May 2016 – John D Eccles

Ann_Eccles

That is a very simple question but the repercussions could be immeasurable.

Now myself and Lady Eccles as she likes to be known first met in a pub, now I can hear you say that is no surprise but the truth is that I had watched Ann for months (not as stalker, that is weird) but I never had the courage to ask her out on a date because I thought I was (in cricketing terms) batting way above my weight.

Now Ann, when we first met was quite a looker (to me she hasn’t changed that much), but what I do remember she had very long hair and fantastic cheekbones which were a pre requisite of being cool in the seventies.

Now I must explain that at that time it was cool to be cool and never put yourself in the path of rejection and with that in mind you would not in a million years ever tell someone that you fancied them in case they knocked you back. It was unheard of.

If it was down to the children of the seventies we would now be extinct.

Every night when our paths would cross and we would have a chat and have a laugh and then she would tell me she was waiting for someone and I would think that I wish it was me but never having the nerve to speak up. So after months of trying to be cool I invited her and her friend to my twenty-first birthday party.

Now its very difficult to appear smooth or cool dressed as Sylvester the cat but I never gave that a thought however my friend who came as Dracula who stole the show asked her out for a meal, so not to be outdone I asked her friend out and we made it a foursome (in a non promiscuous way).

So we met in a restaurant and were having a very pleasant time but then I realised I was spending more time talking to her that my date. Now that is not a great move but by midnight somehow we had managed to arrange a date to go to the cinema the following week.

Now I know that most of you by now realise that I am a little short on being romantic and the grand gesture thing so it will come as no surprise that we arranged to go and watch that classic seventies film “Confessions of a Window Cleaner”.

Now you must remember that it was the seventies and we did have three Cinemas in town, all showing the same film so you have to give me little credit.

As they say the rest is history. We have been together for forty years and she is still my best friend, she is the first person I ring if anything great happens in my life and is the person who knows when I need a talking to and is the one who supports me when the world tries to crush me.

So Just how lucky am I then?

The answer is very lucky. Now I know how lucky I am but I know that sooner or later we will arrive at a point in our lives when we will be out of control of our destinies.

Our children will make decisions based on convenience rather that what is best for us and I don’t blame them, they have families of their own and their own priorities.

But all I ask is this, please do not separate us, let us see our days out together as we have always done, through thick and thin, through sickness and health. I don’t think that is to much to ask for a lifetime together.

Forty years ago I met my soulmate and I have been lucky enough to be in her company ever since. I know I am grumpy and she is grumpy but somehow me get along just fine that is unless I don’t do as she says and life can become pretty intolerable.

After what has seemed like an endless winter, spring has eventually arrived in Saddleworth with the sun shining and the trees looking less bare it makes me remember why I love living here.

This morning I am sat here writing this in my dinning room with the door and windows open, the sun streaming in whilst looking at a very big blue sky, listening to the birds and the odd sound of a car rushing through the village to who knows were.

Now living Saddleworth is no great hardship but in the depths of winter I often question why I chose to live in such a desolate place. But then spring arrives and it’s a different story. People come out of hibernation and the place becomes greener and life becomes very pleasant indeed.

When we first moved here over thirty years ago it came as a bit of a shock when people you had never met said good morning whilst walking past you in the street. Try that in Manchester or London and see what happens.

We live in an area full of big hills and small villages with strange sounding names. You know they are strange when you have to tell people were you live and they look at you in disbelief and start smiling. I mean what is wrong with living in a place called Diggle.

But it’s the people who make this place special and they all have one thing in common, they are madly passionate about were they live, they don’t care about what you have or have not and above all they know how to have a good time.

Now next Friday Saddleworth is home to the greatest free show of earth, Whit Friday. It’s a day when everyone in the village comes together as one and walks down to our biggest village Uppermill to a joint service to celebrate being a Christian (or any other faith you may believe in) as long as you are kind and compassionate.

Now it’s a long walk, but it’s amazing how fast you can walk when you have a band to walk behind. It is an amazing spectacle. So again this Friday morning we will be inundated with all of the family busy getting into posh frocks and comfy shoes (the ladies only in this dojo) waiting for the sound of the band playing Hail Smiling Morn echoing across the valley which signals the start of the best day of the year by miles.

So if you are stuck in your office or workshop bear a thought for all us hill folk who will be walking proud through the big hills and blue skies swapping stories with people who we haven’t seen since last year.

If you are at a loose end on Friday evening then try to attend one of the many Band Competitions that are taking place throughout Saddleworth and as the Guardian said recently “It is the greatest free show on earth” so it must be true.

See you on the other side and I will let you know how it went.