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Post by hawke on Apr 13, 2024 16:20:40 GMT
Sure we had this as a thread before. Went to Marsden at the head of the Colne Valley this week. Very interesting trip out. Great food at a modern, trendy cafe-bar by the Colne. Excellent traditional bakery and grocers. Interesting properties. Dramatic Pennine scenery. The Standedge Canal Tunnel entrance. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Good train service to Leeds and Manchester. Saw the football ground and, higher up on a hill, Marsden CC. The day was also enhanced by the Marsden Silver Prize Band which came down the main street leading a funeral procession for a long standing band member. Very touching. Very memorable. Very traditional The place is starting to be influenced by incomers, including they say quite a few from Manchester. There are two derelict mills which could become trendy apartments.
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Post by tykemania on Apr 13, 2024 17:00:07 GMT
A place I have never been, but by the sound of it would quite enjoy.
The Missus and I have just come back from a week in the Lake District - the highlight of which (well, maybe) was the sight of Keswick CC netting in the worst of Storm Kathleen's winds.
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Post by karma on Apr 13, 2024 18:00:20 GMT
Today has been a day of two halves. This morning went with Mrs. karma to NT property Beningborough Hall nr York . Got there for opening and walked round the walled garden using up some time to make sure, the fresh cheese scones were ready,nice and warm from the oven in the cafe. Delicious with butter spread all over two halves. I know butter is not that good for our arteries but I'm two weeks into taking statins, presumably for the rest of my life, and one should hopefully cancel out the other. I haven't had any new aches as side-effects from the statins,my legs ached already
The gardens are absolutely stunning and made a pleasant walk with my wife telling me the names (and colours) of all the flowers đ plants, fruit and vegetables.Lots of work going on to build a mediteranian garden. We tend to visit this site about once every month throughout the year to take delight in the changing flora.There's a fabulous house to venture into. I find NT properties generally a bit dark and depressing (low light levels to protect the fabric) so I've been inside only once in 30 years.
I got a wholefood (vegetarian) salad - beans, pulses, grains, hummus, dressing - really delicious nutritious and 'good for me' Mrs. Karma says.
Afternoon, I went to watch some live sport, York City v Woking, last home game of the season. Woking were the better team.in the first half of this relegation battle but York persevered and scored 2 fabulous second-half goals to win 2 - 0 and overtake Woking. Shook hands with many fellow supporters whose company and conversation I've enjoyed over the season. Confirmed, I'm going to renew my season ticket at thevfirst opportunity (as we all need something to which we can look forward) and wished them the equivalent of 'wintering well'through the summer months. Mrs. Karma went shopping for clothes in York's most expensive shops this afternoon (she told me on the journey home)
Tomorrow, Sunday it's a visit to RHS Harlow Carr, nr Harrogate. More flowers , plants , trees and fabulous walks away from traffic.
I might not yet have got the hang of 'Days Out' my first attempt.
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Post by tykemania on Apr 13, 2024 19:57:24 GMT
Now if you go to Harlow Carr, watch out to avoid my mother in law! She practically lives there on Sunday afternoons!
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Days Out.
Apr 14, 2024 5:48:50 GMT
via mobile
Post by karma on Apr 14, 2024 5:48:50 GMT
I'm sure your mum is a lovely lady, as are all the people we meet at Harlow Carr, tykemania.
We are creatures of habit, tend to arrive for opening @ 9:30, having parked in the furthest away carpark No3 as the extra walk is good for us and we leave the nearest carparks for people who are not as mobile(?) and also in a hurry to get to their breakfast, brunch, lunch! (on the rare days we go to M + S at Pudsey ,Owlcoats, I park in the furthest away slot partly to get an extra half mile exercise but also to avoid someone dinging the car)
Anyway back at Harlow Carr, we usually take a coffee in with us ,it's ridiculously expensive inside at the little hut and marginally cheaper in Betty's outside. Sometimes we take in an Eccles cake too, best ever and buttery too, make our way round to the little summerhouse , unlatch the doors, sit with our coffee and pastry , taking in the view talk for a while or sometimes scan the newspaper, stumble over a crossword and maybe a 'Codeword' before a proper circuit or two to take on all that the gardens offer and yet experience.
There, I tend to bog myself down with minutiae and haven't even got there yet
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Days Out.
