Rore

I love listening the Building a Library podcast from Radio 3 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/bal/ It is ridiculously erudite and pompous "I suppose we all grew up listening to the Brodski's version of Mozart's 23rd quartet... " [not in Preston we didn't] but informative. Today I heard El Amor Bruje by Falla for the first time. It is fantastic and a real discovery. Now that I have discovered Spotify http://www.spotify.com/en/ I can listen to it in full legality.

The photo is The Road to Rore in Bosnia in 1984. As you can see from the aerial view it is an area of amazing limestone landscape, with hollows across the plain like pockmarks.

The Dog Listener Cometh

Danielle's approach to most things involves getting as much info [books, web, etc] and bringing in experts if need be. This includes having a dog. So Saturday we had a Dog Listener talk to us about how to get Homer to be in his rightful place in the pack - bottom. And it was very useful - I think. I am not sure what Homer thinks of it.

The photo is of Vesna in Montenegro in 1984.

White Rose Challenge

One year ago Dave and I rode our first Sportive – The White Rose Challenge. It was a bit of a wake-up call as we both felt shattered at the end and a bit out of our depth.

This year we returned for the 130k ride and did a lot better than last year. I got a silver, at 5hours 54minutes, and was very pleased with it.

Meanwhile Danielle went with Rowan to a North Yorkshire schools event at Ampleforth college. Rowan won her cross country race over 2k and had to fight back after someone overtook her, good to hear that she did that.

The photo is another 1984 one - This was a woman we met, shortly before we were arrested by the Jugoslav army near Mostar, who chatted then produced a pair of socks for us both that she had made.

France

Rowan had a great time in France and is now safely back complete with Brie cheese which we have already demolished and cider vinegar; they visited farms that made these products.

Another new shot from Weston.

1984

This shot is from the mountains in Montenegro. The path was a little exposed. I did fall down off of a similar path in Kosovo and managed to stop my fall with a stick I was carrying in case of wild dogs. It was then a matter of clambering back up the scree to the path.

New Sand

This photo was taken on the beach at Weston. I think it might make it to next years exhibition.

Danielle and I went a great walk on the North York Moors yesterday - a beautiful day. It is a real privilege to be able to get to the hills so quickly from home.

Stove

The hottest weather of the year. So inevitably it is this week that our wood-burning stove has been installed. The idea is to burn the wood from our trees [there are quite a few]. It is a Danish stove and we are well pleased with it. Should be even better in the winter...

France

Rowan left for her school trip to France yesterday. We had to be at school at 4.50 in the morning - lots of excited girls, lots of bemused sleepwalking parents. No mobile phones were allowed which is a good thing, but does mean we just have to wonder how she is getting on.

Sunday I went a ride with friend David [a different one]. Last time we rode he was my pace or a bit slower, now a couple of years on and he is like a whippet. I hung on in there but felt every kilometre, and it was only a quick spin to the cafe at Bolton Percy. He has been riding with a club every week and boy does it show.

Another cemetery photo.

The Jarrow Run

Rowan was running for York at Jarrow yesterday. Once again she chose to go on the coach without parental supervision - we were all happy at this - and came back with jokes and stories she earwigged from the "big girls" on the coach. She won her 1200metres and the high jump so was very pleased.

Another cemetery photo

Meal

Friends Rob and Julie came for a meal last night. We did an Indian themed meal and it went pretty well. A good relaxing evening.

The photo is of the inside of the Chapel at the Cemetery.

Dead centre of York

Yesterday evening I went on an English Speaking Union organised tour of York Cemetery - it's a glamorous life. It was very interesting. The cemetery http://www.yorkcemetery.org.uk/ is an amazing overgrown 24 acres in the centre of York with a grade 2 listed chapel in the centre.

Presentation Skills

I went to a seminar on presentation skills here in York. Courses like this are really useful for me, there is always something to learn. This one was provided free by Business Link [the government agency for small businesses] and done by Judi James http://www.judijames.com/ who is on TV a lot [apparently]. She was very good - perfect for the job in hand.

The photo is of Homer. He is not allowed in the kitchen most of the time; so he adopts this position and says "technically I'm not in the kitchen ... just my nose"

Spuds

The vegetable garden is just about in shape now, but still a bit hit and miss. The potato crop is looking good; before it goes all scraglly and not-so-good.

Floral

Danielle went on a flower-arranging evening last week. This is one of the results. Oasis will be bought.

Plannina

High on the mountain pasture in Montenegro, the plannina, shepherds spend weeks at a time tending their flock and living in these huts. We stayed with a few. It is an incredible parallel universe up there, totally remote from the valleys.

