Music of the Year

Here is some music that was new to me this year. First is Gwenifer Raymond. I am not usually that struck on solo acoustic guitar but she plays so percussively and assertively that I really like it.

Face Mask

Rowan treated me to a facemask [makes you "more radiant"; as if we needed it]. It fazed the dog not one bit. It was only later we realised that in future I should put it upside down so avoiding my beard and giving my head a go too.

Reeds

The reed beds on Fulford Ings by the River Ouse were looking beautiful on our walk.
Yesterday was a time for jigsaw work, log chopping, door varnishing, watching Only Connect together and general homeness.

Mary Poppins

I took one for the team and agreed to go and watch Mary Poppins 2 with Danielle and Rowan. It was OK. The person who plays the Dick Van Dyke roll has a terrible fake cockney accent [just shows that the lessens of history are not learnt] and the songs were not much cop, but I have to admit that Emily Blunt was brilliant as Mary P.

Eddy, Paul and Milo in the misty morn on our walk

Traditional Walk

Each year I tell people we are walking on a day in the holidays and see who turns up. Last year was a large group, this year more select. We had a great walk around the university and across the strays. A strange low mist was eventually burned off by the weak winter sun. A good walk.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was different. The usual champagne and smoked salmon for absent friends that my Mother loved so much. Then Pam and Andy (plus dog Finn) and Peter and Shin-Sook came round for a bring and share Christmas meal. It was great. We managed christmas cracked hand-bell ringing and watched "Trains and Planes and Automobiles" afterwards. Everyone happy. I was so relaxed I forgot to take photos - so here is the food.

Rowan in Spain

Rowan is finally back from Spain, her flight to Gatwick was diverted to Paris where she spent the best part of 2 days before getting to Luton. She had a great time, staying with Joe at Denia which we had visited two and a half years ago. I gave them details of the walk I had done to the top of the Montgo mountain, and was pleased to see that they made it there. Glad to have her back for Christmas now.

Hatfield

These birches looked other-worldly on Hatfield Moor last week.

Folkton Drums

If you have received your copy of the book you will know that on page 19 is a section on the Folkton Drums, neolithic chalk cylinders whose purpose was unclear. On page 3 of the Times today is an article all about them, and their connection with Stonehenge. Another reason to get ordering.

The book is out.

The final print version arrived this week. Pre-launch copies are making their way to early customers.  I am meeting with a journalist friend about the launch tomorrow, then with my distributor early in the new year. Very exciting.

Speaking Hull

The Hull accent is something to treasure; not really well known beyond Yorkshire it came to our attention when Rowan was part of the Yorkshire Netball academy. It meant that she got to meet girls from right across the county, and note the differences in accent. When one of the Hull girls was ordering food from an Indian takeaway she specified "nurn nurn please". This meant, obviously, "I would like to purchase nine naan breads please".
Last week a friend told the tale of a daughter crying out "there's a turd on the lawn". Bemused and a little worried she investigated further, and saw the toad soon enough.
Then I read about this road sign put up in Hull. City of culture without a doubt.

State visit to Humberhead

It is six years since I first visited the Humberhead peatlands of Thorne Moor and Hatfield Moor. I have recommended visits to people who have seen my photographs at exhibitions, and I know some have discovered the area. But I have never taken friends or family there. So it was a pleasure to finally introduce Danielle to Hatfield Moor yesterday. After cold rain on Saturday we had a cloudless calm day for our visit. We did a good loop, passed two other people, walking for about three and a half hours. I have to admit that my adoration of the area was not fully shared by Danielle, she loved it but not quite as much as me! I do realise that I am perhaps a little obsessed with it all. It is still amazing to me that such a beautiful place can be virtually unvisited by the public.

Milo was happy to show Danielle the way around the Moor.

Beverley

Friend Robert was back from holiday in the states, so we got a short (very short) ride in last week. Saturday Danielle and I had to ourselves, and, given the horrible weather, it was a great day to stay at home for.

The photo is of a renovated panel that lists the rules and regulations relating to Beverley race-course. It needed the EU to get rid of this sort of over-bureaucratic red tape.

Busy

Thursday evening Dave and Emma invited us over for food and wine and a viewing of Belleville Rendezvous, a French anime film that was bizarre and fun. Then Friday we had our whisky tasting session with Quaker friends round the corner. Rowan has gone back down to London before heading to Spain for three days with Jo. Just before she went she heard she had got a job with BlackRock in London starting in July; she is delighted / relieved after a protracted recruitment process. Pleased for her.

This is Rowan's student house in Lem. (fill in your own, "not like my day" comments)

Book Group Party

It was our book group Christmas party, 12 of us had a great time, bring and share food, wine, 2 quizzes and a lot of talk. I neglected to take a group photo, but did spot Rowan and Milo being glad to be sharing the same floor.

