The Isle of Wight - September 2022 Trip

 Isle of Wight Trip

Coach Trip with Acklams Coaches 

Well, here I go again with another late blog post that I should have thought about doing a while ago. Well, not this particular post but I really should have found something to talk about before now! The shame!! 

We've just come back, well in we I mean my mum, stepfather and me. We went to the Isle of Wight on a coach trip with Acklams coaches... Link below, It was a six hour trip down with a loo on board the coach and one stop only!... We had a door to door person pick us up from our house.   Well, to put it this way, I was the youngest on the coach trip which felt a bit embarrassing and sometimes humiliating.  We Stayed at the Bourne Hall Country Hotel in Shanklin for 4 nights Link:      great place to stay.   However, we did not get to choose the hotel the coach company chose it for us.  The only thing was that my stepdad was coeliac but they sorted things out.  It's a family-run hotel in Shanklin, on top of a rather steep hill.  So be careful if you are walking up.  I will put the links to the places we visited down below.  The other thing was my mum and stepdad got a room at the other end of the hotel up and down stairs, so maybe be weary of that.  Although they took the cases up for us.  I was at the front of the hotel although we didn't get great views mainly a courtyard and the back yard for my mum and stepdad.  I had a small room that was nice enough but they kept the landing light on for the duration of the stay and when I checked out one night all the rest of the hotel was in darkness.  If you are thinking of having a dip in the pool, it's outside, and according to some of the online pages about the hotel, there isn't an indoor pool.  That went a long time ago!! The outdoor one isn't heated so might want to go in the hot summer! If we have the same next year!! The food was lovely and well presented, staff very friendly and couldn't ask for a better coach driver.  His name was John from the Acklams coaches and went out of his way to help us.  Although it seemed we should have had more days on our trip, we went to some good places.  We had one leisure day where we went to Shanklin Chine.  When the coach had dropped us off from our visit on a boat trip, which was a surprise in itself, someone had put a flyer for boat trips and my mum being my mum wanted to go on it.  We got on the little ferry (with a loo on board) from Solent Cruises (link below).  On one of the days, we went to Carisbrook Castle where they imprisoned Charles 1st.  A lot of walking around the walls which were a bit steep and if you're not good at walking maybe just go around the main bit and the museum.  Saw some of the donkeys there and had a walk around. We needed less time at the needles as there were only a few things to look at.  We went to Osbourne house, where we would have liked more time there and the house was spectacular, which was where Queen Victoria stayed with her children.  Beautiful place and the best of the trip.  We went then to Godshill after a little village/town there where we had a nosey around... we didn't go in the little miniature village as it was £6 per person and didn't seem to have a lot of time there, but a lovely chocolate shop that did gluten free chocolates too for my stepdad.  Also, a lovely fair trade shop that sold all my kinds of things and incense etc.   I think ive covered it all no doubt ill have to do another blog about other things but here are the links.  Oh and if you ever visit Shanklin go to the little thatched tea room its gorgeous and nice cream teas and little faery garden!!  Until next time.  

Isle of Wight: Visit the Isle of Wight

Solent Cruises:  https://www.solentcruises.co.uk/

Carisbrook Castle: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/carisbrooke-castle/

Osbourne House:  https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/osborne/

Bourne Hall Country Hotel:  ttp://www.bournehallhotel.co.uk/

Shanklin: https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/explore/towns/shanklin

Shanklin Chine: https://shanklinchine.co.uk/

Acklams Coaches: https://acklamscoaches.co.uk/

Done with the aid of Grammarly 

New Adventures & a new start!

 

(200+ year old oak tree located in Rae's home town)

New Adventures with a new start

Ok, so when it comes to blogging, I know I'm a bit on the slow start.  But this time not having done a post or said anything since the start of January 2022 this year!   Ok, hear me out, i've moved, yes away from the woodland behind me the little cop of trees that we petitioned and we being me and my friend Jo and her family which we are still doing. To be in front of yet another aincent oak tree.  Not the one above, this one is in Chase Garth Park in Easingwold near me. The one I am currently sat in front of at my kitchen table in my new flat is an Oak tree planted by another friend and her brothers.  Their Grandfather apparently planted an acorn in what was a large field now these flats.  When the town was a forest, only 4 or several oak trees remain having been knocked down or used in some awful way.  

