Six Word Saturday

Six word Saturday

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What a strange world this is!

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One week you’re in Edinburgh, meeting a blogger from Cornwall, the next, admiring the beauty of Roseberry Topping on the North York Moors, with a blogger all the way from Australia.  When Carol (that’s The Eternal Traveller to you) suggested a stop off on my local patch during her whistle stop tour of England… well, it would have been churlish not to offer the lady a cuppa and a view, wouldn’t it?

Great Ayton seemed the perfect venue for someone interested in Captain Cook, as he spent much of his childhood there.  Carol had already been to Whitby, where he served his seaman’s apprenticeship, but Cook was born locally and lived in a farmhouse in Great Ayton.  It isn’t possible to visit Cook’s Cottage as it was moved to Melbourne in 1934, and reassembled there brick by brick.  Cook received 5 years of paid education in this village and the Captain Cook Schoolroom Museum tells the story of his early life.

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Cook was also known to have loved Roseberry Topping but, as this is a bit of a steep climb, we opted instead to hike up Easby Moor to visit the Monument to him, constructed in 1827.  The views are sweeping, across to the Topping and down on Great Ayton itself.

Of course, I needed sustenance, in the form of a very crumbly scone, but Justin Beaver didn’t seem to mind my table manners too much.

Thanks to Carol and her lovely family for keeping us company.  Wishing them a safe and happy onward journey.

It’s Saturday again and almost sunny.  I hope that wherever you are the weekend is kind to you.  I will be back on Monday for one more walk before I head south for a two week break.  Take care till then!

P.S.  ‘Strictly’ starts again this weekend and I can’t help but remember my good friend Viv, who loved it so.  And please don’t forget your six words!

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Six word Saturday

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Didn’t we have a lovely time….

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…the day we went to Edinburgh.

Sing along!

I’ve tried to give you a feel for our day together but it can’t show the laughter and the smiles.  We saw the castle, from afar, wandered a bit, found the National Museum of Scotland, and even had time for a trip to the Botanic Gardens.  Jude is quite a private person and refused to sit on that bench for a photo, but we agreed it was a splendid bench.  I pinched a discreet shot and I hope she’ll forgive me.

We found the roof terrace of Harvey Nicholls for a celebratory cocktail (thanks, Debs!), moseyed around the corner to an Apothecary Garden that Jude will tell you all about, and ended with a meal in the mezzanine restaurant of the Guildford Arms.  Then somebody blew the whistle and we had to scurry along the platform of Waverley Station.  Last swift hugs, and it was over!

Jude is still there, enjoying the sunshine, but I expect you’ll hear more when she returns from the Borders next weekend.  I’ve still got the swollen hoof so no zumba today, but I did enjoy the reminiscing.  Don’t suppose you’ll be surprised that it’s an Edinburgh walk next Monday.  Have a great weekend and I’ll see you then.  Six words?

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One more shout for Capability Brown

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I don’t suppose too many of you have heard of Temple Newsam.  This Tudor-Jacobean house, on the eastern edge of Leeds, was the birth place of Lord Henry Darnley, the notorious husband of Mary Queen of Scots.  The 1500 acre country park has grounds beautifully landscaped by Capability Brown. Currently managed by Leeds City Council and open to the public, it’s a fine breath of fresh air in the city.

A wedding was taking place whilst I was there, but the grounds were free to roam.  There’s a Home Farm and playground for the youngsters, and a lake with perfect ‘Pooh sticks’ bridge.  A rhododendron walk and extensive walled garden suits us mature folks.

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I was greatly smitten with the conservatory.  Long and thin, it’s a maze inside, full of enticing plants, including the National Collection of Coleus.

I’m dedicating my gallery of leaves to Verena.  Though it’s not quite what she intended, the Autumn challenge, Festival of Leaves, has begun again and you might just want to join in.  Pop over and say ‘hi’.

The above gallery is for Jude, who’s gallivanting around the country and not here to defend herself.  Tee hee!  I love it!

And who can resist bougainvillea?  The stables and courtyard have been converted to tea rooms, of course, and there’s a restaurant in the walled garden.  What more do you need?

To mark the 300 years anniversary of Capability Brown, an exhibition explores the landscape of Temple Newsam through time.  This link includes a rather fine video.  And then it’s time to find six words for Cate.

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‘You’ve been framed’ in South Shields!

Another glorious day in the north east of England.  Looking out from the promenade you can see Tynemouth Priory in the distance, caught in the frame.  The Tall Ships have arrived in Blyth, just a little further up the coast.  Exciting times!

Here in the UK it looks like it could be a sunny Bank Holiday weekend.   Have a good one, everybody!  Sharing my six words with Cate and the Daily Post challenge.

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‘Pictures of Lily.  Lily, oh Lily!’

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Keeping it simple, because I won’t be here to respond to comments till late in the day.  It was our wedding anniversary yesterday and I’ve whisked him away to the Yorkshire Dales (or perhaps, he’s whisked me?).  Normally I’d receive a bouquet, with lilies, but I wasn’t here to receive them. Instead I’ve been keeping an eye on some lovely ones that we planted in our garden a few weeks ago.  There are 3 different shades and I’ve been watching them steadily unfurl.  Fingers crossed, the last bronzy ones will be open on my return.

