From the Garden 1

 

The runner beans have got to tough to eat, but the beans from the pods are great in soups. And also beautiful to look at.

En Route

 Dog and daughter happy to be heading for the hills.

Captured

I keep an eye out for interesting images all the time, even around the house. This mix of texture, reflection and silhouette was made possible by the sun just about shining through the glass on the staircase.

Wolds 2

Had a busy few days. Friends Carl and Jill came to stay for a couple of days, great to catch up with them. Had a band practice on Monday, which is always good. Been busy picking, cooking and eating produce from the garden too.

Here is another shot from the Wolds, one of the best dry valleys (Deep Dale) with Rowan and Layla centre shot.

Wolds

We all went a walk in the Wolds last week. Great to be back in the wondrous place.

 

Self Portait

Book Group

Our book group met again in person. Great to have face to face talk and wine drinking after the frustrations of zoom. We discussed The Party Wall by Stevie Davies which most people liked, but which Danielle and I both disliked. So it was a good discussion.

This week I went to Thorne Moors and it was as great as ever. I hope this image is slightly confusing in terms of scale and perspective.

Wallowing

Another shot from Hatfield last week. Layla likes nothing more than to wallow like a water buffalo.

 

The Moors

I met two people at the photo exhibition who will be useful for future projects. A woman who works for Nature England (which owns the beloved Thorne and Hatfield Moors) and a guy who works for the equivalent national archeological organisation, who also has an interest in the moors. I visited Hatfield last week and had a great walk right around the site; this photo is from that walk.

At one point Layla and I were sitting on a rare bench for lunch. I looked across the water in the peace. There were plenty of gulls and geese but nothing special. I said out loud (first sign of etc ...) "I really could do with seeing a marsh harrier". Marsh harriers are common on Thorne moors but I don't recall ever seeing one on Hatfield. I turned my head round, and a marsh harrier flew up from ten metres away letting me admire its beauty and grace. Special moment.

 

The Judge

This clump of trees near to us, in Acomb, always inspires me. A little climb and it feels like the world is at your feet.

I had some of my photos and books on show at Poppleton Tithe Barn yesterday. I had judged a photo competition (something I like doing) and was invited to attend the show where the winners were displayed. Sold plenty of books, so a good day all round.

Home Life

Danielle studying for her MA (which she has now finished), Layla continuing her anatomy class - bones module.

I have started playing badminton again with Edward, following a covid break of nearly two years. Great to be gallumping around the court again; style and elegance not in great supply but enjoyment and fitness fill the gap.

 

Plants

We have very few house plants, but these two seem to be enjoying their companionship.

City Skyline

Rowan took this shot from her office. Not often you can see St Pauls uncrowded by newer taller buildings.

Asian Ladybird

 I was brushing a ladybird off of my bike saddle the other day. I realised the colours were wrong. A bit excited I google-lensed it and discovered that this type of ladybird has been around in the UK since 2004 and is now very common. So there you go.

Across the Navigation

Looking across the Aire and Calder navigation this is Southfield reservoir that feeds the New Junction Canal.

NJC 3

Walking back from the canal I found this beautiful oak lined path upon an embankment that pre-dated the canal. Really lovely. I think it was probably a warping bank which allowed the land to be flooded and receive fertile sediment from the river. The warping scheme in this area was developed in 1880 by a local engineer called Makin Durham.

New Junction Canal 2

 

Looking down from the aqueduct to the river Went as it heads east towards the River Don. The family of swans made it a view were capturing.

New Junction Canal 1

I had wanted to visit the New Junction Canal for a while. It was opened in 1905, the last major canal construction in this country. The canal connected the Aire and Calder navigation in the north, to the Don navigation in the south. In the twentieth century it was a vital part of the coal transportation network, connecting the port of Goole to the coalfields. That all fell apart this century and now it is barely used save for a few leisure users and the odd commercial vessel. It crosses the river went in this photo on an aqueduct. Impressive engineering seen by very few.

Moving On

Rowan is back in London. This is Rowan's room here in York. Caption? "Now Rowan has left I assume this will be my room?" No.

Migrateful Live

Rowan and her friend Lydia went on a Migrateful class in person in London. The food was Nigerian, delicious and (I think it seems fair to say) plentiful.

Lead Chapel 2

From the same chapel. There are a number of these boards on the walls, dating from the 1700s. A very atmospheric little church.

Lead Chapel

I cycled with friend Robert the other week, and as part of our visit to as many churches as we feel like, we came to Lead chapel in Elmet. An amazingly primitive and unconnected chapel (no light, no water) that you can still visit. This pulpit was quite a thing to see. Not hard to imagine an austere and raging figure looking down upon his flock.

Chilli Part2

And here they are having been dehydrated. Ready to be stored and used to spice life up.

Chilli Pt1

The first chilli harvest for drying took place last week. This is the before the drying shot.