S.O.S

 SUNDAY - We set off for Mabletherpe on the Lincolnshire coast getting there took over two and a half hours through villages and towns we saw the sign posts for Sutton - On - Sea  or S.O.S only joking it was a great location  so we  decided to go there instead . The beach was huge as far as you could see  the tide was well out and it was reasonably quite we parked up in a near by car park no hassle and did a half hour walk on the beach dogs allowed it has to be on of the best beaches we have visited there was sand dunes and grass and beach huts which to be honest had seen better days but we enjoyed it .We bought fish and chips which where ok and reasonably priced we sat on one of the benches and then went for another walk on the beach promenade we didn't have much time we only stayed a few hours but we will go back at some future date .

2 BAYS ONE FOREST

 FRIDAY - Set out for Robin Hoods Bay on the East Coast went via Whitby got there just after 17.00 and got parked up .We walked down the lane towards the sea the tide was high it was still quite busy the cottages here are over looking the sea are small and pet friendly and out of season cheaper I think the Bay Hotel still gets fully booked even over the winter period it is very popular .

Leaving Robin Hoods Bay we headed for Runswick bay a twenty minute drive away passing through Sands End which I quite idilic we got parked up at Brunswick Bay and walked down to the beach it is very steep we walked throng the cottages and houses many with sea views one virtually on the edge of the sea .One issue with both these locations with the sea gulls who don't need an alarm clock they will be up before you and will let you know .

SATURDAY - After much debating where to go we have decided to go to Sherwood Forest the home to the legendary outlaw Robin Hood and his merry men or so legend says .The drive there was very nice we did the route avoiding motor ways where we could just sticking to the A-roads .We got to the car park and drove straight in we was suppose to pay on the gate it was £10 or you could pay by phone we didn't pay To be honest we did not know what to expect it was busy with screaming kids and loads of dogs we walked through part of the woods it was very boring we left after an hour glad I didn't pay the parking on the way back we went to Rufford through the ford think its the first time ever I have driven through a ford it was low about a foot of water we made it no problems .

NAME CHANGE

 Our Westiepoo was formerly called Hettie she is now had a name change and is now called Rosie her ears are starting to drop forwards I quite like them stood up she looks cute .Guess she will look cute with her ears forward she is just 100% cute .

WEDNESDAY - Went to see my son in York took him some food over he says he had nowhere to sleep yet when we got there he was with a friend and staying at his house so I have no idea what he is up to .Of course he tells us what we ant to hear Helen put him a ten pound top up on his phone so he can make phone calls I gave the his friend a £10 for some electric he is supposedly getting his own place I have no idea how I don't ask .

THURSDAY - Went over to my sisters house with the dogs she loves Rosie she has never had a dog of her own I know she wants one her Husband is at home all day I don't see the issue they have a massive garden live near a massive park and salty home with walks galore .

YSP SOS

 MONDAY - Decided to go to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park with the dogs as its only a few miles from where we live and it was over ten years ago since we went last had to book and pay online its free car park and tickets cost £6 per adult we got there just after three in the afternoon .Little did we know we only had an hour before the heavens opened and the rain came down .

Had a email from my son Guy I have no idea what he is doing I don't know if he is lying or telling the truth.

Over the last five seven years I have given to him thousands of pounds to help with food , pay his rent  get into work top up his phone even buy tobacco he has constantly been in and out of work he has took drugs gambled and drunk his pay check I have even took him food when he has had none .People have done their best to help  him out and gone the extra yard all to no avail .He has let people down broken promises to them took money than broke all contacts his sister will have nothing to do with him all yet I get phone calls text messages and emails at all hours of the day asking for money .He asked me to ring him last night he said he had been attacked by four men I am guessing its people he owes money to .He said he needed up in hospital with concussion and needed twenty pound to get a taxi to a friends house six miles away , I refused I just cant believe what he says any more . He said he is on the streets sleeping rough I know he left the place he was working at where he had a static home to live in because I spoke to his former boss who he owes money for rent.My wage does not support me and him has harsh as it is I don't believe a word he says he tells people what they want to hear he makes promises to get what he wants then breaks them as soon as he gets what he wants your forgotten about until he wants something again .If you phone him and he doesn't want anything he will ignore your call sometimes for days .Until he needs help until he sends out an S.O.S your not on his radar .

