Happy memories of days ‘wildlife watching’ with Oaf
Greece will be a popular holiday destination as summer nears. SARAH MARSHALL learns more
MY dear departed friend, Pete ‘Oaf’ Bromhall, the one time star of this column, is still a constant companion three years after his passing, not least because I have countless photographs from our jaunts across Europe in search of wildlife, but ‘Facebook Memories’ and random old snaps, from the Far East of Poland to the Western Isles of Scotland, ensure he pops up when I’m least expecting him.
Take this picture here, three rogues if ever there were any; myself, Oaf and his son Henry during a sea-fishing trip off the coast of County Kerry 30 years ago.
I should point out that ‘wildlife watching’ was a euphemism for travel, Irish music, fine food and plenty of drink and sometimes a game of rugby.
What a heady mix and Oaf appeared at least once a month in my columns across the land.
We were the Laurel and Hardy of our time and he got more mail than me.
He was naturally funny without knowing it, like once when driving past a Little Chef restaurant Oaf said, ‘How does he reach that grill?’ and another time as we watched a salmon run, it was, ‘Hey Woody, there’s a flying fish!’
He was a bit like me
Mam really with her spoonerisms; ‘I won’t be down this weekend,’ she would say, ‘I’ve got a bit of a chest injection’, and my favourite mix-up with regard to my many interests, ‘Sean, you’ve got too many balls in the fire!’ Ouch, Mother.
As for Oaf, there are so many tales.
But I loved his innocence with the following when, tongue in cheek, I asked him to bring a brace of swans to my 60th birthday weekend in the Dales and he asked, ‘Can I get them from Mettrick’s?’
Our first jam-packed adventure was probably around 1980, when we visited my artist friend
Edna Whyte on the Isle of Luing, a tiny slate isle in the Inner Hebrides.
Edna is 90 this year and still making work for exhibitions from Ayr to Inverness, delivering the work herself in a little green Mini; a true inspiration. Edna loved Oaf.
We saw whistling otters for breakfast, prancing roe deer for lunch and a host of whales and dolphins breaching for dinner; Luing is indeed a Paradise and we returned many times.
In recent years Southern Ireland was our favoured destination and the story of the three of us in the picture was taken on our first trip to Kerry and centres around young Henry.
You see, there were about five of us sea-fishing and everyone, including Henry, was pulling out good sized cod and pollack for the table that night, whilst I had ‘ner a nibble, not even a tickle, not even a lick of a fish’s lip.
I pretended not to care and carried on, pointing out this and that, a minke here and ‘that’s a red gurnard there, put it back’, only to see it lifted off of the surface by a lesser black backed gull.
On reflection, what a waste as they are delicious, but oh so beautiful.
Suddenly I felt a little pull on the line, but being ‘ultra-cool’, I said nothing, then it became a definite yank, followed by an unfeasibly bent rod and I let out the immortal, ‘Got a big ‘un here lads!’
It soon became a tug of war, as I hauled my way, only to get a mighty tug back the other and very soon I had one foot up against the side of the boat and the rod bent double.
At this stage, I heard the Captain shout, ‘Begorra, the young fella, he’s going in!’ as he jumped up and grabbed hold of Henry’s shoulders before he went sleeping with the fishes.
Truth is, it could easily have been me that was keel-hauled, as our lines had tangled beneath the boat and as I pulled one way, Henry pulled the other.
And yes, I returned to our cottage at Portmagee empty handed, but did have the consolation of cooking Henry’s cod.
Valentia Island was just across the way, where the first transatlantic telegraph signals were made in on 16th August 1858 with the message “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and good will to men.”
Sadly, there were no outgoing messages that day concerning the size of my catch, so let’s finish with another Oafism.
If I asked him on my way to the bar, ‘what do you want Oaf?’ he would always reply, ‘World peace and happiness Woody’, and you can’t say fairer than that.
What a gift Oaf and me Mam had, to make us laugh for always.
A‘LIFELINE’ emergency fund to help people in need of critical assistance with food or essential supplies due to the pandemic, has provided almost £35,000 worth of relief to Valley residents.
Rossendale council asked Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Council for Voluntary Service (BPRCVS) to administer the Local Authority Emergency Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies, a oneoff limited contribution for local authorities in England.
The purpose of the grant scheme is to help residents who have been adversely financially affected by Covid-19. Many have lost jobs, or have been furloughed on reduced income. With children home from school household bills have increased significantly and BPRCVS say some Universal Credit payment delays have exacerbated the situation too.
