At last it is warm and sunny and the garden is growing. Today we ate our first few strawberries from the greenhouse and this week we have several times heard a cuckoo.
On Thursday we met a lovely couple from USA who were following in the footsteps of their seventeenth century Quaker ancestors. I have written before about them - William Goforth from Knedlington who emigrated with his wife Anne Skipwith from Hull in 1677.
We were able to show our American visitors Skipwith church and the moated site opposite which was where the Skipwith ancestral home once stood, Quaker farm at Sandholme where local meetings took place and of course Knedlington where the Goforths lived.
Although it is not possible to say exactly where they lived I was able to point out the field which was the Knedlington Quaker burial ground although it is now cultivated.
We then toured Howden and visited the church. I think those of us who live locally sometimes take the church for granted. Our visitors were surprised at the size and splendour of this magnificent building in such a comparatively small market town.
It is always enjoyable meeting in real life those people that previously I have only met through the medium of the internet.
Showing posts with label Country notes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Country notes. Show all posts
Sunday, 9 June 2013
Sunday, 20 January 2013
Winter weather
I am busy with several history projects at the moment. With my Goole WEA class we are looking at the early history of Hook as well as trying to find out more about Ousefleet Hall, which was locally often known as Empson Hall.
I am also researching the history of Saltmarshe - the family and the village. The family claimed ancestry back to the Norman conquest although sadly when Philip Saltmarshe died in November 1970 he was the last of the male line. I am talking about Saltmarshe at both the Boothferry group meeting on January 28th and the Marshland History group on January 29th. I had agreed some time ago to speak at both groups but had not realised the meetings were on consecutive nights.
But life is not all history projects and the present spell of wintry weather has produced some interesting travelling conditions as well as some stunning winter landscapes. We are finding too that the house is cold even though the Rayburn and oil boiler are both going. I think it is the wind which whistles around the walls of what is partly an uninsulated old house which makes the difference.
Above are some pictures from last week of the sheep in Saltmarshe Park. It was a grey day with snow flurries when we took the pictures. I like the skeletal shapes of the trees in the background.
I am also researching the history of Saltmarshe - the family and the village. The family claimed ancestry back to the Norman conquest although sadly when Philip Saltmarshe died in November 1970 he was the last of the male line. I am talking about Saltmarshe at both the Boothferry group meeting on January 28th and the Marshland History group on January 29th. I had agreed some time ago to speak at both groups but had not realised the meetings were on consecutive nights.
But life is not all history projects and the present spell of wintry weather has produced some interesting travelling conditions as well as some stunning winter landscapes. We are finding too that the house is cold even though the Rayburn and oil boiler are both going. I think it is the wind which whistles around the walls of what is partly an uninsulated old house which makes the difference.
Monday, 25 June 2012
The Pepper family of Goole
Yet again it has been cold, wet and grey. There has been flooding in West Yorkshire and a local gardener I talked to said all his vegetables were just sitting in the soil, not growing and looking a bit yellow. So my garden is not alone in looking very sorry for itself.
The poor weather has meant I can spend more time on the computer. I have been researching a Goole family called Pepper who spent much of their life on Goole barges and billyboys.
George Pepper was born on a canal boat and after his marriage to Emma Ward in 1880 he worked variously as a boatman and as a dock labourer. The family were living at The Barracks on the road to Swinefleet in 1911.
George had a few brushes with the law being summonsed for poaching and for salmon fishing without a licence.
At least two of George's sons, Paul and John Henry, served in the army in World War One. Paul survived but John Henry was killed in 1918, just before the end of the war. He was awarded the Military Medal.
Chris, who has recently set up a blog on Goole men who were killed in the war, provided the following entry from the Goole Times.
The poor weather has meant I can spend more time on the computer. I have been researching a Goole family called Pepper who spent much of their life on Goole barges and billyboys.
George Pepper was born on a canal boat and after his marriage to Emma Ward in 1880 he worked variously as a boatman and as a dock labourer. The family were living at The Barracks on the road to Swinefleet in 1911.
George had a few brushes with the law being summonsed for poaching and for salmon fishing without a licence.
At least two of George's sons, Paul and John Henry, served in the army in World War One. Paul survived but John Henry was killed in 1918, just before the end of the war. He was awarded the Military Medal.
Chris, who has recently set up a blog on Goole men who were killed in the war, provided the following entry from the Goole Times.
Taken from ‘Goole Times’ Thursday November 1st,
1918.
SERGT. J.H. PEPPER KILLED.
