Yeah, we know it's a long time since xmas and the new year snows. But, we can't let January pass without a brief if tardy seasonal update to these pages.
To be fair, we have been a bit recluse for the past few weeks, had a few meals at pubs, a night or two out at the cinema, a few drinks with friends, a couple of quiet celebrations of the obligatory annual events.... Of those annual events,,,, Xmas was celebrated as you can see in this shot with some powerful Gail-made eggnog and lots of beautiful pressies. Boxing Day was spent with a quiet drive north to look at Barnard Castle,
http://www.barnardcastlelife.co.uk/castlehistory.html closed on the day but a nice way to get away from the temptation of eating even more wonderful leftover xmas pud and roast meats....
My birthday was a lovely day of favourite home cooked food and a walk in the snow around Skipton Castle
It was on this walk around Skipton castle we found our dream home 
nestled in the shadows of the castle, on the banks of a small lake and with all the charm of the ideal Yorkshire hideaway but right in the heart of the town. After a bit more dreaming we took a drive up to
nestled in the shadows of the castle, on the banks of a small lake and with all the charm of the ideal Yorkshire hideaway but right in the heart of the town. After a bit more dreaming we took a drive up to the headwaters of the River Wharfe for a grand pub meal in the little hamlet of Appletreewick just up from Bolton Abbey(priory) and overlooking the beautiful Wharfedale hills. 
New Year's Eve saw Gail working late so a quiet night in was enjoyed with just us two, a few explosives and a gentle waft out of 2009 and into 2010 on a small bubbling wave of champagne.
We have not been too boring though because with the snow so beautiful and the sun shining, it was impossible not to be tempted out into the Yorkshire countryside and be in the landscape as it rarely can be viewed. All the fields wrapped in white sparkles and tracked through by laughing families and bounding dogs, the occasional fox and random birds.
Speaking of bounding dogs, the new year marks the commencement of the Hunt season....We had to see this traditional event and set off to the Blacksmiths Arms for lunch hoping to catch the start of a local hunt gathering. We missed it and only saw empty Range Rovers and horse trailers with a glimpse of red riders on horses disappearing over the distant fields to the fading sound of baying hounds. Lunch was fantastic though. 
In recent years it has become terribly politically incorrect (too posh and elite) to set hound dogs on to the trail of escaping foxes for sport. So the Hunt is now what is called a dry Hunt. That means the fox is let out the night before to escape safely, or conversly a scented rag is trailed through the country, and after a few snifters at the local pub, the Hunt mounts up and heads off in persuit of phantom foxy. Still a hoot I am sure and lots of folk park on the roadside to catch a glimpse of all the toffs on horses pounding through the fields and over hedges... Quite spiffing I bet....
In recent years it has become terribly politically incorrect (too posh and elite) to set hound dogs on to the trail of escaping foxes for sport. So the Hunt is now what is called a dry Hunt. That means the fox is let out the night before to escape safely, or conversly a scented rag is trailed through the country, and after a few snifters at the local pub, the Hunt mounts up and heads off in persuit of phantom foxy. Still a hoot I am sure and lots of folk park on the roadside to catch a glimpse of all the toffs on horses pounding through the fields and over hedges... Quite spiffing I bet.... Anyway as I said there was no fox hunting spectical for us to see so we spent the afternoon sipping wine by the pub fire. More our sort of sport anyway and a victory is most attainable..
I will leave this months blog entry with some local shots of the lovely winter days we enjoyed, it has returned to the normal cold wet grey dreek days of chill again but the memory will linger.
Here is a little reminder of why you don't take our mini up back lanes looking for shortcuts. The neighbours were lovely.
Here is a little reminder of why you don't take our mini up back lanes looking for shortcuts. The neighbours were lovely.
This is the bridge over our River Wharfe and a view of the Ings (or water-meadows) both just over the road from our home.
A shot of the sycamore tree at the back of our yard with snow blinging and clinging to its branches in the sunlight.
Spofforth Castle, about a three mile walk up the road from home, with its resident snowman.
some cold sheep.
Next post to the blog will be in a couple of days if the planned Aussie day party and guest stay-over does present some photo opportunities worthy of these pages....
