Aga saga

At the end of the day this is what I was left with, two hotplates that can function independently, three ovens, the two right-hand ovens working together, with the lower one operating at a lower heat to the top and a separate oven on bottom left. I'm delighted with the result. My previous Aga electric conversion was either all on or off so this flexibility is wonderful.

The controls, in the top left section, are super easy to use - up - down - off. The green ights tell me when power is being used.

But I've got quite a lot to learn about the various temperatures. These were my first attempt at baking a few biscuits!

In the kitchen today.

Nothing is cooking in the kitchen but there is a whole lot of action! The Aga is being taken to bits and the gas elements removed prior to conversion to electric. There are a lot of solid parts to an Aga and at the moment they are strewn all over the kitchen!

We have been through this procedure before in our previous house and were thrilled with the result, so much more versatile than the other options of oil or solid fuel, both of which I have cooked on for many years of Aga usage.

Looking forward to the end result!

This and that

Inbetween a bit of weather we have been out and about. We popped down the road to wander round Westbourne's motor show. All very flashy, Himself took a shine to the Pontiac Silver Streak.

We have a friend who loves his Jaguars so I took a photo of this red number with it's pristine engine.

My taste runs more to the VW camper van, this one styled to within an inch of it's life!

In the afternoon we went to the Ancient Technology Centre to join in their apple day. The Boy had a busy time mashing apples, grinding corn - and a short session in the stocks!

There was lots to see and do, story telling, sword fights, helmets and heavy chain mail to try on. We had a lot of fun.

I was shocked to learn how many wild flowers have been lost during my lifetime. My own favourite, the harebell, must surely be on the endangered list as I hardly ever see it these days.

Summer (when was that!!) has gone and I'm looking ahead, with a good stack of wood in for winter and spring bulbs bought and ready for planting.

Like everywhere else, we have had a LOT of rain. Pine needles and oak leaves are blocking our drains and whenever the weather permits I'm out sweeping up leaves and general debris brought down by the wind and wet. The verandah roof was laden and we finally got round to buying a cleaning kit.

A dry day and we put it to work.

I'm pathetically grateful when the sun shines!

Hubberholme

After a visit to see my brother and sister-in-law, who live in Grassington, we took a short detour to visit the small village of Hubberholme. We had stayed in the pub there while on our honeymoon fifty-seven years ago. Himself had a quick look inside. 'Don't go in,'he said, 'it's really scruffy.' Our memories of the place are rose-tinted; chicken cooked in wine for supper and afterwards someone playing a Spanish guitar in the snug. Instead I crossed the bridge over the river and went to look around the church of St Michael and All Angels.

I was pleased to find my family name on one of the handsome old gravestones.

This church was a favourite of the author and playright J B Priestley. (The most recent TV presention of 'An Inspector Calls' is brilliant.)

Followers of 'All Creatures Great and Small may recognise the church interior because it was used for James Herriot's wedding scene, lit, as my own wedding was, only with candles. The new series starts on TV tomorrow night. (The exterior shots were filmed at St Oswald's in Arncliffe.)

The Dales were looking very beautiful as we drove home in the late afternoon sunshine.

Hawes

We took a trip out into the next dale to visit Hawes. The colour has gone from the heather now, but the moor still looked beauiful.

It had rained the previous night and the stream that runs through the town was putting on a good show.

Hawes is very much a tourist spot and we browsed the shops, (the traditional sweet shop!) and antiques.

Some very impressive-looking cars drove by and we spotted them later in the car park and went to have a look. The interiors described the owners' life style very well, beautiful woodwork, a drinks cabinet and generous cream leather seating!

We called in at the Wensleydale cheese factory , hoping for a tour round the creamery. We hadn't pre-planned our outing and the tour was fully booked. We went to the cheese sampling room instead (oh, yes!) but didn't buy from there. We went instead to Elijah's on the high street (cheaper there - I'm Yorkshire after all!) and came home with our selection. Wensleydale, Coverdale and a delicious wedge of Kit Calvert.

Yorkshire

I've been back 'home' for a couple of weeks, catching up with friends, seeing family, walking in the hill mist, walking in the sunshine, having a potter around old haunts. It has been wonderful. The first photo is of the view I get as we are about to enter the dale where my parents lived. We often stop the car here and take a look at the dale spread out before us and it always fills me with joy. We find the journey north very arduous now, we are getting slower and everyone else seems to be getting faster. We break the journey overnight with dear friends from our student days, it would not be possible otherwise.

Our place is small and basic but suits our needs well enough. The front is due south so that the sun pours in through the windows and in cold weather a log burner stove keeps us warm.

We went for supper with the friends who live in my parents' former home. It is always a joyful occasion, lots of laughter - and good food, as Lorraine's pies demonstrate! It is a continuation of the way my parents lived, with an open door, an easy coming and going of friends and a lot of laughter.