Hillbilly Rock should have a minty red sauce on the outside and Emmerdale written through the rock. At least that is what the rock of Whitby, Scarborough and Filey tastes like.

American Hillbillies obviously were not named after Yorkshire emigrants as the term has derogatory connotations. US Hillbillies tend to live in the rural sticks and enjoy homemade hooch and a reputation for low educational qualifications.

Leeds Station is one of the UK’s biggest and busiest train stations. Leeds now  has only one major train station and  over 18 platforms. It has recently been refurbished to increase capacity and you know it was needed when you see the streams of weekend clubbers arriving for a night out.

Victoria Arcade. The posher part of Yorkshire

Who would have thought – Harvey Nicholls in Yorkshire. Doing well, despite the economic downturn

Impressive old buildings in the centre of Leeds. I don’t think the architects dropped a brick when they selected the outer cladding. The rosey red bricks have lasted the test of time and are still very appealing.

Taxi’s waiting by the train station. The queue goes round the block and at peak times a marshall is needed to keep the drivers in order. It doesn’t seem so long ago that you could drive through and drop or pick up passengers (but then again I remember when we had two stations in Leeds to choose from.)

One of the many new apartment blocks of flats in the city centre. The landscape of Leeds city centre had changed drastically in past 10 years as smart new office blocks and flats have sprung up across the city.

Leeds Cathedral making a change from the retail facilities of mammon.

Cycling through Leeds

Do you know where this landmark is located? Not quite a location on the Leeds Monopoly board but a chance for you to show off your powers of observation and memory.

White Rose of Yorkshire.

The white rose of Yorkshire is the symbol for the House of York. From the fourteenth century it has also been the symbol for Yorkshire.

The use of the White Rose of Yorkshire goes back to Edmund of Langley in the fourteenth century, the first Duke of York and the ruling Plantangenets

The symbolism of the white rose is said to relate to the Virgin Mary, who was known as the Mystical rose of heaven. White is a common colour for purity in religious ceremonies.

During the wars of the Roses (Lancashire vs Yorkshire), the forces of Yorkshire fought the Lancastrians who had a Red rose as an emblem. (Why do all Lancastrians have red noses? Because when god was handing noses out they thought he said roses, so they asked for a big red one!)

The War of the roses was ended when King of England Henry VII united the warring factions and symbolically created the Tudor rose.

At the Battle of Minden 1st August 1759, Yorkshire troops from a Yorkshire battalion were able to pluck white roses from close to the Battlefield in tribute to their fallen comrades. Ever since Yorkshire day has been celebrated on August 1st.

The white rose has been or is still used by many different causes as well:

During the Second World War, German students who resisted Hitler’s Nazi Regime founded the White Rose league – a movement seeking to overthrow Hitler and his party.

The White Rose Universities is the group of Leeds, York and Sheffield universities.

White Rose business Awards for 2013 opens for application in March. It is managed by ‘Welcome to Yorkshire’.
White rose shopping centre is owned and managed by Land Securities and may feature hidden away in many Yorkshireman’s pension investments in some form.

The White Rose credit union operates out of Wakefield the capital city of Yorkshire.

Should someone resign for fostering the children with these parents in the first place?
Certainly someone must now depart from their job or elected office because they must be wrong from the start or dead wrong now when they take the kids away.
Sadly no one in public life seems inclined to own up and takes responsibility by resigning (unless the pay out is worthwhile).
In Rotherham they were kipping on the job but it is the kids who will find it hard to kip as they are moved from home to home.

Secrecy seems to trump commonsense in many of these situations. We may never know what has gone on behind the scenes as the truth is often covered up in the guise of protecting the children. Christopher Booker writes in the Daily Telegraph ‘Our ‘child protection’ system is severely dysfunctional, but it has not come to the centre of national attention because it hides its workings behind a veil of secrecy ………’

Blame culture, self interest, financial chicanery, obfuscation and buck passing have become national diseases. I have half a mind to vote for a different set of politicians (if I thought they would make a difference) and half a mind is all you need to vote in our current party system. Come on Rotherham show us how to do it in your by-election

Photo credit Rotherham … GREGGS. by BazzaDaRambler CC BY 2.0

Harlow Carr Garden Harrogate, formerly the top trials garden and base of the Northern Horticultural Society was taken over by The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)  in 2001. It is now a top class garden and visitor attraction with many new features. This is a result of volunteers hard work and from the capital investment by RHS, the nations top gardening charity. If you think this picture is a bit fishy for a garden then you may be surprised at the other modern sculpture that is being progressively introduced into Harlow Carr.

