84 lbs!!! Or 6 stone, as the Brits say. Whatever--it's a great feeling. I wore a dress to work today, the 1st time in 10+ years--although I have to say I was a bit disappointed by the reaction.
It was a very busy day and I'm very tired now. I have to go in an hour early and relieve one of my co-workers, who came in an hour early for me so I could go over to Harrogate Grammar School and hear George Goodwin talk about his book Fatal Colours. Quite a good talk with a lot of info about the people and events leading up to the Battle of Towton in 1461.
Friday 28 September 2012
Wednesday 26 September 2012
26 September 2012
83 lbs!! Woo Hoo! By my ever-decreasing standards, today was a pretty good day--it wasn't raining, which is a huge improvement. The rivers are still pretty high and there's lots of standing water in the fields but at least it's not getting worse. I even managed to get a few things grilled for supper and left-overs.
I'm still looking for my new car insurance cards so I can get my new tax disc. It expires this month, but I don't see any reason to get it done early. This was the first year I had to get an MOT (inspection) to renew; my car is 3 years old now. I have a little less than a year to pay on it. When it's paid off, I'll continue to put the money into savings so hopefully, when it comes time for a new car, I can pay cash, something I've never been able to afford. I'm actually happy to be staying on a continent long enough to pay off a car! I had to sell the last 2 cars before they were paid off and take a huge loss. Grrrrr!
The commissary is just packed with Halloween candy right now :-( Arg! I hope my 2 favorites sell out real soon! I like peanut butter cups and Tootsie rolls too, but the ones I have the most trouble resisting are the candy corn (the white, yellow nd orange ones, NOT the ones with the brown--ugh!) and those dratted orange pumpkins with the green tops. Those orange pumpkins just kill me!! I hope they sell out real soon! Interestingly (and fortunately--from my point of view), I don't like the Brach's candy corn they carry thru out the rest of the year; it's too hard--or something--and it's just wrong. I figure if I can make it until the 8th of October, I should be fine; I go on my trip and hopefully it will be all sold out by the time I get back.
I got a package in the mail a few days ago from my daughter with 2 new pair of jeans (in my current size!!) and some new (smaller) underwear. I was inspired to clean out my underwear drawers last night and get rid of all the stuff that's too big. I also found a few pair of earrings, although what they were doing in with the undies is beyond me :-) I think my next project will be all my ratty old T-shirts, although I may save that until after my trip.
I'm still looking for my new car insurance cards so I can get my new tax disc. It expires this month, but I don't see any reason to get it done early. This was the first year I had to get an MOT (inspection) to renew; my car is 3 years old now. I have a little less than a year to pay on it. When it's paid off, I'll continue to put the money into savings so hopefully, when it comes time for a new car, I can pay cash, something I've never been able to afford. I'm actually happy to be staying on a continent long enough to pay off a car! I had to sell the last 2 cars before they were paid off and take a huge loss. Grrrrr!
The commissary is just packed with Halloween candy right now :-( Arg! I hope my 2 favorites sell out real soon! I like peanut butter cups and Tootsie rolls too, but the ones I have the most trouble resisting are the candy corn (the white, yellow nd orange ones, NOT the ones with the brown--ugh!) and those dratted orange pumpkins with the green tops. Those orange pumpkins just kill me!! I hope they sell out real soon! Interestingly (and fortunately--from my point of view), I don't like the Brach's candy corn they carry thru out the rest of the year; it's too hard--or something--and it's just wrong. I figure if I can make it until the 8th of October, I should be fine; I go on my trip and hopefully it will be all sold out by the time I get back.
I got a package in the mail a few days ago from my daughter with 2 new pair of jeans (in my current size!!) and some new (smaller) underwear. I was inspired to clean out my underwear drawers last night and get rid of all the stuff that's too big. I also found a few pair of earrings, although what they were doing in with the undies is beyond me :-) I think my next project will be all my ratty old T-shirts, although I may save that until after my trip.
Tuesday 25 September 2012
25 September 2012
Still at 81 lbs :-(
Got a lot done today--and was even warm for a short while at the Turkish Baths--but it was another very wet day. Given how high the Ure (I think) up in Ripon was, I'm actually surprised at how low the beck in Shaw Mills was. It's extremely wet and the rain continues--pretty much unabated!
