Last night we watched a programme on ITV1 about cats and the human relationship with them. It was in a similar format to one about dogs which was shown last year, and was quite interesting, if a bit "sugary" and "yukky" in parts.
One interesting part of the programme featured the legendary cats of Japan - the "lucky cat" Meneki Neko and the "ghost" or "demon" cat Bake Neko.
The Maneki Neko is found in sculptures across Japan and is believed to bring good luck and good fortune, and is depicted with a raised front paw. I had seen this cat sculpture in Oriental supermarkets when I have been on holiday, and wondered what it represented. Now I know! Next time we visit an Oriental store I will be buying my own Maneki Neko, as a cat lover I find them quite cute, and it will be a good companion for my two Egyptian cat sculptures!
Monday, 7 September 2009
Monday, 31 August 2009
Whitby
Last Saturday - 22nd August - we went to Whitby. Unlike many occasions when we've been to Whitby, the weather stayed fine and so I managed to get some good photos taken from the top of the cliff near the Abbey (after climbing the 199 steps to get there!) Also it was nice to look round the Abbey just after it opened at 10am. I recommend a visit to Whitby Abbey - the stonework is beautiful and intricate (great for black and white photos) and the views from up there are very good.
Whitby is popular with Goths and Dracula fans, and there are great fish and chips - we tried Quayside fish and chips to eat out, and they were very good and freshly cooked. We've also eaten at Magpie but the place is very popular so you need to queue, often right along the pavement.
I think our next trip out will be to Durham, I've never been there to look round but I hear from people who have that it's very nice.
Whitby is popular with Goths and Dracula fans, and there are great fish and chips - we tried Quayside fish and chips to eat out, and they were very good and freshly cooked. We've also eaten at Magpie but the place is very popular so you need to queue, often right along the pavement.
I think our next trip out will be to Durham, I've never been there to look round but I hear from people who have that it's very nice.
Friday, 14 August 2009
Guisborough, Redcar and Saltburn
As I mentioned in an earlier post, we had a trip to Guisborough, Redcar and Saltburn on 12th August 2009. Thanks to buying a £6 Day Ticket to go anywhere on Arriva North East buses, this was a cheap day out from Scarborough. It was also the first time we had visited this region of north east Yorkshire (for Yorkshire it is, despite the mangling of the counties in 1974!)
Our first port of call was Guisborough, a pretty market town and home to Gisborough Priory which was founded by the family of Robert the Bruce.
The church in Guisborough. The Priory is located at the side of this church.
A view of part of Gisborough Priory.
Gisborough Priory from church yard.
We caught the bus from Guisborough to Redcar. Redcar is a coastal town, best known for its horse racing. There is also a steelworks which is under threat of closure. The beach at Redcar is long, with cliffs at the very south end and an industrial complex at the northern end. Large cargo ships pass by as they head towards the river Tees. Redcar is also home to the oldest lifeboat in the world, dating from 1800 and on display in the lifeboat museum.
A view to the north from Redcar beach.
We had some superb fish and chips in Redcar, and then had a walk along the long shopping street before catching the bus to Saltburn.
Saltburn is a green, pretty place. It is home to the oldest cliff lift in the world, which is operated by hydraulic power. There is also a pier here and a steep, winding road down to the seafront.
The bottom of Saltburn's cliff lift.
Saltburn pier.
Saltburn's cliff lift. Note the stained glass windows!
After visiting Saltburn we made our way back to Guisborough intending to catch the 17:50 bus back to Scarborough. However, the 17:50 bus did not turn up and so we ended up waiting an extra hour for the 18:50, which thankfully did show up as that was the last bus from Guisborough to Scarborough!
All in all it was an enjoyable day apart from the appalling Clock Stop Cafe mentioned in the earlier post and the missing bus!
Our first port of call was Guisborough, a pretty market town and home to Gisborough Priory which was founded by the family of Robert the Bruce.
The church in Guisborough. The Priory is located at the side of this church.
A view of part of Gisborough Priory.
Gisborough Priory from church yard.
We caught the bus from Guisborough to Redcar. Redcar is a coastal town, best known for its horse racing. There is also a steelworks which is under threat of closure. The beach at Redcar is long, with cliffs at the very south end and an industrial complex at the northern end. Large cargo ships pass by as they head towards the river Tees. Redcar is also home to the oldest lifeboat in the world, dating from 1800 and on display in the lifeboat museum.
A view to the north from Redcar beach.
We had some superb fish and chips in Redcar, and then had a walk along the long shopping street before catching the bus to Saltburn.
