We've Shed Two Sheds

 Thanks to the amazing Settle Sell and Seek Facebook site we have been able to find instant buyers for two sheds that have nestled inconspicuously inside the north and south ends of the rooftop tank.   They had been full of mainly electrical 'rubbish'.   Leftovers from almost a lifetime of electrical jobs, re-wirings and obsolete electrical gadgets.   I know that daughter Lorna will be delighted that we are downsizing our collections of 'stuff'.  Part of the reason for the removal of the shed was that we did not know how well our fibreglass roof had survived below them and the weight of their contents.  (It looks as new)

The sheds have found a very good home with Mike and Fiona Myers of East Morton near Bingley.   They will house chickens at their, farm right on the western edge of Ilkley Moor.  Their website is well worth a look.

https://www.moorlandsfarmholidays.com

The spaces occupied by the sheds will be 'grassed' and will house shrubs in planters, making that rooftop area much more welcoming as virtual garden and summertime lounging areas.

The Yorkshire Dales Explorer

 A brand new train service has started from Lancashire to Ribblehead.  A named train too - The Yorkshire Dales Explorer.   From Rochdale via Manchester Victoria and Bolton and on to  the S&C at Hellifield.  This is a real break-through for cross border train travel.  This is a screen-grab from Real Time Trains and it is on its way, one minute early at Ramsgreave & Wilpshire on its first day:

The Glory on the Yorkshire Dales in High Summer

 Found these two splendid pictures on Facebook.   They are both of the same steam train at two locations in Dentdale on Saturday 22nd June 2024.   The first, by Shep Woolley, shows Arten Gill viaduct.  The second, by Matt Kirby, is of Dent Head viaduct.   The fireman of the Battle of Britain class locomotive Tangmere is Settle's Martyn Soames.   Not long afterwards she roared through Settle station with * 'Her Whistle Wide and Her Throttle Back'*.   What a sight and sound.

*The Runaway Train - song

Have a listen.  A song from my childhood.  Days of innocence when the word 'hell' was swearing, deserving of omission.

Gladys Emmanuel Update

 Our lovely 110 years old Ford Model T is in good hands with nephew David Kay:

A Toot from Sir Nigel

In brilliant sunshine yesterday, 5th June, the line was host to A4 Pacific Sir Nigel Gresley heading north late morning and back late afternoon.  I had the privilege of seeing her from the north viewing area both ways.   As has become my habit I gave her a wave on the return leg and was rewarded with a blast from that magnificent wailing hooter.   Here she is alongside Ingleborough and passing over Ribblehead Viaduct.  Two splendid pictures by Point and Shoot Photos and Diane Muldowney and a third from Shep Woolley.

Nigel Gresley was one that I missed in my train-spotting days.  He's made up for it since.

Clematis Time Again (and some technical woes fixed)

Our much covered (in this Blog at least) common or garden clematis has reached and is overspilling the top of the Midland Railway iron window frame that we removed from the back of the tower to create the doorway to the new bits.

Meanwhile the 'weeds' are in magnificent full bloom:

We have been without our lift for a fortnight of so and to add to our discomfiture our BT telephone line failed for a week - along with internet.  This  disrupted Ukrainian David's online schooling too.  All back working again now.  These people, Gartec (below), are actually part of the Swedish firm Aritco who made our lift.  It has had a very thorough and expert seeing-to after its 12 years.

Still with things technical we both now have hearing aids (on the NHS).  Almost invisible they are unique to each ear and are phenomenally effective.  They use Bluetooth and connect to other bluetooth devices like our i-phones, Smart TVs and the new car's systems.  Surround sound from the huge TV in the living room is awesome.

Testing the Stairlift

 Always good to have an independent assessment of anything new.  The stairlift was in need of just such.  Here is our Ukrainian guest David on his return journey having descended in some trepidation.  His one word verdict?  Cool.