From The Jam - at Rock City, Nottingham

Another week, another gig night!

I'm starting, gradually, to get back into the normal swing of things, so the other Sunday we were off to Nottingham's Rock City  to see a band, or perhaps more accurately part of a band, from my youth. The Jam split in the early 80s, but Bruce Foxton (from the original Jam line up) and Russell Hastings keep their sound going.

looking through the sound booth

If you follow thus blog very closely (does anyone?) you'll know that, despite all the gigs I go out to, I've only been to Rock City once before and that was years ago (to see Frank Turner). On that occasion though I'd found myself a great place to stand - just behind the sound booth - and that's where I headed this time. It's not as close to the stage as some folks no doubt like to get but it's a little elevated so you can see over everyone in front.

The Vapors

Opening the night were another band from back in the good old days - The Vapors (Turning Japanese) - and the audience seemed mainly folks of my age who'd remember both groups from way back when. It made for a quieter evening than usual - less bouncing around in the mosh pit, more nodding along to the tunes :)

It was good night though. I never got to see The Jam live but this felt very close, and their sound hasn't grown old.

Disconnecting - or not

It's supposed to be a good thing to put your phone down, right?

Disconnecting, switching off your phone with its constant barrage of e-mails and social media notifications is supposed to be calming and relaxing. Switch it off, leave any problems behind, and just enjoy the moment.That's what everybody says.
Well, after a weekend away with no wifi and little phone coverage, I have to disagree.

We went away to Appleby-in-Westmorland a couple of weeks ago, and, although I knew when I booked the cottage that there was no wifi included, I'd automatically assumed I'd have phone signal and therefore connection to the web and general outside world. Discovering there wasn't nearly had me panicking!

I'd been prepared to go without social media for a couple of days - unbelievably I can actually survive without it, although it's very strange to do so - but I like to stay in touch with my family. I won't leave my phone downstairs at bedtime; it comes with me in case anyone wants to contact me at night. It's a habit I got into when my parents were old and frail, and could have needed help at any time of day, but I still like my phone to be at hand in case either of my daughters want to contact me, even if only for a chat. Normally, the last thing I do at night, the first thing I do in the morning is check my phone for any messages from them. Generally there's nothing, but, without the possibility of checking, I couldn't get away from the dreadful feeling that I'd be wanted.

My unsettledness carried on into daytime as well. Leaving the cottage in the morning, the first thing I wanted to do was check my phone. Last thing at night before we returned, I was the same - actually wanting to stay out longer and later 'just in case'. It's not the way to spend a relaxing break. I found it all too stressful.
So in future, don't expect me to be disconnecting from the world. I'll actually be more particular about wifi availability; that way I'll get more peace and quiet.

Skerryvore at the Bodega, Nottingham

I haven't been getting out to a gigs these past few moths; in fact, since July when I saw Deaf Havana at Derby's The Venue

I've been wanting to see Skerryvore properly for a while though, and missed them last time they were in Nottingham, so a couple of weeks ago I was off out to the Bodega.






I first saw them back in 2013 at a Free Fringe Music event at the National Museum of Scotland, and loved their mix of traditional Scottish bagpipe and fiddle music with modern rock and electric guitars. I'm just sorry it's taken me so long to go along to one of their proper gigs.










The music this time seemed louder and 'rockier' than I remember, with a lot more hand-clapping and foot-stomping from the audience, but I still loved it.
If you think you know what bagpipes sound like, think again :)

Dunham Massey

 Dunham Massey has become a place we drop round to quite frequently since our youngest daughter moved up to Manchester - and stopping off to see her on the way back from Appleby-in-Westmorland we decided, yet again, to have a jaunt out of town for some fresh air.













We weren't particularly early in the day, so there was just time for some late lunch in the National Trust cafe before a dash to get into the gardens before last entrance time.










There were a few soggy roses still trying their best to flower but mainly the beauty of the garden came from autumnal trees and shrubs; both their foliage and the bare bones of trunks and branches- ignored during summer when covered by leaves

Unfortunately the bell was soon being rung to signal the closing of the garden, but as we wandered back to the car park a surprise was waiting.











