Hull 2025

This stone sculpture marks the beginning of the 79 mile

(127 km) Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail that runs from Hessle foreshore to Filey Brigg.

Mister Handmade in Israel and I recently came back from an eight day trip to England to see my dad. It wasn't an easy trip for me. I had tried to visit twice previously in the last couple of years and both times my flights were cancelled, the first time because of the war Hamas declared on Israel on 7th October 2023, and then again in June of this year, during the the Iran-Israel war.
I was last in England with my dad when I received the terrible news about Gadi. That visit saw me packing my bags and returning home quickly to bury my youngest son. But Dad no longer travels over here to visit us, so it was necessary for me to go there.
And it was hard to go back.
I discovered many things about England and about British people. I discovered that most people were clearly uncomfortable about mentioning Gadi - the one thing that is on my mind all of the time - and also they did not want to discuss the war or what we have been through these last two years. That was tough.
I did, however, rediscover that the area I grew up in, the East Riding of Yorkshire, is a beautiful area, and a wonderful one to explore. My dad was happy to join us for some lovely days out, so there were definitely some positive parts to the trip.

A friend from my university days travelled north for the weekend especially to see me, and we met at the Humber Bridge Country Park. The Humber Bridge - a 2,220 metre (7,280 ft) single-span suspension bridge - opened to traffic on 24th June 1981. At the time, it was the longest bridge of its kind in the world, a title it held until 1998 when it was surpassed by Japan's Akashi Kaikyō Bridge.
Beneath this iconic structure lies the Humber Bridge Country Park, a peaceful woodland reserve with scenic trails and abundant wildlife. Its tree-covered chalk terraces, once part of an old chalk quarry, offer dramatic views over the River Humber. The rain held off, and we enjoyed a pleasant walk with my friend and her family.

Mister Handmade in Israel's family came to visit us too, and I took them to the North Cave Wetlands. The wetlands are a peaceful place for a walk and to bird watch. There are several hides to watch the birds and a number of pools designed for waders and wildfowl, and some specifically for dragonflies! In the winter, the wetlands are a paradise for large flocks of ducks and geese.
The wetlands were once part of a huge marsh called Wallingfen. Having been turned over to agriculture and then quarrying, it is now returning to its former glory - and nature is responding in both numbers and diversity.

The circular walk around the nature reserve took us a leisurely couple of hours, with plenty of time to see the birds, flowers and insects that make it a special place. Along with the birds and dragonflies, water vole have been spotted at the reserve, while several species of bat have also been recorded. The meadow between two of the pools is the place to look for butterflies, while in the spring and summer months cowslips, bugle, pyramidal and bee orchids can be seen, along with many other species of flowering plant.
It was the perfect place to get close to nature. 

Afterwards we paid a visit to a nearby farm restaurant for lunch. My tomato soup and cheese toasties were delicious! Mister Handmade in Israel and I then stopped by the farm's pumpkin patch. I was surprised to see how popular Halloween has become in the UK in the years since I left. When I was a child, we did not mark it at all. Many of my dad's neighbours now decorate their homes and there was plenty of Halloween merchandise in the shops.

A day later we went to Beverley, a market town eight miles north-west of Hull city centre. With its stunning minster, cobbled streets, and unmistakable local charm, Beverley has always been a delightful place to explore. We wandered around the historic town centre, popping into a few shops too.
I also forgot to turn the lights off on my dad's car, which left us with a flat battery to sort out. At least I picked a lovely spot for us to sit and wait for the breakdown service!

Our next stop was the Folly Lake Café in nearby Risby. Risby was once the site of a huge house called Risby Hall. The house was built in the 1680s and had the misfortune of being burnt down twice in the late 1700s. After the second fire it didn't recover and it was demolished some time later. Interestingly, though the house did burn down, a folly in the grounds remained. The folly was built in 1770 and stands by one of the lakes to this day.

Commercial fishponds now operate in the ornamental lakes of the former hall, and a cute café, the Folly Lake Café, sits right on the water's edge. Popular with walkers and anyone seeking a coffee with a view, the café also offers welcome refreshments to the many anglers who fish the lake for carp, tench, and ide.

Dad and I enjoyed comforting cups of hot chocolate.

And finally, there was time for one last day trip. I decided to venture a little farther afield to the Donna Nook Grey Seal Colony in Lincolnshire. Every November and December, grey seals gather along the Donna Nook coastline to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes. We were a bit early in the season, so we could only view the seals from a distance, but it was still an incredible sight and well worth the drive.
Visitors watch from a dedicated viewing area, safely separated from the seals by fencing. Along the path, informative boards share fascinating insights into the seals' behavior, diet, life cycle, and more. Wardens stationed along the route were also on hand, gladly answering any questions.
We visited Donna Nook at the end of October, but it seems that the closer you get to December, the nearer the seals come - some have even been spotted right up against the fence. I've since been following the 'Weekly Pupdate' on Facebook, and currently there are 1,499 pups, 1,522 cows and 495 bulls at the reserve.

Though I no longer live in England, I'm certain I'll find my way back to Donna Nook one day. And honestly, I know Gadi would have absolutely loved the place too.

* This post has been shared on Saturday's Critters, Mosaic Monday, Busy Monday, Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday), Tuesday Turn About, Tuesdays with a Twist and Wild Bird Wednesday.