The scheme provided up to £100 towards food and up to £200 towards essential items, such as heating bills, essential household items, essential items for children, and vouchers for supermarkets, school uniforms, or essential furniture.
Since the launch of this scheme in October 2020, BPRCVS has been inundated with enquiries and referrals. They have repurposed staff from other areas to accommodate the number of referrals, with more than 160 received from across the Rossendale Valley. The charity has worked tirelessly to help every one of these people.
Coun Steve Hughes, Rossendale council’s cabinet member for communities, thanked CVS for administering the vital grants.
He said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed people to the edge and for lots of families, the basic essentials like electricity, food and personal hygiene products have become unaffordable. These grants have made a massive difference to families that have been struggling.”
The scheme has also helped to reduce stress and anxiety for many recipients.
BPRCVS staff member Sue Cole said it has been ‘absolutely vital to some and a genuine life saver’.
“It has been a challenge, but one that has been worthwhile,” she said.
“Hearing the circumstances of people in need has been very difficult at times and highly emotional. I found myself surprised and moved by the situation people have found themselves in through no fault of their own.”
Scheme manager Tracey Noon said: “This scheme has been a lifeline for some. Great partnership working has been the key throughout this pandemic. Some fantastic relationships have been built and will continue as we come out of this crisis.”
For more information or should you have any questions, please contact BPRCVS on emergencyassistancerossendale@ bprcvs.co.uk or phone Rossendale Connected on 01706 252520.
A FIRM favourite with British and Irish travellers, Greece is set to become a prime holiday destination this summer, after its government announced it would be welcoming all vaccinated tourists from May.
But where to go? Here’s a selection of some of the most alluring spots.
BEST FOR HIPSTERS: Mykonos
A party isle popular with bohemians since the 1960s, this island was experiencing a renaissance in pre-Covid days, as celebs filled clubs and bars.
Beaches such as Paradise and Super Paradise are magnets for hedonists, but elsewhere on the island, there are more sedate spots. Of the 25 beaches available, family favourite Elia has the longest white sand sweep; Platis Gialos and Kalafatis are great for water sports.
Hora (also known as Mykonos Town) is a maze of narrow bougainvillea-draped streets, packed with boutique shops, cafés and picturesque churches.
BEST FOR ROMANTICS: Santorini
Sunsets are the number one attraction on this Greek island, a flooded caldera carved by a volcanic eruption almost 3,500 years ago.
Take a boat trip to the Nea Kameni and hot springs at Palia Kameni, or head inland to the village of Pyrgos to enjoy the slow pace of local life.
While cruise ships and Instagrammers flock to the north, the opposite end of the island is still sleepy.
BEST FOR CULTURE: Peloponnese
Some of the country’s most important archaeological sites can be found in this scenic mainland peninsula. The birthplace of the Olympic Games in 776BC, Olympia features a temple of Zeus, the ancient stadium, and a museum explaining the story.
At Epidaurus, tourists can wander around a theatre famed for its acoustics, where performances are staged throughout the summer. Mycenae, with its giant stone walls, is famous for its connections to the Trojan War.
Beautiful beaches and seaside towns are an added attraction. Built against the slopes of a large rock, Monemvasia is one of the prettiest.
BEST FOR FAMILIES Halkidiki Coast
Fingers of sandy beaches are backed by forests along the Halkidiki coastline in mainland northern Greece.
While Kassandra is populated by tourist resorts, Sithonia is far less commercial and attracts adventurers to its traditional villages, Blue Flag beaches and secluded coves. But Gerakini and Psakoudia beaches both have a decent selection of tavernas and sun loungers.
Athos, is home to a traditional Byzantine monastic community. Although, only men with special permission can enter the sacred site.
BEST FOR ALL ROUNDERS: Corfu
One of the first islands to establish a tourism industry, Corfu is perennially popular.
Influenced by the Venetians, French and English, baroque and Renaissance architecture characterises the Old Town, declared a Unesco world heritage site.
One of the best beaches to visit is Mirtiotissa, on the west coast between the villages of Pelekas and Vatos. Set against rugged, steep cliffs, its beauty has been applauded by various poets and writers – but privacy has also made it a favourite spot for nudists.
Health & Lifestyle
ENDOMETRIOSIS is not uncommon – in fact, it’s believed to affect one in 10 women.
Yet it’s still widely misunderstood, and those affected can struggle for years before getting proper help.
Because it’s associated with the menstrual cycle (it occurs when cells similar to those that grow in the womb lining grow outside the womb too, resulting in inflammation, scar tissue or adhesions and blood-filled cysts/endometriomas), it’s often dismissed as being ‘just bad periods’.
