New Computer

I have been feeling quite frustrated for the past few weeks trying to transfer my Domain Name from my Website to this Blog. I have read all there is to know about transfering, followed numerous guidelines and still it hasn’t happened . So I decided today not to worry anymore, life is too short, it can sit out there in cyberspace for ever I have finished with the hassle.. Today ,my eldest son and I attended our neighbour`s funeral . It was standing room only, a real tribute to his life and it was good to catch up with his family over lunch at our local Pub. Afterwards I took my son on a shopping trip. I want another Computer much more powerful then this with a Duel Core Processor. 500 Gig Hard Drive 2 Gig Memory lots of USB slots , DVD RW and full media application. I am keeping this PC as I have so much work on it as I need to separate tasks and I want a faster link to the internet than I have a present. I will use my laptop for travel and my illustrated talks a such. I much prefer a Desk Top Computer they are far more comfortable to work on and I am going to move into the bigger room as this small study is too cramped. Gosh I often wonder how five of us lived in this house at all and when I think about downsizing I come out in a cold sweat.

March Winds

Wet and windy, cold and dark,
The howling wind soon finds it’s mark.
Coats and collars clutched up tight,
People huddle together against the night.
Rain bounces down they start to run,
The March Wind blows it’s having fun.

Trees shiver and shake,boughs break.
Fragile leaves finally forsake
Their hold on life then flutter
To join other leaves in the gutter.
Where litter, leaves and outcasts roam,
While others hurry heading for home.

Nothing is heard except the wind groaning.
Barren trees bend their boughs moaning.
In protest of the endless motion,
Of the wind like a restless ocean,
Sends gusts rolling, like waves never ceasing.
Blowing harder and faster without releasing
It’s hold on anyone in the streets.
Harassing everyone it meets.

A bird sit swaying high in a tree
Let’s loose it’s grip, now flying free
It swoops high over housetops.
Into the night, till it suddenly drops
And lands daintily in the street.
Busy looking for something to eat.

The wind dies down and the sun comes out.
People smile for a while but have no doubt.
The March Wind will return with force,
For the month of March must run it’s course.
April follows with refreshing showers,
The welcome rain that brings the flowers.
Taking us from Winter into Spring,
A season that is already awakening.

© Val Cook 1997

Sunshine and Snow on Easter Sunday

Woke yesterday to snow and sunshine as promised So I was out early to capture the event before it melted and by midday it was nearly gone. I usually go to the gym on Sunday mornings but gave it a miss as the roads had not been gritted, even though snow had been predicted all week. And I don’t think I will be going to the Middleton poetry evening as it’s a fair distance on the motorway and it may snow again . Being a lone female, its not the going it’s the coming home that worries me . We have had some wonderful blue skies last week which can really lift the spirit. I was able to peg out some washing Saturday and it felt good to be out in the garden again so I took the opportunity to tidy up the patio and the greenhouse. Next weekend British Summer time starts when we put the clocks forward an hour to increase our daylight hours. Winter is so depressing with the long dark days and the unremitting rain I am so relieved to see the Spring. Lots of colour returning to the gardens and the trees are in bud, the Forsythia is always the first to show its bright yellow flowers just before my daffs show their face. Made my wonderful delicious vegetable soup as I need to detox for a few days, I have eaten so much chocolate and hot cross buns over the weekend, I feel quite yucky.

Lancashire Recipes

Ah Lass its Good to be Home

Eeh by gum, that was tasty Mum,

It filled all corners of my tum.

Fresh vegetables locally grown

Best beef cut off bone.

Ate home baked bread to the last crumb.

Licked my plate and fingers some.

Oh how the time has surely flown

Ah lass, it is good to be home.
ValC

I decide to put these recipes on this Blog because they where very popular when featured on my website, that has now been swiped away.

1. Lancashire Hotpot
2. Meat & Potato Pie
3. Potato Hash
4. Bean Cobbler
5. Liver & Onions
6. Tripe & Onions
7. Cheese & Onion Pie
8. Raisin Flatcake
9. Marmalade Loaf
10.Tea Loaf
11.Weetabix Loaf
Lancashire Hotpot was a regional favourite especially by women who went out to work all day in the Cotten Mills. They could leave the dish simmering in the oven on a low heat. The oven was heated by a coal fire in the firegrate next to the oven (called a range)and by means of dampers variable temperatures could be obtained. The kettle was boiled by swinging, via a hook, a large iron or copper kettle over the fire, pans where on placed on skillits that also swivelled over the fire. It was usually King Edwards potatoes that where sold or grown in those days but now there are so many varieties available make sure you use a good boiling potatoes, one that doesn`t fall .

