Six Word Saturday

Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-banner

Pie and mash and a pier

img_5108

img_5113

Relaxing comes in all shapes and sizes.  A bath, a book and a glass of wine is one of mine.  But I do have a weakness for a magnificent landscape, and any time that someone else is doing the cooking, that’s relaxation for me.

Strolling down the pier at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, how is it possible to have a care in the world?  The shoreline is inexplicably festooned in seaweed, and in the shops swathes of tinsel drape the trees.  Cocooned in the warm, the simple pleasures of pie and mash will do me just fine.

You want to join in?  It’s Six Word Saturday and time to simply Relax.

6wsButton

Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-banner

Lazy leaf or a beach ‘bum’?

img_3580

img_3550

Drifting to the end of Verena’s Festival of leaves.  You have one more week for sharing.  Join Cate if you have six words spare.

Have a great week, and don’t get stressed over Christmas.  It’ll come and it’ll go.

6wsButton

Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-banner

Trick or treat,  in Autumn glory

img_4435

img_4446

I had no real intention to post today but I couldn’t resist sharing a little of this joy.  I managed to escape for a few hours to Thorp Perrow Arboretum yesterday.  I made it the subject of a Monday walk around this time last year, so I remarked to my husband that the camera would probably stay tucked in my pocket.  He didn’t believe me, and nor should you.

img_4473

The leaves were wonderfully crispy.  Just perfect for hurling in the air, or over poor Dad.  I couldn’t help but smile, the youngsters were so gleeful.

From in amongst the glorious foliage, squeals and screams emerged, accompanied by rapidly clapping hands.  The applause, correctly performed, caused the eyes of the witches and skeletons to gleam- a source of great entertainment for young and old alike.

Surprising how much one Autumn can differ from another.  The sky was bluer when I was here last, but the trees in this 100 acres of woodland seemed less vivid.  This year the assault on my senses was overwhelming.

img_4482

img_4489

The Halloween activities finish this weekend, but the Autumn colour may last a little while yet.  If you’re in the area, Thorp Perrow is a beautiful place to be, as was Jude’s Bolfrack’s Garden this month.  I’m squeezing in at the very last minute but there’ll be a new theme for the Garden Challenge on Sunday.

I’m also running out of time for Verena’s Festival of Leaves.  Oh dear!  Such a lot happening in my six words.  Can’t argue with Cate’s six words this week!  Let’s get out there and kick some leaves.  See you on Monday!

6wsButton

Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-banner

One more shout for Capability Brown

img_2153

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.

img_2176

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.

6wsButton

Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-banner

‘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.

6wsButton

Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-banner

‘Pictures of Lily.  Lily, oh Lily!’

IMG_0948

IMG_0950

IMG_1021

IMG_4350

IMG_6294

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.

6wsButton

Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-banner

Did you watch the opening ceremony?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLLt2mSqpd0&feature=player_embedded

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.

6wsButton

Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-banner

Said goodbye to a dear friend

IMG_5510

Vivienne Frances Blake

1.12.1937- 5.7.2016

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.

6wsButton

Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-banner

Never promised you a rose garden

IMG_8999

Here in the north east of England we’ve had a few days of capricious Summer.  Knowing its fleeting nature I’ve been out enjoying it.  If there’s one thing that Britain does well, it’s gardens, so I thought I’d try to dispel yesterday’s gloom, if only for a little while.

Come with me to Sutton Park, a stately home in Sutton on the Forest, North Yorkshire.

IMG_8933

IMG_8924

IMG_8931

The Grade 1 listed Georgian house is the family home of Sir Reginald, 8th Baronet, and Lady Sheffield, and there are connections to both David Cameron’s wife, Samantha, and to the Duchess of Cambridge.  The history page on the website traces a link all the way back to the Templars.

Within the extensive grounds are an Ice House which you can actually walk inside, and a huge kitchen garden.

The house and gardens are only open in May, June, and a couple of weekends, so I just made it in time for a delicious scone in the tearooms.

IMG_9001

Ready to face the world again now.  Enjoy your weekend, whatever you have planned.  I’ll have more gardens and a castle for you in my Monday walk.  Don’t forget to pop in on Cate before then.

6wsButton

Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-banner

Shall we revel in curvaceous beauty?

IMG_8251

Sensuous swishing,

Shaking off the kiss of rain.

Don’t you like my curves?

IMG_8253

After the rather sombre mood of my last post I’m in need of a little uplifting beauty.  The Weekly Photo Challenge gives me the perfect opportunity. I hope Jude will approve this for her garden too.

Gilly – for you I have your own personal six words.  “I don’t have time to tanka”.

Warm hugs to all.  Have a great weekend, and don’t forget to share with Cate.  Join me on Monday for one last Polish walk?

6wsButton