Official
news has been received of the death in action on September 18 of Sergt. John
Henry Pepper, Manchester Regiment, of 21, Antis Street, Plymouth, son of Mr.
and Mrs. G. Pepper, of 23, George Street, Goole.
Sergt.
Pepper, who was 36 years of age and was well-known in Goole, had left the town
some two years before he enlisted at the beginning of the war, and he had been
out in France some three years. He leaves a widow and six young children.
Writing
to Sergt. Pepper’s widow, his officer, Lieut. J.A. Corley, says:- “Please let me
offer you my deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement in the loss of your
husband. I saw him a few moments before he was hit. A more gallant or brave
soldier I have never commended for his bravery. I had already mentioned him to
my Commanding Officer, who promoted him to the rank of Sergeant and recommended
him for a decoration. His death is a loss to the company and myself; we greatly
appreciated his services, and his cheerful disposition was a magnificent
example to us all.”
A
brother of Sergt. Pepper, Pte. Paul Pepper, has just been discharged from the
Army after being wounded five times and gassed twice. A brother-in-law, Mr.
Chas. Abson, of 32, Gordon Street, is a minesweeper, and is at present in
Russia.
In 1911 John Henry Pepper was in Dartmoor prison but nothing is known of why that was or indeed what happened to his family after the war.
George Pepper survived until his early 90s and in 1930 was featured in an article in the Hull Daily Mail as 'England's oldest boatman'. He claimed to have fathered 20 children and to have 100 descendants.
If you are one of them please get in touch!
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Will it ever be summer?
I have just listened to news of flooding in Wales and have listened to yet another weather forecast of below average temperatures and heavy showers. It does not feel yet like summer and the garden is sodden.
I was pleased to see the Wheldale from the Waterways Museum at Goole on the TV coverage of the Jubilee pageant but was disappointed not to learn more of the other vessels from the BBC commentary. I was not the only one.
I have not mentioned Molly for a while and have been asked how she is. She is now 11 months old and is doing well. She is being trained not to jump up at visitors as, although she means no harm, a lively black Labrador can knock you off your feet. She still enjoys fruit and vegetables but a piece of orange peel that she insisted on carrying round was perhaps a step too far even for her.
The fig tree which was almost killed by the hard frosts over a year ago is now in leaf but will, I think, take a couple more years to recover completely. One of my apple trees looks sickly - the ends of the branches, with the blossom on, have died back - I have looked it up and think it could be something called fireblight.
The potatoes, which went in so late, are up and need 'banking'. Perhaps a job for later today?
I was pleased to see the Wheldale from the Waterways Museum at Goole on the TV coverage of the Jubilee pageant but was disappointed not to learn more of the other vessels from the BBC commentary. I was not the only one.
I have not mentioned Molly for a while and have been asked how she is. She is now 11 months old and is doing well. She is being trained not to jump up at visitors as, although she means no harm, a lively black Labrador can knock you off your feet. She still enjoys fruit and vegetables but a piece of orange peel that she insisted on carrying round was perhaps a step too far even for her.
The fig tree which was almost killed by the hard frosts over a year ago is now in leaf but will, I think, take a couple more years to recover completely. One of my apple trees looks sickly - the ends of the branches, with the blossom on, have died back - I have looked it up and think it could be something called fireblight.
The potatoes, which went in so late, are up and need 'banking'. Perhaps a job for later today?
Sunday, 27 May 2012
WEA celebration day at The Lowther
Yesterday I joined students and tutors at The Lowther Hotel in Goole for a celebration get- together and tour of the famous murals. There were around 50 of us from classes held in Goole, Snaith, Howden and Eastrington.
I have been teaching local history classes for the WEA for over 30 years and many of my students have become good friends. We all enjoyed a buffet, had our pictures taken and were then taken on a tour by owner Howard Duckworth who, with his wife Julie, has restored new Goole's first ever building from near dereliction into a prestigious hotel.
Today was Pentecost and we went to church. The day is often also known as Whit Sunday and the following day, Whit Monday was traditionally a holiday. Villages and towns had processions and everyone wore new clothes.
It was a lovely hot sunny day and I spent the afternoon gardening. My broad beans are not doing well but the greenhouse tomatoes are romping away.
All the time I was outside I heard the incessant call of a cuckoo in nearby woods. It seemed a timeless sound.
I have been teaching local history classes for the WEA for over 30 years and many of my students have become good friends. We all enjoyed a buffet, had our pictures taken and were then taken on a tour by owner Howard Duckworth who, with his wife Julie, has restored new Goole's first ever building from near dereliction into a prestigious hotel.
