Friday March 28, 2025
Not very much doing today. Even though we don’t like this cottage as much as our previous stays, Westow very much feels like coming home. We’re comfortable here not doing a lot. I’d be perfectly happy, I think, to spend my days walking, writing and cooking. I suppose that’s why we keep coming back here.
Anyways, we drove over to Castle Howard – the house was still closed, but the café and shops were open – and then onto Malton for a wander.
We bought a pork pie and Scotch egg from Food 2 Remember, and a loaf of excellent bread from Bluebird Bakery to have for lunch back at the cottage.
While Grant spent the afternoon taking it easy, I went for a walk down the lane. It’s blue skies, but blustery. The temperature is supposed to be 9, but it feels like 2. Just when we were getting used to the warmer weather.
As I walked down the lane, I met a lady walking a black and white cocker spaniel who could have been the model for Bally on the Philly covers. We chatted for a while, and she suggested I walk down to the church as the daffodils were out.
Out? They carpeted the graveyard. There was not a spare inch of ground that didn’t have daffodils growing. It was one of those moments that made me gasp aloud. In the wind they really did appear to be dancing as Wordsworth had described them.
On the path back, just outside Yew Tree Cottage, I got chatting with another woman. She had two cockers – Ruby, a retired working spaniel, and her daughter Nell, a shy darling with just one toe on one of her back feet.
Dinner tonight is at the Blacksmith’s Arms, which has gotten quite posh.
We shared a starter – pork and apple croquettes. For main, I had chicken breast with mustard mash, creamed leeks, peas, broccolini and jus, while Grant ordered the lamb rump special with dauphinoise potato and red wine jus. He finished with a couple of scoops of ice cream – chocolate and a blood orange sorbet.
Tomorrow we’re off to Lincolnshire.
The stats…
Temperature: 6-9, although the “feels like” temperature this afternoon was just 2.
Miles travelled: 17
*Even though we work in kms in Australia, all signage in the UK is in miles, so that’s what I’m going with.
These posts are taken directly from my travel journal … you can find the series here.
And Anyways... 
Holy!! Stellar photos of those gorgeous daffodils! I particularly like the one with the church in the background.
those daffodils look stunning but I can just imagine the cold wind blowing them and you! Fabulous looking food as well
It was a tad chilly lol. I love it though.
Looks so lovely with all the daffodils.
I recall daffodils in a graveyard one March in York. So lovely to see, I’m not surprised you gasped.
I took so many photos of Daffodils.
Me too. They are also fabulous along the walls of York. I was only there at the right time once.