WAKEFIELD WALKING WOMEN'S NETWORK

Monday 27th January - a post-Barn Dance message from Chris S

27/1/2020

"Please thank the ladies and their guests that joined us for our 4th attempt at calling a Barn Dance. They were all fabulous and all looked to know what they were doing, which is just as well with my calling! We had a great night, but just won't mention "mint sauce".

They helped us make £365.50 for St Michael's Church (everyone's £5, minus the price of the pies) and £250.20 for Yorkshires Air Ambulance (raffle money).

Similar Saturday next year !!!!
Chris (I love my microphone) Swift.

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Sunday 19th January - Elsecar

19/1/2020

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Alison took the lead for this walk today around Elsecar, Wentworth Woodhouse & the follies. After a 7.5-8 mile walk, Gwenda was quick off the mark with these walk-words and photos. Thank you G!

"We were so lucky with the weather today in the Wentworth Woodhouse area. This was one of the Follies. We had a good laugh with our drink at Elsecar as we sat in the sun!!!! Ross was there too and it was great to have Sarah back walking with us today. Many thanks to Alison especially as a few of us were out last night at Chris's Barn dance too! "

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Sunday 12th January - Hotham Carr

19/1/2020

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It was Chrissie's turn to lead this 8 mile walk from Bunny Hill/Hotham Carr today. It seems it was a good walk with some sunny blue skies, though I've had an odd collection of photographs, most of which refer to sprouts, sprouts, and more sprouts! See for yourselves!

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Thursday 9th January - Notton and back to NVH for Jennifer's 70th celebrations

9/1/2020

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This is an eclectic collection of items for this blog, which you may think are nothing to do with walking. You'd be right, but they're everything to do with our caring, sharing, listening Walking Group. After a walk around Notton (which turned out to be very muddy, thanks to last night's downpour) everyone headed back to our Village Hall where there were home made cakes a-plenty, coffee, tea, lots of laughter and armfuls of fun. Jennifer had her birthday honoured and we all enjoyed the frivolities, with entertainment provided by our own very talented Pat and Bronners.

Thank you all for coming, and for making it a jolly afternoon.

There may be photos yet to arrive (?) but in the meantime for starters, here's a video of Laurel and Hardy (thank you for filming this Chrissie) and a cake recipe from Jan. (I told you - eclectic!)

Jan’s Squash and Orange Tray Bake

Serves eight or more

For the cake
150 g unsalted butter, softened
150 g caster sugar
4 medium eggs
320 g butternut squash, peeled and finely grated
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
2 oranges, peel and pith removed, segmented, then cut into small pieces
60 g ripe or soft dried apricots, cut into small pieces
60 g Italian candied mixed orange and lemon peel
250 g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

For the topping
30 g pumpkin seeds
200 g cream cheese
40 g icing sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest

For the cake

Pre-heat the oven to 200° C/180° C/400° F/Gas mark 6
Line a 30 cm x 20 cm tray bake tin with baking parchment
Beat the butter and sugar for five minutes until light in colour.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition (don’t forget this bit Jan!)
Place the squash and orange zest and segments in a bowl. (Drain off and reserve any liquid that is released.) Add to the butter mixture with the apricots and mixed candied peel.
Sift the flour with the baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and blend carefully into the wet ingredients. Pour the batter into the prepared tin.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until it bounces back to the touch. Place on a wire rack, still in the tin, and leave until cool. Turn out of the tin.

For the topping

Dry fry the pumpkin seeds until they pop, then set aside.
Mix the cream cheese with the icing sugar and 2 tablespoons of the reserved squash and orange juice and spread on top of the cake – I used a whisk because it went like gravy at first! Whisking thickened it up again.
Sprinkle with the pumpkin seeds and orange zest

NB: At the village hall I cut this into 18 pieces. If you add the eggs at the right time (rather than after you put the cake in the oven because you forgot!) I think the cake will be a lighter texture!

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Sunday 5th January - Cheese & Pickles Walk

8/1/2020

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Jayne W sent this, and some photos to me. As usual, she made me laugh!

Do stick with this post to the bottom; there were several contributors!

"I named this my Cheese and Pickles walk because we circumnavigated Cheesegate Nab and went over Pickles Bridge. Some ladies were expecting a slice of Cheddar and a pickled onion! Sorry to disappoint but they did get an ‘Anthrax’ biscuit by way of compensation. 13 WWWN members started at New Mill and went up and down and up and down some more through Fulstone and Hepworth enjoying the fantastic views. Our lunch break was made exciting by being on the route for 2 quad bikes and 3 Landrovers doing some ‘off roading’ and as we were on the bend we were glad they slowed down! Thank you for coming ladies it stayed dry and the mud is drying up a bit so all in all a good start to 2020."

Then Jeanette sent further photos in too - see below.