Today was Pentecost and we went to church. The day is often also known as Whit Sunday and the following day, Whit Monday was traditionally a holiday. Villages and towns had processions and everyone wore new clothes.
It was a lovely hot sunny day and I spent the afternoon gardening. My broad beans are not doing well but the greenhouse tomatoes are romping away.
All the time I was outside I heard the incessant call of a cuckoo in nearby woods. It seemed a timeless sound.
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Newport (Yorkshire) new bridge
I have recently been looking at some fascinating pictures of the bridge at Newport showing it with several steam rollers parked on top of it. I was not sure of the date and looked it up using the newly available newspaper search site where you can look up articles in the Hull Mail.
As soon as I realised that the Hul Mail newspaper was available I took out a subscription as there is so much information to be found about East Yorkshire, including Goole [of course Goole used to be part of the West Riding of Yorkshire].
Anyway, I found the reference which told me all I needed to know. Have a look at the extract which appeared on September 17th, 1930.
There is not much to say about gardening at the moment. It remains cold and I have taken a risk by planting out my broad beans. They were growing leggy in the greenhouse but I hope the move to the cold wet soil will not be too traumatic and that they will get going!
There is a rumour that it might be warmer next week. I do hope so.
As soon as I realised that the Hul Mail newspaper was available I took out a subscription as there is so much information to be found about East Yorkshire, including Goole [of course Goole used to be part of the West Riding of Yorkshire].
There is not much to say about gardening at the moment. It remains cold and I have taken a risk by planting out my broad beans. They were growing leggy in the greenhouse but I hope the move to the cold wet soil will not be too traumatic and that they will get going!
There is a rumour that it might be warmer next week. I do hope so.
Friday, 11 May 2012
Country notes
I have just been looking in my greenhouse where my seed potatoes are looking very wizened and sickly. It just never seems to stop raining at the moment. The plot where the potatoes are going is rotovated and ready for them but we never seem to get a dry spell which coincides with my having a bit of spare time.
At least we now have plenty of logs to keep us warm in this miserable weather. Robert came last weekend and sawed down two dead elms and some elder bushes. Locally they are always referred to as 'bottery' bushes or 'blummin ole bottery' and grow like weeds. They take their dialect name from the phrase 'bore tree' as when they are dried out the centre becomes hollow and in country areas the smaller trunks were sometimes used as simple water pipes.
As I was outside looking at the trees I heard the cuckoo - once so common but now quite rare. My mother always quoted the rhyme,
'The cuckoo comes in April and sings its song in May.
In the middle of June it changes its tune and in July it flies away'.
This is a very old rhyme but possibly less popular today as fewer people hear this evocative sound and thus have no opportunity to quote the verse.
In the meantime I am working on making DVDs of some of my old photographs so that even those without computers can look at old pictures of Goole, Howden and the surrounding areas. They will be for sale at £5 each, initially at the family history day at the Goole Waterways museum on Sunday [13th May].
At least we now have plenty of logs to keep us warm in this miserable weather. Robert came last weekend and sawed down two dead elms and some elder bushes. Locally they are always referred to as 'bottery' bushes or 'blummin ole bottery' and grow like weeds. They take their dialect name from the phrase 'bore tree' as when they are dried out the centre becomes hollow and in country areas the smaller trunks were sometimes used as simple water pipes.
As I was outside looking at the trees I heard the cuckoo - once so common but now quite rare. My mother always quoted the rhyme,
'The cuckoo comes in April and sings its song in May.
In the middle of June it changes its tune and in July it flies away'.
This is a very old rhyme but possibly less popular today as fewer people hear this evocative sound and thus have no opportunity to quote the verse.
In the meantime I am working on making DVDs of some of my old photographs so that even those without computers can look at old pictures of Goole, Howden and the surrounding areas. They will be for sale at £5 each, initially at the family history day at the Goole Waterways museum on Sunday [13th May].
Thursday, 29 March 2012
George Tutill, flag maker
It has been a few days since I wrote anything here on my blog. Blame the lovely weather as I have been out in the garden tidying up and cleaning out my pond.
Maybe three years ago we saw some bulrush roots [variously bullrush or reed mace] which had been cleaned out from a local dyke. Thinking a few bulrushes would look nice in our pond we planted them. At first nothing happened but last year they grew and produced magnificent 6 foot spikes - although not where we had put them. The rhizomes had obviously floated across the pond and rooted near the outlet from the drain from the house roof.
