Burland Wanderings, Wainwright Walks etc.

Walk on Otley Chevin

2012-01-20T14:10:00.000-08:00

On Sunday we had a walk on the Chevin Forest Park. Details of the pictures are appended as appropriate.

Fellrunner out training.

Mountain Biker

Cloud inversion in the Wharfe Valley

Track leading up towards the summit rocks

The direction viewfinder near the summit

Part of the new Geology Trail

The summit rocks

Ryanair plane coming into land at Leeds Bradford International Airport

Naked bush starkly against the skyline

The information board on the return to the Car Park

First walk with Eleanor

2012-01-20T14:03:00.000-08:00

On Saturday we took our granddaughter Eleanor out for a walk from Chris & Becky's up the moor road towards the south side of Otley Chevin. Pictures below show her in her new pushchair.

Garden & Otley Landmarks

2012-01-20T13:07:00.000-08:00

These photos are of items in the garden and some shots around Otley to try out my new Lumix camera. Descriptions are added where appropriate.

Christmas Rose

First snowdrops

Polyanthus with a frosty coating

Squirrel on the tree in Otley Churchyard

The "twisted tree" in the Churchyard

The monument to the men who died building the nearby Bramhope Tunnel on the Leeds to Harrogate line.

Baby Eleanor - at 11 days old

2012-01-08T07:41:00.000-08:00

Pictures of our Granddaughter taken over the weekend of 7th & 8th January

With Grandma Presley

Eleanor

With Mum Becky

Eleanor

With Mum & Dad, Becky & Chris

With Mum Becky

With Dad Chris

With Mum Becky and Grandma Presley

With Uncle Matthew Presley

With Nana Burland

With Nana & Grandad Burland

With Grandad Burland

With Mum Becky and Dad Chris

With Great Grandma Warby

With Great Grandad Warby

With Uncle Matthew Burland

Swinsty Walk

2012-01-08T07:26:00.000-08:00

Over New Year we had a walk round Swinsty Reservoir, some 5 miles from home. Belwo are the pictures with titles where appropriate.

Wildlife by the edge of the reservoir

Views of the reservoir during the first mile of the walk

The intake of water from Fewston Reservoir

Fewston Reservoir

Cottages in Fewston Village

Ivy Cottage

Fewston Church

Returning to the Car Park

Sunsets over Swinsty

December's Pictures

2011-12-31T09:59:00.000-08:00

Our final set of pictures for the year taken during December.

1st Dec - Quarterly visit to the Cancer Clinic at St James's Hospital

2nd Dec - Music Group practice at Church.

3rd Dec - Otley Market

4th Dec - Advent Decorations at Church

5th Dec - Tidal barrier at Hull Docks on an audit visit there to a customers

6th Dec - Group Safety Managers' Christmas Meal from work down at Thetford

7th Dec - Church near Diss

8th Dec - Fruit bowl at Slimming World Meeting

9th Dec - Forythia out on the fencing

10th Dec - Brass Band Christmas Concert I had organised at Church

11th Dec - Otley Victorian Fayre

12th Dec - Fork Lift Training at work

13th Dec - Jack & The Beanstalk at West Yorkshire Playhouse

14th Dec - Christmas Tree at home

15th Dec - First lot of Easter Eggs at work

16th Dec - Model train near Guiseley Station

17th Dec - Drum Group "Drumming for Africa" in Otley raising funds for the East African relief project

18th Dec - Hamster in the kitchen whilst his cage was being cleaned out

19th Dec - Slimming World Social Team Meal at The Hare & Hounds

20th Dec - Decorations on one of the houses in Otley

21st Dec - Tree in Otley's Market Square

22nd Dec - Chrsitmas Party at Slimming World

23rd Dec - Beauty & The Beast Ballet at The Grand Theatre in Leeds

24th Dec - Christmas Log

25th Dec - Matt & Viv opening presents

26th Dec - Chevin Chase with Jonathan Brownlee leading the field

27th Dec - Visit to Airedale hospital where Becky our Daughter in Law was in labour

28th Dec - Granddaughter Eleanor Faith who had arrived the previous night at 8.30 p.m.

29th Dec - Barges at Sowerby Bridge where I had to go visit a customers

30th Dec - End of year celebration tea at Murgatroyd's Fish Restaurant

31st Dec - First snowdrops appearing in the garden, nearly two months earlier than at the begiining of 2011

Baby Eleanor Faith

2011-12-29T10:01:00.000-08:00

Our first Grandchild, Eleanor Faith, was born on 27th December at 8.30 pm and weighed in at 9lbs 13 oz (4.5kg)

Clifton Walk

2011-12-03T07:04:00.000-08:00

Pictures from the walk to Clifton a fortnight ago.

November's Pictures

2011-12-03T06:22:00.000-08:00

My pictures taken during the month of November.

Nov 1 - One Monkey production at West Yorkshire Playhouse.

2 Nov - New compactors at work.

3 Nov - We Will Rock You at Leeds Grand Theatre - A brilliant show!

4 Nov - New vending machines in the canteen at work.

5 Nov - Fireworks!

6 Nov - Autumn leaves on the tree outside home.

7 Nov - Church near Mexborough following a customer visit.

8 Nov - Sir Jimmy $avi££e lying in state. (That is how he always used to sign his surname).

9 Nov - Customer visit in Horsforth.

10 Nov - Dismantling racking at one of our sites.

11 Nov - Susan Burton & Mark Vicker's wedding.

12 Nov - Martin & Elizabeth's 60th Birthday event.

13 Nov - Shopping at Betty's in Ilkley for Christmas gifts.

14 Nov - Rent by the BrassNeck Theatre Group at Yeadon Town Hall.

15 Nov - An Evening with Alfred Wainwright Talk at Easingwold.

16 Nov - Suite following it being cleaned.

17 Nov - My friend Joy receiving her "Miss Slinky" award at Slimming World.

18 Nov - Visit to a customer's at Knottingley and view of the Ferrybridge Power Station.

19 Nov - Afternoon walk up to Clifton.

20 Nov - Visit to the stollen stall at the German Market in Leeds.

21 Nov - Sunrise over Armories Square in Leeds.

22 Nov - Christmas lights in Leeds.

23 Nov - View over the fields near Knaresborough following a customer visit.

24 Nov - Otley's War Memorial following the wreath laying earlier in the month.

25 Nov - Evening meal at The Albion in Arnside prior to giving my "An Evening With..." talk to the Arnside Ramblers.

26 Nov - Saturday breakfast!

27 Nov - Making Onion Soup for Sunday lunch.

28 Nov - When The Lights Go On Again by the CarpetBaggers Theatre Group at Guiseley Theatre.

29 Nov -Top Hat at Leeds Grand Theatre - another knockout show!

30 Nov - Annie at West Yorkshire Playhouse - Sophie Downham in the lead role - absolutely brilliant production.

Martin & Elizabeth's 60th Birthday celebration evening

2011-11-20T09:17:00.000-08:00

On 12th November we were invited to a 60th birthday celebration for our friends Martin & Elizabeth Campey. Elizabeth had her birtday during the summer and Martin's was towards the end of November so they decided to have a joint party and invited friends from work and church to the event at Otley Courthouse.