We use to be The Forest of Galtres... published in the book Easingwold, history of yesteryear.   It looks so different now theres more houses than trees sadly, we only have odd patches.  One being the famous to my towns millfield.... where the doctors surgery is... 

The path way leading down from the top of the North of Easingwold to the skate park...  and wildlife meadow, woodland now owned by the National woodland.  

It's great to walk around and has a skate park for the kids... good also for dog walkers, bird watchers, bat not sure what you'd call bat watchers!! ... I am in the process of doing a q r code style business card for people who seem lost walking around my town as people seem to think Easingwold ends with long street the large long street obvious by its name that runs through the middle part of the town... along with the link to my link tree.  

Well I'll gather more info to put on my blogs that are still pretty random.  Take Care.  Rae.

Boxing Day Meet in Easingwold Dec 27th 2021

The local hunt meets in a nearby town square.

York and Ainisty South Hunt a local one to the area, well, I went to while staying at a relatives over the Christmas period, joined in with some of the other protestors there and it all seemed to kick off with the hunt and their supporters.  Please while im saying this please refrain from sending me abusive comments if you are pre hunt, I dont want to have to delete them! ... 

The protests, horrors and realities of Fox Hunting...

 It started with the December Out Reach...

Ok, here goes nothing, I've recently got into joining our local Anti-Hunt Group.  Phew there I've said it, I've posted on my facebook page and also some on my instagram, yes I am an Anti and think its disgusting that hunts go around parading swearing and sharing drinks out with supporters and especially when Covid and a virus and colds and all sorts going around.  Not just that the animals, why the hell would you lie about a so called trail hunt and then get Terrier men to dig up earths and dens that animals live in and their cubs for sheer trophy and to look good.  Anyway lets keep this blog swearing free it infuriates me as it is!! 

You can find them also with links on my link tree and websites and one of the nearest groups that i am in to me... https://www.facebook.com/easingwoldAF  (for some reason you will have to highlight and then paste into your browser as its not letting me do links again weird thing!) 

Another near on is https://www.facebook.com/yorkantihuntleague, there is also a website which ties them in all together.  https://www.actionagainstfoxhunting.org/ This is where I get most of the posters shown

I mean I have seen taxidermy and it's given and still giving me nightmares, I also once knew someone who did holistic healing who use to have it all over her house and up the stairs... which confused the hell out of me I mean if your trying to help animals omg just dont its revolting!!! 

Well as I say these are all my own views along with those I post of other peoples that I will say when I ever come to them.  As random as my posts are, they are meant in the good content!  Thanks to my autism and Dyslexia!!

One of the leaflets read:

Despite the 2005 ban, fox hunting has never stopped. Hunts pursue and kill foxes every week in hunting season. If you hate this as much as we do, join us. We leaflet, demonstrate and hold outreach stalls. Please contact us.  WWW.ACTIONAGAINSTFOXHUNTING.ORG email:info@actionagainstfoxhunting.org or find us on twitter and facebook.  Theres loads of sabs and others on instagram!!

Another reads: 

Because hunting is cruel, the Hunting Act made it illegal to use dogs to pursue and kill wild mammals. But hunters are campaigning for the Act to be repealed. They have no moral objection to allowing hounds to tear a living animal apart. The vast majority of people rightly find animal cruelty abhorrent. Hunters, on the other hand, find the prolonged chase and the bloody, painful and terrifying death "thrilling". 

For heavens and the animals sakes think before you dismiss this blog post and join us!! There'll be an anti hunt near you... If I could post the video and the photos of what happened when I sadly visited and joined in with a protest in my town you would be so shocked it is unreal, just view the one at EAF Easingwold against fox hunting the vile and disgusting actions and words that where said is just beyond caring!!   Thank you for reading. - Rae.

