The beginning of Spring in Yorkshire is almost like the angel of summer is having knock down fight against the Visigoths of winter. There is promise of warmth in the sun but icy fingers are reluctant to let go their control of the clouds and wind. We have enjoyed a few warmer days but there is always that chill cut to the breeze and the reminder of the persistent and cold drizzle.
I thought I'd start off the April update with this dose of reality as the attached photos depict some of wonderful days we have had this April. I wouldn't want you to think everything is too postcard up here.
April Fools found us in York for a lovely fish lunch at Loch Fyne Seafood http://www.lochfyne.com/ overlooking the canal and then a stroll through the town centre finally ending up in Betty's Tearooms for a nice cuppa and cake. http://www.bettys.co.uk/ . We were really filling in time as we (Gail) had booked tickets to see a theatre production of Women on the verge of HRT at Harrogate Theatre and thought a day out would be my reward for joining her in that. The show was everything it could be. We set off the next day to Hawes, a lovely little Dales village very popular with hill walkers and ramblers but we were heading up to a country house for lunch. On the way we called into an open garden at Constable Burton Hall on the A684 because there was a spring garden display. 
It is a grand house as you can see and there is a self guided walk with an honesty box for a leaflet explaining the plants and paths. Most enjoyable hour or so, met one of the house staff and the house dog for a chat but mainly strolled alone through the grounds.
It is a grand house as you can see and there is a self guided walk with an honesty box for a leaflet explaining the plants and paths. Most enjoyable hour or so, met one of the house staff and the house dog for a chat but mainly strolled alone through the grounds.
Hawes itself is built over a stream and has many quaint shops and backstreets mostly cobbled and some lovely pubs and cafe's. Our destination was Simonstone Hall 
and the web site tells you all about it with some better photos than we took but you can see from the ones I've included we enjoyed ourselves and the food was well presented, and worth the trip. http://www.simonstonehall.co.uk/ .
Half way through the month we visited Temple Newsam a few miles south from Wetherby and just north of Leeds. It is so called not because it is a temple but because the place was granted to the Knights Templar in 1155 until their suppression in 1307. Since then it fell in and out of decreed grants and purchased ownerships and its history does lay claim to providing accommodations to Dukes, Viscounts, Princes and Queens, It is now owned and run by Leeds Council as a museum and gallery of some note. The grounds are vast and you can really get a taste of days long gone when you are strolling through rooms furnished as they were in the time. Despite me saying I could live a long life without ever visiting another large country home or castle, whenever we do think of going to one up here they are always a very rewarding day out, Temple Newsam was no exception. www.leeds.gov.uk/templenewsam/
As a bit of more modern culture we saw The Boat that Rocked at out local Wetherby Cinema, don't know if it made it anywhere outside the UK but it was a great movie, with Bill Nighy and a great cast supported by a strong storyline and fantastic 60's music track. If it comes to a DVD near you I'd recommend it . http://www.theboatthatrocked.co.uk/
At the end of the month Gail left for London to attend a three day course and 
a night out with the Girls at a theatre 
production of Priscilla Queen of the Dessert which she thoroughly enjoyed. While Jason Donnovan was very good, the ensemble cast was spectacular and the show was not only well done it was funnier than the movie. Maybe in part because all the audience got into the swig of things by dressing for the night in appropriate garb. The pre-theatre room party and booked dinner set the tone for a wild night out which finished with some dozen or so partying on till the small hours in the morning back in Rose's and Gail's room. 
a night out with the Girls at a theatre 
production of Priscilla Queen of the Dessert which she thoroughly enjoyed. While Jason Donnovan was very good, the ensemble cast was spectacular and the show was not only well done it was funnier than the movie. Maybe in part because all the audience got into the swig of things by dressing for the night in appropriate garb. The pre-theatre room party and booked dinner set the tone for a wild night out which finished with some dozen or so partying on till the small hours in the morning back in Rose's and Gail's room. 
The next day was spent farewelling the party goers with a walk through Hyde Park and a bit of a stroll through the streets of 
Padington.The education course was in MRI and held near St Pancras and Euston Station. It was a fantastic learning event as Alliance Medical are famous in the UK for delivering the best education and as employees get it for free there is real value add especially as it is so relevant to the work here. There was also lots of opportunity to walk the streets nearby. There are lots of interesting buildings and sights to see, 
the British Library and it's sculptures, 
The new (Re-open late 2009) St Pancras Midland Grand Hotel, some 244 rooms, 5 Star and also private apartments up amongst the old spires, and the 
London University hospital which is a huge modern multi story glass wonderment of a teaching hospital.... and 
the Champagne Bar of St Pancras Station where one just has to wait for her train to leave, even if the Champagne is ten quid a small glass, the smoked salmon was as delicious as it was hugely proportioned. Quite the place to people-watch from above and imagining walking to one's spire apartment through the fine old brick arches of the Midland Grand Hotel.
the British Library and it's sculptures, 
The new (Re-open late 2009) St Pancras Midland Grand Hotel, some 244 rooms, 5 Star and also private apartments up amongst the old spires, and the 
London University hospital which is a huge modern multi story glass wonderment of a teaching hospital.... and 
the Champagne Bar of St Pancras Station where one just has to wait for her train to leave, even if the Champagne is ten quid a small glass, the smoked salmon was as delicious as it was hugely proportioned. Quite the place to people-watch from above and imagining walking to one's spire apartment through the fine old brick arches of the Midland Grand Hotel. While Gail was off doing and dreaming London, Greg was driving through the Dales going to see Malham Cove, often described as the best part of the Dales National Park http://www.malhamdale.org.uk/malham_cove.htm (Gail had the camera), it is spectacular but we do need to walk it together just after rain so the waterfalls are at their most spectacular, also he went to a local Theatre production of "Murder Deferred" in the Collingham village hall, and thrill of thrills, put the car into the Service shop to get a thumping rear suspension fixed, all of which was very enjoyable if a bit more of a solo affair than Gail's London triumphant girly tour of London, Piccadilly, Paddington and St Pancras.
And despite us yet again thinking nothing much happened in April it does seem that , on review, we are having a wonderful time here. We are of course not immune to the current pressures of life, the relentless calls on Gail to work long distance, twice in Scotland, and silly hours, and for Greg in trying to figure out ways to minimise the impact the credit crunch is having on our mid life adventures and future dreams. But one does have to reflect on the good times to bring some balance and we do hope everyone we know is managing with the same resolve in these tough times.
That's all for now, the month of May is looking a bit quiet for us, nothing planned except an RDPD investment seminar in Leeds City for Greg, and for Gail there is a Hen's night in Nottingham and another training day down in Coventry. If you have read this far Peter L..... Happy Birthday for the 3rd of May! All the very best from Gail and Greg for your next enjoyable decade. See you in Cornwall!