Lancashire Hotpot
Ingredients
6 medium sized lamb/mutton neck chops
2 medium sized onion
3lb potatoes
Seasoning
1/2 pint of stock
1oz butter

Method
Remove the bones from the lamb/mutton neckchops
Peel and scallop the potatoes
Peel and slice the onions
On the bottom of deep dish place a layer of pototoes
Then a layer of meat over the pototes
A layer of Onion over the meat
Repeat with potatoe/onion and meat
Cover with layer of potatoes that overlap each other
Add the seasoned stock by pouring it down the edge of the dish
Dab a little butter over the potatoe top
Cover and place in middle shelf in a moderate oven140 Centigrade for 2/3hours
Check for drying out and add more stock as needed
Remove the cover and brown the top.
Sometimes a Cowheel would be a nourishing addition to the dish.
Once the meat has dissolved remove the bones before serving

Potato Pie
Ingredients
1lb Minced Steak(Ground Beef)
1 medium sized onion
3lb potatoes
Water Salt and Pepper to taste

Pastry Crust
4 ozs Margarine (shortening)
8ozs Plain Flour
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 ice cold Water

Method
Chop onion into small pieces
Place in a deep pan with lid
Peel and chop the potatoes into small cubes
Place in pan with onions
Add the meat to the potatoes and onion
Season to taste
Add just enough water to cover the ingredients in the pan
Mix well
Bring to the boil an top of stove stir to stop potatoes from sticking to the base of the pan
Simmer for 20/30 minutes
Stir occasionally

Prepare the Crust
Rub margarine into the flour and salt
Add cold water and fork it into a dough
Roll into a ball wrap in greaseproof paper
Place it in Fridge until needed
Allow the potato and meat to cool a little
Place in deep dish with enough room for a crust
Get the pastry out of the fridge
Roll it out until it will cover the dish
Score two grooves in the centre of the pastry(This allows the steam to escape)
Cover the potato and meat with the pastry
Brush with a little milk(To give it a nice brown finish)
Pop it into a hot oven middel shelf 160 centigrade for 20mins/30min

Potato Hash was made on the stove and easy to keep warm."There wus nowt better than warmerd up tater ash.

Potato Hash
Ingredients
1lb minced steak
1 meduim sized onion
3lb potatoes
Seasoning
Water

Method
Peel and dice the potatoes
Peel and chop the onion into small pieces
Mix potatoes /onions in the saucepan with meat,just cover with water,season.
Bring to boil and then simmer for 30minutes or until potatoes are cooked.

Variations to the Dish
1. Exchange the Minced Steak for Corned Beef
2.Add two carrots diced.

Bean Cobbler
Ingredients
1lb of Minced Steak(Ground Beef)
1Medium sized Onion
4lb potatoes
2 tins of Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste
Tablespoon of Oil
6ozs water
Level tablespoon of Gravy mix

Method
Peel and cut potatoes into halves or quarters
Place in pan with lid cover with water season
Boil the potatoes for 20mins until cooked
Drain and mash the potatoes until soft
Peel and slice the onion
Fry it for 3mins in the oil on a low heat covered
Add the meat and continue frying
First with a high heat for a second or two
Then on a low heat for 4/5min covered
Add the water and gravy mix
Stir until blended continue cooking on low light for 10/15mins
Covered until the meat is cooked stir occasionally
Place the meat in a large flat dish about 3inches deep
Cover with the baked beans
Then cover the beans with the mashed potatoes
Sealing the potatoes to the edges
Fork a pattern over the top
Place in hot oven middle shelf 160 centigrade for 20/30mins until the potatoes are brown.