Returning and New years resolutions!

 New Years Resolutions for 2022!! 

Well, here I go again, sat at the desk or rather this time my mothers dining room table typing this up and hoping for a healthier 2022.  Ok, so this has been terrible... I know i've not done many blog posts this year and I am hoping as always to do more as one of my many resolutions as well as the obvious to losing weight and trying not to catch Covid!!  As I type this the winds blowing outside and we've had temp at about -2 degrees some days here.  A bit warmer now.  Just a quick one as I am trying to think and prepare a post to do with Fox Hunting, yes it's Illegal and and still happens even though they say its so called Trail Hunting.  Untill that post stay well and safe and Happy New Year!!! 

Euans Guide and Red Cord Cards

 Euan's Guide

So, yet again I've been neglecting my blog posts with a mixture of health and busy-ness! :O I keep meaning to log these things down on paper to put on my blog.  Anyway a while ago I did a rather stupidly short post on Euan's Guide and their red cord cards and thought I'd re do it as it didn't really do them any justice! So here goes.

Euan's guide is a Disability Access Review website found at www.euansguide.com (for some reason Rae can't get the link button working so it will have to be a copy and paste situation sorry about that one).  Founded by Euan McDonald MBE and co founded with his sister Kiki in 2013.  Ok, so this is going to be another copy and paste as I don't want to get any nouns, grammar and names wrong but according to their website: After his Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis in 2003, Euan moved from London back to Edinburgh to be with his family and fundraise for MND research. In 2006, Euan and his father Donald established the Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, and helped to set up the Voicebank Project, which is today known as Speak:Unique.

Ten years after his diagnosis, Euan’s Guide was launched by Euan and his sister Kiki as a place for disabled people, their families, friends and carers to share their knowledge of accessible places to go. The award-winning charity is based in Scotland and used by disabled people all over the UK and beyond.

Euan and Kiki work in the Old Town of Edinburgh alongside their team: a friendly bunch who are passionate about accessibility.

About Euan's Guide:

We all navigate the world in different ways. Euan’s Guide makes it easier for disabled people to find great places to go. We all want to get out there and enjoy life, and having good quality disabled access information reduces unnecessary hassle, inspires confidence and removes fear of the unknown.

Euansguide.com is the disabled access review site where disabled people, their family, friends and carers can find and share reviews on the accessibility of venues around the UK and beyond. The site is an invaluable tool for everything from planning a day out, to picking a last-minute place for coffee or lunch.

We believe in making the world more accessible one review at a time. There are now thousands of disabled access reviews and listing on Euan’s Guide. With good accessibility information being so hard to find, one review is often enough to encourage others to visit. Euan’s Guide is opening the door for more people to find new and exciting places to go. Reviews are also sent to venue owners and this can be a positive and powerful opportunity for education and change.

The charity was founded in 2013 by Euan MacDonald MBE, a powerchair user and his sister Kiki after Euan was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and a lack of disabled access made everyday experiences stressful. By breaking down the barriers of exclusion with the help of other people in the same situation, Euan’s Guide hopes to give everyone the freedom to explore.

There is a survey currently going on as of October 2021.  https://www.euansguide.com/access-survey again a copy and paste situation. If anyone wants a go.  I am also a wearer of the sunflower lanyard which is also a must see and read.  Until next time and hope this helps people and the info.  Rae.

Fox not getting mine! (Hedgehog 🦔)

A clip on Brackley Hog Watchcaused it to go viral well be Shared lots! Pictures a hedgehog running off with a chicken drumstick away from a fox. 

Hedgehog Heros🦔

A Durham Rescue Centre has been nominated and awarded Spike Hedgehog Foods Hero Award by Bev Stoker via FB. WELL DONE DAVE!! Not to mention his famous bald (now not!) Hedgehog 🦔 Keith. 

Dave's rescue post

Euan's guide & Reviews

 Hello all!