We had a Ceilidh Band and a hog roast. Below are pictures giving a flavour of the evening.

Wedding of Susan Burton and Anthony (Tony) Vickers

2011-11-20T08:55:00.000-08:00

On 11th November we attended the evening reception for Viv's cousin's daughter Susan Burton's wedding in Leeds. Quite a number of the Burton/Warby family were present and the pictures below give a flavour of the event.

October Pictures

2011-11-06T07:22:00.000-08:00

Daily pictures taken during October.

01 Oct - Hydrangia in the garden.

02 Oct - Penultimate cutting of the lawn for the year.

03 Oct - Christmas display at JTF, one of our tenants.

04 Oct - Stocks at Marple where I was doing a talk to the Marple Ramblers - good job the talk went well!

05 Oct - Evening walk by the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

06 Oct - Countdown to Christmas at Slimming World.

07 Oct - Morning sunrise on the estate.

08 Oct - Plane taking us to Portugal.

09 Oct - Hotel Grounds and Pool.

10 Oct - Catholic Church in Alvor.

11 Oct - Local Brew!

12 Oct - Hotel Gardens.

13 Oct - Sailing Trip.

14 Oct - Sunset on the beach.

15 Oct - Hotel Pool prior to departure.

16 Oct - Tree in Otley churchyard.

17 Oct - Lady Boys of Bankok show in Leeds.

18 Oct - Bushes at work.

19 Oct - One of the cars in for service at the local garage.

20 Oct - Fields in Durham on the way to Durham University to give my Wainwright talk to the Durham NT group.

21 Oct - M1 near Chesterfield on a visit to one of our customers.

22 Oct - Otley Market.

23 Oct - Swans on River Wharfe.

24 Oct - Early morning view over to Farnley.

25 Oct - Beech tree by The Yew Tree pub in Otley.

26 Oct - Pigeon in tree at work.

27 Oct - Haloween Night at Slimming World.

28 Oct - Surprise presentation to me at the Wainwright Memorial Lecture by Hunter Davies.

29 Oct - Morning sunrise from The Troutbeck Inn in the Lake District where I had stayed overnight.

30 Oct - Tree on Otley Chevin.

31 Oct - Evening view over Wharfedale on the way home.

Portugal - Alvor

2011-11-06T05:28:00.000-08:00

During October we had a holiday in Portugal, the first time we had been to the Algarve. It was mainly rest and relaxation but I swam at least ½ mile per day, spent ½ hour in the gym each day and we walked quite a bit down to the town of Alvor and also on the beach.

Below are pictures of the holiday.

Plane at Leeds/Bradford airport.

Airial shots over the Sistemas Central mountains in Spain.

Coming in to land over the coast.

Our hotel at Alvor.

The pool area.

Trip in to Alvor.

The main Catholic Church.

Down by the harbour.

Jose our guide from the hotel.

Harbour area.

Local brew!

The second Catholic Church in the town.

The tale of the Cockrel. The local symbol on the Algarve.

Pool from our bedroom balcony.

The restaurant.

Flowers in the gardens.

The pool bar.

Paragliders over the sea.

Viv watching the setting sun from the balcony.

The wine doesn't come by the glassfull!

Evening shots of the pool.

Walk on the beach. Some fascinating rock formations.

Tide coming back in later on our walk.

The "Man Friday" moment.

The beach stretched for miles.

Another walk into Alvor with some of the local properties.

Further round the harbour.

Some lovely buildings we encountered.

Distant view of the hotel on the return from Alvor.

Relaxing in the gardens.

Trees and local wildlife.

An afternoon out on a sailing boat from the harbour.

Our "skipper".

Sailing out of the harbour.

Views of the hotel as we went up the coast.

Shots during the voyage.

Round the headland.

And back into harbour.

Disembarking.

Statues in the harbour.

Fishing boats.

The hotel from the town.

Even the roundabouts have lovely floral decorations.

Evening walk on the beach with the rays of the setting sun.

The hotel highlighted with the setting sun.

Liner sailing past in the evening.

The bar area in the hotel.

Reception area.

Outside grounds.

Pine trees and a selection of cones.

A Walk Around Stainforth

2011-11-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

This is a walk I did a couple of months ago, but hadn't got round to posting until now. It is short 5 mile walk from Stainforth, up past Cattrigg Force and then over Winskill and down to Langcliffe. From Langcliffe the route returns along the banks of the River Ribble to Stainforth village again.

The stepping stones in the village.

Views of the village from the climb up Goat Lane.

Goat Lane.

View across to Pen-y-Gent.

Stainforth Beck.

Catrigg Force.

Views northwards.

The turning to Winskills.

High Winskill.

View westwards to Ingleborough.

Descent into Langcliffe.

Church at Langcliffe.

River Ribble.

Stainforth Church.

Village Green at Stainforth.

Back to the stepping stones.

Around Troutbeck and Gowbarrow

2011-11-04T13:51:00.001-07:00

On Saturday 29th October I had been staying at the Troutbeck Inn between Penrith & Keswick after I had been to the Wainwright Society Memorial Lecture on the Friday evening given by Hunter Davies. The Society had arranged a walk that morning onto Gowbarrow Fell and the pictures below show an early morning run I had from the hotel and then the walk itself.

Sunrise out of the Hotel bedroom.

Great Mell Fell.

Views north west to Blencathra.

View to Ullswater from Dockray.

Party getting ready in the Car Park.

Badger.

Autumn colours in the trees.

The intital ascent to Aira Force.

View of Aira Force from above.

The view of Ullswater from Lyulph's Tower.

Path rising to Yew Crag.

Views over Ullswater.

The seat near Yew Crag.

Phil on Yew Crag.

Yew Crag.

Rest of the party arrives.

Northern stretch of Ullswater.

David & Derek.

Phil on the summit of Gowbarrow Fell.

