Posts Tagged ‘snow’

Hidden Mysteries of Meltonby: From Snowstorms to Elliot Minor

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025

Once upon a time, all great stories start this way, and this one is no different.

Many years ago, Andy & Lindsey bought a house in a small hamlet called Meltonby, located just on the outskirts of the bustling city life, where the pace of life slowed down, and nature had a way of becoming a more prominent feature of everyday living.

We had asked the sellers the usual questions you ask when buying a house — Is it a quiet place? Does it snow in the winter? And do you get snowed in?
The sellers assured us, “Oh, it’s quiet here, and it never snows, and we never get snowed in.”

We exchanged contracts and got the keys in July 2006. But the property needed a bit of work: maintenance, decorating, damp-proofing, and some urgent fixes. Oh, and the Fish House had to move in — a story all on its own!


While carefully relocating tanks, checking filters, and making sure the fish were happily acclimatised to their new surroundings, I heard music drifting in the summer air. Parallel Worlds — the kind of tune that stops you in your tracks. At first, I thought someone had a great playlist on.

Then I noticed… it wasn’t being played.
It was being rehearsed.

I recognised the song straight away — it was by a band called Elliot Minor, who had supported McFly on tour in 2006. It was surreal, hearing that familiar melody not through speakers, but live, right there in the heart of Meltonby. The kind of unexpected discovery that made you feel like you’d moved into the middle of something quietly extraordinary.

I asked my neighbour about it, and all he could say was, “I think Tim’s kids are in a band!”

A few years later, Tim popped by to ask me to deal with some honey bee swarms that kept turning up at his property, and all became clear!

And a few years ago, I finally met Dan & Ed of Elliot Minor fame due to another swarm call. We spoke of the old days of Elliot Minor in the 20s, and they showed me the original drumkit lying dormant with cobwebs in the “barn.”

I asked them, “Would you ever reform?”
They replied, “NEVER!”


Fast forward to 2025, and to my surprise, Elliot Minor have released new music — “HOW DOES IT FEEL” — on a 7-inch limited edition vinyl, and announced a 5-night tour called “Once In a Decade”.


And as for the snow? Well, it does snow in Meltonby, and yes, we do get snowed in from time to time! That first winter, we had to walk 3 miles to the nearest town just to get supplies. It was an adventure of sorts — one that gave us a true sense of isolation and beauty in the winter months, even though it wasn’t quite what the sellers had promised!


And as for quiet? Well, not when Elliot Minor are back! Their rehearsals and music are anything but subtle, and Meltonby suddenly became the least quiet place we had ever imagined — but we wouldn’t have it any other way.


So what other hidden mysteries did the sellers not tell us?
The answer, it seems, is that you never quite know what surprises await when you step into a new chapter of life. Whether it’s hidden musical talents, unexpected snowstorms, or the constant buzz of a new adventure, life in Meltonby has been full of them.


 

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Later that Snowy Day in February

Tuesday, February 27th, 2018

snowy-day-later

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A Snowy Day in February

Tuesday, February 27th, 2018

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The first snowy day of 2017

Friday, December 1st, 2017

So this is the first snowy day of 2017, the snow fell yesterday, and didn’t stop, and fell overnight…

Out just before dawn with the drone, as the sun rose – got to keep up those flying hours…

Snowy Morning at 350 feet

Snowy Morning at 350 feet

Snowy day looking towards the Yorkshire Wolds

Snowy day looking North towards the Yorkshire Wolds

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Ready for the snow!

Monday, November 4th, 2013

To help carry the shopping back from Pocklington this winter, I’ve purchased….

A sledge!

A sledge!

I just hope it snows, so Lindsey and I can go sledging this Christmas.

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Frozen Palm Prints on Glass

Sunday, January 20th, 2013

And January 2013, brings us cold weather and snow again.

It’s been so cold this last week, the temperature one evening dropped to -12 deg C.

The condensation inside the porch, all froze overnight. and after touching the inside windows for several seconds revealed these photographs!

Lindsey's Palm Print

Lindsey's Palm Print

Andy's Hand Prints

Andy's Hand Prints

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February 2012 Snow

Sunday, February 5th, 2012

Whilst I sat at my computer yesterday for over 20 hours investigating broadband and andysworld! fault it snowed! I had not noticed until turning my back and looking out of the window!

A few snaps….

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Last post of 2010 – Happy New Year 2011

Friday, December 31st, 2010

This will be my last post of 2010, and to all readers a Happy New Year 2011, a may it be a Prosperous One!

It’s been the coldest December in North Yorkshire since 1840, ball cock froze, drain pipe froze, pipes froze, and the ground is just starting to thaw, after tomorrow I think all the snow may have gone, that fell in late November 2010.

Here are a collection of photographs taken in December 2010, to remind us of those cold dark days

All the best for 2011 – Folks…

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A few Wintery Pictures from North Yorkshire

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

We didn’t have much snow last night, so it remains the same at about 2-3 feet in places. But it’s still very cold, and I believe colder tonight.

snow-in-winter08-jpg

Yes, these are our Holly Tree’s!

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and this is on our Pear Tree!

Lindsey and I went for a walk today, to check how bad the roads were, but it was cut short, when a blizzard arrived and it was bitter cold. Later in the afternoon, I thought it was about time to check the cars over, and remove the 2 feet worth of snow which has covered them for over a week and start them up, but it wasn’t such a good idea, there was not enough space on the driveway for all the snow I’d brushed off the cars, and when trying to move my car out into the road, I got stuck in the snow, moving it back onto the drive and had to dig the snow off the driver to get my car back on, as the car was sliding and wheels were spinning!

anyway here are some nice Wintery Pictures from North Yorkshire … Keep warm..

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Still snowing…

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

It’s still snowing here, the snow falls hit the North East of the UK again last night, and it snowed non-stop this morning for four hours from 8am – 12 noon (I watched it!).

It’s still snowing now, and we’ve got about 2 feet of snow in the garden now. I’ll get some snowy pictures tomorrow.

The roads must be bad because we didn’t see the Postman today! I’m glad I’ve booked my Online Shopping delivery for Christmas Day! (it could be weeks before we drive the cars again).

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