The gardens once were part of the Forest of Knaresborough, an ancient royal hunting ground. In 1734 sulphur springs were discovered on the site and remain beneath the present Limestone Rock Garden. The Streamside Garden, Scented Garden and Gardens through Time are worth a visit but the latest attraction is the new Alpine House with an extensive range of small but interesting Alpine plants.

Harlow Carr is moving with the times and is building a large new ‘green construction’ learning centre to support the educational remit of the RHS. This will incorporate an enlarged library but free book loans are still available from the existing library for RHS members. If you want more dynamic gardeners tips to help you in your own garden click here on the web.

Harlow Carr is renown for its Rhododendrons, many planted by Geoffrey Smith (1928-2009) the one time superintendent who sadly died earlier this year.

How many plants can you grow in a 5 foot square box? These alpines are outside the new Alpine house enjoying the natural sun. I think the vertically packed in rocks are an interesting way to display your plants.

Trees are a major part of any large garden and Harlow Carr has great woodland walks, a bird watching area and these colourful Acers.

For short comments on other Yorkshire gardens  that you may wish to visit.

Shot and a Ghost: A Year in the Brutal World of Professional Squash by James Willstrop (Rod Gilmour)

James Willstrop is also one of the world’s leading squash players with a history of acrimonious rivalry with fellow squash player and genuine Yorkshireman Nick Matthew.
James Willstrop is ‘one of the sport’s most complex and cerebral characters. Born in Norfolk but brought up in Pontefract, James is anything but the archetypal Yorkshireman – a poetry-loving vegan with a love of musicals, Oscar Wilde and Philip Larkin.’ He even writes a regular column for the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The book is largely his own work including a self publishing exercise. It is said to be ‘candidly honest about the issues that affect him, using flashbacks to earlier periods in his life. As critical of himself as of others, he talks openly about his close relationship with his father and coach, Malcolm; the devastating death of his mother, Lesley.’
James has been the world No 1 since January 2012 and has won over 80 caps for England whilst travelling the world.

Ghosting in Squash terms is not about the writing of a book. During training playing a shot without a ball is to Ghost. A bit like cricketers who miss and practice an ‘air shot’. Repetition is is an art form in squash enhancing skills by time spent ghosting.

Will ‘Shot and a Ghost’ be another win for Yorkshire Sport when the result is announced? Is Squash ready to be a mainline ‘Gold medal winning’ sport.

The Sports Book Of The Year 2012 shortlist in full

That Near-Death Thing – Inside the TT : The World’s Most Dangerous Race by Rick Broadbent (Orion)
Running with the Kenyans – Discovering The Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth by Adharanand Finn (Faber)
The Secret Race – Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning at All Costs by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle (Bantam Press)
Be Careful What You Wish For by Simon Jordan (Yellow Jersey)
Fibber in the Heat by Miles Jupp (Ebury Press)
A Life Without Limits – A World Champion’s Journey by Chrissie Wellington, with Michael Aylwin (Constable & Robinson)
Shot and a Ghost: A Year in the Brutal World of Professional Squash by James Willstrop (Rod Gilmour)

Nick Matthew

Nick has twice been World Champion.
Other success includes 3 times British open champion and 4 times British National Champion.
Gold Medals in the Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Aged 32 Nick was born in Sheffield.

Leodis Lager, Leodis Dunkel and Leodis Wheat Beer may all taste different but the consistent quality is replicated in a consistent strength. 4.6% abv the percentage of Alcohol by Volume is the same for all 3 brews from the Brewery Tap.
Strangely this converts to 8.06% proof in UK measures or 9.2% proof in USA terms. For more on ‘Proof’ and alcohol in general read clever

Leeds larger lovers can drink locally produced Leodis, a continental style 4.6% lager produced using eastern European hops and genuine lager yeast, at the Brewery Taps on the approach road to the railway station. Ask the enthusiastic staff if you would like to try a taster and hear more about our exceptional set-up.

