Holiday week 2 ...

... was a bit unusual! We had planned a trip to The Yorkshire Sculpture Park but we were thwarted twice by the bus company who on Tuesday and Thursday  did not run the 10 03 or the 11 03 buses. The whole scenario was very strange as the driver drove into the bay to drop off the passengers on the Barnsley to Wakefield run (Wakefield is the terminus.) However did not pick up any Wakefield to Barnsley passengers but parked in the bus parking bay for half an hour, The buses at 10 35 11 35 do not go via YSP. I complained to the bus company but no reply. So I complained to Metro who oversee West Yorkshire Transport but they pass on complaint to.... the bus company. Oh well! So instead we found a local walk

On Wednesday we went to Malham. I had not been before.

We walked up the steps at the side to the limestone pavement at the top.

we sat and ate our lunch and looked at the wonderful view.

and  investigated the crevices

we then walked back down the steps which was much easy than the ascent.

Our final trip was to Manchester on Saturday.

 We had lunch at our favourite Chines restaurant. Watch the Manchester Pride Parade

We had coffee and cake at the Craft and Design centre and did a wee bit bit of shopping at Abakhan. I shall have to go back soon though as they were closing for four days for refurbishment and I am interested to see the new layout.

Holidays

This year we spent a lovely fews days in Gatehouse of Fleet.  On our first whole day we took our usual trip to the coast and the Cream o' Galloway.

The second day we took the bus to Castle Douglas and then walked the long way around to Threave Castle.

I did not fancy the ride in that little boat so we just looked from the "mainland". We walked along to the bird hide to hopefully see the Ospreys instead. There had been no sign of them all day but just as we were leaving a man said the male was sitting in a different tree. (Not the one with the nest.) We had a look through some powerful binoculars.

On our last whole day we walked to Loch Whinyeon.

Biddle thought he was at the top of the world.

Trying out the new camera

As the title suggests I have a new camera (well new to me) It's a Canon EOS 300D and it is all very grown up and came with other lenses! I shall  see how  we get on to gether over the next few weeks, months. I am not a quick learner so it might be a difficult process and I hate learning new things in case I fail! Oh well here are some first attempts.

 The Astilbe we bought last year is looking really well.

Pond life but froggie was hiding.

 Baby sprouts will be ready in a while.

If you look closely you will see that I did not take this photo. It is the first one we have of the whole plot in one picture.

A very happy birthday to Elizabeth Anne

who is on crutches at the moment due to an accident at school! Just one of many since 1977 when she made her appearance six weeks early!