NYM2

From the same walk; through the forest that formed the last section of our walk.

 

North York Moors

I was delighted to be able to take Danielle on one of the routes in the North York Moors that I have discovered recently. It was not dry, but it was not cold either so we all  kept happy. A good long walk of close to 14 miles over some great terrain. 

The View

I saw this silhouette through the bedroom window one morning in some pretty dank light. I liked it.

Pre-modern

Came across this building in the village of Upsall, beneath the North York Moors western escarpment. It looks strangely modern for a building from 1853. I later found out that it was the Blacksmith's smithy, and that the doorway is in the shape of a horseshoe.

Joy

I hope this video conveys some of the joy of watching the dog in the wolds.

 

From the Garden 3

Red Cabbage is another favourite, and this year the slugs have decided to stay away, so it looks like a good crop is coming.

 

From the Garden 2

 

I grow different types of kale, including cavalo nero which is a family favourite. This is a collection of curly kales.

From the Garden 1

 

The runner beans have got to tough to eat, but the beans from the pods are great in soups. And also beautiful to look at.

En Route

 Dog and daughter happy to be heading for the hills.

Captured

I keep an eye out for interesting images all the time, even around the house. This mix of texture, reflection and silhouette was made possible by the sun just about shining through the glass on the staircase.

Wolds 2

Had a busy few days. Friends Carl and Jill came to stay for a couple of days, great to catch up with them. Had a band practice on Monday, which is always good. Been busy picking, cooking and eating produce from the garden too.

Here is another shot from the Wolds, one of the best dry valleys (Deep Dale) with Rowan and Layla centre shot.

Wolds

We all went a walk in the Wolds last week. Great to be back in the wondrous place.

 

Self Portait

Book Group

Our book group met again in person. Great to have face to face talk and wine drinking after the frustrations of zoom. We discussed The Party Wall by Stevie Davies which most people liked, but which Danielle and I both disliked. So it was a good discussion.

This week I went to Thorne Moors and it was as great as ever. I hope this image is slightly confusing in terms of scale and perspective.

Wallowing

Another shot from Hatfield last week. Layla likes nothing more than to wallow like a water buffalo.

 

The Moors

I met two people at the photo exhibition who will be useful for future projects. A woman who works for Nature England (which owns the beloved Thorne and Hatfield Moors) and a guy who works for the equivalent national archeological organisation, who also has an interest in the moors. I visited Hatfield last week and had a great walk right around the site; this photo is from that walk.

At one point Layla and I were sitting on a rare bench for lunch. I looked across the water in the peace. There were plenty of gulls and geese but nothing special. I said out loud (first sign of etc ...) "I really could do with seeing a marsh harrier". Marsh harriers are common on Thorne moors but I don't recall ever seeing one on Hatfield. I turned my head round, and a marsh harrier flew up from ten metres away letting me admire its beauty and grace. Special moment.

 

The Judge

This clump of trees near to us, in Acomb, always inspires me. A little climb and it feels like the world is at your feet.

I had some of my photos and books on show at Poppleton Tithe Barn yesterday. I had judged a photo competition (something I like doing) and was invited to attend the show where the winners were displayed. Sold plenty of books, so a good day all round.

Home Life

Danielle studying for her MA (which she has now finished), Layla continuing her anatomy class - bones module.

I have started playing badminton again with Edward, following a covid break of nearly two years. Great to be gallumping around the court again; style and elegance not in great supply but enjoyment and fitness fill the gap.

 

Plants

We have very few house plants, but these two seem to be enjoying their companionship.

City Skyline

Rowan took this shot from her office. Not often you can see St Pauls uncrowded by newer taller buildings.

Asian Ladybird

 I was brushing a ladybird off of my bike saddle the other day. I realised the colours were wrong. A bit excited I google-lensed it and discovered that this type of ladybird has been around in the UK since 2004 and is now very common. So there you go.

Across the Navigation

Looking across the Aire and Calder navigation this is Southfield reservoir that feeds the New Junction Canal.

NJC 3

Walking back from the canal I found this beautiful oak lined path upon an embankment that pre-dated the canal. Really lovely. I think it was probably a warping bank which allowed the land to be flooded and receive fertile sediment from the river. The warping scheme in this area was developed in 1880 by a local engineer called Makin Durham.

New Junction Canal 2

 

Looking down from the aqueduct to the river Went as it heads east towards the River Don. The family of swans made it a view were capturing.

New Junction Canal 1

I had wanted to visit the New Junction Canal for a while. It was opened in 1905, the last major canal construction in this country. The canal connected the Aire and Calder navigation in the north, to the Don navigation in the south. In the twentieth century it was a vital part of the coal transportation network, connecting the port of Goole to the coalfields. That all fell apart this century and now it is barely used save for a few leisure users and the odd commercial vessel. It crosses the river went in this photo on an aqueduct. Impressive engineering seen by very few.

Moving On

Rowan is back in London. This is Rowan's room here in York. Caption? "Now Rowan has left I assume this will be my room?" No.

