West Yorkshire

[Sundae]

Disembarkation.
And some dogs, because they were everywhere and I know you like them.

I didn't feed the ducks in the end, just took a stroll and then sat in the sunshine. The lakeside was thronged with children lobbing unfeasibly lage pieces of bread at disinterested water fowl; I could see it floating on the water untouched. I preferred to save my decent, nutritious food for the ducks and swans at home. Because once you open a bag it tends to spill into your handbag. And from there to everywhere. I had to stop the other day because some was in my shoe and really hurting my toes. I was in the bank.

At times I was down to my camisole (proper outer garment obviously), sometimes shirtsleeves, sometimes in my denim jacket and glad of it. But I had a book, a packed lunch and a return ticket on the road train, back to the bus stop, where I knew my pass would mean I didn't have to spend any money to get home safe and sound. Sheer pleasure.

[Sundae]

I mean do bear in mind it may be April, but it's still the scrag-end of Winter up here.
I have put my mind to living long enough to show you the park in Summer. Because I'm sure it's totes amazeballs then.
That and potential rodent ownership (sorry, Carruthers, I think I will) should see me through.

[Sundae]

And then back to Leeds.
Which was empty by Leeds standards.

[Sundae]

We're getting a PieMinister shop.
I now have no hope of losing weight or staying solvent.
PieMinister make the best pies in the whole world. Everything about them is gorgeous, from their ethos to their ingredients, from the punning names to the pastry.

Colour me both excited and regretful.
But mostly excited.

[monster]

You could apply to work there -then you'd be solvent and get pies.

[Sundae]

I did consider it, but it would be nearly an hour door-to-door.
And I'm still not quite right.
First time a customer showed even a quizzical face I'd be in tears. An angry customer would have my head in the pie-oven.

Volunteering is next, to build my self esteem again.
I hate not working, because it's not like I'm kicking back and having fun (although this weekend's posts suggest that!). My pysciatric team support this; get more involved in life, but don't go too fast too soon. Have to get off the anti-psychotic drugs first.

but... pies

[Sundae]

Back to Bank Holiday Monday. It's horse day for Sundae!
I bought my ticket weeks back and have looked forward to it since.

I've never been to Leeds Armouries, even though I'm a museum fan and it has free entry. I will certainly be going there now, as I saw only a small part of the museum. Mostly what lay between me and the toilets!

I woke up unfeasibly early and didn't go back to sleep. I wanted to get the 09.37 bus, and get it I did.
It got me into Leeds ridiculousy early, to the extent I couldn't remember why it was that bus, rather than the one which ran an hour later, I'd chosen to get. But it was okay - better to be there and kill time.

I'd had weeks and weeks to decide what to wear. And we had terribly grim weather only a week ago, to the extent I emailed the museum team asking them about potential cancellation. They responded quickly and pleasantly (in my defence I was also asking about the fact I didn't have a receipt, having booked by phone) saying the only weather condition which would make them cancel would be lightning, because of the danger.

The day was forecast to be cloudy, but fair. Temperatures of about 11 degrees (52f) and little chance of rain. It was a hazy start in Otley. Tattered cloud moved in front of the Chevin, revealing and obscuring it in parts, a landscape in motion. I chose to wear my Christmas outfit from two wears back, a long silver skirt with the sparkly camisole I wore to the park, only with a nude colulered vest underneath, Dressed down with black heeled boots and my denim jacket.

There is something about walking in a long heavy skirt. In order that it doesn't wrap itself up in tangles you have to use your hips, adopting a slightly rolling gait. It's why actresses wear "practice skirts" when rehearsing for Shakespeare.

I was enormously gratified by the reaction to my costume of choice, Even at the bus station a little girl said in a stage whisper to her Mum, "I like that silver dress [sic]. It looks like a Princess!"

[Sundae]

Inside the museum.

[Sundae]

I found this equally sickening and compelling,
Which isn't a criticism of the museum. the diorama represents what really happened. In all its gory glory.

[Sundae]

Hunt to eat, yes. Kill to live, yes.
Deliberately choose to kill beautiful big cats and call it sport? No.

[Sundae]

Even more horses!

There will be lots later too.
Poor old horses got dragged into a lot of our little squabbles over the years.

[Sundae]

Just to change it up a bit, we're back to elephants.

[Sundae]

And that was pretty much it for me inside the museum, except for finding Benedict Cumberbatch in the Modern Armour section, dressed in riot gear.
As it turned out, the day was plenty warm. I mean I could have worn my little white dress and been content by about 13.00. I'd guess the temperature was in the high teens later in the day, if not actually hitting 20 (68f)

So I spent most of the day simply sitting outside, reading, enjoying the warmth. Museum entry is free, otherwise you can bet I'd have wrung every drop out of it. I only paid for entry to the live events in the tilt-yard.
It wasn't like Roundhay Park; this is a city centre location so when the sun shines, the heat builds. Glorious.

Me looking suitably mediaeval.

[DanaC]

It was a hazy start in Otley. Tattered cloud moved in front of the Chevin, revealing and obscuring it in parts, a landscape in motion.

Beautiful description.


Did you get to see the Hall of Steel?

[Sundae]

I didn't. If you recommend it, it will be my first port of call next time I visit.