White rabbits x 3!! Good morning Mick and all GN's on a very dark still morning in North Yorkshire. I am definitely hoping that the white rabbits will bring me a bit of luck this morning, as what was meant to be a bit of a jaunt turned out to be more of an adventure yesterday!!
I was struggling all morning yesterday, and felt very frustrated as even with painkillers just didnt improve, and there were plants I couldnt plant and things I couldnt do. I decided in the afternoon that I would go out as everywhere I looked there were things that I couldnt do. So I had seen an advert in the local paper about a new little cafe opening in a small place called Hawnby through some little lanes towards Helmsley. I thought that would be a good little jaunt and rang a friend to see if she wanted to come with me. She turned out to just be going into the cinema so another plan scuppered.
Never mind, I would go on my own and take my binoculars and warm jacket as I would be able to go on from there up to a good dark viewpoint to watch and hope to see all the planets and moon promised for the evening if there was no cloud (fingers crossed). Chucked coats and bits into the car, and set off. Had a lovely drive, with very few cars on the road, across the moor , some of which is still badly burnt, and no sign of green recovery yet. Stopped at various points to enjoy the scenery and watch the birds. Lots of plump pheasants strolling around in their lovely plumage.
Found my way to the new cafe, had some difficulty parking , but managed it, as there was no way I could walk far . It was a very nice cafe with good coffee . Bit expensive but of course it is out in the country and no doubt much has gone up in price that I havent noticed , not having been having a meal out for a while. But definitely a good place to go, with lots of local goodies and they have a little shop there too. Very pleasant staff and I checked out the seating and the loos, to pass all the information to things like my womens group etc.
I like to find out things so if people ask if a wheelchair can get in etc., I am able to let them know what the facilities are like.
So was very pleased to have found this new place, and then drove on up and around to find a suitable place to be able to stop and watch the sunset and the planets clearly. Found a small layby with a reasonably wide view of the scenery and the sky, and sat watching the evening sky and for a minute or two there was a lovely rainbow far across to my right, but no time to take a photo. I had taken an extra jumper to put on under the jacket when it got chilly, and so got myself organised with binoculars hanging over my jacket and my phone camera at the ready. As I stood there it got quite cold and I was glad of the extra jumper. There was an iron fence at that bit and as it was rather muddy and slippery I was glad to be able to lean against the fence a bit to allow me to try and take a picture of the moon and the two planets that I could see. I was a bit dizzy looking up at the sky for a long time and so turned to used my binoculars to look across the moor.
Suddenly the lens bit near the eye with the rubber on it fell off and sods law, sort of bounced on a tuft of grass and instead of falling into the road went through the fence and rolled down the hill a bit. I couldnt reach it with my hand and in any case would have had trouble to try and bend down or kneel and hope to get up. Looked at the fence and decided that I would be an idiot to try and climb over and then drop down this hilly bit with no certainty that I would be able to climb back over being up hill and very muddy etc.
Naturally despite several cars and a cyclist having passed me beforehand there was no one about now. I went back to the car to see what I might be able to get it with and all I had was my extending windscreen cleaner. So took that and carefully fed it through the fence at its longest and hurrah it reached the bit and I was carefully trying to pull it towards me, but over very wet ground so it was pushing it into the soil at times. I was slowly winning, not got it within reach but making progress when the head fell off the cleaner - no doubt as it wasnt meant to be dragged through muddy fields but just clean glass. By this time it was very cold and dark and so I left the handle leaning against the fence , cleaned as much mud as possible off my boots and went home, for a much needed warm up and food.
So was up about 4,30am, and booted and suited and have my grabbers and various other implements and am now about to return and hope that "shaun the sheep" hasnt wandered over to either try and eat it or tread it into the ground. If you never hear from me again you will know why. Well its worth a try and it will be another barmy thing I have done over the years!!
Hope you have some good cycling to watch today Mick. Did you ever see those aprons from Portugal GrandMattie, where they have a back and then quite an ornate decorated front which you can get into from either side. They use them to walk behind the sheep or cattle and are knitting as they go. Then when they need to open a gate or whatever they stick the needles into the wool carried in the pocket and do the job and then continue to knit as they go. I brough a couple of those home with me and they were great to carry cleaning things up the stairs and collect toys etc and keep your hands free. I used to do Aran for both my husband and my son, but never attempted Fair Isle Gave up on making ones for my son when he was little as he was growing so quickly that even starting on what appeared to be a far too big size he would be ready for it as soon as I had finished it.
Well happy St Davids day to all welsh GNs and hope your month has begun in a better way as we all sigh with relief to change the calendar to look forward to spring, flowers and light. Enjoy your day and take care
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