This year small green shoots are coming up everywhere and I have been digging them out whilst standing in the water. Molly, the Labrador puppy thinks this is great and runs around playing with the snake-like roots. At least though we do have water in the pond unlike many areas. I hope we get some frogspawn.
The local history class which I teach in Howden on Monday afternoons has now 'broken up' for summer. We shall resume in September and would welcome new members. We spent a recent Monday afternoon in the church where Rev Little kindly gave of his time and knowledge to point out some of the interesting features of the building. He drew our attention in particular to the lovely west windows by the Brussels glass artist J B Capronnier.
Afterwards I went home and researched a little more about them. Two, including the magnificent centre window were in memory of the Scholfield family of Sandhall.
But the third window, I found, was erected in memory of George Tutill, a native of Howden who died in 1887 in Acton. Who was this man who could afford such a magnificent window?
But the third window, I found, was erected in memory of George Tutill, a native of Howden who died in 1887 in Acton. Who was this man who could afford such a magnificent window?
Further research led me to George Tutill, flag makers who are still very much in business and gearing up to a very busy time for the Queen's jubilee. And yes - it was the same man who founded his business in 1837. He has an entry in the Dictionary of National Biography and although he left Howden as a boy he was buried in 1887 in the churchyard here.
He made magnificent silk trade union and friendly society banners in the nineteenth century and was himself prominent in the Foresters. I shall look at the window with even more interest in future.
Sunday, 4 March 2012
Goole hobbies exhibition
Yesterday I had a stall at the Goole hobbies exhibition. It was very busy and I met lots of people interested in local history. I had a screen linked to my laptop and had different folders of pictures on display. By far the most popular were those showing ships, docks and railways. Several of those watching scenes of launches of Goole ships had worked on building them and were able to add information. Many remembered the launch of the Arctic Freebooter, a stern trawler, in 1965. Apparently there was a problem and she listed badly after entering the water.
I was kept very busy answering queries as varied as how large was the Goole registration district, did I have any old photos of Adlingfleet [only of the church] and when was the present Howden market cross erected [1909].
Today I have been sending off digital images of old photos which people ordered yesterday.
I did however make time to take Molly for a walk although we seem to have returned to winter weather and there were white flakes in the rain. The field near where we walk has recently been ploughed and she finds it puzzling to have to slither up and down the furrows whereas before she could run freely.
We have had a pair of Mallards on the pond and the new brown hens are beginning to lay. My rose hedge is beginning to grow and the daffodils are flowering amidst the snowdrops. I know it is only the beginning of March but I am keen to begin gardening.
I was kept very busy answering queries as varied as how large was the Goole registration district, did I have any old photos of Adlingfleet [only of the church] and when was the present Howden market cross erected [1909].
Today I have been sending off digital images of old photos which people ordered yesterday.
I did however make time to take Molly for a walk although we seem to have returned to winter weather and there were white flakes in the rain. The field near where we walk has recently been ploughed and she finds it puzzling to have to slither up and down the furrows whereas before she could run freely.
We have had a pair of Mallards on the pond and the new brown hens are beginning to lay. My rose hedge is beginning to grow and the daffodils are flowering amidst the snowdrops. I know it is only the beginning of March but I am keen to begin gardening.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
East Yorkshire landscape
We are in the news at the moment with features on BBC Countryfile and the opening of David Hockney's new exhibition at the Royal Academy based on the East Yorkshire landscape.
East Yorkshire is described as an undiscovered but beautiful area - those of us who live here already knew that. Much of the coverage too is of the Yorkshire Wolds and not of our flatter and more arable landscape.
Where we live we are dominated by watercourses, much like some areas of Holland. There is the fast-flowing Ouse, the Derwent, the Aire and the Don (although the Don is the Dutch River as it flows through Goole). Also vital is the smaller River Foulness, known locally as the 'Foonah', as well as countless large drains, with their massive clough doors which stop the water running back in at high tide.
The land is rich and fertile and there are some lovely local walks. I walk Molly every morning not far from home. This morning it was both sunny and frosty and a pleasure to watch a big hare running across the frosty field.
The following pictures were taken two days ago and this morning.
East Yorkshire is described as an undiscovered but beautiful area - those of us who live here already knew that. Much of the coverage too is of the Yorkshire Wolds and not of our flatter and more arable landscape.
