Tales from Connievan :: York II

This is the river Ouse which flows through the city of York in the North of England. We love this city, it's a truly beautiful, vibrant and historic place about 40miles east of Attic-land. J and I moved to York from Down South in 1998 and lived there throughout our 30's. It holds many happy memories for us :: we bought our first house together there in 1999, we were married there in 2001, and the Little People (minus Little B) were born there in 2002 and 2004. And friends, oh lets not forget the many good friends we have still living in this lovely place, cos they make the memories. And that's the draw for us.....yes there is architecture and history and a plethora of maaaaarvelous eating, drinking and shopping possibilities, but it's the friends that call us to return time and time again.

This doesn't look much like a city centre road does it? It runs alongside the river a mere ten minutes walk from the very heart of the city, and is the road that we drove along with Connievan a few weeks ago.

If you've been visiting the Attic for a while, you'll know that we took Connievan to stay in York for a week last year. The idea for this jaunt last year was mine, and I think it was rather inspired actually. In a nutshell, this was the plan :: we would take Connievan to our old home place for a week, but J would in fact still be going off to work. So during the week days, J would trot off to be Important in his job, leaving the Little Peeps and I lots of time to spend with good friends doing the familiar Mummy-offspring stuff of old. J would then return to us at 4.30pm each evening to join in the jolly activities and would feel as if he were on holiday even though he had been at work all day.

We chose a different camp site this year, with the central location being the main deciding factor. Actually it wasn't so much a camp site as a caravan park. One hundred and five caravans to be precise. It was ever so slightly off putting in it's orderliness and it's greyness. There was an awful lot of grey concrete and grey stone chippings and very little greenery. And it was very, very, ever-so-very Caravanny, if you get that. Lots of plush, modern, sparkling white caravans with fancy awnings attached. Flat screen tv's. Microwaves. Furniture. Equipment. Neatness.

With three children in tow, we were placed in an out-of-the-way corner, and that suited us just fine. Ahhhh sweet little Connievan, two decades old and so cute and humble and uncomplicated! No awning! No microwave oven! And *gasp* no television!!! However will we manage?

Sit outside in the fresh air, surely not???? Play games?????? Make conversation???? Cook easy one-pan meals on the little caravan hob, why how quaint!! How terribly old fashioned and wholesome!!

But no matter what we thought of the camp caravan site, it's location was fantastic. Situated a short riverside walk from the city centre, it was also right next door to a beautiful park. A lovely lake, with large expanses of daisy-speckled green grass and a terrific play area for the children which we visited on a daily basis. It even had an ice cream van in residence. Super.

As was the case last year, much of our time in York was spent playing. The Little People had a great deal of fun swinging, sliding, climbing, spinning, rocking, jumping and balancing. For them it was a very, very active holiday, cos when we weren't out visiting various parks we were walking/scooting along the river or through the city streets, or running wild in friends back gardens. Back at base, there were plenty of other children at the caravan park to play with, so the activity went on from early in the morning until nightfall.

We were generally lucky with the weather last week, it was really hot and summery, but we did experience some incredible storms. There were a couple of torrential downpours with impressive thunder and forked lightening, even pea-sized hailstones at one point. The storms were short and sharp and left behind them some welcome fresh, clean-smelling air and some sizable puddles. If I tell you that the above puddle (Little Man wearing my crocs in the above picture) at one point contained eight soaking wet children, you can probably imagine the scene. Three of those children were mine, two of them fully clothed and soaked to the skin, the other one wearing baby-sized crocs and a soggy nappy and also soaked to the skin. Lots of screaming, splashing and laughter, it was a joy to watch. You've gotta LOVE the way that children seize the moment and find fun in the simplest of things, it made my heart sing with happiness to watch them enjoy this puddle to The Max.

This year I did manage to find time for a little quiet caravan hooky too. Once Little B was settled down for the night (the timing of which varied enormously) I would sit and work up a few stripy rows. Sitting on stripes whilst making more stripes is a pretty good way to spend an hour I think.