Anyone remember ‘Pictures of Lily’?  The Who.

Happy Saturday!  Don’t forget to share six words with Cate.  See you soon.

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Did you watch the opening ceremony?

If so you were one of three billion, watching around the world.  I had no intention that this be my Six word Saturday this week, but I was drawn into these magical creations of the human mind.  Looking down on beautiful Rio from that tiny plane, I couldn’t help but smile.  If only we could keep that joy, and work together for a better world.

Wishing you all a peaceful and happy week.  Click on the YouTube link that comes up to watch the highlights.

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Out of the darkness comes light

It was a night of purest excitement and I haven’t really had chance to share it with you yet.  Let’s wander the streets of Tavira on the night that Portugal won the European Cup, against all expectations.  It was a great place to be.

I left the excitement briefly and climbed the back streets to look down on the town.  There was a ghostly silence.  But everywhere was clad in finery.

Suddenly a rousing cheer split the air, and I scurried back to be part of the action.  Truly, a night to remember!

Have a great weekend, and make some memories yourself.  Maybe share them in six words?

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Said goodbye to a dear friend

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Vivienne Frances Blake

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We met through Six Word Saturday, and so I thought it would best to say goodbye this way.  I had no idea that, when I returned from the Algarve, the vital force that was Viv Blake had already departed this life.  I posted my six words last week and waited for the response that inevitably came, but this time it didn’t.  I can’t begin to describe the feeling that washed over me when I went to Viv in France to ‘tap her on the shoulder’, and found her daughter Sally’s message.  It was an invitation to the funeral, in Newcastle-on-Tyne, this Wednesday.

I went, with not a little uncertainty.  There I finally met warm and welcoming Jock, whose creativity Viv always celebrated on her blog. Abba played us in with ‘Thank you for the music’ and a very personal service began.  Sally read ‘The poetry of every day’, chosen from the hundreds of poems written by Viv.  I’ll share a snippet :

‘Agenda similar, routine unvaried

until I’m out there,

eyes everywhere

glorying in small shy hedgerow flowers

or exuberance of roses round cottage door… ‘

Just a fragment of the poetry that was Viv’s daily currency.  She could conjure a poem for any given situation, and that included her own epitaph. Not morbid at all, she’d had her health issues and was impatient with the frailties they imposed (especially if ‘that quilt’ wouldn’t turn out quite the way it ought, by Viv’s high standards).  It was read for her by close friend, Linda, who I know best as Tillybud.  Handel’s ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’ and then an emotional performance of ‘Send in the Clouds’ by Judi Dench brought the lump to my throat.  This is her resting place.

I met Viv only once, at Northumberlandia one bleak March day, but it’s a day I’ll never forget.  Those bright eyes twinkled at me with a fierce intelligence, but a love of laughter and of life.

Viv was a constant support and encouragement around my blog. Though she lived the latter part of her life in France, she knew and loved so many of the places I’ve written about in the north east of England.  Places like Hareshaw Linn and Middleton-in-Teesdale recalled fond memories for Viv.

I was in awe of her facility with words, and her desire to go on feeding her brain.  Music, I knew, was one of the loves of her life.  It wasn’t easy to write this but, as I did, what should be on TV last night?  ‘Strictly at the BBC Proms’.  Like myself, Viv was an enormous ‘Strictly’ fan. How Viv would have loved it!  It seemed fitting to watch on her behalf.

God bless, Viv!  RIP.  Six words won’t be the same without you.

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The devil is in the detail

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Mistress of the beach

Drifting, swirling on the tide.

Fronds that tease tiny fish

Then lie stranded on the shore-

A frothy, green petticoat.

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Jen’s photo in the Weekly Photo Challenge this week is a real beauty.  I can’t hope to compete, but I did want to share with you a few of the details of my recent trip to the Algarve.  As half expected, it was unbelievably hot, and much of the time was spent with my toes in the water.

A weekend at home in the UK will be an entirely different prospect.  Perhaps I shall relish the cool.  Whatever your weekend brings, I hope it’s a good one.  Join me on Monday and we’ll find somewhere to walk.  But first, pop in on Cate with six words?

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An escape from all the madness

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So many images I’ve yet to share with you from my April trip to Tavira!  I’m returning, for another week, on Wednesday.  Beautiful though Britain is, I can’t pretend it won’t be a relief to escape for a little while.  Even grey days over there are greeted with a sunny smile and a wave.

It will be hot, so there won’t be much walking, but almost certainly a little toe dabbling, and lazily watching clouds gather on the horizon.

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Early mornings and long warm evenings will be the best times, when I can look out on the world at peace, or enjoy a little quiet companionship.

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I will still be walking with you on Monday, but I haven’t decided where yet.  Then I’ll quietly disappear.  Maybe it will all make sense when I return.

Do enjoy your weekend.  I’m off to zumba, as soon as I’ve checked in on Cate.  Share your six words?

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