A Visit to Beningbrough Hall

Dot and I had decided yesterday, that if the weather was OK today we would have one of our ""Days Out"

When it actually comes to deciding where we will go it is often a case of set off and follow our noses, but this time we had a destination in mind. Dot has a friend, Jane, who lives in London, and who has always been telling us to visit Beningbrough Hall, as she often visits it when she is in these parts. So that is where we went.

If you don't know where Beningbrough Hall is situated, it is about 6 miles north west of York, quite near the River Ouse. We decided that we would take a scenic route, so went via Knaresborough, then took the A59 to Green Hammerton, where we turned left and headed for all those pretty little village which seem to have the name "On Ouse" appended to them, but before we got to these villages we had to cross the River Ure, and in this area the only way is via an ancient toll bridge at Aldvark - costing the princely sum of 40p!

We stopped off near the airfield at Linton on Ouse and admired the fields with rolled bales of hay. We also saw a parade of planes and helicopters taking off, as we were parked literally about 50 feet from the end of the runway.

 Looking towards the village of Linton on Ouse

 Looking in the opposite direction to the previous photo

 Spot the two planes (centre by the cloud)

A helicopter just taking off

Ruby had a lovely walk along the grass verges and enjoyed sniffing all the country smells!

About two miles further on, just after passing through the village of Newton on Ouse we arrived at the entrance to Beningbrough Hall.

The Main Front of Beningbrough Hall

There was a superb cafe situated next to the entrance to the gardens, and we had a late dinner here.

This rather magnificent teapot greeted you at the entrance to the cafe area!

Dot, about to enter out country mansion!

The Garden at Beningbrough Hall is a peaceful and relaxing place, with some wonderful displays of flowers, fruits and vegetables. The fruits and vegetables are used in the preparation of the food in the cafe.

and the good news is, if you are a National Trust member, entrance to the hall and grounds costs you absolutely nothing!

The film Vera Drake

I was up at Skipton yesterday, doing my stint at TIC. We moved into the town hall about a couple of months ago. Each Wednesday as I walk through the town hall to the TIC office I pass through a flea market, where there are books, cards, jewellery, paintings cd's, dvd's and a host of goodies on sale.

So far I have resisted the urge to purchase anything, but yesterday my eyes caught sight of the dvd "Vera Drake", which was a film made in 2004, directed by Mike Leigh, who began his working career as a theatre director and moved between that and producing kitchen sink dramas for BBC TV.

Mike Leigh was responsible for helping to create many British stars through the films he directed, which they were in -  Liz Smith in Hard Labour, Alison Steadman in Abigail's Party, Brenda Blethyn in Grown-Ups, Antony Sher in Goose-Pimples, Gary Oldman and Tim Roth in Meantime, Jane Horrocks in Life is Sweet, David Thewlis in Naked –  Sheila Kelley, Paul Jesson, Phil Daniels, Lindsay Duncan, Lesley Sharp, Kathy Burke, Stephen Rea, Eric Richard, and Julie Walters to mention but a few!

I had decided in 2004 that I would get hold of a copy of Vera Drake, but was not prepared to pay full price for it, so I waited until I saw it at a reduced rate!

 

Vera Drake is a selfless woman who is completely devoted to, and loved by, her working class family. She spends her days doting on them and caring for her sick neighbour and elderly mother. However, she also secretly visits women and helps them induce miscarriages for unwanted pregnancies [making no money for her services]. While the practice itself was illegal in 1950s England, Vera sees herself as simply helping women in need, and always does so with a smile and kind words of encouragement. When the authorities finally find her out, Vera's world and family life rapidly unravel.

A gritty film which pulls no punches, does not moralise or come down on one side or the other, but leaves the viewer to decide for him/herself on the rights or wrongs of her acts. It has a very authentic 1950's feel to it, and whilst I would not class it as "entertainment" I would most definately suggest you take a look at it. It gives plenty of food for thought!

Brent's Accident

It's been a fairly hectic week this last week. I have had funerals to play for last Monday and Thursday, and weddings to play for last Friday and Saturday, as well as a service at church on Sunday.

On Tuesday last Kevin finished off the decorating in the kitchen too.

However one of the most distressing things was that I got an e mail from a friend of my good lady asking if I knew anything about Brent. [Brent is the grandson of Dot's nursing friend from nursing training days, who is married and lives in the U.S.A.]

It seems that Pat, who contacted us, had heard that Brent had been involved in a serious accident, and this had come via e mail from her daughter who is out in Thailand! As I had not heard anything I didn't reply immediately - my e mail had been causing problems for a few days, then I had a phone call from Pat.

She didn't know any more, and had tried to contact both the parents and grandparents of Brent unsuccessfully. By now I suspect she was probably thinking the worst - that possibly they too had been hospitalised. I said I woud see what I could do to try and find out what had happenned, and let her know if I got any further information.

To cut a long story short, I tried tracing Brent's parents and Grandparents on both e mail and facebook, and also tried tracing any news via Brent's friends facebook pages too.

Via Brent's friends facebook pages I discovered that Brent had been involved in a serious Road Traffic Accident on Tuesday 9th August. This had happened the day that Brent's Mum and Sister and his grandparents were on their way to see his older brother Trevor at his passing out parade after basic training in North Carolina.

Brent's Mum set up a contact page direct from the hospital he is in and has given regular updates on his health.

 

Brent before his accident

He arrived at the hospital and was taken up to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, suffering from a broken leg (in three places - tibula, fibula, and femur), a toe that had almost been torn off, a broken right eye socket and cheekbone, and swelling on his brain. He also has scratches on his right cornea and a fractured nose. He was initially given medication to reduce the pressure on his brain, then had his leg operated on after which he was put on a ventilator to help his breathing.

