Archives for: 2009
Hauntings in July
[Posted on new site; put here also for readers who have not yet accessed the new site]
A priory church in London, a castle in Norfolk, two battlefields – one in Somerset, one in Scotland –are the locations for ghosts this month.
The Phrontistery - The Thinking Place
Today's Times gives an interesting insight to those who are lost for words. The web site http://phrontistery.info/clw.html provides a compendium of lost words. Try it out to find your favourite.
Mine is noscible as in 'It is noscible that no amount of training can make up for experience in the field.'
[noscible = knowable, well known]
Times Lit Trips
Our Lit Trip competition earlier this year was too early for us to get background from The Times which this week has been featuring a series of Literary Walks.
Moth Survey
This week we are being asked to count moths you see in your garden. Details can be found at http://www.mothcount.brc.ac.uk together with photos to help you identify what you see.
In Praise of Yarm
Last year, Yarm Town Council resurrected the traditional gala which was the first for almost a century. This year's event took place on 21 June.
The first gala took place in the 1920s; the town has a long history dating back to the 12th Century. It was the first port on the River Tees and in medieval times was viewed as the river's most vital port. Yarm Bridge built in the early 1400's by Bishop Skirlaw is still in use today.
Events this year included a live music stage, Victorian funfair, bellboat competition, tug of war, hog roast, street entertainers, including Punch and Judy, and the Lions Charities Fair. Other features were a boat parade, steam boat rides, a 'Yarm's Got Talent' competition an face painting.
The Town Hall was also open for residents and visitors to view pictures of Yarm as it used to be. The Town Hall in the middle of the High Street was erected in 1710 by the Lord of the Manor as a Court House in place of a ruinous Tollbooth. Later used by local magistrates for petty sessions it is now the meeting place of the parish council.
The Dutch style brick building is square in plan and two stories high, with a pyramidical, red-tiled roof surmounted by a wooden clock-and-bell turret covered by a leaded cupola carrying a weather vane.
Originally it had two open arches on each side of the ground floor and stairs leading to the room above, now used by the parish council. Two arches were bricked up in 1888 when a room was made to house the town weighing machine.
On the south face marked stones show the heights reached by the floods of 1771 and 1881; plaques commemrate the local members of the first railway committee and the Yarm men lost in the Boer War.
The alarum bell which once hung above the clock used to be rung to warn of fires and floods. Dated 1690 it is inscribed:
"Si Deus pro nobis ouis contra nos."
If God is for Us, who is against us.
In the exhibition in the Town Hall was the poem by Joseph Ritson (1752 - 1803) entitled "In Praise of Yarm."
Leave courts and great cities, vexation and care,
At Yarm all is peaceful, health breathes the air,
The street clean and spacious, the houses are neat,
And the Goddess Minerva has fixed here her seat:
Content, independent, serene and at ease,
Come trace the green verdure of sweet winding Tees.
Here plentiful prospects are seen all around,
Rich merchants dispensing the fruits of the ground;
Here honour and commerce sincerely unite,
The ladies are charming, the merchants polite:
Content, independent, serene and at ease,
Come trace the green verdure of sweet winding Tees.
Not What It Says On The Tin
Trevor's The Star
I took the liberty today of reading Trevor's poem 'At My Expense' to Yarm Writers Group.
The topic for the day was 'Moral or Amoral' so Trevor's take on MPs' expenses was particularly apt. Thanks, Trevor.
I was told I should get it published but I'll have to leave that to you.
Wildlife Survey 08/14 June
Next week the RSPB are running a survey where they want you to record what crawls, hops, flutters and flies in your garden.
Details on how to take part can be found on www.rspb.org.uk/naturecount.
I already record birds on a daily basis and will be seeing what else turns up during the week. I hope the wandering hedgehog turns up
Stop and Go
Ghostly Jaunts in June
Phantom trains, Cavalier lovers, King Arthur and his knights, a spectral black dog and even a schoolboy ghost are on jaunts in June.
Summer Dogs
Painted Ladies
Green Watch
There is a lot to be said for carrying a notebook and pen when you are out. The same is true for a camera to capture an event.
Wanted. Floating Duck House
I went to the River Tees to photograph the Barrage on the day the news broke about the floating duck house on an MP's expenses.
Bridge to Bridge
Thursday 14th May saw the official opening event of the Infinity Bridge over the River Tees at Stockton.
There will be bluebirds over!