Apr 14, 2024 6:25:16 GMT
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Post by hawke on Apr 14, 2024 6:25:16 GMT
Crazily I have never been to Harlow Carr and I do a lot of gardening. Itâs a reminder I must get there
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Post by newby on Apr 14, 2024 7:43:16 GMT
Thumbs up from me for Harlow Carr, I prefer it later in the day and there has to be sunshine, warm sunshine preferably but cold and clear is good too.
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Post by karma on Apr 15, 2024 7:02:27 GMT
It was, as we entered Harlow Carr, warm sunshine , bit breezy, first thing Sunday morning and thinking of the next CC cricket at Headingley I followed Newby's pointer to get some colour on my legs and wore shorts for the first time time this year ( well last year as well). Did I feel conspicuous? Not until a gentleman on a plant stall said he was glad to see someone doing so! Strange isn't it that you tend not to feel a cool breeze on your legs but pull your coat a bit tighter round your neck.
We'd taken in coffee and Eccles cakes from the adjacent Betty's restaurant shop, walked with these to the little summerhouse where we were soon joined by the robin that likes to eat our crumbs that we 'accidently' drop . He's very territorial and shoos off other birds, some many his size, who want a second breakfast.
Mrs. karma is a member of the RHS and her membership costs a full ÂŁ74 pa (ÂŁ55.50 for 1st year when signing up to using Direct Debit) but it costs ÂŁ17.45 for an adult to pay on the day . Membership allows my wife to bring in 1 x family guest (ME) or two children under 16 free and as we tend to visit each week ,it works out for us at about ÂŁ0.75 each per visit ( and we.ve been to loads of other RHS sites including RHS Bridgewater ( Manchester } which opened recently and was featured on tv. Admittedly because it takes us less than 30 minutes to drive to Harlow Carr it makes sense for us. Children under 5 go for free and there are lots of deals available.
Not wanting to preach to anyone I find joining something ie being a member of RHS , YCCC, York City etc means we go often when not being a member but pay-as-you-go means you often don't bother at all especially in poorer weather (Gymn membership doesn't always follow this pattern). I tend when planning to pop to Farsley footy, buy a ticket on-line earlier in the week and because I've got the paid for I still turn out on those cold, dark, winter night (and enjoy it ) whereas I might just stay in front of a warm fire watching tv (it helps that I live relatively near Harlow Carr, Farsley and Headingley though York City is a bit of a drive)
Yesterday it was as mentioned sunny , first in means we can stroll and think we have the whole gardens to ourselves but it soon starts get a little busier. I've never been a gardener, am colour blind and never used to show great interest in gardening . My wife has instilled a love of the beautiful gardens we visit and I find walking in such surroundings , calming , relaxing good for both my physical and mental wellbeing. Mind you yesterday my wife pointed out to me a beautiful rhododendron in the distance and when I asked," Where, which one?" said, "That one, there with the red flowers" as I followed her pointing hand. I couldn't see it until we got up close but only because being colour blind , from a distance green (leaves) and red (flowers) merge into one. Close up I could make out the red flowers, beautiful and open early this year.
We did a couple of circuits of the gardens , visited the bird hide too . The gardens cover quite an area and always something new to see, especially with all the extensive extra work over this last winter My favourite areas are the vegetable beds and we get lots of ideas from what we see
It got busier than usual after lunch - there was some king of special gardening weekend with tents of produce , presentations and even somewhere you could ask your gardening questions - so we left .The carpark we normally use, furthest away, was rapidly filling up as we left .good day out in the fresh air . Called in on the way home at a garden centre in Otley to buy some peat-free potting on compost as Mrs karma had new ideas.
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Days Out.
Apr 16, 2024 16:44:10 GMT
via mobile
Post by hawke on Apr 16, 2024 16:44:10 GMT
Keighley is not an obvious tourist hot spot but with the Worth Valley railway and Cliffe Castle there are two excellent attractions. We used to go on the steam trains when our offspring were young and today we went to Cliffe Castle for the second time in a few months. Excellent cafe with a roofed veranda, large attractive grounds with fountains and endless exhibits in the house. Today we focused on the industrial history section.
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Post by karma on Apr 16, 2024 21:10:15 GMT
Ah Cliffe Castle, 25/30 years ago with our daughter the rocks and gemstones and if I remember correctly they had a mini zoo certainly birds in an aviary. The cafe was (is)superb.Just before Covid myself and Mrs. Karma came to Cliffe Castle and there was a notice, an open invitation to attend an in-house seminar/discussion that day on textiles and in particular changing clothing trends for economic and social needs. Sounds dry the way I'm describing it but it was very informative and enjoyable
And not far from there , East Riddlesden Hall, another NT property with a very nice cafe , plant shop, small but superb gardens ( including a large ancient barn) and a circular walk that takes you through the fields and by the river.
