Not too bad a start this morning, as I didn't have to be on the train til 10.13 to go to Northallerton. However this still meant leaving the house soon after 9.30, as I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get my stuff to the station on the Cycle Heaven bike, which only had a pannier rack. I'd left my trailer at Cycle Heaven, and will pick it up tomorrow.
So I didn't take my one-wheeled unicycles... partly as there's no space at the Black Sheep Brewery to ride the unicycle, so they are there mainly for show, to provide a backdrop for the show and workshop. I managed my sticks, balls and diabolo bag on the pannier rack, and my costume, balloons and 4-wheel and 2-wheel unicycles on my back, in a rucksack.
So, I got the train and chatted to a nice Occupational Therapist from West Yorkshire, whom I'd be really happy to have more conversations with, but Northallerton is only 20 minutes North of York, so our chat was truncated.
I'd booked a taxi last night so Keith was waiting for me, and he drove me all the way to the Black Sheep Brewery in Masham. I got there at about 11am, and was due to be available from 11.30, as people start arriving then. I had a coffee and got changed into Fiddlesticks gear, much preferred to the Father Christmas garb.
Quite a few people are regular Black Sheep Brewery Christmas Lunch attendees, and so some of them have seen me just about every year for I don't know how long... best part of a decade I think. This event attracts lots of families with children, and many of them know what to expect from me. My 'dog's dinner' balloon was the most requested. I did some welcoming whilst devilsticking, then table hopping with balloons and humour, then a circus show and workshop, and worked continuously from 11.30 til 3.30, with no time for my sandwiches.
At 3.30 I quickly got changed and was given an envelope with my payment in it, and I signed for that. The taxi was waiting and I was taken back to Northallerton, paid the taxi driver the £50 for both journeys, and had my sandwiches whilst waiting for the train back to York. The people sitting opposite me on the train were supposed to have caught a flight from Newcastle to London, but due to the snow, Heathrow is shut so they had to catch a train. But this train, supposed to go to Kings Cross, was stopping at Doncaster as there was a problem with the overhead wires near Peterborough and no trains were getting through. So they got off at York as they had the chance of having their tickets refunded, or to resume the journey tomorrow.
I was lucky to be able to get on the bike and cycle home. I didn't need any evening meal as I'd only just eaten lunch at 4.15pm. But I hoovered up a half-plateful left by one of the boys when I was a bit hungry at 8pm. I made up a load of muesli and kept the stove going. Also enjoyed a programme about the origins and history of Father Christmas, appropriate, as in just a few hours I'll be 'doing' him in the streets of Huddersfield.
Showing posts with label Black Sheep Brewery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black Sheep Brewery. Show all posts
A very interesting day... working in the deepest snowy Dales at my favourite brewery!
So, up at a civilised 9am to get out of the house by 10.15 to get the 10.45 up to Northallerton. I got to the station by 10.35, in time to go to the ticket office... but when trying to lock up my bike, my lock wouldn't work... I couldn't take the key out or do the lock up! Oh no... time ticking away, train arrived on Platform 10. I decided to 'lock' my bike up with my helmet strap, and took the part of the lock with my key embedded in it with me. The D part of the lock I left in my pannier with my gloves. I just hoped that the CCTV and the fact that there are loads of bikes there would mean that my bike would still be there when I got back...
So, I arrived at the train with a minute to spare, with no ticket, but a conductor on the train who would sell me one. When he got to me, I apologised for not having a ticket and explained why, and asked for a day return to Northallerton. He said that as I could have got a £9.20 Cheap Day Return at the station, he was supposed to sell me a Standard Return for £13 or £14, or an Open Return for £19. But he said he would do me a special deal, and give me a Cheap Day Return for £10. So I said, that sounds reasonable and gave him a ten pound note and asked for a receipt. He gave me the ticket and receipt, which said £9.20. In the next few minutes, I realised what had happened. He had sold me a cheaper ticket than I should have had, which was to my financial advantage, and he'd made 80 pence. I could not quite believe this so I asked him, when he next walked by, about my change. He looked surprised and said that he thought we had agreed that I would get a special deal... so I explained that I hadn't fully understood and could he explain again? He looked embarrassed and shifty, but when I said that I thought that he was getting a tip for letting me have a cheaper ticket, he agreed. We spoke for a few minutes and I left him with the illegally acquired £0.80. But I was quite gobsmacked as this was the first time I'd met a rail employee 'on the make'.
The taxi I booked yesterday was waiting at Northallerton, Coopers Cabs on 01677 424252 and the friendly driver took me all the way to the Black Sheep Brewery, for £25. I gave him £50 and asked to be picked up at 3.30 to 3.45, as agreed yesterday. I showed him the bike lock and miraculously it released the key. Very odd!