Where we live we are dominated by watercourses, much like some areas of Holland. There is the fast-flowing Ouse, the Derwent, the Aire and the Don (although the Don is the Dutch River as it flows through Goole). Also vital is the smaller River Foulness, known locally as the 'Foonah', as well as countless large drains, with their massive clough doors which stop the water running back in at high tide.
The land is rich and fertile and there are some lovely local walks. I walk Molly every morning not far from home. This morning it was both sunny and frosty and a pleasure to watch a big hare running across the frosty field.
The following pictures were taken two days ago and this morning.
Saturday, 31 December 2011
New Year's Eve 2011
It is the end of another year and as far as the weather is concerned the contrast with last year could not be greater. It is very mild and I noticed that a lone geranium which I had not lifted in still looks quite healthy.
Molly is peacefully asleep in her bed, having consumed breakfast and also a small shrew-like creature which the cat had left outside the back door. Daffodils are well up and it is tempting to go outside and do some gardening. My three chickens are enjoying pecking for grubs. I am hoping to get some more soon to replace those lost to the fox.
My local history classes resume the week beginning 9th January in Howden, Eastrington and Goole. It will be nice to see everyone again and perhaps welcome new students.
I have enjoyed researching some interesting families this year. It is always rewarding to find that missing link for someone or to trace changing fortunes of a family through the generations.
Many of those for whom I have carried out research have become friends via the medium of email and it is particularly interesting to find out about the lives of those who left the local area and became pioneer settlers in USA, Canada and Australia.
I also have enjoyed finding old pictures for those who are searching for a photo of their ancestor or where they lived. It is frustrating that many of our forebears did not write on the back of their old family photos - but do we?
I have a large collection of football team pictures from Goole from the 1890s-1920s and these are wonderful as they are mainly all named. If only school pictures had been named too.
Molly is peacefully asleep in her bed, having consumed breakfast and also a small shrew-like creature which the cat had left outside the back door. Daffodils are well up and it is tempting to go outside and do some gardening. My three chickens are enjoying pecking for grubs. I am hoping to get some more soon to replace those lost to the fox.
My local history classes resume the week beginning 9th January in Howden, Eastrington and Goole. It will be nice to see everyone again and perhaps welcome new students.
I have enjoyed researching some interesting families this year. It is always rewarding to find that missing link for someone or to trace changing fortunes of a family through the generations.
Many of those for whom I have carried out research have become friends via the medium of email and it is particularly interesting to find out about the lives of those who left the local area and became pioneer settlers in USA, Canada and Australia.
I also have enjoyed finding old pictures for those who are searching for a photo of their ancestor or where they lived. It is frustrating that many of our forebears did not write on the back of their old family photos - but do we?
I have a large collection of football team pictures from Goole from the 1890s-1920s and these are wonderful as they are mainly all named. If only school pictures had been named too.
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Christmas Eve
Today is Christmas Eve, grey, cold and damp but nothing like the Arctic conditions of last year. We have now passed the shortest day (21st December) and when my mother and I used to write Country Notes in the Goole Times we always took pleasure in explaining that from now on the days are 'a cockstride' lighter.
East Yorkshire dialect has many of its roots in country lore and in the language of our Norse ancestors. Words such as 'bairn' (a child) and flitting (moving house) would easily be recognisable to them.
I enjoy listening to such dialect speakers and probably use dialect words myself without knowing. I do remember a visitor asking if a cable was 'wick' and being puzzled until I realised he meant 'was it live?' in the sense that a dog could be 'wick with fleas'!
We are feeding the birds with fat balls, beloved of blue tits and with kitchen scraps. But now we have Molly there is little left. Yesterday she enjoyed much of the rind of a butternut squash.
Tomorrow we shall be going to church at Laxton in the morning - my daughter plays the organ for the service - and then to family for Christmas dinner. I hope all blog readers enjoy their Christmas.
East Yorkshire dialect has many of its roots in country lore and in the language of our Norse ancestors. Words such as 'bairn' (a child) and flitting (moving house) would easily be recognisable to them.
I enjoy listening to such dialect speakers and probably use dialect words myself without knowing. I do remember a visitor asking if a cable was 'wick' and being puzzled until I realised he meant 'was it live?' in the sense that a dog could be 'wick with fleas'!
We are feeding the birds with fat balls, beloved of blue tits and with kitchen scraps. But now we have Molly there is little left. Yesterday she enjoyed much of the rind of a butternut squash.
Tomorrow we shall be going to church at Laxton in the morning - my daughter plays the organ for the service - and then to family for Christmas dinner. I hope all blog readers enjoy their Christmas.
