The blog of photographer Kim Ayres

Home again, home again...

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Pub signs in England seem to have moved away from the dramatic in the direction of the comic.

As we drove past “The Fox and Hound” I noticed it had a picture of a fox and a hound enjoying a friendly pint together. “The George and Dragon” likewise had a image of a bloke in a suit of armour enjoying a friendly pint with a dragon. I wasn’t able to find a sign for “The King’s Head” showing Charles I enjoying a friendly pint with the axeman, but I think if we’d explored a few more villages it would just have been a matter of time.

It’s all a far cry from The Slaughtered Lamb in An American Werewolf in London.



We’re just back from a week away in Yorkshire on a well needed break. After all the trauma of recent times, a last minute deal on a cottage in Leyburn gave us the chance to not worry about anything much beyond whether to light the open fire before or after dinner.

Driving through beautiful countryside enhanced by the stunning autumn colours; taking the kids deep into the heart of a mountain on a trip to White Scar Cave; a visit to the cinema in Richmond, which is a converted railway station, to watch Disney-Pixar’s “Up”; being soundly beaten at Mancala and Backgammon by my 14 year old son; and a great deal of staring into the glowing coals in the grate.

Next week we’ll begin shaping the direction of our lives again.
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29 comments

Rachel Fox said...

We might have even walked/driven past you! We were down visiting family in Yorkshire last week and stopped off near Leyburn on the way home to visit a couple of blogger friends who live in that area! We went to see 'Up' too.
x

A Daft Scots Lass said...

Welcome back...

2to4aday said...

Welcome back! We missed your ramblings and your beard.

St Jude said...

Oh I've spent many happy hours wandering around white scar caves, I used to go potholing in that area alot. Sorry the weather wasn't the best but hey ho that's no great surprise sweetie.

Falak said...

WELCOME BACK! :) Hope you had a great vacation!

Sausage Fingers said...

Welcome back, looking forward to your new ramblings, Cheers, sausage

Anonymous said...

Sounds beautiful Kim. My favorite season. The pub sign reminds me of having a pint of Guiness when I was there.

Barlinnie said...

That's all very well, but you've had my lawnmower for over a week, and the grass is now up to the windies.

...and seeing as you can now walk on water at the blink of an eye, I don't suppose I can have those waders hanging up in your shed?

Kim Ayres said...

Rachel - I've often wondered how often that kind of thing must happen. I once caught up with an old friend who I hadn't seen for over 20 years. It turned out that a decade before she's actually lived for 6 years within 10 miles of me, but we both thought the other lived in a different part of the country. We could easily have passed each other in the street and never realised.

Gillian, 2to4aday, Falak and Sausage Fingers - thank you :)

St Jude - A potholer, a comic book writer - you never cease to amaze me with your past incarnations!

Allen - when were you in the UK, and why and how long for? Do tell :)

Kim Ayres said...

Jimmy - missed you there in the ether. And no, I can't walk on water - not with holes in my feet...

Midnitefyrfly said...

Welcome back! Sounds like a lovely getaway. What did you think of "Up" ?

A.T. Post said...

Good to see you again, Mr. Ayres. Glad that you got some time off and perused a few pub signs. How big is that converted railway station/cinema, anyway? That sounds like a neat idea.

Jayne Martin said...

We all need a time of renewal on occasion. I'm glad you enjoyed your and I'm very happy to see you back, my friend.

Pat said...

Welcome back! =)

Brindy said...

Before leaving the UK I'd noticed pub signs becoming more humourous rather than gruesome, and thought they had become victim to the PC brigade.

I hale from North Yorkshire - some lovely spots, glad you had a good time.

Jasmine said...

Glad you had a nice vacation!

I do not want a beer at the Slaughtered Lamb.

debra said...

so glad you had some time away---much needed, I'd guess. I could use it, too...... sigh

Charlie said...

The Ayres family really needed that break and the time together. Hopefully, there was a bit of healing and a lot of love.

Hindsfeet said...

Hope your compass has stopped spinning and that you've got your bearings a bit for the next round...Hope with the changing of the season comes some healing for you and yours...

Pat said...

Oh that makes my heart ache a little. We haven't been back since we sold the cottage in Kildwick near Skipton. The Dales were a big part of our life.
I hope you had a lovely restful time - as restful as you can be with two children:)
I'm glad you're back too:)

Pat said...

Sounds like a nice relaxing week, time to regroup, and just chill out. Welcome back.

mapstew said...

Welcome back. And the birthday?

Helen said...

Hey Bearded One - nice to have your ramblings to read once again. Hailing from tropical QLD, I can only dream about a holiday in Yorkshire - just sounds so romantic - hope you had a great family time. Happy Birthday and "suffer in your undies" (some Aussie slang for you)for being beaten by your son!!!!

stinkypaw said...

Happy Birthday Sire! Wishing you all the best & many more birthdays to follow! Cheers!

erika said...

I'm so glad you are back! Your were missed by your fans :)

Kim Ayres said...

Midnitefyrfly - We all really enjoyed "Up". Parts of it were really sad - and with the recent loss of Maggie's mother, I could feel the tears welling. Other parts were really funny though. A good family movie :)

Postman - the whole station area has been converted into a small arts centre, a cafe/bistro, a shop, and 2 small cinema screens, probably holding about 100 seats each. It looks good.

Jayne, Patrick, Hindsfeet, Pat, Stinkypaw and Erika - thank you :)

Jacqui - I don't think it's PC so much as trying to create a more family orientated atmosphere for bar lunches.

Jasmine - have you seen "An American Werewolf in London"? If not, rent or borrow a copy - it's a classic :)

Debra - hope you get one soon :)

Charlie - it was really needed and I think it's helped a bit

Pat - the kids weren't bad at all. The only problem was they both had hacking coughs all week.

Mapstew - underway :)

Helen - romance is always hindered when you have the kids with you. Not heard of "suffer in your undies" before :)

Ron said...

Glad you're back Kim! Your description of the countryside of your travels makes me want to visit the Isles even more now.

A trip to the British Isles is Number One on my Bucket List. I especially want to visit my paternal ancestral home in the Black Midlands of Shropshire which my ancestors left in the 1600's for indentured service in the British West Indies (Jamaica.) Also I want to visit Glossip, which is my maternal (Hadfield) ancestral home. The Hadfields came to America the "regular" way, by immigration in the 1850's.

Have you ever been to those parts of your splendid island?

Kim Ayres said...

Ron - unfortunately I have to say I've been to neither of these locations. Although I'm sure they are all the poorer for not having you and your ancesters there for a few hundred years

Jasmine said...

I don't think I've seen that either. You're going to have me watching a lot of films. Haha.

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