PRESTON

 MEANDERTHALS do LUNCH  (2 Miles +)

LUNCHING LADS :-  Anthony, Danny, Dave, Frank,

                                    Harry, Jim, John R, John W,

                                    Martin, Mike, Paddy, Peter (guest)

                                    Vic .

Just over a year ago, Martin, one of our stalwart walkers, slipped in the snow. He broke several vertebrae in his upper spine. Since then he has been unable to move from his shoulders down. He is at present living in Moor Park house.

Over the years it has become a Meanderthal tradition that anyone unable to manage the whole of the planned  walk would drive out to meet us as we stopped for lunch. I myself did this after a knee replacement operation some years ago.

Turning this tradition on it's head we decided that if if Mohamet could not come to the mountain then the mountain would have to come to Mohamet.

So... after leaving our cars close to Preston North End's Stadium, here we are making our way across Moor Park to the care home

A walk, if only minimal, is de-rigeur as part of our Thursday meetings so we took a rambling route to the house on the A6.

As we walked , Peter our temporary Meanderthal,  spotted that vandals , or more kindly, comedians, had turned the direction posts round. He suggested (Nay demanded 😠) that John used his stick to reach up and put it right. Eventually he did.......... Move on !.......... How did Vic get on that photo he didn't arrive till later.

Our decidedly short route still took us past the Jeremiah Horrocks observatory.....

and the Tennis courts.

We arrived at the home at about 11.45 . John Russell and Dave Eastham were already there waiting for us in the foyer.

It took several minutes for all of us to sign in using the computerised system.

The foyer, as you can see, was decorated with hearts upon which were written the names of the residents.

Here's Martin's.

The home were happy for us to use the Garden Room which was almost opposite Martins room.

After some delay signing in we all gathered in the Garden room (Garden Retreat) and soon after Martin joined us in his electric wheelchair.

The door just visible to the front right of the corridor is the Garden Room. Martin's room is along the corridor on the left just past the OFFICE WINDOW.

Some of the group can talk the hind legs off Donkeys others prefer to listen and enjoy. All in all everyone, particularly Martin, enjoyed the jokes, stories and general badinage.

Danny took  charge of the camera saying he would take a photo of me (John W) so that I would appear on the blog. That's me hiding behind the small white tree with a twig stuck up my nose. Good Photo Danny 😮👍

The staff at the home were delightful. The two young ladies in this photo brought us all cups of tea/coffee as soon as we arrived.

As we left we offered to sweep the floor (Luncheon crumbs and bits of mud from our walk through the park).  " No! No ! " they insisted " We can do that when you've gone."

And so we left as Martin steered his electric chair back to his room.

A successful visit which we shall certainly repeat before long.

J.W.