I managed to stall the camper van in the middle of a busy roundabout and the very next car to pass was the police .... arghhhhh! I was stressed and they very kindly asked if I was okay. I said yes and willed the camper (called ginge) into action. It stumbled across and promptly stalled again but this time I made it look like I had parked it and the police drove off. Then I realised I had my birthday hat on. Dave actually said 'if I knew you were going to wear it I would never have bought it' ... hmmmmmm. It is made out of leopard skin fake fur and has large cat ears on top lined with pink.
We have had a change round so I am sat at a newly-donated computer (thanks Dave). I have promised not to ever place magnets anywhere near it so this means I can catch up.
I have finally managed to clear out some of the kids stuff which was hoarded all the way round the house. I cried as I went through school books and toys and the memories flooded back! All in all though it HAD to be done.
I have some very exciting news about the new harp but it can wait until the next ...
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Saturday 31 December 2011
Wednesday 28 December 2011
its not just me who has bad days
We were supposed to be on the radio before Christmas - to promote Dave's new book and all the music to go with it. I rang the presenter on the Sunday evening to confirm and, yes, she said we had an hour on air the following Wednesday.
It was Dave's first ever radio interview and he spent hours getting his text ready and sorting out quotes. Imagine our dismay when we arrived at the Radio Station to find another couple waiting, with the same time slot ...
They told us the presenter had rung them up in desperation the day before to fill that hour and they had only travelled from around the corner so we could take the hour with pleasure. Lovely people.
The interview started. The Presenter couldn't remember my name, or Daves, or the books!!! Dave ignored all this and he started well. I played the first tune on the harp (too long, Dave said, but I got stuck in a loop - NERVES!!!!). Then there was a knock on the door and it was over! Dave and I looked at each other in disbelief whilst the Presenter welcomed the next guest ...
To add salt to the wound the answerphone was flashing when we got home. Guess who?
The Presenter ... just confirming that a lady called Rachel was coming to be interviewed that day at 2 pm. She had to listen to the message first saying who she had rung up ...
Very sad really that no-one got to listen to the amazing quotes from Dave's book - which means you'll just have to come to The Square Chapel, Halifax on the 20th ...!
(see you there?) (8 pm)
It was Dave's first ever radio interview and he spent hours getting his text ready and sorting out quotes. Imagine our dismay when we arrived at the Radio Station to find another couple waiting, with the same time slot ...
They told us the presenter had rung them up in desperation the day before to fill that hour and they had only travelled from around the corner so we could take the hour with pleasure. Lovely people.
The interview started. The Presenter couldn't remember my name, or Daves, or the books!!! Dave ignored all this and he started well. I played the first tune on the harp (too long, Dave said, but I got stuck in a loop - NERVES!!!!). Then there was a knock on the door and it was over! Dave and I looked at each other in disbelief whilst the Presenter welcomed the next guest ...
To add salt to the wound the answerphone was flashing when we got home. Guess who?
The Presenter ... just confirming that a lady called Rachel was coming to be interviewed that day at 2 pm. She had to listen to the message first saying who she had rung up ...
Very sad really that no-one got to listen to the amazing quotes from Dave's book - which means you'll just have to come to The Square Chapel, Halifax on the 20th ...!
(see you there?) (8 pm)
Friday 23 December 2011
soggy moggy
We have a very 'festive' stable here - really! Donkeys, dogs and puppies, guinea pigs, rabbits and hampsters! We have so many because my daughter has brought her pets with her for Christmas and the dog had pups last night! Our kitten, Stix, is very curious about it all and has to check each food bowl and bucket. He got in the way yesterday and was shooed away. He decided to jump onto a down pipe to get a better view. It fell off straight into the water butt. As the down pipe disappeared into the water Stix was frantically trying to climb up the pipe. Even his tail was spinning to try and gain bouancy. Luckily I was watching from not-too-far-away and ran ... I caught him just before he disappeared under the water!
This is a very special Christmas for Dave and Jack. The first thing Jack did when he came into the house was to check out all the fireplaces to see which one Santa would come down! He had his 7th birthday last week so the excitement is high. We have a house full but luckily one of my Christmas presents was a huge ham from Mum. It has already nearly gone! Stix is continually trying to sneak a taste but has been foiled on every attempt so far ...
We called in at The Barearts in Todmorden on Thursday and I am thrilled to say that Cathy has agreed to paint one of my harps. It was made for me using old oak and mahogany but don't worry! - the soundbox is made out of less-exotic wood and this is what will be painted - more on this soon!
Well all to say is to wish you all a very Peaceful Christmas and Happy New Year.
I am at The Square Chapel on Friday 20th January - 8 pm.
This is a very special Christmas for Dave and Jack. The first thing Jack did when he came into the house was to check out all the fireplaces to see which one Santa would come down! He had his 7th birthday last week so the excitement is high. We have a house full but luckily one of my Christmas presents was a huge ham from Mum. It has already nearly gone! Stix is continually trying to sneak a taste but has been foiled on every attempt so far ...
We called in at The Barearts in Todmorden on Thursday and I am thrilled to say that Cathy has agreed to paint one of my harps. It was made for me using old oak and mahogany but don't worry! - the soundbox is made out of less-exotic wood and this is what will be painted - more on this soon!
Well all to say is to wish you all a very Peaceful Christmas and Happy New Year.
I am at The Square Chapel on Friday 20th January - 8 pm.
Tuesday 6 December 2011
I love teaching!
Had a lovely reception last night from Clitheroe Ladies - thank you. They were 'guinea pigs' for the new repertoire and it went down a storm - even asked for CDs - its the next job!!!
Dave came with me as the weather was very snowy here. However they had hardly any snow but it was very icy. All week the Sat Nav has been sending us down tracks and driving us mad! Last night it directed us up a track opposite the pub marked 'no through road'. We needed to turn round so headed up to find a gatehole. Much to our amazement this track took us to the main A59 and proved a brilliant short-cut.
It is very 'wuthering' here today with snow on the ground and a bitter wind. There is a local story that this was the very farm that the Earnshaws lived in when the Brontes were alive. It is difficult to prove as it was tenanted and split into 2 houses, then fell down and was re-built 10 yards in front.
Suddenly I am in big demand as a teacher! I am juggling harps around and having 32 harps is just about enough!
Dave came with me as the weather was very snowy here. However they had hardly any snow but it was very icy. All week the Sat Nav has been sending us down tracks and driving us mad! Last night it directed us up a track opposite the pub marked 'no through road'. We needed to turn round so headed up to find a gatehole. Much to our amazement this track took us to the main A59 and proved a brilliant short-cut.
It is very 'wuthering' here today with snow on the ground and a bitter wind. There is a local story that this was the very farm that the Earnshaws lived in when the Brontes were alive. It is difficult to prove as it was tenanted and split into 2 houses, then fell down and was re-built 10 yards in front.
Suddenly I am in big demand as a teacher! I am juggling harps around and having 32 harps is just about enough!
Monday 28 November 2011
Father Christmas
We were driving through Morley at the weekend in our camper van when Jack nearly jumped out of his car seat and yelled excitedly. We had just commented that the lights were pretty poor... When we spotted, at the side of the road, Santa with a fantastic sleigh all lit up! Dave tooted and we got a big wave. He was just going to turn all the lights on!
The wind was pretty bad up here but the greenhouse survived and nothing blew away, or down! Albert tried to fly his massive stuntkite but it twizzled into a big mess! It is now un-twizzled and waiting for a calm day.
The great news is the tubular bells are finally on the harp and working! I now need to buy a further 3 sets for the other harps! I ended up using the insides of old plugs to grip the bar threaded through the bells and fasten it to the harps. Old fashioned cotton reels threaded onto harp string to play the bells with.
This Sunday I return to Wycoller Park. There is a free children's workshop in Pepper Hill Barn where they make Christmas cards and we learn carols on the cimbalas (small stringed instruments which are very easy to play). At 2 pm we all go down to the Aisled Barn and play a carol concert. 11-3 pm
The wind was pretty bad up here but the greenhouse survived and nothing blew away, or down! Albert tried to fly his massive stuntkite but it twizzled into a big mess! It is now un-twizzled and waiting for a calm day.
The great news is the tubular bells are finally on the harp and working! I now need to buy a further 3 sets for the other harps! I ended up using the insides of old plugs to grip the bar threaded through the bells and fasten it to the harps. Old fashioned cotton reels threaded onto harp string to play the bells with.
This Sunday I return to Wycoller Park. There is a free children's workshop in Pepper Hill Barn where they make Christmas cards and we learn carols on the cimbalas (small stringed instruments which are very easy to play). At 2 pm we all go down to the Aisled Barn and play a carol concert. 11-3 pm
Saturday 19 November 2011
magnets and daisywheels
I am in big 'trouble' ...!!! In an attempt to get Dave organised I clipped wads of papers together for him. These clips had magnets on the back and I stuck them on the side of the computer. They have been there for a few weeks. Strange things started happenning to the computer and I 'helpfully' suggested at one point that a poltergeist was playing tricks. Dave has been tearing his hair out trying to fathom out what was going wrong with the computer. I have hardly been on (as you may have noticed).
It finally dawned on Dave and he couldn't actually believe I didn't know about computers and magnets ... nope ... I have never had any computer lessons alas.
The first day at my very first job was spent on 'Yorkshire's first and only daisywheel word processor' - according to my very first 'Boss'. I was stuck in the converted attic of an old Georgian house with no windows and a long very boring report to type. I started with a Beethoven Sonata (The Walstein) and it coped very well. I thought I had come up with a solution to boredom so tried some Gershwin. Not Rhapsody in Blue but Prelude in F ... I got to the last movement and the carriage shot off across the room about 10 feet. I wasn't looking because the flames coming out of the centre of the word processor were threatening to singe my hair.
