Lone Tree Above Malham

The skies are big and wide above Malham in Yorkshire - a place where you can breathe in the cold fresh air and feel all is well with the world.  It's no secret that Yorkshire is one of my very favourite places. I feel so at home here. 

The landscape surrounding the pretty village of Malham is incredibly beautiful but without doubt hostile too. The mist descends. It drizzles. Hard driving rain. Biting wind. It's easy to be lulled into a false sense of security when the sun comes out and the clouds float gently across the vivid blue sky - so close that you feel you can reach out and touch them. 

Trees are few and far between on this landscape. It takes a tough tree to survive here. In all seasons the wind viciously whips across the land. Bracing. Lone trees are a magnet for photographers. Who doesn't get excited by the gnarled weatherbeaten skeleton of a lone tree? Simplicity is the keyword.  I'm not so much excited by those bedecked in leaves - you may see a fine silhouette from the distance but the character's hidden. 

And so in the distance I spotted a naked solitary weathered tree. A lone tree with a lone nest. As I perched myself on a drystone wall and carefully composed my photo I noticed movement amongst the limestone rocks. Of all the trees in all of Yorkshire and the one tree I want to photograph is not alone. A photographer had set his tripod up next to my tree! The idea of a lone tree and lone man appealed to me so I snapped away. Alone but not alone.

After a while I think he noticed me. He moved away and so I moved in a little closer. Our paths briefly crossed. We nodded our heads and although we didn't speak we glanced at each other in a knowing way - a mutual appreciation of that lone tree. 

The area around Malham is renowned for the striking limestone landscape made up of vast mosaics of clints and grykes. It's a paradise for geologists and photographers alike. The landscape takes on an almost lunar appearance in parts. Scenes from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows were filmed way up here. So the next time you watch the movie take a closer look at the landscape during the atmospheric scene when Harry and Hermione pitch up the tent. 

For me the lone tree represents solitude. We all need to experience solitude every now and again. It's when I feel at my most creative. I'm not talking here about loneliness - I think there's a fine but definite line between solitude and loneliness. What do you think?

Only the well- insulated sheep and a handful of hardy cattle survive up here. They huddle together alongside the dry-stone walls or shelter in the tumbled down stone barns.

Perfect Yorkshire!

Ps I admit I've only ever seen the first Harry Potter film! It was an escape from torrential rain during a camping trip in France!

PPS Pesky dust spots!  I usually take my camera to the local camera shop to have the sensor cleaned but a few days before my trip I discovered that it had closed down. It saddens me. I'm guilty of sometimes using the likes of Amazon to buy bits of kit but when your local shop's gone so too has the wealth of expertise and friendly advice.  Too late for my local shop but next time you reach for the buy button online take a few moments to think if you could better support your local camera shop.

And finally, the tree is not as alone as your might think as it’s one of the most photographed trees in the area!

Pinch Belly Park Stockport

As I delved deeper into the history of my hometown I set out to explore Stockport's oldest park Vernon Park which is tucked away on the hillside and a short walk from the town centre. 

I wrongly assumed that the imposing red brick building standing beyond the grand stone gates of Vernon Park was Vernon Hall.  I knew that the Vernon family were key players in the industrial development of the area. But I suppose by choice they would've lived away from the smog and grime of the mill town. After all, Friedrich Engels - in his lengthy read  "The Conditions of the Working Class of England" had rather harshly described Stockport as being:

“renowned as one of the duskiest, smokiest holes in the whole of the industrial area”

— Friedrich Engels

Surprisingly the park came before the building. In 1844 Lord Vernon gifted agricultural land to Stockport council with the intention of it being developed for "the purpose of public walks and as a place for outdoor activity". Various financial disputes delayed the building of the park and work didn't start until 1857. The building came a few years later and became Stockport Museum. I'm not certain what was displayed here but at that time the Victorians were keen to travel and usually returned with all sorts of 'treasures'.

Outside I met a number of people who'd come to visit the museum. Except it had closed. I never even knew it existed. I'm not too sure what the future holds for the building but I hope it isn't left to go to ruin. I took a peek inside - it was a little dark and gloomy but nevertheless had features. In the right hands and with investment this could be a fantastic arts centre.

Beside the doors stood a pair of ornate urns overflowing with neglected dying plants.

The signpost beyond the house suggested that there was plenty more to be discovered.

