Rob in the Hood: You don’t get rid of me that easily

Greetings, old friends! Yes, I’m still around. You don’t get rid of me that easily. It’s a case of taking it nice and slow these days.

Covid has put the brakes on life as we know it.

One of the perks of the job was meeting nice people living down here, many with a fine tale to tell.

Now, it’s a case of the Lone Ranger meets the Mask of Zorro, or who’s the face behind the mask?

ALSO READ : Rob in the ‘Hood: ‘Don’t get around much anymore’

In the meantime, I’m scribing just once a month, instead of weekly, though some wag said that I write ‘weakly’. Cheek!

On with the show.

Cooling off in the Midlands

You have to agree that the weather has been a bit hot for this time of the year.

I suppose we say the same every year, murmuring that we must get out of this inferno.

The CO and I decided to do something about it and get out of town.

And especially so as she was to reaching a ‘certain birthday’, to be celebrated in style, we decided to do a little Midlands Meandering, and cool off.

All was going swimmingly well, until we hit Nottingham Road.

The heavens opened, the rains came down, the temperature dropped to a mean 15 degrees.

No umbrella, no wellies, no jackets.

We might as well have been in ice-bound London Town; well, not quite, but as pampered South Coasters, we felt the pinch in the air.

The Midlands Meander is something special, the green, green grass of home, all in an idyllic setting.

What a pity the whole place was shrouded in mist and torrential rain.

My beloved car has a thing about being caked in mud and it was all heavy going.

Famous and favourite hotels and restaurants were closed, which put a damper on all things social.

But a good time was had by everybody, seeing old friends. Pity about the weather. We returned home, rusty, shivering.

From 15 degrees, back to 30 degrees.

We might have a few irritants down here (who said potholes?) but you just cannot beat our way of life here – sunshine, blue skies, the warmth, both weather-wise, and the people.

There’s a whiff in the air

One of the many pleasure living down here is taking the airs along Lilliecrona Boulevard, Uvongo.

It is a delight and everybody greets one another, whether they be joggers or strollers.

However, getting there to Lilliecrona is now becoming one of life’s little challenges.

Beaumont Avenue, Uvongo, has been ‘torn up’, the road is nigh on impassable, deteriorating by the day.

The general consensus is that the road has been destroyed by the never-ending convoy of ‘honey-sucker’ vehicles transporting waste from the sewerage sub-station on Lilliecrona.

This operation has seen four vehicles collecting the stuff, non-stop for the past four weeks. Locals don’t know what to make of all this.

The recent tourist season couldn’t have let their feelings flow in full vent: there wasn’t enough visitors this year.

Maybe it was a culmination of years of neglect by the you-know-who?

However, Beaumont Avenue is now a ‘no go’ road, unless, you have the latest 4×4!

Meanwhile, carry on strolling along Lilliecrona.

Just hold your breath, pinch your nose together, wear your mask. Right now it’s a case of playing ping-pong, without the ping.

New job: Agony Uncle

Having become a part-time scribe for the Herald, I was beginning to think I’ve nothing to do, anymore.

But, as one door closes, another door opens. I have become something of an Agony Uncle. No kidding.

I have had to listen and endure all those Liverpool football supporters, who are drowning in their sorrows at the demise of their beloved team.

Wally Williams of St Mike’s has gone into hiding, his wife Hazel phoned me with a cry for help, and Herald editor David Rush says ‘he wants to be alone’.

Of course, being a life-long Manchester City supporter I understand how these Scouse fans are feeling. Their world has come to the end.

Dare I say it, but my beloved team is doing pretty well.

Never too late, Wally and Rushie, to be converted. As Kevin Keegan once said: ‘I’m loving it; just loving it!’

By the way, see you next week! As a treat I’m letting the Herald have a ‘special story’, so watch this space!

See you, Rob.

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