My shirts and shoes arrived from Ulla Popken today, so I am now ready for the study tour next month. I've printed a packing list (because I'm so-o-o-o obsessive) so I'm good to go. I even signed up for a Reflexology session, so between that and my podiatry appointment today, my feet will be as happy as I can get them before the trip starts :-)
Got a lot done today--and was even warm for a short while at the Turkish Baths--but it was another very wet day. Given how high the Ure (I think) up in Ripon was, I'm actually surprised at how low the beck in Shaw Mills was. It's extremely wet and the rain continues--pretty much unabated!
My shirts and shoes arrived from Ulla Popken today, so I am now ready for the study tour next month. I've printed a packing list (because I'm so-o-o-o obsessive) so I'm good to go. I even signed up for a Reflexology session, so between that and my podiatry appointment today, my feet will be as happy as I can get them before the trip starts :-)
Monday 24 September 2012
24 September 2012
Still at 81 lbs. It's now my first day of break and the weather is dreadful. It's raining cats and dogs--and it's supposed to be like this all break. Something is leaking in the kitchen.
I'm trying to do my Pollyanna imitation and find something good about the crappy new schedule I start in a week. So far, the only thing I've come up with is that I should have an easier time getting to the gym. That's a good thing--but a poor trade-off against the travel. As you can probably tell, the rain is not helping my mood...
I'm trying to do my Pollyanna imitation and find something good about the crappy new schedule I start in a week. So far, the only thing I've come up with is that I should have an easier time getting to the gym. That's a good thing--but a poor trade-off against the travel. As you can probably tell, the rain is not helping my mood...
Thursday 20 September 2012
20 September 2012
Still 81 lbs. I got a perm today and now I'm heading off for my first of 4 graves. I'll be off for a few days.
Wednesday 19 September 2012
19 September 2012
81 lbs!! I am on a roll! I feel like I'm on the top of the world.
I could see from my window this morning that it was another gorgeous day, so I thought I'd try to get some shots of Spofforth Castle. Spofforth Castle was the home of the Percys before they bought Alnwick Castle. It's a very cool place, in spite of its ruinous condition. The ruins seem to just grow out of the surrounding rock.
Entrance to the castle, which I'm sure just gives the Health an Safety nannies fits!
Wandering around outside:
I could see from my window this morning that it was another gorgeous day, so I thought I'd try to get some shots of Spofforth Castle. Spofforth Castle was the home of the Percys before they bought Alnwick Castle. It's a very cool place, in spite of its ruinous condition. The ruins seem to just grow out of the surrounding rock.
Entrance to the castle, which I'm sure just gives the Health an Safety nannies fits!
Looking back up that scary stairway.
Steps to nowhere:
Wandering around outside:
Spofforth Castle is an unstaffed English Heritage property, so you can go whenever you like--although there's probably a restriction to daylight hours only. All-in-all, a great day out!
It's a chilly night, but I've still got the window open--mostly because I can hear an owl fairly close by. It's a little too chilly to leave to open all night, but I'm enjoying it for now.
Tuesday 18 September 2012
18 September 2012
80 lbs!! Another great day! Even the weather cooperated today. Yesterday (or so), English Heritage put up a picture of Tynemouth Priory and Castle on their Facebook page; it looked interesting and it's less than 2 hours up the A1, so I thought I'd go check it out. It was a brilliant day for seaside photographs. Here are a few of my shots:
The North Sea, from Tynemouth Priory and Castle:
Tynemouth Priory, with the antennas from the old Coast Guard Station:
More of the Priory:
Seafront row houses:
External view of the gatehouse:
The North Sea, from Tynemouth Priory and Castle:
The gatehouse and portcullis
Tynemouth Priory, with the antennas from the old Coast Guard Station:
The Priory
The gatehouse
Doors to the Percy Chantry:
Inside the Percy Chantry, with its Victorian stained glass:
Exterior shot of the Percy Chantry:
Too blustery even for the sea gulls:
External view of the gatehouse:
There's a little cafe just across the road from Tynemouth Priory and Castle called Mr Woods Coffee. The coffee is good and today's soup (Malaysian Chicken Soup) was fabulous! Not exactly diet-friendly, but not too bad either. It was thickened with potato, so I had to claim a 'lapse'--but it was worth it! The cakes looked good, too, but I left them alone :-) I drove thru rain in Durham on the way home but it was still a great day out!
I had a massage at the Harrogate Baths tonight--and I finally remembered my camera--so in case you're wondering, there really was a Thomas Crapper! And he really did manufacture 'valveless flushing toilets'--and sinks, too, apparently. The things you learn...
