Pilgrimage to Morley.

Up at seven and breakfast on rye toast and apricot jam, with strong black Italian coffee. Norman has to have Bakers, but doesn't seem to mind, as there is nothing better on offer. Outside it is a little brighter today, but still cold and dry. I phone Felicity's sister, Joy, and offer to visit tomorrow, in order to allow Melissa to have a break and I leave it to Joy to persuade her niece to do this. She says she will try and says she also thinks Mel could do with a break. Afterwards I take Normy for a walk as far as the little bridge over the drain. Now the bitter east wind has dropped, it is quite pleasant out, although still unseasonably cold and as the air coming in from the east is so dry, all the puddles have disappeared. The alpacas at the farm are sat snug in their thick woolly coats and chew their cud while they watch us go past, they have that look, a sort of bored disdain on their face, that is common to all camels. It is as if to say, "what whimps, they need to drink and eat every week"! In the fields the farmer is ploughing and getting ready to sew, a flock of gulls are trailing behind his tractor, feasting on the insects and worms he turns over. We return home for half eleven, I load Norman into the car and then set off to drive to West Yorkshire, where I have arranged to meet my sister at the Mermaid Fish Restaurant in Morley, near Leeds. It is on the same road as the Asda superstore and when we arrive, shortly before one o'clock, we can't access the restaurant car park because of the solid phalanx of supermarket traffic trying to rejoin the main road. It looks like the restaurant car park is pretty full anyway, which is no surprise for Good Friday, so I am forced to park in the supermarket. Luckily someone pulls out of a space quite near to the restaurant as I approach, and within minutes I have parked and walked across the road to the Mermaid. Jackie and her husband are waiting for me in the bar and another brother, Chris and his wife Michelle, are also there. After five minutes we are shown to our tables, where the waitress takes our order, but it takes another fifteen minutes for the food to arrive, as there isn't a spare chair in the restaurant and a queue of people by the door, still waiting to get in. The fish is freshly cooked and perfectly presented. We spend the next hour and a half eating lunch and chatting, with the waitress bringing fresh pots of tea as we use them up. It is a Wood family trait to like lots of very strong tea. At half past two we call it a day, Chris and Michelle go off to the supermarket to shop and Jackie and Gino come with me to the Next Store, at a retail park in Birstall, where I buy an outfit for Laura, for her birthday. First I take fashion advice from a ten year old girl, who is with her mum, who tells me what is in for the spring. Apparently it is denim dungaree shorts, with a body warmer, Jackie suggests a blue and white striped shirt, with pink detailing, to complete the ensemble. I buy Laura's sister, Rebecca, a pink leather handbag, in lieu of an Easter egg so that she won't feel left out. According to Jackie, teenage girls can't have too many shoes or handbags. Jackie buys some bathroom mats from the house store upstairs and it strikes me that if I followed suit, I might not need to mop my dirty footprints off the bathroom floor every day. We leave Next armed with presents and bath mats, and then drive to Jackie's house, which is only ten minutes away. Gino makes some more tea and then we watch the last half hour of the Hull Rugby League Derby, which Hull KR win easily. We leave at half past four, after Gino has spoiled Norman with a slice of roast beef. Irene's husband, David, always gives him roast beef as well, so Normy probably thinks it is a family custom. On the way back, I take an alternative route, following the M1 north as far as the A64, York Road, and then turning east on to the a1033 to Beverley. I pass my cousin, Irene's house at Copmanthorpe, but don't call in, as they are on holiday in Majorca until tomorrow. We arrive home for a quarter to six, the alternative route is perhaps five minutes quicker than staying on the M62, but today, at least, it was an easier run and less boring than coming back the same way. Gino has given me another slice of beef for Norman, which I add to his dog tin for dinner after which, he sleeps in the chair, whilst I research a planned holiday to Lippstadt, in Germany, during the summer. I lived there for five years in the 1960's and have fond memories of the place. There is an airport 26 kilometres away in Paderborn and direct flights from London City airport can be had for a little over £120 return and a decent gasthaus room in the town is between 30-50 euros per night. Provisionally I have pencilled in the last week in July, Wednesday the 24th, to Wednesday the 31st, but a lot can happen between now and then. Surfing around on the web, just eats up time and before I know it, it is time for bed, and I had planned to swim this evening. At least the rest will give my sore ear a chance to recover.