Tuesday 27 February 2018

Touring North Yorkshire In 3 Days

It seems just a dream of Fish and Chips since we were at Whitby and driving across the moors on a mini tour of Yorkshire , since the teen is at York University studying Archaeology. Yorkshire is absolutely stunning and I’m noticing more and more places to visit as we travel about. I’ve got my eyes on visting Castle Howard when it opens soon as it looks magnificent and I’m a sucker for a grand country house especially one that was used in Brideshead revisited. Not forgetting there is a railway to visit and I do love the romance of the steam train and when we come back will make sure we visit the railway at the North Yorkshire Moors railway.



Whitby Abbey




After visting Whitby



Whitby Harbour







We went to stop in York overnight and caught up with our very busy student son and popped to see Black Panther at the Vue now the cinema isn’t the cheapest source of entertainment but we were pleasantly surprised it was only £4.99 each.Also there is the Designer outlet in York just waiting you to part you from your cash and it’s actually a nice shopping outlet as shopping places go, my teen managed to make me part with about £80 .No worries it’s not like it’s going to snow on again and I’ll have to have the heating on all the time ( update : it has now snow and the temperature is plummeting )


It was then onto Fountains Abbey and Studely Royal Water gardens which is a Jewel in the crown for the National Trust it is a very peaceful place and is wonderful all year round especially with the change in seasons.











Friday 23 February 2018

Collector Of Time Am I









Collector of time am I 

Never presssed for time am I 

Never to waste time will I

I adventure to find my soul and live bold 

And wait for times love hold to show the beguiling light

Adventure is in my soul 

Adventure is is how I ultimately find myself 

And I know I’ll never find this dull 

If you ever sense a lull in my soul do tell me where I should go 



Call Of The Wild



Apologies are useless to a cat as they go in one ear and out another , I apologise for going away , I apologise for having ice cream . I apologise I want to walk up my own stairs without a cat ensnaring me ..


I apologise for taking a picture of the cat in the garden , life is one constant apology with a cat.



An apology to a cat is as useful as a chocolate fireguard but they’ll still expect it, change their cat food then apologise.



A cat will quiz you in your apology to make sure it’s heartfelt, they know if your not being sincere.



A cat will let you know that they’re listening out for an apology, if you’re thinking you can eat fruit and not apologise then think again.




But is all this standoffish behaviour just a reaction to the call of the wild perhaps?










Wednesday 21 February 2018

History On High At Whitby

I have just got back form a whirlwind visit to Whitby , I went down Friday night and stopped at a comfortable and functional Mastons Inn Penny Hedge  which was about 2 miles from Whitby and is a leisurely stroll into the town and a bit of a climb back. I could do Whitby alright and I have Asthma ( do make sure you have your inhaler though ) Not sure how I got this long into adulthood with not having got to Whitby but I hadn't that was until this weekend just gone.





Now I just know I am going to have to go back to Whitby it is one of go those places that reels you in like a fish on a line ( well it is a port and it has a harbour ) and they smoke kippers there . If you don't have fish and chips there then at least you must have chips from one of the many Fish and Chips shops and restaurants .I with my husband ate at an old fashioned in a way Fish and Chip restaurant called Trenchers which is reasonably priced and very delicious , the portions are of your choosing. I think in this day on age but it depends if you want to make that your main meal for the day or sit down / wander round with a bag of chips ( I think it is Seaside law you have to do something like this )

There is some debate on if there is 199 tradition dictates you could them as you go, the 199 steps as I think there is that amount really are a unique attraction in Whitby, the steps lure you spa and you are truly rewarded as you climb up them. Apparently the fist steps were made of wood the steps are also known as the "Church Steps" but they were replaced later on in the 18th century.The steps lead up to St Marys Church and burials stopped in the 19th century sometime and coffins were carried up the steps , the Male relatives carried the Males coffins and like wise the female relatives carried the female relatives.So when you climb up the steps and take a seat that is where they used to rest the coffins on and the pallbearers used to rest.


