Scozmo's Photery

I walked into Knaresborough this morning after breakfast to visit a bakery we’d bought some cakes in and we noticed that their bread looked wonderful so, here I was walking into town around 08:55.

I spotted a bug on the door of a parked car, how or why, I have no idea but, I stopped to photograph it so I could share to iNaturalist and find out what it is.

I was also aware that I was leaning close to someone’s car on a street I barely know so when I heard a voice calling, I thought it might be the owner!

“Hey there”

I looked over the car.

“Hey there” An old man was standing in a doorway across the street and he beckoned to me as I looked.

“Could you lend a hand here?” I detected a soft but obvious Irish lilt as I walked over, I could see he was struggling to just stand.

“What can I do for you?”

He asked if I could give him a hand for a moment, I said of course.

He turned to the stair post and grabbed an old coat, turned and passed it to me, grabbing a walking stick as he did. He was VERY unsteady on his feet so I took his coat and guided his nearest arm into the sleeve. He half turned and I did the same for the other arm then pulled it up onto his shoulders. All the while I was chatting with him but it became obvious his hearing wasn’t great.

I stepped back out of his doorway and asked where he was headed. “Up to Appleby’s” which meant nothing to me but he’d grabbed a little bag so I guessed he was going to buy something.

I asked if he could manage up the hill, he mumbled something so I offered to help him.

“If ye’r going up anyway?” So, I took his arm, helped out onto the street, checked he had his keys, closed his door and off we went.

We kind of chatted our way up the hill and along the road, he’d moved there in 1988 from S. Ireland, I didn’t ask any further but explained that I was heading for Perthshire this morning. “I heard you’re a Scot”

A lovely old man probably alone in the world, I suggested he get some wheels and he laughed, “might be an idea”

We reached a corner shop, a bakers I think and he made his way inside. I checked he could get back OK and he said he’d be grand and thanked me.

I strode off to the bakery, bought two loaves, and two cream croissants, by accident and off back to the hotel.

We’d talked about the speed people live at today, like us all when we’re younger but agreed ” why the rush, we’ll all get to the end eventually”

I could only wonder how he manages on his own.

It didn’t cost anything to notice, speak with and help that man and it made me feel a little better, maybe even wiser.