Yorkshire Love

Yellow jersey decoration in Leeds
I was born and bred in North Wales, only a couple of miles north of the village we now live in, but I have spent most of my adult life over in God's own country, in the counties of North and South Yorkshire.
Firstly I lived in the beautiful and slightly claustrophobic city of York before choosing to spend a good chunk of my salad days in the grubbier but much more down to earth steel city of Sheffield.
I love Yorkshire. I like the Northern humour, the broad accents and the eclectic mix of the place.
I shall always consider Yorkshire as " home" , in the most affectionate and nostalgic senses of the word.

I love the way Yorkshire has embraced the Tour de France. Ok the whole bloody spectacle of skinny  men in Lycra slogging their guts out over a gusset wrenching leather seat leaves me somewhat cold in the excitement stakes, but in their thousands ordinary Yorkshire folk have gone out of their way to support the event, and by  lining the routes and decorating houses, gardens and public areas with tens of thousands of yellow flags, jerseys and the odd yellow bike., they have taken the cycle race to their hearts


They seem to be

' appy as pigs in muck

And " good on ya"

28 comments:

  1. FIL was a professional cyclist - quite famous in the cycling world - Ian Steel

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  2. Those are the only bits of 'yarn-bombing' I have seen which I actually like. The lady with the lamp is strangely attractive...

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    1. Oh, hang on - I meant 'The Lady with the Lumps'. Carry on.

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  3. I am up early to watch the start live this morning. I wish I was there to watch in person. We spent a week's holiday near Harrogate with dear friends 7 year's ago (my how time flies it seems like just yesterday.) I love professional cycling.

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  4. Do you remember 1971 Brooke Bond 'Toure De France' advert with the PG Tips chimps, John?

    "Can you ride tandem?"

    "Ave vu la cuppa?"

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    1. I didn't but I do now, thanks for reminding me

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  5. If there is anything you would like to know about the race John please don't hesitate to ask. By the way their shorts are fleece lined so the nasty saddle doesn't hurt too much.

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  6. 'yarn bombing' thanks Tom Stephenson, what a brilliant idea. Good dose of Yorkshire humour. Jan B.

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  7. I live in Huddersfield and the atmosphere is wonderful. Yellow everywhere and bunting as far as the eye can see. Everyone is talking about it. I agree with you, Yorkshire is a fabulous place. I married a Yorkshireman and have lived here for 25 years. I love Yorkshire and its people.

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    1. Thanks for that, I feel fuzzy all over hearing about it

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  8. Been thinking about you John. AMC is having a Walking Dead marathon this weekend. Back to back Dead all weekend. Started yesterday!

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  9. The jerseys are magnifique!

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  10. Love the jerseys on the statues.
    I have so enjoyed reading Weavers posts about the villages around were she lives getting ready for the Tour.
    What fun !

    cheers, parsnip

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  11. I am originally from Glasgow and have lived in the beautiful East Yorkshire countryside for 20 years and I have loved every minute of it. I love the Yorkshire people's gentle sense of humour as well as their loovely accents. They are generally (in my own experience) kind, friendly and gentle people.

    Carol

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  12. So, you like your men with a bit of meat on 'em, I take it? More of a rugby fan, p'raps?

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  13. Yes, and by golly, didn't they take the whole thing to their hearts today?
    Thousands lined the route - I watched from my armchair but the enthusiasm was catching - apart from one daft b....r who ran in front of the cyclists wearing nothing but his underpants and with his arms painted black. Must say I was glad he wasn't a relation of mine.

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    1. I Hope Sheffield doesn't let the side down tomorrow

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    2. Just read it goes through my old home of hillsborough

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  14. We have a small town which has a submarine which was yarn bombed last month in yellow to celebrate 50 years since the Beatles came over here.

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  15. Just spoken to my big bro- who spent 4 hours waiting for the start of Le Tour and all I can say is " he was a right kiddy kipper". Us Yorkshire folk have taken it to our hearts.

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  16. Can we have it back now?

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  17. I was mightily impressed to see (on the telly) how many folks were out along the route on Saturday. Cheerio!

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  18. Yorkshire is gorgeous. I just love it.

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  19. The suggestion that Sheffield is a grubby place is offensive. I change my underpants once a week and our windows are cleaned every two years. Our street was swept in 2003 and Sheffield women no longer urinate in the gutter after a fun night out at "The Fiesta". It's just like Tunbridge Wells.

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  20. We visited Yorkshire on our last visit to the UK, and while Himself wanted to stay in London, i felt very much at home in York and its environs.

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