West Yorkshire

[DanaC]

Y'know, one of the lovely things about Sundae visiting was seeing the village through someone else's eyes. I know it's pretty (though in places it isn't - and having seen Otley I'm a little jeal about how picturesque and villagey that is!) but I also take it a bit for granted too, having been here for some years.

The valley shown in that pic from the rocks is Shibden Valley and it is beautiful. One of the things I love about living here is seeing it change across the seasons. The walk through the valley is lovely, but I am slightly wary when walking there because every so often a sinkhole opens up and swallows a cow! (ok, once one swallowed a cow - but there have been three or four sinkholes in the 17 years I've lived in the area).

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by DanaC

He was very licky - that's because he'd clearly fallen in love with you. He likes most people, but he was very taken with you.

Oddly I have a winning way with the two species I have decided to avoid - dogs and children. Although I have a genuine affection for both when intelligent and well-trained. But I know I gained Carrot's affection (aside from the bone) purely by your attitude towards me.

Originally Posted by glatt

Gorgeous.

Isn't she?

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Sundae, I love that white dress you have on. I've always been a sucker for eyelet embroidery.

It's a supermarket dress, bought on discount. AND I LOVE IT. It's appeared in at least three photo threads and been worn more than that.

Originally Posted by DanaC

Y'know, one of the lovely things about Sundae visiting was seeing the village through someone else's eyes.

Yeah, over-accomplished brainiac. Take some damn photos already.
Seriously, I could fill a thread with Northowram pics. But then I could fill a thread with photos of my own toenails...

And thanks to all who have responded and those I know who read and don't feel the need to comment.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by DanaC

The walk through the valley is lovely, but I am slightly wary when walking there because every so often a sinkhole opens up and swallows a cow! (ok, once one swallowed a cow - but there have been three or four sinkholes in the 17 years I've lived in the area).

Dana ~ Carrot, Carrot, get help, go get help!
Carrot~ I'd like to make an appointment with Dr Phil, please.

[limey]

Looks like you had a great time!


Sent by thought transference

[Sundae]

I've been training the pigeons in the park.
Mostly I go to feed the ducks, the swans and the two amusingly honking geese.
But the pigs get a look-in too.

First you feed them from the palm of your hand at their level.
Repeat until you have a crowd.

[Sundae]

Next you raise your hand so they have to stretch to reach the food.
No photo, so one of the patient ducks and swans also being fed.

And then you raise your hand so that they have to fly.
Is special.

[Sundae]

Just gratuitous pigeon shots now really.

[DanaC]

OMG look at you training the pigeons! That's awesome.

You know, when you have a spare day (and a spare £4.50 entrance fee) you should come over here and we can go to Shibden Hall. It's years since I went round it - and I know they've restored and opened up more of it since then.

Beautiful place and the park it's in is great (it's the park we walk the dogs in most days).

The house itself is a hodgepodge of styles as it was added to over the centuries, but the core of it is a half timbered manor house built in 1420.

The gothic tower was added by Anne Lister in about 1820 as a library (the Listers had the house from the early 1600s to the early 20th century).


This is what the wiki hs to say about Anne Lister:

Throughout her life she kept diaries which chronicled the details of her daily life, including her lesbian relationships, her financial concerns, her industrial activities and her work improving Shibden Hall.[1] Her diaries contain more than 4,000,000 words and about a sixth of them—those concerning the intimate details of her romantic and sexual relationships—were written in code.[1] The code, derived from a combination of algebra and Ancient Greek, was deciphered in the 1930s.[2][3] Lister is often called "the first modern lesbian" for her clear self-knowledge and openly lesbian lifestyle.[4] Called "Fred" by her lover and "Gentleman Jack" by Halifax residents, she suffered from harassment for her sexuality, and recognised her similarity to the Ladies of Llangollen, whom she visited.[5]

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Dana ~ Carrot, Carrot, get help, go get help!
Carrot~ I'd like to make an appointment with Dr Phil, please.

Hahahahahah. I missed this when it was posted.

[Sundae]

Me too!

- "What's that Carrot? Dani's fallen down a well?"
- "Wuff! Wuff!"
- "Oh you were just warning me that there are cats walking across the yard, fair enough."

Shibden Hall looks marvellous (do we go on the bus via Hebden Bridge?!)
May have to put it on hold for a few months though; with no overtime and no second job thanks to my health, things are going to be pretty tough for a while. You know how stupid I am with money. Hey I'm feeling miserable about my financial worries... I know, l'll go to Leeds for the day and eat out! Yay!

Note to self - sort life out now I have some things to look forward to.

I refuse to completely give up on my pigeon-minions though.
I'll switch to that horrible tracing paper style toilet paper if it means I can go out on a Sunday and walk in the fresh air and enjoy feathered companionship.
Hey, who knows when you'll have to be rescued from Orthanc?
Oh wait, that was eagles wasn't it...

[DanaC]

Not on the bus no :P It's about an 11 minute walk from my house to the park.

[Sundae]

Aha, so you do want me to wear comfortable shoes at least.
I knew it.

[Sundae]

So, off to Leeds to the hospital yesterday (scheduled appointment).
Lots to deal with, walked back into the city overwhelmed and trying not to cry.
I went back to old behaviour. Not the clink clink glig glug type, the wander around with the camera type.
It really did help.

I took some photos in Leeds back when I met Dani there on a very grey day soon after I moved here. They turned out as drab and miserable as I felt on the way home (not Dani's fault!) so I deleted most of them.
What a difference sunshine makes, and seeing life through a lense can make life easier to view.

I'm guessing Peachy Keens was closed as it was the only outside space unpopulated.
Tea for me outside All Bar One. Was sorely tempted by the olives, but I could have had a whole meal for the same price.

[Sundae]

I didn't know the symbol of Leeds was the owl.
There were too many popping up in statutory and on signs for me to miss it this time. It only took me five visits to work it out...

Golden owl and a view of a really well planned and attractive water feature. It was surrounded by workers on their lunch breaks, enjoying both sunshine and shade and eating both shop-bought and home made food.

[Sundae]

Not "my" hospital, which is St James's, but the far more beautiful Leeds General Infirmary.
It sadly has a slight taint to its name now thanks to Jimmy Savile, in the same way as my local hospital (Stoke Mandeville).