The party gathers on the summit.

Group photo on the summit.

Bullocks on the descnet to Dockray

High Force.

Aira Force.

The Lead Mines of Greenhow

2011-10-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

This is a 6 mile walk I did up at Greenhow back in August.

The approach to the village

The old Miners Arms - now in a state of disrepair.

The other part of the Inn which has been renovated.

The old sign outside the front of the Inn.

The track down to Low Far Side Farm.

Mole that had been trapped.

Pot-bellied pig by the farm.

Gill Beck.

Old mining impelments.

The old mine works.

The Nidderdale Way.

More mining relics.

The track up to Ashfold Side.

Ashfold Side Beck.

Track from Low Waite Farm.

View over Nidderdale.

The farmer heading back up to Greenhow with his sheepdogs.

September's Pictures

2011-10-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

Pictures taken each day during September

1st September - Barnsley Town Hall during a visit from work.

2nd September - View of Wharfedale from Otley Chevin

3rd September - Walk to the summit of Simon's Seat

4th September - Antirinums in the garden

5th September - Eggborough Power Station during a visit to Snaith

6th September - Wharfedale Hospital for my Vitamin D Blood Tests

7th September - Farm Shop on the A64 during a delivery to Scarborough

September 8th - "The Gateway" in Leeds

9th September - North Ballet's Production of "Hamlet" at West Yorkshire Playhouse

10th September - Shopping in Harrogate

11th September - Heritage Weekend display at Church

12th September - The Donkey Stone" in Otley Parish Churchyard where John Wesley's horse Robert is reputedly buried

13
th September - The girls from "Shakers" being performed at Yeadon Town Hall

14th September - "The Go Between" at West Yorkshire Playhouse

15th September - Group rehearsing at Church for the Otley Folk Festival

16th September - "An Evening With..." talk at Mellor, Cheshire. Over £1,000 raised for Charity!

17th September - Hardraw Force

18th September - 1812 Group Treasure Hunt on the canal side in Leeds

19th September - Roses in the garden

20th September - First Circuit Meeting of the new Wharfedale and Aireborough Methodist Circuit at Christchurch in Ilkley

21st September - Insurance Seminar in Cambridge

22nd September - The River Cam

23rd September - The new Asda Store in Otley

24th September - The Blue Plaque being unveiled at Settle Station for Wainwright's Pennine Journey

25th September - Squah plants in the garden

26th September - Sunset over Menston

27th September - Sunset from Matthew's flat in Guiseley

28th September - King Lear at West Yorkshire Playhouse

29th September - Tree in Holbeck Park

30th September - Tree in Golden Acre Park, Bramhope

August's Pictures

2011-09-10T00:18:00.000-07:00

Another month has passed and here are the pictures taken each day during August.

Aug 1 - Sundial in Wharfemeadows Park, Otley

Aug 2 -New White Budlia in the garden.

Aug 3 - First batch of courgettes out of the garden.

Aug 4 - Move of location for Slimming World to the URC church hall in Otley.

Aug 5 - View across lower Wharfedale taken on the way home.

Aug 6 - Park at Pateley Bridge.

Aug 7 - New lawnmower.

Aug 8 - Dreamboats and Petticoats at The Grand in Leeds that we went to see on the Monday night.

Aug 9 - Walk on Ilkley Moor (This photo was used the following night on the Look North Weather Bulletin).

Aug 10 - Wharfedale from Askwith.

Aug 11 - Fields near Grantham where I had been on business that day.

Aug 12 - Toad in the yard after we moved the recycling bin.

Aug 13 - Bush trimming.

Aug 14 - View down Nidderdale after a walk up there.

Aug 15 - Moor Lane during an evening walk.

August 16 - Church foyer decorated for George Tyerman's funeral.

Aug 17 - Floral displays outside The Junction.

Aug 18 - Midsummer meal at our Church Minister's house with the 1812 Group.

Aug 19 - Sheep in the field near Addingham.

Aug 20 - Darwen Tower on the walk with the Wainwright Society.

Aug 21 - Playing for morning Church service as our regular organist was on holiday.

Aug 22 - Pitman Painters at The Grand theatre in Leeds - a great play!

Aug 23 - Site at the old Alexander's Garage being cleared ready for new house building.

Aug 24 - Haymaking in the fields near Eccup on the way home.

Aug 25 - U Boat on the Canal in Leeds which was featured on Look North.

Aug 26 - Trip to Sheffield from work meant I had to go past Hillsborough.

Aug 27 - Walk at Greenhow where I met the farmer and his sheepdogs on the latter part of the walk.

Aug 28 - Hedge cutting.

Aug 29 - Walk up at Norwood followed by Cream Teas at the Chapel on Bank Holiday Monday.

Aug 30 - Repairs to manhole in the yard.

August 31 - The family and Phil Maud. Phil was my Best Man and is Chris's Godfather. Phil's father had sadly passed away and we all attended the funeral over at Horsforth.

Ilkley Moor

2011-09-09T23:51:00.000-07:00

Ilkley Moor is a long ridge of millstone grit, immediately to the south of Ilkley. Synonymous with the famous “Yorkshire Anthem”, with or without a hat, Ilkley Moor is a special place, not just for walkers, but for lovers of archaeological relics too. These extensive heather moors are identified on maps as Rombalds Moor, named after a legendary giant who roamed the area. But, thanks to the famous song - Yorkshire's unofficial anthem - Ilkley Moor is how it's always known. My walk on a lovely evning took me from the centre of Ilkley out over the moor to a number of these archaeological stones.

To the north end of the moor, where the moor drops steeply down towards the village of Ben Rhydding are two millstone grit rock climbing areas: Rocky Valley and Ilkley Quarry. Ilkley Quarry is the site of the famous "Cow and Calf", a large rock formation consisting of an outcrop and boulder, also known as Hangingstone Rocks. The rocks are made of millstone grit, a variety of sandstone, and are so named because one is large, with the smaller one sitting close to it, like a cow and calf. Legend has it that there was once also a "bull", but that was quarried for stone during the spa town boom Ilkley was part of in the 19th century. However, none of the local historians has provided any evidence of the Bull's existence.

According to local legend, the Calf was split from the Cow when the giant Rombald was fleeing an enemy, and stamped on the rock as he leapt across the valley. The enemy, it is said, was his angry wife. She dropped the stones held in her skirt to form the local rock formation The Skirtful of Stones. The name of the giant Rombald is likely to be a retrovention, due to the name of the entire 'Rombalds Moor', which is most likely to derive its title from the de Rommilles, who held the honour of Skipton in the thirteenth century.