Monday 17 September 2012
17 September 2012
79 lbs! This is so-o-o-o-o exciting!! I think getting to 84 lbs before my study tour is well within my reach--heck, 90 lbs might actually be do-able :-)
Just a bunch of errands today. I went in to town earlier today but realized I should have written down some stuff before I went--and made sure Manchester Piccadilly station is the right station for the Midland Hotel before I buy the ticket. Doh!
Why do people always say "if I knew then what I know now..." If I knew then what I know now, chances are still pretty good that I would make the same decision! If you won't change your future--which is a blank page, with all its possibilities--why should anyone believe you'd change your past? I know I've been on a rant about this for awhile, but it really bugs me!
I finally made it to see Brave, which I really enjoyed. I also loved La Luna, the little opener before the feature. I think it might be as good as Snow Globes, the opener for Finding Nemo.
Got a bit of bad news when I got home though--my renter is moving :-( Bummer! I hope the place doesn't sit empty for too long...
Just a bunch of errands today. I went in to town earlier today but realized I should have written down some stuff before I went--and made sure Manchester Piccadilly station is the right station for the Midland Hotel before I buy the ticket. Doh!
Why do people always say "if I knew then what I know now..." If I knew then what I know now, chances are still pretty good that I would make the same decision! If you won't change your future--which is a blank page, with all its possibilities--why should anyone believe you'd change your past? I know I've been on a rant about this for awhile, but it really bugs me!
I finally made it to see Brave, which I really enjoyed. I also loved La Luna, the little opener before the feature. I think it might be as good as Snow Globes, the opener for Finding Nemo.
Got a bit of bad news when I got home though--my renter is moving :-( Bummer! I hope the place doesn't sit empty for too long...
Sunday 16 September 2012
16 September 2012
Still 78 lbs down. But today was a big day anyway: For the first time in 20+ years, I wore a pair of size 22 jeans!! I've been wearing Ulla Popken size 20/22 tops for a couple of weeks now but this is the first time in the jeans. Very motivating!
Rachel and I went to the BXtra and the food court (Taco Bell!) at Mildenhall and the commissary and BX down at Lakenheath. While we were at Mildenhall, that little Celtic place opened and I tried on this cape I've had my eye on for years. I was seriously impressed!! Either I'm not as short as I think I am (doubtful) or the cape is not as long as I thought (much more likely!), but it's a very flattering mid-calf length. It's 100% wool cashmere and amazingly soft! It's all hand-made and you get to pick all the colors--cape, lining, hood and lining. The one shown is black with a red lining and it's gorgeous! I'll have to see whether I like the black or navy better. I think I may have just found either my Christmas prezzie or my reward for losing all this weight.
The Trent is the traditional (historical? whatever) border between north and south in England. We crossed the river this afternoon to completely cloudy skies on the way home--and within 45 minutes, it was pouring. It's slacked off a bit now but it's still pretty wet. Welcome home!
Rachel and I went to the BXtra and the food court (Taco Bell!) at Mildenhall and the commissary and BX down at Lakenheath. While we were at Mildenhall, that little Celtic place opened and I tried on this cape I've had my eye on for years. I was seriously impressed!! Either I'm not as short as I think I am (doubtful) or the cape is not as long as I thought (much more likely!), but it's a very flattering mid-calf length. It's 100% wool cashmere and amazingly soft! It's all hand-made and you get to pick all the colors--cape, lining, hood and lining. The one shown is black with a red lining and it's gorgeous! I'll have to see whether I like the black or navy better. I think I may have just found either my Christmas prezzie or my reward for losing all this weight.
The Trent is the traditional (historical? whatever) border between north and south in England. We crossed the river this afternoon to completely cloudy skies on the way home--and within 45 minutes, it was pouring. It's slacked off a bit now but it's still pretty wet. Welcome home!
Friday 14 September 2012
14 September 2012
78 lbs! Very busy day at work--and tomorrow is shaping up to be more of the same. I'm off to bed!
Thursday 13 September 2012
13 September 2012
77 lbs!! Not too much is going on; I did manage to pick up a few hours of overtime tomorrow but otherwise, it's been real dead. It seems like Autumn has arrived with a vengence. Bummer! I've got the heat back on after a couple of days of not needing it.
I went to a going away dinner last night at Sweet Basil, a local Chinese/Thai restaurant. After a couple of basically uninspiring visits, the food last night was fabulous--and all on the diet. I had Hot 'n Sour Soup and a couple of Thai options and it was really good. I'll definitely be going back!