Talking Loud

I did a talk at another photography club in York. It is always fun to do, good to get feedback from people.

This shot from the Walk in 1984 always get a reaction, and it was no exception at the talk.

AirBnB

We started doing AirBnB in August 2016, and still enjoy doing it now. They have just let us know that we have welcomed 257 guests from 16 countries in that time, which is pretty impressive.

Rowan is back for a few days, she and I got a chapati pan in York that had these instructions; I'll have to move all those birds out.

Halifax 2

Like many northern towns Halifax has magnificent Victorian buildings, this is the Town Hall. When I was young all these buildings were black with soot. I assumed that was the colour of the stone, so it was a real shock to see them emerge gleaming and a totally different colour after late 20th century cleaning.

Hell Hull and ...

Last year on my birthday Danielle took me to Hull. This year it was Halifax. So according to the old adage it has to be Hell next year.
We had a great day, looked at the magnificent 18th Century Piece Hall, lunch in a deli, then back home for a meal at Skosh with Adrian and Cathy, and finally a drink at the Acorn with various friends. Great to see everyone.

The Piece Hall

RIP Pete Shelley

Every musician who dies seems to be my age: Michael Jackson, Prince, and now Pete Shelley lead singer of the Buzzcocks.
I saw them at Erics very early on, 1977 I think. Then I bought a copy of Spiral Scratch their first EP in Penny Lane Records in Liverpool. I loved that he played a Starway guitar [Woolworth's own brand] and the two note guitar solo on Boredom was a thing of beauty, especially how he ended the solo [basically he just stops playing].
Then he provided the theme music for Channel 4s Tour de France coverage in the 80s, which is obviously one of the most important gigs you can get in terms of exposure to cycling fans.
So, it is sad to see him go.

1979

It is nearly 40 years since I worked with disabled students at Taylor House in Oxford. It was a great and life-changing experience; I only took the job because it came with free accommodation but as soon as I started I loved it. The rest is history.
Achille became a really good friend/mentor to me [he died ten years ago] and I am still in touch with Karin from Denmark.
The Magma and Tom Robinson Band posters must be mine. The Peanuts cartoon, not so much.

New Find

Danielle and I had a good walk through London on Friday morning after our meal the evening before. I discovered this tunnel in the University of London which I had not seen before.

Venus

Took the dog early onto the Moor this morning. A beautiful misty morn. Apparently Venus was particularly visible, which explains the man with the telescope. He was happy to let passers-by have a look.

Cup Fever

So it was time for a bi-annual trip to watch Carlisle loose in the FA Cup. This time I met up with Mark in Lincoln, and it was a really good game. For some reason I was given a free ticket by the bloke on the gate [pity?] and it was good to have couple of pints, see the game and train it back to York.

Milo and the Real Sausage

We feed Milo kibble [that allegedly has meat in it] but he rarely gets real meat [us being vegetarian]. So when we get to feed him a real sausage [sneaked away from breakfast at the hotel in Coniston] he is equally joyous and surprised.

Christmas Meal in November

The three of us met up in London with Mark, Mandy, Rob and Kath. The meal was at Rovi (an Ottolenghi place) and was excellent, lots of amazing vegetable dishes. When we arrived at the pre-match pub it was so full of millennials we found refuge outside: here we are.

More from the Moor

Hatfield that is. One last shot .

Guitar

9 years ago I got a Les Paul for Christmas. I just never got on with it; so used to Strats that having this big plank of wood round my neck seemed bizarre. Didn't like the 2x3 machine heads, didn't like not having the tremolo, even didn't like where you plugged in the jack lead. I tried, but took it to Beverly to sell it in a really great new guitar shop there. Felt great coming home without it.
Of course the danger now is that I'll think it leaves space for a new guitar ... I miss that Dobro, and a Jaguar looks interesting. Any failings on my part will be reported here.

It was such a beautiful light in the Lakes that there will be quite a few photos here 

over the next few days.

Court

It was time for another meal at the University, where Danielle is part of the Court (a collection of local great and good). It is nearly always interesting being sat down next to strangers with something interesting to say. This time I met a bloke who made trumpets for the Queen and someone whose opening line was "Hullo, I am a Conservative councillor". We then had a surprisingly good conversation.
Danielle and I cycled back home in time to meet our late-arriving Air BnB guests.

Coniston from last weekend.

Enfin

The book has gone to the printers. It has taken me a ridiculous length of time to complete, but it is done now. Proofs will come back, talks with distributors take place, orders will be placed. All the details to follow.

This photo will be on the back cover of the book - the trusty companion.

Squash

These squashes have been around the house for a while, they make great still life models. I grew one of these. The very small one at the front.