Monday, 31 October 2011
Hallowe'en notes
I am writing this entry on Hallowe'en although where I live we do not have trick or treaters as it is quite remote. When I was a child we did not celebrate Hallowe'en at all. The big night was Bonfire Night but the night before was Mischief Night when children did just that. They swapped people's gates round and rang doorbells. Nothing too serious and most people took it in good part as they had done the same in their childhood.
I was very upset on Saturday morning when I went to feed my pair of little bantams and found that the fox had torn his way in through the wooden back of their ark and they were gone, leaving just a few feathers. I had had them about three years and had thought they were safe as they were in an enclosed pen and wooden hut.
I have been working on my website and have added a page about my new book, Goole, a Pictorial History Vol. 4.
I have also added some new pictures onto my old photo pages.
Molly is still growing and learning! She comes back most of the time when I whistle but is sometimes distracted by all the lovely smells. Also she does not seem to have grasped the idea that the clocks have gone back an hour. No lie in on Sunday for me.
I was very upset on Saturday morning when I went to feed my pair of little bantams and found that the fox had torn his way in through the wooden back of their ark and they were gone, leaving just a few feathers. I had had them about three years and had thought they were safe as they were in an enclosed pen and wooden hut.
I have been working on my website and have added a page about my new book, Goole, a Pictorial History Vol. 4.
I have also added some new pictures onto my old photo pages.
Molly is still growing and learning! She comes back most of the time when I whistle but is sometimes distracted by all the lovely smells. Also she does not seem to have grasped the idea that the clocks have gone back an hour. No lie in on Sunday for me.
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Eastrington church
Now back from holiday and the temptation of the Hay on Wye bookshops I have plenty to do. The garden is becoming overgrown with all the rain although not as much fell here as at Goole where there was severe flooding.
We are eating green beans and courgettes at every meal and the poor damson tree has been pulled down by the weight of fruit. Unfortunately the damsons are not really ready and so I am leaving the tree alone and then will prune it after picking the crop.
I am busy now writing my fourth book on the Pictorial History of Goole and hope to have it ready by autumn - lots of work to do but it is very interesting to write.
The exhibition at the Beverley Treasure House by the Victoria County History will feature three boards of my old photographs about Howden, Eastrington and Newport. It opens on 17th September, the same day as the local history book fair. I am having a stand there so will be able to sneak along and listen to comments on the exhibition!!
I am looking forward to the afternoon of Wednesday 31st August when I am giving a talk to a group made up of the Howden U3A and my WEA students at Eastrington church. This is my 'home' church where my family have worshipped since at least 1680 so I always enjoy sharing it with others.
We are eating green beans and courgettes at every meal and the poor damson tree has been pulled down by the weight of fruit. Unfortunately the damsons are not really ready and so I am leaving the tree alone and then will prune it after picking the crop.
I am busy now writing my fourth book on the Pictorial History of Goole and hope to have it ready by autumn - lots of work to do but it is very interesting to write.
The exhibition at the Beverley Treasure House by the Victoria County History will feature three boards of my old photographs about Howden, Eastrington and Newport. It opens on 17th September, the same day as the local history book fair. I am having a stand there so will be able to sneak along and listen to comments on the exhibition!!
I am looking forward to the afternoon of Wednesday 31st August when I am giving a talk to a group made up of the Howden U3A and my WEA students at Eastrington church. This is my 'home' church where my family have worshipped since at least 1680 so I always enjoy sharing it with others.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
From my garden
This weekend has been very hot and sticky and then last night the weather broke with the crashing and banging of a thunderstorm during the night. It always seems more impressive and a little more frightening when it is dark.
We have been picking raspberries and blackcurrants, I freeze them on baking trays and then transfer them into plastic containers. I think the rasps are my favourite although we enjoyed a blackcurrant crumble for tea.
Norman the cockerel now has a small harem of two hens and seems to be strutting more happily round the garden with them. In fact he found some low-hanging rasps and was quite reluctant to be parted from them.
The nearby grass land has all been cut and put into large green bags - just beating the rain. I thought it was silage but have been informed it is more probably haylage. I am not sure I know the difference.
It is however a far cry from when we had ponies as a child and my father cut grass on the roadside verge with an Allen scythe. We raked it and turned it by hand and then pitch forked it into hay cocks. It was very scratchy and itchy to deal with but I can still remember the lovely smell.
We have been picking raspberries and blackcurrants, I freeze them on baking trays and then transfer them into plastic containers. I think the rasps are my favourite although we enjoyed a blackcurrant crumble for tea.
