Art

Most miserable day of the year?  In Gods Own County?  No way... 

We're here at the colourful and art-filled  Devonshire Fell  hotel once again, with a view of the ~River Wharfe and the fells which is simply breathtaking.  But it is January, it's raining/sleeting/snowing and a day indoors was called for.

So, this morning we headed for Salts Mill, depicted here in part of David Hockney's painting, a print of which hangs in our bathroom here in Burnsall.  But the real thing is hanging there in the Mill, together with many of his drawings, paintings, sketches, photographs and photo montages and we spent a happy morning mooching around this fantastic place.

This afternoon, we headed over to Dean Clough, hoping (expecting?) something similar in the mill there, but finding just one exhibition captured our interest.

Jake Attree's Marks on a White Ground drew us into the gallery immediately.  Heavily textured in a subdued and restrained palette, these large paintings rewarded the viewer in so many ways.  Close up, the deep textures and rich oil colours intrigued but stand further away and the whole effect was rather more impressionistic in feel.  We especially loved the York Minster series and would happily have snaffled one of them home with us...

By the time we left Halifax, the rain was turning to snow and we chose to head back to our comfortable bolt hole in Burnsall, from where I write, snug and warm and just about ready for an aperitif!

To "Brideshead" and beyond

The rain finally came overnight and we woke to leaden skies and wet pavements.  Time to go home.  Our journey took us via Byland Abbey, however; one of those places you stumble upon as you turn a corner, suddenly finding a magnificent structure immediately in front.  Wow.

It had been our intention to drive along the ridge past Ampleforth towards Hovingham, stopping for a short time by the Mouseman workshop.  You can read about Robert  "Mousey" Thompson here.

The furniture is beautifully crafted and perfect in a large country house or parish church setting.  Since we have to furnish neither, we admired and moved on.  Not before I'd taken a photograph of their raw material in the form of stacks of English Oak, gently weathering outside the workshop.

On then, to our intended destination. Castle Howard.

We arrived with the morning rush, but that was fine - this place was large enough to cope.  We loved wandering around the house at our own pace and appreciated the fact that we could take photographs.

Though undoubtedly grand, Castle Howard is most certainly a real family home too.

The views were magnificent, both outside and in

We really enjoyed an exhibition of Nick Howard's photographs and found the inevitable exhibition to both the recent filming and the 1980's TV series interesting, for after all, many will always think of Castle Howard as Brideshead.

We drove to Hull mid afternoon, intending to spend the night there and drive home tomorrow morning.  Mummy's bungalow stands empty and with no buyers forthcoming, we tend to put it to the back of our minds.  But having satisfied ourselves that all was well, we decided to drive on back to Gloucestershire tonight.

After Strictly Come Dancing and Hull Haddock and Chips, of course.  We have our priorities!

So what would you choose?

We're staying in a "boutique" hotel here in Yorkshire and I'm intrigued by the selection of CDs and DVDs in our room.  I wondered how accurately  they reflect the interests/taste of the guests here and whether they are aimed more at their desired target group.  Most of the guests here are around our age or even slightly older - couples in their 50s I'd say, with the odd exception, both older and younger.

The music CD box contains:

• American Life,  Madonna
• Spiritus, ?
• Ladies and Gentlemen, the best of George Michael
• Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique
• Bocelli, Sogno
• Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder
• Come Away with Me, Norah Jones
• Live at Knebworth, Robbie Williams

The DVD movie box contains:

• Y tu Mama Tambien
• 9 1/2 weeks
• Some Like it Hot
• English Patient
• Sleepless in Seattle
• Jamon Jamon
• Dirty Dancing
• The Godfather
• Casablanca
• The Piano

I can't decide whether I think these choices are just too clever by half, revelaing great insight and some adventure, or that I could do better!  I think I would make some changes, most certainly - but I'd definitely keep such classics as Casablanca and Stevie Wonder.  What about you?  What do you think ought to be in there?

Incidentally, we've watched/listened to not a single one!  We've hardly been here, and when we have, we've been eating dinner - had the tasting menu with the wine choices tonight, for after all, when one's bedroom is only steps away, isn't it too good an opportunity to miss?