On the Road Again with Merle

[Jack Black]

I decided to have a sausage bap instead of bacon myself the other day,mine was equally gopping and over priced.

Prices are getting shocking aren't they? That one cost me £5.50! I nearly dropped through the floor!

 

[Johnnythefox]

My Thursday trip to the second-hand market in Leeds, is often the highlight of my week. I know all the traders there, and many of them are friends, but my pal (photographed here, last week with Merle) has a second-hand tool stall.

I go down early, and we have a good laugh, eating cake, and chatting to the other regulars. It can get quite raucous!

Unfortunately, as my mate was driving into Leeds early this morning, with his Landrover stuffed to the gills with heavy old tools, the hood flew off, smashed the windscreen, and then ripped one of his tires as he ran over the hood. He ended up on the other side of the road, unhurt, but unable to get to the market. He gave me a ring, and sounded quite excited! Fortunately, the roads were quiet because of the early hour, and no other vehicles were involved.

As I needed a haircut, I went to the market, and spent an hour talking to some of the other traders, and two visiting knife collectors, before going to see Brian, whose shop has barely changed since the 1960's.

Brian also collects knives, so as I had with the couple earlier, I let him admire Merle, and after he had cut my hair, I went off to buy some groceries. As I walked through the centre, I snapped a few pics. Between the larger streets, there are still old 'ginnels', (as they say in Leeds), many of which contain old pubs. The one below is called 'Angel Inn Yard'.

I cant believe those haircut prices,its closer to £20 in a lot of places near me, if I can get it for £10 I feel lucky.
If petrol wasnt so pricey I would drive up for a short back and sides

 

[Johnnythefox]

Prices are getting shocking aren't they? That one cost me £5.50! I nearly dropped through the floor!

Particularly up north, it was £5.20 a pint in a pub last night.

 

[Johnnythefox]

No cell phones, either… unless of course you own the place.

I love that, get rid of the TV screens glaring at you as well.


Then we can have a proper Yorkshire conversation about life.

 

[Jack Black]

I cant believe those haircut prices,its closer to £20 in a lot of places near me, if I can get it for £10 I feel lucky.
If petrol wasnt so pricey I would drive up for a short back and sides

I usually give Brian a good tip, as I don't know how he makes a profit on those prices, particularly as he has a lot of OAPS, and drives into Leeds from near Catterick everyday!

Particularly up north, it was £5.20 a pint in a pub last night.

Yeah, some of the pubs here charge that, but I noticed they have a £2.30 a pint offer on Mondays in a pub in the centre I sometimes go in

 

[Johnnythefox]

I usually give Brian a good tip, as I don't know how he makes a profit on those prices, particularly as he has a lot of OAPS, and drives into Leeds from near Catterick everyday!

Yeah, some of the pubs here charge that, but I noticed they have a £2.30 a pint offer on Mondays in a pub in the centre I sometimes go in

First time I went to Leeds was during the miners strike in my Morris minor pickup with friends in the back no seats just some blankets,you couldnt do that now.

It was very slow even the trucks where faster, we got overtaken by about 30 Met police vans in convoy thankfully they didnt think we where flying pickets and give us a good kicking.

I remember going to Bryans/Brian's? famous fish and chip shop for some great nosh.

Having southern accents we had to be a bit careful in some pubs, it where right rough in places I was never going to ask for a half pint nor a shandy

 

[Jack Black]

First time I went to Leeds was during the miners strike in my Morris minor pickup with friends in the back no seats just some blankets,you couldnt do that now.

It was very slow even the trucks where faster, we got overtaken by about 30 Met police vans in convoy thankfully they didnt think we where flying pickets and give us a good kicking.

I remember going to Bryans/Brian's? famous fish and chip shop for some great nosh.

Having southern accents we had to be a bit careful in some pubs, it where right rough in places I was never going to ask for a half pint nor a shandy

Leeds used to be a rough town back then! I used to come here then, but Leeds has changed so much, I can scarcely remember all the places we used to go. I had to be careful about my accent when I went to Pontefract the other week, and it's only a few towns over! Some of those pit villages used to fight over accents, and there was barely half a mile between them!

