Edinburgh 1 and 2

My first trip to Scotland this year was to get my visa sorted , but it is the Edinburgh Fringe and I couldn't resist a trip to the theatre! the fringe is something special with an atmosphere unrivalled in any place I have ever visited. Singers, jugglers, fire eaters and acrobats all performing to the backdrop of the sound of bagpipes and this wonderful cosmopolitan city.

Here in the Grass market, a new area of discovery for me, a street artist performs another crazy feat of wonder.

Characters from around the world wander around this amazing city only a 3 hour train journey away from home in North Yorkshire. the Edinburgh fringe is an essential visit to make if you are visiting the UK in the summer. The whole of August sees the city invaded by students and tourists, all having fun and witnesing some of the most innovative and creative music, theatre and art. Along with the Edinburgh tattoo, the military musical and marching phenomenon.

On my second visit to Edinburgh in August 2019, I managed also to explore the city a little more, it is the only way to do it, little by little.
 Bobby of Greyfriars is a famous strory of a loyal little dog, a Skye terrier who guarded his owner's grave for 14 years until he died himself, he is fondly remembered with a statue and a grave for him in the grounds of historic Greyfriers cemetery.

 The festival is spread across the centre of the city and farther afield. There are random stages with excellent  acts available free and hundreds of shows, so plan in advance the choice is unbelievable.

I'll be back next year for sure, I will try to spend a couple of days at least,if I can find a hotel room!

Going home 2

 The cenotaph in Middlesbrough and the gates to Albert park. My adventure playground as a child, we played football, tennis, cricket, we went roller skating, fishing and we rowed boats on the lake, We played in the playgrounds on the slides and swings,we climbed trees, we ran away from the parkie and we had ice creams and ice lollies, it was just perfect and only 5/10 minutes walk from home. I have been jogging around the park early on a morning and a million memories have come flooding back.

 This statue is new to me, it is a statue of Middlesbrough born Stan Hollis a Victoria Cross holder from D. Day.
I like it, he should be remembered.

 Another son of Middlesbrough, this statue is just inside the park. Brian Clough, 'old big head' as my dad used to call him. a prolific goal scorer bor the Boro, Sunderland and England. He went on to be one of the most successful managers in English football with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. without doubt should have been given a chance with England, but it didn't happen.

And the Dorman museum, a wonderful place, with wonderful memories, as a boy I was a member of the museum club on a Saturday morning for a while. I loved it and the displays and I always visit the museum when I can.

Skinningrove

Skinningrove, a seaside town in East Cleveland. This place is hidden from the tourists and at first glance, I would imagine people would turn around and head for Runswick Bay or even Whitby further south on the Yorkshire coast.

Wild, the North Sea, this is something that I really miss. The waves beating in onto the beach and the cliffs of the Dinosaur coast as it is also know, this is due to the amount of fossils that turn up when the cliffs subside in the shale.

Skinningrove is still hanging on to its Steel industry, only just at the moment. on the wonderful Cleveland way, a walk down from the cliffs remind  you of its industrial past, I think it is a real treasure.

The fishing boats of North Yorkshire are called cobbles and there is a good stock of crabs and lobsters for the local fishermen. Even Spidercrabs are caught, but then they are sent on to the markets in Madrid and Paris. English restaurants don't know what to do with them and the price is probably better abroad anyway.

Going home

Arriving back home in North Yorkshire reminded me of E.T. a film I introduced to friends in Russia.

This photo was taken at Gisborough Priory, a landmark in the North Yorkshire market town of Guisborough. One of the few places in which I have lived.

 The transporter bridge is a landmark that every Teessider knows. Still a working bridge, a trip on the transporter is a must when I visit home.

Two images of my university . the University of Teesside. the campus now covers a large part of the centre of Middlesbrough. including the area where I was born and lived for 15 years. it is a wonderful addition to my town and we are very proud of it.

The University is on the site of the former Polytechnic and Constantine college, my mum was a former student.

Lealholm

 A picnic in Lealholm with the family today. Lealholm is a lovely little village in the Esk valley. Lealholm is in the North Yorkshire moors national park, in the North of England.  The river Esk runs through this tiny place which explodes with tourists in the summer. The Esk valley railway runs along the valley from Middlesbrough to Whitby and teems with people visiting the Steam railway at Grosmont and the seaside at Whitby. 

Lealholm is a tiny place with less than 1,000 inhabitants. typical of the Esk valley villages, the houses are made from local stone and there are 3 churches of 3 different denominations,including the Methodist chapel, roman catholic and Church of England.
The local pub, 'The Board Inn' is traditional in that there are darts teams, domino drives and even a quoits team. This making the pub a focal point for the community, which is good to see in this environment of pubs going out of business and closing every day in the UK.

Lealholm is very much a part of my life and many Teessiders who loved a' ride out in the country' as children.