Sunday July 7th 2019

C BBC

It's almost impossible to convey what an effect this series has had on me. Tonight was the final episode, episode 8. I knew it would gallop through the real Anne Lister story as I've read it. But that matters not one bit. Before May 19th 2019 I'd not heard of Anne Lister of Shibden Hall. I watched the first episode, more out of curiosity, rather than a longing to know more. By the end of that 58 minutes I was hooked into this world of 1830's minor landowner, scientist, industrialist, eccentric, passionate (and yes a lesbian) woman. The BBC series which ended tonight was absolutely outstanding. Suranne Jones had brought this woman to life, nearly 200 years after her untimely death. Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker, plays an absolute corker of a supporting role.

But that's not why I'm spellbound. Victorian Society locked women into a 'perfect role' for nearly a century. It was only with the Sufferage Movement and the roaring 1920's that started to break down these roles. Yet, as I've been reading, before Victoriana swept everything away, women (of a certain class in Georgian England) could be free. Yes they had restrictions, and Anne Lister dressed in black and striding about the place like a man was odd. But only odd to a small portion of society (sound familiar today?). She was bright, she was entertaining and she was also ruthless in preserving the traditions she held closely. She was at the very end, and the very beginning of a chapter of English history. She was a woman of her time. She played the game which had to be played. A game she won, otherwise we'd not be writing about her nearly 200 years after her death. I am absolutely fascinated by her, the real Anne Lister of Shibden Hall.

Saturday July 6th 2019

About three years ago, Julie and I visited Prince Charle's Highrove Garden in Gloucestershire. Buried deep in one area of this magnificent horticultural jewel, was a small walled garden filled with Salvia pratensis, or meadow clary. A shocking vivid sky blue. Since then, while it's not that unusual a plant, I've struggled to find one to buy. Until today. At Tyntesfield they have a good plant shop, and a vivid sky blue flower caught my eye. Oh yes, S pratensis in all its glory. Our garden may not be on the scale of Highgrove, but it brings joy to us both in little bundles like this. And of course the 20% volunteer discount helped!

Friday 5th July 2019

It's been a busy week and I'm working at Tyntesfield tomorrow. So after getting home, feet up, a refreshing drink and relax. What chubby little feet.

Thursday 4th July 2019

~ What a strange night ~

Last evening it being hot and sunny, we chatted of our promenading along Weston Super Mare's seafront tonight. To cool down. To have an ice cream. Maybe a nice cup of tea. The date was set, time, 7PM. We arrived at Weston to be greeted by a tsunami of motorbikes. No one told us (Or I'd not thought) there was a 'bikers' meeting on the seafront tonight. As far as the eye could see there were motor bicycles parked on the seafront. Thousands of them. We didn't stop. Not least as parking was neigh on impossible. So in an inspirational moment, and a 15 minute drive south we ended up as the quiet Red Cow in Brent Knoll.For nearly 4 years in the 1990's I lived over the hill in East Brent. The Red Cow was a local pub for me. It's hardly changed, actually it hasn't changed at all, only the prices. Nice to be back, and so peaceful to be having some food in the back garden serenaded by swallows and not tailpipes.

Wednesday July 3rd 2019

Are we surrounded by aliens? What is this I see before me? Relaxing in the sunshine, as I was, my eye was caught by this small advice card dangling from my mug. On the face of it a simple how-to squeeze out your tea bag. But is it that simple? Are we already being invaded and this is a plan of how the aliens will land in my tea cup - no one says these out of space beings are human size. Maybe they're already here? Lurking to catch me unawares. I'll have to keep an eye on this otherwise a restless night approaches, deep with worry!

Tuesday July 2nd 2019

By the power of social media, I now know my parents have a disabled parking bay. Not that they would have told me, but their lovely carer Kate keeps me abreast of the odd goings back home in the north east. Apparently it all happened like lightening. No sooner had the chap arrived and dad had moved his car, the deed was done and the Council operative was off. Honestly the things people do to stop their son visiting. I've no idea where I'll park now. 

Good job then I was off to a media press launch at Tyntesfield this evening. I'm appreciated there.

Monday July 1st 2019

Bailing hay in the evening sun, late evening sun to be precise, as it was close to 9pm. Not that remarkable an image normally (and shooting into the sun wasn't great) but I made the effort to capture what may be the last harvest off these fields. As the fields lie behind the house. This month the landowner has submitted for planning permission to build 75 homes on this and another field. These fields are not in the approved housing envelope for Weston super Mare, but they are on a plan of potential land for development created in 2014 (very quietly). Already before anything formal has arisen the neighbourhood is up in arms. I loathe seeing fields built on, but also understand that with the local authority being told they have to build 25,000 houses in 20 years, the pressure is on. It's not Nimbyism to say these fields are not in the right place to be built on. More problems than solutions to their building. But we'll see, But I wonder how many more times will I hear the hum of machinery, or the lowing of cattle on these fields on a summers evening?