Many Returns

This week was a week of returns. Roderick came back from Portugal, Catriona came back from the dead (or was it just the flu), and Chris came back for the first time in a year, which we only allowed 'cause he brought Val with him.
It was a bracing day but not as cold as the past few weeks, and spurred on by the cold we managed to get a pretty decent amount done. One section near completion and another taken down and rebuilt to the fourth course.

The only issue we had all day was that Roderick became very concerned about my underwear, likening my attire to that of John Major in a Steve Bell cartoon, I tried to reassure him that it was only a pair of cycling shorts with the arm loops dangling, but he was not to be reassured.

No. Wallers: 7 (Richard, Roderick, Graham, Barry, Chris, Val, Catriona)
Richard H.

Half a Day

The same team as last time (Graham, Barry and me) did a half day in even less hospitable conditions than least week. The sky was not a nice bright blue but a sombre grey and we decided to give up at lunch time as it started to shed its contents upon us.

No Wallers: 3

Frozen Moat of Markenfield

Graham, Barry and I turned up on the coldest day of the year so far to find the Moat of Markenfield frozen. We ventured down to the wall on a beautifully frozen path which kept my boots in the pristine buffed and shining condition I'm known for keeping them in.
The stones were stuck to the ground with a nice layer of frost, and hands began to freeze if not continuously employed, but otherwise it was a very lovely bright and crisp day, with the odd hare, squirrel, and great tit to keep us company.
We also found a cockle well out of his natural habitat but s/he'll find a lovely place somewhere in the wall.
My sparkling footwear was ruined on the way back due to a thaw in the conditions  and a resulting squelch underfoot.

No. Wallers: 3

A Short Day

Due to the incantations of the weather man Graham, Roderick and I had a short day at Markenfield. A ncie dry and cold day book ended by rain.

No. Wallers: 3

Mainly taking down

For the start New Year, Barry, Graham and I were joined at long last by J.P. who has been threatening to come and help out for 4 months. We were able to offer him a cold and damp day on which to enjoy his first experience of dry stone walling, and unfortunately (or otherwise) we were dismantling the wall for most of the day.  We think we've managed to get down to a level that is stable enough to leave in situ so next session we should be back to building duty.

Richard H
No of wallers: 4.

Happy Christams to our dear reader.

Another year of walling draws to a close, so thanks to all members past and present for your stone stacking skills.

We keep on keeping on at Markenfield, we kept quite at Menwith, We Quackered in Dacre and most importantly we didn't lose anyone in the mire at Ivin Waite so I'd say that qualifies as a successful year.

Happy Christmas and a Splendid New Year to you all.

Thanks to James and the AONB for out first Christmas do this year attended by a self selected trio of wallers; Barry, Graham and me. It was great to meet 'the Tuesday lot' and have a wander round Harewood.

Earlier in the month Barry and I managed to finish off the wall at Rossett with plenty of help from the kids. We were then presented to the Head of the School, who in turn presented us with a rather nice donation for Nidderdale AONB.

Wallers: 2

Markenfield

Having finished the Rossett wall I then hot footed it over to Markenfield for the afternoon, where I was able to bother Catriona, Graham, and Roderick who had been getting on quite nicely till I turned up.

Wallers 3 then 4.