Enjoying the fabulous views of Co. Durham from Hamsterley Forest with the walking group, and the ‘sticky buds’ are opening on the horse chestnut trees.

Boot fairs have started up again, and this one was at Sedgefield race course. 

I love having the beach less than 20 miles away. Easington Colliery again, great exercise up and down those steps, and and a wonderful afternoon spent beachcombing.

One of 2 old limestone quarries, converted to nature reserves, within a couple of miles of my house. Both are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. I saw butterflies and bees today, but was too early for the sand Martins.

A fabulous mining mural on our walk today at Ushaw Moor.

Walking with a group around Raby Castle, and thinking of a very dear friend. Farewell, Myra, my No.1 Blog Fan xxx.

Goodies from a local farm shop. I had the crackers with the nettle cheese for tea. Outstanding. 

Volunteering with the National Trust and planting trees in a new memorial reserve. 

No roast dinner for me today. Instead, stir fried veggies with tuna and shaved coastal cheddar, sprinkled with sea salt and coarse black pepper. Yum!

The gorse is blooming everywhere now we’ve had some warmer days, and it smelled wonderful as I passed hedges of it on my walk today.

Walking the W2W trail with a small group this morning. 

Not sure whether this scarecrow was cheering for or scaring off the birds.

I could find no explanation online why this was carved into the rock that overlooked a disused quarry at Frosterley, as I hiked a 5 mile circular route. But I sat on it as I took my water break! There was one called Dun Kit’s Bastard too!

My favouritest hedge, hawthorn, is beginning to bloom. The scent will be amazing.

This is Old King Coal, built to celebrate the region’s industrial history. He’s not as merry as the king in the nursery rhyme, which is surprising, as he has a lovely view.

The Transporter Bridge won’t be operational for a few years, due to safety issues, yet it’s open to walk across. Being a Sunday, I was able to take a photo close up to it.

I’d missed the English fog while in America, and love seeing it now, while smelling the damp earth and grass while driving along country lanes.

This is a frequent sight around the villages. And no one minds, there’s no honking of horns or speeding past. Everyone just patiently waits until they turn off into their fields.

Had a pint of the famous Hawkstone lager with my brother. It was excellent, and the wonderful landlady let me keep my glass!

Phenomenal fish ‘n’ chips from Downey’s in Seaham. Added a few pieces of scampi, delicious! I’ll be back!

Tricksie Treat enjoying the warm sun shining through the window. I had to sit in the shade. 

A huge herd of deers at Raby Castle, and there were even more as I drove further along the road.

Travelers riding horses and traps through town, a regular sighting in Co. Durham.

Beachcombing on Horden Beach, and found a fossilized coral rock.

Incredible scenery at Frosterley, Co. Durham. Looking up at the heather covered hills.

A selfie at the amazing Bowes Museum.

Had a lovely gutbuster breakfast fry up with my brother at a local diner with a very similar name as a very famous tv show!

Lunch today was a tasty Cornish pasty from Taylors, and the best crisps I’ve ever tasted. I could taste the Colmans in the mustard!

Standing in a windy and cold Observatory Hill, with Durham Cathedral, built 1093-1133AD, in the foreground, and the Penshaw Monument, built 1844, in the distance.

Had a lovely lamb shoulder roast dinner, followed by treacle tart with custard and ice cream, with a group today, and this beautiful display of crocuses was outside the pub.

Hanging out by the cave at Nose’s Point, waiting for the tide to go out so I can climb round to Chemical Beach from Blast Beach. Did a lot of rock scrambling today, such fun! That’s limestone rock behind me.

In a local hardware store, which has been in business for decades, and hasn’t got rid of any old stock for decades. We could barely move in here!

Exploring the Ferryhill Carrs, a beautiful nature reserve, I spotted the first primroses of the year, surrounded by moss, with new bluebell and cuckoo pint leaves nearby.

Out with a group walking around Spennymoor, and I couldn’t help but admire again the rich soil in this area, turned over here by man with machinery, and also by moles, of which there are many.

I saw this beauty at the Oriental Museum in Durham, and spent way too long wishing I’d brought my jacket in so I could smuggle this out in it. It would look divine in my lounge.

Out with a walking group in Horden to visit a new nature preserve, covered with sticks, which will support new trees that will be planted at the end of the month. I’ll be helping the National Trust with that.

I’ve been noticing an abundance, and many varieties, of lichens on trees, which is actually a good sign since they only grow in good air. They don’t harm the trees, and supply wildlife with food and nesting materials. Us humans can also eat them, or use them as dyes or medicines.

I was so excited to come across this handsome chap snoozing on the beach at Easington Colliery. I stood chatting with a lady for about 20 minutes 5ft from him, and he occasionally opened an eye, or had a scratch, but carried right on napping. This made my day!

Witton Park Railway Viaduct, one of the many splendid bridges in Co. Durham.

I had a lovely walk around Low Barns Nature Reserve, meeting and chatting to some friendly people. The woodland areas were filled with snowdrops, it was beautiful.

Coal miner cottages catching the afternoon sunshine in Ferryhill, or Fairy Hill, as someone from the U.S. put on the envelope mailed to me.

Lunch in the office today came from the butchers up the road. 2 Yorkshire puddings loaded with roasties, mushy peas, beef and gravy. Delicious and only £4!

A lovely walk on Seaham beach and lunch with these ladies.

Discovered in 1834, these sulphuric springs attracted visitors who came for the healing properties. The water, if boiled, is supposed to make the best tasting tea. I didn’t collect any, it was very whiffy.

There’s a few areas around here where you can salvage old bricks left behind from the brickworks that existed along with the coal mines. I’d like to grab a few once I eventually get the house sale completed.

Left alone and in charge of the office. Very quiet except taking in rent from one tenant.

I had to stop and watch how they clean windows now. No ladders, just a brush with water coming out of it, and no wiping down window frames or sills. It would cost this homeowner about £30 for this. And it started raining within an hour he left…

19 Feb 2025

Only a 40 minute drive to Bolihope Burn where I walked 4.3 miles along the river and disused quarry. Beautiful scenery but very muddy, it was a great workout.

Happy to do my part for International Drink Wine Day.

17 Feb 2024

I climbed up to the Penshaw Monument near Sunderland, but didn’t stay long as it was extremely cold and windy. There were plenty of hardy Brits up there enjoying the 360 degree views.

After a 3.5 mile walk through woodlands near Durham, I trekked through horrendous mud to see Wharnley Burn Waterfall in Allensford. It was beautiful here and I’ll be back when the leaves are on the trees.