Sun, Rain, Olympics And ...

Thursday ... Down at Porterbrooke studios we had an excellent evening daubing away in near steam-room conditions.

Friday ... The Olympic Games opening. What a great piece of theatre! The section based around the Industrial Revolution which ended with the five-ring Olympic motif was worthy of a Soviet Shakespeare.Totally patriotic; breast-beating; brilliant. The skit with Aunty Betty and 007 was a good old fashion jape ... I'm sure the yanks would think it was really happening ...

One finger to the rest of the world and a stirring trumpet call to the country ... I'm pleased to report that all the folk I've talked too seem to have been energised by the event, especially the "young"; let's hope it lasts.

Sunday ... Out to our friends in Hathersage using public transport; the 272. Sun warming, cottage garden sitting and birds flittering. Teaed, crab-pated, pork-pied and caked-scoffed lounging. We charged our batteries and thanked God for the privilege.

Monday ... Driving to Lincoln we stopped of at Littleborough to look at the church of St Nicholas. The Norman arches drew us there. It is said that Harold stop at this church on his way south to meet the William at Hastings.













We enjoyed a more than adequate lunch at the Eyre Arms pub in Rampton. Rampton's great claim to fame is that it sites the Nut Bin for the Criminally Crackers - Rampton Hospital. I have the dubious honour of delivering loaves and fishes to the hospital shop during one of my very many pre-university jobs ... a very sad and sobre experience ...

On to Lincoln Cathedral ... fantastic - always.

Hot In The Hills

Wow a sunny day! The scarcity of this phenomena in this year's summer weather could not be wasted. The trusty 272 got me to Fox House Inn where I set my walking engine on max thrust. Up and over the moor, down the valley and through the heather and bracken. Sheep baaed, birds twittered and the wind cooled my effort. Back at the Fox House Inn and I mounted the 272 for the return to Sheffield.

All this in a couple of hours. That's why so many folk like The Steel City - hop, skip and jump and you are in another world.

Sunny Stoney

A lovely English summer day ... at last.

Stoney Middleton well dressings proved to be exception ... if too professional. The effect of computer precision in design and possible expert crafts-person execution seems to out weigh the folk-art aspect. That said, the well dressings were stunning.

Ample tea and cake was available and dutifully consumed.









Driving up Middleton Lane brought us to the re-claimed land above the quarry. Spectacular views of The Dale and the prospect of wild flowers, including native orchids, are the attraction here. We were not disappointed.







We went on to a friend-of-a-friend's cottage and were totally wowed by the garden. Sitting on the grass in brilliant sunshine, consuming excellent Darjeeling tea and munching chocolate cake and shortbread biscuits, while having conversation about hither-and-yon is, to me, one of life's perfections. Apart from the infrequent sound of a passing car, the only background sounds were birds a-twitter, the wind blowing thorough the trees and plants and bleating of sheep in the surrounding fields. Pure gold!

Final Millennium Drawing Session Until September

A very wet Friday but, it didn't get in the way of taking the advantage of going to the last drawing session until September.

Talking to the gallery education person was, to be honest, a sad experience. The echo of so many empty civil service word-speaks seems to confirm that the silly bean-counting rhetoric of today's society is endemic. Be it UK or Oz the same pseudo-free-market clap-trap abounds. The Oh-Limp-Hicks dominates everything ... health, education, police service can go to the beggar's bowl. That virus SPORT takes no prisoners. It infects all and they are happy to keep paying for their infection.

The Millennium Gallery room used for the drawing sessions will, I was told, remain empty for the period - nothing was planned. Given that most, if not all, the attendants would be glad to continue the sessions through the summer, it seems a wasted opportunity to rake in at least some lucre. I suppose the incumbent manages are filled with self-congratulation that they have, in their own minds, filled their aims and objectives and met budgets. Interestingly, the tutor is now in the throws of organizing session that will have nothing to do with the gallery ...

