My Best Day In – a Dalesman reader’s lockdown diary – June edition
Strictly this is not My Best Day In because lockdown/lockup/lockin has been eased. In fact, as from yesterday, I can travel to Scotland but unnecessary travel is still discouraged. However, how better to celebrate this hard won new freedom than by having an enjoyable read of my favourite monthly icon of Yorkshire – The Dalesman. Straight away I have the pleasure of another icon – the red pillar box. It is a pillar box because it is free standing as opposed to a post box. There are 115,500 in the UK. It is no surprise then that during my walks around The Dales I have encountered many post boxes and despite them usually being red they never seem to look out of place. Almost invariably I check to see which Monarch’s insignia is depicted on the front of the box. There are plenty of VR and numerous EIIR – but how many EVIIR boxes are there? There are 271 but I don’t think that I have seen one but I should
From the farm – Amanda Owen The Yorkshire Shepherdess – Amanda updates us on the shenanigans at Ravenseat Farm.
Bard Words – The humorous word of Ian McMillan.
Wollies and Wellies – Roberta Mothersdale talks about her life as a farmer’s wife.
Garnett’s Year – Stunning photography by the talented Stephen Garnett.
What on Earth – Mysterious objects found by The Dalesman readers. Can you tell us what they are used for?
Readers Club – Letter and Pictures from our readers. The letter of the month will receive a stunning gift from one of our selected advertisers.
Country Kitchen – Mrs Simkins creates traditional recipes for you to try at home
Clemmy gathering her eggs
Mind you there was no need to say “spoiler alert” because she simply asked me where I started when opening my Dalesman. She admitted that she usually started with the contents so that she got a flavour of what was to come. I had to admit that I usually went straight to “From the farm” because I am keen to know what those amazing children have been up to and I was not disappointed having read the description of Clemmy gathering eggs – I think that she will go far? I also like to have my next lesson from Amanda in words that I did not know! This month’s word was “heaf” which was a test for tuberculosis when I was a medical student! But, no, it has another meaning – “to become attached to an area of mountain pasture, seldom straying”. There were also lots of puns which make me smile.
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For the best of Yorkshire, you’ll find the following featured every month:
From the farm – Amanda Owen, The Yorkshire Shepherdess – Amanda updates us on the happenings at Ravenseat Farm.
Bard words – the humorous word of Ian McMillan.
Woollies and wellies – Roberta Mothersdale talks about her life on the farm.
Garnett’s Year – stunning photography by the Stephen Garnett.
What on Earth? – mysterious objects found by The Dalesman readers. Can you tell us what they are used for?
Your letters
I was pleased to read Roberta Mothersdale’s article about hedges (Aug). I said right from the start of the Entry Level Scheme, that it will be the ruin of hedges. They will grow long and straggly and gaps will appear which ares no good for wildlife to nest in. A hedge should be thick so birds can nest without being seen; they also provide shelter for farm animals. Hedges should be trimmed every year as this keeps them thick and tidy, with less wear and tear on hedge cutters.
Chris Jolley, York
I wonder how many readers thought that the only sphinx was near the pyramids at El Giza in Egypt? Well they would be wrong because here is the Eastby Sphinx Rock, not too far from Skipton. To see it, climb up Eastby Brow towards Barden Tower, and just over the first cattle grid stop. Then look up the rough track on your left and there he is looking high and handsome as my picture (right) shows. He was first pointed out to me by a member of the Barlick Clarion cycling club many