12) Pimbo Garden Centre, Pimbo

Thank you very much for all your kind comments.  I understand that it's natural to want to know more about me and for me to be an inspiration to you.  But as I have said before, please do not attempt to copy my work, its dangerous.  Please focus your energies in more postive ways.

While I am enjoing my home made Victoria Sponge and tea from the  Pimbo Garden Centre - £2.50.  I know it's home made because she told me so.  And it tastes it too.  She says that she did not make it otherwise the Fire Service would have attended the scene.  There's nothing to read but the Lancashire Life.  Now I always think that this is a bit of an odd magazine. There's not that much life in Lancashire, surely that it needs a whole magazine.    Most of it is filled with adverts  for fabulous houses in Lancashire, obviously occupied by the sort of person who can afford cake in the Boatman's Brasserie.  But the other strange bit is the social pages where estate agents and other 'professionals' are photographed in the middle of some function or other.  There's even a picture of a group of toffs at a masquerade ball.  I mean, what sort of twerp would go around with a mask on.   Don't they know how ridiculous they look.

Anyway the cake is good and so is the tea. The place is bright and airy.  

You can't get here by bus so don't even bother. You can get the train to Pimbo, it's the line between Kirkby and Wigan.

10) Brandreth Barn - A very nice moment

It was freezing cold today.  Bitter.  But nonetheless Trento had to be exercised.  I explained to Mrs R that I was unable to assist around the ranch because of this essential duty.  In these circumstances she completely understands.   It’s not like I was going out to amuse myself with some petty whim to avoid household chores.  No, this is animal care - an important task. 

Miss Victoria should be with me, but its cold so there's no chance of that.   I do like to take Trento to different places.  So today I took him to Martin Mere.  We were not staying. It was just a good place to park the car.

We (meaning me as Trento does not mind the cold) were wrapped up warm, and it was still cold.  The plan was to travel along the footpath from Martin Mere (sorry to keep mentioning this – other bird sanctuaries are available in West Lancs) to Mere Sands Wood.  This is a good, signposted walk.  Worth doing.

We started off with good intent. It’s a walk across the countryside.  However, it was not getting any warmer. We decided it would be best if we sat this one out. It had just gone 10am and I know that Brandreth Barn Tea Room is just up the road.  An easy choice.  I hitched him up outside and went in for the usual.The woman thought it was a bit odd that all I asked about at 10am, before they had any other cutomer, was cakes.  All homemade too.

I’d never been there before; it’s got a nice cottage-style look to it.  No sandwich cakes were available but they had fruit cake.   Different ones, £3.95 with a pot of tea.  When it arrived it looked and tasted good.  No bag, or website details – just made on the premises.  No further details are necessary.     And lots of fruit too.  Now Scone’s brother will tell you that he makes a great Christmas fruit cake but privately I can confess to you reader that this knocks the pants off his. 

The pot of tea is very good.  They have got round the problem of the first cup being too weak by putting two tea bags in the pot.  That's the sort of attention to detail a good cup of tea deserves.

The woman returned to the kitchen and carried on making food for the day ahead.  There were the smells and sounds of cooking.  It was a really pleasant experience.   But there was nothing to read.  Not even an old Lancashire Life.   The Kindle came out; I enjoyed both cake and tea.  After about twenty minutes flew by before it was time to collect Trento (he seemed happy outside - perhaps I should have let him enjoy it for a little longer) and to return home.   The nearest I can get to explaining the satisfaction involved would be to say that the pleasure of owning your own shed would be similar.

Best not to mention this to Mrs R, let her think that I’ve been looking after Trento.  No need to mention the cake either. When I got home she praised me for the care I was showing Trento. Its just as well he's not Mr Ed; she made me a fresh cup of tea to warm me up after the cold.  Very nice.

No buses go to Martin Mere or Brandreth Barn Tea Room.  You can get there by walking from Burscough Bridge Station, it’s signposted.  There’s even a great reed bed walk you can do on the way.   Fabulous.  Or you can get the train to New Lane Station, it’s about half a mile away.  Or you go to Jack Parker’s Cycle Shop in Burscough and hire a bike.