For more and better sustenance try a couple of pints of pleasure at the Scarbrough Taps just around the corner. A favorite haunt of Camra what ever the abv.
In 1826 Henry Scarbrough named his pub the Kings Arms. Then in 1890, Fred Wood established The Scarbrough Hotel where he organised talent nights. Any act showing promise was put on at his City Varieties so no karaoke from me just in case.
The pub is now owned by Nicholson’s who have a good chain of pubs with grub in London. The format there is the same with dining available in upstairs rooms above the long thin bars. Many of the Nicholson’s pubs have interesting histories.

Photo credits
153/365: Leodis by Michael of Scott CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 ‘Leodis is a rich, flavoursome, caramel-tasting lager brewed by Leeds brewery in the micro brewery upstairs in their pub, the Brewery Tap in Leeds. Drinking the cold pint knowing that it had travelled only a few meters from brewery to glass and feeling proud to be in Leeds!’
The Brewery Tap, Leeds by Adam Bruderer CC BY 2.0
Leeds flickr Meetup by iwouldstay CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Some History of Botanic Arts

The Arts and Crafts Movement enjoys current popularity and often used organic shapes and forms in the work. From this developed the beginning of an Art Nouveau style that can be recognized during the 1880s with many references to botanics. However botanic art goes further back:-

‘The Golden Age of Flowers: Botanical Illustration in the Age of Discovery 1600-1800′ by Celia Fisher is reviewed in some detail on Gardening Products

Hands on gardening can be an art and therapy and has been for centuries.  Some part of this story is told in ‘Gardening Women: Their Stories from 1600 to the Present’ by Catherine Horwood from Amazon.

‘At the age of seventy-two, Mary Delany, (1700-1788), embarked upon a series of nearly a thousand botanical collages, or ‘paper mosaics. Delicate hand-cut floral designs, made by a method of Mrs. Delany’s own invention, vie with the finest botanical works of her time. More than two centuries later her extraordinary work continues to inspire.’

Mrs. Delany and Her Circle (Yale Center for British Art) by Mark Laird and Alicia Weisberg-roberts

Courses Training and Learning

The Northern Society of Botanical Art was formed In January1993 by a group of people with a common interest in plants and flowers. They originally attended classes in Botanical Illustration at Sheffield University.

The Society of Botanic artistsrun many courses throughout the year including several in Yorkshire locations:

JACK BECK HOUSE – Yorkshire Dales Watercolour flower painting with Janet Whittle SBA.
HARLOW CARR – RHS gardens Harrogate Botanical and flower painting courses and workshops with tutors Susan Christopher-Coulson SBA, Colin Swinton and Victoria Street.
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD A variety of Courses in Botanical Illustration. Contact Institute for Lifelong Learning.
Check your local paper and library for other courses or join a local art group.

Himalayan garden and sculpture park the Hutts nr Ripon.

Forms of Botanic Art

Drawing and painting spring to mind when you first consider botanic art. There are some vivid and detailed drawing of plants and flowers that educated and illuminated botany for years.
Then no local art show would be complete without a display of carefully replicated flowers in various mediums.
Sculpture is another form where botanic art can come into its own. Whilst the sculpture above is of birds there are floral tributes in the Himalayan sculpture park near Ripon.
Collages, textile design and decoupage are other forms of art relying on botanic subjects.

Growing your own flowers and plants is not classed as an art form but I would argue that garden design certainly should be. In the meantime you may wish to buy some raw material for your own art work from Thompson & Morgan

Photo Credits
flower by artfulblogger CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Painted by jenrock CC BY-NC 2.0
Painted eucalyptus by littlevanities CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Century Plant (for my Ma on her Birthday) by montethrasher CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

National Parks

Yorkshire exclusively has two National Parks – The Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors (we share some of the Peak District with Derbyshire). Both give a range of unspoilt natural beauty. Outside of the National Parks, there are still many aonb’s beautiful areas – Nidderdale, Haworth moors e.t.c. Yorkshire gives an unparalleled display and variety of scenic countryside.

Bradford.

Bradford was the first industrial city and at the forefront of the great industrial revolution in the nineteenth century. Today Bradford has reinvented itself as a city of peace and multiculturalism.

Yorkshire Cricket Club.

