Do'nt discard your winter clothes until the end of May has proved a true saying this year but May ended with a real bang. Last Saturday (the 31st) saw the mercury hit 23 degrees and Elaine and took the afternoon off and headed up to Hemsley. Helmsley is a lovely market town north of York and we decided to do a walk from Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey.
The return journey is some 5 miles but, apart from one steep incline, not strenuous. It traverses farm and woodland and is quite magical. We walked through fields of sheep with young lambs at their sides and at one stage past a field of rapeseed dazzling in it's yellow luminosity. We sat at the Tea Room at Rievaulx enjoying the tranquility before, refreshed after our tea we set off back.
Louis Wolfe Gilbert's immortal words;
"Those who find beauty in all of nature will find themselves at one with all the secrets of life itself,"
certainly resonated with both of us.
May had proved to be very busy and we were both grateful of the opportunity to recharge our batteries.
However we have now redone our summer hanging baskets and window boxes and replanted sections of the garden and are quite pleased with our handy work.
During the month we welcomed back to Feversham Lodge old friends Roy and Marilyn Hammersley and the Haggertey's who brought friends with them. It was great to catch up on their news. We also had Canadian visitors William and Joanne Anderson. They asked our advice on dining at a quintessential English pub and we suggested the Punchbowl in Stonegate. William was adamant that his pie was the best he had ever tasted. Those of you visiting from overseas might want to make a note of the pub name.
We leave youas usual with an update of what's on in our area this month.
So using the late Fred Trueman's sign off phrase in true Yorkshire dialect until our next blog "Al si thi." (see you later).
David.

6/14th June - York Late Music Festival - National Centre for Early Music, Tel: 01904 658338 www.ncfm.co.uk

7/28th June - A Man for All Seasons - York Theatre Royal www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

11th June - Farmers Market - Castle Howard www.castlehoward.co.uk

14th June - Real Snow Rail Jam (20 tonnes of real snow). www.snozoneuk.com

16/21st June - York Youth Mysteries 2008 - The Knavesmire, Tel: 01904 554660 www.yorkyouthmysteries.com

21/22nd June - York Cycle Show - Racecourse, Tel: 0870 8730660 www.yorkcycleshow.co.uk

22nd June - Classic Wings & Wheels Show - Yorkshire Air Museum, Tel: 01904 608595