Ramblings from the 'Boro.: A Mini Yorkshire Adventure

Last Monday we drove up to Rastrick in Yorkshire to do some long overdue family visiting. The weather on the journey was good to us and the traffic on the A1 and M62 relatively light. Not a hold-up all the way so we had a hassle free drive up to foreign parts! Yorkshire in the sunshine is glorious but I often find it bleak when the skies are grey. This trip we had sun all the way.
On Monday evening, after a humongous dinner cooked by Sonia we drove out to see Dave's niece. I'm making her wedding cake for her upcoming wedding and I needed to discuss and clarify all the details of what she wanted. J. and her partner's new house has been revamped and remodelled by her Dad, Dave's brother, Derek. The house formerly a bungalow sits on the top of a cliff and has the most amazing views over the Calderdale Valley. Goodness I wish Derek lived closer to us . He's well over retiring age but has still plenty of work to hand. Our house could desperately do with a revamp although I'm hoping he will be able to find time to come down here for a few days to tackle my kitchen.

Tuesday Morning brought more sun and clear skies so we headed off to Halifax to visit Piece Hall. This impressive stone built building was opened in 1779 and was a Cloth Market where Merchants could sell their 'piece' of cloth. The last time we visited it was a bustling thriving place with hundreds of little shops, many craft shops, in the huge rectangular building that surround a grassy courtyard. This time we were so disappointed. Most of the shops were closed and derelict. There were a few shops selling goods that would mainly appeal to Goths and Hippies. The only shop that didn't disappoint was a Glass artist who worked and sold her pieces along with other artists work. The shop was packed with the most beautiful and unusual articles of glass items.

One area of the Hall is used by Halifax Visitors Center, Museum and Art gallery. Many of the painting were from the nineteenth century with just a few contemporary art works. Just one grabbed my attention and made me stop and gaze at it. It was a work by John Piper the artist who designed the huge stained glass window in the new Coventry Cathedral. The only other place worth a mention as the cafe it was excellent.

After a wander around the shops in Halifax town center with it's stark imposing 19th century buildings and the Victorian covered market place we headed for a park called Manor Heath Park.

We had a pleasant time meandering around the park walks in the sun and sweated in the tropical garden created in one of the large green houses.