Variations to the Dish
Omitting the Baked Beans from the dish and you haveShephards Pie.
Use Minced Lamb instead of Minced Beef and you have Cottage Pie

Liver and Onions
Ingredients
2 large onions
1lb of Pigs or Ox liver
Tablespoon of Oil
Oxo cube
4ozs water
Seasoning and Flour

Method
Peel and slice the onions
Fry in the oil for 2/3mins on a low heat covered
Wash and dry the liver peel off outside tough membrane
Cut the Liver into small pieces removing blood vessel (White tough pieces)
Roll in seasoned flour
Add to the onions and toss them together until Liver is sealed
Add oxo cube dissolved in water
Cook on low heat for 5/6mins with out lid.
Do not over cook

Tripe and Onions
Ingredients
2lbs Tripe
1oz Flour
1 pint Milk
4 to 6 onions
Seasoning
Water

Method
Wash Tripe under running water and dry
Place it in a pan
Cover with cold water and bring to boil
Drain well
Cut into 3 inch squares.
Pop back into saucepan cover with cold water and bring to boil again.
Simmer this time for 2/3hours until tender
Peel and boil the onions until tender
Then finely mince the onions
Drain the tripe again
Place Tripe in clean saucepan
Mix flour with a little of the milk in a basin
Add remainder of the milk stir well
Pour it over tripeStir in the minced onions.
Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes

Cheese and Onion Pie
Ingredients
2 large Onions
2lb potatoes
1/2lb Cheddah Cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste
Tablespoon of Oil

Pastry
4ozs margarine
8ozs Plain Flour
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/4 ice cold water

Method
Prepare the Pastry
Rub margarine into the flour and salt with finger tips until looks like breadcrumbs
Add ice cold water mix with knife into dough
Roll into two equal balls
Wrap in greaseproof paper and place it in Fridge
Peel and chop the onion into small pieces
Fry in the oil until sweating then reduce the heat
Continue cooking covered for 2/3mins
Peel and cube the potatoes:
Dry them and add to the onions.
Season to taste and toss them together on high heat
Then reduce the heat and simmer for 10/12mins stirring ocassionally
When potatoes/onions are cooked
Remove from heat and add grated cheese
Get the pastry out of the fridge
Roll out one mound until it will fit a pie dish
Line the greased and floured dish with the pastry
Fill the dish with the now cool potato onion & cheese mixture
Roll out other mound of pastry to cover dish
Score lid to allow the steam to escape
Cover dish with pastry
Seal edges and brush with milk(To give it a nice brown finish)
Place in hot oven middle shelf 150 centigrade for 20/30mins till nice and brown.

Raisin Flatcake
This flatcake would often be made up with all the scraps of pastry my mother had over from baking her pies.It rarely made it to the table it was eaten straight from the oven. Delicious.

Raisin Flatcake
Ingredients
4ozs Margarine
8ozs Plain Flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 pint ice cold water
These ingredients below can be increased if you like sticky flatcake
Large handful Raisins
2ozs Butter
1 or 2 tablespoon of Brown Sugar
Milk or beaten egg

Method
Rub the margarine into the salt and flour using your finger tips until fine breadcrumbs
Add enough cold water and make a dough using a fork
Roll into a ball and wrap in Greaseproof paper
Place in fridge for 15mins
Roll out into a very thick circle (about 2" thick)
Spread the butter across the centre of the circle
Cover the butter with raisins
Sprinkle the brown sugar over the raisins
Paint around the edges with the milk
Gather the circle up to the centre
Press the pastry together and seal it
Place the heal of your hand over the gathered dough
Press gently until the mound is flattened.
Place a flour dusted rolling pin across the centre of the dough
Roll from the centre to the edges in a circular movement
Keep the surface well dusted with flour
Roll out until the Flatcake is thinned out and you can see the raisins.
Place on a baking tray, try not to break it,so don`t roll to thin.
Brush with milk or beaten egg
Place in middle of the oven on 150 centigrade for 20/30mins until the surface is nice and brown.When cool spread with butter and enjoy

Variations
Use Rough Puff Pastry instead of shortcrust pastry and you have Eccles Cakes

Fat Free Tea Loaves

These three "Fat Free Tea Loaf" Recipes are by curtesy of members of "The Women`s Institute"

Marmalade Loaf

Ingredients
12ozs (350grms)SR Flour

8ozs (225grms) Dark Brown Sugar

8ozs (225grms) Mixed Dried Fruit

8 fluid ozs. (225 mls) Milk

2 large tablespoons of Thick Dark Marmalade

1 Egg

Method
Mix all the ingredients together

Turn into a lined greased 2lb Loaf Tin

Bake in moderate oven 300F / 150C for 1½ Hours
Slice Butter
Delicious toasted

Tea Loaf

Ingredients
2cups of SR Flour

1cup Sugar

1cup fruit & Nuts

1 Egg

1teaspoon treacle

¾ cup of milk

Method
Mix all the ingredients together

1/2 fill a lined greased 2lb Loaf Tin l

Bake in moderate oven 300F / 150C for 1½ Hours
Bake in Moderate oven 300F/160C for 35 to 45 minutes

