D IS FOR...

D IS FOR DIDGERIDOO

I can't believe I haven't used this photo before for the letter "D"  but my search says no.

My husband took this photo a few years ago when we were in Australia.  A didgeridoo is a wind or horn-like instrument  that is distinctive to the aborigines of Australia and is thought to have originated as much as 2000 years ago.  As I recall it sounded a bit like the blowing of a conch.  I'm sure all our ABC fans in Australia and New Zealand are well aware of what this instrument is, but we thought we were pretty privileged to see and hear one.

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All the time I have been wondering what else to use for the letter 'D', and here it has been staring me in the face for weeks.  My banner painting is of 

DANES' DYKE

Danes' Dyke is on the East Coast of Yorkshire and is part of Flamborough Head.  The headland juts out into the North Sea about 6 miles.  If you have been following my blog for very long at all you will know that Flamborough was where I spent 10 years of my young life.  Living there was a transforming experience for me and some of my happiest days were spent exploring the headland, cliffs and beaches..  That is why my blog is called Flamblogger.

Danes' Dyke is an earth work or ditch which some say was cut across the headland in order to make it an island.  It is similar to other earth works across Britain and was probably used as a defense.  It certainly very effectively isolates the village of Flamborough, which until the last 50 or 60 years has had a reputation of being very independent from its surroundings.  The village of Flamborough is thought to have been inhabited by the Danes and Vikings from around the 8th - 10th centuries.  It used to be known as Little Denmark.  

Danes Dyke is quite heavily wooded on its southern end and almost disappears at its northern end, the land at that end being very rocky with cliffs as high as 400 feet.  The southern end reaches the beach  where there are many fossils to be found.  Part of the Dyke was excavated in the 1800's when arrowheads and such like were found, but nothing very exciting.  I  think there are a good number of archeological treasures to be found in this area, but so far no-one has recently taken the time to look.  In one sense I'm glad for that because the longer Flamborough can keep its uniqueness the better it will be. It is generally believed that the Dyke's history goes back further than the Danes after which it is named.

As children we roamed the Dyke at will.  A small stream runs through part of it to the south side of the Head and the banks on either side rise as high as 20 feet or more.  All kinds of birds, flowers trees and bushes are to be found there.  I particularly remember the loud popping of the broom seed pods in August as we played in and out of the bushes.  Today there are well-kept nature trails and bird blinds to discover. 

The Manor House was located there and I remember it clearly.  It was a great Victorian building and was the home of Mrs. Cotterill- Dormer.  After the family vacated it, it stood empty for many years and was said to have housed a priceless collection of stuffed, rare birds from all over the world.  Sadly the house was pulled down in the late fifties, but there are some tourist facilities and parking where it once stood.

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One more "D" is for my DOG, Rip who lived with me there in Flamborough.  I recently came across this photo from about 1950.

Here he is in such a cute picture with two neighbor children and my sister (on the right.)  He thought he was just one of the kids and was thoroughly happy to be included in this circle of friends.  What a sweet dog he was. He went everywhere with us and we all had the freedom to roam the headland together in safety and with great fun -- not the least of which for Rip, was to chase the rabbits on the cliffs.

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This is my contribution for ABC Wednesday.  Do join us and if nothing else take a look at what a great many others have contributed for the letter "D".  Please click on the LINK.