Saturday

Rowan was up at the weekend, so we all went a walk at Escrick on the Saturday. In the evening Danielle and I went for a meal at Gary & Gill's which was really good.

Bear in the woods

Sometimes Layla will just sit down and look a lot like a bear.

 

On the Trail

I went a ride on Friday, a beautiful day in the Wolds. This lonesome pine always makes me smile. Unusual to see a tree like this in the Wolds, which makes it all the more special.
 

Where was the dog?

 When we were in the smoke at the weekend Layla went to Louise's house in Saltburn where Pasha (Louise's dog) and her are very comfortable together. I believe a human also has rights to this bed, dogs being willing.

Brunch

Before getting the train back home, we met Rowan for brunch at Kings Cross. Always good to see her.

 

Party 2

Whilst we were at Clem's party Rowan was a few miles away at her 26th Birthday party which she enjoyed a lot. Here she is full flow

Party 1

Saturday, Danielle and I went to friend Clem's 60th birthday party in London. A great event with cool music and food and people. Paul and Coral were on our table, so it was good to catch up with them. Akim was a little boy at our wedding, now he is a bit taller than his mum.

Friday

Friday night we met up with friends John and Katy who have moved to the brexit-land of East Yorkshire, but who seem to be surviving nicely. Anita and David, who we have not seen for years also came, and some other friends of friends. We just about fitted in the Golden Ball, a community owned pub that is beloved of the community, so is always very busy.

Light

 And here is the final one from that cold day. Where the peat has been extracted these shallow pools of water reflect the light beautifully.

Cold

It was a cold day on the moors alright. I hope that comes through in this shot too.

Ice

Water levels are high on Thorne Moors at the moment. This just means that wellies are needed to walk along the main track, not a problem to getting from A to B. Unless it freezes, as it did this week. That makes for a 400 metre strip of ice. Both me and the dog decided it was a no-go area.

Sunshine

The sunlight has a wide range of windows to shine through in the house. I saw it lighting up this bowl the other morning.

Flood Time

The floods in York usually provide plenty of opportunities to work with reflection. No different this year. The millennium bridge in the background is now 23 years old and an indispensable part of the city infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.

Flood 1

I am looking forward to showing this photo later in the year. Online reaction has been good. The proof will be in the live showing of the printed out version. It is a pair of goalposts reflected in the flood waters earlier this month. And then the whole image has been inverted.

For the past couple of years Danielle and I have been pretty avid Wordle players (along with an awful lot of other people). I had been waiting for the day to come when I got it in one (Danielle has already had that honour). This year Route delivered for me. No skill involved but still strangely satisfying.

Mud Mud Glorious Mud

Clara, the youngest of the family, contemplating that mud I told you about.

 

The Gang

Everyone happy at the YSP, Layla and her four attendants; Rosalind, Felix, Laurence and Clara. It was a spectacularly muddy day as well. So double happiness.

Family Favourites

We usually try to see niece Sarah and family around Christmas time. This year we met up halfway between York and Nottingham (where they live) at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Nataliia came with us too, and the dog (especially requested by the children). I failed to get any good photos but luckily Sarah is a keen and good photographer. So here is one of me and Sarah with Markus in the background.

High Water Everywhere

We have had a lot of rain in the last month. The beck at Escrick which is usually a gently flowing stream at the bottom of a ditch (above), was augmented to become this river. Layla wisely kept out of it (below).

Parties

 Whilst Danielle and I went to Robert and Helen's for their usual New Years Eve party (which was really good this year) we were happy that Nataliia could have four Ukranian friends round for a Ukranian party of their own. There is terrible Russian attacks on Kiev every night at the moment, so it was good they could all be together.

Last shot

A final shot from the family gathering. New mothers Catherine and Emma, Alex and my sister Ro.

New Member

 Diggory is the newest member of the family, he and Danielle seem to be getting on well.

Brunch

 

Amazingly Gill then managed to serve a fantastic brunch to an even bigger crowd on the next morning. 19 all in I think. Quite a couple of days. Rowan got the train back to the smoke, and we made our way home.

Evening Meal

We went down to Bicester for a celebration with the family. 12 of us for an amazing meal that cousin Gill had overseen. Just great to see everyone. Auntie Alison (94 next year) and I won the quiz too!
 

Flood Time

The highest floods for quite a while in York this week. This shot is taken from the Millennium Bridge.

The Sky at Night

An empty street and a busy sky with the moon trying to force a way through the cloud. Very quiet at Christmas time around here.

The Night Before Christmas

Rowan and I reading The Night Before Christmas together on Christmas Eve is a tradition that is over 20 years old. Somehow the dog now seems to be part of the audience.