Several years ago I used to go hiking on the moors nearly every weekend with a small group of friends.
Unfortunately they've now left the area and I haven't done any serious hiking since then.

Anyhow, I placed a posting on the Doncaster Forum and have already had few replies. As a result of one of these I've contacted a local group and am now waiting for membership details in the mail...I'd prefer just a small informal group of people to be honest, because I'm worried about the cost of membership...and these formally constituted groups always seem to plan their walks around visits to pubs (yet more expense, or you eat your sandwiches outside and you're not fully participating on the social side of things: one of the main reasons for joining.)

I hope it's a serious group with other unemployed members and that things work out for me. I don'y drive and so I'll be relying on lifts or publis transport; but at least I live in the town centre.

SWASTIKA STONE (Ilkley Moor)

Cloud-clothed moor;
Only two at the feast
Game here aplenty
But still they shoot
The beast.

Shouting at Gaelic
Swearing on time
Running at contours
This land still is mine!

I don't know yet if I'm coming down with a fever or something, but I was constantly shivering last night; I just couldn't get warm and so had to switch on the electric fire for a couple of hours.

Being a hay fever sufferer I'm used to constantly streaming eyes and a runny nose, but if this is the flu then the shivering and the muscle aches are an additional unpleasantness to endure.

PILGRIM

Standing aside
The Greenwich Meridian;
His compass still
Pointing magnetic north.

MOORLAND PUB

The sun:
A circular saw.

The horizon:
An ancient beam.

Inside:
Time cuts
To the bone.