Her Majesty

A trip to York and the first place we wanted to visit was the Minster to see the new statue of the Queen.
It was intended to mark her Platinum Jubilee.
Carved from French lepine limestone, 6ft 7in tall, and weighs about two tonnes.
It portrays the Queen wearing her Garter robes and the George IV State Diadem, and holding the orb and sceptre. The design was chosen by the Queen herself.
It was originally to have been unveiled in September 2022 but postponed owing to the Queen’s death.
So eventually it was unveiled by her son King Charles 111 on 9th November 2022.
A fine piece of work by stonemason Richard Bossoms.

We then had a walk round the back of the Minster through Dean’s Park ( see collage photo ) A quick visit to see the Treasurer’s House decorated for Christmas.
We will be back next year to have a better look. We didn’t have time to explore all the rooms as we had a table booked at Côte Brasserie for lunch.
Excellent lunch and lovely ( large) glass of Cote de Rhône red. Went well with the coq au vin. Dessert was a plum clafoutis and ice cream.
We then walked up and down a few streets, window shopping.
Bought a poker ( no rude comments!) at MrC’s favourite shop, Barnitts. A family run business which started in 1896. Hardware, home and garden, and DIY and much, much more.
The York saying goes, “ If Barnitts haven’t got it you can’t get it anywhere.”
In the Shambles Market I bought a kilo of pickling onions, and some Baron Bigod cheese. My favourite. A Bri from Suffolk.
I also bought a new cover for my phone.

We finished off with a visit to the St Nicholas Fair. Not as many stalls as I remember but still interesting and some beautiful crafts.
Purchased a Christmas present.

Then it was back to Leeds on the Coast Liner.
Unfortunately the Zap bus is no more. Still it didn’t take much longer, and was very warm and comfortable sat upstairs on the front seats. ( please note BPWs!)

A very enjoyable day, but we are now shattered. Not sunny, but the fog had cleared and it wasn’t too cold.
Cup of tea and Christmas cake, along with biscuits and the cheese I bought in York. An early night once the football has finished.

Collage as an extra.