Our trip to York was long and onerous, but we made it up to Harrogate in the end, turning up late Friday night.

We had a big Mexican meal (mmmmmm....Mexican. In....York. The Homer-isms fall down there.) Then we headed back to the room for a snooze.

Saturday dawned and we decided to make our way to York-it's a very old, very lovely town, one equipped with the most perfect museum in Angus' world (besides this one, of course.) Angus decided to avail himself of all things National Rail, while I decided to twirl around York, finish up any last minute shopping, and make a trek to the Cathedral in York.

York's had a great deal of rain lately, as you can see in this pic. In the far left of this? Those are benches.

The Cathedral itself is stunning.

And the interior is perfectly maintained and breathtaking.

I'd gone into the gift shop to buy my grandma her customary magnet (I buy her one of every new place I go to. She keeps them in a box in her room, and I love sending her new ones). Once there, I wandered into the Cathedral. It turns out I was supposed to go in through another door and pay, but I'm glad I didn't-I have a thing about paying to go into churches, I'm happy to make a donation but I hate being forced to.

Once inside, my usual ritual was observed.

We met up after a bit and bought vendor fair-York was hustling and bustling and we couldn't have found a more Christmas-y town if we'd tried. I had a crepe and Angus had a pulled pork sandwich, and while we were chomping down, we saw Morris dancers setting up.

Now, Morris dancing seems to be a uniquely English phenomenon. I don't pretend to understand it-the men (and women) wear traditional garb, including bells on the ankles and the waving of handkercheifs. Occasionally they have long sticks which they whack against each other. There was a chap dressed as a black ram in some nod to paganism which I found really creepy, like Ronald McDonald for the woodlands or something.

We recorded a bit of it here (turn the volume right up to be rewarded with the sound of the accordion and bells on the legs).

Told you.

That night we had a posh dinner and I wore my red dress again. We drank too much, ate too much, and the train ride home on Sunday took the whole fucking day. I know that England looks small on the map, but when you use the trains it feels like one mighty country.

This post is disjointed, mostly because I'm struggling today.

Angus picked up Gorby this morning, who's been in a delightful and loving mood all day (largely as a preventive measure against having to go back to the kennel again I think. Little does he know, in just over a week he will indeed be back there and for a much longer stay, too. Said dog will be handsomely rewarded with PetSmart treats we will bring back.)

And I could use it, because this morning I failed my driving test over a minor error, which I still contend there was nothing I could have done about the situation, but whatever-it's not an argument you can have with driving inspectors. Next test set for the end of January.

Fuck.

-H.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 11:00 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
Post contains 584 words, total size 4 kb.

1 Shame about your driving test. There are horror stories here in NL about how you get into lose/lose situations in which you fail by default.

Posted by: Hannah at December 18, 2006 01:23 PM (5w+E2)

2 That's too bad about your driving test. On the bright side, you now know what to expect. I love how you are constantly travelling and doing the things that I want to do so desperately in my life. I live somewhat vicariously through you. Thanks for the video of the dancing! It reminds me of Bed Knobs and Broomsticks for some reason.

Posted by: Jen(aside) at December 18, 2006 03:46 PM (u973k)

3 Jen-I LOVE Bedknobs and Broomsticks. I think it's a fantastic film. I love to walk into the bedroom and point at Maggie, intoning: "Tragoona! McQuotis! Tracorum Satis Dee!" She always looks so fucking bored when I do that. Still, I amuse myself.

Posted by: Helen at December 18, 2006 03:55 PM (MQEWh)

4 Aw, shucks.

Posted by: sue at December 18, 2006 04:05 PM (WbfZD)

5 bummer, sorry to hear about your driving test. those things are so nervewracking. i honestly don't know how i ever passed mine!

Posted by: geeky at December 18, 2006 04:08 PM (ziVl9)

6 sucks about the test. Glad to hear it was a nice weekend, though.

Posted by: caltechgirl at December 18, 2006 04:26 PM (r0kgl)

7 I don't know anything about Bedknobs and Broomsticks, but my first thought when I saw that video is, "Well, now I know where Fatboy Slim found the dancers for the "Praise You" video."

Posted by: amy t. at December 18, 2006 04:47 PM (3dOTd)

8 Sorry about the test, but look on the bright side: maybe not having your license at the moment will keep you from being in a horrible accident - and you should be thankful....LOL I am the most incorrigible positive thinker! Love the pics on the water!

Posted by: kenju at December 18, 2006 05:44 PM (L8e9z)

9 wtf??..there is 'Mexican' food in York??? sounds vaguely blasphemous.

Posted by: j.m at December 18, 2006 06:14 PM (k3v0Q)

10 Ugh. Sorry to hear about the driver's test. That really stinks

Posted by: Opal at December 18, 2006 09:37 PM (KgaAD)

11 Distracted. Cannot focus to post. Girl in tank top on sidebar ad. Nipple showing! I'm too immature for these kinds of situations.

Posted by: Lindsay at December 18, 2006 10:54 PM (y1eWb)

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