What hides in the cupboard at Christmas? A mince spy!
Birtley News is back by popular demand for its review of the year. Your Correspondent (YC) has been contacted by at least 2 folk wanting an update. And he knows there's lots of other readers who are too shy to ask.
We've clocked up a year in Braithwaite - how time flies when you are enjoying yourself. With the fells on our doorstep, it won't surprise readers that we have accrued many hours on the hill. YC has notched up numerous fell races. These range from a 3.5 mile dash around Sale Fell to a 37 mile day out on the Old County Tops - where YC and John T reached the lofty heights of 2nd old gadgies (V110) team.
Our carbon footprint has reduced. We have cut down to one car, and YC has acquired a recycled bike for trips into Keswick. This year we made it to the Dolomites by public transport - ferry to Amsterdam and sleeper to Innsbruck. If it's more than 30 minutes drive to the fell, we think twice about it. We mainly work from home. YC takes the train for occasional trips to the office or London for work.
The mundane but necessary task of slaking the raging fellrunner's thirst is usually fulfilled by The Royal Oak - a short walk away - which serves an acceptable pint of Cumberland.
A week's walking in north-west Scotland at Poolewe allowed us to look up old haunts and find some new ones. Can any sharp-eyed reader identify the Munro in the photo below? It's a lonnng walk in. We've been there twice now.
It isn't all blinking marvellous. We have our ups and downs like everyone else. It's not hard to spot inequality and injustice in the world. YC had the novel experience of joining a union this year which brought the current strike action into sharp focus.
But there is some good news. Check out Isaiah 9:6 - Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
So on that jolly note, the must-read magazine "Fellrunner" recently arrived. YC turned straight to his favourite page - the Junior Wordsearch. But crumbs! He was dismayed to find he didn't feature in the list of famous fellrunners appearing in this edition's search. So to put matters right, YC ends with a merry puzzle of his own for readers.
B L H A P P PY M N S A M T S I R H C P N R E A D E R S Q A M O R F D G Y C
 |
| Racing on our local fells at Buttermere Sailbeck |
 |
| Debrief on the Fell Relays navigation leg - "you need a go-faster Chevy Chase buff, lads" |
 |
| Via Ferrata with Emma in The Dolomites |
 |
| The view from which remote Munro? |