I never dared to admit what I was actually doing and the IBM Engineer quized me very puzzled as he surveyed the burnt out machine ...
(Don't tell my Boss please.)
It finally dawned on Dave and he couldn't actually believe I didn't know about computers and magnets ... nope ... I have never had any computer lessons alas.
The first day at my very first job was spent on 'Yorkshire's first and only daisywheel word processor' - according to my very first 'Boss'. I was stuck in the converted attic of an old Georgian house with no windows and a long very boring report to type. I started with a Beethoven Sonata (The Walstein) and it coped very well. I thought I had come up with a solution to boredom so tried some Gershwin. Not Rhapsody in Blue but Prelude in F ... I got to the last movement and the carriage shot off across the room about 10 feet. I wasn't looking because the flames coming out of the centre of the word processor were threatening to singe my hair.
I never dared to admit what I was actually doing and the IBM Engineer quized me very puzzled as he surveyed the burnt out machine ...
(Don't tell my Boss please.)
Thursday 10 November 2011
off to market
The sheep were long overdue for market on account of Dave breaking some bones in his back in October last year and then breaking his leg, hip and shoulder this Spring. We had to catch them, check their tags and load them into the horsebox. We were dreading it! We had enlisted the help of my son, Albert to help. We made a make-shift pen with old security fences in a corner of the field and our sheepdog, Meg, rounded them all up into the Corale.
We had one black Shetland Ram with black curly horns called Tony (he was t'only one). He was very feisty. We had about 5 tups in all but Tony's main rival was a white ram with very curly horns, called Brandon. For about the last 2 weeks Tony and Brandon have been fighting - they charged at eachother and launched themselves into the air so that they clashed about 4' from the ground. I was always scared their horns would lock but luckily it never happenned.
The first job the day before was to mark all the tups, check their tags and also mark the few sheep we were keeping. Even squashed in their pen Brandon and Tony were chasing the 'women' and fighting so we decided to do them first. Meg and I guarded the opening and Jack climbed up onto the wall safely out of the way. We checked a few Ewes and Brandon was happy to go back into the field with them but Tony paced and charged the fencing right up until the last sheep was released! He would hit the metal fence at about 4' high and we would all brace ourselves to hold it in place, even with a couple of wooden posts we knocked in as well. I still have the bruise on my knee where he charged at the opening and sent me flying!
He was the first to go into the horsebox the next morning at 6 am! It was minus 3 on the thermometre in the porch and our breath still showed inside the car on the way to the auction mart.
We had one black Shetland Ram with black curly horns called Tony (he was t'only one). He was very feisty. We had about 5 tups in all but Tony's main rival was a white ram with very curly horns, called Brandon. For about the last 2 weeks Tony and Brandon have been fighting - they charged at eachother and launched themselves into the air so that they clashed about 4' from the ground. I was always scared their horns would lock but luckily it never happenned.
The first job the day before was to mark all the tups, check their tags and also mark the few sheep we were keeping. Even squashed in their pen Brandon and Tony were chasing the 'women' and fighting so we decided to do them first. Meg and I guarded the opening and Jack climbed up onto the wall safely out of the way. We checked a few Ewes and Brandon was happy to go back into the field with them but Tony paced and charged the fencing right up until the last sheep was released! He would hit the metal fence at about 4' high and we would all brace ourselves to hold it in place, even with a couple of wooden posts we knocked in as well. I still have the bruise on my knee where he charged at the opening and sent me flying!
He was the first to go into the horsebox the next morning at 6 am! It was minus 3 on the thermometre in the porch and our breath still showed inside the car on the way to the auction mart.
Saturday 29 October 2011
knicker elastic
Well, I'm just about managing to write this blog once a week! So much going on but mostly very mundane. I have however managed to produce this amazing-sounding harp after making all the treble strings. The sound improves with every week that goes by. The next step is to hang the tubular bells inside the strings. I am looking for some very strong and very thin elastic - hence the title! Don't worry I intend to buy it from the market, not raid the knicker drawer... It is not going to be easy but I am aiming at having 6 bells on each of the quad harps.
I will eventually have a separate carrillon that will work with foot pedals on the floor. Alot of the music has been arranged to include the tubular bells and my husband's research has proved that there were such harps around at least a couple of thousand years ago. Much more on this when my husband finishes his book and I am not bound by copyright!
The oldest harp came from Ur being 2,500 BC. They still play the same design in Ethiopia today and I have just added a tune from that region to my repertoire.
I played at Phoenix School last Monday. Everything was going well until someone brought in the School's percussion trolley ... It only takes one extremely noisy drum and everything is drowned out and alas, this is what happenned! Eventually our 'drummer' got bored and wandered off and we played native American songs, South American and Irish Jigs, not forgetting Manuel Flavia's wonderful tune from 1492. It only moves one note at a time so all I have to do is make sure everyone starts on the same harp string and knows which way is 'up' or 'down' as I shout out 'commands'!
I will eventually have a separate carrillon that will work with foot pedals on the floor. Alot of the music has been arranged to include the tubular bells and my husband's research has proved that there were such harps around at least a couple of thousand years ago. Much more on this when my husband finishes his book and I am not bound by copyright!
The oldest harp came from Ur being 2,500 BC. They still play the same design in Ethiopia today and I have just added a tune from that region to my repertoire.
I played at Phoenix School last Monday. Everything was going well until someone brought in the School's percussion trolley ... It only takes one extremely noisy drum and everything is drowned out and alas, this is what happenned! Eventually our 'drummer' got bored and wandered off and we played native American songs, South American and Irish Jigs, not forgetting Manuel Flavia's wonderful tune from 1492. It only moves one note at a time so all I have to do is make sure everyone starts on the same harp string and knows which way is 'up' or 'down' as I shout out 'commands'!
Saturday 22 October 2011
water in my wellies
I was well known for my walks - I would set off following a well-defined footpath and suddenly without warning it disappeared. Many a time my daughter and I scarmbled down almost sheer drops or battled chest-high bracken or thistles! This time, however, it was Dave ... We had 2 dogs with us and his son, Jack. The hills and valleys around our farm are covered by conduits. Amazing Victorian Engineers connected all the reservoirs and they follow the contours of the hills and provide brilliant (unofficial) footpaths. Every now and then they cross roads, including an impressive Roman Road and every now and then they have home-made ramps so that any sheep that have fallen in can climb out.
We got stopped by had a very impressive iron gate to stop the sheep going in - but it stopped us in our tracks! We had to clamber down the 5' slippy,steep side, negotiate the 12'' of sludgey water and figure out a way of getting out the other side. The two dogs decided to swim for it over the reservoir corner. Jack was hoisted up but Dave and me had very wet feet!
Fantastic sunny day though so they dried eventually. Not so when Dave asked me to 'check the cut-off switch under the kitchen sink' (which he had just mended but not fastened onto the tap). I got a blast of very cold water and didn't have time to change ... hmmmm ... very funny Dave !!!! He is still telling everyone how I was daft enough to check it :)
We got stopped by had a very impressive iron gate to stop the sheep going in - but it stopped us in our tracks! We had to clamber down the 5' slippy,steep side, negotiate the 12'' of sludgey water and figure out a way of getting out the other side. The two dogs decided to swim for it over the reservoir corner. Jack was hoisted up but Dave and me had very wet feet!
Fantastic sunny day though so they dried eventually. Not so when Dave asked me to 'check the cut-off switch under the kitchen sink' (which he had just mended but not fastened onto the tap). I got a blast of very cold water and didn't have time to change ... hmmmm ... very funny Dave !!!! He is still telling everyone how I was daft enough to check it :)
Wednesday 12 October 2011
rain, rain go away
Well, we have decided to sell our beloved camper van, Ginge. Since we decided it has not stopped raining so we cannot take photos ... Wonder if Ginge is behind it all! The reason is not that we are giving up our 'wandering' lifestyle but simply that we have an old caravan that needs renovating. It is quite rare as it folds down into a trailer but has solid sides. Dave was amazed when he saw it go up this summer. It has been parked in the corner of our yard for so many years it has sort of blended in, the white roof is now covered in lichen and nettles hide its sides! It is in nearly-new condition inside but the wheels need some work!
I am enjoying playing Ang-Al (Angel) since I re-strung it. It is tiresome work - every day you have to tune it up a tone. As you tighten the strings you wrap more round the pegs and every now and then you have to un-wrap it, pull the spare string through the hole, cut it off and re-tighten it ... The bass strings are too thick to go through the pre-cut holes on the pegs so you have to hammer the end of the string flat, cut a thin sliver off and thread it through.
Patience of a Saint is required!!! ... the good news is though ... multi-strung harps are perfectly balanced so once in tune they are good for about 10 years - just need a bit of tuning now and then with temperature changes. I needed to play an old harp last month which I hadn't played for about 4 years - it took me no more than 10 minutes to brush up the tuning ... WOW!!!
I am enjoying playing Ang-Al (Angel) since I re-strung it. It is tiresome work - every day you have to tune it up a tone. As you tighten the strings you wrap more round the pegs and every now and then you have to un-wrap it, pull the spare string through the hole, cut it off and re-tighten it ... The bass strings are too thick to go through the pre-cut holes on the pegs so you have to hammer the end of the string flat, cut a thin sliver off and thread it through.
Patience of a Saint is required!!! ... the good news is though ... multi-strung harps are perfectly balanced so once in tune they are good for about 10 years - just need a bit of tuning now and then with temperature changes. I needed to play an old harp last month which I hadn't played for about 4 years - it took me no more than 10 minutes to brush up the tuning ... WOW!!!
