The Mayor

Nataliia had only been here 3 days when she managed to meet the Mayor of York.

Point of View

One last shot from Epworth. Layla does like to sit and look at the view sometimes.

Flowers

Another shot from the walk at Epworth last week. Everything looking shiny and new.

No Mow

I am delighted to support No Mow May, by not mowing the lawn. In fact I might have inadvertently been doing that for a number of years ... It is amazing how the wild flowers, and weeds, proliferate if you let them. The herb spiral is doing well too, (despite a hands off approach.)

Lunch

Nataliia cooked us some lunch - delicious potato cakes, salad and creme fraiche. Hard to beat.

Spring

On a beautiful spring day last week I walked through the turbaries of Epworth and Haxey. So good to be in the emerging woodland vegetation, the dog loved it too.

Wine

Each year for the Giro (Tour of Italy cycling race) we get six bottles of wine chosen from the regions that the route visits. This years started off really well with this lovely white.

Friends

Friends Eddy and Sue (complete with broken leg) came round to see us for lunch last week. Always good to catch up with them.

Saltaire Open Village 2023

This year, for the first time, I am exhibiting as part of Saltaire Open Village 
saltaireinspired.org.uk/events/saltaire-arts-trail/saltaire-arts-trail-2023/open-village-2023/
which runs on
Saturday May 27th
Sunday May 28th
Bank Holiday Monday May 29th
from 10am to 5pm each day.
I shall be with other artists at
Wharf Street Studios, Block A Shipley Wharf
BD17 7DW
It is a great event and I am pleased to be in such a fantastic venue.
A selection of new work and old favourites will be on show, together with both my books (on the Wolds and Elmet)
I do hope to see you there.
Simon Palmour 

Download a map of the venues (I am at venue 2) www.saltaireinspired.org.uk/app/uploads/2023/04/Map-2023-download.pdf 

Plates

We got some plates made by a local potter. Seen here with a home made waffle with maple syrup, yogurt and lemon juice.
 

Nataliia

We welcomed Nataliia, a refugee from Ukraine who is living with us for 6 months. It does really bring home to you what having your country bombed every night must be like. 

Tenerife

Rowan was in Tenerife for a few days. She took this great shot of a terrible sculpture and with the sky and reflection turned it from ghastly to phenomenal - quite an achievement.

Street Party

Having managed to totally avoid the coronation on Saturday, there was no escape from our Coronation Street party on the Sunday. Danielle and neighbour Sarah had been the driving force for this community event, which went really well and benefitted from a couple of young families moving in to the street. The highlight was probably when an Amazon delivery guy approached the party with three packages; he was able to call out the house numbers and deliver in person, a bit like pass-the-parcel but without the tears and recriminations. 

Scotland 7

Plenty of wind power in Galloway, just adds to the landscape.

Scotland 7

 

Gorse was abundantly in flower all over Galloway, a really attractive plant. Later on this day we called into a whisky distillery, had a chat with a Bulgarian woman about the whisky and Layla (who looks just like Bulgarian sheepdog), and left with a bottle. 

Scotland 6

Next day we were in another great forest, and with a bit of off-piste work we came to this beautiful hill top lochan. Pretty idyllic.

Scotland 5

 

Next day we walked on part of the old railway line that used to run across Galloway to Stranraer before being stupidly cut by Beeching in the 60s. This bridge across Loch Ken was amazingly dangerous, those holes go straight through to the loch, but worth a visit. 

Scotland 4

The off road cycling is incredible in Galloway. Some great forest tracks, no traffic, and just endless possibilities. I did a 100k off road ride, and it was a joy. I was totally knackered by the end, but to be riding through this wilderness was a real treat.

This was the view from the track back to Loch Dee.

Scotland 3

Our first proper walk took us up Benniguinea, a peak near Clatterningshaws Loch. A good start.

Scotland 2

 

From the cottage we could walk down this fantastic path to the river, the Water of Ken. The path twisted through marshland, to the wide river. Perfect for dog walks and sheep-free too, with a few deer thrown in for entertainment.

Scotland 1

Last week we had a holiday in Southern Scotland, staying in a cottage in New Galloway. If there is a Rowan cottage available, I choose it. It was a good tactic this time, as the place was really nice. Layla however, wondered where Rowan was, if it was her cottage.