river ride

Magical mystery tour on Friday led by Mike, exploring the Welsh side of the River Dee and all those places I've gazed across at from the Wirral all my life but never been to before.

First off was the lovely ancient town of Holywell with it's great High Street

 ahh - Mountain Ash - reminds me of the Ash Grove (Llwyn Onn) we sang at school . .

and so to the well in Holywell!! St Winefride's Well - a place of pilgrimage in Wales since the 7th Century - and quite amazing it was.  But we couldn't presuade Mum to take the waters!!

and this was the pile of ancient discarded crutches in the museum - waters worked then!

 Then near Mostyn Docks we came upon the wreck of the Duke of Lancaster

 fabulously decorated with street art

and finally the jewel in a pretty pefect day - was a visit to Talacre Beach and Point of Ayr lighthouse, which we can see from the Wirral so clearly (and by the way that website I've found for the lighthouse is quite amazing - worth a diversion - Abandoned playgounds)

and as well as natterjack toads, these beautiful dunes are now the habitat of rare sand lizards recently released from Chester Zoo - read more here

 so onto the beautiful beach

and first sighting of the Point of Ayr lighthouse which the Wiki article says was designed by RL Stevenson's grandfather - well well well.  And it's not tipping like Pisa - it's my photographic efforts to get those amazing waves in the sand.

and looking the other way you can just see West Kirby and Hilbre Island over the estuary - just where we were driving only a few hours before.

Here's the lovely old lighthouse itself, pointing out into the Irish Sea

Was mighty hard to drag ourselves off that beach - the sun was warm, the wind gentle and the sand perfect, but it was onwards to the end of our quest - the northern tip of Offa's Dyke on the beach in Prestatyn which we'd been curious about ever since staying in Montgomery this summer in a farmhouse in the middle section of Offa's Dyke.  This is the monument on the seafront.

We ended the jaunt with the bestest Fish and Chips at the friendly little Crispy Cod in Prestatyn and this is my washed collection of shells back home in landlocked Sheffield.

I MUST go down to the sea again . . . . .

Have I told you lately

Saturday saw us down in Wiltshire, where the sun came out just in time for Katie and James' fabulous wedding.

The pictures speak for themselves - a feast of colour, fun, romance and arty flair . . .
Speaking of which, here is a glimpse of the blushing bride and that wonderful dress

and here are the Hughes mob

and the family from near and far . . . some fresh from New York

others from good old Sheffield

 a proud Mum and Dad

 a rather stunnning MG

 and here they are - the happy happy couple

then it was over to the Town Hall and the beautifully set tables, fairy lights, bunting and speeches

 The magnificent cake . . .

 . . . which had to be tackled with a sword!!

 a romantic first dance

 followed by the exuberant Bangla band and our energetic attempts at dance Bangla style

then something I've never seen before - an amazing cheese-cake!!!!  Cornish Yarg on the bottom, working up to camembert - wow

 and as darkness fell the lights went low and the music slowed . . .

So, are you wondering what they did that first dance to?  Well here it is - have a listen

and yep - the clue was right there in the title!!!!

reel to reel

So, it's Saturday part II (if you missed Part I click here) - we're just walking from Paternoster Row towards our supper and discover the Porter Brook running alongside the old Matilda Tavern

and some fabulous graffitti on the corner of Arundel Street

as well as the fab old Challenge Works where saws and files were manufactured back in the day

 and our destination - the ever wonderful Street Food Chef

to fortify us for our Light Night trek from Shoreham Street to Bloc projects with the Magic Lantern and others

First off we passed the new 192 Shoreham Street, impressively blending old and new, and a RIBA regional award winner this year.

Then a right turn onto Mary Street where there are some amazing old works in different states of dereliciton and renovation.
A peek through the glass doors of Hawk Works revealed an amazing yard and some very interesting history here, including mention of an old water wheel

Bramhall Woodware Limited - long gone - on the site of the once Universe Works.  This Sheffield History website is fascinating - seems cultery was made here

following our leaders along Mary Street

loving all these cobbles . . .

old neglected works

 and derelict buildings

 then this sudden splash of colour

as we are surprised and delighted to cross the Porter Brook again

and finally arrive at the wonderful Bloc Projects for refreshment, film and art

and as we left, the sky over Sylvester Street was beautiful

It's been a brilliant walk in one of our favourite parts of hidden Sheffield - long may these buildings remain and be saved

And along Sidney Street on the way back

so much amazing graffitti to see - love this huge Charles Darwen

 

and so it was back along to Paternoster Row, full circle and a dip into the Showroom Cinema to see About Time - spotting the fabulous Jon Boden busking in it!

A pretty perfect sort of a day really!