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Dave's book
I gave Dave's book a HUGE 'plug' on the radio today, trouble is he hasn't actually finished it yet ... ha ha!!! It's getting close though. I played 'Hand-Al', (the 3/4 size portable harp)- it is still not finished either! I am at the stage of polishing - loads of layers of wax polish. It does not make much difference to the sound but the patina is coming along nicely. Every week there is an improvement in the sound as it settles in. I was asked if it was made from a special kind of wood, (brilliant! - plywood, in case you are wondering).
The strings I was making last week are a complete success so I am thrilled. They are for the large performance harps. I have a couple of harps to re-string now ... Luckily it is only in the treble and I can change them round a couple at a time and carry on playing.
On the animal front the turkeys have been very naughty and were escaping every day so I have locked them in their shed whilst I re-do their fence! They do not realise it is for their own good! If turkeys mix with hens they get a disease - hens are okay - it does not affect them.
Talking of escaping - the bunny has been an absolute nightmare and has escaped out of her run 3 times this week! It was too hot for her so the coolest place for her was downwards! She even managed to get the wire mesh off the bottom of her cage. Dave's son and me searched and eventually found her at the bottom of the wood laid in an earth trench/burrow she had made. It was a very elaborate capture plan involving carrots, a dustbin and a fishing net ... and a lot of patience!
Check out the BCB previous broadcasts for Wednesday 5th October 2-3 pm, presenter: Janet Davies
The strings I was making last week are a complete success so I am thrilled. They are for the large performance harps. I have a couple of harps to re-string now ... Luckily it is only in the treble and I can change them round a couple at a time and carry on playing.
On the animal front the turkeys have been very naughty and were escaping every day so I have locked them in their shed whilst I re-do their fence! They do not realise it is for their own good! If turkeys mix with hens they get a disease - hens are okay - it does not affect them.
Talking of escaping - the bunny has been an absolute nightmare and has escaped out of her run 3 times this week! It was too hot for her so the coolest place for her was downwards! She even managed to get the wire mesh off the bottom of her cage. Dave's son and me searched and eventually found her at the bottom of the wood laid in an earth trench/burrow she had made. It was a very elaborate capture plan involving carrots, a dustbin and a fishing net ... and a lot of patience!
Check out the BCB previous broadcasts for Wednesday 5th October 2-3 pm, presenter: Janet Davies
Tuesday 27 September 2011
donkeys ...
We were sat in the dining room having tea when there was a sort of shuffling noise coming from pantry, followed by a huge crash. I jumped up just in time to see the back-ends of two donkeys disappearing round the corner. Flossy is a silver-coloured adult and her foal is jet black with a ginger winter coat just coming through. He started off with a few grand names to choose from but ended up as 'Dodge' - you can guess why. He has a white belly, eyes and muzzle. His knees look far too big and his hooves look far too little. He can gallop round the field at a fair pace and puts on a good bucking display for any passerby.
Of harps ... I am very busy - which is good but it does mean a gap in the blogs. I am also re-stringing Ang-Al (Angel) to try and get more tone. It is going well but the harp is at the stage where it sounds awful! I am well past the point of no return so shall have to keep going! That means another 20 or so strings, all hand-wrapped. I am sure I could adapt the drill but it would take a bit of time and I shall see if the tone is right first. If the harp is improved I have another 3 to string!
Of harps ... I am very busy - which is good but it does mean a gap in the blogs. I am also re-stringing Ang-Al (Angel) to try and get more tone. It is going well but the harp is at the stage where it sounds awful! I am well past the point of no return so shall have to keep going! That means another 20 or so strings, all hand-wrapped. I am sure I could adapt the drill but it would take a bit of time and I shall see if the tone is right first. If the harp is improved I have another 3 to string!
Monday 19 September 2011
turkeys
This time last night I was chasing a turkey through the woods! I went to lock them in and the male stag was missing. I had left it late and it was pretty dark. Just to the back of the turkey pen is a wood with a sharp drop to a goit and 10' tall waterfall. It is waist deep in nettles and thistles. I heard a rustle and of course it was somewhere in the undergrowth. It broke cover and I chased it towards the pen but it couldn't fathom how to get through the gatehole. A couple of owls had heard the commotion and were circling overhead calling out and the waterfall was 'fair-drumming' because of all the rain we've had.
This bird is huge and quite scarey. I am very cautious when I approach with feed. Turkeys have red necks and faces and when they get frightened or nervous they go paler until they are a deathly greeny-white. They also fluff up their feathers so they look twice as big. At this stage they will attack.
I didn't realise until last night that they were also luminous. This turkey was frightened and everytime it broke cover you could see its head and neck glowing white in the dark! I spent about quarter of an hour running round in circles and wading through the nettles until I gave up, went back to the house and asked Dave to come and help! I cornered it and he grabbed its neck and hung on tight. It flapped and screeched and it took all his strength to keep hold of it and put it back in its shed.
Saturday Night's concert at Fairweather Green - A full house and it was lovely to get a thank you email first thing the next morning. Dave's son liked Eddie Lawler's songs and has not stopped singing since!
This bird is huge and quite scarey. I am very cautious when I approach with feed. Turkeys have red necks and faces and when they get frightened or nervous they go paler until they are a deathly greeny-white. They also fluff up their feathers so they look twice as big. At this stage they will attack.
I didn't realise until last night that they were also luminous. This turkey was frightened and everytime it broke cover you could see its head and neck glowing white in the dark! I spent about quarter of an hour running round in circles and wading through the nettles until I gave up, went back to the house and asked Dave to come and help! I cornered it and he grabbed its neck and hung on tight. It flapped and screeched and it took all his strength to keep hold of it and put it back in its shed.
Saturday Night's concert at Fairweather Green - A full house and it was lovely to get a thank you email first thing the next morning. Dave's son liked Eddie Lawler's songs and has not stopped singing since!
Wednesday 14 September 2011
buck-oo-up-oo breakfasts
We are in need of one right now!
Too many people off-loading their problems/messes onto us but less of that and here is today's 'dream'.
The best time of the day (according to my Dad) was early morning. We would set off, sometimes on push-bikes or me pillion on his motorbike, but mostly in his 1934 Lagonda. We'd end up in some wild deserted place not far from home and set up a camp fire. We took frying pan, sausages, bread, teabags etc and the all-important brown sauce. We'd watch the sun come up and if it rained (which it usually did) we would find a bridge or ruined barn. He refused to put the roof up on his car and me and my sister would hide under the toneau cover to escape hail, snow and rain.
There was one hill we loved to go up - out of Summerbridge towards Brimham Rocks. It is very steep and narrow and overhung with trees all the way up with lots of bends. He let the Lagonda back-fire all the way up whilst we shrieked and screamed kneeling up, facing backwards watching the flames come out of the exhaust.
Well, I must away and carry on. In a rare break I replaced a couple of broken strings on Ang-Al (Angel) - all set for Saturday at Fairweather Green.
Too many people off-loading their problems/messes onto us but less of that and here is today's 'dream'.
The best time of the day (according to my Dad) was early morning. We would set off, sometimes on push-bikes or me pillion on his motorbike, but mostly in his 1934 Lagonda. We'd end up in some wild deserted place not far from home and set up a camp fire. We took frying pan, sausages, bread, teabags etc and the all-important brown sauce. We'd watch the sun come up and if it rained (which it usually did) we would find a bridge or ruined barn. He refused to put the roof up on his car and me and my sister would hide under the toneau cover to escape hail, snow and rain.
There was one hill we loved to go up - out of Summerbridge towards Brimham Rocks. It is very steep and narrow and overhung with trees all the way up with lots of bends. He let the Lagonda back-fire all the way up whilst we shrieked and screamed kneeling up, facing backwards watching the flames come out of the exhaust.
Well, I must away and carry on. In a rare break I replaced a couple of broken strings on Ang-Al (Angel) - all set for Saturday at Fairweather Green.
Friday 9 September 2011
The bhb and problems with legs
I have a gig every day this week so I am quite proud that I have actually made it to the computer at all! Today's wedding involves negotiating roadworks of a major scale. I have been warned to expect nearly half an hour of detours! That's a major part of the Dales!!! I shall enjoy the scenery and have Buffy StMarie cd ready. Dave was going to come with me but the added time would prove too much so I have made a pile of sandwiches and pizzas to heat up!
I have finally sorted out legs for my 3/4 size harp! This 'small' and lightweight harp has taken the longest and proved the most difficult of all my projects. I ended up sat on a wooden box at Saltaire Bandstand last week - and still have the bruises to prove it alas. At the wedding the day before I sat on a fold-up fishing stool - OUCH! Same problem!!! Well I finally had the time to attach screw-on legs yesterday.
The bhb in the title refers to a car. A long conversation with my son last weekend (they are only long if cars are the subject!) revealed his latest project. He has a very important engine in his garage right now that needs fixing. I remember seeing this on tv a while back. Bhb stands for Basil Henry(?) Davenport who raced this car on Brighton beach past crowds of spectators in the 20s and the engine blew up narrowly missing everyone. Anyway the cylinder barrel blew up at Harewood a few weeks back and needs fixing. I gather this chap only made a few racing cars - Spider being one of them. Fantastic cars.
Well I shall be back next week. It's the Woodland Festival at Townley Hall, Burnley this Sunday - I have always enjoyed the diversity of this event - you get sculptors with chainsaws in the woods, the Sealed Knot on the front lawn, crafts and demonstrations ... and me of course!
I have finally sorted out legs for my 3/4 size harp! This 'small' and lightweight harp has taken the longest and proved the most difficult of all my projects. I ended up sat on a wooden box at Saltaire Bandstand last week - and still have the bruises to prove it alas. At the wedding the day before I sat on a fold-up fishing stool - OUCH! Same problem!!! Well I finally had the time to attach screw-on legs yesterday.