The steps are now a pathway to stunning views and it is a glorious side over the views off Whitby with chimney topsmrp@aol.com and roofs alike and go the sea the sea that just draws you . The colours of the side side at Whitby are out of this world and no matter that the day might not be sunny , a stunning view is always stunning.Beyond the church of course is the infamous Abbey that was a draw for a particular writer in the shape of Bram Stoker and that is a blog post for another day.




Disclosure I paid for my own trip to Whitby and Fish and chips.

Tuesday 13 February 2018

Self Care Isn’t About The Expensive Candles

Self care isn’t about the expensive candies , it’s about going what you need to function be it brushing your teeth to showering to that not so simple cup of tea .And don’t compare yourself to other people as comparison is the devil in waiting at times.

And I thought as I sat here in silence drinking my tea that there wasn’t silence there was the lashing of the rain falling in the window pane like a million jewels. I could hear the reassurance of the ticking of a My Victorian clock honestly never under estimate the power of a ticking clock it’s the best therapy you’ll never have to pay for.

Also stop justifying what you don’t like it’s energy sapping and we are all entitled to our opinions ~ I don’t like 4 weddings and a funeral except when Simon Callow is in it. Self care is refreshing and I am loving writing this my words don’t flow as I might like  at times.

Today I like the colour Green it’s refreshing maybe that why far from the rain depressing  me it’s beguiling me as it creates a river of beauty. The rain will make everything Green for today I really Green tomorrow I really might love Blue I don’t want to show favouritism. I write what makes me Happy I don’t write to please if what I write resonates with you then that makes me happy.

I’ve a chill in my neck so fetching my scarf will make me happy and to top it off I’ll wear my bobble hat , the television is off . 

Tick Tick Tick 


Tick 

Tock 

Oh my beautiful clock !
I’m still here listening to my clock better than any television today self care isn’t about expensive candles .Today I’m Green, tea and tick and tocks and wearing a bobble hat and maybe special socks.




Monday 12 February 2018

Loving Packwood House

I love exploring new places and as my husband and I are members of the National Trust we decided to go visit Packwood house.How I view my photography is different to my husbands and that’s the beauty of individuality.

I’m about the unusual and the unseen if I see what excites me in my minds eye then I know that’s the photographic shot for me.

























Sunday 11 February 2018

How Do I Get to See The Best Views In Venice ?

What’s the best view I hear you say , well pretty much every where you look really as Venice is an Instagram ready beauty that doesn’t fail to deliver.Venice, Italy is magical, mysterious, and a photographer’s paradise. It is probably one of the most picturesque and photogenic city in the world. Everywhere you walk or maybe gondola then you point your camera there is something interesting to capture. You will twist and turn with excited anticipation : cobblestone paths church domes, winding canals, people watching ,gondola and bridges.



1. Rialto Bridge find the quiet spots !
The Rialto Bridge is always crowded, day or night with people desperate to get that shot with their selfie stick.However, if you walk away from the bridge in either direction, just a short distance and you will find yourself quiet areas with amazing views of the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, the glorious architecture and the gondolas.






2. The view from the Water Bus to and from the airport
Forgot the 80 Euros Gondoliers even though they are black and very sexy and of course they are the symbol of Venice. But I promise you the water bus to and from the airport is a stunning way to get to your destinations and our hotel destination was a next to Rialto bridge. manoeuvring their sleek, black gondolas are the symbol of Venice. If you want then do go for a 30 minute gondola ride its better value the more of you there is the better as gondola will hold up to 6 people , we didn't go for it but there was plenty of people doing so.



