Ramblings of a demented @iamsrk fan- Forbidden Corners and Hidden Places!
The usual blog about me, my ramblings and the love of my life, Shahrukh Khan! Yes, he does feature, but you have to read to the end to find him LOL
During a few days break from work, I managed to get a day out with my daughter, who has a part-time job and also works on a temporary register and accepts as much work as she can fit in.
So it was lovely to be able to spend some precious time together. I asked her where she would like to go, suggesting one or two places of interest. She chose 'The Forbidden Corner' and extraordinary place in the Yorkshire Dales.
http://www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk/
We first viisted this place when it was less-well known and didn't attract so many visitors. My daughter was about 11 or 12 then and could enjoy the delights more freely. Now, you have to book in advance and obtain a timed ticket.
The Forbidden Corner is located near the market town of Middleham, home to Middleham Castle. Middleham Castle was the childhood home of King Richard the Third, then occupied by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, also known as 'The Kingmaker'.
http://www.middlehamonline.com/page4.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middleham_Castle
I was fascinated by the history of Richard III when I was younger and have often visited this castle. Much has been in the news lately about Richard III, when archaeologists discovered what may have been his body in a car-park in Leicester
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-21063882
Richard is one of the most maligned kings in English history, being accused of murdering the 'Princes in the Tower', a story much fabricated by William Shakespeare, for the then granddaughter of Henry Tudor, Elizabeth I.
For more info on Richard III visit the link below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/king_richard_iii
So, here is the castle in question. It is only a shell now but is still a very interesting place to visit.
The famous Middleham Jewel
We had fun discovering all the secret 'Nooks and Crannies'
and were even brave enough to explore some of them further, even though it meant crouching down to get through the small apertures!
This doorway was only dwarf sized!
Some areas had been reconstructed.
The castle still retains two floors and you can also reach the battlements for a fabulous view of the surrounding countryside.
We refrained from exclaiming "Well, well, well" when we discovered what turned out to be fish storage tanks.
One of the staircases to the upper floors
My daughter patiently waiting for me to catch up after taking photos.
Views from the Battlements
Views down to the ground floor and Great Hall
"Do you need a hand down these stairs, old woman?"
"Hey, I'm not THAT old yet, you cheeky thing".
Several flights of stairs later, and we were on to our next port of call and a spot of lunch.
Some cute ducklings in the picnic area. More on these later.
This is the message which greets you as you go through the first doorway into the 'Forbidden Corner'
We chose this pathway, which is the mouth of a dragon and we were regaled with disgusting burping sounds and a vibrating uvula. Lovely!
Part of the fun of exploring the pathways and gardens, is the many water-features, designed to surprise the unsuspecting visitor with a jet or two to soak them.
Get too close to this one and you will get sprayed!
and another hidden spray.
Another door to go through with 'no return'. This one has a combination lock which you have to discover the number to as you follow 'the trail'.
and a stepping-stone pathway to....
....another jet of water designed to get you soaked. Lizzie thought she had the upper-hand and knew how to avoid the spray, but she got caught!
Laughing it off on the other side!
And laughing at me, when I too felt the full force of the jets, which come up from the ground on the path that you are unable to avoid crossing. Much to the delight of the many school parties which were visiting that day!
The path led us to a doorway leading to another dark passage.
and a secret chamber where a voice whispers to you with Latin words.
The next 'fun bit' is chosing which door to exit by. Not all the doors led anywhere and contained grotesque creatures or nise effects behind them.
A rather disturbing tale, based on the story of the 3 Blind Mice. A group of mice wait in the dark while chanting in the background informs us that the cat is coming to catch the mice, then a huge image of a cat pops up and caterwauls at you! Not for the very young or easily frightened!
Follies and pathways with steps leading everywhere and nowhere.
A confusing gate with four doors that open against each other, making progress difficult. Leading to a Maze.
A tunnel which gets smaller as you go along, ending in a tiny doorway that you have to squeeze through to get out. Made me feel claustrophobic.
Bird sculptures on top of the walls in the gardens
The folly which leads you back down to the 'world below'
More dimly lit passageways, with hidden surprises
Down in the woods was a new feature which wasn't there last time we visited.
Containing a coffin which dramatically opened with horrifying sound effects and words which appeared on the wall behind, written in blood, saying 'help!', followed by the word 'Run!' The sound effects certainly persuded you to do precisely that. So we ran!
To an underground cellar and a mirror which contained aghostly image of a girl, not unlike the one in the Japanese horror movie, 'The Ring'
A giant wood sculpture of the 'green man'
The other end of the dragon
This path led us through woods with another water-spray feature
To a very pleasant garden with yet another water-feature which triggered off a clockwork display from 'Toad of Toad Hall' with frogs singing.
Lastly, after we had been suitably frightened out of our wits and drenched by water, we strolled down to the pond while we ate the ice-creams that we bought on the way out. Closely followed by those ducks I mentioned earlier.
The ducklings were very interested in the 'flashing' on Lizzie's trainers, which was yellow, and tried pecking at it. Much to her delight!
Then we fed the fish in the pond, which were almost as big as the ducks!
And I can't end my blog without telling you about the latest Shah Rukh Khan movie that we watched.
I'm not going to talk at length on this one, as the last one took me ages and I've got a life to live outside of Blogging and Tweeting. Yes, really!
So, I'm just going to post some of my favourite screen caps to either tempt you into watching the movie, if you haven't already, or just to delight you!
Hmm, the subtitles left much to be desired, but I think you get the meaning......
That scene where he wakes up in his vest and Geeta gives him a cup of tea.
I couldn't get enough of this look, so I apologise if there are too many.
What am I saying? You can't have too many shots of SRK looking THIS GOOD!
Or that moment when Geeta flips her hair across Arun's face and he closes his eyes and then opens them and looks at her in that knowing way......
He sure knows how to steal the show, and our hearts too!
The hilarious scene where they have to clear out the chickens from his apartment and he ends up kissing one of them!
Not long after trying to shoot one of them!
That puzzled look when he thinks that he has seen Geeta at a nightclub with the drug dealer.
And because it is time that I went to bed, The bit where he tries to make Geeta shut up, so that he can go to sleep.
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
He looks far too cute in this pose
that I wouldn't want to disturb him.....
And Goodnight friends.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
