A Busy Weekend.

It was short but very sweet. We had a great weekend in York which has included Art Galleries, historic sites,fine dining, constant sunshine and a fantastic birthday party.
Our hotel was comfortable and convenient for the centre of York but overpriced and a bit shabby in the public areas as it had recently been taken over by new owners and they were getting some work done. They could have done with having more staff on at breakfast, and air con at night would have made for more comfortable nights.
Our meal on the first night, at the Vecchia Scuola was good and was accompanied by an enthusiastic piano player. After exhausting his repertoire of classics he lead the diners in a chorus of the Hokey Cokey!
Although it was hot during the night the cold shower that greeted us in the morning was not welcome. When we complained at reception we were told the water heater had somehow 'switched itself off'!
Our first stop after breakfast (Full English heart attack on a plate)was the Minster. It is certainly impressive and I was particularly taken with the exhibition of the stonemasons' work replacing damaged gargoyles. The examples of stained glass were also interesting, especially the piece that had some 18th century graffiti on it, stating it was etched by a a 15 year old plumber and glazier with his name and date.
Many years ago I played the lead in a school production of a play entitled 'The Rag Woman of the Shambles' so it was fiting I walk down the real Shambles while in York! It was rather crowded and no evidence on view of a real rag woman!
Our next stop was the Castle museum. Many of the displays represent rooms as they would have been at certain periods in history. The 1950s room was reminiscent of many rooms I had seen growing up and I was delighted to see a trio of 'flying ducks' on the wall. I remember having them at home on the wall of the stairs. I had unfortunately broken one so we only had two! There was also a collection of toys through the ages which brought back a few memories. They had a Sindy doll in the clothes that my one had. She had more hair than mine as I decided to cut her hair one day in the mistaken belief it would grow back. I was quite disappointed in Sindy after that!
We went to a seafood restaurant for lunch before getting the train to Leeds for Lindsay's football themed party. I had acquired a Scotland shirt from 1982 World Cup and Sean had an Aberdeen scarf. Everyone else at the event were, surprisingly (!), wearing England strips! It was a great afternoon and so much fun catching up with James, Matt, Carlie, Lindsay, Mark, Chloe, Amy and Andrew.
On the way back to the hotel we stopped in a little late night cafe serving delicious bread and butter pudding and divine meringue cheesecake! Mmmmmmm! Well, it beats getting kebabs when you have had too much to drink!
We checked out this morning and went to the City Art Gallery which had an exhibition about China (the country not plates). From there we went to a little private gallery where the Rolf Harris collection was currently on show as it tours the country.
We then headed for the Jorvik centre for the Viking experience. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was OK. Smaller than I thought it would be but it is the sort of exhibit I would have enjoyed taking children too.
A bistro luch was followed by some last minute shopping. We had discovered a hat shop (my idea of heaven!) so we went in there. Sean was looking for a new hat and I was like a child in a sweet shop! So much choice! SO many styles! Sean got an Australian fold up hat and I had narrowed it down to a 'cute' (Sean's word) cloche, a battered cowboy, a pork pie and a 1920s style golfers cap. I was allowed only one and went for the 'cute'. Happiness is hat-shaped!
To finish off the weekend England lost 4-1 to Germany in the World Cup. No comment on that one!
So that was our weekend. It has been great to have some time together again. I think we still like each other.

A weekend away.

It seems like a long time since I finished archive ferreting in Leeds. It is great to be back home and settled into my old life again but I miss the good times and great friends I made while I was there.
This weekend is both a long needed break for Sean and I together but is also a chance to catch up with the Leeds gang and introduce Sean to them. Tomorrow we will go through to Leeds for Lindsay's birthday party but tonight we are in York. It is a beautiful evening and the city is so wonderful.
We arrived late so dropped off our bags and went out for some food. Several places were fully booked so we eventually ended up in an Italian restaurant overlooking the Minster. In its former life it was York School for Girls and the interior has been maintained as it was in the past. There are several seperate rooms and as we were in a small room at the front of the building we figured it was probably the secretary's office. My seat was next to the door that probably lead into the Headmistresses office!
The hotel is in the centre of the city and seems to be having some work done. The communal areas are quite shabby but he room is fine. There is a four poster bed an a lovely, modern bathroom. The decore however is purple and lime! An acquired taste methinks!