​This group were great fun on the Safari Ride today. We had a lot of laughs and I was amazed that I managed to return them all to the start since we had such a bumpy ride!

​On our walk this morning, we came across a couple of small fields that had suffered wildfires. 

​The cherries in the park next door are ripening wonderfully. I grabbed a handful, and threw a few on the ground for the birds. I’ll get more in the next few days.

Aug 11, 2026

​It’s incredibly dusty at Diggerland. I don’t think my boots and jeans have ever been this grubby!

​My ride today, the Joyrider. Teaching kids under 17 how to drive. A little harrowing at times, but rewarding.

​A short stroll along Easington beach this afternoon.

​Red Lake on Blast Beach.

​An action packed birthday finishing with a sheep shear tournament. 

​This cherry tree is a few feet from my back door. Last year, I missed the cherries, they were gobbled up fast. Today, I managed to scoff a good handful, and will visit daily until they’re all gone.

​Tricksie Treat looking very comfy as we all hang out in the lounge.

​An environmental group with Durham Council at the SSSI quarry near home, are removing the invasive willow herb. They were on their lunch break as I passed through.

​Driving the Safari Ride at my part time job through the school holidays.

​I saw the new Capri today, what a horror. I had 5 of the originals, and this revival model has zero similarities to the original Capri. Probably why there’s so few on the road…

​Julie and Malcolm admiring a boat flower bed, which resembled a bath to me, on our morning walk in Hexham.

​We desperately need rain here. All the fields and grass verges are yellow. Such a contrast from this time last year.

​An evening stroll on the beach, but looking forward sea glass was difficult with the low sun, but this beauty was just sitting on top of the sand.

​Down at Blackhall Rocks, checking more for nurdles than sea glass. Thankfully, I didn’t see any.

​I put in a complaint at a council meeting about the horrible broken fencing seen as people entered the village. Apparently others complained too, and today the new fence was completed. So much nicer!

​My new job at Diggerland is down there; you can see some diggers among the trees.

​The waves were thrashing on the beach today as it was so windy. A lovely example of lightning rock in the foreground.

​A pretty house in Esh Winning on our walk today.

We have 2 new residents in the village. These chickens have been here a couple of weeks and hang out in the park. They seem very happy.

​One of the two wooden owl statues guarding Esh village on our walk this morning. Looking down on Langley Park.

​I found a chunk of specular hematite, incredibly sparkly and heavy. Usually, it would be flaky, but mine has been tumbled smooth by the sea. A nice find!

​When meeting the walking group at Seaham this evening, we spotted these two plebeian non-entities enjoying their meal, from a disposable BBQ placed on a wooden table, with tinder dry grass all around, on a windy evening. Absolutely brain dead…

​Mannequins at Chillingham Castle looking a little sinister…

​Mr Blue Skye enjoying some of my banana lolly.

​The hardest walk for a lot of us in the group today, climbing 4 miles up for this view of High Cup Nick in The Pennines.

​Got these two 80 year old salt glazed chimney pots today for a song. They will be planted up in the spring.

Jul 15, 2026

​I forgot to post this when I got home yesterday, as I was caught up with England’s football game. I did a later than usual walk on Horden beach, and saw this father teaching his son some fishing skills.

​Our walking group this morning, out in the fields with blazing heat and golden wheat.

​I walked with a new group this evening at Seaham. They were a fun crowd, one of the laughs was discovering that we were exiting a footpath that should’ve been closed.

​Mr Blue Skye looking very disgruntled, as he just got woken up with a sneezing fit. 20 seconds later, his head was back down, and back to sleep again.

​Over 9 miles walking today, and my hips hurt! Over 7 of them were on this morning’s walk, battling our way through tall grasses and flowers. A lovely walk though!

Jul 11, 2026

​Waking up our little village as our banner follows the brass band down the High St before marching at Durham’s Miners Gala.’

​At the Farne Islands enjoying the wonderful puffins.

​A blistering hot day for our walk at Ushaw Moor today. Here, we had to wade through this dried grassy meadow, but thankfully, a lot of the walk was in shade.

​Thornton Hall Gardens today. Very hot but beautiful blooms.

​I’ve had this for decades but could never use it in the U.S. as eggs have to be refrigerated there. I love having it back as my egg storage now, with a nest of hay at the bottom. 

​Had the beach to myself for a while as I hunted for sea glass. 

​A glorious field of wildflowers 10 minutes from home.

Jul 4, 2026

​The start of the finale at Kynren tonight, An Epic Tale of England. It was fabulous.

​The sun throwing spectrums into my lounge lit up the carpet in a pretty way. 

​Looking through an old gravestone in an abandoned church cemetery on the Scottish border.

Enjoying the view of ​The Newcastle Castle from the pub, during a brief shower.

​Ice cream, 1 black cherry with 1 banana scoop, at Reeth today after our walk.

​Huge yellow structures, in Leith today, will house Scotland’s largest wind turbines in the North Sea.https://share.google/1VK0g1SQXpP236Xlc

 

​At the Chester-le-Street steam fair, with Richard, visiting me from London, having moved there from DC. 

​Walking back home from the pub, the skies were looking stormy. We had a rainbow and later the heavens opened.

​As a young girl, my favourite book was The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge, and I love it as an adult too. And geraniums on my kitchen windowsill come from the book. AND, I’ve just discovered a film was made of it. Purchased on EBay for less than 2 quid.