Barnsley 2

My first job when I lived in Leeds in 1975 was selling Daily Mirror subscriptions in pit villages around Barnsley. The pit would loom over everything, and was central to existence. Now the pits are gone, the villages are there, the jobs are not. To cope with such a huge change is a massive ask for any community, let alone one where family income was so massively cut. That they somehow managed to hold on is great testament to some very determined people. Frickley pit has long gone, to be replaced by a country park where the slag heap used to be. You can see the Frickley Athletic football ground in the middle distance - home of famous FA Cup runs in the 80s (1980s that is)

Don Valley & The Broken Promises - Way Down In The Hole

Well we played at some friends' Ruby Wedding party. We had no sound-check which was tricky, and it was not the easiest of venues. But we went down well, and we enjoyed it. Danielle filmed us, and here we are. Rough and ready.

Barnsley 1

There is some great woodland spread around what was the Yorkshire coalfield. This is near Barnsley, I walked there last week.

Local Elections

Three years ago I was proud that our City of York voted Remain.

Today the results of the first Council elections since the Referendum came in.

Here is the result. Makes me even prouder. Obviously it is pyrrhic as far as victories go, but it does ease the pain of the post-referendum dystopia.

To summarise:

Brexit Parties (Conservatives) 2

Anti Brexit Parties (Lib Dems and Greens) 25

Others (Independents) 3

"Not really sure where they stand on Brexit at all" Parties (Labour) 17.

LDM: 21 (+9) LAB: 17 (+2) GRN: 4 (=) IND: 3 (+1) CON: 2 (-12) NOC - No Change.

Return of the Cattle

It is always a great day when the cattle return to the Moor. As usual they are hyper-frisky to start with; they will soon settle down.

Oxford

On the Tuesday we dropped Rowan off at Bicester station where she got the train back up to Leam. Danielle had a work meeting in Oxford, so I took here there then walked through old stomping grounds in the city. It really is a beautiful place.

Mike RIP

The news I feared came through on Sunday. Old friend Mike Gregovic died after a year of lung cancer. He had plenty of people who loved him spread around Dalston and across the world. He will be truly missed.

This photo is from when Mike lived in Great Windmill Street in Soho. It was a great place to watch the world go by in the streets below.

Easter Monday 2

It was the first time we had properly met Adam's girlfriend Catherine, so it was nice to get to know her. Milo gave her his seal of approval.

Easter Monday 1

On Easter Monday we drove down to collect Rowan from Leam, then went on to see the country cousins. We got in a walk along the Oxford canal, which was great as usual. We stayed with Gill and family, and got to see Auntie Alison, Richard and James, so there were eleven of us for a great dinner which Gill produced. We all enjoyed catching up with family.

Good Friday 4

The route then worked its way back to Aberford on footpaths including this one across the fields. It was a great way to spend the day.

Good Friday 3

The path of the track went under the M1 twice, providing this shot which has a great Elmet feel to it.

Good Friday 2

Our walk on Good Friday took us on the route of the old railway line that connected the colliery at Garforth with the big house at Parlington Hall. The (probably apocryphal) story goes that part of the line was covered with a tunnel so that lady of the house would not have to see the dirty colliers making their way with the coal. The bluebells were showing well in the woods.

Good Friday

Good Friday we went a walk at Aberford, an old coaching village on the Great North Road. Quiet now, with the church contrasting with the end-of-season daffodils.

Attack of the Giant Strat

So with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame being in Cleveland they have these variously painted giant strats all over town. Better than cows (Munich) or elephants (I remember not where). This is what tourists do, they stand next to the guitar. I would like one in the front room to be honest.

Busy

No real excuse for the tardy blogging, apart from the lovely weather which I have used to get veg planted out, lawn mown, rose-bed weeded etc. Feels a real relief to have it ready to go after the long off-season.
Caught up with a few people in the week too, Patrick for a drink, Robert for a ride, Dave for a coffee. Got a good walk in near Barnsley too. Photos to follow.

Family

Rowan met up with her cousin Adam and his girlfriend Katherine in Leam today. It is always good to see bits of the family meeting up.
Decided to sit down with a beer and watch City v Spurs tonight; a good decision, one of the all-time great games, made more fun by our northern folks WhatsApp group (Mark, Me, Rob, Steve).

