Winter Roamings

February already, and despite the Insta-platitudes of savouring January, I’m relieved. Snowdrops are out, crocuses too and there’s a whisper of spring in the air. Early spring. admittedly, but it’s still there. I’ve been admiring (and sniffing) the Hamamelis at the local garden centre, and there are iris bulbs growing in a bowl on the dining table.

We’ve been out here and there to various Yorkshire locations: Knaresborough, Harrogate, Leeds. The latter was yesterday, a hurried trip on the train for Jay and me during school hours. We had food and looked around the shops and made plans to return at half term. Necessary actually as I’d panic-bought a dress, misread the label and realised on the way home it was huge.

Knaresborough was a first for us and it was lovely; one of those sedate, distinguished old market towns with a square and proper butcher’s shops and bakeries. I was admiring the architecture and the green spaces (and Jay was musing about where they’d stationed the artists for the Landscape Artist of the Year episode filmed there).

Joe whinged about the cold until he spotted some Japanese tourists eating ice creams, then did an about turn and decided that was just what he needed. So I bought him a Jaffa Cake one and myself a coffee (it was a bit chilly).

We wandered about through steeply terraced gardens up to the castle, and visited a beautiful art gallery in an old flax mill with creaky open stairs, hefty wooden beams and thick stone walls. Naturally I kept picturing my furniture and books in there, mentally laying out the kitchen, bedrooms and living spaces.

I do this quite a lot.

I also regret not buying a little print of a red squirrel, from an oil painting which looked maybe 1930s-ish.

Knaresborough ticked all the boxes in terms of a nice day out: covetable houses from an array of eras, a wide river, impressive viaduct, sweeping views, independent shops, good places to eat and endless winding paths to explore.

I suspect we’ll be going again. It reminds me of other places we’ve been to and liked, such as Bridgnorth and Ironbridge.

We went to Harrogate after that. That wasn’t quite as lovely as I remember it - probably due to the effect Covid has had on high streets. That and the pack of visiting football fans who appeared, shall we say, intellectually challenged. Shouting, swearing loudly and aggressively, trying to intimidate passers-by, wearing balaclavas and setting off coloured smoke bombs. The police were following them closely but their hands-off approach wasn’t particularly reassuring. I gave a few death stares but that didn’t seem to work either.

Fortunately Jay had taken Joe off to find the toilets, so he didn’t witness it.

So let’s think happy thoughts. Like these two sharing a moment:

Back home, I’ve done some holiday cover at work but in between have made time to get out and about for a solitary walk or two.

I’ve meandered along the canal in Hebden post-school drop-off (and spotted a potential walk through the woods, accessed via a narrow bridge at one of the locks). I think we’re checking that out later; Jay’s been off work this week so we can try it out minus Joe and his grumbling.

I know I make him sound like a miserable little fun-sponge, but he isn’t really. Just on occasion.

I really like walking alone. Especially when I get the chance to notice little details her and there. For me, it’s a necessary part of my mental wellbeing: a chance to gather my thoughts but most importantly to let them wander at will. I find worrying about things a lot harder when I’m outdoors surrounded by trees, water and the sound of the birds singing.

The canal’s great because walking there engages all of your senses. The geese honking, the smell of woodsmoke from the barge chimneys, the colours, examining the various plants and shrubs growing along the towpath. Granted, there’s no literal food or drink to taste (unless you take a flask or give in to the mouthwatering aroma of frying bacon from the snack caravan across the road).

But it’s all there: a Little Free Library, vegetable plots, woodland, friendly cats, interesting and mysteriously bohemian-looking houses…

It’s still a bit cold and bleak so I’m having a proper midday lunch of chicken, carrots and mashed potatoes. We’re food shopping straight after school so the evening meal will probably be some hastily-concocted snack.

Incidentally, I’m Northern. So in actuality breakfast is breakfast, lunch is dinner and dinner is tea.

We’ve had some seriously wild and windy weather lately.

I do like a good ramble on the moors when it’s like that. Blow away the cobwebs, feel fully awake. One morning I ventured up around the tops between Midgley and Old Town but only lasted 20 minutes. The wind was face-stingingly harsh and walking into it, I was struggling to move forward. My ears were ringing and my eyes were watering so I gave up and retreated back to hearth and home and the kettle.

The numb fingers and burning cheeks were worth it for the views though.

And now: a few pictures of me. I had to do selfies for work and I loathe having my picture taken, either by me or anyone else. I’m not vain enough to ‘enhance’ the photos with filters but I thought I’d share my hair journey with you.

The greys are definitely coming in after around 3 months of being dye-free. They’re actually a lot more noticeable in real life and I’m quite excited by the variation in shades. Since these photos were done a week ago, I’ve been employing the new Curly Girl haircare routine and my hair has literally gone berserk. In a good way. It’s incredibly curly to the point where I have to weigh the curls down for a while before freeing them again, plus it feels much healthier without the oil-stripping chemicals.

Lastly, the usual miscellany.

Reading: My Family and Other Animals (love it but am now pining for the Greek Islands)

Watching: Ozark (absolutely no idea what it’s all about this time), The Teacher (not very good for many reasons but we stuck with it and I don’t know why - laziness probably), Young Sheldon (still - but we all like it), and a personal favourite: Dream Home Makeover with Sophie Robinson. The colours! The patterns! I’m craving colour in my life. My head’s filled with imaginary mood boards.

Speaking of homes, our purchase is limping slowly and painfully onwards. Builders don’t reply to phonecalls or emails. Banks faff about over survey reports. More survey reports need to be arranged. And on it goes.

But my car passed its MOT this week. Always a relief (and a surprise).

Thank you for all your comments, and for reading. Looking at the stats - something I rarely do if I’m honest - it seems there are a lot of people who enjoy coming here and spending a bit of time with me, and that’s both flattering and heartening. Have a great weekend - not long to go now!