And More

Also this year, one of my oldest friends has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. She is the fulcrum of an extended family and it is hard to even think about how bad it is.

Then a friend who has just published his first (brilliant) novel who thought his cancer had been halted, collapsed and it turns out the cancer has spread to his brain.

So here is a peaceful photo

Lough Cuillin in Mayo

Tough Times

It has been a difficult start to the year. We are fine but it seems that many friends are not. Danielle's friend Gwen, who was one of the witnesses at our wedding and a really good friend, had a heart attack three weeks ago, and passed away last week. Totally unexpected to us and a real shock. She leaves her husband John and two sons. This photo was taken at our Silver Wedding brunch in 2021. Gwen is standing. We will all miss her.

Reflection Confusion

Here is the latest work from my many trips to Hatfield Moors. The water is now back to standard levels, which brings time for reflection once again. This has gone down well on Instagram and Facebook and I shall be showing it at Open Studios this year.

Dog

Layla in her Anatolian sheepdog splendour this week.

 

High Life

Rowan had a friend from high school staying with her in London. They went to the skygarden, and had this view. Pretty amazing.

Bird News

Living in the same house for 20 years means that over time all sorts of interesting birds are seen either in our garden or on the moor. I spotted this Little Egret (which, when I was young, was not even in British Bird Books, let alone in the garden) last week having a rest. Not the first time I have seen one here, but first chance to get a photo (of sorts).

Book Group

In book group we discussed The Children Act by Ian McEwan. It was pretty good although I liked it less than most (it was all a bit contrived). The company and wine was good though.

Really beautiful light on Hatfield Moors last week.

Tadcaster

Walking in Tadcaster last week was a challenge. Every bank of the river was flooded eventually. We got furthest heading north. This is usually a grazing meadow with cattle - today it was a lake. The viaduct was built in the 19th Century as part of a proposed line from Leeds to York that was never completed. So it was never used.

I guess if HS2 is abandoned before completion there might be similar tunnels and bridges.

Intrusion

Abstracted from a shot of a lake on the Moors. Not sure what the structure is. Plenty of layers of reflection of clouds, the bed of the lake, the reflected structure etc. Not sure anyone would buy it, but it interests me.

God Speaks

Back on the Hatfield Moors flatlands, a complete contrast to the Highlands but also strangely similar. I half expected to hear a booming voice from above when I saw this cloud.

Aurevoir L'Ecosse

One last shot from Scotland. This is the other end of the Airship. Set the controls for the heart of the night.

Day 6

The final day of walking saw us at Lochaline, the only village in Morvern. It was typical of the highlands in that it has unashamed heavy industry going on. In this case, the extraction from mines of high quality sand for use in high-end glass ware. A big operation with trucks charging around. I quite like it.

We walk by the sea loch, and see an otter. Earlier in the day we had seen a sea eagle, and met a woman who had had a dog very similar to Layla, a Bulgarian Shepherd as opposed to Layla's Anatolian Shepherd heritage. The photos she showed us made them seem identical.

Coming back to the village by a forest path I got this shot. Could be a keeper, it has a had a good instagram feedback.

Day 5

We walk high into the forest behind the airship and find a new track that enables us to loop right round and back down to the village of Drumnin. The rain starts just as we return and we have a cozy afternoon as the wind gets really strong and the rain really heavy.

Layla looking out to sea from the abandon village.

Day 4

A changeable day with only a little rain, but plenty of dramatic light and cloud and even a rare visit from the sun. Went on a walk to an abandoned village that was a victim of the clearances - Auliston. It used to have a population of over 200 people and the houses and other buildings are clearly visible. The people were unceremoniously kicked out in favour of sheep by the land owners. This shot is across the Sound of Mull to the island. 

Day 3

We are staying in a most unusual place. I will not try to describe it, other than to say it is a kind of steam-punk airship pod that overlooks the sea loch to Mull. Here is a picture of it taken from outside with Danielle inside.

We got a couple of walks in today, no snow, drizzly rain and great walks. 

This is from the morning walk in a forest just near where we are staying, looking back across the loch to Mull. Ten minutes after taking this, we could see neither Mull no the loch as the cloud came in. And half hour and all was clear again; it is that kind of weather.

Day 2

The trip across the highlands involved, temps of 5 below, heavy frost, snow, rain and rainbows. A beautiful route including, Glencoe and Fort William. As we drove north aside loch Linnhe we saw this rainbow reflected in the water. Not sure I knew that a rainbow could be reflected, but I do now.

Day 1

Danielle's birthday falls on January 7th, and always arrives as a surprise "it can't be tomorrow, Christmas was only yesterday." This year we are heading to Morven in the Scottish Highlands. It is a (very) remote peninsular across from the isle of Mull. As the ferry we need to take is shut for hogmanay we decide not to rush it, and break the journey at Stirling where we stay at the university for the night. We walk into the city and see the old bridge which dates back to 1500. I tried to get a shot that was not the standard tourist view.

2003

20 years ago. Rowan is five, the house has no upstairs, it is raining.

Geese and a Bridge

Another shot from the Yorkshire Sculpture Park taken in the cold days before Christmas.

Moraine

This line of trees is on top of the Escrick Moraine that runs across the vale of York and marks one of the places that the glacial ice sheet coming down from the north receded.

Last Day

 

The day Rowan went back to London we all went a short walk at Escrick, good to get out in the fresh air. Plenty of running around for Layla.

Visitors

Over 20 years ago Alison was Rowan's favourite helper at nursery. We have kept in touch, and Alison and family came to see us this week. Lovely family.