I came across a commemorative park bench which dates the park - 150 years takes us back to 1858. Stockport over the centuries has known extreme periods of economic boom and bust. I know I've mentioned the decline of recent years here in Stockport - it comes and goes in cycles. That gives us hope for the future. It has to get better doesn't it? 1858 was not the best of years - English cotton trading was suffering and unemployment amongst the mills workers was high. The council employed the poverty-stricken mill workers to construct the park. it's likely they would've laboured in return for a pittance - the minimum to survive... and so the nickname  Pinch Belly Park. Their endeavours would've greatly benefited the community - it's not difficult to imagine the positive impact this pleasant green space would've had on the wellbeing of the locals. We all deserve space to breathe and simply 'to be' don't we?

The view through the gaps in the trees of old and new stretches for miles and miles. Many old textiles mills still stand in Stockport. Beyond the mill is the visible line of the M60 motorway - the Manchester ring road. 

I was bemused by the sight of the cannon. The original Russian cannon came from the Crimean War but was the metal was melted down to aid the 'war effort' in the 1940s - yet another period of hard times in our history. The ornate railings and water fountains also suffered the same fate.

The original Victorian bandstand was demolished in the 1960s and later replaced with this replica.

The two bowling greens were neat and well kept. There's something very traditional about bowling greens. Calm and peaceful places.

Bowling and bowling only. Obviously. But horses?

The local community police officer was enjoying the peace and quiet of the park.

Or perhaps he was looking out for horses?

I hope you enjoyed my visit to Vernon Park in Stockport. I regret not making the time to visit the lovely tea room - I definitely will do next time though.

She Loves You Yeah Yeah Yeah!

I was a day tripper to Liverpool, home of the Beatles - a tourist and not Lennon's interpretation of a tripper ! My mum reckons my first words weren't 'mummy' or 'daddy' but "Yeah Yeah Yeah"from She Loves You. Proof that even toddlers weren't exempt from the influence of The Beatles in the sixties!

Aside from the obvious Beatles reminders everywhere, Liverpool is a fascinating city to visit. I wish I could transport you all there now with the wave of a wand - I know you'd love to explore. I remember Liverpool in the 1980s - a very low point for the city - high rates of unemployment, the council in debt and dominated by militants, areas of poverty and dereliction - and then the riots, the Hillsborough football stadium disaster and the shock of the killing of precious little Jamie Bulger in 1993. All of these events I remember vividly and with sadness. But over the last couple of decades or so the city has been transformed by huge investment and regeneration. Don't get me wrong, there are still areas of inner-city depravation here but generally there's a sense of optimism. If, like me, you enjoy history, music, galleries and museums, architecture, shopping, people-watching in dockside cafes then Liverpool has to be on your list of cities to visit.

And amongst all the delights I just mentioned, I unexpectedly came across a boat restoration in Albert Dock. Well you know I can't resist a restoration project so although I plan on blogging about Liverpool city next week, I wanted to give you a taster of one of my discoveries!

So…. I was casually strolling around the vast restored dockland warehouse area when I spotted a rickety looking boat - it turned out to be a historic steam powered tug-tender.

I peered over the railings and noticed shadows of people on deck. Being curious and noting the free admission of course I had to take a closer look!

The Daniel Adamson was originally built in 1903 for the Shropshire Union Canal and Railway Company.

In 2004 the boat was on the verge of being scrapped but was rescued at the very last minute. This is the only surviving tug-tender in the Uk and so is of historic significance.

The Daniel Adamson Preservation Society bought the vessel for a token £1 and a lengthy restoration project began. The tug is being lovingly restored by a team of volunteer enthusiasts.

Although it would appear that there's still plenty of work to be completed, it's clear that significant progress has already been made.

It was interesting to see the fabric of the vessel. Although most of the original wood had been stripped away, enough snippets remained for the colours to be rematched. In the 1930's the salons had been re-fitted in a lavish Art Deco style. It would've been in a similar style to the great liners of the time but on a much smaller scale.

A paradise for lovers of rust!

The boat was moved from the dry dock to the current location in Albert Dock earlier this year. It's due to be moved to to shipbuilders Cammell Laird for the engine to be fitted.

I don't have the best sea legs - even on still water in a dock - but I felt slightly uneasy on board!

And so the plan is to complete the restoration of the S.T. Daniel Adamson to her former glory within the next 18 months. This will be the oldest Mersey built steam vessel operating in the world.

How exciting! I can't wait to see the finished result and report back!