Saltburn is a green, pretty place. It is home to the oldest cliff lift in the world, which is operated by hydraulic power. There is also a pier here and a steep, winding road down to the seafront.
The bottom of Saltburn's cliff lift.
Saltburn pier.
Saltburn's cliff lift. Note the stained glass windows!
After visiting Saltburn we made our way back to Guisborough intending to catch the 17:50 bus back to Scarborough. However, the 17:50 bus did not turn up and so we ended up waiting an extra hour for the 18:50, which thankfully did show up as that was the last bus from Guisborough to Scarborough!
All in all it was an enjoyable day apart from the appalling Clock Stop Cafe mentioned in the earlier post and the missing bus!
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Casper the bus cat
A cat in Plymouth has been regularly catching the 10:55 number 3 bus for several years now.
Casper queues with other passengers before jumping onto the bus and curling up on a seat and having a good ride round on the circular route.
The popular passenger is set to be immortalised by having his photo put onto the side of a local bus.
That is one of the best news stories I've read for a long time. Read about Casper here and here.
Casper queues with other passengers before jumping onto the bus and curling up on a seat and having a good ride round on the circular route.
The popular passenger is set to be immortalised by having his photo put onto the side of a local bus.
That is one of the best news stories I've read for a long time. Read about Casper here and here.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Port of Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge has been one of my favourite places since our first visit on a hot day in September 2006. I am just sorry that I shall not see it this summer, we have visited the port each year since our first visit on that hot day. What would I give to go there again this summer.
For all you Zeebrugge fans, enjoy this superb official video advertising the port:
For all you Zeebrugge fans, enjoy this superb official video advertising the port:
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Litterbugs
The title "Litterbugs" is a little too friendly, however I could not think up a more suitable title and stay in the margins of acceptable language!
Yesterday afternoon we went down to the front in Scarborough to get some fish and chips for our tea. We bought fish and chips from the always-excellent Winking Willie's and ate them outside.
We were not alone in eating our fish and chips outside. Near to Winking Willie's there are some benches and a few litter bins just a few feet from the benches. However, even the close proximity of bins to benches did not prevent the over-sized swine who had chosen to sit on the benches to fill their disgusting faces from leaving behind the remains of their food and also the cartons which went with it. The filthy swine just left all their litter on the benches, they were obviously just too stupid, too idle or too mucky to bother putting it in the bins provided. I dread to think what filthy state their houses are in. They should be tracked down, brought back to their litter and forced to eat every last mouthful of what they left behind.
What must visitors to our country think when they see what filthy swine many home-grown tourists are? I make no apology for what I have said, I would not insult pigs by housing such filthy trash with them.
Scarborough welcomes clean visitors who do not live like trash, we do not welcome litterbugs who are just too idle to get off their over sized rear ends and put their rubbish where it belongs.
Yesterday afternoon we went down to the front in Scarborough to get some fish and chips for our tea. We bought fish and chips from the always-excellent Winking Willie's and ate them outside.
We were not alone in eating our fish and chips outside. Near to Winking Willie's there are some benches and a few litter bins just a few feet from the benches. However, even the close proximity of bins to benches did not prevent the over-sized swine who had chosen to sit on the benches to fill their disgusting faces from leaving behind the remains of their food and also the cartons which went with it. The filthy swine just left all their litter on the benches, they were obviously just too stupid, too idle or too mucky to bother putting it in the bins provided. I dread to think what filthy state their houses are in. They should be tracked down, brought back to their litter and forced to eat every last mouthful of what they left behind.
What must visitors to our country think when they see what filthy swine many home-grown tourists are? I make no apology for what I have said, I would not insult pigs by housing such filthy trash with them.
Scarborough welcomes clean visitors who do not live like trash, we do not welcome litterbugs who are just too idle to get off their over sized rear ends and put their rubbish where it belongs.
Saturday, 27 June 2009
The Deep
On Thursday we caught the train to Hull and went to The Deep. This is a marine-themed attraction with aquariums covering various marine environments - from anemones to the open ocean and jellyfish. The most impressive was the shark pool - with large sharks gliding past and my favourite exhibit - a sawfish!
One of the best features is the glass lift which travels up through the shark tank and pauses for a few seconds to allow you to see the fish better. The only downsides were poor signage (no signs to the "Monsters of the Deep" presentation) and noisy school parties.
Here are a few photos I took on our visit (click the photos to see them properly!):
One of the best features is the glass lift which travels up through the shark tank and pauses for a few seconds to allow you to see the fish better. The only downsides were poor signage (no signs to the "Monsters of the Deep" presentation) and noisy school parties.
Here are a few photos I took on our visit (click the photos to see them properly!):
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