Is the Stray a monoculture, part 2 ...

Here's a very interesting and useful response to my amateurish attempts to identify this fungus which I photographed on the Stray, from my friend David Swindell:

"Without a doubt it's inkcap, Toni, one of my favourites, unmistakeable. If smooth rather than shaggy you shouldn't drink any alcohol with them - won't poison you, but might make you feel very ill - used in cures for alcoholics. We once gathered pounds of them in Andover, and in the Falklands they tasted a little bitter. The condition of the ones you photographed is perfect for picking. Don't wash them, peel them if you must though that isn't necessary either, split down the middle and fry gently in hot, garlicked butter."

I still take the "don't do this at home" approach to identifying fungi.



Nothing to do with monoculture - this poster is still on the Stray. I thought it had been removed. ???

Good place for coffee

Harrogate is awash with great places for coffee, including, of course, the renowned and perfectly fine Bettys. But this morning I was struck by just how agreeable it is to sit UPSTAIRS in Cafe Nero, the one on Cambridge Crescent between RBS and Jaeger. The coffee's excellent, the cakes look nicely cakey (I resisted them), downstairs is a bit dark and crowded but upstairs there's a lovely big comfortable room with one of the best views towards the Cenotaph and over the Stray you could possibly hope for.

A new kind of litter?

I really hope it's new and that it's not going to happen again. Some kind person (probably genuinely trying to be kind - I'm not being sarcastic) has put out a load of white bread, clearly hoping that it will make the birds happy. But it's a REALLY REALLY BAD IDEA. It will definitely attract rats, squirrels, and as you can see, jackdaws and other birds that are already doing fine. The little birds won't get a look in. And shouldn't anyway, because white bread is even worse for them than it is for us.

It will probably be cleared up by our excellent Harrogate Borough Council clearing-up people, but it would be a lot better not to put it out in the first place.

There are plenty of good websites on how to feed wild birds in summer. This one is sensible and comprehensive:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whentofeed.aspx

But please don't leave food out on the Stray.

Such weird weather!

And here's Slingsby Walk in the rain:

Lunch at the West Park

It was nice. No, honestly, it was. My companion and I had the seafood sharing platter, she had a glass of white wine, we both had coffee to finish (mine a double espresso, hers a latte). Things that should be hot were hot, things that should be cold were cold. There were scallops in their shells with a sort of cheesy crunchy topping, goujons, prawns, smoked salmon, brown bread and butter, lemon, sauces, and other stuff that I've probably forgotten, The service was unobtrusive and professional, the environment was pleasant and comfortable (a bit noisy, but not enough to be a nuisance), the view over the Stray was lovely. There was really nothing not to like.

My problem with it was just that - it was nice, it felt like a standard product that was produced to a consistent standard (and what do I expect in a fairly big hotel/restaurant?) and it felt to me as though there was something lacking, though I'm really not sure what.

Though I do know that, to compare chalk with cheese (such a weird expression), I much preferred the Jamaican street food at 10 Devonshire Place - far less professional, much more fun, and to me it tasted better.

I'd be interested to hear other people's views.

Straying from the subject ...

Sorry about the dreadful pun, but, following yesterday's post, here's a much better photograph of a cormorant.

It was taken at Staithes by Frances Fletcher (who retains copyright) and is entitled "Does my bum look big in this?"

Irresistible.

Quite surprising!

I saw a cormorant flying over the Stray this morning, looking a bit confused. Possibly I'm the only person who's interested ...

Not my photograph - the blue sky is a bit of a giveaway.