The bhb in the title refers to a car. A long conversation with my son last weekend (they are only long if cars are the subject!) revealed his latest project. He has a very important engine in his garage right now that needs fixing. I remember seeing this on tv a while back. Bhb stands for Basil Henry(?) Davenport who raced this car on Brighton beach past crowds of spectators in the 20s and the engine blew up narrowly missing everyone. Anyway the cylinder barrel blew up at Harewood a few weeks back and needs fixing. I gather this chap only made a few racing cars - Spider being one of them. Fantastic cars.
Well I shall be back next week. It's the Woodland Festival at Townley Hall, Burnley this Sunday - I have always enjoyed the diversity of this event - you get sculptors with chainsaws in the woods, the Sealed Knot on the front lawn, crafts and demonstrations ... and me of course!
Tuesday 30 August 2011
The harp with no name
A week of incredible highs and lows. The biggest 'buck-me-up' (other than my Dad's breakfasts) was our new friend, Philip, phoning up to say he had made me a harp ...! WOW!!! This harp is magnificent - thank you so much.
It has no name as yet... in fact it has no strings either ... or any decoration!
It is made from 100 yr old Oak and has a new-fangled design by Philip to hold the soundboards together at the front.
I cannot wait to get it strung up but first I need to decide how to decorate it as it's impossible to do any painting when there's 128 strings in the way! Dave has a wood-burning gadget which would burn a pattern into the wood permanently. I just have to work out the stencil patterns.
Firstly though I have a harp to finish decorating for this weekend! I have managed to design a 3/4 size harp with the same amount of range as the big 'concert' harp. I have made the bass strings as they are obviously slightly shorter. Although this harp has been 'out' a few times I have not had chance to fully decorate it!
I will be parking in a multi-storey in Manchester and walking with harp-on-wheels and amp across town with my long dress, microphone, spare strings etc in a ruck sack - I need this harp. There is no way I would manage with a full size harp!!
Why don't you drop off the harp I hear you ask? Simple - one-way systems - arghhhh!!! I hate 'em. Saturday afternoon in Manchester ... much easier to have a carriable harp.
Well more of harps (and of course the secret of my Dad's amazing 'buck-oo-up-oo'
breakfasts) later ...
It has no name as yet... in fact it has no strings either ... or any decoration!
It is made from 100 yr old Oak and has a new-fangled design by Philip to hold the soundboards together at the front.
I cannot wait to get it strung up but first I need to decide how to decorate it as it's impossible to do any painting when there's 128 strings in the way! Dave has a wood-burning gadget which would burn a pattern into the wood permanently. I just have to work out the stencil patterns.
Firstly though I have a harp to finish decorating for this weekend! I have managed to design a 3/4 size harp with the same amount of range as the big 'concert' harp. I have made the bass strings as they are obviously slightly shorter. Although this harp has been 'out' a few times I have not had chance to fully decorate it!
I will be parking in a multi-storey in Manchester and walking with harp-on-wheels and amp across town with my long dress, microphone, spare strings etc in a ruck sack - I need this harp. There is no way I would manage with a full size harp!!
Why don't you drop off the harp I hear you ask? Simple - one-way systems - arghhhh!!! I hate 'em. Saturday afternoon in Manchester ... much easier to have a carriable harp.
Well more of harps (and of course the secret of my Dad's amazing 'buck-oo-up-oo'
breakfasts) later ...
Sunday 21 August 2011
baby donkeys and puppies
'what's this all about?' - I was asked so many times on Friday as the public watched act after act perform behind the bus station in Keighley! I was on after the Bingley Bell Ringers. The wind had got up and was swirling around, carrying all the sound away. If you can't hear bells you're gonna struggle to hear a harp alas ...! We did our best so hope it sounded okay! There was quite a crowd and it was good to hear live music in Keighley.
All is well on the farm. The baby donkey, Dodge, and mum, Flossy, are thriving. Flossy had her feet clipped and is looking very sprightly again. Dodge puts on a show for any passing walker charging around and rearing up on his hind legs. We keep going on Facebook to see photos of him taken by complete strangers!
Jack came for the weekend. Mist, his puppy went for her first proper walk on a lead ... well actually we keep forgetting to buy one so we used a bungee! She also came with us in the car to Sainsburys ... didn't think much to it at first as she shot under the car but Jack coaxed her out and she got used to it eventually.
My next gig ... Limetree Festival ... Sunday afternoon ... see you there?
All is well on the farm. The baby donkey, Dodge, and mum, Flossy, are thriving. Flossy had her feet clipped and is looking very sprightly again. Dodge puts on a show for any passing walker charging around and rearing up on his hind legs. We keep going on Facebook to see photos of him taken by complete strangers!
Jack came for the weekend. Mist, his puppy went for her first proper walk on a lead ... well actually we keep forgetting to buy one so we used a bungee! She also came with us in the car to Sainsburys ... didn't think much to it at first as she shot under the car but Jack coaxed her out and she got used to it eventually.
My next gig ... Limetree Festival ... Sunday afternoon ... see you there?
Wednesday 13 April 2011
exploding harps.;
Yes you read it correctly DavAL the harp is now a pile of strings and broken wood after it exploded under the tension . Fortunately Fiona Katie has 32 other harps.
This now means though that I have two Months to completely build her another harp using differetn wood for the head.
I enjoyed making Daval and learnt a lot in doing so so I am secretly not too upset as I feel I can improve on the Design significantly and will be making a start on the new harp Capernicus tomorrow.
So all is well that ends well
This now means though that I have two Months to completely build her another harp using differetn wood for the head.
I enjoyed making Daval and learnt a lot in doing so so I am secretly not too upset as I feel I can improve on the Design significantly and will be making a start on the new harp Capernicus tomorrow.
So all is well that ends well
Sunday 3 April 2011
Sucess - Happy Mother Day
A very Happy Mothers day to you all.
Fiona Katie has had a wonderful day ths far she has received a lovely bag fromfaughter and a bottle of something nice from her eldest son and phone calls from her twins so all is good there.
Meanwhile the orphan lamb which was been looked after until I recovered has returned!
5 times larger than when it left here..
We got back late last night F.K got to try out her new harp at a wedding venue and I am pleased to say that reports back were that it was a resounding success and judging by the rapturous applause I am certain it went down a hit.
This afternoon s job then is to change the new website and to complete it
Thank fully it should not take too long
In the meantime just for something different on the blog thought I would post some updated photos of flossy!!
Saturday 2 April 2011
Sunnier times
Well the sun is shining and as I write I can hear the Cockerels crowing away in the garden. The weather is a far cry from this morning when it rained.
F.K is playing at a weeding this afternoon for 1 hour and it is giving her a chance to test drive one of her new harps.
Meanwhile I am continuin to write and I am looking forward to getting the plaster cast removed from my leg on Tuesday that will be a weight off wuite literally
Well enough for today
Onwards and upwards I say!
F.K is playing at a weeding this afternoon for 1 hour and it is giving her a chance to test drive one of her new harps.
Meanwhile I am continuin to write and I am looking forward to getting the plaster cast removed from my leg on Tuesday that will be a weight off wuite literally
Well enough for today
Onwards and upwards I say!
Friday 1 April 2011
Green wheels, Harp and A performance for the BBC
Well what a interesting week it has been
On Wednesday I had a appointment in Keighley so I was unable to go with Kate and since I had a broken leg I got a friend of mine who is a Policeman to take me to Keighley.
Meanwhile Fiona Katie had to dash off to Leeds , fortunately we had persuaded Alberts Fiona Katies son to help take the pressure off so he arrived in his silver VW and much to my suprise he had painted the wheels bright green!
Somehow he managed to get the harp and Fiona Katie into the car and they drove off for Fiona katie to perform as part as a showcase for the BBC
I got back home about 5pm myself and I did not see Fiona Katie till late on and I was in bed when she came home.
Seems she had a great night but did not want to go to the after party! shame I had a broken leg optherwise I would have gone along with her well more weddings lined up over the weekend lets hope the weather holds out for the couple and this wind dies down a bit ------- dave
On Wednesday I had a appointment in Keighley so I was unable to go with Kate and since I had a broken leg I got a friend of mine who is a Policeman to take me to Keighley.
Meanwhile Fiona Katie had to dash off to Leeds , fortunately we had persuaded Alberts Fiona Katies son to help take the pressure off so he arrived in his silver VW and much to my suprise he had painted the wheels bright green!
Somehow he managed to get the harp and Fiona Katie into the car and they drove off for Fiona katie to perform as part as a showcase for the BBC
I got back home about 5pm myself and I did not see Fiona Katie till late on and I was in bed when she came home.
Seems she had a great night but did not want to go to the after party! shame I had a broken leg optherwise I would have gone along with her well more weddings lined up over the weekend lets hope the weather holds out for the couple and this wind dies down a bit ------- dave
Sunday 27 March 2011
new website and dates page updated
well I have finally done it after saying I would update the page on F.K's website I have finally done it and have also started to change the overall layout of the site which can be accessed from here http://www.tripleharps.com
Got a busy week over the next week the garage are coming to collect my car in the morning for the MOT on Tuesday Albert Fiona Katies lad is coming up to take her to the BBC project she is working on during wednesday evening.
Fiona Katie is also playing at the Wuthering Heights pub on Tuesday night along with our good friend Eddie Lawler. Tuesday nights performance is free of charge and all are welcome to attend we hope to see you there.
Things atrt hotting up for the wedding season at the weekend and details of the dates that Fiona is booked to play on can be found on the updated dates page of the website
Got a busy week over the next week the garage are coming to collect my car in the morning for the MOT on Tuesday Albert Fiona Katies lad is coming up to take her to the BBC project she is working on during wednesday evening.
Fiona Katie is also playing at the Wuthering Heights pub on Tuesday night along with our good friend Eddie Lawler. Tuesday nights performance is free of charge and all are welcome to attend we hope to see you there.
