A while ago The Sunday Times published an article on the best places to live in the UK, and Buttersley came top! In my dreams, of course. But I did loosely base Buttersley on Ilkley, a small spa town on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales – about twenty miles away from where I live.
Ilkley did top this list.
The picture on the front of The Times is of the iconic Cow and Calf rocks on Ilkley Moor, made out of millstone grit. The stone was used extensively throughout the town and is mentioned in The Murder Before Merangs.
A lump formed in my throat as I searched for the first view of the moor. Nearer the station, the familiar municipal buildings came into view, magnificent as ever in their local Millstone Grit. Buttersley had always punched high.
The moor inspired the Yorkshire ‘county anthem’ On Ilkla Moor Baht ’at. It’s a rousing ditty that moves seamlessly from not wearing a hat on the moor to being eaten by worms. It finishes off with a spot of cannibalism. There's a link at the end to gather around for a sing-along. Subtitles are included for those not fluent in Yorkshire speak.
And that segues me into a shameless plug. In Fancy Death At Merangs, Helen and her unfaithful husband, Zack, run up to the moor. Helen's trying to impress him with how fit she's become.
Zack bent double with his hands on his knees. ‘What are you trying to do to me? You run like a gazelle.’
I didn’t have the breath to speak, but he didn’t need to know that. Forcing myself to run on the spot, I considered throwing a few press-ups into the mix, but I’d probably fall flat on my face.
Happy Christmas🎄 and Happy Holiday, everyone … Speaking of Christmas, there might have been no room at the inn, but we can always squeeze more folk into Buttersley's Best Facebook Group. We're rocking the world with 38 members!!
Before you escape, don't forget, On Ilkla Moor Baht. Here we go, one, two, three, sing after me …
Thanks for all your support throughout the year. I appreciate each and every one of you. See you in 2024. I don't know about you, but I prefer the even numbers. It's going to be our year! Is there anything in particular you’d like to achieve? I'd just to get another book out.
Love from Carole xxxx
P.S. I'm loving ❤️ Pinterest. Are you on there?