The beauty of living in the countryside...

The beauty of living where we do or staying here as guests you are surrounded by flora and fauna whatever time of year. We have had some brilliant sunny weather so everything is forward this year. And as the trees burst into bud and the fruit trees into blossom ,the lilac is just coming out and the birds sing as long as the day is light. Nothing seems to have changed here as far as nature is concerned . Always have your camera with you, as you never know when you will see one or more of theses beautiful creatures.  You will have seen for earlier posts that the deer come right up to the back of the house I was quite taken aback today when I was coming on the road from the farm up towards the house. A young deer was walking down the middle of the road without a care in the world. It was quite unreal as if he had taken charge of traffic controls . He turned round and looked at me as if to say he was looking for directions. he looked at the house sign turned his head and then with a jump and a skip went up with drive in front of me . He went up about 50 yards in front of me and then decide to take a right and jump the fence and into the field .He wasn't really in a hurry and as I puffed up the hill and caught sight of him he just looked round ,stretched is legs and he was off.

So when lockdown is over and you think to venture to come to stay with us you must remember to  bring your camera  too

Clapping for the NHS

Last Thursday night I stood outside and clapped in appreciation of our wonderful NHS staff. I rang my cousin, Gillian, later and everyone I spoken to afterwards said how emotional they felt. I couldn't hear anyone else clapping and so tonight I decided I would walk through our fields towards Wass which is a mile down the road.
As I walked all I could think in this mile was this is how long the London Nightingale Hospital is.  It is almost too large to contemplate. And there are more hospitals like this going up around the country. How all these people working to get them up need to be applauded too .Everyone doing their bit but that is the British Bulldog spirit that lies in the majority of us. So tonight just before 8pm as the sun went down on another day I took this photo. Byland Abbey in ruins beyond the village and a deer grazing undisturbed until the clapping started.
We live in a beautiful part of the world and hope when it is all over you can come and see the area for yourselves. We should all  be eternally grateful to all the NHS who are working so hard to fight the battle.
As it reached 8pm the villagers, I could hear but not see, came out of their houses and even some banging pans .I just hope this Coronavirus doesn't like noise as it certainly wont stay around for long if 70 households in Wass came make that sort of a noise, goodness knows what it is like in more densely populated area. Noise is a good vibration .We must keep our spirits up . I sang all the way home, thankful for a host of things. Even this thistle showed how nature goes on. 

..and the next night .....

The night after the White Rose Awards I was meant to be in York at the Barbican as I was up for being a finalist for the best accommodation provider which was run by Minster FM - it just happened and no I didn't  nominate myself, but Jacks best friend of 45 years ,Geoff the Butcher had invited us to dinner at the Stapylton Arms in Wass to celebrate his 70th birthday.
there are times when I have to put others before my work and this was one of them .The pub at Wass is one of my favourite eating places too .First we went down to the Fax for a few drinks - tonight I pulled the short straw so no gin for me ,before getting to Wass for 6.30pm . We had great food as always and once you find good things on a menu it is hard to veer from them -9 times out of 10 we eat seafood there and that night was no exception.
It was a relatively early night compared to the night before as both Jack and Geoff are early risers and unable to burn the candle at both ends any more.