Back in 1190, there was a pogrom in York. I am not sure that is the best way to begin an account of the day, but since it is bound to crop up, why not just get it out of the way. I don't know what York looked like back then, but it has some beautiful spaces today and tons of tourists. The best way to see such a city is to get out early in the morning while most people are still abed. You'd be surprised what a difference that makes.
York is about 1/2 hour from Leeds by train, making a day trip very doable. Alex Allain would not miss this for the world because he could practice the piano right in the York station, if this guy—whose picture will not move to the middle— would give him a turn, that is!
Speaking of pianos, before being interrupted by the city wall, I must say that there are a lot of harpsichords or clavichords in York. Here is one at the Fairfax House, a Georgian townhouse open for viewing:
And sheet music, too!
Phone booth repurposed as a defibrillator depot:
Among other objets d'arts at Fairfax House was a writing desk that was decorated with exquisite inlayed designs of died ivory (something is wrong with that word order!):
Each of the designs was slightly different one from another, which, at first glance, one might not notice. Very clever! (Sorry, no examples for you to compare.)
Fairfax House has the most enthusiastic volunteers one could hope to encounter! They will tell you anything and everything. Overall, though, the rooms are too cluttered with such doodads as stuffed mice and fake flowers...lots and lots and lots of stuffed mice! (Whatever for?)
York has a Cathedral, The Minster, which, apparently, costs £30,000.00, yes, thirty thousand pounds, a day to run.
The Minster even has its own YouTube page (or does one say channel?)!
It, York, that is, not the Cathedral, also displays several fab animal topiaries:
Most of them you are not allowed to sit on, but this fellow may be the exception:
When animals are not grazing in the keep or being converted from shrubs to lions and whatnot, they are put to use advertising woolen scarves:
Phone booth repurposed as a defibrillator depot:
Once an Abbey..... before Henry VIII went on a rampage:
And Robert Aske being hanged:
The York Castle Museum has the most unusual time line ever! For example, here you see poor Margaret Clitherow being pressed to death: Euuhgh that is so gross! (Remember to click on the photos to enlarge.)
As opposed to conventional hanging, this kind of hanging made the poor wretch suffer for days.
And that Joseph Hansom was from York:
I learned that corsets could not be laundered because the stays , no matter what they were made of, would disintegrate:
And the blurb insisted that Victorian women, contrary to popular knowledge, did not wear skirts to cover their ankles, rather the length was above the boot line.
The best exhibit was a take off of Tipu's Tiger who lives at the Victoria and Albert in London. While the real Tiger has a music box inside, this one, if fed a £1 coin, moves about and roars, after a fashion, and the woman rolls her eyes and kicks her feet. Not as impressive as the original, but amusing.
Back in Leeds, I picked up some Chinese food, less than not great. In fact, most everything I have bought including fruit and vegetables has been of a most inferior quality. Ah, well.
The best exhibit was a take off of Tipu's Tiger who lives at the Victoria and Albert in London. While the real Tiger has a music box inside, this one, if fed a £1 coin, moves about and roars, after a fashion, and the woman rolls her eyes and kicks her feet. Not as impressive as the original, but amusing.
Back in Leeds, I picked up some Chinese food, less than not great. In fact, most everything I have bought including fruit and vegetables has been of a most inferior quality. Ah, well.
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