On a recent walk I was pleased to see that the restoration of Hadley guillotine locks, after a long delay was now complete.
4 Comments CherryPie on Feb 23rd 2023
We arrived for breakfast to find, unexpectedly, that it was in a different room with different waiters including the barman from previous evenings. In one corner of the room the Ice Sculptors were having breakfast together. One of them was rather rude, having a loud business conversation (that the whole room had to suffer) rather than retreating to take the call in a more appropriate location.
After breakfast we loaded the car and headed off to the Railway Museum only to find that it wasn’t open on Mondays. We had already left York centre and didn’t want to retrace our steps so we set off in a general homeward direction hoping for inspiration along the way.
Mr C suggested that we stop at the next motorway service station for elevenses. The signposts were specific and then confusing leading to Mr C missing the turning and ending up on the road to Pontefract where we saw a friendly sign to a nearby shopping outlet. They were bound to have morning refreshment options there.
Suitably refreshed we did a circuit of the shopping village. The first shop I ventured into was Craghoppers where I saw a lovely waterproof (3 in 1) navy coat with a soft pink fleece inside. I resisted the urge to try it on. How many waterproof coats does a girl need, even if they had been looking for the perfect navy coloured waterproof that would work just as well with evening wear?
Mr C was drawn into the cookshops and came away with several baking trays and an enamel roasting tin, then we browsed a bedding shop but decided not to buy the only bedding set that caught our eye. When we had completed the full circuit of the shopping village and were about leave, the coat called me back… Apparently a girl can never have too many waterproof coats!
Purchase completed we resumed our journey stopping off at Derby garden centre in Little Eaton for lunch. Our order was taken at the table and delivered on a delightful tea trolley. No wonder the café was full on a Monday.
When we arrived home, both Mr C and I noticed immediately that the delivery we had been concerned about was under our doormat. The doormat, which had featured in the delivery confirmation update, was the secure porch mentioned in the text. I enjoyed opening my belated birthday present, a two sided wrap skirt that has many different styling possibilities.
Later we enjoyed ‘Fine Dining’ on luxury fishcakes from our freezer and the mixed leaves we had picked up on our way home.
Not the day we had planned but it was enjoyable none the less.
4 Comments CherryPie on Feb 20th 2023
We awoke to bright sunshine and had a window seat at breakfast that allowed us to enjoy the golden rays.
After breakfast Mr C headed off to visit a trade show, one of the main reasons for our stay in York. I walked into York thinking I would visit the ‘Chocolate Experience’ attraction when I got there I realised that I was muddling it up with York’s other chocolate adventure. The ‘Chocolate Experience’ is something to explore with other chocolate seeking adventurers.
My plan B was to visit the nearby Fairfax House but I found that it didn’t open until 11am. The chocolate factory I had originally been thinking of was nearby but by this time I had gone off the idea of a chocolaty adventure. I spent a pleasant time browsing in Waterstones and was tempted by one of the games (Parks), but I resisted temptation. By now Fairfax House had opened so I returned to the small property before making my way to Clifford’s Tower to sit on one of the benches part way up the Motte, soaking up the sunny rays whilst waiting for Mr C. My lofty perch allowed me to view the antics in the car park below and a loud shouting exchange that followed a mini bumping of two cars. The car park has narrow spaces and is extremely busy, not a place I would choose to park.
Although we were in the location to continue our walk along the town walls we had to make our way into town for lunch, the nearby Castle Museum café was not only available to museum visitors. Our walk took us through the busy car park where people were still struggling to get in and out of the extremely narrow spaces. We lunched in Pret, where due to a miscommunication, I ended up with the wrong sandwich!
During the morning Mr C had been told that a Royal Mail parcel would be delivered but the on-line options for changing the delivery arrangements did not offer a suitable alternative delivery whilst we were away. Mr C was advised that it had been delivered to our secure porch. We don’t have a secure porch leaving us to wonder what exactly Royal Mail had done with the parcel…
We retraced our steps from Pret and resumed the wall walk. The wall walk ended in the perfect location for visiting the Yorkshire Museum which is currently exhibiting the Rydale Hoard. Just outside the museum was an ice Viking, part of the ice trail. I chose not to photograph it before we entered the museum which was a big mistake. When we left it had vanished with just a patch of water to show where it had been. Many children and parents were milling around, having just arrived to tick it off the trail list.
Back at the hotel Mr C had an update on the parcel delivery. The picture of a ’secure porch’ was a doormat? We phoned a family member to ask them to check if a parcel had been delivered to our doorstep. They came back with a negative, there was nothing left on our doorstep.
We dined in Ate O’Clock which has a charming entrance that invites you. Our delightful waiter informed us that some of the menu choices were no longer available. Although this was not ideal, at least we knew in advance so that we didn’t get our taste buds leaning towards one of the missing items.
We visited the Golden Fleece before heading back to the hotel for a nightcap which we purchased from the hotel bar and took to our room to chill out in comfort.
4 Comments CherryPie on Feb 18th 2023
We arrived at breakfast to find that it was ‘to order’ as starters and mains. Everything was there although perhaps not in quite the right order for me personally. I opted for the American stacked pancakes with berries. The breakfast room was a little chaotic, so rather than linger at the table we returned to our room where we could chill out before walking to York Minster in time for when it opened.
As we walked to the Cathedral we took in a few of the ice sculptures that were part of the Ice Sculpture trail that was taking place over the weekend. Mr C toyed with the idea of visiting the Yorvik Centre but soon changed his mind when entry was slow and the queues were getting longer.
When we arrived at York Minster we waited in a short queue before we were able to enter the Church. Once inside we tried to book in at the ticket desk, but the computer said ‘NO!’. This meant entering the Minster took a little longer than anticipated. The Minster was as spectacular as always. I particularly enjoyed the display (which included a full size replica) about the statue of Queen Elizabeth II that was commissioned for her Platinum Jubilee but which was installed in a niche on the West front of the Minster after her death.
We spent longer in the Minster than we had anticipated leading us to join the queue for Betty’s tearoom later than was ideal. The queue was the longest I have experienced. During the 40 minute wait I was bumped and pushed by several members of a family who were queuing behind us. For some reason bodily contact with me was acceptable; some people have no concept of manners or personal space. Our waitress was lovely as was our sandwich and cake. Before we left we had a conversation with the manager about lockdown, its consequences and the length of time staff had worked there. She is quite rightly proud of the lovely, loyal team that provide us, the customers, with one of the ultimate lunchtime experiences.
Next we embarked on the wall walk which I had initially intended to do on my own whilst Mr C was attending a trade show. I had a change of plan because I thought he might enjoy the wall walk too. We started the walk at Bootham Bar but due to our late lunch we only made it as far as Clifford’s Tower. Dusk was arriving so the wall walk was left to be completed the following day after the trade show.
After our hectic day we chilled out in our room before having a pre-dinner drink in the hotel bar, where the bar man talked us through all the local gins; I chose Spiced Apple (with cinnamon spice) whilst Mr C opted for a more traditional Gin. We dined in the hotel. I chose Haddock and Chips and was advised that the portion was large portion but when it arrived, to my relief, I found it to be a modest, manageable portion.
Our meal was accompanied by Lily Kersby who was performing in the hotel bar area. She has a beautiful voice and it was a shame that she was singing to herself. After dining we joined her, which she appreciated. For her last song of the evening she sang the Proclaimer’s ‘I will walk 500 miles’ which made me smile because it is the adopted song for the #walk1000miles Country Walking Challenge. I couldn’t resist showing her my badges and explaining how that had become a special song for me.
10 Comments CherryPie on Feb 15th 2023