Things atrt hotting up for the wedding season at the weekend and details of the dates that Fiona is booked to play on can be found on the updated dates page of the website
Wednesday 23 March 2011
fiona and her harps
Fiona Katie was practising her new tunes today in preparation for her forthcoming weddings , and concerts.
Fiona will be playing alongside Eddie Lawler a good friend of ours at The wuthering Heights Folk session which is next Tuesday evening I do believe (I will check)
Following this Fiona will be working with the BBC on Wednesday and will then be performing at a wedding later.
Today Fiona Katie has had the donkey out and once my plaster cast is off we are to start clicker training and see how that progresses of course this will have to be in between helping Fiona
Fiona Katie also fired up the incubators today I believe she is going to hatch some Polish, Large white wyandotte's and some more copper black Maran birds we will wait and see if any hatch!
Fiona will be playing alongside Eddie Lawler a good friend of ours at The wuthering Heights Folk session which is next Tuesday evening I do believe (I will check)
Following this Fiona will be working with the BBC on Wednesday and will then be performing at a wedding later.
Today Fiona Katie has had the donkey out and once my plaster cast is off we are to start clicker training and see how that progresses of course this will have to be in between helping Fiona
Fiona Katie also fired up the incubators today I believe she is going to hatch some Polish, Large white wyandotte's and some more copper black Maran birds we will wait and see if any hatch!
Friday 18 March 2011
operations , hospitals and stuff
Hi well I have been meaning to alter Fiona Katies website and have just not had the time which is strange since I have broken my leg and I have not been able to do much recently. On Wednesday I had major surgery and Fiona Katie stayed with me as I went down to the operating theatre and had my operation on my tumours.
I was suprised that the surgeon agreed to do the operation as I am in plaster but Fiona Katie and I were told that it needed doing as a matter of urgency so now I am hoping to make a speedy recovery then I can help Fiona Katie like she has helped me recently.
Tomorrow I am hoping to update the existing website whilst starting work on the new one. In between this and resting I am writing a bit mnore in the book of caris which is a book I have been working on for some time.
Meanwhile Fiona Katie is getting several enquiories through now for the summer weddings for next year which is good and I am able to deal with all her enquiries whilst laid up and my step son albert is home helping his mom with lambing as well as our friends thank goodness. It is a shame that our relatives who are farmers could not lend a hand! given the circumstances.
I was suprised that the surgeon agreed to do the operation as I am in plaster but Fiona Katie and I were told that it needed doing as a matter of urgency so now I am hoping to make a speedy recovery then I can help Fiona Katie like she has helped me recently.
Tomorrow I am hoping to update the existing website whilst starting work on the new one. In between this and resting I am writing a bit mnore in the book of caris which is a book I have been working on for some time.
Meanwhile Fiona Katie is getting several enquiories through now for the summer weddings for next year which is good and I am able to deal with all her enquiries whilst laid up and my step son albert is home helping his mom with lambing as well as our friends thank goodness. It is a shame that our relatives who are farmers could not lend a hand! given the circumstances.
Tuesday 15 March 2011
Update
It has been a few day since we last posted this has been down to the fact that On saturday we had one of our working sheepdogs taken from the farm.
This caused huge problems as lambing had just started and Dave has a broken leg .
Following a huge campaign on facebook, twitter, posters, police and farmwatch
Our Sheepdog was found 5 miles away
Lambing has started and thankfully we have had help from Friends ..
This caused huge problems as lambing had just started and Dave has a broken leg .
Following a huge campaign on facebook, twitter, posters, police and farmwatch
Our Sheepdog was found 5 miles away
Lambing has started and thankfully we have had help from Friends ..
Thursday 10 March 2011
concerts, bbc
OK so we have not managed to get anything on the blog and the website is due to be tidied up today too.
Things are going well for Fiona Katie and we have done some negotiations with the BBC this last week for Fiona Katie to do some work for them on 30th March 2011.
Also on Tuesday this week Fiona Katie played for the Lord Mayor and will also be appearing at the pain clinc which I attend in May 2011.
In addition to this she will be doing another concert in East Morton.
Well best get on and have a crack at these web pages
Things are going well for Fiona Katie and we have done some negotiations with the BBC this last week for Fiona Katie to do some work for them on 30th March 2011.
Also on Tuesday this week Fiona Katie played for the Lord Mayor and will also be appearing at the pain clinc which I attend in May 2011.
In addition to this she will be doing another concert in East Morton.
Well best get on and have a crack at these web pages
Saturday 5 March 2011
lord mayor - international Womens Day
Day 8 of Daves broken leg
Managed to stand for a few minutes today with the aide of crutches . (Makes life a bit easier I am determined to feed the dogs myself this afternoon and take some of the strain off FK.
despite the leg throbbing at least this may keep my mother in law off my back!
Fiona Katie is to play for the lord Mayor on Tuesday as it is international Womens day.
All very exciting stuff I know the Lord Mayor Peter Hill personally so it is always good for her to work with people I know .
Fiona Katie also played for the U3A on last Thursday and the feedback we have had is tremendous
Thursday 3 March 2011
World music festival Grimsby
NOTE
Due to me breaking my leg and dislocating my arm
It is with the utmost regret that
Fiona Katie will not be able to perform at The world Music Festival on the 4th of March as advertised on the festival program
We would like to thank the organisers of the festival for being so understanding
Normal service will resume very shortly!!!!!!!!!!
Due to me breaking my leg and dislocating my arm
It is with the utmost regret that
Fiona Katie will not be able to perform at The world Music Festival on the 4th of March as advertised on the festival program
We would like to thank the organisers of the festival for being so understanding
Normal service will resume very shortly!!!!!!!!!!
A cautionary tale!!! hens and harps
Fiona Katie is practising downstairs
The hens have started laying
I am gaining more movement in my foot and think the bruising is beginning to subside
Here is a tale which was told to me this morning.
A Scorpion was basking in the sunshine on a leaf which was floating at the edge of a pond.
Suddenly a breeze blew the leaf with the scorpion on into the deep part of the pond and the scorpion in fear of drowning cried out "help, help help"
Nearby was a frog who came by to see what all the commotion was about.
"Whats wrong" asked the frog to the scorpion.
The scorpion replied " I cannot swim and will surely drown in this deep water please will you carry me on your back to safety?"
The Frog replied "But you will sting me and kill me and we will both die if I allow you on my back"
Scorpion': "No I wont because if I sting you we will both drown and die "
And so the frog agreed to carry the scorpion on his back and started to swim back to safety.
As the frog swam through the deep water the scorpion raised his tail and stung the frog in his back.
"Why would you do such a thing" the frog asked the scorpion as the poison began to run through him for now we will both drown and die.
"because it is my nature" replied the scorpion
Watch out for scorpions!!!!!
dave here I am writing Fiona Katies blog for the moent as she is managing feeding the animals due to my injured leg, shoulder and hip
I have done some more work on the new website today and hope to have completed at least the first page by tomorrow night . I am trying to get to grips with the new software I am using Webserif it is completely different to anything I have used and like anything new I have to find my way around it.
My toes have gone bright purple and black so I imagine the rest of the bruising must be coming out which can only be a good thing
we went to the pain clinic today and Fiona katie is going to play there in May all been well which I am sure will cheer up all those who suffer in silence with pain
Watched out of the window in sheer frustration as Fiona Katie fed and watered all the animals .
The hens have started laying
I am gaining more movement in my foot and think the bruising is beginning to subside
Here is a tale which was told to me this morning.
A Scorpion was basking in the sunshine on a leaf which was floating at the edge of a pond.
Suddenly a breeze blew the leaf with the scorpion on into the deep part of the pond and the scorpion in fear of drowning cried out "help, help help"
Nearby was a frog who came by to see what all the commotion was about.
"Whats wrong" asked the frog to the scorpion.
The scorpion replied " I cannot swim and will surely drown in this deep water please will you carry me on your back to safety?"
The Frog replied "But you will sting me and kill me and we will both die if I allow you on my back"
Scorpion': "No I wont because if I sting you we will both drown and die "
And so the frog agreed to carry the scorpion on his back and started to swim back to safety.
As the frog swam through the deep water the scorpion raised his tail and stung the frog in his back.
"Why would you do such a thing" the frog asked the scorpion as the poison began to run through him for now we will both drown and die.
"because it is my nature" replied the scorpion
Watch out for scorpions!!!!!
dave here I am writing Fiona Katies blog for the moent as she is managing feeding the animals due to my injured leg, shoulder and hip
I have done some more work on the new website today and hope to have completed at least the first page by tomorrow night . I am trying to get to grips with the new software I am using Webserif it is completely different to anything I have used and like anything new I have to find my way around it.
My toes have gone bright purple and black so I imagine the rest of the bruising must be coming out which can only be a good thing
we went to the pain clinic today and Fiona katie is going to play there in May all been well which I am sure will cheer up all those who suffer in silence with pain
Watched out of the window in sheer frustration as Fiona Katie fed and watered all the animals .
Wednesday 2 March 2011
u3a, concert, website.
Fiona Katie performed this morning for the U3A for the uninitiated this is the university of the third age .
It was a chance to test drive a new harp and as usual she gained some more fans I am sure and went down a storm. The people /audience were lovely and a good time was had by all.
We arrived back at the house and have had 4 enquiries regarding Fiona Playing two concerts a television appearance and a memorial service all in one day.
Tomorrow afternoon Fiona Katies website will be unavailable for a short time whilst it is given a update and makeover.
The new website set to replace the old one is currently undergoing construction and is coming together faster than originally anticipated.
Todays Picture is of Fiona when she played in Castleford and opened a new brewery.
Sunday 27 February 2011
harps and concerts
We had a enquiry today for Fiona Katie to play at a charity event.