A Maiden on a Voyage

The original idea from my journal pages was to show my collection of vintage cameras in the first of my posts. But, as is often the case... my story took an unexpected twist.

So firstly who can guess what lies within? And who had one as their first camera?

Yes, this is my little Kodak Brownie and it was, and still is, very precious to me. I don't know where it came from but I owned it from the age of about 7 or 8. I took it on all our family holidays. The photos are stashed away in my mum's loft.

My grandad and dad were keen photographers and both had darkrooms. Together with my own Brownie camera, this bakelite Olbia camera is another firm favourite and belonged to my grandad.

My grandad, grandma and dad used to cycle the length and breadth of England on holiday and along the way take photos. I can't imagine how they found the energy to cycle so far... but somehow they did! They were robust people. I love browsing through the many hundreds of their photographs which are now in my possession. I think it's such a shame that they didn't document their journeys in writing for future generations to read. A little settings guide and hand-written chart is tucked in the old leather case.

Not so long ago I spotted a photo of the SS United States in the photo box - I thought it could've been taken either in the port of Liverpool here in the Northwest of England or more likely down on the south coast in Southampton where they used to go on holiday. The dockland areas in those times were a hive of activity. I had relatives who sailed over to the States in the 1920s to start new lives - adventurous times for them. There are plenty of scanned passenger lists available to view online and they make interesting reading.

When I posted this on various social media sites, my friend and one of my very favourite bloggers Sally (aka Radish) mentioned that she recalled sailing across the ocean from the US to England during the 1950s. Well I truly couldn't let this opportunity slip away .... I had to find out more about her journey! It was such an honour for me when Sally agreed to share her memories.

And so over to Sally:

“In 1955 I was 15, and I sailed with my family on the maiden voyage of the USS United States.The idea of the ship as I remember it, was that it was supposed to be a transport ship for the troops. But as there was no war at the moment, it was dressed up to be a passenger ship to be used back and forth from US to Europe.

Our family sailed third class, and our rooms were more or less in the bowels of the ship and to rear as I remember. Our rooms were small and had no windows, and it was impossible to tell on the lower levels if it were night or day. My brothers and sisters and I were in bunks. Above decks had open areas that were nice enough for kids, but I am sure that my parents would have loved to have been sailing in second class. I liked to go outside on the decks and walk in the wind.

There was a large dining room with two meal seatings, and we went to the second seating because my parents liked cocktails first. I think there were three bars in third class and my parents had their preferences. There was a movie theater that showed first class movies every day.

I had the most fun on that ship crossing, I think of my whole life. Being 15, although I told everyone I was 16, made it so. My parents were very protective of me, and at home I had curfews, but for some reason on the crossings over and back I was allowed to run free with the exception I had to show up for meals and their cocktail hour. I had no curfew. I fell madly in love both going and coming back. One with one young college freshman going over and another different young man coming back. The first one wore a tweed jacket and had white buck shoes. We danced until the band quit. On the trip back I was the youngest of a group/pack and we actually conned our way to other classes on the ship. I was terrified that I would get caught but I went and I didn’t. On the way back to America, one young man, who was really older than me but today would remind me of a very young Robert Downey, Jr., he kind of took me under his wing, though at a distance, and I was really madly in love.

Although it was the end of May, it seems like the crossing was very rough. Many people were seasick and in their bunks, as was I a little, but due to the men in my teenage life and the excitement I did not have the time to cave to actually throwing up. Many times few people showed up for meals. Sometimes the table cloths were wet so the dishes would stay on the table. The amount of food and the choice was amazing: cakes, pies, puddings, ice-creams, cream puffs. For me the choice of desserts and the number we were allowed to have was astounding. We rarely had dessert at home. I think I concentrated on desserts.

One thing I remember clearly is on the way home to New York, we all got up early on the last morning to see the Statue of Liberty at dawn. It was so beautiful, and I was so proud to be an American.
”

— Sally Calligan 1938 - 2017

Thank you so much to Sally for sharing your precious memories!

I'm sure you'll agree with me this that is a fascinating account and it has left me wanting more!!

Edit: I miss dearest Sally. Sadly she passed away in January 2017. Across the ocean she encouraged me and many of my creative friends during my early days of blogging and digital photography. I do remember revealing the first version of my website to her and she strongly disliked it and told me so in not so many words! I valued her honest opinion. Of course she was right and within 24 hours I changed it!