CYHA News

Thank you everyone who helped make Dave’s birthday weekend in Milton Keynes so special. We had a lovely walk on the Saturday, taking in the Grand Union Canal and of course the concrete cows.  It was a beautiful autumn day, a bit chilly, but lovely leaves all the colours from rust to green. We were back at Bradwell village YH in good time for a fine spread brought along by all our fellow party goers. Dave’s contribution (other than his great age) was a barrel of beer from the Saffron Brewery, but in contrast to his 40^th there was much less drinking and more strolling down memory lane with the aid of a 50 year slideshow. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as we did.

Sunday dawned rather grey and drizzly, so it was just as well we’d planned a visit to Bletchley Park.  We spent the day ducking in and out of the various huts learning all about the WWII code breakers of Bletchley Park. From the innovation of the Poles in devising the first Bombes to help de-code Enigma, to the eccentricities of the genius’s creating the world’s first programmable computer.

On the same site is the national museum of computing. This was easily the best bit for Dave, as he strolled through the displays of old home computers - and even had a play on the old BBC Micros.

                                     Ali

AGM

At our annual general meeting in October every year we get together to discuss the trips and events of the last 12 months and talk about how the club is run.

2012/13 was characterised by a really, really long winter – chilly trips to Eton Dorney, Cambridge and Brighton – followed by a lovely long summer. After a particularly snowy Easter, we had beautiful sunshine in Street and the Outer Hebrides. This was also the year some of us attempted the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge – and succeeded! Other landmarks included the completion of the St Peter’s Way. I wonder what challenges we’ll think up for next year.

This year’s breakfast statistics saw us munch our way through around 700 sausages and 200 cans of beans, but zero croissants due to the choice of Hebrides rather than Provence for Whitsun this year. There may have been a small rise in haggis and black pudding consumption….

The current committee was voted back in unanimously. However, we are always looking for new blood and fresh ideas - everyone is welcome at our committee meetings, or make suggestions for walks or trips.

We need more people to help organise trips – if this seems like too big a step, we are offering a buddy system to guide you through the process in the company of an expert. Rest assured, it’s really not that hard! Our club: run by our members, for our members.

The Station Master’s House

Our November weekend in Suffolk proved very popular, staying at the Darsham Country Centre, which is the old station house on the East Suffolk line.  It was slightly odd seeing people waiting on the platform outside our window, and we did have to deal with a few frustrated passengers when the trains were cancelled, but it was a very convenient place to stay.  Our Saturday walk featured a crinkle-crankle wall, an unusual detached 12^th century church tower, a good Adnams pub, a nice teashop in Halesworth and a rare train that was almost on time to take us back to our accommodation.

Sunday’s walk along the coast gave us some fine sea views around Dunwich and Walberswick, and finished on Southwold Pier with a chance to experience the mad arcade of home-made slot machines and simulators (created by the cartoonist and engineer Tim Hunkin). Cressida enjoyed the Autofrisk machine, Doug failed to get across the motorway on a zimmer frame, and Sarah tested her nerve against a robotic dog.                           

Dave P