July 2006 saw a major fire on the moor which left between a quarter and half of it destroyed. Located on the Woodhouse Crag, on the Northern edge of Ilkley Moor there is a swastika-shaped pattern engraved in a stone, known as the Swastika Stone This stone is, however, just one of a great abundance of carved rocks on the moor, well known others include the 'Badger Stone' and 'St. Margaret's Stones'. These are earthfast boulders, large flat slabs or prominent rocks that have cups, rings and grooves cut into them and thought to date from either the late Neolithic or the Bronze Age. While some carvings consist of simple cups, others such as the Badger Stone, Hanging Stones and the Panorama Rocks have complex series of patterns (or motifs) combining many different elements. Indeed Rombalds Moor can boast the second highest concentration of ancient carved stones in Europe, with carving as far away as Skipton Moor. There is also a small stone circle known as 'The Twelve Apostles' which I visited at the end of the walk.

The edges of the moor.

Heather in bloom

View of the whole of Ilkley (Rombalds) Moor taken from Askwith.

Views over to the Cow & Calf

The Swastika Stone

Heber Ghyll Reservoir and the Cow & Calf in the distance.

Photo that appeared on Look North weather the following night after I had emailed it to the programme.

View up Wharfedale.

More heather.

White Wells, one of the spas that made Ilkley famous.

The moon appearing over the moor.

Sunset to the west.

The moon and jet trails.

The Twelve Apostles Circle.

New footpaths being laid on the moor.

Historic York & The Trains

2011-08-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

One day on our recent week's holiday we caught the train to York and had an interesting day round the Historic City culminating in a visit to the National Railway Museum at the end of the day.

Departing from Weeton Station.

The walls and York Minster in the background.

The River Ouse.

York Minster.

The War Memorial in Dean's Park.

Sign by the Archbishop's Palace.

The Archbishops Palace.

The Treasurer's House.

St William's College.

Street Performers.

The Shambles.

Outside the Jorvik Viking Centre.

Clifford's Tower.

Back on the walls.

Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built at Doncaster, England in 1938. While in other respects a relatively typical member of its class, it is historically significant for being the holder of the official world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph (203kph.

Green Arrow

Flying Scotsman in Wartime Black livery

Stephenson's Rocket

Duchess of Hamilton

GWR Notice.

The Hogwart's Express.

The River Nidd and Knaresborough Castle on the return journey.

Train departing Weeton Station.

Ingleton Waterfalls

2011-08-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

Recently we visited Ingleton and went on the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail. The walk offers some of the most spectacular waterfall and woodland scenery in the North of England. The trail is 4.5 miles long (8 km) and leads through ancient oak woodland and magnificent Yorkshire Dales scenery via a series of stunning waterfalls and geological features. Alfred Wainwright said of this walk in his Walks in Limestone Country guidebook: “Surely, of its kind, this is the most delightful walk in the country? And not only delightful: it is interesting and exciting and captivating and, in places, awesome. Here Nature, always bountiful, has been lavish indeed: charming rivers, sparkling waterfalls, wooded ravines, sinister pools and gorges all combine to present a pageant of unexcelled beauty and grandeur. Here loveliness walks abreast. This is Ingleton’s showplace, attracting crowds of visitors in summer, but better enjoyed in the quiet of winter, when one can wander in wonderland undisturbed and enchanted”.

The sign at the start of the walk.

On the outward leg of the walk we followed the River Doe and on the return journey we came down the valley of the River Twiss (derived from Twistleton). Wainwright wrote this of the two rivers: “Of the two glens the more frequented and westerly one containing the Doe is the more charming and lovely; the eastern one, however, much the grander and more romantic, the greater volume of water of the Greta (Twiss) restlessly pounding the black walls of the gorges beneath a canopy of trees”.

The money mushrooms

Swilla Glen.

Pecca Falls.

Thornton Force.

Viv having a snack and checking the rest of the route.

A rest by the falls. During his ‘Pennine Journey’ walk in 1938, Alfred Wainwright the Lakeland guidebook writer described Thornton Force as follows: “I stood on the rocky bluff overlooking the Force and could feel the ground trembling at the thunderous roar of the river as it leaped clear in a boiling cloud of spray…It was pure white; a surging raging turbulence of sparking crystals”.

The river above the falls.

Raven Ray and the footbridge.

Still going in the right direction.

Twistleton Hall Farm.

"Black Beauty" below the limestone crags.

Crossing the stile with our first view of Ingleborough.

Sheep will safely graze!

Cloud lifting on Ingleborough.

Beezley Falls.

Baxengill Gorge.

Snow Falls (In August??)

The Money Tree.

Twisleton Glen.

Meal Bank Quarry.

The sweet shop in Ingleton.

Darwen Tower Walk

2011-08-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 20th August a group of us from The Wainwright Society met up at Tockholes near Darwen for a walk up to Darwen Tower. Below are the pictures capturing details of the walk.

Lyn & Heather in the car park.

Preparing for the off.

The descent towards Earnscale Reservoir.

Lizzie making short work of a tree branch.

Rest stop above Earnsdale.

Bros waiting for Ray to catch up!

First proper sighting of the Tower.

Bros racing up the field.

Lesley and Jenny.

Heather by the heather sharing a joke with John.

One of the stone marker posts with the Tower carved on them.

View across to Blackburn and the M65.

View over to Darwen.

The final climb to the Tower.

Nearly there!

The trig point and Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir.

Rest of the group coming up the track.

View from up the Tower.

View of the rest of the walkers from the top of the Tower.

View across to Blackpool and the Fylde coast.

Darwen Moor.

Kevin, Frank & Jenny.

Some of the group looking at the 80 foot drop down to the ground.

James taking a breather.

Ray setting up the camera for the Group Photo.

The group with the Tower in the background.

The descent to Stepback Clough.

The track back to Roddlesworth

Well deserved drinks at the end.

Beattie.

Bros.

Penyghent

2011-08-14T01:23:00.000-07:00

During my week's holiday recently I had a day up in Ribblesdale.

In the morning I climbed Pen-y-Ghent (2273 feet) from the village of Horton in Ribblesdale.

Below are the pictures from this walk.

Horton Junior School

Horton village and Ingleborough

The route up to Pen-y-Ghent

The junction of the route out of Horton and The Pennine Way.

View back down to the junction,

Saxifraga oppositifolia.

Looking back from the final climb.

Walkers ahead of me on the final ascent.