Fiona Katie has played at a lot of Charity events to name a few she has played for
The blind
The Deaf
The MS Society
Epilepsy society to name but a few
A good friend of mine Dennis called this afternoon Dennis is a Freemason and has asked that Fiona Katie play for a Garden party in June / July
Work is still coming in for Fiona Katie which is always a good sign in these uncertain economic times
Blog by Dave Widdop
zimmers, harps, donkeys and sheep
Hi dave here
Well I did not sleep much last night terrible pain in leg and toes are black.
Hospital offered a Zimmer frame to help me get into wheelchair .
Physio cracked a joke about Fiona Katie attaching strings to it and renaming it CripAL which caused me to smile I must say even though it was in bad taste.
Well I did not sleep much last night terrible pain in leg and toes are black.
Hospital offered a Zimmer frame to help me get into wheelchair .
Physio cracked a joke about Fiona Katie attaching strings to it and renaming it CripAL which caused me to smile I must say even though it was in bad taste.
Friday 25 February 2011
flossy, harps,concerts, and stuff.
Have had another look at Deval the harp this afternoon and since I am now stuck in the house have spent the afternoon looking at designs for many different harps and have discussed some of the ideas with Fiona Katie as we are both working on these together.
Had a eventful day with the Vet coming to look at Flossy , she is to have shoes fitted shortly and the Vet feels she may have to be sedated.
This afternoon I had to go back to the hospital to have my leg manipulated into place before a more permanent cast was fitted. Physio was concerned about the weakness in my right hand side and as it is my left leg that is broken a wheelchair is going to be delivered tomorrow morning all being well.
It seems we are not able to be as freem with our speech on here as we would like .
This is a shame as when I set this blog up it was meant to be able to tell a little bit about harps and our lives in general.
Some it seems take exception to this. Such a shame
Next concert is is Grimsby all being well.
I will be sorting out further concerts in the next few weeks in Yorkshire shortly
I will post the details here
Above photo is Fiona Katie dressed to perform at a wedding
Dave Widdop
Wednesday 23 February 2011
The new harp Daval
Finally after months of hard work and delays I have managed to make a start on finishing the harp Daval.
As I write this I am in between coats of laqher, in order to give the harp added strength it is necessary to apply this 15 seperate times and each time the harop is to be given 5 coats with a fiteen minute interval in between. by the time it is finished this means the harp will have received 75 seperate coats of laquer this seems a lot but the coats are applied so thinly so to prevent sagging.
I have had to revert to spraying the harp in the barn for two reasons after days of hardwork installing the wood burning stove in the stables I lit it and it failed the woodburner is beyond repair and damaged further than initially thought rendering it useless and I nearley burned down the stables in the process dropping everything to get the Donkey out then going back in to throw a bucket of water over the rayburn .
Tomorrows job is to remove the rayburn from the building and to put it in the scrap pile!!!!
Now desperately seeking another wood burning stove that will not be in such a bad state
The idea is to warm the stables through for when flossy the donkey has her foal..
OK back to spraying
As I write this I am in between coats of laqher, in order to give the harp added strength it is necessary to apply this 15 seperate times and each time the harop is to be given 5 coats with a fiteen minute interval in between. by the time it is finished this means the harp will have received 75 seperate coats of laquer this seems a lot but the coats are applied so thinly so to prevent sagging.
I have had to revert to spraying the harp in the barn for two reasons after days of hardwork installing the wood burning stove in the stables I lit it and it failed the woodburner is beyond repair and damaged further than initially thought rendering it useless and I nearley burned down the stables in the process dropping everything to get the Donkey out then going back in to throw a bucket of water over the rayburn .
Tomorrows job is to remove the rayburn from the building and to put it in the scrap pile!!!!
Now desperately seeking another wood burning stove that will not be in such a bad state
The idea is to warm the stables through for when flossy the donkey has her foal..
OK back to spraying
Sunday 20 February 2011
Lambing, Donkeys, Harps and chimneys
Woke early this morning by the Donkey ,
Miserable weather outside and decided that I had best get on with the chimney stack for the wood burning stove in the stables.
Flossy is doing very well now her back has become very straight and she is extremely intelligent today she picked up her feed bucket and pushed it through the gate to me !!! she does also carry her water bucket by its handle to the back of the stables when it is placed down in front of her.
Flossy is a bit nippy what I mean by this is that if you have something in your hand she tries to get it off you I have decided only to give her food in her bucket from now on as friends on the Donkey Forum told me to do this to avoid her nipping (Donkey bites do hurt)
Due to Flossy coming to the farm unexpectantly I have used more hay than I originally calculated on for the sheep so I have a good friend who has a farm who is going to come to some arrangement with me for 20 bales of hay which should see me through.
The snow which has fallen has not helped at all went through another 3 bales today only have enough to last till the weekend .
Lambing should be starting the 2nd week in March which is not that far away and will carry on till mid April.
Finally managed to replace the table saw which is located in the workshop I got sold one last Year by a Family Member no less and it turned out the Motor on it was defunct not only that when I tried to get a replacement motor I found out this part was obsolete and even if it had been available it would have cost more than a new saw.
Thank goodness for ebay
Wednesday 16 February 2011
New harps
Had a great day today I went to see my mom gave her a new coat I had bought for her and then went off to the paint shop to buy supplies to complete Daval.
Had to strip the varnish off Daval ready for 15 coats of laquer which will be sprayed tomorrow.
Davav the harp will then be left to dry for 3 days before having the next set of decals and laquer sprayed over the top.
At this stage we will be drilling the harp ready for stringing and then the final part will be the electronics .
It is my intention to have Daval ready for stringing by the end of next week
Then the real work start as 128 strings have to be fit into place and months of tuning will begine at this stage Daval could explode under the huge strain and a years work will simply become firewood.
I am hoping that it all works
D
Had to strip the varnish off Daval ready for 15 coats of laquer which will be sprayed tomorrow.
Davav the harp will then be left to dry for 3 days before having the next set of decals and laquer sprayed over the top.
At this stage we will be drilling the harp ready for stringing and then the final part will be the electronics .
It is my intention to have Daval ready for stringing by the end of next week
Then the real work start as 128 strings have to be fit into place and months of tuning will begine at this stage Daval could explode under the huge strain and a years work will simply become firewood.
I am hoping that it all works
D
Tuesday 15 February 2011
Farewell to my friend Duncan (By Dave)
It wasnt as if he appeared unwell but my best friend Duncan had suffered from diabetis for many years.
A few years ago he stubbed his toe at the bottom of the stairs something that many of us do but for a diabetic this was pretty serious and a few months later he was in hospital with blood poisoning. I remember going and seeing him and thinking oh my goodness . That though was 7 Years ago now and I had long since forgotten about it.
Duncan went to the foot clinic just 3 weeks ago a routine visit just to have his feet looked at. The Nurse was a bit concerned and decided a few days in hospital resting might help with the aid of antibiotics. That was on the Thursday on the Monday things went bad and Duncan was transfeered from one hospital to another . I got a text telling me he was not good and decided to go see him the next day.
The following morning I got a call from Duncans daughter the type of call no one ever wants to get my friend of 15 years had died .
And so last Friday we went to the funeral and Fiona Katie played somewhere over the rainbow whilst I acted as one of the pall bearers and carried my friends coffin into the crematorium.
A very harrowing and painful day . I must admit I cried as I watched Duncans 97 year old Father say farewell to his son.
Duncan was more of a Father to me than ever my own Father was and I will mourn for him forever a true friend, Father, Son, Brother. Duncan was many things to many people but to me he was my best friend..
Picture
From left to right My younger brother Tony, Me (Dave) in the Middle, Duncan right
Saturday 12 February 2011
Update on flossy
Flossy continues toget a bit better each day and is developing into a good friend .
I have been working in the stables in the adjoining room to flossy today and have been in and out with bits of harps and equipment for the workshop.
Flossy has decided very quickly that if she starts making her sqeauly attempts at a donkey noise that she gets a carrot but I have decided not to give her toom many as I do not want to give her stomach ache/.
Tomorrows job is to call down and see our good friend Mark who owns Airevalley wood shavings in Keighley he has helped me out no end and my good friend Julie Rhodes from Rhodes Hardware came up to see flossy with a huge sack of feed for flossy
It does seem that everyone is taking a bit of interest in flossy and she is getting spoilt .
I have in all my years never seen a animal so mistreated and to say she has been treated in this she still has trust in mankind . I am suprised that she does not bite anything that moves..
Well it is time for bed and I am up early in the morning as I will be working on Fiona Katies latest website which is www.harpistforweddings.com
Still some finishing touches to go on but I think I have managed to get the music page just right
Davex
I have been working in the stables in the adjoining room to flossy today and have been in and out with bits of harps and equipment for the workshop.
Flossy has decided very quickly that if she starts making her sqeauly attempts at a donkey noise that she gets a carrot but I have decided not to give her toom many as I do not want to give her stomach ache/.
Tomorrows job is to call down and see our good friend Mark who owns Airevalley wood shavings in Keighley he has helped me out no end and my good friend Julie Rhodes from Rhodes Hardware came up to see flossy with a huge sack of feed for flossy
It does seem that everyone is taking a bit of interest in flossy and she is getting spoilt .
I have in all my years never seen a animal so mistreated and to say she has been treated in this she still has trust in mankind . I am suprised that she does not bite anything that moves..
Well it is time for bed and I am up early in the morning as I will be working on Fiona Katies latest website which is www.harpistforweddings.com
Still some finishing touches to go on but I think I have managed to get the music page just right
Davex
Thursday 10 February 2011
Flossy
This is flossy our rescued Donkey
The top picture shows the cruelty that was inflicted to Flossy before we got her.