Norman the cockerel now has a small harem of two hens and seems to be strutting more happily round the garden with them. In fact he found some low-hanging rasps and was quite reluctant to be parted from them.
The nearby grass land has all been cut and put into large green bags - just beating the rain. I thought it was silage but have been informed it is more probably haylage. I am not sure I know the difference.
It is however a far cry from when we had ponies as a child and my father cut grass on the roadside verge with an Allen scythe. We raked it and turned it by hand and then pitch forked it into hay cocks. It was very scratchy and itchy to deal with but I can still remember the lovely smell.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
From my garden
I have been cutting the grass today but although we had quite a lot of rain on Sunday afternoon it is still very dry and the grasscutter stirred up clouds of dust. I am writing this after 9pm and it is still light enough to watch a thrush tugging a worm out of the lawn.
I have been looking at the fruit trees and think we may well have a good apple crop. The Laxton Superb tree which has sometimes been barren has plenty of fruit - it is a lovely crisp eating apple. The pears and damsons look good too but the Victoria plum has lost many of its leaves and is not happy. It used to be a reliable heavy cropper but has recently died back.
But my greatest surprise is the peach tree. It is quite young - maybe 6 or 7 years old - and for the last couple of years has suffered from peach leaf curl - I think that's what it's called. This year the same thing happened but now it seems to have grown through it and looks quite healthy. And best of all it has a crop of peaches. I hope they will grow big enough to be edible!
The fig tree continues to produce a few more leaves but is still looking bare, as is part of the privet hedge. We are eating our radishes and have eaten some of the pak choi. It is a new crop for me but has a good flavour and seems to grow well in these dry conditions.
Two nights ago my daughter saw a barn owl, gliding like a ghost along the road outside the house. I had heard that barn owls had suffered heavy losses in the bad winter so it was good to know they are still around here.
And finally a few words about Norman. He is still a lonely bird, unable to keep his wives with him and spending the afternoons wandering about on his own. I have taken to feeding him bits of bread near the house - probably a mistake but I feel sorry for him.
I have been looking at the fruit trees and think we may well have a good apple crop. The Laxton Superb tree which has sometimes been barren has plenty of fruit - it is a lovely crisp eating apple. The pears and damsons look good too but the Victoria plum has lost many of its leaves and is not happy. It used to be a reliable heavy cropper but has recently died back.
But my greatest surprise is the peach tree. It is quite young - maybe 6 or 7 years old - and for the last couple of years has suffered from peach leaf curl - I think that's what it's called. This year the same thing happened but now it seems to have grown through it and looks quite healthy. And best of all it has a crop of peaches. I hope they will grow big enough to be edible!
The fig tree continues to produce a few more leaves but is still looking bare, as is part of the privet hedge. We are eating our radishes and have eaten some of the pak choi. It is a new crop for me but has a good flavour and seems to grow well in these dry conditions.
Two nights ago my daughter saw a barn owl, gliding like a ghost along the road outside the house. I had heard that barn owls had suffered heavy losses in the bad winter so it was good to know they are still around here.
And finally a few words about Norman. He is still a lonely bird, unable to keep his wives with him and spending the afternoons wandering about on his own. I have taken to feeding him bits of bread near the house - probably a mistake but I feel sorry for him.
Norman the cockerel
Sunday, 5 June 2011
From my garden
I have spent the day outside having a bonfire of small branches and twigs which were cut down a few weeks ago. They had become overgrown with grass and nettles and meant I could not get my very old grass cutter round the woodland part of the garden.
Norman the cockerel has settled in well but spends a lot of time on his own. His hens rush off to next door's cockerel as soon as I let them out and Norman walks round disconsolately wondering where they are. He has, however, a very powerful voice and the two birds spend a lot of time crowing at each other.
I wish it would rain properly. The vegetable plot is very dry and the potatoes are beginning to droop. I heard on the radio that the pea crop will be bad this year and we can expect to pay more for our frozen peas in the future.
I went to a talk last week given by the warden at Blacktoft Sands RSPB bird reserve. It was amazing just how many different varieties both nest and visit there. I hope to visit soon but in the meantime I will try to identify the birds I see here daily. I am not very good but can recognise the crows who hover about and who stole three eggs I left out one day.
Norman the cockerel has settled in well but spends a lot of time on his own. His hens rush off to next door's cockerel as soon as I let them out and Norman walks round disconsolately wondering where they are. He has, however, a very powerful voice and the two birds spend a lot of time crowing at each other.
