A Voice From The Past

I heard a voice from the past a few months ago, a 23 year old me.  We'd been doing quite a bit of house tidying, and I rediscovered a beautiful (if a little bashed) suitcase that holds my diaries from when I went travelling on a round the world trip with my friend Andrew.  I've picked up the diaries before and skimmed through their pages.  This time I sat down and read a chunk from my first few weeks away.  It was strange to see my neat writing and read those words, an echo from half my life away. In the case, I knew there were a couple of rolls of film that I hadn't had developed when I returned. But tucked down at the bottom in a little pouch, I discovered a couple more. I couldn't believe they've been there for so long. I wasn't sure what they'd reveal, or even if they'd still be OK. 

UK Film Lab (now known as Canadian Film Lab), had developed a few rolls of film for me in the past, and being really pleased with the results, I sent them off in a big brown envelope, not knowing if the secrets stored inside would ever develop. A short while later, an email containing the zip files appeared in my inbox. Each click on an image felt like I was drawing with a magic marker to reveal what lay beneath. Bursts of colour, scenes stored in my distant memory, each film grain and speck of dust adding to the story. The ones that resonated with me the most, were of a few weeks spent in Nepal. We flew into Kathmandu on September 23rd 1993.

From Kathmandu, we travelled to Pokhara, where we trekked for a few days in the mountains. We witnessed the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets and watched the light dance on the Himalayas. We walked alongside patchwork rice fields, stopped for refreshments at tiny cold drink stores in the mountain villages, visited temples and schools, and watched the clouds swirl beneath us.

Our boots gathered dirt and dust as we walked further into the mountains. We met kind, generous people who looked after us on our journey, who cooked for us and gave us sweet tea. Looking at the photos of the children we met, I can still hear their laughter, it was so infectious. We played many games of hide and seek and kick the can! I look at these photos now and wonder what they're all up to 23 years on.

It's sometimes hard for me to believe I did this round the world trip. For quite a few years now I have had anxiety and panic attacks around long distance travelling. But I'm getting itchy feet, and there are so many places I want to discover. Looking at these photos makes me realise how much I achieved, and how it is all very possible again.

A Night At The Mollycroft

A few weeks ago, we spent a night away in an ornate showman's travelling van on the edge of the North York Moors. It's hard to believe after the bonkers hail, sleet and snow of last week that we were sitting outside drinking our morning cups of tea, basking in the sun. 

We were working with Canopy and Stars. They have some truly amazing glamping locations to stay in and explore. This shoot brought us to The Mollycroft. It's a restored 1940s showman's living van that used to be owned by the White family who toured around the fairgrounds in the Glasgow area. 

It's so thoughtfully restored. The gorgeous wooden furniture and panelling in the lounge area, colourful and interesting ornaments, and homemade sloe gin laid out Alice in Wonderland drink me style!

I love building fires, and made one outside and inside. It was perfect just sitting and reading whilst the logs were glowing in the burner.  

As well as restoring showman's vans, the owner of the site is passionate about bamboo, and has planted many species in the garden that surrounds The Mollycroft.

We just missed the 15,000 starlings that were making the bamboo garden their home. One day I will see a murmuration! But they did leave traces of their visit - one of the guys was busy jet washing the bamboo. In the low sun, the droplets were catching the light and it was really beautiful.

The light was magical..

The next morning, I listened to the world wake up from inside The Mollycroft. The whispers of the bamboo, the first songs of the dawn chorus, the crows nesting in the tall trees. My hair smelt of wood-smoke, I always find this comforting. I lit the fire and took a cup of tea outside. My breath hung on the air and mixed with the steam rising from my tea. I felt myself winding down, it's the perfect spot for this. 

After breakfast (freshly laid eggs), we had a walk into the woods. The coppiced trees provide the logs for The Mollycroft fires. They make their own charcoal too.

Then all too soon it was time to leave. It's a perfect bolthole to have a little space for thinking, reading, walking. Cosy corners and campfires surrounded by beautiful bamboo. I know we'll be back - and next time I'll brave the outdoor shower!

If you would like a bit more info, or to book TheMollycroft, you can find it on the Canopy and Stars page here. 

The Lamppost - Hebden Rising

I witnessed something pretty special last week. After being closed since Christmas Eve last year, The Lamppost Cafe opened its doors again, rising from the dirty floodwater that devastated our little town on Boxing Day last year. That's pretty remarkable in itself. I've watched in awe as the business folk of this town piece Hebden back together. The lights in the shop windows are beginning to shine again. And for the ones that aren't open quite yet, there is so much work going on behind the scenes. They're all amazing. I know folk have had to dig deep after that emotional roller-coaster rocked up in town late last year. Their strength, determination and resilience to re-build this town is quite remarkable.

Our friends Amy & Claire from The Lamppost are a shining example of this resilience. They were flooded three times in December last year alone. The last one was much more devastating than anyone ever expected and has meant the cafe doors have been closed for a little under 3 months. We've seen them go through it, and somehow, they've managed to keep their spirits up. So, you can imagine the joy that was felt as the key turned in the lock, and the doors were opened for the first morning on Tuesday last week.  

In came the first bread deliveries from Blue Sky Bakery, the milk from John Hitchin, and the delicious cakes from Craggs Cakes were unwrapped and placed delicately on their stands. When one business is affected by the floods, it has a knock-on affect for so many others too.

So it was not only Amy & Claire with big smiles on their faces, but also their local suppliers, and of course their delighted customers (hounds & humans) who could resume their cosy chairs by the fire.

Then it struck me as the first customers strolled in. It's the sense that this place is far more than just a cafe. It's a community, a hub. In walked Geoff, one of The Lamppost's daily visitors - he even has his own seat. Well, it had to be replaced as the old one was washed away.  Geoff joked that he might get a suit made out of the same material as his chair so he could just blend into the background!

There's now a plaque on the wall to mark the spot where the old chair sat, made by another regular - Dave Chugg from The Laser Hive. 

Amy was busy making the first batch of pupcakes.

Then came the sound of the coffee machine as it whirred into life and the first cup of the day was made.

And in raced the first customer for a dog beer and pupcake.

There was a flurry of hugs as regulars came in, bringing their well wishes, flowers, cards and excited pooches! I heard stories of some dogs walking past The Lamppost with sad faces whilst the doors were closed. Billy was one such customer.

Loki made himself comfortable by the fire.

Winnie - guarded the dog beer...

Moss came in to celebrate his 2nd birthday.

For those who are here to take in the atmosphere and sample the wonderful food & beverages, there are even toy wooden dogs so you don't feel left out without a hound!

All this was happening inside, whilst the river was being dredged outside, to hopefully help to prevent such a fierce flood in the future.

The ball library was launched - genius!

And artist Stephen Hanson brought his latest work to hang on the walls.

Here's Hooper, soaking up the atmosphere.

And Lucy too...

From this...

to this.... 

It's great to have The Lamppost open once again! Although we don't have a dog, we are having a serious think about this at the moment - watch this space! For now, we'll just enjoy the surroundings, and those jacket spuds and cakes! There are other fab Hebden Bridge businesses re-opening their doors again in the not too distant future. So a few more lights will be shining. Hebden Bridge is very much open. Come down to the cobbles soon, with or without your hound!