It certainly isn’t ! Today’s walk was supposed to be uneventful…yet before I’d reached my destination I’d heard how an embrocation for piles had melted a hole in the fabric of several pairs of boxer shorts – I mean what on earth does said medication do to the affected body part. My eyes are still watering from that thought! Then further along I’d been discussing the delights of a lemon posset …….the excitement of living here 😉😉
Before you howl with laughter let me tell you the “Pen” is pronounced as the writing implement – that should have pulled you up sharp! It is thought the name came from the Old English for farm/village – “ tun” and possibly the first syllable from the Celtic language “Penn” meaning hill. Penistone is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley – and you’ve guessed it, the market is held on a Thursday!
The old market sold livestock as well as comestibles – and I have to say the ambience of that market has not been replaced with the new market barn. The old market was bought by one of the big supermarkets, with the proviso that as well as a new store, they would build a market barn for the ongoing weekly market. At the time back in 2011 there was uproar “ We don’t need another supermarket” ( there are two other small supermarkets in Penistone) “ We won’t be using it” ……and so on and so forth. That all seems forgotten now …. said supermarket is always busy … no such truer statement than “ We don’t like change” ……but change happens and everyone seems to adapt.
Now as I mentioned before, Penistone falls within the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough. So now for a lesson in the Barnsley dialect…..
Do it yer sen ….or Do it yourself ……even DIY!!!
The DB ( apologies for those of you new to this blog , I am referring to the Dearly Beloved , my husband Nick) sent this photo of the real Millie who had walked to Penistone with me wearing his flat cap ( correction she hadn’t walked with me in his flat cap, he’d put it on her in the car…just wanted to clarify!) At this junction can I please clarify to anyone reading this blog thinking that all folk in Barnsley wear flat caps and have ferrets in their trousers – it is simply not true 🙄🙄🙄 ….flat caps maybe, but no ferrets !
So another phrase “ Ey up” meaning hello or in some cases watch out or be careful. The skill would be in determining to which the phrase was being attributed … considerable damage could be caused if you misconstrued the meaning!
After a fairly non-eventful spell in Penistone shopping , I set off home along the trans Penine trail otherwise known as part of the Tour de France. It is a miracle I wasn’t mown down by one Lycra clad racing cyclist who shot past me from behind like a rocket – no bell or warning if you please. What happened to share with care ?I wanted to shout out ! Then another more sensible cyclist – high vis jacket plus bell and booming voice approached from behind giving plenty of warning ….we even passed the time of day as he passed. However so alert was I to the potential dangers , when I heard another lone bell I flattened myself to the fence to allow offending bike to pass………only to realise the bell was from my phone and linked to our front door video bell 🙈🙈
I felt like Hyacinth Bucket ( pronounced Bouquet) when our Onslow’s dog barked at her from the car and she staggered back into his privet hedge …..there will be some of you who are thinking that I’ve finally flipped ! Look up “ Keeping up appearances” a UK TV series no longer running – you will be guaranteed a laugh!
Finally, to my horror a cyclist was coming towards me, and in fact narrowly missed me though I am far from invisible . He wasn’t going fast but as he drew close I realised he had his eyes closed 🙈….the perils of a simple walk !
So before I sign off – here is the walk …. it looks a bit boring but as you can see it was far from it!
Until tomorrow….si thee……( I’ll leave that for you to work out!)
Camino Romero 