Flossy is now doing better than she was but has a long way to go yet
She is due to foal in May and we are trying to get her built up whilst taking extra care with her foot.
Flossy has laminitis in her front foot which is why she is wearing gaffer tape on her foot which is holding a instep in place to help her walk.
Tuesday 8 February 2011
Flossy (our new donkey)
Yes ...! only you, I hear you say. I was due on stage in 4 hours time and Dave said we must just go and see this donkey for sale in Colne. I could tell he was serious as the old horsebox was hitched up behind his car already. It was pouring with rain, the wind was horrible and there she was perched precariously on a very thin slippery, sloping path made from concrete paving stones. Huge bare patches of skin showing through her rain drenched coat, deep cuts on her knees and heavy with foal ...
Of course Dave bought her!!! (After serious haggling!) She bravely limped into our horsebox and back at the farm we bedded her down into a dry stable with hay and pony nuts and a bucket of water (neither of us remembered seeing one when we picked her up).
The good news is Dave rescued her just in time. The vets aren't too worried and have bandaged one of her feet. Dave is shampooing her coat every day and she has antibiotics and wormers in her food. Things are looking very positive. She is an absolute love - very talkative and the difference in her is noticeable already. She obviously feels at home and is rolling happily and trotted to the stable door for a carrot this morning!
And in case you were wondering ... we had a cracker of a concert and you could hear a pin drop when I played the 'ghost' tune (with permission, of course) ...
Next performance at the Wuthering Heights, also with Eddie Lawler on Tuesday, 29th March
Of course Dave bought her!!! (After serious haggling!) She bravely limped into our horsebox and back at the farm we bedded her down into a dry stable with hay and pony nuts and a bucket of water (neither of us remembered seeing one when we picked her up).
The good news is Dave rescued her just in time. The vets aren't too worried and have bandaged one of her feet. Dave is shampooing her coat every day and she has antibiotics and wormers in her food. Things are looking very positive. She is an absolute love - very talkative and the difference in her is noticeable already. She obviously feels at home and is rolling happily and trotted to the stable door for a carrot this morning!
And in case you were wondering ... we had a cracker of a concert and you could hear a pin drop when I played the 'ghost' tune (with permission, of course) ...
Next performance at the Wuthering Heights, also with Eddie Lawler on Tuesday, 29th March
Tuesday 1 February 2011
next concert this Saturday in Clayton - pls see next blog down!
I cannot believe it's been nearly a week since I last wrote. I have two new websites - the thanks and inspiration for the names go to Duncan - a great friend of Dave's and who shall be sadly missed. I shall check first that they are actually up and running without hitches before I give you the names! The original website www.tripleharps.com was set up by my daughter's friend, Adam, whilst still at school in AS level year. In those days we never thought things would get so big and I never thought I would be spelling it out over the phone umpteen times a day!
I am at present making a huge map on the kitchen table. The harps have been moved out of the way for the moment! We are on a quest to find out as much history and folklore about harps as we can - in particular in connection with the Romans as they brought so many new ideas into the country - music included! I have discovered many links with locations anyway and I am enjoying myself creating this map with a whole new outlook!
Well, at present rate of progress I will not write again before the concert so I hope to see you all in Clayton on Saturday - 8 pm - there is a bar ... Music and tales from hills ...
I am at present making a huge map on the kitchen table. The harps have been moved out of the way for the moment! We are on a quest to find out as much history and folklore about harps as we can - in particular in connection with the Romans as they brought so many new ideas into the country - music included! I have discovered many links with locations anyway and I am enjoying myself creating this map with a whole new outlook!
Well, at present rate of progress I will not write again before the concert so I hope to see you all in Clayton on Saturday - 8 pm - there is a bar ... Music and tales from hills ...
Wednesday 26 January 2011
sold loads of tickets :)
Next concert at Clayton Village Hall (BD14 6QN) on Saturday 5th February - 8 pm
with Eddie Lawler http://www.eddie-lawler.co.uk/
Tickets £5 in advance and £6 on the door. info@tripleharps.com or tel 01535 642581
I have just returned from a wonderful place, hidden on the second floor of an old Mill in Keighley! They call themselves The Big Soup Theatre Group and have a cafe and a huge stage with gorgeous purple velvet curtains, purple chairs, purple window curtains and big purple plastic daisies stuck on the wall ... My sort of place. Should have taken my harp 'Purp-Al' but it is undergoing a re-furb at present!
I was greeted in the corridor and the concert started before I had taken my coat off. In fact - I never did take it off!!! I was having 'one of those days' and had exactly 12 minutes to get changed and ready for stage ... which I did ... I scraped my hair back into 'spanish' style with a black net bow, amazing ceramic earrings - a gift from Brazil, red taffetta bustier and black leggins. A wrap round long 'flamenco' style matching skirt was to go on after I had carried the harp in! It stayed, draped over the back of my chair throughout!
Such enthusiasm and rousing applause from the audience - the years of 'all-nighters' making harps on the kitchen table were worth it. I have still to fit the mechanism for bells alas. They are spread out in the kitchen, taking up most of the worktop - but having tried a few different ideas I have at least worked out HOW to do it ...!
with Eddie Lawler http://www.eddie-lawler.co.uk/
Tickets £5 in advance and £6 on the door. info@tripleharps.com or tel 01535 642581
I have just returned from a wonderful place, hidden on the second floor of an old Mill in Keighley! They call themselves The Big Soup Theatre Group and have a cafe and a huge stage with gorgeous purple velvet curtains, purple chairs, purple window curtains and big purple plastic daisies stuck on the wall ... My sort of place. Should have taken my harp 'Purp-Al' but it is undergoing a re-furb at present!
I was greeted in the corridor and the concert started before I had taken my coat off. In fact - I never did take it off!!! I was having 'one of those days' and had exactly 12 minutes to get changed and ready for stage ... which I did ... I scraped my hair back into 'spanish' style with a black net bow, amazing ceramic earrings - a gift from Brazil, red taffetta bustier and black leggins. A wrap round long 'flamenco' style matching skirt was to go on after I had carried the harp in! It stayed, draped over the back of my chair throughout!
Such enthusiasm and rousing applause from the audience - the years of 'all-nighters' making harps on the kitchen table were worth it. I have still to fit the mechanism for bells alas. They are spread out in the kitchen, taking up most of the worktop - but having tried a few different ideas I have at least worked out HOW to do it ...!
Friday 21 January 2011
of mouses (mice)
For next concert details please see next blog down!
Having a problem with 'mouses' at the moment. They sneaked into the house in the cold weather and have settled all over the place. To my horror I discovered evidence of one in the grand piano. The top of the piano is covered with bits of paper, sometimes manuscript, but usually old receipts and anything I can grab when a tune comes into my head. This can be anywhere - at the shops or on a walk across the moors. I try and hold the tunes in my head but past experience has shown that writing notes down is the best way.
A mouse ignored all the chocolates I received at Christmas and decided instead to chew my notes on some Arabic music I heard at the proms. Little bits of paper are now stuck inside the piano. Todays job is to slide the action out and using very soft dusters, lengths of wire, tweezers and pliers, to totally clean out the inside.
My daughter decided to use a humane mouse trap in the cold weather then got soft when it was time to release it ... yes she did actually let it go outside the back door so it came straight back in and ate through her ski trousers ...!
Dave stayed up to the early hours mending my computer so I am indebted to him right now - it sprang into life at the touch of a button - WOW! I am taking lessons from him. My computer skills are minimal and my children haven't stopped laughing yet for ringing them up, literally in tears of frustration, because I couldn't get anything to work. It never occurred to me that you put the palm of your hand on top of the mouse so I was using it upside down ..... whoops!
Having a problem with 'mouses' at the moment. They sneaked into the house in the cold weather and have settled all over the place. To my horror I discovered evidence of one in the grand piano. The top of the piano is covered with bits of paper, sometimes manuscript, but usually old receipts and anything I can grab when a tune comes into my head. This can be anywhere - at the shops or on a walk across the moors. I try and hold the tunes in my head but past experience has shown that writing notes down is the best way.
A mouse ignored all the chocolates I received at Christmas and decided instead to chew my notes on some Arabic music I heard at the proms. Little bits of paper are now stuck inside the piano. Todays job is to slide the action out and using very soft dusters, lengths of wire, tweezers and pliers, to totally clean out the inside.
My daughter decided to use a humane mouse trap in the cold weather then got soft when it was time to release it ... yes she did actually let it go outside the back door so it came straight back in and ate through her ski trousers ...!
Dave stayed up to the early hours mending my computer so I am indebted to him right now - it sprang into life at the touch of a button - WOW! I am taking lessons from him. My computer skills are minimal and my children haven't stopped laughing yet for ringing them up, literally in tears of frustration, because I couldn't get anything to work. It never occurred to me that you put the palm of your hand on top of the mouse so I was using it upside down ..... whoops!
Monday 17 January 2011
Ang-Al and Dav-Al
Next concert - Sat 5th Feb 2011 - 8 pm - Clayt0n Village Hall, BD14 6QN - £5 in advance/email us on info@tripleharps.com or tel 01535 642581
with Eddie Lawler, www.eddie-lawler.co.uk There is a bar!
I have just had an hour's practice. I have a lot on my mind so ended up playing 'the blues'! I am still sat looking at un-finished harps. The phone keeps ringing and there is generally so much to do. I am not sure how I ever managed to build so many in the past! Hopefully tomorrow ... I have, however, managed to get the extra string on Ang-Al so I can play a new tune! I have spent a long time getting this tune together (it was written in the 9thC by a Roman) and tonight I finally played it right through and was happy with it. I started playing it in another key but struggled at speed to dig my fingers into the inner strings (like the 'black' notes). I changed the key and ended up with one note short at the top! The great thing about making your own harps is you can get the drill out and add another string!
