Cycling UK Forum

rapidfire72 wrote:This September, I'm afraid to say. This is normal for YHA to close some youth hostels, some close, some open. Shame to see Scarborough go.

horizon wrote:

rapidfire72 wrote:This September, I'm afraid to say. This is normal for YHA to close some youth hostels, some close, some open. Shame to see Scarborough go.

Or, "Some vital links in the cycling chain close, some car-based activity centre opens."

swagman wrote:When i enquired at a YHA they wanted £26 for a dorm bed for the night ,are they all this much?

CAPSTICK COMES HOME

I'll never forget that first day at t'pit. Me an' mi father worked a seventy two hour shift, an' then we walked home forty three mile through t'snow in us bare feet, huddled inside us clothes med out o' old sacks. Eventually we trudged over t'hill until wi could see t'street light twinklin' in our village. Mi father smiled down at mi through t'icicles hangin' off his nose. "Nearly home now lad", he said. We stumbled into t'house and stood there freezin' cold and tired out, shiverin' and miserable, in front o' t' meagre fire. Any road, mi mam says "Cheer up, lads. I've got you some nice brown bread and butter for yer tea." Ee, mi father went crackers. He reached out and gently pulled mi mam towards 'im by t'throat. "You big fat, idle ugly wart", he said. "You gret useless spawny-eyed parrot-faced wazzock." ('E had a way wi words, mi father. He'd bin to college, y'know). "You've been out playin' bingo all afternoon instead o' gettin' some proper snap ready for me an' this lad", he explained to mi poor, little, purple-faced mam. Then turnin' to me he said "Arthur", (He could never remember mi name), "here's half a crown. Nip down to t'chip 'oyl an' get us a nice piece o' 'addock for us tea. Man cannot live by bread alone." He were a reyt tater, mi father. He said as 'ow workin' folk should have some dignity an' pride an' self respect, an' as 'ow they should come home to summat warm an' cheerful. An' then he threw mi mam on t'fire. We didn't 'ave no tellies or shoes or bedclothes. We med us own fun in them days. Do you know, when I were a lad you could get a tram down into t'town, buy three new suits an' an ovvercoat, four pair o' good boots, go an' see George Formby at t'Palace Theatre, get blind drunk, 'ave some steak an' chips, bunch o' bananas an' three stone o' monkey nuts an' still 'ave change out of a farthing. We'd lots o' things in them days they 'aven't got today - rickets, diptheria, Hitler and my, we did look well goin' to school wi' no backside in us trousers an' all us little 'eads painted purple because we 'ad ringworm. They don't know they're born today!!!

horizon wrote:

rapidfire72 wrote:This September, I'm afraid to say. This is normal for YHA to close some youth hostels, some close, some open. Shame to see Scarborough go.

Hmmm. Actually it's more like, "Some youth hostels close, some Travelodges open."
Or, "Some unique places to stay close, some faceless newbuild opens."
Or, "Some vital links in the cycling chain close, some car-based activity centre opens."
Or, "Some more youth hostels close, an entire sub-culture starts to disappear."

And the late nights at the tan hill pub.

drossall wrote:That's what comes of not doing it for several years, I suppose - we contributed to the under-use.

iviehoff wrote:... You should not conclude that the hostels being closed are under-used or making a loss. In recent times the YHA has been forced into selling hostels simply because they need money now to pay off debts.