And finally, I found a WhatsApp message from Gwenda which I'd overlooked (sorry G!) and these two stunners were unearthed!

Thank you all for your contributions!

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Sunday, 22nd December - Walton and surrounds

2/1/2020

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Determined to disorder my usually orderly chronological blog posts, Chris just sent these walk-words to me about her walk just before Christmas. Thank you, as ever Chris, for your efforts, and a Happy New Year to you too! Anyone'd think you've been busy what with work AND Mother visits!

"The Swifty's Seasonal Saunter started with a little sing song "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" as there were only four as 4 of us to do the walk.
As we took a back route to Angler's Country park we had another sing song, "Good King Wenceslass" to move a group of cows out of the corner of the field that we needed to be in. They took a while and we had run out of words and were on to la la la's but eventually they moved. Had horns !!
Arriving at Angler's Country Park we decided to take advantage of the picnic tables. Who cared if it was only 11.10am, we were ready for our "brunch" which was followed by home made seasonal flapjack (mince meat added). The walk then joined the start of the Wakefield Way and we completed the first 3ish miles. Back to Walton, leaving the Way when it left the canal. Getting us all back to the car to complete the rest of the day shopping, cinema, getting ready for Mother visits.
Happy New Year everyone!
Chris"

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December 30th, 2019

30/12/2019

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Here's a missive from Jayne W about the last Sunday walk for 2019

Seven ladies tramped the fields and lanes of Epworth and Haxey for the last walk on the 2019 programme. The weather was mild and eventually sunny and although we still met with much mud there was no rain. Walk leader Chris kindly brought us all a piece of Christmas cake together with a chunk of Cheshire cheese to finish off our lunch. But as the log I sat on disintegrated under my festive bulk perhaps I should have declined! Hey ho it will all change in 2020 won’t it?

Thanks Chris and Chrissy.

And here are three photographs from Jayne too - thank you J!!

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Thursday 19th December - Notton Village Hall

23/12/2019

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After Jan & Elaine's walk around Notton, walkers and non-walkers were united in Notton Village Hall for mince pies, coffee, tea and the occasional mulled wine. Maybe it was the mulled wine that fuelled the fun and frolicks, but we were treated to some wonderfully funny entertainment, as only WWWN know how ... when they've had mulled wine!

Seriously, thanks go predominantly to Jennifer, Pat C and Bronners for taking the time and trouble to prepare two sketches for us. They were both hilarious and they were captured on my iPhone, with video taken by Elaine B (thanks for obliging at short notice E).

After a bit of faffing I managed to get these two films uploaded onto YouTube, so here they are in all their unedited glory. It was an afternoon to remember! Enjoy!

Jennifer introduces the exceptionally Talented Twins Pat & Billy

Pat & Bronners - Dynamic Comedy Duo

And finally, a few photos of said Duo. Inexplicable! Here's hoping they speak for themselves!

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Thursday 12th December - Kaye Arms, WWWN Christmas lunch

15/12/2019

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Sunday 15th December - Flockton

15/12/2019

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A Chrisssstmassssy Tale from Jan

It was a cold wet December day when we set off on our pre-Christmas lunch walk. We had cleared only four stiles (Katrina was keeping count) and maybe half a mile when we met Sid. He was curled up in a livid pink heap, ice cold and immobile until Jules gave him a gentle prod with her stick. At this, he reared his head and opened his little reptilian mouth and gave us an angry show of fangs.

Sid was obviously no native snake but a good guess at a North American Corn Snake (knowledge gained via an obsessed-with-creatures-six-year-old-grandson) put minds at rest that he was fairly harmless. It was also obvious that he would not survive long in the very cold weather and something must be done.

So it was that four women and a snake ended up in a veterinary hospital somewhere near Huddersfield. Sid had perked up during the ride thanks to being swaddled in a leg- warmer made from a recycled charity shop jumper – orders for this fashion item being taken. On arrival at the hospital he was considerably more active and ever so slightly warmer.

He was taken by a wonderful nurse to be slowly defrosted and his rescuers bid him a very emotional goodbye, even the one who is terrified of serpents!

A call to the vet at about 5pm revealed Sid was making good progress and looking forward to a nice mouse when it was defrosted. Visiting times were flexible and we were urged to call next day for further reports. Meanwhile said grandson was getting quite excited at the possibility of having a new friend – one who shared the same name in fact!

I would love to continue this festive tale of peace and goodwill to all creatures great, small and slithery in a similar tone but alas dear friends, that is not to be. A call next day was met with the sad news that Sid had “taken a turn for the worse” during the night and in the early hours of Friday 13th the vet had decided that on humane grounds this beautiful creature should be put to rest.

We can only hope we did the right thing for Sid and that if there is an afterlife he is now somewhere warm with a plentiful supply of fresh, not frozen, mice. May he rest in peace.