You may be wondering about the names of the harps. All the names end in 'Al' - my kids idea after they ate and did their homework under the first harp made of Aluminium. Ang-Al is actually for Angel and has names written down the back of people who are sadly missed - it starts with 'Dad'. Dav-Al is finished in jet black/glitter car paint so it reflects different colours in the light. It has been constructed with fibreglass, has no strings on it yet but I can't wait to hear what it sounds like!
with Eddie Lawler, www.eddie-lawler.co.uk There is a bar!
I have just had an hour's practice. I have a lot on my mind so ended up playing 'the blues'! I am still sat looking at un-finished harps. The phone keeps ringing and there is generally so much to do. I am not sure how I ever managed to build so many in the past! Hopefully tomorrow ... I have, however, managed to get the extra string on Ang-Al so I can play a new tune! I have spent a long time getting this tune together (it was written in the 9thC by a Roman) and tonight I finally played it right through and was happy with it. I started playing it in another key but struggled at speed to dig my fingers into the inner strings (like the 'black' notes). I changed the key and ended up with one note short at the top! The great thing about making your own harps is you can get the drill out and add another string!
You may be wondering about the names of the harps. All the names end in 'Al' - my kids idea after they ate and did their homework under the first harp made of Aluminium. Ang-Al is actually for Angel and has names written down the back of people who are sadly missed - it starts with 'Dad'. Dav-Al is finished in jet black/glitter car paint so it reflects different colours in the light. It has been constructed with fibreglass, has no strings on it yet but I can't wait to hear what it sounds like!
Friday 14 January 2011
Yorkshire Ridings
Next concert February 5th, Clayton Village Hall (BD14 6QN), with Eddie Lawer (The Bard of Saltaire) - 8 pm - £5 in advance - info@tripleharps.com or 01535 642581 (there is a bar)
'Didn't know farmers listened to harps' - This was the greeting at the hotel the other night. 'They do now' - I replied. It struck me that they actually had no choice as I was the booked 'Speaker'. Nearly a hundred farmers came down the fells and valleys to attend the dinner. I must admit I got a few 'looks'. Once I turned up to give the after-dinner speech and the Chairman (who hadn't booked me) took one look and decided he would 'take the stage' and give a very long introduction with a lot of very bad jokes ... I brought the house down with the 10 minutes I was left with. 'Leave them wanting more' - oh yes!!!
I proudly announced that this was the fourth time I had been booked to speak at Farmers Supper Clubs to which the reply was 'What, didn't they listen the first time?' - We had a good laugh and there was a brilliant attempt at Pachelbel's Canon when I handed out some small table-top harps.
Today we got a call from Roy. His article had been published in the Yorkshire Ridings magazine. By dinnertime I had already taken a booking - thank you Roy! (page 38 if you want to read more ...)
'Didn't know farmers listened to harps' - This was the greeting at the hotel the other night. 'They do now' - I replied. It struck me that they actually had no choice as I was the booked 'Speaker'. Nearly a hundred farmers came down the fells and valleys to attend the dinner. I must admit I got a few 'looks'. Once I turned up to give the after-dinner speech and the Chairman (who hadn't booked me) took one look and decided he would 'take the stage' and give a very long introduction with a lot of very bad jokes ... I brought the house down with the 10 minutes I was left with. 'Leave them wanting more' - oh yes!!!
I proudly announced that this was the fourth time I had been booked to speak at Farmers Supper Clubs to which the reply was 'What, didn't they listen the first time?' - We had a good laugh and there was a brilliant attempt at Pachelbel's Canon when I handed out some small table-top harps.
Today we got a call from Roy. His article had been published in the Yorkshire Ridings magazine. By dinnertime I had already taken a booking - thank you Roy! (page 38 if you want to read more ...)
Monday 10 January 2011
from Russia ...
Next concert with Eddie Lawler on 5th February in Clayton Village Hall. (with a bar!) 7.30 pm and £5 a ticket in advance.
Greetings to the several hundred people in Russia who checked out the website yesterday, and the person from Korea. Amazing! I love checking the website stats! Russia was one of the few places in the world who had the skills to make the Orchestral Harp right up until the 70s. I used to do a workshop for visiting children from Chernoble and they were always amazed at how 'small' my harps were! They had never heard of anything other than the large pedal harp and treated it with awe. They all knew of a small stringed instrument which we call a psaltry or cimbala. It is triangular and sits flat on a table-top. All you need is a sheet of paper with 'blobs' on that slips under the strings. Follow the 'blobs' and it guides you up and down the right strings to make a tune.
They also told me of the radio stations in Russia. Apparantly there's no separate station for different music - you get Tchaikovsky followed by U2 - a mixed bag all the time.
I managed to get a bit done on the harps today. I have been learning a tune from 9thC Armenia and needed one more string in the treble ... so I got the drill out and put another on ...
Greetings to the several hundred people in Russia who checked out the website yesterday, and the person from Korea. Amazing! I love checking the website stats! Russia was one of the few places in the world who had the skills to make the Orchestral Harp right up until the 70s. I used to do a workshop for visiting children from Chernoble and they were always amazed at how 'small' my harps were! They had never heard of anything other than the large pedal harp and treated it with awe. They all knew of a small stringed instrument which we call a psaltry or cimbala. It is triangular and sits flat on a table-top. All you need is a sheet of paper with 'blobs' on that slips under the strings. Follow the 'blobs' and it guides you up and down the right strings to make a tune.
They also told me of the radio stations in Russia. Apparantly there's no separate station for different music - you get Tchaikovsky followed by U2 - a mixed bag all the time.
I managed to get a bit done on the harps today. I have been learning a tune from 9thC Armenia and needed one more string in the treble ... so I got the drill out and put another on ...
Friday 7 January 2011
guido fawkes
Next concert - Clayton village Hall, nr Bradford, 5th February
We have awoke to snow again ... Supposed to be in Clitheroe this evening but we haven't been stuck in yet, fingers crossed!!! It does mean squashing the harp into a small suzuki jeep though and I am limited to one harp at a time! Over Christmas I had to call upon a neighbour for help and the harp ended up sticking out the back window - brrrrr, freezing. Not only that but I was playing in a shop and the door kept being left open. Amazingly there is a video on Facebook and You-Tube (Cobbles and Clay, Haworth 12th December) showing no signs of the frozen fingers! I was at the limit of coldness that night.
Over Christmas my sister and husband surprised us all by booking 3 rooms at the Inn where Guy Fawkes was born. The staff were very proud of their ghost - hmmm - they didn't realise we lived in a house dubbed 'the most haunted house ever' by West Yorkshire Paranormal Society ...! We wandered round York in the snow and watched the ducks huddled under the bridge in the only small patch of unfrozen river water. My sons set off to find St Mary's car park and nearly drove through open gates straight onto the river thinking it was the car park. A small sign of a car toppling into water was spotted last minute!
Off to get some harps finished - Hand-Al sounds so sweet already but needs decorating and 3 more strings! (The trouble with trying to make a small, transportable harp, that can deliver my repertoire.)
We have awoke to snow again ... Supposed to be in Clitheroe this evening but we haven't been stuck in yet, fingers crossed!!! It does mean squashing the harp into a small suzuki jeep though and I am limited to one harp at a time! Over Christmas I had to call upon a neighbour for help and the harp ended up sticking out the back window - brrrrr, freezing. Not only that but I was playing in a shop and the door kept being left open. Amazingly there is a video on Facebook and You-Tube (Cobbles and Clay, Haworth 12th December) showing no signs of the frozen fingers! I was at the limit of coldness that night.
Over Christmas my sister and husband surprised us all by booking 3 rooms at the Inn where Guy Fawkes was born. The staff were very proud of their ghost - hmmm - they didn't realise we lived in a house dubbed 'the most haunted house ever' by West Yorkshire Paranormal Society ...! We wandered round York in the snow and watched the ducks huddled under the bridge in the only small patch of unfrozen river water. My sons set off to find St Mary's car park and nearly drove through open gates straight onto the river thinking it was the car park. A small sign of a car toppling into water was spotted last minute!
Off to get some harps finished - Hand-Al sounds so sweet already but needs decorating and 3 more strings! (The trouble with trying to make a small, transportable harp, that can deliver my repertoire.)
Monday 3 January 2011
Minus 20 below
The temperatures on the car dashboard varied considerably between Malham and Haworth - we spent most of Christmas week travelling between the two. I think Haworth had it colder - we clocked -20 on a regular basis. Most of the houses near us in Haworth had no water for 10 days but we managed to stave off a disaster. My husband and three sons worked round the clock for 3 days to stop it freezing. The pipes in the house were slowly freezing, creeping closer and closer towards the kitchen. Heating, Rayburn ovens, log fires etc did nothing to stop it. We had one toilet still working and one bath. A tap would work and we left it running only to find 10 minutes later that it had frozen up. We had heat lamps, electric heaters, hair dryers, duvets - you name it. In the end we had to put pipes overland lagged with 'muck' and hay and left the water running on full. Pipes we mended and lagged in the morning were burst by lunch.
Tragedy occurred in the hen house. They have lived in the same hut for about 4 years but this year we went in and they were all sat on the perch frozen ... Very sad. Only 4 survived.
The roads near us were beautiful - totally white. The trees coated with frost. My daughter has a huge choice of photos to use as Christmas cards next year but I think the best was the pheasants and moorhens in the garden taken through the frosted window.
Tragedy occurred in the hen house. They have lived in the same hut for about 4 years but this year we went in and they were all sat on the perch frozen ... Very sad. Only 4 survived.
The roads near us were beautiful - totally white. The trees coated with frost. My daughter has a huge choice of photos to use as Christmas cards next year but I think the best was the pheasants and moorhens in the garden taken through the frosted window.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
