Our summer this year has seen more than its fair share of inclement weather. However, whenever the sun has shone, myself and my wife Ruth and also, at times, our grandson Nathan, strode out along the canal in our beautiful countryside.

Back in the '70s, the lock-keeper at Barrowford was jocular Jack Shorrock who, with his sister Elsie, always ensured a warm welcome for visitors, whether to see the friendly collie dogs and their amiable goats or to sample the famous delicious home-made ice-cream which is still fondly remembered today. And indeed, living at the cottage today is the cordial local artist, Keith Parkinson, who serves up hot-buttered crumpets of note and tasty bacon butties.

Sitting in the sun in the garden of the olde-world cottage with our hot coffee and swallows swooping around as the sound of willow warbler echoes in the air, was a true highlight of the summer of 2008. The heavy rains this year have seen the canal towpaths from Reedley to Barnoldswick erupt with a wonderful plethora of wild flowers, plenteous, purple, towering foxgloves, regal, resplendent, red campion and bounteous, bell-like, blue harebells.

We have seen majestic, mute swans, gigantic, grey herons, proud pied wagtails, jaunty jackdaws and singing songthrushes and, not forgetting when Nathan and me strolling past the Carr Road Bridge towpath, suddenly from the canal around, a dozen hissing, most evilly, huge geese, which ran at us with snapping beaks and flapping wings. We didn't wait to introduce ourselves, but left at speed in the direction of Colne!