Yet more fun with Sarah & Mark

Down Winnats, through Castleton, across Ladybower Dam and up on the ridge to our friends Sarah and Mark's farm.  It looks magnificent as ever. I am truly jealous of their veggie garden! We met years ago and somehow have managed to meet up either in Derbyshire or Manly ever since.  

Last time was in Allambie where Frankie and Arthur joined us for lunch on the terrace followed by a walk on North Head.This time we caught up with George over dinner at the farm. Frankie and Arthur in London. 

We celebrated our final night with a wonderful, authentic Italian meal with Pedro, Sarah and Mark at Sheffield's Bottega restaurant. I loved Mark's story about heading off to Ireland for a gig. Of course, he had to book a separate seat for his violin - oh, how my brother used to complain about having to pay for an extra seat for his instruments!

Anyway, Mark booked the violin under 'Mr. Violin', which caused absolute chaos at the airport when 'Mr. Violin' couldn't be found for boarding.

All too soon, our paths diverged: we were off to stay with Maria in Sheffield, while they headed to Stockholm for a summer house exchange.

We've shared so many meals, adventures and stories ...I wonder when and where we will meet up next!

Goodbye Middleham, Hello Derbyshire

On the morning we left Middleham, everyone dropped by to say goodbye and wish us good luck.  'We'll be back' we say ... but when? So as we leave we have our usual mixed feelings -  sad to leave, but eager to continue the adventure and to meet up with family and friends.  

We set off over the moors that are just sprouting their purple sprouts, but its strange to see the moors so brown and dry.  Of course in the usual Yorkshire fashion it wasn't long till the heavens open and there are the usual cow jams and sheep wandering across the road. 

Over the moors our first stop is Alderley Edge to meet up with our two nieces Laura and Katie with their children, Jessica, Conner and Rory.  Oh and Roger's brother Chris flew in from Portugal for the day! Yeah!

Laura cooked a wonderful lunch. Oh how the children have grown and so much news to catch up on. Must try to get to Portugal next year.

Then it was down Winnats Pass to Sarah & Mark's Farm.  Oh this is such an emotional trip for me.  So much of my childhood is tied up in this part of Derbyshire.  Adventurer's badge with the guides, climbing MamTor,  hiding in dillops and hollows until the fog lifts.  Blasted by wind, sleet, snow and occasionally by sun! LOVE IT!

winnats by Julie Howard

Facebook Blunder to a Wensleydale Feast

It all started with a mistake as many good things do.  Somehow Facebook posted that it was my birthday in June. As people started to send me messages I replied that it was actually in July and for the first time in a number of years I was going to have a summer birthday in Yorkshire!

Rachel saw it and said 'Oh we should have a cousin's get together.' Helen picked up on the idea and started at WhatsApp group.  All I had to do was organise the venue and the meal!

Back in Oz I thought that won't take long! Ha! Quickly the numbers grew to fourteen from six different counties. They were all looking forward to a pub that provided good food, was in driving distance of six counties, had parking and accessibility for a wheelchair user! Now pubs in the Yorkshire Dales are known for their ambiance and food but not for their larger dining rooms or accessibility.

At the time I was preparing for three concerts, two home exchanges, BeanZ events, packing and yes still trying to finish my novel!

Thank goodness I found Oliver at the Wensleydale Hotel only a 300 metre walk from Foxglove Cottage where we were staying! Thank you! You were a lifesaver, the service and food were superb! 

 

Its incredible to believe but I hadn't seen Rachel since she and Lucy gave me 'bridal horseshoes' 54 years ago at our wedding!  The other cousins I've seen briefly over the years, so there was a lot to catch up on. 

Everyone brought photos and there was lots of laughter, news sharing and anecdotes galore. 

It was strange to see other people's photos of your own wedding and amazing they have kept them all these years.

Rachel wasn't driving back to London until the next day and so we were able to do the Shawl walk one last time!

Oh and I guess we shouldn't leave it another 54 years till our next get together!

Celebrating Yorkshire Day in Style!

What a day to visit Richmond, Yorkshire Day!

