The grand man of 99 - Father

He is George to most, Granddad to others and Mr Lupton when he gets his "Sunday best" name. To me, he is my Dad who I have been known to call him Georgie Porgie. On September 25th 2021 was his 99th birthday entering his 100th year.. We had a few days of getting out and about. He had just been over into the Dales to buy 100 plus sheep and then on the Wednesday we were off to Filey for a 99 icecream - well you just have to do it. Often he has been too busy in the garden to go to the seaside but with glorious weather and chnace of a spin out in Jacks vehicle we sent off in style. Those disability badges are good things as we parked up on the sea front to enjoy the icecream and look out to sea.then I popped in to the seafood cabin on the Cobble landing to get a sandwich to take home- 2 prawns and 2 crab for his tea. We called in to see his old friend,Frank Turner, who is a butcher in Rillington as he wanted some pickled tongues to cook. Frank was out and there were no tongues in the shop so slight disppointment. All in all he had a good day. Friday brought two friends from the village who brought him some biscuits. One day in the week he had been with Robin to pick some field peas and then shelled them for his dinner. I had gone to the house and he wasnt in and thought he must be down the garden. next thing he zooms into the yard on th emule. Another day someone arrived with homemade pickle. He got 20 cards and was busy be ringing everyone up to say his thank yous. He couldnt believe it when a surprise package arrived from Betty's and all he kept saying was what have I done to deserve this. His request for his Sunday dinner was to have some beef from one of the heifers that Nicholas had taken to have cut up to be then sold in the Wass Farm Shop. It was very good and like any true Yorkshire man on his plate was Yorkshire puddings too.

Katrina called it Landladies Lunch

After having all the winter blues it was nice to receive an email headed Landladies Lunch and bring the husband. Kind Invitation from Katrina and Derek Gary of The Wold Cottage at Wold Newton. We started off at their beach chalet which is next to ours at Filey. The weather was good for the time of year.There we were to have coffee before going back to the Wold Cottage for lunch . The coffee turned out to be port. Jack who rarely misses going out on a Sunday lunchtime to the pub was well impressed at such a start.We bid Filey Au Revoir - we must keep practising our French as Le Tour de France will be here in 2014. We headed across Hockney countryside to get to the house. Not quite as colourful as Hockney's painting are but then it is winter. Lunch was a feast as you can well imagine .The Younger Grays live in Dubai and I guess this set the idea of the menu. Delightful Oriental chicken that was so tender it just broke with a fork ,a medley of baby vegetables in a sauce which was more Dubai than Yorkshire and salmon with an interesting crust again with a touch or the orient to it -very tasty -cooked to perfection.Puddings, desserts,sweets whatever you like to call them it didn't matter .There was a big big selection.No diets today girls. Then Katrina took me for a tour of the house. Very impressive bedrooms and touches that Katrina Gray could only do -stamping her personality into each .She is currently updating and revamping as we all try to do at this time of year.One of the bathroom is amazing .So amazing that I pulled Jack from his comfy throne in the lounge to give him a tour. We had a lovely lovely few hours at the coast and in the Wolds.We thank the Grays so much for our invite and hope to see them again at our beach chalets soon. I chauffeured and my passenger said as we were getting closer to home "Aye it was a grand day but I am glad to be back into the hills". And then off he was off to let his dogs out.You would have thought he hadn't seen them for a week.Here you see Katrina busy in her kitchen.The temptation of the

sweets .Katrina with Jack in the hall just before we left. P.S. Katrina I forgot to sya wow I love your top.Lady of many talents, did you knit it?

Freezing weather...

When did -2 degrees every stop you from doing what you like to do?. Here is my Dad with Alan another die hard fisherman on Wednesday.Togged up to keep the cold out it was carry on regardless. The fog wasn't nice and it was bitterly cold but it didn't deter us from having a few hours over at Filey on Wednesday. It is good to have the Beach hut to go into to get a hot drink and shelter from that bitter wind. With fish and chips and Sterchi's chocolate inside us for subsistence we brave the bad weather.High tide was around 3pm but the tides were high and there was plenty of swell in the water. A few people walked their dogs but there was only Dave and Alan with us fishing. They were luckier than me and caught a flattie apiece

. They kindly gave them to us . My mum and dad share one for the tea and Jack has the other as a starter. All said it was very tasty . I had the pleasure of gutting them and cooking them .

Sweet Temptation

Chocolate lovers be warned. If you venture to Filey you should go in search of chocolate oyster shells filled with more mega wonderful chocolates.Mr Walter Sterchi arrived from Switzerland in the early 1900's. Now based on Hope Street. Every chocolate is hand dipped and fillings are made from old recipes and more modern alternatives.