I had just 10 minutes to get myself ready before the punters started to arrive at midday. I was immediately surrounded by children wanting to 'do things' so I did an impromptu juggling workshop, which used all 10 of the conventional juggling balls I carry around, and some 'weird' ones; one which is full of eyeballs and can be squished, a couple which light up and one which is made of 12 rubbery fingers sticking out... plenty of yuk-factor there, and squeals of excitement.
I did a bit of devilsticking walkabout once every one had sat down, and then spent at least an hour going from table to table doing balloon animals for mostly the children but also some of the adults. I got 15 minutes to eat my sandwiches for lunch and then a bit more ballooning whilst children queued for Father Christmas, who was in a little grotto which looked suspiciously like a garden shed... and then it was my turn to do my show, which I did more quickly than usual as I knew the time was getting on. I finished at 3.40 and rushed to get the stuff in the taxi, and came back to collect my payment. I got into Northallerton in good time for the 4.35 train back home... and my bike was still there, fortunately!
Gill was chatting with Ros, one of our neighbours and friends, and her son was playing with our two. I filled the woodbaskets and did some washing up, our guest went and then half an hour later I took our young guest home so he could have his tea. Gilly had made a veg stew with 'Cobbler' on top... this is becoming a favourite in our household.
A bit later, our other neighbour from down the road popped in to collect the money for our short break in Robin Hood's Bay and I cycled a very late York Green Festival cheque down to the mother of one of our comperes, whom we promised a small fee but forgot to pay....
Then settled down to doing a bit more fruit and sorting out a few bits and bobs for the next few days. What a day!
So, up at a civilised 9am to get out of the house by 10.15 to get the 10.45 up to Northallerton. I got to the station by 10.35, in time to go to the ticket office... but when trying to lock up my bike, my lock wouldn't work... I couldn't take the key out or do the lock up! Oh no... time ticking away, train arrived on Platform 10. I decided to 'lock' my bike up with my helmet strap, and took the part of the lock with my key embedded in it with me. The D part of the lock I left in my pannier with my gloves. I just hoped that the CCTV and the fact that there are loads of bikes there would mean that my bike would still be there when I got back...
So, I arrived at the train with a minute to spare, with no ticket, but a conductor on the train who would sell me one. When he got to me, I apologised for not having a ticket and explained why, and asked for a day return to Northallerton. He said that as I could have got a £9.20 Cheap Day Return at the station, he was supposed to sell me a Standard Return for £13 or £14, or an Open Return for £19. But he said he would do me a special deal, and give me a Cheap Day Return for £10. So I said, that sounds reasonable and gave him a ten pound note and asked for a receipt. He gave me the ticket and receipt, which said £9.20. In the next few minutes, I realised what had happened. He had sold me a cheaper ticket than I should have had, which was to my financial advantage, and he'd made 80 pence. I could not quite believe this so I asked him, when he next walked by, about my change. He looked surprised and said that he thought we had agreed that I would get a special deal... so I explained that I hadn't fully understood and could he explain again? He looked embarrassed and shifty, but when I said that I thought that he was getting a tip for letting me have a cheaper ticket, he agreed. We spoke for a few minutes and I left him with the illegally acquired £0.80. But I was quite gobsmacked as this was the first time I'd met a rail employee 'on the make'.
The taxi I booked yesterday was waiting at Northallerton, Coopers Cabs on 01677 424252 and the friendly driver took me all the way to the Black Sheep Brewery, for £25. I gave him £50 and asked to be picked up at 3.30 to 3.45, as agreed yesterday. I showed him the bike lock and miraculously it released the key. Very odd!
I had just 10 minutes to get myself ready before the punters started to arrive at midday. I was immediately surrounded by children wanting to 'do things' so I did an impromptu juggling workshop, which used all 10 of the conventional juggling balls I carry around, and some 'weird' ones; one which is full of eyeballs and can be squished, a couple which light up and one which is made of 12 rubbery fingers sticking out... plenty of yuk-factor there, and squeals of excitement.
I did a bit of devilsticking walkabout once every one had sat down, and then spent at least an hour going from table to table doing balloon animals for mostly the children but also some of the adults. I got 15 minutes to eat my sandwiches for lunch and then a bit more ballooning whilst children queued for Father Christmas, who was in a little grotto which looked suspiciously like a garden shed... and then it was my turn to do my show, which I did more quickly than usual as I knew the time was getting on. I finished at 3.40 and rushed to get the stuff in the taxi, and came back to collect my payment. I got into Northallerton in good time for the 4.35 train back home... and my bike was still there, fortunately!
Gill was chatting with Ros, one of our neighbours and friends, and her son was playing with our two. I filled the woodbaskets and did some washing up, our guest went and then half an hour later I took our young guest home so he could have his tea. Gilly had made a veg stew with 'Cobbler' on top... this is becoming a favourite in our household.