We headed straight to the market square to hear the official proclamation, followed by a quick five-minute Zumba session with a group attempting to break the world record for the longest continuous Zumba event. Afterward, we joined a fantastic walking tour of Richmond led by Delphine, one of those terrific guides who seamlessly weaves centuries-old history into modern-day stories.

One of the most fascinating stories she shared was about a local lad, Ben Wilkinson. He built his wealth after getting into commercial drone technology—a sector that exploded in demand following the war in Ukraine, making him a multi-millionaire. Over the past few years, he has been purchasing and restoring historical buildings around town to turn them into thriving businesses. The impressive Fleece Hotel, originally built in 1898 in the Scottish Baronial style, is one of his key properties. He is currently redeveloping several other local sites, including Friary Lodge, the former Barclays and TSB bank buildings, and Oak Grange Farm. It is wonderful to see these heritage structures saved from decay and bringing new energy to the town.

The Fleece

Delphine also shared the story of Richmond Castle, whose construction began in the 1070s under Alan Rufus (Alan the Red). It remains a magnificent sight on the cliffside today. Although it fell into decay by the 16th century, the castle grounds were leased by the military in the 19th and early 20th centuries. During World War I, it served as a detention center for conscientious objectors—most famously the "Richmond Sixteen," who were held in the cell blocks before facing court-martial. We didn't have time for a full tour inside the castle this trip, but it is high on the list for our next visit.

Richmond really is a bustling town with a surprise around every corner, framed by vibrant summer flowers this time of year—though you certainly need your walking legs, as those cobbled streets are steep! We rounded off an incredible evening with delicious Thai food served with a warm Yorkshire accent, followed by a terrific performance of The Tempest at the restored Georgian Theatre Royal. It is well worth a visit if you ever get the chance!

You know you are in Yorkshire when ...

Cakes, zumba, tractors, sheep jams and misbehaving dogs within the castle walls!
 

Horsing around

Met up with Simon in the morning and he took us around the stables and then off to the gallops. 

Every morning string after string of racehorses walk up through the cobbled streets of Middleham village to exercise. They are heading to the training grounds which span vast stretches of open moorland - the Gallops. The gallops are used daily by around 13 to 15 local racehorse trainers and 16 training yards, serving over 1,000 thoroughbreds! 

Lovely to see Olivia ride across the tracks while Simon told us all the inside goss of all the horses and trainers ha ha!

We will miss these beautiful horses (and their riders). 

We got back to Leyburn just in time to meet up with Anna and Ben and family at the famous Tennants auction house. No wedding here this time but lots of interesting things on auction including fashion house items ... ties, shoes, bags, dresses, coats and much more.  I was very careful not to move in case I made a bid!

We loved the Shawl walk and its stunning views.  The local story is that it got its name from Mary Queen of Scots who when she escaped from nearby Bolton Castle dropped her silk shawl, giving the escarpment its name.

Mmm, on the other hand historians suggest 'Shawl' comes from the Old Norse/Old English word schalle, referring to a cliff, slope, or wooden ridge.

Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes

Hawes is a lovley town, with markets, lots of craft work including a stall selling old musical instruments.  OMG has anyone ever lifted a tuba.  The one we tried weighed 13.6 kg.  Imagine marching with that and playing in tune!

It had an incredible museum, fabulously curated with really friendly knowlegeable staff. I sort of knew about tin mining but I had no idea that knitting was such a part of Dales culture

In Hawes hand-knitting cottage industry was at its peak in the 18th and early 19th centuries, Whole households, men, women, and children, knitted continuously while walking, carrying loads, or sitting around the hearth. 

An average family would turn out 6 to 10 pairs a week. In the late 1700s, the Dales region produced roughly 5,000 to 6,000 pairs of stockings every week. This added up to over 250,000 to 300,000 pairs of hand-knitted socks and stockings per year, which were sold across Britain and exported to military forces abroad.

To produce that quantity purely by hand, knitters in Hawes used knitting sticks which were to strapped to the waist to anchor one needle, allowing knitters to use both hands for rapid, continuous movement reaching speeds of over 200 stitches per minute. I loved the rag rug, I used to make those with my grandma.

One section of the museum was in the train.  It showed regular life in the Dales but the police section had a notice displaying crimes for which you could be jailed including false thoughts!