Caer Daun Per Ferrum Equum

A sunny but blustery day gave us a good reason to get out and about. We sped of to Doncaster on the Northern Line train. The labyrinthine shopping centre cause some confusion. One of the local tribeswomen gave us the guidance needed so that we eventually found our way out into the sunshine again. The streets were packed with locals foraging for black puddings and tattoos but, thankfully, they were over-fed so that we were in little danger of being taken for a passing snack. After a passable coffee in a Costa café we wandered to the Minster.

Doncaster Minster is a excellent example of Victoria Gothic. The building occupies part of the site of the Roman fort (AD 80). The Minster is a delight to visit; being a relatively new construction all is in excellent condition and the stained glass quite stunning in the sunshine.

We braved the shopping centre on our way back to the rail station and nearly lost our way again. The train trip back to Sheffield was fast and the train clean ... a delightful way to travel.

Orchids By The Dozen

A blustery and sunny day gave us the chance to visit Dirtlow Rake near Castleton in Derbyshire so that we could look at the native orchids. The weather has been ideal for their growth so that there were lots to enjoy. The biggest surprise to me was the deep blue variety which have a very pleasant and strong perfume.

Grantham Wedding

A visit to St Wulfram's church in Grantham proved to be more interesting than expected. We have visited before and knew about the chained library. Memory had faded so that we were surprised by the size of the building and the overall excellent condition.

The added extra was a wedding ... which gave us the opportunity to listen to the excellent organ.

Tea and cake - proper Victoria Sandwich - rounded off the visit.

Dashing About In Lincolnshire ... Again

What a hectic week! About 550 miles of there-and-thither mostly in the rain. On a clear day the countryside looked green and more than pleasant. The area around Grantham, famed for falling apples and rabid politicians, was new to us. Views across central England and the Trent River valley from the ridge (Lincoln Cliff Jurassic limestone) were quite amazing. The availability of excellent watering holes in all villages not only satisfied our hunger but, encouraged us to visit local churches.

'The Stag' in Barkston provided a reasonable lunch and some tasty ale. This hostelry is on Church Street so we wandered down to the church of St Nicholas ... closed as per usual.

Honington village is where the church of St Wilfred stands ... we only visited the church.

'The Wagon and Horses' at Caythorpe provided reasonable sandwiches and a passable coffee before we visited St Vincent's church.

St Nicholas' church at Fulbeck is a surprising building both in size and location. The village has a magnificent hall, manor, church and cottages with delightful gardens. 'The Hare and Hounds' completes the set. This is an excellent place to eat and sample good English ale.

We didn't visit 'The Plough Inn' at Wilsford but, were surprised by the size of the delightful church of St Mary the Virgin.


All this over a few days ... no we're not boozers but, we have to have repast out of the rain ...

Summer Time And The Weather Is ...

Another damp day. Not to worry it's dry on the 272 ...

Low misty clouds blanketed the hill and fine rain lent an Irish softness to the day. We had an excellent walk from Hathersage, through Hugh's Manor and up to the Hay Meadows up on Coggers Lane. Blossom covered the meadows. Bright yellow buttercups and dandelions, sparkling white daisies and everywhere the bowed seed heads of the grasses covered in tiny rain drops. Some blue orchids poked through the mass of  low growing plants. A beautiful sight even in the misty rain.

Walking down to the cottage and back through the meadows gave us a second chance to enjoy the view.

Tea and conversation - always a pleasure - was added to by the boisterousness of the sheep dogs.

A damp but delightful day.

Bank Provided Shelter

Some days you just have to give in to life's essentials ... shopping. So it was and we were happily festooned with goodies when, bang crash double wallop, we subjected to a downpour. Where to shelter? That's when I spotted the open door of the Barclay's Bank. Zooooom - in we sloshed. In today's banking situation we must have been the fastest people who wanted to enter, not exit, Barclay's portals. The rain deposited as much as the bank is accused of depositing into it's own coffers ... possibly in as short a time. We are Barclay customers so we took the opportunity to don out wet gear before braving the storm; this had relented to a gently rain.

Is this the most shelter that a bank can offer in today's economic climate?