My camera came with me everywhere last week but I didn't end up taking that many photos. Somehow the days were quite jam packed with activity, and especially where the Littlest member of the family was concerned, I was kept very, very busy indeed, too busy to take pics. Looking after him and keeping him safe/happy/out of trouble when out and about is such an all consuming job.

But no doubt about it, York is one incredibly photogenic city. Some amazing buildings....

....lots of floral colour....

...and the cutest, quaintest little streets you ever did see.

One evening, I decided on the spur of the moment to take a walk around the city All By Myself. It's around 9pm in these pictures, would you like to come on a little evening walk with me, to see the sights and take in the evening ambiance???? Ok...here we go................

Doesn't it look picturesque?? It was. It is. A very picturesque kind of a place.

Atmospheric.

Drank a lot of coffee last week, ahh I do like me a good brew of fresh morning coffee I have to say. York is inundated with fabulous places to rest ones feet/wheels and refresh with a brew/smoothie and a slab of cake.

And refreshments aren't too bad at Connievan HQ either.

My holiday hooky project was this sweet little jacket for Connie's cafetiere, the pattern taken from Nicki Trench's wonderful book Cute and Easy Crochet. I confess the results are a little disappointing, as for some obscure reason it never occurred to me to actually measure my work against the cafetiere as I was going along. So the finished Ta-dah moment turned into rather a disappointing strop when the cover refused to fit. It just doesn't fit. It's not wide enough and is all stretched and sloping and the button isn't in the right place. No fault of the pattern I might add, just the fault of me, merrily working up the stripes without thinking about what I was doing. Of course it could also have been the fault of the tumbler(s) of vino which accompanied my evening hooky (yes, when in Connievan I always drink wine out of a tumbler, makes me very feel rather giddy and holidayish)......hmmmm......I Love the idea of a cafetiere cosy though, and fully intend to give this project another go. Maybe I should do it here in the Attic without the tumblers of vino to hand. Yes, that sounds like A Good Plan.

 x

 

 

 

Comments

[Erin Diamond]

Lucy -
I love your blog! Thanks for posting something you made that wasn't perfect. Makes me feel just a bit better about my many mistakes. Keep making all your beautiful things and showing us what keeps you inspired.
Erin

[The Coffee Lady]

You've brought back memories for me, too, as I went to university in York.

I blogged not so long ago (http://thecoffeelady.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-am-not-axe-murderer.html) about fancy caravanning - I caravanned a lot as a child, and was always confused as to why people who wanted all mod cons would choose to go on a caravanning holiday. Go to a hotel!

We have a tent. No frills here.

[Marian]

Hi Lucy love reading your blog and seeing all the wonderfully colourful projects. Just been looking at ravelry and researching "african flower bags". Some wonderfully colourful crochet I'm sure you would love. Check it out if you haven't already.

[Seaweedandraine]

Oh what splendid images! I did so enjoy the look-see into your little holiday. Happy crochet-ing your next little cafetiere cozy. :)

[Tina]

Lovely vacation you had. I was in York when I was 15 or 16. It was a pupil exchange, and my class spent a week or a fourtnight near Liverpool. One day-trip was to York and my memories are quite similar to how you describe the city. I remember there just had been some fire accident in the Minster and it was all blackened outside. It was nice for us to sit at the riverbank just a few steps away from the city center, we were all so exhausted…

[Jan - Australia]

Lucy, thank you for again sharing so much of your life. It might interest you to look at this site - "Jumpers and Jazz in July". This festival runs for over a week in South-Eastern Queensland in the town of Warwick and service organisations, schools and individuals put a "jumper" on a deciduous tree in the main street - very colourful and much fun in the middle of Winter. When the site opens click on "Facebook" half way down. Then go the Wall and view the pictures. Enjoy - especially the VW.

[Maddy]

Thanks so much for sharing your trip to York, my husband and I stayed there on our Honeymoon and you have brought back so many lovely memories for me.

