The Wonder of Wakes Weeks

Ever wondered about the Wakes Weeks and when they are?

Many moons ago, before East of the M60 was as well-known as it is nowadays, we posted a review of Channel Five’s documentary on the Oldham Wakes. It was part of a series called Disappearing Britain, the Oldham Wakes episode was hosted by Sarah Lancashire (or Raquel off Corrie if you watched the soap in the 1990s). The programme had vox-pop interviews with Ms. Lancashire decrying the state of Blackpool.

Autie Friendly Holiday Planning: 4. Taking The Long Way Home

Part Four of our useful guide

Journey’s end: Stalybridge railway station looking towards Manchester.

On the lengthiest of bus or rail journeys I take, I always think of the first track on side two of Supertramp’s Breakfast in America album.

The appropriately titled Take The Long Way Home, also a staple tune of Roger Hodgson’s solo concerts.

You may be wondering how I mentioned this classic tune in a part work on autism spectrum condition friendly holidays. It is partly my love of all things Supertramp and of public transport. Sometimes I call catching the all stations train from Huddersfield into Stalybridge (over TPE’s faster one) as Operation Helliwell (as in Supertramp’s saxophonist and concert Master of Ceremonies John Anthony Helliwell).

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Oops! We seemed to have strayed from the original premise of our fourth part. By Friday, there’s every chance we may have got used to the holiday routine. We would have known which times are good for breakfast or evening meal. Owing to the change from ‘holiday mode’ to ‘home mode’, the transition might be a little upsetting.

Autie Friendly Holiday Planning: 3. Enjoying Your Holiday

Part Three of our useful guide

Scarborough harbour, looking towards South Bay and The Spa.

We’ve made it to our temporary home for the week, carried the cases up to our room, caravan or living room, and had our first coffee on arrival. In the hotel or guest house, you may see a desk or table beside your bed. Along with the kettle, two cups, teabags, coffee and milk cartons would be a folder.

Autie Friendly Holiday Planning: 2. The Journey Itself

Part Two of our useful guide

Stalybridge railway station, and a midday train to Scarborough.

In the previous part, we looked at how to book your holiday, and arrangements for meeting up with the train, ferry, coach, aeroplane or bus.

Now for the fun bit: the holiday itself.

Autie Friendly Holiday Planning: 1. Coping with a Break from the Norm

Effective holiday planning for young adults on the autism spectrum

Scarborough, looking towards the Grand Hotel and The Futurist Theatre.

We all need a break from the norm every now and then. We all need to go somewhere new for a week or two. For a bit, it might mean a change of routine, something which could be frightening.

Recreational Bus and Coach travel in the 1980s

The joys of summertime bus and coach travel in the North of England

For bus enthusiasts, the 1980s was a transitional period which made other transitional periods seem halcyonic. It was a decade which opened with the dawn of coach deregulation and finished with the privatisation of former National Bus Company subsidiaries. Not to mention bus deregulation, an abomination which wreaked havoc in many an urban area and cut off rural communities from affordable alternatives to private motoring.