A bit later, our other neighbour from down the road popped in to collect the money for our short break in Robin Hood's Bay and I cycled a very late York Green Festival cheque down to the mother of one of our comperes, whom we promised a small fee but forgot to pay....
Then settled down to doing a bit more fruit and sorting out a few bits and bobs for the next few days. What a day!
A work day... so, up quite early to get ready to get to the station for the 10.22 to Northallerton, getting some cash out first as I was so low on the readies a day or two ago that I had to ask my son to lend me £20 (he's brilliant at not spending and is saving up for a Nintendo Wii).
I managed to write most of a letter on the train back to my friend Kate in Leeds who's sent me a nice 'Christmas Wishes' note; she doesn't have a computer and therefore regular easy communication takes a little bit more effort.
So, Northallerton came quickly and I waited just a couple of minutes for the Coopers Dales & AAA Taxi to come (excellent service in the Bedale and Northallerton area 01609 772295) who took me to Masham and (gently) dumped me in the car park of the Black Sheep Brewery.
I was in plenty of time to have a coffee and chats to my employer Sue D, then get changed and ready to be my usual boisterous colourful self, twiddling my stick (careful, John!) and making balloon models for excited children and plenty of giggling adults too. With children I just play it 'straight' and am funny just by being dressed up and clever doing what I do, but with adults I have a range of suggestive comments and puns which only grown-ups 'get' and this atmosphere, with the ale flowing, is the perfect environment for that kind of humour, so I had a lovely day (well three and a half hours with a 10 minute break actually).
Father Christmas was his usual popular self and everybody had a good time, with good food, even better beer and appropriate entertainment. A kind gentleman who comes every year bought me a pint, which I accepted towards the end of the event once I'd stopped juggling, as even a few mouthfuls of alcoholic drink slows my reactions enough for me to become noticeably rubbish at devilsticking, as it requires needs lightening reactions and, for me, complete abstinence from alcohol.
I was surprised how quickly the end came as I was enjoying myself so much, and got changed and paid, and as I got to the car park the taxi drew up to deliver me safely back to Northallerton. I met an interesting old couple in the station waiting room, who were heading off to the Black Forest for a week. They responded to my frank approach to conversation with some very private and personal information about their marriage, which was really interesting. They said if the rest of their holiday was as interesting as their 20 minutes in Northallerton Station waiting room, they'd have had a good holiday! I do love being me! (most of the time anyway...)
I came home via Country Fresh, arriving just in time to collect a box of recyclables which went onto my bike rack, and was home by 5.15. Gill had had a good day with the boys, with no difficulties (she'd let them spend most of the day on the computer) and a relatively peaceful evening ensued.
I managed to write most of a letter on the train back to my friend Kate in Leeds who's sent me a nice 'Christmas Wishes' note; she doesn't have a computer and therefore regular easy communication takes a little bit more effort.
So, Northallerton came quickly and I waited just a couple of minutes for the Coopers Dales & AAA Taxi to come (excellent service in the Bedale and Northallerton area 01609 772295) who took me to Masham and (gently) dumped me in the car park of the Black Sheep Brewery.
I was in plenty of time to have a coffee and chats to my employer Sue D, then get changed and ready to be my usual boisterous colourful self, twiddling my stick (careful, John!) and making balloon models for excited children and plenty of giggling adults too. With children I just play it 'straight' and am funny just by being dressed up and clever doing what I do, but with adults I have a range of suggestive comments and puns which only grown-ups 'get' and this atmosphere, with the ale flowing, is the perfect environment for that kind of humour, so I had a lovely day (well three and a half hours with a 10 minute break actually).
Father Christmas was his usual popular self and everybody had a good time, with good food, even better beer and appropriate entertainment. A kind gentleman who comes every year bought me a pint, which I accepted towards the end of the event once I'd stopped juggling, as even a few mouthfuls of alcoholic drink slows my reactions enough for me to become noticeably rubbish at devilsticking, as it requires needs lightening reactions and, for me, complete abstinence from alcohol.
I was surprised how quickly the end came as I was enjoying myself so much, and got changed and paid, and as I got to the car park the taxi drew up to deliver me safely back to Northallerton. I met an interesting old couple in the station waiting room, who were heading off to the Black Forest for a week. They responded to my frank approach to conversation with some very private and personal information about their marriage, which was really interesting. They said if the rest of their holiday was as interesting as their 20 minutes in Northallerton Station waiting room, they'd have had a good holiday! I do love being me! (most of the time anyway...)
I came home via Country Fresh, arriving just in time to collect a box of recyclables which went onto my bike rack, and was home by 5.15. Gill had had a good day with the boys, with no difficulties (she'd let them spend most of the day on the computer) and a relatively peaceful evening ensued.
