Ribblehead 1

So where would you go for a week when the Beast From The East cold weather is coming? How about spending the time at Ribblehead Station on the Settle Carlisle line in the most exposed spot in the Pennines? No brainer for us really. It has been a fantastic experience. If you click on the photo to get it bigger you'll see Whernside to the left [one of the Three Peaks] then Ribblehead Viaduct [24 arches of form and function] then our accommodation - the Station Masters House at Ribblehead Station. Hard to describe how brilliant it is.

Lastingham

In Lastingham we met the Bishop who had returned after 30 years in Latin America. An amiable fellow with an Inca type bobble hat on, he chatted with us a good while before announcing.
"Please excuse me, I must go, I have funeral to attend to."
As we walked back across to our bikes we saw the funeral party awaiting in around the grave.

A 10th century cross shaft with interwoven Viking designs in the crypt at Lastingham.

Victoriana

One of the other churches we visited was at Appleton Le Moor. From the outside it was a Victorian monstrosity, but inside had these lovely windows. We chatted to an old lady who  had lived in the village since 1937. She let us know we could make ourselves a cup of tea in the church, which was very welcome and much appreciated.

Rosedale Chimney

Another Church ride for Robert and I. This week we drove out to the North York Moors and went to this Saxon church at Lastingham. Peaceful. We rode up Rosedale Chimney [steepest hill in England at 1 in 3] and I was pleased to make it [two rests en route, my record is just the one rest.] I was waiting at the top when a gentleman on a mountain bike calmly passed me. I expressed astonishment; he pointed out that is was an electric bike.

Beauty & The Beast

The beast is Drax Power Station. The beauty is Hemingbrough Church Spire.
Apologies for the poor quality photo taken on my phone.

Homework

Occasionally Danielle will work from home, which makes a nice change. 

Stumped

This is the stump of the tree that was felled last month. There are three nails in it. One in the centre, one when we moved to York, and the outer of the three, when we moved into the house.

Canal Traffic

I went a ride on the Sustrans route to Doncaster, which is one of my favourite routes. I know it quite well, so I was surprised to find no bridge over the New Junction Canal, where there used to be one. Then I realised it was a swing-bridge that had been swung for this barge. It is very rare to find commercial traffic on this canal [sad but true] so I was pretty pleased to see it using the lock. They way the bloke steered it impeccably into the lock was something to behold.

Walk On

Sunday we went a walk with Eddy Sue and son, then back to theirs for soup for lunch. Great day.

Opera North

Helen and Robert invited us to the opening night of Don Giovanni at Opera North in Leeds. Danielle stayed at home to greet our Airb&b guests, I went to Leeds. I am not a Mozart fan, but I did really enjoy this production. Good stuff, met some of the cast afterwards.

The photo is another from Beningborough yesterday; doing its best to look like a Louisiana swamp.

Recording

The band were back for more recording yesterday. Went well, always a bit of a lottery when we record live with two mics, but still a good day.

Danielle ran to Beningborough. Over 13 miles. In the cold. Rain.
I drove out to walk the dog then pick her up at the warm cafe.

The Ouse was high, and looking beautiful.

Kings Place

Last one from London. This is the view from the Kings Place Guardian building behind Kings Cross. Fair to say the canal has been well salubriourized since I lived in the borough.

Liverpool Street

With the continual redevelopment around Liverpool Street station there are always surprises; like this view of the station from the north end. The station is one of the top 100 in the book I have just read, and it is easy to see why. The roof is worthy of a cathedral.

The City

Danielle had a meeting near the Gherkin building in the City. So I walked there with her from Kings Cross. The architecture on show is something to see.

London

I accompanied Danielle to London who was getting her US passport renewed [a routine task they make interminable by not accepting on-line payment. Really]. Saw Mark as well in a pub in Islington we had last visited together in 1982. Changed a bit.

We had lunch in the Guardian building at Kings Place.

New Earswick

Danielle had a Quaker meeting at New Earswick. This is the planned village developed by Joseph Rowntree last century. I walked over with her across town on an interesting route that took in this pond on the stray near the village.

Visitation

Nephew Will and girlfriend Alex were in York, so called in for some lunch. Good to see Will and great to meet Alex.

Lem

Down to Lem for my termly visit to see Rowan. Lovely to see her; we went a walk in the park, back to the Drawing Board for lunch, a coffee, saw her house for next year, then a rush to the station and home.

Drax

As the Drax power plant has expanded it has had to be built round a tiny footpath which is a public right of way that now goes through the centre of the plant. Guarded by high razor wired fences the path is still accessible and provides an interesting view. Only in the UK would the path have remained, anywhere else it would have been obliterated in the name of expediency. Something to be pleased about.

Reading

I am working my way through the many books I was given for my 60th. It meant a lot to me that people had thought about what I might like to read. So far the range includes:

• Holloways
• Rain
• Trump
• Railway Stations
• Sociology of Sport in Yorkshire
• Church architecture

More to come. The book on Stations https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/300165/britain-s-100-best-railway-stations/ is a joy. I was showing a bit to Danielle, who had a photo she had taken of a GWR bench from the 30s at Bristol Temple Meads. Style.

Le Weekend

Went round to Sue and Eddy's for a meal Saturday night; Maggie, Vin, Peter and Pushpa were there too. Great cooking from Eddy.
Sunday I got the felled tree sorted out a bit; not easy running a logging company in your back garden just so the dog can curl up in front of the wood burner.

I took Danielle to Barlow for the first time on Saturday; my thistle-muses looked great as ever.

Smart Dog

When the weather is cold Milo does not hang about when he has a drink in the flooded Ouse.

Economic Summit

There is something about a path through the woods; it leads you on. This is near Drax.

Rowan is busy with the Warwick Economic Summit this weekend: very pleased that a Nobel prize winner gave her her business card! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0enf-cWe5U

Outwalkers

Our friend Fiona Shaw had a launch for her new book [for young adults] called Outwalkers. The event was at the Cycle Heaven shop in York, so if attention wavered there were plenty of bikes to look at too. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outwalkers-Fiona-Shaw/dp/1788450000

Another shot from my visit to Barlow this week

New Shot

After the Wim Wenders extravaganza of our trip to Wuppertal, I thought Danielle might decline the opportunity of coming with me to see a new print of his first film "The Goalkeeper's Fear of the Penalty" which was showing at the City Screen. But, true sign of love, she came. It is great film-making but not very accessible; anyway it was great to see it again.

I am pretty pleased with this shot; taken on an old railway yard near Drax that is now a nature reserve. I think I will show it at Open Studios in April. Speaking of which, the website is now up for this year's show - https://www.yorkopenstudios.co.uk/

It runs on April 14 15 and 21 22. We shall be having a preview on the evening of the 13th as well. More details to follow.