A Trip to Wharram Percy

One day we decided that as it was warm and sunny and all the jobs were done, that we would take a drive.

But it was a Saturday and on a warm and sunny day the roads tend to be busy so we took my little fiat and a map and decided to take a drive avoiding the main routes.

We set off towards the coast, thinking Bridlington or Scarborough or Filey.

We drove through villages that we never knew existed, on empty roads, with the windows down and the wind hurtling through our hair.  We turned off the radio as we couldn't hear it..... and took in our beautiful Yorkshire countryside.

We eventually came out on a road towards Brid, just before Fridaythorpe, at a point where you can take the official scenic route to the coast.

On this route you pass Wharram Percy, a medieval village, or rather the remains thereof.  We have driven this way so many times and never stopped but as we were on bit of a pootle we took a detour.

There were a dozen cars in the car park....... unexpected.....

And you absolutely cannot see where the village is from the car park.  You head down a path into a sheltered valley bottom where you cross a stream and walk up into the area of the village.  It was excavated for many years, with a farmhouse on the site being the base for the archaeologists.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wharram-percy-deserted-medieval-village/history/

This link gives you more information.

On a sunny day it is a lovely place to visit.

We studied the graves and put together the story of a family from the names and dates.
We looked at the boards provided to see the layout of the village
We went into the church through one massive door.... I thought people were smaller then.

And finally I dipped my toes in some cold as ice water from the pond, just what was needed on a hot day.

 The church has been both bigger and smaller than these remaining buildings, dependent upon the time, the population in the area and the money available.

 There were no words on this tiny little cross, at least none that I could make out.

This is the massive door.  I'm 5ft 2" so you can see it's big.  My feet are wet on this photo and as I didn't dry them my sandals were damp all day.....

The Historic Dockyard and Spinnaker Tower at Portsmouth

We had a beautiful day to visit the Historic dockyard.

There is a lot to see and it is definitely a whole day out.

This was a new exhibit, a first world war ship..... which wasn't open.  We were gutted as this was what we really wanted to see.  But I felt more sorry for two elderly chaps who had a connection with the ship and who had made a special journey.  When we looked more closely at the literature it did give the opening date but it wasn't at all clear if you just skimmed the leaflet.  Poor show.

However we did the Victory, which is a great ship to go round, especially if you are small as you don't bump your head at all.  The guides on board are very good and knowledgeable, making the story of the ship come to life.

We did the Marie Rose, which I haven't seen before.  All the artefacts in the museum are real, I think there were 19000 recovered.  The tales of the people that worked on the ship and reconstruction of their faces were incredible.  I was in awe of the amount of stuff recovered and the tale that all those items told in such detail.  I didn't take any pictures, but I wished that I had taken one of the building it was housed in as that was impressive.

I loved the patterns of the tracks for configuring the canons on the Warrior.

And as the Americas Cup was about to take place there were the different team vessels (catamarans?) being loaded in and out of the docks.

My daughter and her friend visited the submarine across at Gosport (the guide asked why they weren't laid on a beach somewhere) and we had planned a return for the tour of the Navy Dockyard, but when we went back it was closed because of the Americas Cup.

It is  great day, or couple of days out but it is expensive if you want to wander at will and visit all the attractions.  The ticket we bought lasts for a year but it is unlikely that we will be back within the year.  Thankfully Caravan Club membership got you two for one so it was half of what it would have been!

If you are in the area you must do the Spinnaker Tower.....

I have no idea how high it is but on a clear and bright day it is fantastic.  I like a glass floor (CN Tower, Blackpool Tower, Spinnaker Tower).

The views are amazing.....

Looking towards the Historic Dockyard.
Or just looking out to sea......

Now for something more uplifting

One night  last week when I got in the car I was a bit cross and the Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars song came on the radio and I LOVE that song.  I like to sing along and jig about to it even when driving.  When it finished I felt better.  I hope this link to the song on You Tube works so you can jig and sing along as well.  It works well if you are feeling just a bit ticked off....

"this hit....that ice cold......Michelle Pfeiffer.... that white gold......"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPf0YbXqDm0

Then at the weekend we went to the mill at Saltaire.  This is the chimney you pass on the way from the car park.  Magnificent...

I particularly liked the section at the back of Home where they had display cabinets of china and tableware that I remember from childhood, Hornsea Pottery being something we had a lot of.  Nostalgia and lovely items all in one place, bliss.

We had lunch in the diner.  Salts Diner food is fab.  So is the latte, and the locally brewed Saltaire Blonde ....

If you are ever anywhere near Shipley / Bradford or even Leeds Bradford Airport it is definitely well worth a visit.  And if you like David Hockney it is an absolute must.

Edited to add: new Hockney exhibition has just opened at the mill.  Our timing was a bit off, we will have to make another visit!

Lovely, lovely Reeth

Last weekend I was in Reeth. 

Reeth was on the Tour de France route and is a lovely little village high up in the Yorkshire Dales. 