Weetabix Tea Bread
Ingredients
2½ Weetabix

8ozs (225grms) Sugar

6ozs (175grms) Sultanas

½ pint (300mls) Milk

1 Egg

7ozs ( 200grms) SR Flour

Method
Soak all these ingredients together overnight

Next day add beaten egg

Fold in Flour
Turn into greased & lined 2lb Loaf Tin

Bake on moderate oven 350F/180CFor 1 hour

Another Sunny Day

Today was another warm sunny day. We had been warned that Easter was going to be very cold with a threat of snow,time will tell. I travelled to Colne to see if Boundary Mill Factory Outlet had something I could wear for the BSC Dinner and low and behold I found just the thing. Not what I had initially wanted but still very smart and very me. I enjoyed the drive over there, the roads where quiet and the sunshine was an added bonus. All along the highway where the daffodils such a splendid display every year. We had a good crowd on Sunday evening at the Howcroft,so many poets eager to read that it was 11pm, an hour later than usual, before I got away. I am amazed at the number of talented people there are in the North West, willing to share their poetry. I feel quite privileged to be part of WriteOutLoud`s scene,my poetry has certainly been influenced by this and I am enjoying it tremendously. A rather sad day too, my good neighbour Arthur died, he had lived in a bungalow facing me for about 45years,his cheery whistle always a welcome start to the day. We have shared such memories, but we are all getting older. A dozen or so families have lived as long as Arthur, in our tight knit community but its enevitable that people will die or move away and our wall of comfort starts to crumble. Arthur will be number four.

The Bus Pass

The Bus Pass
At the age of 60 we can have a bus pass. Free rides on bus and train throughout Greater Manchester. From the 1st April 2008 the pass allows free bus rides on all local buses throughout the country, and we can still ride the trains in this area. I was forced by circumstaces to seriously consider the bus to go into town after three parking tickest costing £90 our Parking Attendants are viscious. So the day came when I decided to take a bus ride into town
It felt quite liberating to leave the car behind and walk away from the house heading for the nearest Bus Stop. I had not ridden on a bus for 36years or more so I was feeling a bit nervous.
Nothing to it I assured myself, signal the bus, get on, show your pass and sit down. Simple.
I knew there would be a bus every 15minutes I had a timetable. Within minutes I was riding along enjoying the view, deliberating where to get off. I wanted a walk, so I alighted well before my destination. It was a lovely day and it was good to feel the warmth of the sun . When I reached the town centre I already knew where I was going as I had planned my shopping route. I meandered through most of the main department stores in town,stopped for a coffee break at one of the fashionable cafes, then finished at the open market next to the bus station. Loaded with shopping I headed back to the bus. I was so relaxed, not having to look for parking or watch the clock. I`d had time for coffee, a chat with a stranger and the time to browse the shops at my leisure. Bliss, why oh why had I waited so long. It took a free bus pass to tempt me and I`m glad I made the choice.
The Metro
Now I was used to the Metro. I would parking at Radcliffe Station and go into Manchester about three times a year. No way would I drive into the City its too congested, and is one large precinct, mad. Now I catch the Metro in Bury at the bus interchange its so simple only takes 40 mins from Bolton to Manchester. In the car it takes over an hour and then you have to find somewhere to park and walk into the centre.
The Train
I had never taken the train until 2005. My friend Dorothy is a seasoned traveller so she took charge of my first train journey that was fraught with delays and overcrowding. Not a very comfortable journey to Lands End enroute for the Scilly Isles.
So a few weeks ago I decided to be brave and travel to Wigan on the train, it took only 18mins from Bolton to arrive at Wallgate Station in the centre of the town. A multitude of shops and interlinking Malls . I had time for lunch and lots of browsing, bought a couple of things and got lost in one huge Shopping Mall was redirect and soon found my way to Wallgate Station and home. Let the train take the strain .Exactly
Goodness knows where I will be going after when I get this bus pass..