But endometriosis is a medical condition which can have a huge impact. So, this Endometriosis Month, which runs through March, here are eight things everyone needs to know...
1. It’s not ‘just period pain’
A bit of cramping with your period is normal. But as Faye Farthing, campaigns and communications manager for Endometriosis UK, points out, one of the big myths around endometriosis is that people should “just get on with it” because it’s “just a bad period”.
“Comments like this can be really damaging, not only to those experiencing the symptoms, but to society as a whole, as they are preventing people from seeking help and allowing taboos about menstrual health to continue,” adds Faye.
2. Symptoms can be complex
“Endometr i o s i s affects everyone differently. Whilst some may not experience many symptoms at all, for others, it can be debilitating,” says Faye.
“Common symptoms include pelvic pain, painful or irregular periods, pain during or after sex, painful bowel movements, pain when urinating, fatigue, and difficulty getting pregnant.”
3. A diagnosis can take years
“It takes – on average – a shocking eight years to diagnose endometriosis,” says Faye.
“A recent report in October 2020 by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Endometriosis of 10,000 patients, also found that prior to getting a diagnosis, 58% visited their GP more than 10 times; 43% visited doctors in hospital over five times; and 53% had to visit A&E.
“During this time, many will be misdiagnosed, and in some cases, even told it’s ‘in their head’. Not only can the disease worsen if left untreated, delayed diagnosis can have a huge impact on someone’s mental health, career and relationships.”
4. Disruptive periods aren’t normal
Symptoms that render you housebound, unable to function or land you in A&E are not normal.
“If you are struggling to get a diagnosis – keep going,” says Faye.
“Keep a pain and symptoms diary, so you can share with your GP what symptoms you’re experiencing and how they’re impacting you.
“And you can always ask for a second opinion or see a different GP if you are dissatisfied.”
5. A suitable investigation is vital
Being referred to a specialist is important, as endometriosis needs specific investigations to be confirmed. While ultrasounds and MRI scans can be useful, a “laparoscopy is the gold standard diagnostic test for endometriosis”, says women’s health expert Dr Nitu Bajekal MD FRCOG, a senior ObsGyn consultant and member of Plant Based Health Professionals.
“This is a keyhole procedure that allows the surgeon to perform a thorough assessment of the pelvis and confirm the diagnosis, take biopsies, and the endometriosis can also be treated at the same time by an experienced surgeon.”
6. There’s a psychological toll
“The mental health impact can be huge,” says Faye. “Years of fighting for a diagnosis, coupled with many of the symptoms already associated with poor mental health, such as chronic pelvic pain and infertility, is contributing to many of those with endometriosis also reporting poor mental health.
“There needs to be pathways in place so that those with the condition have access to support for both their physical and mental health.
“And endometriosis can be unpredictable – it can have a huge impact on people’s social lives and relationships.”
7. Treatment may involve surgery
Managing endometriosis can vary from person to person and usually begins with the most conservative treatment options, such as pain relief and hormonal treatments, but surgery may be required.
“Surgery is definitely indicated in endometriosis for some, to relieve pain, improve fertility, treat cysts and release scar tissue,” says Dr Bajekal.
Again, this usually means a laparoscopy, where the surgeon can remove scar tissue/adhesions.
More complex cases may involve other organs such as the bladder and bowel, and some people may have radical surgery (removal of the ovaries and/or uterus), although this is a last resort.
8. There is hope
Finding the right treatments for you can make a huge difference.
Dr Bajekal says lifestyle measures can also play an important role.
“There is always a place for making changes that can make a difference in the overall management of endometriosis, whether it helps with better control of menstrual or bowel symptoms, or quicker recovery from major surgery,” says Dr Bajekal.
She adds that there’s “growing evidence to suggest avoiding meat and eating a high fibre plant-based diet can help with symptoms. [And] acupuncture, breathing techniques, yoga and regular exercise can all help with pain management.”
These aren’t a replacement for appropriate medical interventions, but can play a part in supporting your health and sense of control over your wellbeing.
Endometriosis UK can also be a great source of support.
“If you also need someone to talk to, do reach out to our support services,” says Faye. “We run a helpline, online forum, and support groups across the UK (currently online), as well as a series of webinars.”
For more information, endometriosis-uk.org
Endometriosis affects everyone differently.
Whilst some may not experience many symptoms at all, for others, it can be debilitating
Faye Farthing, above, campaigns and communications manager for Endometriosis UK
visit