Today's post is about a website, a group of people, a charity called Euan's guide.  That help disabled people via disability access reviews.  People write reviews on their website of places that they have visited and encourage others to do so as well.  Although it's not just about the reviews, well it is but there are also the "Red Cord Cards" .... You know the Red Cords that hang down from the disabled loos well, every disabled loo should really have one! ... the cards attach to them letting people know that they should hang loose.  Trust me I've seen a few that haven't... shockingly, along with Raydar keys the keys for disabled public loos some of the locks and cords are broken and out of use. I wonder if there is anything called disabled access activists...ohhhh I could tell of you of a few places lol! Anyways! 

https://www.euansguide.com/ is the link to their website to have a look on and if you go right to the bottom to the little foot menu it will mention the red cord cards i was on about.  =Rae

Free Landing and Aldwalk Bridge, North Yorkshire

 Rae's curiosity lead her to...

Aldwalk Bridge...

There has been a river crossing here for hundreds of years - the area once called Rudford Wath, wath meaning a fordable stream - and a ferry once ran between the banks. However, it was dangerous and unreliable in the winter weather, and in 1772 an Act of Parliment was granted to John Thompson of nearby Kirby Hall to build a bridge.

Today, this is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic, or just res and watch the river traffic flow by.  Nowadays, the commercial traffic has been replaced by pleasure craft such as powerful cruisers and jolly narrowboats.  Keep an eye open for the damselflies, such as the banded damoselle.  You might even be lucky enough to spot a brilliantly-coloured kingfisher and you will almost certainly see noisy groups of mallard.  The wild flowers have been a picture in spring and summer in this area.  

This has long been a popular site for fisherman who seak out roach, perch, barbel and pike.  Thompson agreed on condition that the bridge remained in private hands - and today the Aldwalk Bridge remains one of the only eight privately owned toll crossings in the country.  Costing 40p to get across well as of May 2021!  The stury iron crossing you see today was opened on 6th April 1877 two years after the first bridge, designed by Harewood House architect John Carr, fell into the water.

Serene as the scene is today this was the site of a tragedy where in 1810 you men stood on the bridge to watch ice floes speeding beneath on the flood water.  In their excitement, they raced from one side of the bridge to the other - tracgically the railing gave way and 13 fell into the water.  But only one of the bodies was ever found. 

Nun Monkton and Geocaching

 Nun Monkton & Geocaching

Situated over the river bank from Beningborough Hall and gardens, Nun Monkton is one of the rather up market  little area of North Yorkshire.  It's a village with a civil parish in the Harrogate district of our area.  It's situated about 8/9 miles outside the city of York about North Westish from the city.  The village is at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Nidd, with cottages and houses which are grouped around the village green and the 'pub / restaurant' The Alice Hawthorn. The Alice Hawthorn .  (see link in blue!)

 

The Geocaches there were on a nice route but hard to get to if you didn't know the right foot path which was annoying as we seemed to be searching everywhere, with no luck.  It's nice for a walk around near the river though when you get to where your wanting to end up... 

The church in Nun Monkton is St Mary's Church an Episcopal church in the village.  Postcode if your wishing to park nearby the area and telephone number if your of the Christian Religion and visiting the area are: YO26 8ES and 01423 331142

Lovely Church to visit and was nice and cool on such a hot day when we visited.  

Until next post, Rae.

Hesley Worker finds Random Act!

 Hesley Group worker finds Random Act of Kindness in North Yorkshire town!

   

The above pictured Random Act of Kindness, little laminated card that Rae did last week and she's been putting them all over her local Edwardian market town up here in North Yorkshire, England, UK.  Made one Hesley Group worker, over the moon to pick up the little random act in these rather strange and hard times.  K. Roberts who works locally in the town found this whilst on her walk one lunch time and decided to comment on it on the local facebook page.  Which Rae was tagged in by one of her friends that noticed it was her work! 

K. Roberts said "Found this on my lunchtime walk today, thank you it really meant something to me." Well we're glad we certainly helped someone Thank you!!! :D - Rae.

Too long and not logging!