CAVES AND A WITCH

 SUNDAY - Cooked a early Sunday roast dinner we had eaten for half past one .We had booked online to go to Knaresborough to visit Mother Shipton's cave it was £11 pound each we managed to get parked over the other side of the road .

The attraction was nothing like I remembered but it was years ago or even decades ago it was bound to have changed we had to walk through the woods to get there .It is mainly aimed at children but it was ok we enjoyed the walk with the dogs there where plenty of photo opportunities  along the way the weather was sunny without being red hot .

The dogs where well behaved they walk pretty good together the little one every so often will jump on Bailey our white westie of course  she just wants to play or she will attack his lead or harness .She also did the worlds smelliest poo good job we was in the woods .

Mother Shipton's cave legend says she was born in the cave during a thunder storm she also predicted certain events that came true later in the centuries , she died in 1561 aged 73  .

It seemed less dramatic now then seeing it all those years ago and the items hanging under the petrifying waterfall had been changed which seemed like a bit of a con but it was fine it was enjoyable whilst it lasted .After we had finished we went back to the car so the dogs could have water we always have their travel bowl and two litres of fresh water once they had there fill we went back to the rive rind and walked down the side of the rive bank some great houses on the way ,

Some of the boats are for hire so you can row up and down the river Nidd it was £8 for an adult I cant row have never learned I know others make it look easy I know its not so we didn't go on one of the boats .

On the way home we went via Wetherby to the get fish and chips from the Wetherby Whaler fish shop had a bit of a wait ate them in the car in the car park by the river was a great end to our day out .

COST OF LIVING

 Petrol at the moment is £163,9p which is the cheapest price near where I live it can vary up to 10p a litre dearer.Other essentials that have risen in price is coffee , tuna as nearly doubled depending on were you shop inflation is happening on a weekly if not a daily basis the divide between the rich and poor is widening and its scary times ahead I think this time next year the will be more homeless people more people going without food going without heating and day to day living will be a nightmare ,

The way it is going England will become a very dear place to live in and unless you are on a decent salary maintaining a healthy live style impossible .I am glad I was born when I was born I would not want to be born today with wars , viruses lack of water and destitution for many . You really have to live for today forget tomorrow surviving now is the immediate battle that needs to be fought and won. .

I feel lucky we have food a decent house in a very decent area near reservoirs and the country side of fields and farms .We eat every day and sleep in a proper bed we have food in the freezer and tins in the cupboards don't get me wrong we wouldn't survive more than couple of weeks if the money stopped coming in but we are a lot better off than some and for what we have is someone else's dream without a doubt we are blessed .

SATURDAY - Went to Asda bought two chickens one to freeze one to cook for Sunday dinner also bought a couple of pizzas I like the Chicago town stuffed crust ones , bought fries , coke large sausages x 2 packs one for freezing ,broccoli stems and fine green beans not forgetting the Yorkshire puddings and fresh mash  I also got a Union Jack large coffee cup save messing around .With a few other essentials thrown like surface cleaning  spray and fabric conditioner  for the washing machine the bill was just under  £53 with my blue light discount card every saving helps 

A WHOLE NINE DAYS

 TUESDAY - Went to the dentist had five x-rays done and two impressions completed of both top and lower teeth and gums .I was surprised none of the teeth that are loose didn't come out with the impassion mould when it had set and taken out but not one did .The conclusion I will have top and lower dentures I have a plate so wearing false teeth is not totally alien to me .The reason is jaw bone corrosion the bone around the teeth is not sufficient to hold them in place I have little or no choice at least with dentures as much as it pains me I will be able to smile on photos and not shy away .One good thing about the pandemic was wearing a face covering I beat a lot pf people with missing teeth also thought it was a god send .

Cut the lawn front and back before it rained looking like the heatwave is coming to an end I have the whole of next week off work not sun I have another two books to read Jeremy Clarkson " Diddly Squat" and The Long Long Afternoon by Inga Vesper .

