years. The interior architecture and decorated ceilings are stunning. After a cappuccino and biscuits I visit the quilting exhibition with Jean and Kate. There are all sorts of different styles and colours, bed quilts, wall hangings, cushions, collages and pictures - demonstrating skills not only of quilting but also machine embroidery - all produced... [read more]

Roger invited us all:
"Come on and join our convoy
Ain't nothin' gonna get in our way.
We gonna roll this convoy
Cross the North Wales way!
Convoy!"
And so, we all met up at Roger's house: Colin and Marian, No.2 car; Ken and Granville, No.3 car; Roger, Nicola and Nigel, No.1 car at the front of the convoy for our 2011 tour of North Wales. Be sure to remember your number.
Morning coffee, tea and even hot chocolate were on the menu. We were so fortunate to be offered a drink, since Roger's kettle broke the evening before, and... [read more]

Around Ogden
Wednesday 6th April, 2011 Jean, Jasper and Deborah set off after 7 pm around Ogden Reservoir. Three quarters round, Phil Daniel telephoned to say Roger, Ken and himself had arrived. We decided we would meet in the pub, The Causeway for a meal. Unknown to Jean and myself, the three wise men commenced in the opposite direction to our starting point and hey presto! We met up quite soon. (By-the-way, we saw a beautiful Heron!) Jean, (doggy) Jasper and Deborah walked another circuit of Ogden Reservoir with Phil, Ken and Roger (Well it was a beautiful evening!) The... [read more]

Burnsall to Bolton Abbey
Sunday morning 17th April dawned bright, as so many mornings have this spring, and we had what Paul (the weatherman) Hudson describes as "wall to wall sunshine". Our party gathered at Bolton Abbey at 10:30 and we caught the bus to Burnsall, which was a very pleasant ride through the Dales countryside. On arrival we soon smelled the wonderful aroma of frying bacon. As there was a long queue for the ladies there was a good opportunity to order sandwiches and cups of tea, and one by one, members of our party gave in to temptation.... [read more]

From Hull and Halifax and Hell, good Lord deliver me.
(from the Dalesman's Litany).
These were the words going through my head as we boarded the train on a Saturday morning in March. I don't know why: none of our group were from Halifax (Huddersfield, Leeds and Bradford to be precise), Hell did not come into it, but we were going to Hull. The smell of frying bacon coming from the station café as we sat in the waiting room made my mouth water, but none of us were tempted.
Sylvia, Keith and myself were joined on the train by... [read more]

Ten IVC members enjoyed a fabulous Evening with Jools Holland in mid-January. The winter weather was soon forgotten as St George's Hall, Bradford, resounded to the great sounds of Ruby Turner, a great star of the show, Alison Moyet and the White Angels, an up and coming and highly talented girl band. Jools was supported by two star backing singers and the party came away having enjoyed what they described as a great night out.
Thanks to Deborah for re-organising the visit after an earlier cancellation. Well worth the trip.
Geoff

Christmas Dinner and Walking it off
Twenty-nine of us gathered at the Hare & Hounds in Grange Moor to celebrate our club Christmas Dinner and it was wonderful to see again some people who hadn't made it to a club event for a long time. It was a very convivial evening with an excellent meal and time at the end to catch up and chat to all. The following day 15 of these diners were fit enough to meet at Canon Hall for Nicola's 'coming out' walk for Cassie. It was a lovely way to walk off our Christmas meal... [read more]

Slip sliding away!
It was a particularly sunny frosty post Christmas Monday as four of us met up for a traditional lunch of "bangers and mash". Well what else is one supposed to have after stuffing themselves with rubbish over the festive period! Then it was out into the icy wilds of the Harewood Estate. Scooping up a shivering pooch on the way. We could see for miles over the picturesque snow covered Lower Warfedale Valley, admiring the shapely form of Almscliffe Crag as we picked our way gingerly around the Northern end of the Estate. (Mental note to self... [read more]

Luddenden Foot Walk
It wasn't the most inspiring start. The name of the venue conjured up visions of a mud-splattered farmer struggling for words on a cold winter's morning. But once into the valleys, the area opened up into fine upland countryside - wild and rather remote, yet close to Halifax itself. There was plenty of exercise on this five mile walk - uphill and downdale. And the lunch stop at the Delvers Inn, Wainstalls, seemed a well deserved break. In all a most enjoyable half day's ramble. Our thanks to Sylvia for organising it. - Geoff

A Comfy... [read more]