IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY

Here in Yorkshire we have had some very grey days weather wise , fog, sleet and even snow, so

I know its well into autumn, but on Sunday on my daily walk with my furry pair, the sun suddenly shone and the beauty of the trees nearly took my breath away, so I thought I would take you on my walk..this is Billy Banks wood, its called a hanging wood as all the trees are on a steep cliff side are are very spectacular, and wrap them selves around you

As I walked around these words popped into my head.......

I have lived in so many different parts of the country but am so glad I settled here, all this is 100 yard from my front door..

i walked past the dream like tower ,a Georgian folly to a long gone mansion house called Yorke house, the only fragment left of the house is the cellar hid amongst the undergrowth..

on through the fields that were long ago formal gardens to the house, leaves crackling underfoot.

then I stood and watched and listened a v formation of geese flew over head , plaintively honking , don't know what it is but the sight and sound of them always makes me feel melancholy.. why is that I wonder??

looking back towards the dominant feature of my little town the castle..

Deep into the woods now, and scuttling and scampering of rabbits and squirrels and in the distance the white flag of a deer tail just glimpses ,ghost like , fleeting...

in the darkness a blast of colour of yew,love the combination of red and green, Christmas entered my mind , the yews are the only plants left from the formal gardens ..

these are caves created as part of a grotto, mysterious, a labyrinth with many entrances

Fergal sniffs and follows a scent.. I have been in them ,but don't like to enter on my own,

I sit a while on this stone and take in the smells ,sounds ,and enjoy the moment, as I know I have a hectic week ahead..

I turn and slowly head home, lingering ,dawdling, picking pine cones for the fire, watching the dogs enjoying the slight warmth , almost in a trance ,
thinking about every thing and nothing , briefly just idling, Ha lovely, but I knew I had to snapped out of it and headed home , to cook lunch ,and do what had to be done,,,,, but just for a while I was just me.... do you know what I mean? have a good week ,back soon ,Linda x x ,

HAPPY 17 TH BITHDAY MY BEAUTIFUL BOY!!

This post is to wish my darling boy happy 17th birthday. How can you be 17? where have all those years gone? Nat is my miracle baby and always will be(i can hear the groans of ho mum,if he reads this! I know miracle baby is used a lot ,but you see he is girls... 28 long years ago when we were getting married we knew the chances of having a baby were slim , D had the big C and had several operations before we met, he thankfully made a full recovery ,but knew from the off we would have huge difficulties, so after years of fertility treatment and finally been told our chances were zilch, with great sadness we resigned our self , and decided to adopt , after a three year wait, we adopted our first son W who is 21,( 21, ho my ,REALLY HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!)now, he brought us great great joy,and so we were a family at last... after 8 years of marriage. when W was three I became pregnant, I was nearly 4 1/2 months before I realise! I can still remember the moment my doctor told me, I still tingle!


So on the 8Th of November 1993 at 12 minutes past seven in the evening Nat came into the world weighing a whopping 11bl 4oz, a natural birth girls ,no pain relief as he came pretty fast,(sympathy please at this point).From the moment I first looked into his eyes I have utterly adored this chap! when I wrote to our infertility specialist to tell him our wonderful news ,i sent him a photo, and he wrote back saying it was truly a miracle as he was sure we would never have a child, he also said he was pinning our letter and photo on his pin board to give other couples hope, and the words on the board were miracle baby!! his last comment was he was delighted to be proved wrong!!!!


Here he is with big brother W, who when asked by people if he was pleased he had a brother ,he reply ed no I wanted a rabbit, so while i was in hospital still,D bought him a rabbit, Robbie, much better than a boring baby, so W was happy!
I can honestly say he has brought nothing but joy into my life, he has always been such a happy contented boy, can not remember him crying at all when he was a baby..

As he as grown and developed and reached the age where he is a young adult i feel great pride , and still cant quite believe he got here against such huge odds he would,nt. happy birthday my gorgeous boy, and thank you for the joy you have brought to your old mum and dad, and no your not getting a car for your birthday!!! normal blogging will resume soon , when birthday cake and sentimentality washes down!!!

GOTHIC HORROR HALLOWEEN IN WHITBY!

On Sunday it was Halloween as you all know , so here in Yorkshire there was only one place to be all Hallows eve, Whitby...... the place that inspired Bram Stoker to write his Victorian Gothic horror story Dracula in 1897, the story goes that a the ghostly ship from Transylvania called the Demeter sailed in to port, all aboard were found dead , but a wolf like creature was seen slipping ashore , and seen shadow like heading up the dark alleys know as snickets in Yorkshire and finally heading up the steep many steps that lead up to the abbey and grave yard....

So on the back of the Dracula connection a weird and wonderful festival as sprung, The Goth weekends, which are are twice a year,but of course this was the big week end....

with its many cobbled winding streets ,snickets, and old historic houses and harbours it is a very atmospheric place,

and the Goths were out in force,all ages , every other person was dresses in costume from the sublime to the ridiculous, whether you are believers in the ethos behind goth ism or just like us pure voyeurism , you couldn't help been drawn into the whole atmosphere and be impressed by the sheer effort that some people had been put into there costumes... As they promenaded about the town and made there pilgrimage up to the Abbey..

until you adjust its a little unnerving rubbing shoulders with ghouls ,ghosts , etc. this little girl was completely in character and did,nt smile once..

here she is with her dad,

even a Victorian gent needs a glass of white wine or two..

this Gothic guy was out side one my favourite shop in Whitby The Shepperd's Purse, purveyor of all things lovely...

people very kindly pose for you if you ask if you can take there photo and this feather hated lady chatted for quite a while about how she made her out fit, which was stunning don't you think?

This was VERY spooky ,and was one of many hearses driving a round the town... they drew the crowds ,but hope i don't get to hitch a lift in one for a long long time!!..

from the ridiculous to the sublime , this was Fitzy the fox terrier and i just had to have a little cuddle and a picture, ha yes, have I mentioned my little weakness for this breed of dog , er yes,OK..

whole families had dressed up ...

this handsome Georgian dandy , on his iPhone... *? !

this pus in boots scared me half to death as he was behind me browsing in the book shop and when I turned around ,harrr...

this is the famous Whitby jet shop ,it makes exquisite jewelry and serves ua good cappachino, but on Sunday wincey had moved in...

arn,t they sweet?

Miss Haversham and Captain Jack...

thought this lady looked fab, very authentic,

blue beard and his lady.....

latte , mocha , cappachino ,pieces of eight any body??

this Girl is a steam punk,apparently its a 80/90s cult post apocalypse ,Victorian / futuristic style, well that's what it said on google, ho look it up girls, I didn't get it, but the costumes were interesting..

nice to see a man carry his washing machine, wife obviously succeeded in training him to a higher standered than I have D, !!

every other a goth..

And here is the man him self, he was very charming, even with his fangs and the luminous eyes,

wonder what is lurking up the gimmel?

even a goth needs a sugar rush must be the lack of blood..

this is a fab vintage shop, even the the little girl lamp took on a Erie feel,

could you live with this in your house,I could,nt..

I think this glam couple mistook Whitby for Venice.. ... We had a really interesting day ,as always D and I do a lot of restraunt/cafe/tea room visiting in Whitby, so fully sustained and as night fall came we braved the living dead as we wound our way through the narrow ill lite back street's of the town

with the odd lantern to guide us..

we held each others hand and tried not to think what may be beyond the door...

the wonderful view from the cliffs as we headed for safety of our car parked high up on the wind swept cliffs,

thank you for a whale of a time and good bye dear friend until we meet again.. Linda x x