Is it grim up north? Not on your Nelly. On Tuesday morning Bert and I took the van over to collect a load of young trees and bushes from Yorkshire Plants. I’ve visited the Doncaster area in South Yorkshire and we went to Holmfirth once while visiting daughter two when she lived in Manchester but I’d never been to North Yorkshire before.
We decided to go the scenic route, which took us through some beautiful forest in West Scotland and through part of the Yorkshire Dales. It was very dramatic and beautiful countryside. I was impressed with the buildings and dry stone walls made from the local stone. Not a hideous modern bungalow to be seen anywhere. Steen from Yorkshire Plants told us that local planning regulations are very strict. It makes for beautiful, unobtrusive buildings and restorations but the downside is that young locals are priced out of the housing market. Add to this the amount of housing that becomes weekend and holiday homes for well-off city dwellers and the result is that local communities dwindle and die.
We visited Ripon and had excellent fish and chips in a little café filled with pensioners who came in and asked for “my usual please”. Their talk was of double-dealings and back-stabbings at chapel. In Yorkshire this means the Methodists. We arrived in Ripon at school home time and parked beside the bus station. I’m sad to report that school children in Ripon eff and blind as much as they do here.
I was struck by how friendly and civilised people in Yorkshire are. I also found that drivers in particular are much more mannerly both in Yorkshire and Scotland than here in Norn Iron. Maybe Ganching has a point about that after all.
On the way home we stopped in Castle Douglas for some refreshments. Bert had a haggis burger. He also stocked up on haggises or should that be haggii? The crossing from Cairnryan was pretty rough but we made it safely home. Did I mention Paddy dog? I did not but he was an ideal travelling hound and a well-behaved angel with wings. I shall definitely be returning to North Yorkshire in the future and for a longer time.
I heard today on the news that the road from Brough to Scotch Corner was closed because of heavy snow. We made it back in the nick of time.
6 comments:
Nelly glad you had a good trip here to the land of the invader. The British Isles have certainly no shortage of beautiful scenery.
ganching
Glad you had a nice time in Yorkshire and I agree my memory of a visit 16 years ago was how totally unspoilt it was. Good to hear about the fine travelling Paddy. Nothing more satisfying in dog owner world than a hound that will travel well. The first time I set out with Macy I knew that she could be a world traveller. I have had fantasies of macy in the hold on her way to NZ, macy burning rubber through Europe on her way to Africa, going down the frigging Amazon with full confidence in her rowers. The wee hound is an all rounder and equally happy in Daddys new surroundings sitting on the laps of old geezers who are not going anywhere. Thank god for hounds and the planners in Yorkshire.
Thanks people for your comments. Traitorous and disloyal I may be, (efter all I am a feenyan,) but I could not help thinking that the land of the invader is just as beautiful as the number one, Economistically recommended country in the whole world.
Thanks for your kind remarks Mularkey. However Bert is very paranoid about what you said about his driving. He reckons you must know him!
I hope he doesn't do that Mularky. There are enough dinges on that oul van.
Hi Nelly rod and tracey fed me two buns tonight. Grand job they were too. Getting to grips with typing and dyslexia is no problem at the min. peace out Les
One would have been any amount, Les, You're only a wee guy. Peace also to yourself and themselves.
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