THURSDAY - Two more shifts then I am off for nine days might go to a couple of market towns it ages since we have been to Knaresborough , Richmond pictured below or the Druids Temple but like always it will depend on the great British weather .

MORECAMBE

 FRIDAY  - Deciding where to go this weekend it has to be coastal think it will be Morecambe or Filey .The weather is red and is going to continue until next week.

We are going to have a hose pipe ban enforced on the 26th of August get caught breaking it it is £1000 fine .

SATURDAY - Filled the thermos flasks Helen made the egg mayo sandwiches filled a water bottle for the dogs and we headed off for Morecambe going through  the Lake District villages and towns .

We ate our sarnies and had drinks from our flasks coffee always tastes better from a flask specially on a beach .

HOT AND COLD

 MONDAY - Life is boring when you cant do what you want when you are stuck having to go to work when all you want to do is go off for the day to the coast , sea and beaches eat fish and chips and drink cappuccinos take phots and leave only foot and paw prints in the sand .

When your slave to a wage I always envy the artist of music or the writer of novels who want more cash write another book or release another album it must be easy . When your living pay day to pay day life is about managing bills and going without  .How I envy those who travel .

I know we have it better than  a lot of folks and I am grateful I know for what we have is someone else's dream for those living in high rise flats in city slums grey and dismal who rise above it keep sliming and happy survive on nothing but benefits well done you deserve credit you should write a book be a instant best seller .

Two weeks at work then I have a full nine days off hopefully the warm weather will still be here and we can go travelling find new beaches .

WEDNESDAY  - Midweek the weather is getting hotter and it is going toast through the weekend as of yet we don't have a hose pipe ban but it is looking likely .Washed the car for the second time its amazing how sand from the beaches we went to gets everywhere specially of the dogs paws .

I ordered two thermos flasks all steel to prevent any breakages does anyone buy yer traditional type anymore it is to keep any drinks we decide total with us be them hot or cold and  if you add ice to your   cold drinks it keeps them cold for 48 hours hot drinks for 24 hours or so it says on the label .We need to get a couple of decent sandwich boxes for sarnies and pasta dishes etc then all we need to get when we are out and about is chips from a chippy which all major towns and cities should have .

READING - "The Serial Killers Wife"  by Alice Hunter .

WATCHING - Films - "Prey" the latest Predator film and " Elvis " lates film offering of the late great Mr Presley.

LISTENING TO - Post Malone , Pet Shop Boys and Scouting for Girls 

THREE BEACHES ONE AFTERNOON .

 SUNDAY - We decided to go visit Saltburn on the east coast either of us had ever been there before so after checkin git out on You Tube we decided to have a ride over with the dogs .We finally got parked up on the top of the cliff opposite the trams that take holiday makers to and from the beach .We walked down its the first time the dogs have been on sand and near to the ocaen it was warm and sunny .Its been a while since we went to the beach smelling the salt air and hearing the waves roll in is highly relaxing we need to do more seaside visits the great Yorkshire coast line there is nothing more British .

We had all the steps to climb to get back to the cr we had an ice cream and gave the dogs a drink of water we decided to go over to Whitby about twenty miles away a visit to Whitby is always enjoyable .

We parked up at the Abbey car park and visited the courtyard and cemetery looking for the pirtate gravestone which has a skull and crossbones carved in to it we found it eventually wether tor not it is a pirates grave not sure but it doesn't mater why break the myth with .We had great view over looking  the harbour and piers  we didn't go down the 199 steps this time but instead drove down and I went to get us both fish and chips from a fish restaurant and take away we have not been to before it said award winning fish and chips they where good but not that good have had better .The sea gulls enjoyed them even with salt and vinegar on them a flock of seagulls soon emerged .

Leaving Whitby we drove a few further miles to Scarborough's North Bay it was nearly six in the evening we got parked up easily enough all the day trippers had left it was reasonably quite we walked down to the beach the dogs I think like the beach the little one Hettie was excited to be on the beach again .I glad we went back to Scarborough it holds lots of memories that I have going there with my Mum and Dad of course it has changed but I am lucky enough to be able to still remember it how it use to be and reading  Papillon sitting on the beach happy days .