Super Sunday

After the slow Saturday I had a great Sunday afternoon with plenty of sales. When someone comes in saying "Hello, we bought three of you a few years ago and want some more..." you know it is going to be a good day.
This shot of Hook Moor, part of the Elmet series is proving really popular, it could be a new banker.

Slow Saturday

Second and final weekend of Open Studios, and a disappointing Saturday. Just hope Sunday picks up, the reality is you never know.
Meantime here is a shot of Cleveland and Lake Erie, taken from our hotel room. We both have a bit of a soft spot for the old place now.

Band News

Band practice today, with two gigs coming up. One is a friends ruby wedding, at the Folk Hall in New Earswick. I checked out the stage this week, and it is really impressive: shall have to practice my duck walk to make full use of it. The other, in June, is in Rowntree Park in York, part of a summer series of free gigs.
We now have another singer to join me and Greg, Karla who is great and will add a lot to the sound. It is great to play with people, (especially when they say things like "you should play the solo a bit longer").

Here is a picture that Rowan sent us from her weekend in Grenada. Her angelic appearance is rather counterpointed by her beer can just peeping in at the bottom of the shot.

Fleabag

I needed to get out. Train to Scarborough, rode back through Dalby Forest on the North York Moors then across the suspension footbridge at Huttons Ambo and a skirt with the Wolds until Kirkham Priory then home. I was knackered if truth be told, but it was great.

We are watching Fleabag (with most everyone else I think) and love it. The episode we watched last had a scene in the Westminster Quaker Meeting house where we met, and were married. It was beautiful to see our room up there on the screen, and strangely moving.

This shot was new last year and has sold both years, so it qualifies as a success. It is going to be in the next book.

Open Studios - Weekend One

First Open Studios weekend done and dusted. I was exhibiting at home on my own, so footfall was down on last year (at the Mount and with Jo the Jeweller). But sales so far are up, so that is really gratifying. The book launch on Friday night went well, with Danielle being the MC and short speeches by she and me, jazz by Adrian and bass-player Christian. Good turnout, good sales. Happy.
As usual with Open Studios, I met lots of interesting people, new to me. We might have got a keyboard player for the band as well.
I took this shot in Cleveland 10 days ago. I liked it, ordered a copy while I was still in the US. It arrived in time for the show, and someone bought it. So I hope it might become a big seller. By printing it in this sepia tint it makes Lake Erie look like the desert, which adds to the oddness of the image.

Do you want English Pea with that?

We were in a fantastic fish restaurant in Cleveland - The Blue Point - the waitress was telling us the specials
"Then we have a risotto of oysters and english pea"
we nod and smile, then I ask
"what is an english pea"
The reply
"Oh nothing, we just made that up because oyster and pea sounds unappetising"

Here is my hire bike on the cycle path with a great old trestle bridge behind. The bikes have rod-drive instead of a chain-drive: reliable, low maintenance, very heavy.

Brief Visit

Rowan has been with us for a few days before going off to Spain with some friends from high school. Great to see her.

Cleveland 7

The flight back from Cleveland, via Newark New Jersey, was fine. Here we are on Lake Erie.

Cleveland 7

On our last afternoon in Cleveland we were able to see a film as part of the Cleveland International Film Festival. It was a Chilean film called Los Reyes https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/los-reyes-reviews-1203031710/ which was brilliant, recommended if you ever have the chance to see it. It was great to see the festival so well supported too. After that we went round for some wine at Ted's flat overlooking Public Square.

https://youtu.be/qbUsF1DbSbo

At times Cleveland felt like a bridge museum, there are countless structures 

crossing the Cuyahoga River.

Cleveland 6

In the summer Lake Erie provides Cleveland residents with leisure and the odd beach. This is one I came across on another bike ride I took, west along the lake side. The bike tracks are good and newly created.

Cleveland 5

The Green City on a Blue Lake

"Forty-eight years ago, on an ordinary Sunday in June, the city of Cleveland’s environmental reputation went up in flames — literally. The Cuyahoga River, which runs through Cleveland and feeds into Lake Erie, caught fire due to its immensely polluted water. This event set the stage for how Cleveland would be perceived for decades to come: as a symbol of environmental degradation.

