My fellow Celtic pilgrims left Durham early on May 15th and I picked up a rental car to drive south to Yorkshire to visit some of my girlfriends that I went to Scarborough Sixth Form College with back in the 1980’s!

First stop was with Bridget and John Buckton and their lovely teenage daughters Lydia and Alice for an overnight stay on their farm. Miss Lydia was kind enough to give up her room to me for a night. I also got to catch up with Bridget’s Dad Trevor who I forgot had nicknamed me “Hi Guys” back in the 80’s, that wasn’t a common greeting in Yorkshire, and they hadn’t met any Jamaicans before :). It was really fun submersing myself in Bridget’s family and farm life for a couple days. Lydia and Alice were still very busy with school studying and taking their exams, but still doing their chores around the farm. Bridget and John also have other jobs, Bridget as a school teacher a few mornings a week and John running his pest control business; all while keeping the farm operating. They are extremely hard workers as most every farmer I have ever met is. I have posted some pictures from the farm and surrounding Village of Boynton which we explored on several lovely walks. The farm and their home are part of a long term lease from a larger property with beautiful old buildings and gardens, known as Boynton Hall.

This is one of the areas that the artist David Hockney took inspiration from for his beautiful paintings of Yorkshire, these very walnut trees feature in his painting of the same name along this road. Lovely story of Bridget’s Dad seeing him up the road, not knowing who he was and why he was on their farm he approached to be greeted by Hockney’s associate keeping him at a distance. Upon hearing he was quite a good artist asked if perhaps he would donate one of his paintings to the Village Hall fundraiser coming up, um no. Too good! You just never know who you are going to run into in Yorkshire.

Bridget’s Dad Trevor with his extremely clever and well trained sheepdog Floss. I was able to see her in action one night when she and Bridget moved the sheep from one pasture to another. I had hoped to load the video here but it isn’t cooperating.

Bridget and Lydia looking like twins.

The family retriever all tucked in for the night after a full evening of moving the sheep, feeding the pigs, taking care of the horse, walking the pony, I quickly followed suit.

Next day looking around the Boynton Hall and its grounds.

Lovely afternoon tea with fruit cake and Wensleydale cheese before heading to our school friend Jane’s neighboring village Grindale for the evening.