A Saturday Stroll.
Occasionally we buy a day-rover train ticket and take ourselves off, first catching the train from the village. At Huddersfield we catch a train to Leeds and from there take the next one leaving to somewhere within the West Yorkshire boundary.
This particular Saturday it was Ilkley.
Ilkley is a lovely town nestled into the moors. Yes, it's the famous town of the song - On Ilkley Moor Bhat 'at. (On Ilkley Moor without a hat for those unused to the local dialect!)
We strolled close to the moor without actually walking on it this time.
This was followed by a walk around the lovely town. In summer there is a band playing most weekends. A great place to stop for an ice cream and tap your foot along to the music.
Follow this with a stroll by the river and you have the makings of a perfect day. We follow this with coffee and cake of course. There is a Betty's in Ilkley but I'm going to confess that it's not my favourite cafe. It's always too crowded and busy with long queues. I prefer the local, individually owned cafes, with their welcome and delicious baking.
Writing
Hmm. This is where I confess to not managing much writing or editing of the novel, recently. We have had a few difficult weeks with a serious plumbing problem, which may mean the kitchen floor having to be lifted. It's not been a conducive time to writing.
However let me tell you a little about 'Resolution'. Initially I wanted to set the book in the U.S. because I wanted Resolution to be the name of the town. We simply do not give our British towns names like that. Unfortunately it didn't work. Despite lots of advice and help I had to accept that I wasn't 'getting' the American idiom and 'feel' right.
However let me tell you a little about 'Resolution'. Initially I wanted to set the book in the U.S. because I wanted Resolution to be the name of the town. We simply do not give our British towns names like that. Unfortunately it didn't work. Despite lots of advice and help I had to accept that I wasn't 'getting' the American idiom and 'feel' right.
After some thought and heartache I moved the story from the USA to the U.K. cr a location from two or three local towns. It has made the writing much easier. For example when I described hurrying down a steep cobbled street in the rain, I knew exactly how slippy that can be. I have managed to keep the name and change the setting to The Resolution Hotel.
I love Ilkley. We would really love to move there, but not practical with family etc. It's our first choice for a day out and love the walk through the Ghyll then skirting the moor and back down to the town.
ReplyDeleteLove the pics.
That is exactly the walk we take.
DeleteIt's a long,long time since I last went to Ilkley!
ReplyDeleteAnd I think you were right to change the location. In this case, 'writing what you know' definitely works!
It certainly did. The book came much more alive to me.
ReplyDeleteThese little snippets are very intriguing Carol! Sounds like you had a lovely day at Ilkley xx
ReplyDeleteHopefully they are intriguing! Ilkley is a lovely place.
DeleteLooks a lovely place AND I did not know that Bhat 'at meant without a hat ! Thank you :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Lyn, thanks for dropping by.
DeleteWahey! Okay, so the trick is to sign out of Google when I arrive here (signed in because the gig list is still on Blogger), then sign in again with the WordPress account ... fingers crossed it continues to work ...
ReplyDeleteIlkley was on the very outside of our property search area, but only if the poet got a job that side of Yorkshire. I have to admit I've never yet walked it, but we have driven through it a few times.
Nice pictures. ;-)
Its a lovely town. Has a 'posh' feel to it like Harrogate and such. Well worth a good walk and coffee and cake afterwards. Fingers crossed the trick continues to work.
ReplyDeleteWhere I live, we wear a hat as protection against the sun. In Ilkley, I think other elements are uppermost in the wearer's mind! Happy walking, eating and writing!
ReplyDeleteQuite possibly Miriam, although we are known to have some sun...occasionally. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by.
I took my husband to be to Ilkley years ago and sang the entire 'Ilkley Moor bhat 'at' to him. Despite this, he still proposed on Ilkley Moor last year, so fond memories for a Yorkshire girl now living in Norfolk. And Wuthering Heights is still one of my favourite books.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the proposal. You're obviously a much better singer than me!
ReplyDelete