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Days Out.
Apr 16, 2024 21:24:24 GMT
via mobile
Post by hawke on Apr 16, 2024 21:24:24 GMT
yes we mentioned East Riddlesden Hall today
must go back there
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Post by karma on Apr 18, 2024 15:17:55 GMT
Important shopping morning in Harrogate, took M +S vegetarian 3-bean and sweet potato mexican wrap lunch into RHS Harlow Carr (again) brilliant sunshine and cold dry wind , beautiful walking (good for physical health and mental wellbeing.) Spent ages in the bird-hide watching the woodpecker and other birds feeding but mostly enjoyed the squirrels circus acrobatics and tightrope-walking as they devised a way to snaffle the bird food. Incredible and entertaining
On the way back this afternoon on the country back road near Leathley (before the Otley turnoff at a former gatehouse and bridge) came to a complete halt as a long fallen tree was across the full width of the road , both ways. The driver of the sparklingly clean Range Rover reversed about and retreated back from whence he came, while twelve men strong and true manhandled the tree off to one side. If only I'd had a megaphone they might have understood my instructions more clearly. Pretty exciting stuff though and I didn't have an appointment for which I'd be late like some others.
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Post by hawke on Apr 29, 2024 13:38:09 GMT
Familial responsibilities took me back to Marsden at the head of the Colne Valley this weekend. It was Cuckoo Day to celebrate the arrival of spring. Music, dancing and a procession made for an excellent day out.
Then went to neighbouring Slaithwaite, another old mill village, which now has cafes and antique shops with walks by the Narrow Canal. I think itâs also a place for the Train Booze Trail judging by some of the drinking taking place. I think âSlawitâ CC were once bowled out for v Kirkheaton by Hirst and Rhodes for less than a dozen. Didnât see their ground.
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Post by karma on Apr 30, 2024 20:07:12 GMT
Last week to the Harrogate Spring Flower Show at the Yorkshire Showground. My wife loves it as she's the real gardener with good colour vision and knows 'what works in a garden' vision too. If she enjoys it, I do too. I did Latin at school but I have trouble following all the latin plant and flower names she is explainingto me (again).
I must admit some of the displays and carefully nurtured blooms are incredible. I soon suffer from fatigue though as one fantastic bloom and display follows another ,l suppose like someone at a fantastic banquet who could not manage even a 'wafer-thin mint' .
Dodging those keen gardeners pulling their trollies laden with eager purchases I made my way to sit outside. Fresh air and exercise make me hungry on a bright but chilly day.
Bought a 'Cornish' pasty scalding hot filling and used it as a hand warmer as I nibbled at the cheese and onion center. Sat near the 'bandstand' and suddenly the band struck up, it was a fantastic and enthuiastic ukulele band, they had an amazing repertoire including many Beatles numbers. They played brilliantly and sang with gusto too . So much so that when my wife came to collect me to show me 'some pretty things' I was reluctant to move.
I did though and enjoyed some interpretations including a series meant to reflect the (helicopter) air ambulance (really much better than my non-description) . Not something I would contemplate on my own but enjoyable with such a guide as Mrs.karma
Tomorrow a trip to The Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park, past Ripon and Grewethorpe. We are lucky in Yorkshire having such a range of things to see and places to take pleasant exercise. Might even give shorts and my white legs an an airing, hope there are no loose horses đ
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Post by hawke on Apr 30, 2024 20:33:44 GMT
Familial responsibilities took me back to Marsden at the head of the Colne Valley this weekend. It was Cuckoo Day to celebrate the arrival of spring. Music, dancing and a procession made for an excellent day out. Then went to neighbouring Slaithwaite, another old mill village, which now has cafes and antique shops with walks by the Narrow Canal. I think itâs also a place for the Train Booze Trail judging by some of the drinking taking place. I think âSlawitâ CC were once bowled out for v Kirkheaton by Hirst and Rhodes for less than a dozen. Didnât see their ground. to reply to myself yes it was April 1904 Slaithwaite 9 all out v Kirkheaton including 4 byes Hirst 5 for 2. Rhodes 4 for 3.
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