 Hello Strangers,

Ok, so here I am again doing a strange blog post after not blogged for what seems like a decade and with my rather bad writing skills!  I'll never be a writer or write a book ha ha.  I'm too random and my grammar seems to be all over the place at this moment in time.  Not to mention im addicted to touch typing when I do these kinds of blogs.  Always wanting to do a blog about something or another that peaks my curiosity but never actually get round to figuring out what words to say on a blog.  Do you guys read this and have any tips? I'm thinking do people read blogs any more with whats been happening and lockdown and covid 19? 

So as we come out of lockdown slowly and hopefully for the best in the near future here in England, UK I hope this finds my readers well if I still have any left? I've been still out walking in the woods behind my little flat here in Yorkshire.  We finally heard the cuckoo for the first time about a week or so ago, seems to be coming later this year migrating from Africa. Do others think that I always wonder?

Still doing my geocaching and for those cachers out there we're going to the uk lincoln mega this August 2021 hopefully if we can also we are trackable on the website www.geocaching.com and our code is for discovery only at: WBX9FJ if you want to discover us? 

The weather recently here has been strange one day or rather time its pouring rain then sunny then over cast again, it's really weird.   I keep getting my book fairy boxes from a subscription i still have and still doing my book fairy drops.  See a post somewhere i said about book fairy drops! 

Until the next random post i do... keep safe.  NAMASTE x

Rae. 

Blog updating

 Hello!

Ok, so I'm having trouble uploading blog posts as I mainly use my rather weird unpredictable Iphone SE!  The worst thing being it just randomly stops letting me post photos or pictures onto blog posts.  Then other times it wont even let me post at all!! ... I didn't think I was this much of a techniphobe! haha...

Well things have been rather slow here recently, due to lockdown still being active here in the UK and not being able to go out as much.  At least we apparently now can see one other outside of our support bubble for a walk which is a good thing... I'm hoping this will let me take photos of my area sometime so i can post them for you all.  

Oh, another of my random updates, the hedgies or hedgehogs we've been rescuing.  Or rather me attempting ot help where i can my mums neighbour raising awareness for the European Hedgehogs.  I'll call her Mrs A as not so sure she'd want to be named on here. so Mrs A (mums neighbour) rescues hedgies as I call them and helps The little silver hedgehog rescue lady Emma in York. There are now I think 4 hedgehogs in captivity some still in hibernation and some awake.  Can't wait for our Bruce hedgie to come back out again, we know theres someone in the nesting box at the moment which is a good thing at least!! So watch this space!! Anyone have 'hedgies' where they are let me know!!

Hopefully here comes next time! - Rae.

Pausing for thought

 This is where I post a photo. A one or two photos only that have me thinking that I feel I need to share with the world. 

Blogger Doggies and Moggies

Ok so I did this last year or was it the year before. It’s such a strange time that sometimes I don’t know when I did things!! Eek. Here are some famous dogs of my town. Do you recognise any? 

New Year, New Start!

 

Happy New Year 2021! 

Well what a year 2020 has been!  Ok, so again I am behind with blog posts and again with being busy and a rather long Christmas and New Year time!  With the lock down happening 3 times now, it has been a strange one.  I've had Covid about 3 months ago now.  You never know where you catch it from and when, it was like a cold but tight chest and slight coughing fits.  It doesn't half worry you and glad to finally get it out in the open and type it up, after concerns about all different things.  Everyone seemed to have caught it at the time.  I wasn't able to wear a mask in public and still can't a bit but have found other ways with visors and putting a bracket as I call it... lets see if I can find a photo of what I mean and it will let me post it on here!...              there great if the material keeps going in your mouth and you have panic attacks.  Also these are good for it stopping rubbing your ears at the back.  Just ordered one for a friend and also my mum and step dad. Would reccommend them!    

Well with all the shops and cafes shutting, no ones been aloud out here in the UK also the confusing BREXIT and leaving the EU.  Oh and a good thing is I've finally figured out and with help started using ebay to sell things like DVDs and CDs etc that I no longer need on Ebay. 

I'm still geocaching, but in our local area as the govenment says.... although they now say you cannot put any more geocaches out which makes sense so will have to wait to do that.  Just redoing some of mine that have either gone missing or broken...