Pershore Worcestershire

The Abbey Green

Pershore Abbey

1997 Pershore

Pershore`s the perfect place on a warm summer day.
I have come to hear the Brass Bands play.
The Abbey and green are so quiet and serene.
I`m all alone, not a soul to be seen.
Squirrels like quicksilver chase in and out of trees,
Then scurry up the trunk to hide amongst the leaves.
I sit very quiet and still, absorbing the sounds around.
Birds calling,blossom falling and the distant buzz of the town.
People on bicycles glide by ,aided by the breeze.
The sound of children`s laughter circles me with ease.
Trees restless in the wind,dance wildly for me.
As I listen for the sounds of the music to be.
A dog races by, barking madly at the sky
To disappear quickly,I look to see why.
All there is to this wonderful scene,
Is an ancient Abbey and a village green,
Peace returns and I sit in solitude enjoying the day,
Patiently waiting to hear the Brass Bands play.

<©> Val Cook 1997

A Pershore Weekend July 2000

My sister in law Carol,loves to cook.
And all she cooks comes from a book,
It`s Delia Smith from morn till night.
A great success `cause she always gets it right.
She also makes her own ice cream;
Using natural ingredients,she`ll never be lean.
But William my brother is as different again;
He likes his food plain,he`s the simplest of men.
Herbs especially Coriander, will never pass his lips.
All he wants for lunch, is plain fish and chips.
But Carol loves to entertain,she`s shelves of cookery books
Always busy in the kitchen,where her favourite food she cooks.
And after the meal we sit comfortably full.
The food, the wine was perfect, the company far from dull.
We chatted all the weekend,about this and that.
Underneath a brolly as it poured down as we sat;
To finish this meal that Carol had lovingly prepared
In praise of her skill and effort in the meal that we had shared.

<©>Val Cook 2000

Manchester Shopping & Labour Club Fire

Labour Club prior to fire
After the Fire the Stairway to Nowhere

The sun was shining this morning and the weatherman said it would be dry today, so I set of for Manchester. I catch the Metro Train from Bury station. Travel to Bury by bus 471, it is only 5mins walk to the stop,this drops me off at the Metro Station and with in 40 minute I am in Manchester City centre. It amazes me how much stamina I have these days. Shopping was a daunting task, almost impossible ten years ago when I had Chrinic Fatigue Syndrome. My legs were not strong enough to support walking far. Now I walk for hours and recover very easily its just wonderful. Anyway it was not a successful visit. I want a super-dooper dress for this dinner. I have so much black eveningw ear I want a change. The colours that are in this season are not what I am looking for. There is so much green,tangerine reds and browns. Not smart evening wear, I fancy French Navy chiffon with a tiny sleeve. I probably won`t find anything but I do have 21 more days to look. There was a huge fire just up the road from me on Tuesday night. I could see the flames licking the sky, from my bedroom window. It`s still being dampened down by firemen and they are searching the rubble for bodies. It was the Labour Club that had been derelict for 12 months that vandals have set alight. Many are pleased that the building is now rubble, as it was an eyesore,but I hope no one is found inside the burnt out shell. I had a lovely surprise today, sister in law rang to invite me to my brother`s Birthday Dinner. He has retired this months and on the 28th March he will reach 65 years young. This means a trip down to Pershore an idylic small country town in Worcestershire that I love to visit. I am going to post a couple of poems about Pershore. It will be a nice drive, M6 motorway most of the way,as long as the weather is dry it should take about 3hours. Just hope there aren`t any hold ups.

Bolton Speaking Club Silver Jubilee Dinner

Yes the plumber did come and replace my soil pipe, so I am one happy lady. We are experiencing very severe gales since last night. The whole country has suffered over the weekend but it only started at 5pm yesterday evening. Its mainly affects the coastal areas with the spring tides and the low pressure these gale force winds have churned up the sea and flooded vulnerable parts of the coast once again. Last years floods were horrendous and the amount of trees that where felled by the gales, alarming. One thing that has bought a smile on my face The forsythia bush is full of blossom and yesterday I saw cherry tree blossoms just on the brink of pink. The bulbs are out in force too,so spring is not far away. I have to set my mind on to this Silver Jubilee Dinner we are having on April 5th. Bolton Speaking Club is now in its 25th year. We always have an annual Charter Dinner but it is usually quite formal and we have Speakers etc. This year its going to be informal and fun. I am pleased that this event falls on my year of office as BSC President as its going to be a memoriable occasion. We are expecting over 100 members and guests to attend. I am especially proud this year as both my sons will be my escorts for the evening. So I have to start looking for a new frock!

