Bartimaeus

Bryn wanted to get a morning train on Saturday. We knew the station was very near but he still needed to pay for his ticket so we went a little early and accompanied him to the station. The first ticket machines had red lights indicating they were not working. We found more with some lit red and some lit green. When he had entered all the details, it did not accept his credit card and then the display changed to “cash only”. He joined a queue at the ticket office which grew as all the machines moved to cash only. Shane had cash and managed to get him a ticket. We were glad he had got the train he wanted, but then I knew it could be a bit sad without him. We headed out of the station back to the boat.

We began to plan our next steps. We passed the morning in the nearby museum. It had rained while we were in there. We had to decide when we should leave. Our friend Jude had recently moved to a house near the river in Yorkshire. We wanted to see her new abode but also she fancied coming to York and meeting up. We soon settled on an array of possible meet up dates that worked round her other commitments. The flat feeling has barely time to settle before we were looking forward to the next arrival and the prospect of a dull day was brightened. 

The evening was unexpectedly brightened as a strange rowing craft passed after sunset. It had sponsorship stickers on it and was escorted by a safety boat so looked like some fund raising challenge. There then followed a flotilla of brightly lit boats, occasionally tooting horns. The train going over the bridge joined in and a boat behind had a live band aboard playing retro hits of the ’60s and ’70s but when I asked them if they knew what the flotilla was in aid of, they were none the wiser. Perhaps this is just an ordinary Saturday night on the Ouse.

Morning mizzle was not a welcome sight. It wasn’t looking a good day for a day trip and I wondered if Jude would have second thoughts. In fact she was heading for an earlier train. We met her and assured her the wet walk would be short and the forecast was brighter later.  Elevenses was perfect timing.

Shane had found a walk to Rowntree Park and said there was an art event on. Fortunately Jude had come in a raincoat so she was up for that. The moistness was hanging around still but the conversation was bright and cheerful. We explored the sensory garden, called Rosemary’s garden.

Leaving Rosemary’s garden behind, we found that the railing held the art exhibits: posters of entries to a painting theme relating to the park.

We tried to work out the significance of this figure. There was no guide to help. The knight didn’t help us but someone had picked up a hat from the ground to save it from further damage and given it to the knight for safe keeping, on the stirrup.

The even better news was that the park had a cafe and a very good one too. It was called a reading cafe (and there were a lot of books) but other activities also took place there. It was full of with decorations made by the regular crafting group who provided seasonal garlands and wreaths, continuing the floral arty theme. The day was brightening all the time whatever the weather.

This park isn’t listed as a top tourist attraction in York but we were enjoying it just fine. The weather was improving so we ventured into town towards the Minster. Being Sunday it wasn’t open apart from services but the outside is worth a look and we spotted a new addition since my visit in 2018.

The shops and market were lively. Jude and I tested the teas on the street. It made us want to look for another cafe and there were several handy. It even seemed bright enough to sit outside. We were joined at the table by a very shiny beetle, which fancied Jude’s earl grey tea. At first we thought it was a tansy beetle which we had read about, almost extinct and only found by the Ouse! What a find! Closer study of UK beetles shows there are not a beguiling fab four, from which to pick your favourite, but a bewildering four thousand plus different kinds. Given we were seated beneath a tree, I am thinking it will be one of the tree beetles, that can be found on a number of trees (or tea beetles, with its own favourite tea, Earl Grey).

A heavy shower made us run for cover but our drinks were drunk and all the home baking polished off. We had seen a little garden and Jude had got a picture of us with a green pig, why it is there we don’t know. Round the corner was a war memorial and a green cow. Moo York I could believe but Oink York doesn’t sound as good at all, Pork Minster? Thanks to Jude for the photos and making a dreich day,  great fun.