We travelled through in July, after the Tour had passed, when we spent a glorious day following the route from Skipton.  On that day this was the view on the green in the centre of the village.  It is a popular walking destination.

 

On that day a brass band was playing and we sat on the rug

with an ice cream and enjoyed the sunshine.  Bliss.

I felt completely carefree that day.

 

So when I was deciding what I wanted to do for my birthday I decided a cottage in Reeth was where I wanted to be.  So a cottage was booked, booze and clothes were packed, best friend was invited and the school training day fell perfectly to allow a long weekend.

 

It was a good choice.  The weather was murky for 2 days.  This was the road over Buttertubs in July, in November that entire view was mist and fog, so no good photos. 

 

 

But then on Sunday the sun came out.  We had booked my daughter and her friend in at the Forbidden Corner.  We weren't sure whether to join them but decided that we would do and were soooooo glad that we did.  It is really good fun, if you are ever in the area it is worth a look (you need to book ahead and can't just turn up).  In some places it is properly scary, but in all places it is good fun.

 

http://www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk

 

I came back with aching legs (steps at Forbidden Corner)

Aching tummy muscles (from laughing)

Tight jeans..... (too much good food)

Slight headache (too much fizz)

 

That's got to be a good birthday..... hasn't it??

 

I'm too old for this.....

This weekend we decided to do a bike ride. And we went at it hell for leather.

I can't remember the last time I got on my bike, but I have to say that despite it languishing in the garage for ages...... I bloody love my bike. 

I got it about three year's ago and it is a sit up and beg style but with 21 speed gears.  It is a 'comfort hybrid' and it is comfortable.  Very.

When I was younger I did a lot of mountain biking, proper stuff on proper trails with pumped thighs and a seat that I barely sat on.  But times have changed and now I sit on the saddle which is designed to accommodate you sitting on it.

We cycled from the North end of Bridlington, past Sewerby, to the North bay at Flamborough.  When we got there we couldn't go down to the bay because they had just been filming the new Dad's Army film down there.  So we sat at the top, ate our lunch and enjoyed the day.

 

Realistically when we got there I had had enough. 

About 6 miles of rolling hills on legs that were not used to cycling is about enough.

But of course once there you have to get back...... bother......

So we cycled back on the road,

into the head wind

and when we got back my legs were like jelly and my knees were killing me!

 

 

But this was the view in the late afternoon sun looking towards

where we had just cycled, even though I felt old and knackered

I did feel like I'd achieved something....

And we had really enjoyed the day out.......

So the question is... am I really too old for this?

A Weekend in London

I can't remember the last time I went to London, well I can but it was ages ago.

This weekend I went with friends on the train and stayed over so that we could visit the Handmade Fair.

The best bits...

Getting an Oyster card - made me a proper London person

 Liberty - even though someone was wandering round with a dog.....just a dog not even a Guide Dog.  And it had a swishy tail that was perilously close to the Christmas ornaments....

Savile Row, peering into the basement workshops and this Porsche parked there (nice)

Sitting in our hotel room in pyjamas discussing the day with a bottle of wine and crochet in hand (obviously no picture of this bit).
Hampton Court grounds and the sun shining on us at the Handmade Fair on Sunday

Making a memory wire bracelet (although not enough time to get the colours right, it's too dark)

The stations in London - Kings Cross and St Pancras are sooooo different from the last time I visited, just look at this amazing structure..

 
The slightly weird bit.......

 

Yes that is the Very hungry Caterpillar.  And the apple.

 

So all in all a good weekend and I managed to crochet an entire scarf... it was going to be called my Hampton ...... but then something clicked in my head....... arghhh ....no, we'll go with it as my London scarf.

 

The thing is, it was remarkably easy. So having done this once and enjoyed it so much, I might just want to do it again...... quite soon.

 

Sicily - The Land of Montalbano

Earlier this year we visited Sicily.  This was prompted by watching the programme Montalbano on BBC4 on Saturday nights. It is mainly set in and around the Ragusa district of Sicily. The programme is brilliant but the setting is something else, so we headed there earlier this year at May half term.  If you are also a fan (or even if you have never seen the series) and would like to visit I can recommend:

The castle Donnafugata, the home of the Mafia in the series and utterly beautiful (this balcony was the setting for a meeting between Montalbano and the head of the mafia family)

Scicli (this is the town Hall used as the police station in the series).  Photo taken from beneath the shade of an umbrella in the café opposite

Ragusa Ibla, the location of several scenes

Heading down the back alleyways to secluded squares and gardens (Ragusa Ibla & Scicli)



A trip to Syracuse to the Teatro Grecoa and the Ear of Dionysius, a man made cave. 

Looking up at the balconies overhead.  There are plenty of stunning balconies to be seen

A quiet moment in one of the many churches on the island - beautiful interiors, cool and calm

Watching out for large men unfolding themselves from tiny little cars.......

(how did all that luggage fit in there.......?)