In 2009, Mayor Frank Jackson decided to alter this negative image of Cleveland by launching the Sustainable Cleveland initiative, a 10-year plan to transform the “Mistake on the Lake” into the “Green City on a Blue Lake.” The goal was, and remains, to see the City of Cleveland recognized as a thriving, environmentally friendly community by 2019—the 50th anniversary of the Cuyahoga River fire."

Wednesday I cycled down the Cuyahoga River on a cycle track; a fascinating journey on new cycle tracks through stockyards and industrial remnants. There are still active heavy industry plants here, which is a very rare sight in the west these days. A beautiful day too.

In the evening I joined Danielle for a conference dinner, met a lot of interesting people.

Cleveland 4

We both wanted to get out walking today. So we took the subway out to the University, then walked to the Museum of Modern Art which was OK. It had no cafe, which would be unheard of in the UK. The cafe and the shop are often the best parts of many a museum. Next we walked down a long valley to Lake Erie, there were community gardens from 29 countries all the way down. These included a seemingly random selection including Ethiopia, Albania and Estonia. Once on the shore we walked round the Gordon Park nature reserve then got a bus back to the city centre.

Here is a photo from the Hall of Fame of Jimi Hendrix and his cousin on bikes. Hendrix and bikes, two of the great things in life.

Cleveland 3

Monday was the day we got to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This is in Cleveland because it was here that DJ Alan Freed first referred to the emerging music as rock and roll on his radio show. We entered the museum with some trepidation but we need not have worried. From the start it covers the blues, gospel, jazz and country roots of the music with due depth and reverence. The whole thing was great. Friend Derwood makes an appearance on a gig flyer in a section on London punk rock, and there is footage of a 1978 Rock Against Racism Clash gig in Victoria Park which I was at (together with 100,000 other people). We liked it so much that we stayed most of the day. Even the food was pretty good. In the evening we got the free bus (yes free) to an Indian cafe that was goodish.
I am pleased with this shot of downtown Cleveland; that is Danielle in the reflection.

Cleveland 2

Sunday we walked around the city, fascinating it was too. A definite post industrial feel, with downtown being spruced up quite a bit. This shot is of the Cuyahoga River which is crossed by a myriad of bridges - a bit like the Tyne at Newcastle. In the evening we went to see the world premiere of the new Chelsea Marcantel play Tiny Houses at the Cleveland Playhouse. It was great, really well paced play (not boring) and funny. We ate in a Lebanese restaurant just round the corner which was good too.

Cleveland 1

Danielle had another conference to go to for work. This time in Cleveland Ohio; not the most glamorous of locations but we find interest in everywhere so were glad of the opportunity. Flew via Toronto (the first time I have been on Canadian soil) and arrived late Saturday evening. It meant we missed the anti-Brexit march but plenty of friends were there (even Mark for his first ever demo aged 62).

This is our hotel which is pretty good; not as Stalinist as it looks.

A Change in the Light

Another shot from the same wood. On what had been a dank dark day the sun came out for a few minutes and transformed the place. The white stone path was illuminated, the fir red bark of the fir trees stood out; amazing change. Then it was back to clouds.

Another pool

I discovered a new wood last week, near Knaresborough. This pool was a highlight.

Infinity Pool

There is a taster exhibition for York Open Studios in York for a weekend. This is the photograph that I am showing in it. Never been exhibited before, but has got good feedback online. Now called Infinity Pool, it was taken in a New South Wales rainforest last year.

Rowan news

Rowan's term has finished, so she is in London with a friend from her school days in the US. They stayed in an AirB&B and had a look around. Here she is with new short haircut.

Preparation

Busy getting ready for Open Studios. I am not showing this shot of Brayton Barff [a bit too normal] but it will be going in the Elmet book due out next year.
A beautiful spring day today here in York.

Sheep

Sheep blocking the road was a pretty common occurrence living in the Lakes, less so nowadays in Yorkshire. So it was a flashback to come across this flock blocking not a road but a cycle path. The farmer apologised, I replied that any rest was welcome. The two sheepdogs doing the herding were a joy to behold; beautiful animals on a mission, nothing was going to distract them.