I got pulled over on the motorway, by the Met, looking for flying pickets, at that time. I was taking the kids to Alton Towers! They still searched the boot!

 

[btb01]

LOL! Possibly the most disliked man in Yorkshire! I was in a Smith's pub the other week, and I was the only person there, at 9.30pm at night. Obviously there was no music on, and the monosyllabic young barman wasn't a conversationalist He did, however, tell me what he thought of Humphrey, and he didn't need words of more than one syllable!

I get the phone thing — to a point. But it doesn’t exactly sound like Smith’s have done themselves any favors by imposing so many rules in their pubs. They do brew some good beer, though.

Jack, fantastic tour of Harrogate and Knaresborough!

Tourists (I assume) queue to get served tea and muffins, by waitresses in old-fashioned clothes, at Betty's tea rooms I once had to attend a press breakfast there, and was less than impressed by the fayre

I’d love to tell you that my wife and sister-in-law didn’t go to a posh, touristy tea room in Bath both times we visited, but…

I was looking forward to getting breakfast in Harrogate, and while there are many cafes there (where you don't have to queue), there's a place about a mile away, which does great food, and fantastic coffee. I walked through attractive, well-tended streets, lined with beautiful, historic houses, which undoubtedly cost an arm and a leg. Finding the cafe, I was disappointed to be told that they were "only doing a limited food menu" due to staffing issues. This turned out to be something of an understatement, as they were only doing drinks, and some cakes, but I hid my tears, and ordered coffee with some sort of lemon cake. While I missed the cooked breakfast, the coffee and cake were both excellent

You see that sort of thing a lot here, too, right now. We’ve all but given up on a few places — mostly chains, which I don’t feel too bad about — that we used to frequent because the cutbacks, changes, service, quality, etc. have been so bad lately.

As with Earl, and Pearl, I took the iconic snap of Merle

Great trio of photos!

(Quite a hill isn't it?)

Is that Yorkshire or San Francisco?

Knaresborough has a lot of old houses, which contain bricked-up windows, a consequence of the Window Tax . Some of them have provided canvases for local artists, such as this house close to the railway line.

Interesting. I hadn’t heard of the window tax before. I’d imagine some folks now would want to open those back up and put windows in again (though I’m sure there’d be some new bureaucratic hurdles to that, too).

I had one more tradition to fulfill (of course), and so, as I had done with the two other traveller's from across The Pond, I took Merle for a pint and a chip butty at 'The World's End', the pub across the bridge from Mother Shipton's hovel

I’m glad you were able to take Merle for a chip butty at The World’s End, Jack. I’ve always enjoyed that from your previous posts. Looks like a great pub, with a fantastic name!

 

[Jack Black]

I get the phone thing — to a point. But it doesn’t exactly sounds like Smith’s have done themselves any favors by imposing so many rules in their pubs. They do brew some good beer, though.

Me too Barrett, but while their bottled beers are good, they have some truly appalling pubs. From what I've seen of them, (quite a lot), while there isn't a widespread problem with customers using mobile phones, there are consistent problems with sour beer, filthy conditions, drunks throwing up and/or falling asleep across the tables, people taking drugs in the toilets, children sitting outside being neglected while their parents get drunk inside, people urinating on the seats because they're so drunk they can't get to the toilets, fights breaking out, the most foul racist language (used by managers as well as customers), rotten food, and widespread mistreatment of staff by the brewery owner. Compared to that, someone sat in the corner, browsing FB, doesn't seem to be much of an issue

Jack, fantastic tour of Harrogate and Knaresborough!

Thanks mate

I’d love to tell you that my wife and sister-in-law didn’t go to a posh, touristy tea room in Bath both times we visited, but…

LOL! I used to have to go to Harrogate every year, for a few days, for an outdoor trade show. The evenings involved a lot of drinking. I had a mate who worked for a Spanish company who made climbing and mountaineering boots, and one year the head of the company came over. Instead of coming out drinking with all the other climbers, my poor mate had to spend every evening, sat in Betty's Tea Rooms, listening to 'light piano music', and drinking tea with his Spanish boss, who absolutely loved the place!

