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Book Review

My Mess is a Bit of a Life – yes you did read that correctly – is how author Georgia Pritchett described herself to a friend – meaning of course to say it the other way round. But then she thought, actually it makes sense that way.

Her book is subtitled Adventures in Anxiety. Now you may be one of those god-like creatures who doesn’t have the Worry Worm peering over your shoulder at just about every opportunity. In that case this book is probably not for you – except perhaps to see how the other half lives and count yourself blessed.

But for the rest of us mortals Ms Pritchett’s account of her life will probably give you glorious moments of recognition, amusement, entertainment and maybe the odd gulp in the throat.

It’s not by any stretch a self help book. Some of her little chunks of her early life might be a bit much – after all most children can be a little out of water and strange, but as she moves into adulthood, she really starts to hit the button. And her descriptions of later family life make you think it’s no wonder she suffered from anxiety. It may not be your life, but it’s often stuff you can relate to.

So, not for everyone, but it’s funny and sad at the same time. And wrapped up in a real skill for writing. As you’d expect from someone who has been writing for comedians such as Graham Norton and programmes including The Thick of It and Have I got News for You.

Anamazinglife

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w or k ers K ey Thank Y ou NHS &

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Vintage Rambles with rafa and Flake

This is a great walk for the summer months ahead. We originally featured it in 2015 and there have been a couple of small changes but the route is great and there is a lovely mix of countryside with some cracking views. The dogs also loved this walk and even found a stream to splash around in and there was plenty of opportunity to go off lead so it got their double paw of approval. 5½ MILE CIRCULAR FROM GRASSMOOR COUNTRY PARK. A gentle walk for you and your dog. This medium length walk should 2 1/2 hours. There are some sections of uneven terrain and a number of stiles to cross. There are a couple of busy road sections, so please take plenty of care and make sure you wear appropriate footwear for the conditions.

START: GRASSMOOR COUNTRY PARK, BIRKIN LANE, OFF B6039 BETWEEN TEMPLE NORMANTON AND GRASSMOOR.

1. From the car park standing with your back to the road and keeping a pond on your right, continue straight ahead to join a trail. Bear right and pass a second pond on your right. 2. After the second pond you will begin to gently descend. Upon reaching a large metal gate, take the path to the right of the gate and continue to pass through a small metal gate. After a very short distance and prior to a main road turn left onto a signposted footpath. 3. Follow the path for a short distance and at a marker post on the edge of the golf course, bear left. At another marker post keep ahead to enter some trees with the golf course on your right and a fence on your left. Go up some steps and when the fence on your left ends, continue gently uphill keeping the golf course on your right. 4. After passing a bunker on your right and reaching a marker post on your left, bear right to cut across the golf course, taking care for any flying golf balls! Pass through a line of trees and ‘hole 8’ on your left and then follow the path round to the left to gently descend. Cross a gravel path and keep ahead, passing a pond on your right. Take care crossing the fairway to head to a wooden footbridge and pass by the club house and car park on your right. 5. Continue straight along the golf course driveway until reaching a main road. At the main road turn right and continue until reaching a roundabout.

6. Cross straight over the roundabout and then turn immediately left into some trees along a signposted footpath. After passing through the trees continue straight along a lane. After a short distance, the lane bends sharp left. At this point turn right through a gap to cross an open field. 7. After crossing over 4 stiles you will cross an open field whilst gently climbing uphill. Upon reaching a hedgerow stretching out ahead of you, continue straight with this hedge on your right. Where this hedgerow ends, continue straight now with a different hedge on your left. After a short distance, pass through a gap and continue straight with a hedge on both sides.

8. Continue to cross over a stile and then cross a field with a hedge on your left. At the far side pass through a metal gate and then turn right onto a single track tarmac road. At the end of the road, turn right along a main road. After a short distance turn left through a signposted gate and into a field. 9. Cross the field with the hedge on your left. At the far side go to the right of the houses in front of you and pass through a wooden gate into a field. Cross the field with a hedge on your left. After a short distance pass through another wooden gate and continue straight with houses on your left and a fence on your right. 10. Where the path bends sharp left continue straight through a gap in the fence and into a field. Continue keeping the hedge on your left. Eventually cross over a double stile, cross over a main road and cross over another stile into a field. 11. Continue straight with a hedge on your left. Where the hedge ends, continue straight towards a telegraph pole. Just beyond the telegraph pole, turn left over a stile and follow a path between two buildings to a main road.

12. Turn left along the road for a short distance and then turn right along a single-track tarmac road that is signposted for a footpath. Cross over a dual carriageway and then turn immediate right down some steps into a field. 13. At the bottom of the steps, turn right keeping the hedge on your right. After a very short distance, bear left along the boundary of the field. Continue until you reach a hedgerow on your left. At this point turn 90 degrees left and then continue straight keeping the hedgerow on your right. 14. With a small wooded area on your right continue over a lane and keep ahead to keep a fence on your right. Continue to pass by a pylon on your right and then head gently downhill until reaching a river. At this point turn right keeping the river on your left. 15. Continue to pass through a wooden gate, keeping the river on your left at all times. Pass over a wooden footbridge then turn immediate right, then left and continue straight with a hedge on your left.

16. After a short distance, the border of the field that you are in bears slightly right. At this point, continue straight for a very short distance and then turn right onto a farm track. Pass by a pylon on your right and continue along the track until reaching a main road. 17. Turn right along the main road and cross over a dual carriageway. Continue straight for a short distance and then the main road bends around to the left. Just after the left turn, bear right along a signposted bridleway. 18. Continue straight along the bridleway until reaching a road. Turn right along the road and head steeply downhill.

19. When nearing the bottom of the hill and just prior to a metal fence and pond on your right, turn right. Pass immediately through a gap in the metal fence and continue to skirt around the edge of the pond which is now on your left. Cross over a wooden footbridge between two ponds and continue until you reach the car park.

This walk is for illustrative purposes only. Voice Magazines Ltd takes no responsibility for anyone who chooses to follow this route and encourages all walkers to obey all byelaws and signs and to respect the area they are walking in, ensuring they pick up all dog mess and obey the countryside code at all times.

Grassmoor

Winsick Hasland Wingerworth