​Visiting Gaping Gill today. This is how every visitor enters and leaves the cave.

​Down at Seaham today, and the beach was filled with people hunting for sea glass; it was like a rummage sale.

​A beautiful, intricately carved Rosslyn Chapel, near Edinburgh, that Andy and I visited today.

​I was going to put some plants in this container, but it’s self seeded without my help, and is now growing honesty and California poppies. I’ll let it do its thing.

​The Apollo Pavillion, a brutalist ‘work of art’, in Peterlee, and completed in 1969. Designed by Victor Pasmore, a leading abstract artist.

​A healthy tea tonight, salmon and stir fried veggies, watched by Tricksie Treat.

​This is the first year of looking out of my window and seeing this fabulous hedge of blossom in full bloom. The scent carries across to my house. It’s my favourite tree, the Hawthorn.

​Looking across the Wear valley after climbing to the top of the hill on our group morning walk.

​A woodland walk with a group this morning. Rob having a moment of madness with everyone.

​At the Empire in Consett for comedy night with friends. One of the comedians was Sammy Dobson, who also stars in TV’s Casualty. She was pretty funny!

​The middle of May and it’s been cold. Cold enough today that we had thunder and lightning with hailstones the size of marbles. The view out of my lounge window, and that isn’t blossom on the ground.

​I drove to Yarm today to look around charity shops, and was delighted to find a wonderful gift shop, that I’d been to about 15 months ago, and hadn’t remembered where it was. For over a year, I’ve been searching on Google, and had been to Ripon, Thirsk and Northallerton, trying to find it. Due to the heavy rain, wandering around the town wasn’t an option, so I had a fabulous lunch here too.

​Tricksie Treat runs towards me to start her begging an hour before Treat Time. I have to deal with this every day.

​I inadvertently took this photo while messaging an invigilation colleague. I’ve made it completely anonymous, but this was during an exam today.

​We all took turns, on today’s walk from North Shields, to pose by this railing, because Margaret said it looked like we were on a cruise ship!

​Looking up at a Cold War Avro Vulcan B2 Bomber at NELSAM, Sunderland.

​Mr Blue Skye always likes to sleep on my lap with his head tucked into my hand. Dear little chap.

​Walking through a ‘wild’ cemetery, subsiding probably from collapsing coal mines.

​Another walk with the Consett group this morning. Andy slung his jacket over his shoulder; I wasn’t as brave until nearer the end. It was sunny, but chilly!

​The boss’ desk of where I had 2 new tyres fitted in Spencer today. They had a great sense of humour and gave great service too.

​So many fields are golden with rapeseed right now, it’s gorgeous.

​I had a spectacular late lunch today with a dear friend. Peter set me up in a flat while I was house hunting, came and viewed houses with me, gave so much helpful advice, and let me use his contractors on my new home so I wouldn’t get ripped off. We stay in touch, and today we lunched at Frallo Copt Hill, which used to be owned by Peter’s friend, Bobby Kerr, who was the Sunderland football team captain when they won the Cup Final in 1973. This photo was afterwards at Peter’s home. That seagull had just woofed half a jam doughnut down in one go.

​The banks of Castle Eden were covered in wild garlic today.

​First tasting of the Hawthorn Berry wine. Not superb, but not bad either, especially since it’s the first wine I’ve made in 30 years. It is potent! 

​King Charles III and Queen Camilla enjoying the 250 years independence celebrations at Front Royal Gazebo. Would’ve loved to have been there, but I watched it live online.

​My sea glass caught my eye this evening. Usually just pale greens and whites, the sun threw a spectrum, which turned the glass into beautiful hues. 10 minutes later, the sun beam had moved on.

​I saw this man working up the tower on my way to work this afternoon. I sure hope he was improving the satellite signal as my internet is rubbish.

​The road at the top of our village. Almost every grassy verge around here is blanketed with dandelions. The flowers are huge, it’s a lovely sight.

​So much beautiful gorse on our walk this morning at Leadgate.

Apr 25, 2026

​The Flames played so well tonight that I forgot all about taking a photo, but I did get one of this chap at the rubbish tip this morning, when I went to drop off a load of garden waste.

​Not my photo, but I saw this today, and it struck a chord.

​A very proud mum and her new calf on our Ushaw walk this morning.

​An amazing feat of engineering, The Falkirk Wheel, in Scotland.

​The sun is blazing through my front window, and it’s lovely to see all the trees with leaves again.

​A relaxing reading day today, and Mr Blue Skye would often look round at me, while on my lap, as if to say, “You alright, Mum?”.

​Walking along the banks of the River Tyne with a group today. Spot the blue heron.

​Crossing rocks that resembled volcanic lava today, to reach a rarely visited beach.

​My first 8 mile walk in decades, with Andy and a new group, around the Beamish area. Quite proud of this!

​Tricksie Treat devouring her tea with gusto. Chopped beef with shredded chicken in gravy.

​This is the dried mushroom, jelly ears. Eaten widely by Chinese cultures, but not in Europe. I had a chew and it was awful.

​A 5 miler today with Andy & Dave, starting only 10 minutes from home. Very pretty scenery.

​Looking out to the wind farm from Wrenslark Beach near Hartlepool.

​Some cows we met on our walk today, looking like they’ve just recorded their first heavy rock album.

​I like this brick train bridge and foot tunnel at the top end of Cornforth.

​The Deepdale Aqueduct in Barnard Castle, built in 1898, to carry water pipes, and is now also a footbridge.

​Some nosey little people checking out my scone and jam.

​Just water in a pint glass.

​Saw this on the back of a neighbour’s car, and it made me chuckle. Only fans of The Fast Show will get it.

​My first proper walk today after 5.5 weeks of school followed by a heavy cold. With Judith, for 5 miles, around the Watergate Forest Park area.

​I spent a couple of hours glass hunting on the beach today, along with Mark and his pug, Meatball, who I’d met a few weeks ago. It was lovely to get some fresh air and chat with a new friend. My haul was quite impressive too.