[Joyce Stewart]

Oh my goodness, I recognise that caravan park by the walk along the river to town! Years and years ago we stayed there....there may be lots of tarmac but it is so convenient. Thanks for the great posts and the chat...superby photos too.

[Jocelyn Nelson]

Saw this and thought of you: http://foxslane.blogspot.com/2011/08/yarn-bombed.html
It's a crocheted spare tyre cover for a caravan. So cute!

[Hazel]

Wonky or not... it still looks cool. xx

[Mary Lou]

I spent a day in York once and wished it had been several. Thanks for the lovely photos.

[Samantha]

Gorgeous! Love your uncomplicated caravan - we go tenting with our little family every year, and it surprises our friends that we have so much fun without the conveniences we have at home.

[Crafty Blueberry]

Lovely pictures, I can never get enough of York, it's great any time of the year. I visited a couple of weeks ago and went on the York craft trail. It's a great place for craft shops and attractions and I think it's a marvelous idea - every city needs a craft trail.

[Anna]

About six years ago we were out in the UK, so much to see, so little time!!!
I do so want to return and drive around and explore up north.

Maybe I can talk my hubby into traveling next year.

Thanks for the tour!!!

Anna

[joan]

lovely photos of york. We love going to rowntree caravan site its brilliantly situated for a walk into the city centre i,ve also been left on my own while hubby went to work, lots of pubs to call in on the way back from shopping lol

[nicky lovett]

just like to say what a fantastic blog you have i want to move into your colourful world ive spent over 2hrs today admiring posts of some beautiful crocheting and photography i have recently taught myself to hook and well i hope one day i will be able to make something that looks as fantastic as one of yours hugs to you and your lovely family x

[Ailsa]

We've got some lovely, happy memories of York too! It's a beautiful place.

[Cindy]

Hey Lucy thanks for sharing your vacation photos with us. WOW! Beautiful. And I enjoyed the bit of history about why you go there. There's nothing like good friends and good family time.

I wonder if your coffee cozy would fit a nice bottle of wine? Just a thought.

Cindy Bee

[eva]

Simple pleasures are always the best, thanks for sharing!

[Sally]

I love York too, I usually manage a shopping trip once a year on the train, but I found out about the The Quilt Museum there at the Festival of Quilts this weekend (http://www.quiltmuseum.org.uk/), so I hope to make a trip soon!

[Sandra]

Beautiful photos of York, it's a lovely city - but my favourite photo? the puddle splashing! perfect - kind of miss that intuitive joy of small people now mine have got so big and grown up... x

[Natasja]

Thanks for sharing York with us. I've always wanted to go and now I definitely will. Your stripey jacket is very cute.

[Michelle]

York is my 'Christmas place' I love the atmosphere in York especially at Christmas... I love the gorgeousness of the streets there.

Lucy, can I ask how you make your coffee look so 'drink me' and delicious? The chocolatey star ontop of the frothy bit is just so envious-some (I catch up on your blog first thing of a morning and yearn for that first cup of loveliness)

[Lynne Gill]

What a lovely post, Lucy. Have been to York once and fully intend going again perhaps next year.

What lovely memories you are building for your little family - they will always have these great times to reflect on in the future, and it makes no difference whether you take them to Disneyland or a caravan holiday in the UK - weather included! - they will just remember the fun you all had.

My 'hooky' story is not as life-changing as LizzieJ, above (good luck, Lizzie!) but you taught me to crochet after MANY years of forgetting how, and I have spent many happy hours hooking away in glorious technicolour.
Love your blog, keep on keepin' on!

[Star]

What a delight it is to read of your wonderfully simple joys of family life. It makes me fondly remember happy times with my two boys, before they morphed into first grumpy teenagers and then independent adults.
Times spent with little ones is so precious. I well recall red wellie boots and big puddles, plus loads of other simple happy times. Your blog will make for treasured reading when your brood have flown the nest too.
Thanks as always Lucy, for such lovely, warm and happy posts.