mybigadventures.com

Happy new year one and all, welcome to the twenties, at last a sensibly named decade again. Today to blow off the cobwebs and welcome in the new year, we headed for a wander around RSPB Fairburn Ings Nature Reserve. In addition to providing some fantastic views, it also gave me a chance to try out my shiney new lens!

The weather was bright and sunny, although a little cooler than the last couple of days, but still pretty perfect for a wander. We were pretty excited about the prospect of seeing a kingfisher and happily, were not disappointed with a couple of them flitting about. After a few attempts, we even managed to get a couple of half decent pictures.

There were plenty of birds about and we had a great day. I highly recommend a visit if you're ever in the area. Enjoy the photos.

Following the usual Christmas rush, we decided to have a little break, and so, now we find ourselves in a nice flat in York. We're actually right in the thick of it, only a few minutes walk from the town centre and pretty much opposite the Minster. We arrived on Sunday, just at sunset, and had a lovely sunset view of the minster from the lounge windows. Having settled in, we moseyed around York city on Monday, walkign around the city walls and pottering in the shops. We then went in the minster itself, a superb architectural construction - there was a short queue to get tickets and then we had a good wander round, taking lots of photographs and utlimately treating ourselves to a splendid replica of a gargoyle in the shop. It's hilarious!

Tuesday dawned a little cloudy. Ben went out quite early to catch a view of the minster in the frosty morning, and then cam back for breakfast. By the time we had got ourselves organised, the sun had come out and it was really quite a lovely day. We decided to head over the the castle area - we went up Clifford Tower for some views of the city and then went across the square to Fairfax House, which was really interesting, with glorious ceilings!

After a quite stop at Caffe Nero for a drink and a cake, we went over to the National Railway museum and were almost blown away by it - I'm not sure why, buut I'd anticipated glass cases full of memorabilia, but in fact, there were lots of actual trains! Amazing! There was lots that were only there to look at, but there were also many that you could go in. It was superb, and - for a free museum - absolutely superb!

And then, it was new year. Happy New Year, everyone!