Well hope you all had a good christmas and new year! Stay safe, Stay well and strong! 

Rae x

 

Geocaching Trip in Over Silton - 12 /10/20

 Geocaching Trip out to do the upper loop of Dog Walk Geocaches and Micky N Dave’s ‘Grandma we love you’ Geocache.  At Upper Silton, North Yorkshire, UK.

Well, here it is the mass long log that we sometimes put on geocaches.  We set off first to Micky N Dave’s which we found a handbag in which was rather touching and the contents.  Nice idea and a scenic area also. Good to see the geocaches in tact too!

We then arrived and parked up near #2 of the dog walk and walked up doing the geocaches backwards up the hill as we thought better up first then you go down later! Signed all the logs as either Harps and Sheep or using Rae’s trackable stamp.  

    

We just couldn’t find one of the geocaches which was a multi stumped stump! … Which we had to DNF think it was the third one up from the Greyhound one which we started at.  We met the Bowes family another group of cachers on the way around and had a few hints at one of the caches which was nice and also got tracked! 

The weather was dry but cold and by the end of the loop or rather if your starting the right way it would be the start it had been raining and it was soggy and very muddy.  We found that the loop below was even worse with mud and nearly up to our knees!

     

We met a few muggles on our way around but people seemed to disappear… interesting scenery, farm lands and moor lands.  Thanks for the geocache hides, very interesting containers to Mel and Freddie 17 (and Mia!).

A cute little kennel cache... you can

Discover us at www.geocaching.com at WBX9FJ.

This log is also going to be published on my random blog at:

https://www.teaandbooklady.blogspot.com 

We had a great day! Would recommend the area for a good walk, until next time and hopefully more up to date blogs too! 

Blessings,

Rae.

Fairy Doors, Remembering a local actress and being a book fairy.

Ok, so a random post here after doing a shift at our local tourist information centre in our town.  Ok, things definatly have changed *excuse spelling having random weird autocorrect issues!* There's been some lovely flowers spotted out and about on my bike rides recently... Along with the local United Response Boot Shop, a place where people with special needs and disabilities go to learn crafts and wow these doors are beautiful!! It's a shame like anywhere some have been vandalised so, I even put one up for a temp sighting to help them out...  wonder how long that one will last!!

And last but very much not least, today marked the funeral procession and cheers of a well known actress and community helper lady in our area Bronwyn Jennison, who recently died this month.  Lovely lady and talented and well known.  What a send off she had people out in force clapping as the hurst passed by doing a circuit of the market place... they did her proud!

Rest in Peace Bronwyn! You were our towns sweetheart! Brightest of blessings and to your family also.  Rae. x

Sheriff Hutton Geocaching

Sheriff Hutton and Geocaching

Ok, so here I am after not having posted for a while again.  Yes, I feel awful again to those readers that follow my posts... I need more lessons and training to do them! Still trying to figure out how to put more photos up.

 

Well, we did a medium ish walk with 4 geocaches around the little village of Sheriff Hutton here in North Yorkshire. Parking at St Helen and the Holy Cross Church. 

The parish has a connection with the 15th century and the War of the Roses.  Research and information found via google and wikipedia.

We met 2 more blog doggies on the way around as I now call them who posed for a photo for this blog! :D With their owners. 2 very kind locals (we think they were) helped us find one of the geocaches, well the four of us looked everywhere which turned out in the end to be a DNF!! It's good that people do know it's there from the village.  

Sheriff Hutton is a village and civil parish in the Rydale district of North Yorkshire, England, UK. It lies about ten miles north by north east of the historic city of York. www.sheriffhutton.co.uk 

We then went to the Highway Man pub for a drink and some crisps after the walk.

The inn / pub from the outside as pictured above....website found at: https://www.thehighwayman.uk.com/ they seemed to do meals on a Sunday from 6pm during this phase of lockdown easing...not sure if that would change.

We had a good afternoon out caching and the weather seemed to stay great... until the next post...Rae.