I went to a going away dinner last night at Sweet Basil, a local Chinese/Thai restaurant. After a couple of basically uninspiring visits, the food last night was fabulous--and all on the diet. I had Hot 'n Sour Soup and a couple of Thai options and it was really good. I'll definitely be going back!
Tuesday 11 September 2012
11 September 2012
76 lbs. Yippee! That's about it for the day. I went by the Turkish Baths after I got my nails done. This keyboard is killing me tonight, so I'm outta here!
Monday 10 September 2012
10 September 2012
Whoop! Whoop! 75 lbs lost! I'm 60% of the way to my goal. Next 'micro-goal' is 77.25 lbs, when I will have lost 25% of my body weight, followed by 84 lbs, when I'll be at 2/3 of goal. I think this is do-able before 09 October, when I take a week off for my study tour. I would also like to be completely off one of my blood pressure meds before the study tour starts.
I was talking to one of the docents at Woolsthorpe yesterday and he was telling me about the bed in one of the bedrooms, a lovely 4-poster complete with curtains. They always look so short compared to modern beds; I have a queen-sized bed, not because I'm very tall (I'm just 5'5" when I stand up real straight!) but because that's what I like. Anyway, people were shorter back then but another reason the beds are so much shorter is because they slept more propped up than we do. I didn't know that! One reason they slept propped up was because they suffered more from colds, chest infections and tuberculous than we do (and it is easier to breathe like that when you're conjested) but they were also very paranoid about swallowing bugs :-) When you sleep propped up, as soon as you go to sleep, your chin drops onto your chest and your mouth snaps shut--so you don't swallow any bugs that might be about. I thought this was very funny!
I had to dash off to Waitrose this evening after work to pick up some salmon for my lunches this week. They do a lovely salmon sashimi pack with soy and wasabi at Waitrose. One of the great things on my diet is all the salmon and prawns I'm getting--very healthy but very expensive! Of course, Waitrose does NOT stock fat-free creme fraiche (another diet staple), so I also had to run over to Sainsburys for that. Lots of running around--but the results are so-o-o-o worth it.
I was talking to one of the docents at Woolsthorpe yesterday and he was telling me about the bed in one of the bedrooms, a lovely 4-poster complete with curtains. They always look so short compared to modern beds; I have a queen-sized bed, not because I'm very tall (I'm just 5'5" when I stand up real straight!) but because that's what I like. Anyway, people were shorter back then but another reason the beds are so much shorter is because they slept more propped up than we do. I didn't know that! One reason they slept propped up was because they suffered more from colds, chest infections and tuberculous than we do (and it is easier to breathe like that when you're conjested) but they were also very paranoid about swallowing bugs :-) When you sleep propped up, as soon as you go to sleep, your chin drops onto your chest and your mouth snaps shut--so you don't swallow any bugs that might be about. I thought this was very funny!
I had to dash off to Waitrose this evening after work to pick up some salmon for my lunches this week. They do a lovely salmon sashimi pack with soy and wasabi at Waitrose. One of the great things on my diet is all the salmon and prawns I'm getting--very healthy but very expensive! Of course, Waitrose does NOT stock fat-free creme fraiche (another diet staple), so I also had to run over to Sainsburys for that. Lots of running around--but the results are so-o-o-o worth it.
Sunday 9 September 2012
09 September 2012
I was going to go back in and add some thoughts (aka snarky comments) to yesterday's blog entry, but I was having 'issues' with the WiFi, so I figured I'd better not. Why do some people always go on about their "lost youth"?! I don't think there's a period in my life I'd want to repeat! And this bull about how they'd 'do things differently' if they 'knew then what they know now'. Really!? I'm pretty sure that's total crap, too. It's usually the most hard-headed that say things like that, so you know they wouldn't be doing anything any different! Get over it--and get over yourself! The only thing you have any chance of changing is your future--if you won't change it, how can you expect people to believe you'd change your past?
I got up this morning, checked out of billeting, fuelled up the car, picked up a few things from the Commissary (they have Hallowe'en candy in ALREADY!! Candy Corn is very dangerous!) and headed off to Woolthorpe Manor, the birthplace and family home of Sir Isaac Newton. It was fabulous!
The manor house, from around the back.
A daisy.
Coat-of-arms, above the front door.
I got up this morning, checked out of billeting, fuelled up the car, picked up a few things from the Commissary (they have Hallowe'en candy in ALREADY!! Candy Corn is very dangerous!) and headed off to Woolthorpe Manor, the birthplace and family home of Sir Isaac Newton. It was fabulous!
The manor house, from around the back.
A front and side view.
A daisy.
