Ghost in the Machine - Police

Having thoroughly enjoyed the last 3 days of excess, there was some reluctance to get ready and go out. However, when Jim and I had popped into the Fox & Coney late afternoon the landlord had told us that tonight's act was not to be miss, but he would say that wouldn't he? Eventually, we raised a head of steam and took a wander to be confronted by We Ghosts.

A little confused as to whether they come from Sweden or were just returned, either way this was certainly a band 'not to be missed'. Easily one of the best acoustic sets I have personally witnessed, it would be extremely difficult to describe the genre. Best on the play-list for me was what must have been titled 'I've Seen It All' (?), but can find no reference to it on the web so maybe self penned - THRILLING! So too were their own workings of Rolling Stone classic 'Gimme Shelter' and Mr Zimmerman's magnum opus 'Like A Rolling Stone' (coincidentally).

A fantastic evening which we all agreed we were glad we made the effort to attend.

Shades of Buenos Aires, a little Tango in the Night.

Another beautiful start to the day in which Liz was off for a walk and lunch with some mates, leaving Jim and I to wander around the countryside for an hour in his newly acquired

1935 Morris 8 Two-Seater Tourer.

Part of this was to visit the vast reed-beds on the banks of the River Humber where, at this time of year, Bittern, Barn Owl and both Marsh & Hen Harrier are regularly seen. Not by us though.

Off the public highway I was given 10 minutes behind the wheel

before heading home to change cars. From there we spent much of the afternoon at Hornsea enjoying fish & chips on the sea front, trying to locate our rig mate Big Fat Billy, but unfortunately The Mere (a bird sanctuary was closed to the public over the holiday.

This part of the adventure will end early tomorrow morning when I will, extremely reluctantly, say farewell to Jim & Liz. It would be hard to imagine better hospitality, but I'll leave in the knowledge that it will be reciprocated at the earliest opportunity.

THANK YOU BOTH SO VERY, VERY MUCH!

A Merry Christmas - The Beveley Sisters

Yet another bright, sparkling and mild day so a chance to walk some of the Christmas pud off with a bit of sight seeing in the market town of Beverley.

Beverley Minster what a magnificent building!

The West Tower.

West Door & Towers.

South Transept.

South Transept showing Flying Buttress.

North Tower,

and Doorway.


The Naive.

East Door & Window.

"For all the Saints who from their labours rest".

One of 3 Pipe Organs.

The glass in this panel in the Apse, above the alter, is the oldest in the building dating back to the 1300's.

There was never going to be enough time to visit York Minster so this excellent model in the Minster was second best.

Part of the South Aisle

Which way now?

The Bandstand.

No time to go into The Sun Pub but fond memories of a great musical evening the last time I was up here.

St Mary's Church

and just as fitting finale we found this Common Gull on the Duck Pond close to Beverley Racecourse.

Christmas Night & Boxing Day

By 19:00 yesterday we were all ready to tackle the Christmas Pudding to be followed by the opening of gifts. As far as I was concerned the piece de resistance came when mine hosts decided to open a 1988 Dom Pérignon Champagne.

With the cork well and truly popped and the figgy duff ablaze (not really see-able in this photo) it was a treat indeed to settle down to such a 'fine wine'.

Dressing gowns each for Liz & Jim,

a whole stocking full of goodies for me,

while Liz struggles to open a magnum of Champagne (from me to you),

Sylvia gets a new necklace,

all helped along with a drop of Dom.

This morning there was no rush to get out of bed and when we did I indulged in a large slice of Christmas Cake by way of breakfast. A sparkling bright day with little or no wind and remaining mild we left Sylv with the washing up and headed for the

You won't need telling who this is.

An excellent Oak and Beech Wood.

The Man of the Forest.

Willow Catkins adorned every hedge row in addition to which there were plenty of birds to see.

On the 'birding' front, before we had walk 500 yards we had a Tree Sparrow and in addition to Marsh Tit, there were Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed Tits, Peregrine, Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird, Song and Mistle Thrush plus a distant Red Kite.

A redundant Stone Quarry was of some interest, as was

the also distant Drax Power Station (we don't see many of these in Dorset) and fleeting

glimpses of the River Humber. Soon after we reached

and took a look around the village, starting with

The Castle Gateway,

The Bear, emblem of the Barnard family,

the village looking from the west

and resisted the Fox & Coney (Jim & I did return there a little later) with further on the Trinity Building (with bell tower) constructed in 1790.

Home Sweet Home