Migrateful Live

Rowan and her friend Lydia went on a Migrateful class in person in London. The food was Nigerian, delicious and (I think it seems fair to say) plentiful.

Lead Chapel 2

From the same chapel. There are a number of these boards on the walls, dating from the 1700s. A very atmospheric little church.

Lead Chapel

I cycled with friend Robert the other week, and as part of our visit to as many churches as we feel like, we came to Lead chapel in Elmet. An amazingly primitive and unconnected chapel (no light, no water) that you can still visit. This pulpit was quite a thing to see. Not hard to imagine an austere and raging figure looking down upon his flock.

Chilli Part2

And here they are having been dehydrated. Ready to be stored and used to spice life up.

Chilli Pt1

The first chilli harvest for drying took place last week. This is the before the drying shot.

Heading Out

While Danielle was studying for her MA, this happy trio hopped off to Bishop Wood for a walk.

New Office

 So here is the revamped office. It might look pretty similar to the vamped one, but it feels like a new room to us. Just waiting for the blinds to arrive now.

Roseberry Topping

Up on Urra Moor last week, the light was moving all over the place. By the time I had the camera out Roseberry Topping (the shaped hill in the centre) was out of the sunlight which had moved onto to the plain. I like it.

The Helpful Companion

Layla is getting the idea of stopping at path junctions to suggest which way we should go. She also seeks out benches for us to sit on and have lunch - this is less about being helpful and more about getting the food as quick as possible. All good though.

Signage

 Walking the down the unassuming Pocklington Canal, I came across this signpost. One direction is to London (via 290 miles and 170 locks) and Melbourne (the east Yorkshire village, not the city in that Australia) is described as "Nearly there". Made me smile.

Another View

Neighbour Ken took this shot of our house from his. Nice to get a different perspective on the house.

In Office

 

While the office has been being decorated, Danielle has been working upstairs. I looked up from the garden as I got out my bike and saw this; I liked the reflection, silhouette etc.

Out of Office

We had the office and guest room redecorated last week. Putting the office back together has taken me all weekend  with more to come. Probably worth it though, as it is 18 years since we had it last done. So that is the excuse for radio silence for the last few days. Photos to follow.

Blacktoft

 It was a hot day on the marshes at Blacktoft last week. Look closely at the bottom of the pylon and you will see sheep in the small bit of shade cast by the steelwork.

RSPB

 A path on the RSPB Blacktoft Sands reserve.

Trent Falls

 Last week I walked from an RSPB reserve on the Humber. It was a strange experience. I arrived early, and was bemused to see the car park nearly full. Something was going on. Turns out there was a very rare bird on the reserve (a wader). It made me realise how little I care about such things. I love seeing birds as I walk - I saw a marsh harrier up close on this walk - but to stand with a hundred other people staring at a non-descript tired bird that has been blown off course is not for me.

Anyway this shot is of Trent Falls, where the river Trent joins the Ouse and becomes the Humber. The name sounds dramatic, but it is no Niagra, in fact no fall at all, just a name.

Sevilla

Rowan is in Sevilla for a short break, here she is on a bike tour of the city which looks a really great place to visit.
 

One last photo

And here is the last shot from the weekend. I am actually in this, which is quite rare. One of the several bald heads on show.

Diwana

No more posts about food for a while after this one. On the Friday night we went to Diwana, our favourite bel phoori restaurant. I first ate here in 1981. 40 years on and it is literally the same menu, same decor and same great food. Why change it?

Danielle and Rowan at the brunch on Sunday.

Anniversary Meal

Saturday evening we went for an anniversary meal with Rowan at the Ottolenghi restaurant in Islington. Nice to have a family meal before the big do on the Sunday.

Silver Brunch

 Just back from a weekend in London where Danielle had a day of Quaker business at Friends House on Euston Road, we met up with Rowan and saw her new house, and we had a Silver Wedding Brunch at a place on Old Street that Rowan found for us, with 20 or so old friends from the wedding back in 1996. A really good time. 

Silver Wedding

Yesterday it was 25 years since we got married. We went for a meal out at The Rattle Owl in town; had a great pescatarian tasting menu. A very pleasant evening.

En route from the Quaker Meeting House in Shaftesbury Avenue to Peg's club in Covent Garden.

Derwent walk

 

We have started walking the length of the river Derwent, beginning where it meets the Ouse and walking back to its source in the North York Moors. It will take a while. This section used to be tidal, but the Barmby barrage keeps it separate from the Ouse so it is no longer tidal but still navigable.

Gallery news

The gallery in York that has one of my images up as part of a group exhibition of local artists sold it on Saturday. I took another in to replace it, she sold it today. This was very unexpected and a bit of a bonus. Trouble is now I am expecting the hat-trick of sales. Rainforest Pool (below) was the first to go.

More Hatfield

My trusty companion on Hatfield Moors last week. 

Hatfield Moors

Last week it was Thorne Moors, today Hatfield Moors. Another great day. We did see 3 people in 4 1/2 hours this time though, so not quite as quiet. Plenty of birds, with hobbies swooping, greenshanks on the scrapes, terns and marsh harrier, and plenty of geese. A great day.