Coniston 3

I had not been to Tarn Howes for 50 years or so. (We went with sister Rosemary's French Exchange student Isabelle; she moaned, pined for Parisian nightclubs and dropped litter.) Tarn Howes had always seemed too low, too touristy and too chocolate-boxy. It was actually great! a really beautiful place with views to the Langdale Pikes, Bowfell and the Coniston fells.

Coniston 2

Saturday we walked along the lake then across to Torver Tarn, down to Torver and back to Coniston. A great walk, with views across to Old Man, which is the Palmour family mountain.

This is the Coniston fells from Torver Tarn. From left to right, Walna Scar, Dow Crag, Old Man, Wetherlam. Mountains that I know and love more than any others.

The Choice

Danielle had the idea a while back, that we go to the Lakes for a weekend. So mid-November we went to Coniston, expecting to enjoy whatever the weather. We got two days of perfect cloudless, sunny, warm, still, beautiful days. It was unbelievable to someone who has spent may a sodden summer day there. We stayed at the Waterhead Hotel (dog friendly) and explored around when we arrived. So here is the choice. Fudge or Footpath?

Hatfield 3

One last shot from another great trip to Hatfield. Click on the image to get the full effect. It might look like a load of old peat bog, and that is what it is, but it is a magically mysterious place as well.

Hatfield 2

Birch trees taking over some of Hatfield Moors. The fact that they do not grow tall, straight and strong adds to the mystery of these glades.

Hatfield Moors

I got out to the beloved Humberhead last week, onto Thorne Moors. The water table is low, so some of the old peat workings are unusually shy of water. What a great place it is.

Monkgate

There are always surprises in York. I am not sure how I managed to miss this house and (more impressively) garden on Monkgate in the centre of the city, but I did. I like the geometry.

York Open Studios 2019

New logo for Open Studios next year. 

I am exhibiting at my studio. Dates are 

5 April 2019 6-9pm

6, 7, 13 and 14 April 201910am - 5pm

Home Life

Man and Dog and Cup of Tea. Taken by Rowan.

Common

Here is Milo enjoying the beauty of an autumn day on Allerthorpe Common. Rowan took this one; she's good.

Smart Heron

The fisher-people who use the pond put a fake Heron on the island in the centre of the pond to make sure that real Herons kept away and stopped eating their fish. It didn't work. Herons are smarter than people think.

Rememberance

Rowan agreed to a request from York Quakers that she lay the Quakers Wreath (White and red poppies) as part of the City's remembrance service. She did well (it was a long cold and wet outdoor event).

Allerthorpe

Saturday Rowan and I walked the dog in Allerthorpe Coomon, a really beautiful place ten miles to the east. It is another of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserves.

Short Film Festival

Rowan came up for the weekend. Friday Danielle and I were out all day at the Aesthetica Short Film festival which was as brilliant as ever, and now incredibly popular.It is the single greatest thing that happens in York each year. Films from all over the world, full of everything. We met up with Rowan at the City Screen for lunch, chatted to a bloke who turned out had brought his movie over to show from New York, so made sure we saw it later in the day.

Rail Trail

Here is a shot of the rail trail I rode last week. It is truly the best way to move from A to B.

New Route

I worked out another new off-road cycle route last week. This one uses the old railway line from York to Selby, crosses Skipwith airfield which is now a wooded heathland, then follows the old line between Bubwith and Market Weighton [where this photo was taken]. The route then takes another old line into the Wolds before following the track that is the route for the Kiplingcotes horse race, the oldest race in the country. Then down to the market town of Pocklington, through another forest on tracks and finally back into York on a bridleway through Gypsy Corner and across the Ouse on the Millennium bridge. 60 miles of heaven.

Rowan's Photography

Rowan has been trying out her phone camera; on me in this case, in black and white portrait mode.

Regular visit

I went down to see Rowan in Lem, she seems well set in her new flat for her final year there. We went back to the Drawing Board for lunch. A pleasure to see her, and she had made me some foccacia to take home.

Kingfisher

I saw a Kingfisher on the beck on the moor again this week. It is two years since I last saw it, so very pleased. There is nothing quite as distinctive and exciting as the Kingfisher; the whirr of wings and the flash of electric blue.

Here is the locally ground flour from our windmill.

House Plants

Most partnerships have one house plant carer, and one person who is likely to end up on the Plant Protection Register. I am the carer. These plants were given to Danielle for her 50th birthday three and a half years ago. I have kept them watered and they have delivered endless white flowers. Then on their 1000th day of captivity they let out this red flower. Magic.

River Aire

The section of the River Aire we followed is through some of the brownest of brownfield sites - intense industrial degradation over the years. This makes it all the more surprising that the gorge it flow through is one of the most beautiful sections of the whole river. As Danielle said "It could be the Delaware".

Striding Out

The next leg of our Canal Walk project took us from Castleford to Ferrybridge on the River Aire. A great walk, Kingfisher for company, cold but uplifting.

The Venice of the North

Rowan took this on her phone in Brum last week.