Today again dawned overcast and misty, but during the afternoon the sun came out so we enjoyed a glorious summer's afternoon and evening. After breakfast we headed for Cragside, but stopped off en-route at Edlingham Castle. There's not an awful left of it, but it's in a picturesque setting, by a field of cattle with the view of a nearby viaduct. We also took the opportunity to pop into the village's little church. Cragside was the home of inventor and entrepene...

Today was fairly overcast. Nevertheless, we headed for Newton-by-the-Sea, where we intended to stroll along the sandy beach to Dunstanburgh Castle. However, it being Bank Holiday weekend, it was rather busy and there was nowhere to park. Instead, we decided to head for Craster. On route, we stopped at The Grays Inn in Embleton for a lovely Sunday roast lunch, taking the opportunity to sample Doddington's ice cream - locally made and very creamy and lush. We wer...

I am spending half term week with my GodSon (GS) in Northumberland, as we explore the history and nature this beautiful county has to offer. We are staying in the town of Alnwick, in a lovely apartment with a fantastic view of the castle. GS's mother travelled up with us and is staying for the weekend before heading off for a well deserved few days of relaxation. Leaving home after picking up GS from school on Friday, we knew it would be a long and frustrating j...

This evening, I was joined by a friend to see the fantastic OMD play two of their classic albums (Dazzleshps & Architecture and Morality) at the stunning Royal Albert Hall. However, I first took the opportunity to explore! The trickiest part of the day was getting my car to Kensington, handy for getting away after the show. This being London, the 9.5 mile journey took 90 minutes! Courtesy of my brother, I was lucky enough to be given a tour of the MOD Main ...

Summer is here!! Even if only briefly. Therefore, I took the opportunity to push Mum (in a wheelchair) around the beautiful Kew Gardens. Many other people had the same idea (though most without a wheelchair) but the grounds are big enough that it didn't feel at all crowded most of the time. We also took the opportunity to tour around Kew Palace. They have installed a lift which meant it was possible to go around the whole palace with the wheelchair. Our one com...