Yorkshire have won the county champions a record 30 times – making them by far the most successful cricket county in Britain. Yorkshire has also produced some of England’s greatest cricketers from the fiery fast bowling of Fred Trueman to the imperious batting of Geoff Boycott.

Yorkshire Tea

OK, it might not be grown in the foothills of the Yorkshire Dales, but, it is a quintessential Yorkshire brew – strong, dark and invigorating.

We Say it how it is.

Yorkshireman are known for their no nonsense straight talking. A spade’s a spade and we don’t suffer fools gladly. You will always know where you are with a Yorkshireman – no false flattery or lack of gumption for saying it how it is.
We do not say a lot but when we do it is likely to be pithy, blunt and to the point.

Last of the Summer Wine

There’s life even in the oldest of Yorkshireman. As this series set in the picturesque Haworth (near Holmfirth? Yorkshire humour and bad geography O level) shows.

Steel and Coal.

It’s no mistake to say Great Britain was built with Yorkshire steel and Yorkshire coal. Sheffield once provided 50% of the world’s steel and Yorkshire’s coal mines are well known for their prolific output.

A Nice cup of Tea

It’s only in a county like Yorkshire that within a short distance you can go from the grime of Coal mines to the luxury of a Betty’s tea room with stately cups of tea and scones.

Yorkshire Dialect

There is something refreshing about the dialect of Yorkshire. Words like gumption, rapscallion, are all great words which make a fascinating conversation.

• thers nowt sae kweer as fowk – People can be the strangest of things at times

Yorkshire Humour

A couple are playing ‘I spy’ in the kitchen of their home somewhere in Yorkshire
‘I spy with my little eye something beginning with T’ said the husband.
“Tea pot said the wife.” ‘Nay Lass!’
“Tea towel.” ‘Nay Lass!’
“Toaster.” ‘Nay Lass!’ he said, drumming his fingers on the work top.
“Oh I don’t know” she said at long last “I give in”
‘It’s easy’ he said. ‘It’s t’oven!’

More humourous slogans

Leeds Pubs hide there light under a bushel or in a back yard in the case of Whitelocks. Run by the Whitelock family for 90 years during the 19th century Whitelocks was renamed from the original ‘Turks Head’ but the long narrow passage way where it is located is now named Turks Head Yard.

A  ‘Yard of Ale’ is what you can expect or several yards of copper bar with numerous hand pulled and beer engine pumps to serve you a great selection of ales real and chilled. Beer at its best served in the old style. Whitelocks is worth a visit for the mirrors and polished copper alone but they have a long reputation as a luncheon bar and serve good Yorkshire grub. I remember being fascinated 40 years ago that part of a pub had white linen tablecloths and there were 8 tables similarly adorned at lunchtime last week.
If you don’t want food with your drink go in an evening or drink outside in the long thin passage way that leads from Briggate to Trinity Street (back of M&S to people in the Man Creche).

I ventured in to Whitelocks last week as I remembered they had a toilet out in the yard only to find it locked and accessible only through the bar so I felt I must enter. With the drink I then consumed I put in more than I took out so to speak!
It is over 40 years since I first supped in Whitelocks but a small time compared to the 297 it has been open. I must make a note to visit in 2015 when they celebrate their 300 year anniversary.

Other Reviews
Whitelocks is Leeds’ oldest pub (1715) hidden in the depths of one of the city’s more obscure alleyways. Bizarrely, despite tourists and legless students alike struggling to find it, the pissed OAPs seem to locate their place at the bar every time……. the itchy guide goes on in similar fashion but it is aimed at the drinking student class (or is that skipping classes).

Pub Humour

A man walks into a bar! – ‘Ouch’
A dyslexic walks into a bra!
A ham sandwich walks into a bar and asks for a pint and a pickled egg – ‘Sorry we don’t serve food!’
A man walks into a bar with a lump of tarmac under his arm and says: “Pint please, and one for the road.”
Descartes walks into a bar and is asked “Would you like a beer?” Descartes replies “I think not” and woosh! he vanishes.
A Black Sheep walks into a bar. The bartender says, “We have a beer named after you.” The Black Sheep says, “Bob?”

Photo credits
Adam Bruderer CC BY 2.0
Whitelocks by tricky (rick harrison) One of the narrow alleyways leading into Whitelocks pub (the oldest pub in Leeds). CC BY-NC-SA 2.0