Since Tuesday he has made remarkable progress. He is off the ventilator, his brain pressure is now down to within normal parameters, he has been allowed to slowly come out of the medically induced coma he was put into, has started to take "real food", and has been moved out of the Pediatric Intensive Care unit to the Pediatric Inpatient Unit.

He still has a long way to go, but he is most certainly heading in the right direction.

Please remember Brent and his family in your prayers.

Laura Wright CD "The Last Rose"

Over the past few weeks a CD by Laura Wright has been heavily featured on Classic Fm. It is a selection of traditional Folk Songs from around the British Isles. What caught my attention was one of the songs featured on the CD was "Down by the Salley Gardens" which the gentlemen of Eldwick & District Male Voice Choir perform. The arrangement we sing is by John Rutter. I also heard that he had done some new arrangements of some of the folk songs featured on this album.

As John Rutter is one of my favourite composers (& arrangers), Laura has an unspoilt crystal clear voice, and the selection of songs was superb, I decided to purchase the CD.  I had recently had an Amazon voucher given by the pupils at the school where I play the piano, which I used to go towards the purchase! 

Just in case you are not familiar with Laura Wright I have appended a short "biography" of her.


Laura Wright's story began in 2005 when she won BBC Radio 2's Chorister of the Year and found herself a member of classical girl group All Angels shortly after. She achieved great success with the vocal quartet; gaining Classical Brit Award nominations, record breaking sales, platinum status and performing in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and the London's O2. After three albums, Laura left the group in 2010 and has since been signed as a solo artist under Decca. Her debut album, The Last Rose, emphasises the fusion of classical and folk music. Vocally (and to put it simply) Laura has an incredible sound. Trained as a choirgirl, Laura is not operatic but is not restrained by the traditional choral inflexibility; her tone is appealing and pure, her interpretation expressive and she possesses a wide range which allows for diverse material.

Well worth a Read

I came across this on Facebook, written by an ex pupil:

Hello Rioters. Look at your friend, now back to me. Now at your friend, now back to me Sadly, he isn't me, but if he stopped using petrol bombs and started using the job centre he could potentially be me. Look down, back up. Where are we? You're at an interview with the man your friend could work for What's in your hand? Back at me. I have it. It's an application form to that job you need. Look again. The form is now money. Anything is possible when you get a job and stop looting.

Civil Unrest in Major Cities

I have followed with growing shock and horror the unfolding events in London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Salford and Manchester.

I cannot say that I have been surprised that this kind of civil unrest, violence, theft, robbery and out and out lawlessness has taken place. For far too long, as a society we have been far too laid back and not faced the reality of the situation which has been staring us in the face.

We hear talk about "our rights" from the younger generation, but have any of this generation been taught that with rights comes responsibility? Looking at the TV footage of the violence it seems that the vast majority of those involved are from children still of school age up to possibly 30 year olds.

We hear the civic leaders and the police pleading for parents to ask, and have knowledge of where their children/teenagers are. For far too long these self same parents have abdicated their responsibilities and not wanted to know what their offspring have been up to. or where they were. It has often been a case of "out of sight, out of mind."

We have seen the police hampered by the do gooders and civil rights brigade who have taken every opportunity to criticise the police when they have tried to establish law and order by forceful means. Is it any  wonder that faced with the present situation the police hold back, knowing that the ever watchful cameras will be recording their every move, and that at some later stage some smart ass lawyer will be defending a criminal thug, and taking the opportunity to prosecute the police for trying to do their job in extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances?

The presumption that these morons don't know right from wrong holds little water. If I went along and stole or vandalised some of their property they would very soon show that they knew right from wrong!

My grandfather had a saying, which still holds true today. It was "The Devil finds work for idle hands to do!"

I would suggest that many of those involved in the current unrest are enjoying the excitement of their actions. It is relieving the monotony of their lives.

I have listened to various "experts"  putting forward their theories as to why this is happening, but in the main they have been defending the unacceptable behaviour of these mindless thugs. Plenty of words such as alienated, underclass, underprivileged etc. have been bandied about, but I haven't heard too many comments about responsibility, compliance with law and order, etc. 

There have been calls to "bring in the army", but all that really needs to be done, is to give the police the opportunity and ability to enforce the law of the land by whatever lawful means they have, without the fear of the civil rights brigade trying to bring prosecutions at any and every possible opportunity. 

Questions That Haunt Me

Each month I receive an e zine (e mailed magazine) from Lindisfarne. An Australian regularly contributes to the magazine and has "funnies" included in it. [He got in trouble by one recipient of the magazine last month for contributing what one the recipients classed as "racist jokes" They were the usual Irish Jokes!] I offer you his latest contribution.......


QUESTIONS THAT HAUNT ME!





Can you cry under water?



How important does a person have to be before they are considered
assassinated instead of just murdered?



Why do you have to 'put your two cents in'... but it's only a 'penny for
your thoughts'? Where's that extra penny going?




Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried
in for eternity?




Why does a round pizza come in a square box?




What disease did cured ham actually have?




How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a
good idea to put wheels on luggage?


Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like
every two hours?




If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?




Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?




Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars
to look at things on the ground?




Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you
naked anyway...




Why is 'bra' singular and 'panties' plural?




Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible
crisp, which no decent human being would eat?




If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about
him?




If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables,
what is baby oil made from?




If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?




Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?




Why did you just try singing the two songs above?




Why, Why, Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the
batteries are getting dead?




Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is
not enough money?




Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but
check when you say the paint is wet?




Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?




Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?




Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a
revolver at him?




Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?




Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?




If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?




Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are
always white?




Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that
something new to eat will have materialized?




Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum
cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to
give the vacuum one more chance?




Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?




How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?




And my FAVOURITE.........




The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons is suffering
from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if
they're okay, then it's you!