Cyclone

Dave and I rode our third sportive; the Northern Rock Cyclone in Newcastle. Another beautiful day and a good course [not quite hilly enough really]. I did the 100k in under 4 hours so was pretty pleased with that. http://www.northernrockcyclone.co.uk/

Hilary and Paul came round for lunch with daughters Phoebe and Francis [Rowan's premier friend] so we had a good time in the sunshine.

Meanwhile back in 1984 on The Walk we had moved through Montenegro to Bosnia and Croatia. This shot is of the first people we saw on coming down from the mountains of Kosovo into Montenegro - forestry workers high in the hills.

Hunting Dog part 2

So Homer rushes into the garden again, after I alerted him to a rabbit. "Don't worry" he says "I'll

get it". Rabbit scurries off, Homer does not see it. He sniffs, he gets a scent. "I've got it" he says and starts barking up a tree. Rabbits , squirrels, it's confusing. Somehow I think the rabbits and squirrels can rest easy at Hob Moor Drive.

Photo is of Rowan and I on a bike ride.

More buttercups.

The last photo of buttercups this year [promise]. This meadow is on Hob Moor, and they just look so beautiful this year - hence all the photos. The Elderflowers are now starting to come out, so homemade elderflower cordial beckons.

Downing Street

The photo is of the old Peat factory on the Goole marshes.

Danielle was in a meeting at no10 [Downing Street] this week. Such was the collapse of the government I think she was a bit worried she might emerge as a Minister, but she escaped.

Dog news

Here is how the dog operates. I see a squirrel in the garden, I beckon Homer, he gets the message and charges into the garden full of hunting-dog anticipation. "Over there!" I say pointing to the grey thing. Homer looks around can't see it, scampers around, finally with his nose in the air sniffs out a squirrel scent. "There's definitiely a squirrel there" he says and starts trying to trace it. Meanwhile the squirrel is probably nearing Leeds...

I fear that squirrels can rest easy here.

Harvest News

We had the first pick of gooseberries this weekend, it was the best crop since we have been here. Danielle made a crumble [demolished primarily by Rowan] and I made some fool.

Goole

Danielle was running in an 8 mile race at Goole today so I drove her there, then went a ride deep into the heart of the Yorkshire marshes. She ran well and got a good time. I came across an old Peat works that used to have a whole railway system to cart the peat around. Now all that is left are a few bits of track where it crossed the roads; sad.

Meantime Rowan is swimming in a Gala here in York and has texted us to say she has a new PB [personal best] in the breast stroke. Now I have to show some portraits to a client, so a busy day.

The photo is of another new exhibition at the NRM, this is the streamlined Duchess of Hamilton steam engine that has just been recreated.

NRM

Danielle had to work this morning, so Rowan and I went to the NRM to see the latest exhibits. These included a really interesting display about British exports of engines, track and expertise. Amazingly [to me] 45,000 British built locomotives were exported around the world. Not any more. 

The photo shows Rowan posing in front of an "air-cooled" coach for Indian railways.

Richmond Ride

The results of the Richmond ride are now posted online. The good news was that only 6 people older than me finished quicker than me. The bad news was that one of them was 74.

Dave found this blog about the ride http://www.cyclosport.org/members/myBlog.aspx?mid=11653&size=5 that references both his old Reynolds framed bike and me [I am that rider 366].

The painting is by Rowan based on a photo I took in Austria when we were all on holiday there 4 years ago.

Primodise

I got invited to a demonstration of a new technique for printing photos direct onto anodised aluminium http://www.primodise.co.uk/ . It was put on at the university and aimed at artists and others. Rowan came with me and ended up being the presenter's assistant which she loved. Quite an interesting process - the photos can become outdoor installations - but probably not for me.

Gypsy Corner

I took a quick spin on the mountain bike yesterday morning. There is nothing to beat being on a bridleway deep in the country on a hot May day - it really was beautiful. In the middle of nowhere there is a crossroads known as Gypsy Corner which is where I took the photo.

YAL

Rowan represented York Athletics Club in the Young Athletes league on Sunday http://www.natyal.co.uk/index.php 

There were about 20 members of the team. 

Me "Do you want me to come with you?" [the event was in Sheffield and involved a coach journey there and back]

Rowan "Ummm , No I'll be fine" [and she was]. It seemed like a rite of passage.

Rowan won the 1200metres and the high jump, so she was very pleased.

The photo is of more Hob Moor blossom.

Poplar

Another shot from Hob Moor. This is of the tall Black Poplar tree that marks the entrance to the moor from Holly Bank.