Heritage Museum

A quiet Saturday today.  I am now on half term break.  I didn't think that I was tired but I actually had a nap today however it was after a morning of visiting the Grimsby town Fishing Heritage Centre.  This town was built on the fishing industry and now because of overfishing there is a ban on the fishing of Haddock.  In the early 1900's there were only a handful of fishing trawlers in the port.  In the mid 1900's there were over 700.  Today only 1-3 are ever in port.  The city has suffered because of this and no other industry has been able to succeed.

Part of a scene within the museum.   A motorized bike from the 50's.

There were various setups that as a viewer you are placed in the scene.

This is steel cable.  It is one and a half inch thick.  If the cable frayed, one single thread would be enough to decapitate a person.

This is the engine room  I think I can remember the details.  There are 7 cylinders each having 780 horse power.  The noise was incredible and was only a recording.  All of the engine crew would have gone deaf from the noise.

The galley and the mess room.  The dinner is set on tables which have a frame to hold the plates in place during rough water.  This is where the phrase "three square meals" came from.

I did not expect to enjoy the tour of the boat outside the museum, but our tour guide worked on the ship for two years and the passion he had for this ship was evident.  He made the tour so enjoyable.

As a side note, I am off to Whitehaven on Monday for a week.  My Uncle Ernest and Aunt Gene have invited me to visit.  I can't wait to see them and hopefully their family (missing John) and visit my dads birth place.

York

Spent the day in York
Sorry to all my tea totalling friends, I did not have a cup of Yorkshire tea but I did sit down and enjoy a cup of Earl Grey.  I went with a friend from Nipissing and his lovely wife.  He is leaving on Thursday but It's been great to have a person here that I know.
The day started off misty and wet but overall was not a hinderance.

Clock in the York Train Station

Bridge going through the wall that surrounds the city of York.

On the wall.

Looking from the top of the wall down to the river.

At the York Museum Gardens.

St Mary's Abby Ruins at the York Gardens.

York Minster.  We did not go past the entrance.  I did not think it was as impressive as the Lincoln Cathedral and really I am starting to think that when you've seen one, you've seen them all.

Beautiful Jaguar waiting for a bride and groom.

Birds of prey set up outside the Holy Trinity Church.  One of the oldest churches in England.

The front of the church. The original section was built in 1200 ad.  We visualized knights and ladies leaning up against the walls.

The most amazing streets and shops.  Crazy streets and misshapen buildings.  Think Sherlock Holmes.

The York Castle, Yes it was that high and that steep.  This is what remains of Clifford's Tower.  It would have been where the King or royalty would have gone if there was impending danger.  The rest of the castle no longer exists.

What it used to look like inside.

An arial view on a model.

The stair well to the top of the tower.  This is my favourite shot of the day.

Looking down to the centre of the tower.

The following are not miniatures.

However, I think they might serve for future miniature projects.  These are actual Victorian rooms set up in the Castle Museum.

My Grandmother used to have a bedpan like the one on the wall.  She would heat up stones in the fireplace and run the pan between the bedsheets before bed.

We had a great day.  I'm going to miss them when they go.  I really am thankful for this time we've had together....  I'm hearing Carol Burnett singing in my head right now.

Crayola doesn't make a colour...

This post is not as exciting for most of you as yesterdays was.  In fact it's more personal.  I want to say thanks to all of you who have supported me and here is just one small symbol that meant so much.
Ruthe, you gave me this about 4 years ago?  And I just want to say "thanks for your support".
Yes, I carried this block of note paper all the way over here and had to explain to the customs officer that it was symbolic.
I decided the day I received it that I would not open it until the day I could put it on my desk.  Despite the fact that I share the desk with other teachers here it is.
Thanks

Lincoln Cathedral

This is the most exciting post so far.  I spent the day in Lincoln today, walking for seven hours around a beautiful little town.  I'd like to say the most challenging part was a walk up a very long and steep hill but I topped it off with a climb up 326 stairs (equivalent to 20x up and down your regular staircase at home) to the top of the tower at the Lincoln Cathedral.  I had hoped to visit the Lincoln Castle also but that will have to wait for next time.  Withe the fare being only 11.60 pound by train, I can afford to go many times.  I took my big camera, but I won't do that again.  I used it very little and my point and shoot is all I need to capture the images.  I can't decide which ones to show you, so I'll show them all.
Enjoy

I thought this was funny, BARF

Yum.....

This is the start of the incline up to the Cathedral.

I love this place, old fashioned sweet shops are everywhere.  This one was truly inspiring

That is the tower I will eventually climb.  Yes I said climb.

Clever street name.

Front door of the Cathedral

Pipe organ

Pulpit

This has to be one of my favourite shots of the day.  I was descending from the library and this is in the courtyard/patio of the restaurant.  I sat and enjoyed the view twice.  Once for lunch and another to recover from the climb.

This is the reflection of the stained glass in the above picture.  LOVE IT!

Looking directly above at the roof.

This is the "eye", you will see it again from the outside.

Pipe organ.

The choir area.  Again the light is streaming in from the windows in all the gorgeous colours.

This is a tomb for a former Bishop.  Not sure which one, many are buried here.  None so as ornately as this.

There is the eye again.

So here is my badge of honour.  I earned it.

See that tiny circle, bottom of the square.  It is 5' in diameter and I am soon going to be standing on it.  And that is only the first of two respites we get during the climb.

Looking down from the first climb.

This is the mechanism for the bells.

Gears used in the bell tower, you cannot estimate the weight but they are about 3' diameter, they are resting on the first respite where the mechanism is.

looking up

second respit.  This is looking above the bells.  Eventually I will be standing on this section of the roof.

Here are the bells.  The bell you can see is about 10' high.

The following is a small movie.  I can't explain how loud the bells were, you have to hear them.  You will see me jump when they start.  Keep in mind your speakers are not able to capture the floor vibrating underfoot.

From the top

Don't mind the hairdo.  It was windy and I almost died several times on the way up.

This is the courtyard where I sat for lunch.

These are the stairs during the descent.  They are only slightly wider than my shoulders and very steep.  You hang onto the rope on the left, there are no stair rails.  They asked me if I am claustrophobic before the climb.  I think that after the hour long elevator/mine shaft escapade in NorthBay that I proved myself capable of a stair climb. LOL

So this is the diagram I prepared for you.

Note: the Steep slope of the road.

On the way down the hill.  My legs were so fatigued that as I tried to walk directly across the street from one shop to another, the gravity/slope caused me to walk in a diagonal line.

It's not a phone booth, well it was, now it is a cash machine.  Very creative.

The Cathedral is primarily used by the Church of England but they share it with other groups.  The day I was there The Knights of the Templar were using the facility.  When the lady asked me if I was familiar with there organization I replied yes.  She seemed surprised and I told her "just what I've read in the DaVinci Code".

What I could not show you was the library in the Cathedral.  (Maureen I thought of you)  There were books over 600 years old.  And the benches that scholars of the day used.  I saw a book of Psalms that was the oldest in the collection and it made you just think about who held it over the years.  It was a personal book (only about 4"x 3"), did the owner know how to read or was it for show.  It was magnificent.

I hope you enjoyed my day, I sure did.