Selection 5

I only took this last month, but I do like it. I have a fascination with water, and in particular reflections and separation of water from itself. This is at the Barbican and it ticks all the boxes. I will be surprised if it is a seller but I still like to show it.

Teeth

I was diligently flossing my teeth, even though it was late and I was tired. My reward? A filling about the size of Wales comes flying out of my mouth and disappears straight down the plughole, leaving me with a cavity like a small quarry on the upper east side of my mouth. On the upside, it didn't hurt.

I got an emergency dentist appointment for the next day, and she was cracking on with the anaesthetic almost before I got through the door. Just at the peak of the drilling-experience Hurt by Johnny Cash came on the radio loud and clear:

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real

The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything

Ok, he wasn't singing about going to the dentist but the lyrics spoke to me. It actually took my mind off the discomfort, I nearly started laughing, which would have been unfortunate as I had a drill and a vacuum cleaner in my mouth at the time.

Feels good now though.

Selection 4

This is a new shot, taken at North Cliffe Wood on the flatlands between the Wolds and the Humber. It will be interesting for me to see how this is received by people at Open Studios. I really love it, but I have no idea if anyone else will. Time will tell.

Selection 3

I was standing at the Sydney Opera House looked across at the Harbour Bridge and saw this group of tourists on the daily walk across the top of the bridge.

Selection 2

Another from Singapore. This is people gathered around a wishing well. Despite all the rampant materialism of the location people still kind-of believe in the power of throwing a coin and wishing.

Open Studios - Selection Time

I am choosing what new photographs to show at York Open Studios this year. A lot of the work on show will not be new; the series on The Wolds, on Elmet and on Ambiguity will feature some old work as well as new. But there will be some totally new. So, over the next few days some that are in the mix for selection are going to be here.
First up is this shot from Singapore. It is taken in one of the most affluent malls in the city, where all is polished, new and there is a sense of decadent indolence amongst people strolling there. But not for the cleaner who is in this shot, dragging a heavily laden cart along the walkway above the throng. Hard work.

Ancoats

Danielle had a meeting in Ancoats in Manchester and found this lovely old canal bridge there. Photographers all over the family now ...
Sunday we had two ladies from Quaker meeting over for lunch after meeting, and our neighbour Gwen came around too. I did a borscht to start, then Danielle did a courgette pie and salad. Then sugar free apple crumble (I have given up sugar for lent). All was good.

The Mount

I am still running a photography group at The Mount School, coming out from my session last week the weather and the light gave me this shot.

Fencing

A bit obviously symbolic, but I loved this image. Taken at Sprotbrough near Doncaster. If you look to the left of the fence you can see that there was no need to breach it like this.

Rainbow

Taking photos of rainbows is as attractive to me as taking sunsets. But when I saw this rainbow over Hob Moor this week, I made an exception.

Tunnel to where?

I love the tunnels and paths that surround old railways. I have no idea where this lead to, and although I am fairly fearless I decided not to explore in this case: there was no light at the end of this particular tunnel.

Barnburgh

Until I show this photo at Open Studios next month I'll not know whether it is just me that likes it or not; but I really like it. It is taken on Barnburgh Cliff which runs on a limestone ridge between Doncaster and Barnsley. I love the contrast between the modern wind turbines and the old ridgeway track and the hedgerow on the right. Could be it is just me.

Man & Dog part 2

Many miles we have driven together to go a-walking.
Thanks to Rowan for the shot

One Man & His Dog

Rowan took this shot in the Wolds last week. Man, dog, empty landscape.

Back in the Wolds

Rowan is back with us for the weekend, lovely to have her. Today she and I walked in the Wolds which was, as always, an uplifting experience.

Here is the regulation selfie

Coffee and the Lottery

Danielle has been appointed onto the board of the National Lottery Community Fund, here is the link  https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/press-releases/2019-02-27/the-national-lottery-community-fund-welcomes-new-board-members She is really well respected / thought of in her field.

Meantime this is how they drink coffee in Lem these days; reminds me of my old Kona Coffee machine from the flat in Cannonbury.