How To Be A Road Biker

Dave showed me this, No more comment necessary.

Rain

A last shot from my rainy day in Wakefield. It was torrential at this point - not easy for this family.

Wakefield

On my walk in Wakefield I came across this church in Thornes, it is late-Georgian, from 1830 and in pretty good nick.

Marmalade Day

The rain cleared in the afternoon yesterday and the three of us went for a walk on the Knavesmire. Then later on Danielle, with some assistance, made this year's Marmalade. She uses the old Palmour recipe and she makes it perfectly. Just as the Honey is nearing its end, the Marmalade arrives.

Big Garden Birdwatch 2014

We took part in the Big Garden Birdwatch for the 7th time. It was as foul, wet, cold windy day as I can remember and we saw only 11 species - the lowest number since 2008.

Blackbird 2

Blue Tit 2

Carrion Crow 1

Collared Dove 1

Dunnock 1

Greenfinch 2

House Sparrow 8

Magpie 2

Redwing 1

Robin 1

Woodpigeon 6

It was so horrible that we drove to meeting, rather than cycled [not a first that I am pleased about]

The photo is another from the Wolds at Grimston

Saturday

I had not seen Edward since the funeral before Christmas; my injured shoulder meaning we have not been playing badminton. So this morning we got a quick bike ride in, good to turn the legs, good to find out that Edward was if anything slightly less fit than me. Then off to Wakefield and the Hepworth Gallery [free wifi in the cafe natch] whilst Rowan has her high jump training. Back via Ikea to get a frame for some clients who are collecting portraits tomorrow. A good Saturday.

 The photo is from Grimston in the Wolds. Milo has developed a knack of getting into most of my photos.

The Veiled Vale

This shot was taken off of the top of the Wolds escarpment with the Vale of Pickering below. I didn't think much of it, then I saw it on a large screen and thought it had something about it. So here it is.

More Wolds

Another beautiful day up on the Wolds this week, just above freezing, beautiful sky, no one around - perfect.

Rankings

It is early in the year, but still nice to see that Rowan is joint second in the national rankings! One for the family album.

Indoors

This photo gives you some idea of what an indoor athletics meeting is like. Rowan gabbing away with her mates in the centre. The officials looking a bit cold in their fleeces. Girls adjusting their ponytails in unison. A boy about to launch his pole vault. The coaches leaning on the barrier wondering if their charges will ever look their way for advice.

Campione

Her black-eye gone Rowan competed in the Northern Indoor Athletics Championships in Sheffield today - and won! She was delighted, as I think you can tell from this photo. Her training partner, Hollie, came second so it was a good day all round. 

After that we went to Planet X for some bike bits, then Meadowhall for some food. All happy.

Cake

The days of having to make the cake are gone too, an out-sourced Wasabi chocolate makes everyone happy.

Party

For her party Rowan went with seven friends to Wagamama in town. Very stress free for us, very enjoyable for them. Quite a change from the dire days of the toddler birthday parties we have known.

16 Today

Rowan is 16 today, and her mocks finished yesterday, so she is pretty happy. Here she is relaxing on her beanbag that was a present from her Granny.

Black Eye

Rowan was competing in her first high jump of the year indoors at Leeds on Sunday. All was going well, she had won and was going for a better height when she managed to whack herself in her eye with her knee. Tears, ice, smiles, black eye. All well now.
The photo is another shot from wonderful Leeds - the Victorian Town Hall in all its glory.

Teaching

Another shot from the Wolds last week. The clump of trees on the ridge provides a focal point on the ridge.

I have started teaching photography classes at Rowan's school three times a week for the term. So far, so good.

Band

Our neighbour Andy is in a band, These and the Other Guy, who were playing at a pub on Friday night. So we went with a number of other locals. They were very good, a great singer and went down well.
https://sites.google.com/site/theseandtheotherguy/home

The Voice

Big excitement last night in the Palmour household. Beth, who was in the year above Rowan at school, and who was always a star in the school band on very nonchalant drums, was on the Voice [terrible talent show but not as bad as all the others], and she got chosen [this is good].

The North Scarp

This is near Settrington on the north scarp of the Wolds. It is not my favourite area but still worth a visit.

What Does George Fox Say

Humour and being a Quaker are not often synonymous, so this parody of the viral YouTube hit "What Does the Fox Say" is a bit of a rarity though. True to Quakers, it goes on far too long.

Birthday Lunch

For Danielle's birthday we had lunch at the swish new restaurant in York, the Star Inn The City www.starinnthecity.co.uk  which we really enjoyed. The bread comes in a Yorkshire Flat Cap, and the milk in a mini-milk churn.

Wedding

Always good to start off a year with a wedding. Peter and Pushpa got married at the Merchant's Adventurers Hall in York on Saturday. We had a good time and met some interesting people - including a knitwear designer who lived deep in the Wolds and designed for Ralph Lauren, quite a contrast.

Leeds

The three of us went to Leeds on Friday - last day of the holidays. I took this shot through the roof of some new improvised mall in the centre of town.

Two Pot

And here is Danielle's tall pot. I wanted to use it as an umbrella stand but she is less keen to do so.

Pot One

Remember that Danielle and I made some pots back in the summer? Well friend Ben the Potter finally got around to firing them. Here is my bowl which is about 50cm in diameter.

Walk

Monday we went a Wolds walk with John and Katy then back to their farmhouse for lunch with some friends who came out to see them too. A really nice day

Parties etc

New Years Eve we went to a party across the Moor at Robert and Helen's. Great party, plenty of interesting people, Rowan happy with her mates etc.
This year we did not have a drinks party, but invited our house-sitting and dog-fostering friends round for a meal which was good.

Sunday I went a ride with Dave & Dave to Thorner via Wighill where this church is a regular rest stop for us.

Happy New Year

30 years since The Walk across Europe. Blimey. This photo is of me - not changed much really.

Here's to a good year.