A dozy cat.
Coat-of-arms, above the front door.
THE apple tree, where Newton was inspired to formulate his theories of gravity.
Late season poppy.
Cool sign. In case you ever ned to know, the apple variety is the Flower of Kent apple. That could come in handy on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire sometime! [I know a guy who got bumped for not knowing which woman was queen of France and queen of England; it was Eleanor of Aquitaine. I thought everyone knew that 
]
]
Another view of the manor.
I had driven by the sign for Woolsthorpe 100+ times since '99 but never remembered to research it. Definitely worth a stop! And it was a gorgeous day. The soup of the day in the cafe was tomato and red pepper--and it was pretty tasty, too.
Saturday 8 September 2012
08 September 2012
Got up fairly early this morning and headed over to the Huntingdon train station to catch the 7 am train to Kings Cross. I guess I probably got there at 6:45; I had plenty of time to get my ticket and get a bottle of water at the little news agent there at the station. Right up until 7:02, the board for the 7:00 train was saying "On Time"; at 7:02, it changed to "Cancelled" :-( Apparently, a freight train broke down and nothing was getting thru south. The trains on the hour are 8-carriage trains; on the :34, they're 4-carriage trains, which was what made it at 7:34 to pick up 3 trains-worth of passengers. Very crowded trip to Kings Cross, but we finally did manage to get there.
I took a taxi from Kings Cross to Kitchen & Pantry, when I had a mushroom and onion omlette and a skinny latte, while I played around with the free WiFi (and managed to avoid the toast; they gave me a 'side salad' instead). I called the Globe Theatre at 10, but they still didn't have any seats for the matinee, so I gave that up as a lost cause and headed off to do a bit of shopping and visiting. I got some pretty cool stuff, including 2 beautiful pewter goblets, a pewter 'duck and hen' (basically a double-sided shot glass), a lovely scarf, a cool magnifying glass, some lavender oil (good for burns), a set of 12 silverplate butter/cheese/pate knives, 2 silverplate half-size covered butter dishes with the original glass inserts and a 1910 book called Legends of the Rhine, which is in excellent shape. I also tried out a new (for me anyway) Japanese place called So, in Soho.
My treasures from today's trip to the Portobello Road Market:
I got back to Alconbury around 6 pm. I'll have an early night and then check out some English Heritage/National Trust properties on the way home. It was another successful diet day--I wanted some chocolate but I managed to talk myself out of it. Yippee!!
I took a taxi from Kings Cross to Kitchen & Pantry, when I had a mushroom and onion omlette and a skinny latte, while I played around with the free WiFi (and managed to avoid the toast; they gave me a 'side salad' instead). I called the Globe Theatre at 10, but they still didn't have any seats for the matinee, so I gave that up as a lost cause and headed off to do a bit of shopping and visiting. I got some pretty cool stuff, including 2 beautiful pewter goblets, a pewter 'duck and hen' (basically a double-sided shot glass), a lovely scarf, a cool magnifying glass, some lavender oil (good for burns), a set of 12 silverplate butter/cheese/pate knives, 2 silverplate half-size covered butter dishes with the original glass inserts and a 1910 book called Legends of the Rhine, which is in excellent shape. I also tried out a new (for me anyway) Japanese place called So, in Soho.
My treasures from today's trip to the Portobello Road Market:
I got back to Alconbury around 6 pm. I'll have an early night and then check out some English Heritage/National Trust properties on the way home. It was another successful diet day--I wanted some chocolate but I managed to talk myself out of it. Yippee!!
Friday 7 September 2012
07 September 2012
Still 74 lbs. I didn't bring the bathroom scale on this trip to London, so no weigh-ins until Monday morning. Fingers crossed I'm off the plateau by then!
I have an overtime shift next Saturday and I had pretty much decided I would use some of it so I could take off a few hours early today--so wouldn't you know we didn't finish early!? Figures! So by the time I got my pancakes made for saturday and Sunday mornings and got packed, I didn't get on the road until about 6:15. But I made it down here to Alconbury about 8:30. I'll get up around 5:30 tomorrow morning and catch the 6:30 or 7 am train into Kings Cross. I'm going to do Portobello Road in the morning and then try to call the Globe Theatre around 10. Fingers crossed they have a return so I can see The Taming of the Shrew--otherwise, I'll just head over to the British Museum in the afternoon. It may actually be warm this week-end!