Last month I gave my first illustrated speech in 12 years to members of my own Women`s Institute on the Chernobyl Childrens Visit in 2007. Using my laptop and projector I was able to show photographs and diagrams that explained the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster 21years ago and pictures of the childrens visit. It was very well received and I really enjoyed the experience and have a couple booking for later in the year. Next month I am speaking to a WI on my life as a midwife. I am busy looking for photos of me in my prime!!

http://www.chernobylchildlifeline.org/

Unitied Utilities Plumbing and Drains Cover

I arrived home yesterday to find my soil pipe had come away from the wall and was hanging precariously off my gable end,in danger of crashing through the garage roof. The garage runs the length of the house and is attached to the house wall and the pipe runs through the roof and then underground. Fortunately my son was with me and he managed to lift the pipe to safety,leaving the toilet waste outflow pipe intact. I was concerned that the sewage pipe may have been damaged by swaying of this 14 foot plus heavy asbestos pipe. Need I say that it was all during a gale force wind and raining heavily. I rang United Utilities as I have emergency insurance cover for my plumbing and drains. I couldn`t believe it when their representative informed me that as long as I could flush my loo they couldn`t help.!!! I stuck it out and spoke to maybe three different people explaining the situation and eventually they agreed to send me a someone who would assess my situation. He did come and is returning tomorrow to replace the damaged soil pipe. Whew !!

The Ocean

TheOcean
Are we indifferent to the fate of the sea?
By what we do and what we allow to be.
With sewage sludge PCB and DDT
Nuclear waste and plastic debris.
The consequence of trashing the sea
Are horrendous and fatal to you and me.
With factory farming by acoustic device
Shoals of fish are collected in a trice;
Along with turtles and dolphins as sacrifice.
The rewards and profits of avarice.
We over fish and ocean dump.
No more will we watch the dolphin jump.
And the humpback whale’s tail thump
After the massive tankers with excess sump,
Poisons these creatures with this foul clump.
Still we hunt and fish to overkill.
We trash the beaches uncaring until,
The ocean becomes a sewer fill;
And the creatures in the seas we will kill.
Who cleans it up, who pays the bill.
Who cares that is the bitter pill.
<©> Valerie Cook 1998

World Book Day at Bright Books in Rochdale

Yesterday was World Book Day. I went along with a number of Write Out Loud poets to a Poetry Event held at Bright Books in Rochdale. It was a daylong celebration of the written word and they sponsored a WriteOutLoud - Open Mic - Poetry Session in the evening. The event was very well attended and a dozen or so Asian ladies came by coach with Kim Haygarth editor of Scribble Magazine to join us in reading their poetry. Paul Blackburn was Compeer , he was on excellent form and set a very relaxed and entertaining tone for the evening. Ajun Malik was our guest poet she read some of her poetry in Urdu and then its translation in English. It was very interactive evening, we heard many interesting and entertaining poems. Learned how to give the traditional Pakistani response - Wah Wah - in appreciation of Ajun`s poems.. Gerry O`Gorman entertained us with some great original songs accompanied by his guitar and mandolin. I certainly enjoyed myself and I am sure everyone else did. Thank you to Ken Park and his staff at Bright Books for providing a very comprehensive buffet supper and sponsoring Write Out Loud in Middleton. And the WOL Poets who came to Rochdale on a cold frosty evening. My friend Betty and I, even though we had a map became confused once we arrived in Rochdale as there where too many crossroads! After circling the Town Hall a couple of times we eventually found the route again and where on track for Healey Dell and Bright Books.

Swinsty Reservoir Overflow- overflowing

View of Swinsty Reservoir Overflow

Trip to Harrogate

On Saturday I enjoyed the drive over to Harrogate to see my son and family. The fields around Skipton where flooded, another few days of rain and the roads will be under water again. They say we need the rain to keep England green and our complexions fair! It was a bright sunny day, so after lunch we took the dog out for walk, but boy was it windy. Our walk took us through the woods around Swinsty Reservoir it was beautiful,there were many trees down , due to the gales force winds over the past week. In a few weeks time the woods will be filled with gorgeous bluebells. So I am planning to return to see the carpets of crocus that cover the Stray in Harrogate,the miles of daffodils that line the roads and now the bluebells in Swinsty woods. The reservoir was very full and in places encroaching on pathways. The overflows from Fewston was quite spectacular and the waves on the surface of the water reminded me of the sea, large waves mounted by white spray came hurling over top of the overflows. It was a brilliant walk and the smell of the pine trees will remain with me for days.