50th anniversary plaque.

On the summit.

My friend Eric Braysford from the Wainwright Society who I met on the summit along with his wife and labrador.

View across Ribblesdale to Ingleborough.

Hull Pot

View back to Pen-y-Ghent

More caves on the descent.

The road to Horton

View back to Plover Hill

Horton Church with Pen-y=Ghent in the background.

A Visit to Brontë Country

2011-08-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

An excellent half day walk in Brontë Country starting from Haworth and going over Penistone Hill to the Bronte Waterfalls from where I climbed "out on the wiley, windy moors" (to quote Kate Bush), up to Top Withins. I then followed the Pennine Way down past Upper Heights Farm to the village of Stanbury before returning over the dam at Low Laithe Reservoir and back across Penistone Hill to Howarth.

The village is synonymous with the Brontë sisters who were born in Thornton, on the outskirts of Bradford, but wrote most of their novels while living at the Haworth Parsonage (which is now a museum owned and maintained by the Brontë Society), when their father was the parson at the adjacent Church of St. Michael and All Angels.

The start by the parsonage

Top of Penistone Hill.

View down to Low Laithe Reservoir.

View across to Stanbury that I was to go through 4 miles later.

First view of the Brontë Bridge.

The plaque on the bridge.

The bridge.

Signpost to Top Withins (Note the sign is in both English and Japanese).

View across Howarth Moor.

Stile on the path leading to Top Withins.

Top Withins in view.

The sign on the building itself.

Top Withins.

Pennine Way Route.

Sheep crossing the moor.

Two other walkers out for the day.

Upper Heights Farm.

Sheep by the farm.

View down to Low Laithe Reservoir.

Christmas Dinner??

St Gabriel's Church at Stanbury.

A welcome pint of Theakstone's at the Wuthering Heights Pub in Stanbury.

Low Laithe Reservoir.

Back up to Penistone Hill.

St. Michael's Church, Haworth.

The Brontë Parsonage Museum.

July's Pictures

2011-08-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

Another month gone so here are my photos from each day during July.

01 July - First picking of our Broad Beans

02 July - Strawberry Teas at our friends Bob & Pauline Dobson in aid of Missions Without Borders

03 July - Broad Beans ready for cooking.

04 July - Terrace at the Houses of Parliament where we had tea with our local MP, Greg Mulholland.

05 July - Theatre visit to Leeds to see "Evita".

06 July - Visit to a customer's at Luddendenfoot.

07 July - Cows going for milking during my evening run.

08 July - Torrential thunderstorm on the way home.

09 July - Squirrel by the canal side in Bingley.

10th July - Red Cabbage being prepared for tea.

11 July - Courgette plants growing in the new bed.

12 July - Runner Bean Plants.

13 July - Rhubarb picked out of the garden.

14 July - Rhubarb bagged ready for the freezer.

15 July - Visit to the Grove Methodist Church in Horsforth where I used to live for the funeral of an old family friend, Molly Towler.

16 July - Tubs on the patio.

17 July - Home baked bread.

18 July - Runner Bean plants staked up.

19 July - Filming a new Slips & Trips DVD at work.

20 July - Verbascum Pink Domino Plant.

21 July - Hydrangea.

22 July - First peas from the garden.

23 July - Our friend Irene's surprise 64th birthday party at the Rugby Club.

24 July - Otley Wharfemeadows Park.

25 July - Walk at Haworth, signpost to Top Withens in both English and Japanese.

26 July - Cat sitting on the fence outside our son Matthew's apartment in Guiseley.

27 July - River Ouse at York.

28 July - Thornton Force waterfall at Ingleton.

29 July - Me on the summit of Penyghent 2,273 feet.

30 July - Calf feeding from its mother on a walk above Farnley.

31 July - Otley Farmer's Market.

London and House of Commons Visit

2011-07-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of the month whilst down in London I met up with one of my Australian relatives John, a liturgical teacher and songwriter from Sydney plus his mum Shirley. I had arranged with our local MP, Greg Mulholland for a tour for us round the Houses of Parliament which was extremely interesting. We also had tea out on the terrace overlooking the Thames.

After the tour I had a meeting down by the London Eye and then met up with John and his family again near Covent Garden before catching the train home.

Below are pictures from the day.

Outside the Houses of Parliament.

Inside the Hall of Westminster.

The main entrance to the Palace.

John and Shirley outside on the terrace.

Shirley and I on the terrace.

John & I on the terrace.

View down the Thames from the terrace.

Greg, John & Shirley

The four of us.

Greg returning to his office at the end of the visit.

Big Ben.

The Palace from Westminster Bridge.

The Thames & The London Eye.

John and the rest of his family. These are from left to right: John, Lorette (John's sister), Daniela (John & Liliana's daughter), Natasha (Donna's daughter), Natalie (John & Lilian's other daughter), Elyse (Lorette's daughter), Donna (John's sister)& Liliana (John's wife).

Me with John and his family.

Bingley Walk & the 5 Rise Locks

2011-07-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 9th July we went over to Bingley in the afternoon and had a walk from the town centre out to the 5 Rise Locks and then back via the 3 Rise Locks.

Bingley Five Rise Locks is a staircase lock on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal . As the name implies, a boat going up the lock is lifted in five stages. In effect the 5-rise consists of five locks connected together with (as always with a staircase) no intermediate "pounds": the lower gate of each chamber forms the upper gate of the chamber below. There are therefore five chambers, and six gates (the top and bottom gates and four intermediate gates).

As the Leeds Liverpool canal is a wide canal, the chambers are 14 feet (4.3 m) wide, and each "gate" consists of two half-gates, "hinged" from opposite sides of the canal. Each half gate is slightly more than 7 feet (2.1 m) wide, so that the two halves close in a "V" shape (pointing "upstream"). Water pressure on the "uphill" side of the gate thus keeps it tightly closed until the water levels on either side are equal, when the gate can be opened and the boat moved to the next chamber.

The 5-rise is the steepest flight of locks in the UK, with a gradient of about 1:5 (a rise of 59 ft 2 in (18.03 m) over a distance of 320 ft). The intermediate and bottom gates are the tallest in the country. Because of the complications of working a staircase lock, and because so many boaters (both first-time hirers and new owners) are inexperienced, a full-time lock keeper is employed, and the locks are padlocked "out of hours". Barry Whitelock, the current lock keeper, after twenty years based here is now almost synonymous with the flight. Barry was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2006 New Year Honours List for "Services to Inland Waterways in the North". The structure is Grade I listed.

