Sheffield by the Sea

Beautiful sunny day this morning and had a great walk into town along the estuary of the River Esk. Went past the Penny Hedge, and as usual wondered how many people walk past it and either don't notice it, or don't know what it is. On the morning of the eve of ascension day every year the ceremony of the horngarthis carried out, more commonly known as the building of the penny hedge. Apparently if the hedge does not last three tides, the land that Whitby is built on reverts to the ownership of the monastery. Luckily it's not done it yet.



Went to a workshop by Sara Grey and her son Kieron Means called Cowboys and Outlaws, Pioneers and Prospectors and was about songs of the old American west. Great workshop. Lots of good cowboy songs, and some interesting information about their life. Non of the clean shirted cowboys of the John Wayne era, they were much rougher in real life.

Then off to storytelling, and someone I'd not seen before - Racker Donnelly. Very funny Irishman and told his stories in rhyme including one he'd written himself about being an ace tennis player.

This week folk week coincides with Regatta weekend, doesn't happen very often, and it's all to do with the tides apparently but it does mean Whitby is very busy, and there's more events etc. Today there was supposed to be a fly past of various world war one planes, but apparently they couldn't get the spitfire working so there was just the hurricane, and we missed it.

Bumped into lots of people we know. Some we only see here, but lots from home. Sheffield by the Sea is what we call Whitby this week.

As the weather was so good we watched some more dancing, including clog team I'd not seen before, Clogarythm from Harrogate who had two old friend who used to live in Sheffield in. Then back to the house for a BBQ. Thought we'd better make the most of the good weather as it's not set to last.

After that, a swift walk to the Rifle Club for a concert. Quite a few acts on, we caught the end of The Askew Sisters who were very good, but the person we'd really gone to see was Steve Tilston. An excellent singer songwriter and very good guitarist.

Relatively early finish for us (2330), but by the time we'd walked back and had a nightcap and a chat it was still late.