I wish it would rain properly. The vegetable plot is very dry and the potatoes are beginning to droop. I heard on the radio that the pea crop will be bad this year and we can expect to pay more for our frozen peas in the future.
I went to a talk last week given by the warden at Blacktoft Sands RSPB bird reserve. It was amazing just how many different varieties both nest and visit there. I hope to visit soon but in the meantime I will try to identify the birds I see here daily. I am not very good but can recognise the crows who hover about and who stole three eggs I left out one day.
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Norman the cockerel
Today we were given a new cockerel to keep our four hens in order. Norman is very large with impressive spurs and is mostly Cuckoo Maran so is a speckled grey. He is fastened into the pen at the moment getting to know his new wives but will soon be strutting his stuff around the garden.
At last the fig tree is showing signs of life with just an odd leaf appearing on the top branches. There will be no figs this year but at least the tree may survive.
I have been watching the house martins swooping around the yard catching insects. Most years we have swallows too but I have only seen the odd one so far. And, as they say, one swallow does not make a summer!
Tomorrow it is forecast to rain. It will not make for a good Bank Holiday but local farmers - and gardeners - need the ground to get a good soaking as it has been incredibly dry here for the last month.
At last the fig tree is showing signs of life with just an odd leaf appearing on the top branches. There will be no figs this year but at least the tree may survive.
I have been watching the house martins swooping around the yard catching insects. Most years we have swallows too but I have only seen the odd one so far. And, as they say, one swallow does not make a summer!
Tomorrow it is forecast to rain. It will not make for a good Bank Holiday but local farmers - and gardeners - need the ground to get a good soaking as it has been incredibly dry here for the last month.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Family history day at Goole
I had a long day at the Waterways Museum yesterday at the family history event. I took copies of my local history books to sell (history of Eastrington, history of Gilberdyke and histories of Goole) as well as prints of many of my old photographs. I also had a display on screen of many of the local pictures.
The museum is down Dutch Riverside and not everyone knows it's there but it is well worth a visit. There is a small cafe and you can go on boat rides around the docks.
Unfortunately not too may people found the museum yesterday and although those of us manning the stalls, most of whom are all friends, had time for a chat, we did not see many new faces. I was able to help some visitors who wanted advice on how to trace their family tree but it was much quieter than last year.
This morning I had hoped to do some gardening but it is very windy and cool. I was pleased however to hear a cuckoo in the tall trees at the back of the garden. I do not think I heard one as close last year.
The museum is down Dutch Riverside and not everyone knows it's there but it is well worth a visit. There is a small cafe and you can go on boat rides around the docks.
Unfortunately not too may people found the museum yesterday and although those of us manning the stalls, most of whom are all friends, had time for a chat, we did not see many new faces. I was able to help some visitors who wanted advice on how to trace their family tree but it was much quieter than last year.
This morning I had hoped to do some gardening but it is very windy and cool. I was pleased however to hear a cuckoo in the tall trees at the back of the garden. I do not think I heard one as close last year.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
From my garden
I am lucky to have a large garden with several mature trees and a pond. At present the pond is quite empty as it takes the roof water from the house and the recent lack of rain means the level is very low. However I was pleased to see some tadpoles the other day and the yellow flag is just coming into flower.
The old country saying about the oak and the ash came to mind today as my oak trees have been out for several weeks whereas my very tall ash is only just beginning to green up. According to the rhyme, oak before ash means we shall have a splash whereas ash before oak means we shall have a soak. So a dry summer seems on the cards.
I have been watching my fig tree with some trepidation. It is at least 30 years old and planted against a south facing wall. We have had some good crops of figs in the past but so far it has no leaves. There is a leafy sucker near the roots and a few green knobbly bits on the main trunk so I am hoping it will eventually be alright. The severe winter killed my long-established bay tree - I can only hope the fig will recover.
The old country saying about the oak and the ash came to mind today as my oak trees have been out for several weeks whereas my very tall ash is only just beginning to green up. According to the rhyme, oak before ash means we shall have a splash whereas ash before oak means we shall have a soak. So a dry summer seems on the cards.
I have been watching my fig tree with some trepidation. It is at least 30 years old and planted against a south facing wall. We have had some good crops of figs in the past but so far it has no leaves. There is a leafy sucker near the roots and a few green knobbly bits on the main trunk so I am hoping it will eventually be alright. The severe winter killed my long-established bay tree - I can only hope the fig will recover.
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