Five Rise Locks opened on 12 March 1774 and was a major feat of engineering at the time. When the locks and therefore the canal from Gargrave to Leeds were opened in 1774 a crowd of 30,000 people turned out to celebrate. The first boat to use the locks took just 28 minutes and the whole first trip was described in a newspaper of the time - the Leeds Intelligencer. They said at the time, "From Bingley to about 3 miles downwards the noblest works of the kind are exhibited viz: A five fold, a three fold and a single lock, making together a fall of 120 feet; a large aqueduct bridge of seven arches over the River Aire and an aqueduct and banking over the Shipley valley. This joyful and much wished for event was welcomed with the ringing of Bingley bells, a band of music, the firing of guns by the neighbouring Militia, the shouts of spectators, and all the marks of satisfaction that so important an acquisition merits". The smaller Three Rise opened at the same time several hundred metres further down the canal.

The "flight" (it is a moot point whether a staircase is strictly a "flight", used strictly the term means a group of locks separated by intermediate pounds, so each lock has its own top and bottom gates) is a major tourist attraction in the area. Most boats that pass through attract a lot of attention especially at weekends where there may be a crowd of thirty people or more watching a boat go up or down.

The staircase underwent extensive restorative maintenance in 2004, and again in 2006 when the lock gates and paddles were replaced. As is expected with such a feat of engineering it requires a lot of maintenance and is often on British Waterways' list of winter stoppages for maintenance.

The bridge over the new Bingley by-pass

The "Damart" factory.

New apartments in what was previously one of the textile mills.

Five Rise Locks.

The plaques at the top of the rise.

The canal west of Five Rise.

Distance signpost. The total length of the canal is 127½ miles.

Five Rise from above.

Steps leading down between each rise.

View of one of the chambers.

Looking back to the rise.

A cheeky squirrel sat by the side of the Canal.

Three Rise Locks.

The Damart factory from the other side.

The lock gates.

The ancient and modern!

The mill race out of the Damart factory.

The stretch of canal back into Bingley.

Bingley Railway Station.

The new Beckfoot School at Bingley where our son Chris is a teacher in the Maths department.

Tain, the Mountain Goats & the journey home

2011-07-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

On our penultimate day in Scotland we went down to Tain for a walk in the morning and then in the afternoon I had a walk from the cottage where I came across some Mountain Goats on the hillside. We had a brilliant sunset that night and a similar sunrise at 0300 on Saturday morning before heading back home.

Pictures with captions are below.

Rhodedenrums near Tain.

Tain seafront.

The lake at Tain.

Back on the seafront.

The Mountain Goats.

Friday evening sunset.

Saturday morning sunrise.

Killington Lake - the finsest view from any service station in the UK with the lake and the Howgill Fells in the background. Our final stop on the journey home.

Scotland - Tarbet Ness & the Glenmorangie Distillery

2011-07-10T06:45:00.000-07:00

On the Thursday of our week in Scotland we went over to Tarbett Ness headland in the morning and then after lunch eaten by the shore at Inver we went up to the Glenmoranchie distillery in the afternoon. Pictures below with captions where appropriate sum up the day.

Tarbet Ness Lighthouse.

The shoreline at Inver.

The Glenmoranchie distillery.

Reception area with bottles on display.

The vat area where the malt and barley is boiled.

Our tour guide.

The distillers a century ago.

The still area.

Barrels in the yard ready for filling.

Barrels with Whisky in them, known as a single fill.

Barrels that have previously had either Sherry, Port or Sauternes in them and now have Whisky in the barrels - known as second fill barrels.

The tasting room. I only had a very small taste as I was driving. Viv had less than half a glass as she is not keen on Whisky so Matthew (who likes his Whisky) ended up with 2½ glasses of Sauternes flavoured 12 year old Malt Whisky.

The range of Whiskies on the bar.

Making our way back to the car after a most interesting tour.

Scotland - Golspie, Dunrobin, Glen Brora and Loch Airighi Mhor

2011-07-10T01:27:00.000-07:00

On the Wednesday of our holiday we went to Golspie in the morning and a walk on the beach at Littleferry. After lunch we visited Dunrobin Castle and then travelled up Glen Brora and over the pass to Little Rogart before returning to the cottage. Before tea I had a walk over the neighboruing fells to Loch Airighi Mhor.

Pictures of the day are below with titles as appropriate.

Golspie Beach at Littleferry.

Ben Bhraggie.

Ben Lunndaidh.

Dunrobin Castle.

Dunrobin Beach.

Ben Horn.

Cager Feosig.

Deer by Loch Brora.

River Brora.

Cnoc Leamnachd.

Strath Brora.

View across to the cottage from Little Rogart.

Walk up to Loch Airighi Mhor.

June's Pictures

2011-07-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

My collection of pictures taken during June with titles for each day.

1st June - Plants on the patio.

2nd June - Quarterly visit to the Caner Clinic in Leeds.

3rd June - Shopping at Morrisons prior to leaving for holiday in Scotland.

4th June - View of Rogart from our holiday cottage.

5th June - Falls of Shinn.

6th June - John O'Groats

7th June - Pheasant in the garden by the cottage.

8th June - Beach at Golspie.

9th June - Visit to the Glenmoranchie distillery.

10th June - Mountain Goats near to Rogart.

11th June - Killington Lake and The Howgills.

12th June - Cousin Robert's 60th birthday lunch at Marsden Golf Club. Cousins Linda & Angela, Uncle Benny & Robert.

13th June - Pea Plants nearly ready for planting out.

14th June - Sound of Music at The Grand Theatre in Leeds starring Jason Donovan & Verity Rushworth.

15th June - Lunar Eclipse.

16th June - Slimming World presentation to Nigel Francis, Town Mayor, for his "Hang onto a Dream" charity.

17th June - New "Wainwright" Rose in the garden.

18th June - 1812 Walk on Barden Moor.

19th June - Courgette plants in the garden.

20th June - First picking from our radishes.

21st June - Broad Bean plants growing.

22nd June - Otley Cycle Race - Lizzie Armistead our local Olympic girl taking part.

23rd June - Evening walk on The Chevin.

24th June - Foxglove during the evening walk.

25th June - On the Dales Way near Addingham during our Circuit Missions Walk.

26th June - Otley Brass Band performing in Wharfemeadows Park.

27th June - Budlia in the garden.

28th June - The Wiz at West Yorkshire Playhouse.

29th June - Hanging Basket by the garage.

30th June - Herbs finishing off the crumbs from the chocolate cake.