So three separate coastal towns in one day we saw three different beaches on the one same coastline all in Yorkshire what a great place we live in . We drove to the South Bay past all the amusements harbour light house and big wheel hopefully it won't be too long before we are back . I can still taste the salt air and smell the fish and chips just writing about it .

CASTLE HOWARD REVISITED

 SATURDAY - Drove over to Harome would have called in to the 14th century Star Inn but it is under refurbishment due to a fire in November last year guessing the thatched roof didn't help matters .

From Harome we went to Castle Howard I watched Brideshead Revisited years ago it was filmed there .We had the dogs so we only walked the ground and gardens we saw the magnificent water fountain  of Atlas it was built in 1853 for George Howard seventh Earl of Carlisle and is grade one listed .

The walled gardens where amazing the statues and design features truly magnificent we never made it to the lake but we will go back next time with a picnic .

We drove over to Kirkbymoorside to the Lemon Tree for fish and chips which we ate in the car freshly cooked they scored 8 /10 the and cost £18 for two fish ,chips two bread cakes a curry sauce and a can of Coca Cola .

NOT ANYMORE

WEDNESDAY - Cooked my best Lasagne yet put two cheeses in between each layer and added extra herbs plus cheese on top for a change I did a jacket potatoe and bread cake garlic bread with cheese .

Have started listening to the podcast 6 degrees with Jamie Laing and Spencer Matthews its a great show to listen to its hilarious .

FRIDAY - Thank God its nearly the weekend looks like we are going over to Acaster Malbis so we can change the bedding also they have had a letter from the owner of the site they live in a static home regarding weeds that they have growing in their back  garden they are mainly horses tails which not as bad as Japanese knotweed there a bastard  to get rid off not sure how effective weed killer will be a blow torch would be better but they have artificial lawn and these are all around the edge of the artificial grass and in some of the cracks of the pavements .

Helens been out three mornings the trot walking the puppy  it was a shorter walk this morning has she had work at eleven .

Walking back one of our neighbours had a Vw pop top camper van on his drive he showed us the inside it was love at first sight , one day or on another life maybe it will happen .would be ideal for the weekends .

bought a baby safety gate for the bottom of the stairs Hettie has no issues going up the stairs she can also transverse down as well , but not anymore .

FIRST WALK

TUESDAY - Downloaded "Blackwood" and "Sniper White Raven " both look great films in their own rights the Sniper one is subtitled .Not watched a decent movie film for ages .

WEDNESDAY - Hettie went for her first out door walk Bentley our cat followed us part of the way  Helen walked her and she was fine no issues she got under helens feet on the odd occasion but apart from that there was no issues I walked with Bailey he wa snot phased having a new walking buddy .Once we got home she had a drink played down and went to sleep .

HETTIE IS A LOVE

 TUESDAY - Washed the car for the first time and did the interior looks like a new car again until its back on the motorway .At least the price of petrol has dropped currently paying £1.65 a litre which was £1.99 a few weeks ago its amazing how we are brainwashed into thinking we are getting a bargain lets nt forget when covid was in full swing it wa sonly costing 99p a litre hoodwinked again .

The Puppy Hettie loves chasing the cats Bentley has been a real star not once has he retaliated against her obviously he can get out of her way pretty fast when he wants to no problem .We have ordered a baby gate for the bottom of the stairs she can transverse the stairs both up and down no issue on a night she sleeps in her crate at the side of Helen , Bailey our sweetie sleeps at her side in his bed they sleep all night as I come in at three in the morning from work have a shower before going to be dit does not bother her she carries on with her dreams , She has been out in the car over the weekend and Monday on issue she is well behaved she does have a mad hour a few times a day but it does tire her out .We have not had her a week yet she already seems a big part of our family tomorrow she can go outside for walks hopefully the rain we are currently having stops .

Helens mother had a fall whilst she was out shopping she broke her wrist and was heavily bruised this is not the first time she has lost her footing before it has always been at home this is the first time it has happened away from home.