Cooking

I tend to cook in an improvised way (often changing mid-session) which can lead to interesting results. In the lockdown I have tried a few recipes from the paper and tried this one. I followed the recipe (mostly), found it incredibly annoying, and produced something that looked slightly better than the original and tasted great.
Back to normal last night though with improvised dal and chapatis.

Viaduct Reopened

I have been supporting Sustrans (the UK cycle route charity) financially for over 25 years. I don't regret it for a day, they have transformed the environment to the good, bringing into use previously out of bounds routes and building new ones. Robert and I checked out the newest one in this neck of the woods. It uses the old railway viaduct across the Wharfe near Thorpe Arch. For years it has been barbed-wired out of sight. Now it has been really well renovated and is in use by many many local people. Great stuff.

Cygnet Committee

Walking down the Pocklington Canal I saw this pair of swans with their young. If you look at the female swan on the right you might think it is a bit unusual; its head is actually a cygnet which was catching a ride, the adult's neck and head are deep in the water looking for food.

Wolds

Dog, Daughter, Wolds, Sunshine. A nice day's walk.

Bramham

A  tunnel through the woods at Bramham when Danielle and I went a walk there last week.

Summer in the Garden 2

Lilacs by the pond. A bit battered by the wind but still a sight for locked-down eyes.

Summer in the Garden

Summer was last week for two days. Very nice too.

Sea Side

We drove to the North Sea at Fraisthorpe early in the morning, so that Layla could get her first experience of the beach, the sea, the salt. As you can see social-distancing was not a problem.

Garden 1

The salad is growing in a raised bed. Unfortunately the bed is in the bit of the garden that Layla has access to. Result? chewed bits of lettuce around the edge of the bed. Still tastes good though.

This and That

Sunday I went for my first long bike ride since before the lockdown, when Dave and I rode my 100k Tour d'Elmet. One of my favourite routes that I devised a couple of years ago. I felt great to be back, and more amazingly, not too tired by it all.
That evening Danielle, Rowan and I joined Ben and Marie in Virginia and Rob in London to taste some Virginian beers on zoom. Great to see people after a long while.

There were a few just about frosty mornings the other week. A good time to take Layla onto the moor without too many distractions (runners, dogs, cyclists etc)

Back on the Road

Our first bike ride together for a while. Pretty pleased about it. The pond behind us was still fenced off to stop fisherpeople: it is now open for angling.

Herb Spiral

We made the herb spiral 2 years ago. The idea is that you put the herbs that like drier soil at the top and so on. It really works, and it is one BIY project that has stood the test of time. So far. Layla in this shot is doing her best to reach Australia via the herb spiral portal.

Cathedral in the Wood

Bishops Wood where I walk the dog a lot at the moment, is just beautiful at the moment. This glade felt like a natural cathedral as we walked through it.

Cowslips

Cowslips were in full bloom in the Wolds.

Wolds

Danielle and I took Layla for a first real walk in the Wolds. She (Layla that is) managed to discover mole-hills and a decomposing pheasant so was very happy. Great to be back there.

Strensall

Took Layla walking on Strensall Common, last week. Social distancing guaranteed.

Dawn

The moor is busy in lockdown; people like it to take their daily exercise on. So I try and take Layla out early, I was rewarded with this great dawn last week.

BIY again

BIY in this case means Bake it Yourself. Danielle makes our sourdough and bread (the latter with the help of a machine). The trouble in lock down has been finding the bread flour; it is a scarce commodity. Luckily our local windmill (half a mile up the road) has been grinding and had 5kg bags for sale. So here is Danielle queuing with social distance this morning.

Layla and the Cattle

Layla saw the cattle on the moor walk past the garden today for the first time.

The Shed

At times like these attention turns to the shed. So I start to sort it out, get distracted, t-cut this old Station totem sign, and eventually get back to sorting it all out. This project, it is safe to say, will outlast the Lockdown at this rate.

Lockdown Activity

My first BIY project for the lockdown was to construct a new compost heap using an old gate and planks. Aesthetically not the best, but pretty pleased with it. BIY = Botch It Yourself.

Quornaleekie

When Rowan was little one of my banker meals was a Quornaleekie Pie. So when requested to recreate it I was happy to oblige. Stodgy would be unkind, but fine-dining it was not. Loved it.

Garden work

When you have a swarm die then you have to burn the frames. In enjoy fire-starting a little too much I think.

Family Walk

We all went a walk in beautiful Bishops Wood on Saturday. A really lovely people-free environment. Layla is her demonstrating uncharacteristic obedience.

RAR

There is a great new documentary about Rock Against Racism in the late 70s. I was involved with it in Liverpool and then in Oxford. It was an inspiring film, particularly relevant today with the rise of mindless populism. The film focused on the 1978 march from Trafalgar Square to Victoria Park in Hackney where there was a gig with Steel Pulse, The Clash and Tom Robinson. I and another 100,000 people were there; it was a fantastic experience and the gig was great. I think I might be in this shot.