Scotland - The Far North

2011-07-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

On Monday of our week in Scotland as the forecast was good we travelled north through Wick and up to the North Coast. Pictures from the day are below with captions as appropriate.

The lighthouse at Wick Ness.

Castle Grnigo

John O'Groats

Trying to be a typical Scotsman!

Duncanby Head and the stacks.

Dunnet Head

Lochs at Brigga Head

Stacks near Brough.

Meallon Lieth

Ben Loyal

Pheasant in the garden by the cottage on our return.

The Falls of Shinn & Dornoch Cathedral

2011-07-03T11:20:00.000-07:00

On the Sunday afternoon we went from the cottage over to The Falls of Shinn where we saw the salmon leaping up the falls. We then travelled across to Dornoch to the Cathedral which is reputedly the smallest Cathedral in the UK.

The Falls of Shinn

One of the carvings in the wood on the way back from the falls.

The building on the far side of the Loch is not a castle but in fact a Youth Hostel owned by the SYHA.

Dornoch Sound

Dornoch Cathedral.

The interior of the Cathedral.

The rear of the Cathedral.

Walk to Creagan Glas & Rogart

2011-07-03T01:21:00.000-07:00

On our first full day in Scotland we had a morning walk up to the summit of Creagan Glas, the 600m hill behind the cottage and then went down into Rogart to the Pittentrail Inn for Sunday lunch. On the way back to the cottage we stopped to look at the monument to Sir John McDonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada who was born and brought up in Rogart.

The view leaving the cottage.

The lane leading to the track to Creagan Glas.

Partway up the track.

View back down to the cottages.

A swampy area before the final ascent.

The view northwards.

Views from the summit.

The descent back down to the farm.

Storage barn near the farm.

The lane back down to the cottage.

The Pittentrail Inn.

One of the two trains per day that pass through Rogart.

The Sir John McDonald Monument.

Plaques in both English and Gaelic.

The plaque on the main monument.

The monument and area where his cottage used to stand.

Ben Lundie from outside the cottage.

Coal Tit in the tree outside the cottage.

Scotland - The Journey North & Fleet Lodge

2011-07-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

For our main Summer Holiday we had booked a cottage at Rogart, some 40 miles or so north of Inverness in Scotland. We left home at 0700 in the morning and including three stops en route arrived at the cottage at 1630 after travelling 420 miles.

Pictures below are of the journey north and also of the cottage and surrounding countryside on the first day.

First stop at 0900 just north of Carlisle.

A very brief stop north of Perth to change drivers. A friendly horse in the field next to the A9.

Lunch stop at Dalwhinnie.

River near Etteridge, a few miles north of Dalwhinne.

The Moray Firth

Monument in Tain where we stopped for final provisions.

Gardens in Tain.

Dornoch Firth

The cottage and surrounding countryside.

Stream by the cottage.

Beech trees covered in a very fine moss.

Missions Walk - Addingham

2011-06-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 25th June approximatley 28 of us gathered at Addingham Junior School Car Park for a circular walk in the countryside around Addingham. This was the annual Circuit Missions Walk and there were representatives from the various Methodist Churches in the Otley & Aireborough Circuit and the Ilkley Circuit which are combining together from 1st September.

The walk initially followed the River Wharfe on part of the Dales Way before turning off near Fairfield Hall owned by the Duke & Duchess of Devonshire (The Queen has actually stayed here on occasions when she has been in Yorkshire) up by Newlands Gill and then near to Chelker Reservoir we turned south east and crossed the golf course where we descended back into Addingham for lunch and refreshments at Addingham Methodist Church.

Pictures of the walk (with captions where appropriate) are below.

Gathering in the Car Park prior to the walk.

Anglea, Senior Circuit Steward for Ilkley and Howard, Senior Circuit Steward for Otley & Aireborough having a chat.

The Addingham Manse.

Crossing towards the river.

First view of the River Wharfe.

One of the traditional field barns.

Following the Dales Way.

The Friends Meeting House near to Fairfield Hall.

The group ready to restart after a short drinks break.

A friendly horse near Syke House Farm.

The final climb up towards Chelker.

Views down to the River Wharfe and Bolton Abbey.

Young Evie (2½ years old) is still doing very well.

Beamsley Beacon.

Fred dealing with Evie's cut finger.

View across Wharfedale.

Simon's Seat and Earl's Seat.

Below High Laithe Farm

Crossing the Golf Course.

A pony on the descent into Addingham.

Addingham Methodist Chapel.

Lunch and a time to chat with each other.

The exterior of the Chapel.

The former Chapel, now turned into flats.

Thruscross & Barden Moor Walk

2011-06-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 18th June five friends from our Church 1812 Group and I had an enjoyable 3½ hour walk (9 miles) from the Car Park by Thruscross Reservoir, along part of the Dales Way link over Barden Moor to Rocking Hall where we had lunch and then returned via Foulgate Bank and Stoney Gate Top to the River Washburn and back along the side of the reservoir.

Pictures below (some with captions, where appropriate) show our day out in the beautiful Washburn Valley part of the Yorkshire Dales.

Thruscross Reservoir at the start of the walk.

Sheep safely grazing.

An old disused farm cottage.

Heading over the moor.

Some high stiles to negotiate.

View back across to Menwith Hill.

A barn converted to a refreshment dining area for the landed gentry during their shooting activities on the moor.

Shooting butt.

Stone with glacial scouring on the surface.

Surveying the route we had walked so far.

A moorland tarn.

The "Rocking Stone" near Rocking Hall.

Nick testing its stability.

Scouring and etchings on the stone.

The group looking for a suitable place for lunch.

Departing after lunch for the walk along Bank Edge and across The Great Stray.

View across to Thruscross Reservoir.

A direct line across the moor.

Local farmers out fence repairing.

A set of marker boundary stones.

Curlew in flight.

The farm track across to the River Washburn.

Cows enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

An old converted mill.

Waterfall at Hoodstorths Lane.

Footbridge over the River Washburn.

The top end of the reservoir. Due to the shortage of rain the reservoir is well down in this part of the valley and some of the old walls from the fields which were covered when the valley was flooded in the mid 60's are starting to reappear.

The old Chapel on the hill above the reservoir.

The tide mark showing how much the reservoir has dropped in recent months.

The final stretch along the reservoir back to the car park.