You see that sort of thing a lot here, too, right now. We’ve all but given up on a few places — mostly chains, which I don’t feel too bad about — that we used to frequent because the cutbacks, changes, service, quality, etc. have been so bad lately.

It's bad news isn't it Barrett? I was going to get lunch in town today, but there was really nowhere I fancied going. A lot of the places I used to go closed down during the pandemic, while others don't open until late afternoon now. Prices have gone up, but more importantly, the quality of food has really gone down, likewise the quality of service

Great trio of photos!

Thanks again my friend, I was glad I still had the ones of Earl and Pearl I'd have sat in the same spot as before, but all the outdoor tables were full

Is that Yorkshire or San Francisco?

LOL! There are a bunch of tiny cobbled streets, just alleys really, which run up from the river, and they are so steep, I think I'd get a nose-bleed trying to get up them! Some of the steepest pathways I've ever seen!

Interesting. I hadn’t heard of the window tax before. I’d imagine some folks now would want to open those back up and put windows in again (though I’m sure there’d be some new bureaucratic hurdles to that, too).

It sounds like something made up doesn't it?! Yes, bearing in mind the age of the houses, you probably wouldn't get permission to re-open the windows now!

I’m glad you were able to take Merle for a chip butty at The World’s End, Jack. I’ve always enjoyed that from your previous posts. Looks like a great pub, with a fantastic name!

Thanks pal, I think that was the highlight of his visit! Unfortunately, we have a national rail strike this week, and an ongoing local bus strike, which makes things very difficult in terms of getting out and about. I had planned to take Merle to Sheffield, and York, for example, but I'm going to be confined to Leeds Hopefully Merle's next host will have better luck

 

[Jack Black]

With the trains on strike this week, and many of the buses too, I thought I'd take Merle to the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. I walked into the city centre, calling in for a coffee on the way, at 'Charlie's cafe' It brightened up on the way, and by the time I got into town, it was pleasant and sunny. I took a photo of Leeds Minster, and of the Bishop's Palace next door, which has long been a pub...

I walked over Crown Point Bridge, and the purpose-built Royal Armouries building came into view...

As I approached the main entrance, I was looking forward to exploring the museum, and to taking some photos of the many treasures within...

But...

I must have been to the Armouries a hundred times, over the past 20 years, even on Sundays, and have never encountered this problem before

So near, and yet so far (I'll post in some pics from previous visits below)

 

[Jack Black]

So what to do now?! A pair of water taxis, originally imported from Amsterdam, run along the river, from the Armouries to the rear of the train station, and I thought I could at least board one of these, and give everyone some more views of the river.

Most folks think the purpose of these boats is tourism, but there's actually a different story behind them. The owner of all the property in the area, saw them as a selling-point for all the yuppie apartments he owns, and for several years, they were free of charge, and available for the tenants of these upmarket properties to use to get to the train station. This didn't appeal though, and the only folks who boarded the boats were families with kids, and a few tourists, who managed to discover them (since they weren't advertised). I know the two blokes who pilot the boats, and while it's a pretty nice job, they earn well below the minimum wage here, because their conditions were changed, making them "self-employed". In the past, since the boat-ride was free, they could supplement their income with a few tips, but now folks have to pay, they rarely get tips, and most of the money goes to their boss (since they're supposedly self-employed, there's no insurance or health cover, pension, sick pay, or holidays).

As I went to see when the next departure was, I spotted the sign...

Obviously a way of ensuring all money goes directly to the boss, who supposedly isn't the boss Well, if he thought I was getting my bank card out for £1, he was mistaken

I walked back towards Crown Point Bridge, and had another coffee at a place called Granary Wharfe.

Afterwards, crossing over the pedestrian foot bridge across the river, I was surprised to spot a pair of cormorants, but just as I was zooming in on the nearest one, with my compact camera, one of the river taxis came round the bend of the river, and put the birds to flight!