I have an overtime shift next Saturday and I had pretty much decided I would use some of it so I could take off a few hours early today--so wouldn't you know we didn't finish early!? Figures! So by the time I got my pancakes made for saturday and Sunday mornings and got packed, I didn't get on the road until about 6:15. But I made it down here to Alconbury about 8:30. I'll get up around 5:30 tomorrow morning and catch the 6:30 or 7 am train into Kings Cross. I'm going to do Portobello Road in the morning and then try to call the Globe Theatre around 10. Fingers crossed they have a return so I can see The Taming of the Shrew--otherwise, I'll just head over to the British Museum in the afternoon. It may actually be warm this week-end!
Wednesday 5 September 2012
05 September 2012
Still at 74 lbs! This could be a long plateau :-( But I got some good news today anyway: I had a doctor's appointment this afternoon and my blood pressure is 100/64. Woo Hoo! So she has me on a half dose of one of my blood pressure meds and another appointment in a month to maybe come off it completely. Yippee!! She's also going to re-evaluate my asthma at that time. One of the benefits of no summer this year is a total lack of allergies. It's a fair trade!
Monday 3 September 2012
03 September 2012
Still at 74 lbs. I have some new pictures:
I was going to post progress but I'm being abused, so if you want to see progress, go to the postings for 11 July 2012 and 28 September 2010; the early one really shows the difference!
Sunday 2 September 2012
02 September 2012
Still at 74 lbs. I had a bad feeling yesterday that I was approaching a plateau--I would quite happily have been proven wrong, but it wasn't to be. So I went to the wool week-end this morning and then spent the rest of the day reading and cleaning out a few drawers.
I used to have all my clothes stuffed into various drawers and wardrobes. The house I rent here in England has one closet--and it's not even in my bedroom! I have gotten rid of so many large clothes that I no longer need any wardrobes. Yippee! During a previous (unsuccessful) attempt to lose weight, I happened to mention to my mom that I was going to get rid of a pair of jeans because they were to big. She said I shouldn't because when I gained the weight back (not if but when--like it was a foregone conclusion!), I'd just have to buy new clothes. Gee, thanks Mom--NOT!! It's taken me years to get over this--and some could justifiably argue that I haven't really gotten over it--but I am moving on. And happily getting rid of clothes that are too big!
I used to have all my clothes stuffed into various drawers and wardrobes. The house I rent here in England has one closet--and it's not even in my bedroom! I have gotten rid of so many large clothes that I no longer need any wardrobes. Yippee! During a previous (unsuccessful) attempt to lose weight, I happened to mention to my mom that I was going to get rid of a pair of jeans because they were to big. She said I shouldn't because when I gained the weight back (not if but when--like it was a foregone conclusion!), I'd just have to buy new clothes. Gee, thanks Mom--NOT!! It's taken me years to get over this--and some could justifiably argue that I haven't really gotten over it--but I am moving on. And happily getting rid of clothes that are too big!
Saturday 1 September 2012
01 September 2012
74 lbs! Woo Hoo! It stayed dry all day, so I was able to get a few things grilled. I just love grilled red onions, especially with a little dip of fat-free creme fraiche or Greek yogurt.
I visited Middleham, Kirby Muxloe and Conisbrough Castles yesterday and today. I hadn't visited Middleham Castle in years, so I decided to go yesterday. It's a lovely drive and a glorious castle. It was owned by Richard Neville (the Kingmaker) and was the boyhood home of Richard III. This is a shot of the gatehouse, followed by some shots as I wandered around. The last shot from Middleham Castle is a shot of the 'Middleham jewel'.
It was a fun couple of days, especially since the were mostly dry!
I visited Middleham, Kirby Muxloe and Conisbrough Castles yesterday and today. I hadn't visited Middleham Castle in years, so I decided to go yesterday. It's a lovely drive and a glorious castle. It was owned by Richard Neville (the Kingmaker) and was the boyhood home of Richard III. This is a shot of the gatehouse, followed by some shots as I wandered around. The last shot from Middleham Castle is a shot of the 'Middleham jewel'.
The next castle was Kirby Muxloe Castle, an unfinished ruin. It was being built by Lord Hastings, but construction was halted when he was executed for treason by Richard III. I wasn't paying enough attention to the opening times when I planned my trip. I remembered it was only open on Saturdays and Sundays but forgot it's only open thru 31 August--and today was 1 September! So I got a few shots of the outside only...
This next castle is Conisbrough Castle, built by Hamelin Plantegent, Henry II's illegitimate half-brother, on a site given to William de Warrenne by William the Conquorer.
It was a fun couple of days, especially since the were mostly dry!
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