Otley Cycle Race

2011-06-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 22nd June was the annual Otley Cycle Race which is now one of the Town Centre British Cycling National Elite Criterium Series. Otley Cycle Races have reached their 26th edition for 2011. This year's event consisted of the MAS Design Consultants Otley Grand Prix, The Chevin Cycles Classic Race, The Triton Construction Super Prestige Youth Race and the WGC Landscapes Lads and Lasses Bike Race. Photos from these can be seen below. Pictures 7 & 8 are of our local girl Lizzie Armistead one of the GB Olympic hopefuls for the 2012 Olympics next year in London.

The Otley Town Centre Races are one of the most prestigious criteriums in the calendar, with past winners including Mark Cavendish, Jez Hunt, Jonny Clay, Chris Walker, Russ Downing and in 2010, local star Ian Wilkinson.

Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing) was a hugely popular winner of the opening round of the Elite Circuit Series when he sprinted to victory in the Otley Town Races on Wednesday evening. The 21 year old rider from Burley-in-Wharfedale, (just up the road from Otley) was part of a seven man group that broke away from the fast moving peloton after four laps. Dean Windsor (Rapha Condor Sharp) and Steven Burke (Team UK Youth) had started the move and they were joined by fellow Rapha rider Dean Downing, Matt Cronshaw (Raleigh), Tobyn Horton (Motorpoint). With Jack Bauer and Scott Thwaites (Endura Racing) joining the leading group on the next lap. This small group established a lead of nearly 40 seconds and was setting new lap records for the Otley circuit.

Most of the major teams were represented in the leading group, but individual riders like Adam Blythe (Lotto Pharma), Tony Gibb (Cycle Premier) and the whole of Sigma Sport team who had missed the break were driving the main group in an effort to catch the leaders.

Former national circuit champion Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Sharp) was the danger man amongst the leaders and with Dean Windsor watching his back it looked as though he would be the man to beat in the final sprint up Bondgate. Thwaites had team mate Jack Bauer as his support and with the majority of the crowd screaming "Scott, Scott, Scott" and banging the advertising hoardings it was clear who they wanted to win. The Otley circuit is very demanding, the riders will tell you the pace never slackens, they race just as fast along Birdcage Walk at the top of the course as they do along the heavily spectated areas of Bondgate and Burras Lane.

With the light beginning to fade the leading seven riders started to lose their comfortable gap to the chasers. Rapha Condor Sharp were policing the front of the peloton and had been successful in pulling back any riders trying to bridge to the leaders. The gap had been 40 seconds and increasing, but with 4 laps remaining it was closing. Tom Murray and then Tom Last both riding for Sigma Sport were driving the main peloton and at the bell lap the gap to the leaders was only 8 seconds.

Dean Downing was at the rear of the leading seven riders and glancing backwards, probably weighing up whether to make a lone final lap attack, or take his chance in the sprint. Thwaites and Bauer were still confident they could keep some distance between the lead group and the peloton. Cronshaw, Horton and Burke had to continue to work or all their efforts would be lost. Into the final corner and it Thwaites who emerged into Bondgate first, with terrier Downing snapping at his back wheel but unable to get past the Lincoln Grand Prix winner. Thwaites scored a superb win in front of his home crowd. Olympic track medallist Steven Burke claimed the final podium position.

The ever popular Otley races were held in perfect conditions, dry and bright sunshine without any wind, all played out in front of the biggest race night crowds ever seen in the Yorkshire market town. The coffee shops, pubs, and fish and chip emporiums love bike race night in Otley. The thousands of local spectators and cycling aficionados flood the streets to cheer on their local heroine Lizzie Armitstead. The event attracts huge publicity from local newspapers, radio and TV. On Wednesday evening the Otley race goers witnessed Scott Thwaites ascendency as a star rider, this young man has a very bright future in cycling, he's already a big star in Otley, and as previous Otley winner Mark Cavendish might tell you, ‘if you can do it at Otley, you can do it anywhere'.

Robert's 60th Birthday

2011-06-21T11:49:00.000-07:00

On 12th June we went over to Meltham Golf Club for lunch to celebrate the 60th birthday of by cousin Robert (Bob) Clough. Below are some pictures from the event with captions.

Bob enjoying his sweet.

Tom & Philip, Bob & Anthea's two sons.

Stephanie, their daughter.

Tom & Philip (again).

Bob looking very relaxed.

Anthea, Tom & Philip

Bob with his two sisters Linda and Anegla and his dad, my Uncle Benny.

Bob & Anthea

Tom, Philip and Stephanie.

Take That Concert - 27th May

2011-06-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

We attended the first night of the "Take That" Tour in Sunderland on Friday 27th May.

Below are a selection of pictures from the concert. "Take That" were preceeded by "The Pet Shop Boys".

A great evening's entertainment!

May's Pictures

2011-06-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

Another set of pictures taken each day throughout the month.

1st May - Otley Pubs decorated for the Royal Wedding.

2nd May - Bank Holiday Teas at Norwood Chapel

3rd May - Play area in Hunslet

4th May - Duck in Otley Park

5th May - Ramsbottom Library, venue for my "Evening with Alfred Wainwright" talk.

6th May - "Otley's Got Talent" event at Church.

7th May - Wedding of Sarah, daughter of our friends Elizabeth & Martin

8th May - Walk on Otley Chevin

9th May - Bluebells on my evening walk.

10th May - Forget Me Nots on my evening walk.

11th May - West Yorkshire Playhouse - Visit to see "'Tis a Pity"

12th May - Award of "Man of the Year" at Slimming World to celebrate my 3¼ stone loss in weight.

13th May - Demolished houses near Holbeck.

14th May - Walk in the Lakes, near the summit of High Street.

15th May - Walk by Yeadon Tarn - plane just taking off from Leeds & Bradford Airport

16th May - Broad Bean plants growing.

17th May - Journey's End play at The Grand theatre in Leeds.

18th May - Corporate Manslaughter Mock Trial from work.

19th May - The Producers production at Yeadon Town Hall.

20th May - Rook on neighbour's roof.

21st May - Visit to St Pancras on a trip down to London.

22nd May - Slimming World walk to Farnley and Clifton - group at the finish in Otley Wharfemeadows Park.

23rd May - Hedgehog in the garden.

24th May - Production of "Bronte" at West Yorkshire Playhouse.

25th May - Salad leaves grown over the last couple of weeks.

26th May - Gorse bushes on my evening walk.

27th May - The first night of the "Take That" tour in Sunderland.

28th May - Angel of the North prior to departing back home after the previous night's concert.

29th May - Ducks by the River Wharfe.

30th May - Toad on the patio by the fence.

31st May - Pea plants growing.