3. Be a Wanderer and Explorer
Before arriving in Venice I had heard horror stories of smelly canals but as we were visiting in December this certainly wasn't the case , the only smell we encountered was walking through the world famous fish markets at Rialto. I believe it can be horridly hot in summer which was the case we found in Rome but you do adjust and of course regular cafe breaks are a must for a drink and the people watching.you probably heard  horrible stories of the heat and the crowds. Those things do exist, but only for people unwilling to look beyond the popular attractions like Piazza San Marco or the Rialto Bridge. Be a wanderer and explorer and just drift away honestly that is the best way to explore  especially on lazy days and holiday find those narrow streets, lazy alleys and those magical quiet canals.

Hidden Gems Of York - York Nuclear Cold War Bunker

Since the teen went to university up in York we’ve been up there rather a lot on various mission s , fetching and carrying that we now feel rather local. So what can you do in York that’s a little more unusual and a little of the beaten track after you’ve been mesmerised by the shambles




and eaten all the Fat Rascals ?




 What about a nuclear bunker , I love nuclear bunkers they’re so cool and interesting ( they’re funky ) I think it’s ok to take children down but bear in mind it is under ground and do make sure  they’re ok in that sort of environment before you do go down, obviously there will be references to nuclear war and the inevitable injuries that it causes.



Protecting us from Nuclear fall out is the York bunker a couple miles from York city centre and I bet in all the times you have visited York you have never been here and I urge you to go.

It was built in the late 1950s and was active from 1961 all the way to 1991.It was one of 29 sites that notified good old Blighty (Britain) that it had been the subject of a nuclear attack also measuring the ensuing nuclear fall out.The dutiful task of this fell to the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) who are now disbanded.If the worst had happened, the ROC had the rather unenviable job of being cooped in this underground bunker for 30 days whilst completing their nuclear fall-out monitoring duties.




Thankfully the Cold War didn't heat up in that way and Mr T and I were rather happy we didn't have to check the radiation levels by "quickly nipping outside " in the height of 1960's fashion with the added benefit of just a scarf covering our mouths and then have a decomination shower which was basically just a couple of hosepipes. The Government didn't deemed it necessary that the ROC get those suits that you see in films of old as they were very expensive - eek

The Bunker is now decommissioned -the York Cold War Bunker is run by English Heritage, with entry comes hour-long guided tour. Adult tickets go for £7.50 + £0.80 gift aid or free if you belong to English Heritage



Thursday 8 February 2018

Rustlers Burger Hacking Challenge With Sweet Potatoes

Now my son is at university away from the parent policing of what he eats I’m pleased to say he’s doing ok from cooking his own pasta to making his own cups of tea. Now he leads a busy university life and he does have a shed load of lectures to attend and is flying here there and everywhere for them and st the weekend he has college rugby.Time is short for him at times with the need to get that essay finished or get in that extra bit of studying / revision just before an exam.

And his choice of quick snack is a mircrowave burger but before you shake your head, tut and run away do please hear me out as there is more to it as you will see that Rustlers Fried Chicken Burgers are perfect for for embellishment.Southern Fried Chicken burgers are made from quality chicken marinated with a southern fried breadcrumb.

You can add a tasty side to your burger maybe carrots and hummous or make your own each chutney the possibilities really are endless and the whole family can get involved with helping.














And just because you’re away from home at university it doesn’t meet you can’t adopt a healthy lifestyle which in turn you can show other people.I served my burgers with sweet potatoes fries which really easy to do and once you have made them you'll always want to have them.


This post is an entry for Britmums Burger Hacking Challenge sponsored by Rustlers 

Friday 2 February 2018

If I couldn’t See The Wood For The Trees

I live on the edge of Suburbia long ago it was was a sleepy little village but it since been swallowed by the trappings of modern life.But it’s sleepp little heart remains and I’m so glad as I can escape at any point into the countryside. At the bottom of my road there’s 3 farms and another on my way to where I work at the school.From bedroom windows I can see the uniform tiles of a robot suburban living but I can also see the trees of the park of the countryside and one of the woods near me.




Trees are never ordinary, I love trees and I love looking at them.



If I couldn’t see the wood for the trees I’d be sad as I love my surroundings.