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!