Deer Hunting
For several years I have tried to get shots of deer in the grounds of my daughter house in the USA. Last year I succeeded with these:
Al Khatun
Archaeologist, linguist, mountaineer, soldier, spy, map maker, kingmaker. Not a bad list of accomplishments from a woman born in County Durham in 1868.
Birds - Q1
After four months of the year it's time for an update on my ongoing survey of birds at my home.
Gathering Ghosts in May
For the May ghosts we travel from the shores of Loch Ashie near Inverness to the bridge over the River Thurne at Potter Heigham in Norfolk.
A Dog for May
Alive and Kicking
Books and Banter
The Central Library at Stockton on Tees holds sessions called Books and Banter from 1030 - 1200 each Wednesday morning. There is no charge although speakers sometimes ask that a donation is made to a charity they support. From an audience of at least 40 the collection of £1 and 50p coins mounts up.
This week Doreen Peacock spoke about Women in Wartime.
Charges for use of images
I have recently asked the National Portrait Gallery for permission to use an image of portrait of a subject I needed for an article. I won't bore you with all the detail but the gist of the reply puts me off..
£23 for a jpeg file for reproduction in printed publications
A reproduction fee for its use in a printed article; cost dependent on the print run of the publication and the page size to be used.
For online use in my blog a reproduction fee of £20.70.
Has anyone else similar experience of charges for use of images, not just with the NPG?
North Yorkshire Village Dogs (8)
The colour of this 17 month old Cockerpoo is officially apricot. Her muzzle and the ends of her ears, obviously derived from her spaniel lineage, are brown. Pippa has such a gentle touch; it feels like being brushed with a feather when she greets you in the street, unable to contain her excitement of meeting someone she knows. However if you visit Pippa at home you soon find out that her touch is somewhat heavier as she jumps up to welcome you.
April Apparitions
A Gem For April
It's An Age Thing!
Apologies to David (Medlycott) for using his title but I thought a piece in yesterday's Times added to his story.
To read about the Stocks family in Tickhill follow the link:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/richard_morrison/article5926912.ece
Luka - Pets as Therapy (update)
I have just been informed by his owners that Luka has had to be put to sleep. He was found to be suffering from an inoperable cancer and peritonitis so his vet recommended that he be put down.
He was a lovely dog and I am sure he will be remembered by everyone who met him at the Care Homes.
It was a privilege for me to write about him.
Ducks and Drakes
I expect most of us have played ducks and drakes at one time and another. How about two drakes and a duck?
Ghostly Anniversaries - March
Where you in Pembrokeshire on the nights before and after 1st March, St David’s Day? Perhaps if you visited St Bride’s Bay …
Pets As Therapy
March Dog
Anniversary and Other Ghosts
Today, 25th February, is the anniversary of the death in 1723 of Christopher Wren, the architect of St Paul's Cathedral.
North Yorkshire Village Dogs (7)
Feisty is probably the best word to describe Joe, the nine-year-old Airedale Terrier. He is sure that he’s in charge. A pedigree puppy from Lancaster, he has a different character than Theo, his predecessor. Like all Airedales Joe is happy to work with you but never lets you think he’s working for you.
Farewell to an Old Friend
Farewell to an Old Friend
After fifty years together the time has come when we must say goodbye to an old friend that has stuck with us for all this time.
The friendship began in Wolverhampton where we had a first floor flat at Compton. As the garden was down an external flight of steps and facilities had to be shared with several other flats it was essential that we took steps to be reasonably independent. This meant we had to invest…
Murder Ink
This week I have been to meet the crime writers Sheila Quigley and Ken McCoy at the local library. Their talk session was entitled ‘Murder Ink.’
"I'll Be Your Valentine"
Not to be sniffed at!.
The High Street in the town of Yarm was, last year, awarded the accolade of the best High Street in the UK.
The Georgian street is famous for its cobbles even if they seem to be forever being dug up and replaced.
At night, especially at the weekends, it is packed with scantily clad young ladies and the pubs do a roaring trade.
The BBC have just conducted a survey of the pubs checking the toilets for traces of cocaine. I don't know what it tells you but cocaine was detected in 2 of the gents toilets. Much more disturbing was the fact that in the ladies, 7 of the 9 pubs had traces of the drug.
One landlord has said they do their best to avoid drugs on his premises but he wouldn't have been surprised if it had been 9 out of 9.
What a commentary on our society of today.
Moon Boots
As we had 2inches of snow overnight my wife suggested that I should wear her moon boots for my daily walk.
February Dog
January Dogs
Every year I get a calendar from my daughter featuring her dogs. In addition to the photo for the month there is always a quotation added.
I will post one each month this year.