I walked back into town.

 

[Jack Black]

A few photos from the Royal Armouries...

 

[Jack Black]

Some more...

...

 

[Jack Black]

 

[JM2]

Thanks for sharing those amazing pics of the armory there Jack.

 

[JM2]

I’d like to be added to host Merle when he comes back stateside. Now, being in the commonwealth of KY, don’t get your hopes up for a derby delight. I can offer though some bluegrass and whittling.

 

[btb01]

Me too Barrett, but while their bottled beers are good, they have some truly appalling pubs. From what I've seen of them, (quite a lot), while there isn't a widespread problem with customers using mobile phones, there are consistent problems with sour beer, filthy conditions, drunks throwing up and/or falling asleep across the tables, people taking drugs in the toilets, children sitting outside being neglected while their parents get drunk inside, people urinating on the seats because they're so drunk they can't get to the toilets, fights breaking out, the most foul racist language (used by managers as well as customers), rotten food, and widespread mistreatment of staff by the brewery owner. Compared to that, someone sat in the corner, browsing FB, doesn't seem to be much of an issue

With so many great pubs in your country, I don’t think I’ll be rushing to visit a Smith’s pub on my next visit. Besides, how are you supposed to take a pic to post on the knife forum if you can’t use your phone?!

LOL! There are a bunch of tiny cobbled streets, just alleys really, which run up from the river, and they are so steep, I think I'd get a nose-bleed trying to get up them! Some of the steepest pathways I've ever seen!

That photo also reminded me a bit of a little town in Arkansas, up in the Ozarks not far from where I grew up, called Eureka Springs. Victorian architecture, steep, winding streets, haunted hotels… it’s an interesting place.

Sorry about the bad luck with the train/bus strike, and the Royal Armouries, and the water taxi. You didn’t recently unearth a late Saxon gold and jeweled aestel while metal detecting, did you?

Thank you for sharing the photos from your previous visit. Really interesting stuff.

I’d like to be added to host Merle when he comes back stateside. Now, being in the commonwealth of KY, don’t get your hopes up for a derby delight. I can offer though some bluegrass and whittling.

I’ll get you added to the list.

 

[Fodderwing]

Jack Black
What a whirlwind tour Jack! The armory museum is spectacular. Just amazing. I'm exhausted trying to keep up with you and Merle. Headed to bed. Thank you for all your efforts my friend.

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks for sharing those amazing pics of the armory there Jack.

Thanks

With so many great pubs in your country, I don’t think I’ll be rushing to visit a Smith’s pub on my next visit. Besides, how are you supposed to take a pic to post on the knife forum if you can’t use your phone?!

LOL! They're an eccentric company

That photo also reminded me a bit of a little town in Arkansas, up in the Ozarks not far from where I grew up, called Eureka Springs. Victorian architecture, steep, winding streets, haunted hotels… it’s an interesting place.

Interesting links Barrett, looks like a cool place. The hotel reminded me of Scarborough's Grand Hotel...and The Shining of course!

Sorry about the bad luck with the train/bus strike, and the Royal Armouries, and the water taxi. You didn’t recently unearth a late Saxon gold and jeweled aestel while metal detecting, did you?

LOL! Not that I recall Barrett! I did briefly look up de-hexing, but some folks clearly take it a lot more seriously than I do!

Thank you for sharing the photos from your previous visit. Really interesting stuff.

Thanks again mate, I have more pics, and info on the exhibits, if anyone is interested in anything in particular

Jack Black
What a whirlwind tour Jack! The armory museum is spectacular. Just amazing. I'm exhausted trying to keep up with you and Merle. Headed to bed. Thank you for all your efforts my friend.

Thanks Dwight, I'm pretty exhausted myself, hard keeping up with Merle! He's just helped me make a pastrami sandwich

 

[Jack Black]

On Thursday, it'll be two weeks since Merle arrived here in Yorkshire, so he will then be travelling to Scotland, to stay with Magizm7 I'm sure he's going to have a fantastic time

We haven't done much today, but I thought Merle might like to share a pie