Month: August 2017 (page 1 of 3)

August 25 The journey back to Santa Cruz

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Breakfast at Manchester airport

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Free food if you play the piano at the airport

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Back in Santa Cruz

August 24

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Should I?

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I did!

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My new apartment

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My only piece of furniture (and that was on loan from the estate agent!)

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The building was once the home of a sewing manufacturing family. The two lower floors were the family’s dwelling and the top floor (of which my place is part) was the sewing machine room. The machines were powered by belts on wheels that are now part of my kitchen ceiling. AND the whole building was built by the Wrigley family in  1863 – my ancestors!

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A little bit of myself in my new place. The heather came from the hike on Haworth moor  to celebrate Emily Bronte’s 100th birthday

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Hebden Bridge!

August 23. Tripping around Pendle

A day out with David and Ann (from Lily Hall). I’d no idea where we were going, just somewhere out towards Clitheroe. As we set off from Hebden Bridge we realised that Ann knew the former tenant of my new flat – and had visited him there!

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The lovely village of Downham. The village of Downham in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty lies at the foot of Pendle Hill, close to the thriving market town of Clitheroe. It is often hailed as the most beautiful village in Lancashire, with unrivalled views unspoilt by overhead wires, satellite dishes, roadside signage and TV aerials.
The Assheton family is responsible for the village and surrounding well-managed estate. The manor has been in the family’s ownership since 1558 and has passed through a direct male line of the Asshetons since 1680.

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Lovely lunch at the gastro pub The Assheton Arms with Pendle Hill as the backdrop. It was raining when we set off but we had a nice sunny day on the moors. 

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Ann, doggie Lily (named after her home) and Pendle Hill

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Downham village centre

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I think someone else would have liked a 99

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Sawley Abbey. The remains of a Cistercian abbey founded in 1148, set against a backdrop of dramatic hills.

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We stopped in to look at The Coach and Horses in Bolton-by-Bowland which has just had a complete makeover

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Slaidburn Youth Hostel, the first youth hostel I ever stayed in with my mum. It seemed an amazing coincidence that we’d come to this place by chance. I think my mom knows about my big move 🙂  I was about 14. when I came here for the first time. I tried the door but it was locked. However, a few minutes later on the dot of 5 o’clock the door opened and the warden showed me around. 

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August 21st & 22nd

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New colour for a new continent!

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Heptonstall with Judith

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!

August 20th

The first day that I only took one photo

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Nicola make dinner for me – yummy – chicken, stuffing, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pud, cauliflower cheese, gravy – and strawberries and cream for dessert. 

August 20th

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Furniture shopping British style. Eating breakfast on the front seat of a double decker passing through a rainy Mytholmroyd

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Two storeys of this mill are stacked with used furniture

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The stairwell. It reminded me of going to Black Dyke Mill . . . 

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. . . or Saltaire

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More festivities at The Piece Hall

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Crazy hair concoctions

August 19 Saxophone massive at the Piece hall, Halifax

After years of being closed for renovation the 1779 Piece Hall officially reopened on August 1st. There’s a month long celebration – and this was the 100 strong saxophone band at dusk.

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It was raining!

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It was great to be able to get amongst the performers as they played.

Ted Hughes’s birthday dinner

Vintage shopping!

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Getting ready for dinner in honor of Ted Hughes (former poet laureate)

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25 people for dinner in the upstairs room at Stubbings Wharf. 

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Guest speaker was Tony Buzan,(who developed mind mapping), long-time friend of Ted Hughes  . . . and 

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Tony Buzan on the right

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 . .  .Lorraine Gill, Australian artist extraordinaire  and former friend of Ted Hughes. I’m sitting next to Julia, ice skater and a former professor of English Literature at Bradford University.

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Lorraine and I talked about her upbringing just outside Alice Springs in the Australian Outback and her trips to Uluru (Ayres Rock) with Aborigine guides. I think my composition entitled ‘Uluru’ from my ‘Outback’ collection would go well with her paintings. 

The Wednesday hike: 9 1/2 miles

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This place is for auction – above Stainland-Holywell Green

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Stainland

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Barkisland is Rolls Royce country

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So much Heather  – high above Sowerby Bridge

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Looking down on Sowerby Bridge – Christ church is there

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Pretty flower display in traveling trunks at Sowerby Bridge station where Branwell Bronte worked

Lumbutts and Tod

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Very clever. Get it?

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The Old Coop building has been turned into a very nice cafe. I’ve never noticed it before. 

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A delicious sampler of three Mediterranean salads and hummus

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Then off to find the resting place of ‘Mister Wrigley.’ He was the brother of James Wrigley of Lily Hall, and therefore is my 4th great uncle. 

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He is buried at this remote church in the tiny hamlet of Lumbutts which is  just below Stoodley Pike. This was brand new territory for me, though I remember my mum talking about Mankinholes Youth Hostel which is about two miles away and I passed it on the bus. 

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It took me a while to find Abraham’s grave. he’s buried with his 17 year old daughter Mary Mally Wrigley.

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Stoodley Pike from the cemetery

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The imposing tower of Lumbutts Mill once contained three waterwheels, stacked up vertically. 

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