 In the area around the old stables we spotted two deer - the first seemed a little shy, standing against a wall nibbling the moss from it; the second was out in the open near a busy path but having eaten whatever he'd found headed off to join the first. An enchanting note to end our visit on.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens

 As we were heading somewhere new on an adventure last weekend, I thought it would be a good idea to break the journey somewhere new on the way - Fountains Abbey and the adjoining water gardens of Studley Royal.

My intention had been to just stop briefly, have lunch and a half hour's walk around - but it proved too interesting, so we stayed much longer, though still without exploring everywhere

The abbey ruins sit in a valley, and approaching from the visitor reception area you first see what appears to be the normal-sized tower of a church. It's only as you drop down into the valley that the real height of the tower becomes apparent.

As we were limited for time, we didn't stay to investigate the ruins (something for another trip) but moved on to the water gardens which looked beautiful and serene on this sunny, chilly day.

A straight 'canal' leads to the circular Moon pond, flanked by crescent ponds, and overlooked by the Temple of Piety.

The waterside path then leads on to Studley Lake where manicured grounds give way to a more natural park. Having already spent more time here than we'd intended, we crossed the bridge and returned on the opposite side of the valley, leaving the deer park to be explored another time.

There's so much to be seen that I could easily spend a whole day wandering around. Maybe a plan for next spring ...

Appleby-in-Westmorland - a free First Night with Air BnB

Last week I spent a few days near Appleby-in-Westmorland courtesy of winning a free night away through Air BnB. It wasn't quite so much a 'competition' as a 'get in there first', but Air BnB were giving away single nights, on the condition of buying at least a second, in areas around the UK which are perhaps ignored in favour of better known neighbours; Pwllheli, Callander and Pontefract were among the other places on offer. I suspect most people just rush past Appleby on their way to the Lake District or south-west Scotland without stopping to explore the town or surrounding countryside (I've certainly done it) and this seemed an ideal opportunity to explore somewhere new.




The Appleby area is much less touristy than the places I've visited in the Lake District, but we found plenty to do on a weekend break, even though we seem to have ended up with the only wet day of the whole week!

The first evening we wandered round Appleby, to get a feel for the place - walking by the river Eden, through the churchyard (it was Halloween after all), and up its old main street to the walls of the castle which overlooks the town. The castle is now converted to a hotel and open to the public with guided tours, but, with basically one day there, we didn't want to tie ourselves down to one.






Our AirBnB was a self-catering cottage in the village of Long Marton, about five miles from Appleby, so the first thing to do on our 'holiday day' was walk round the village itself.

The Settle-Carlisle railway runs through the village (we saw trains but not a steam train), and you can even stay in the old railway station, now holiday cottages ideal for railway enthusiasts. 

Then we headed back down to Appleby, walking round the town and through the woods alongside the river Eden where we spotted a red squirrel scurrying among the similarly-coloured leaves, and a heron waiting patiently for dinner.

In the afternoon we visited Acorn Bank gardens (a National Trust property not far away). The gardens themselves were probably not at their best this time of year but the woodland walks, to quarries turned into nature reserves, past a watermill, and along a small river, were beautiful in their autumn colours.

Afterwards, as night drew in, we headed to Penrith, then on to Pooley Bridge with the intent of seeing at least a little of one of the Lakes. Unfortunately it was dark by the time we reached there, but the swans and geese could still be heard out on the water.

On our last morning, and with the sun now shining brightly, there was time to stop for another wander under trees by a different section of the river. At this spot the castle can just be seen above the trees - but although we saw another red squirrel, that's again hiding among the leaves.

I think most of us drop into a rut and just visit familiar places, so it was nice to go somewhere completely new. This is definitely a place I'd return to. There are ruined castles at Brough and Brougham that I'd love to explore, longer walks to be taken round Appleby, and of course another time I'd like to actually see a Lake