Over the North Pennines to the Land of the Prince Bishops

On a very damp amd misty late morning we left Lake Windermere behind and wound our way along the foreshores of Ullswater.  Just had to stop for a cup of tea by the lake courtesy of Debbie's well travelled thermos flask and then began the climb over the Pennines.  I had been looking forward to this part of the journey as I knew the views from the Kirkston Pass would be splendid but as bad timing would have it the cloud level was too low and there was little to see.  However, Debbie was undeterred, everything was wonderful, I think she wouldn't have cared if it had snowed.

Co Durham

We eventually began to drive through familiar territory, across the moors of Northumberland and eventually into Count Durham, where I was born.  I became quite excited when I saw the sign post to Blanchland and made a quick decision to go there even though time was getting short to arrive at my sister Carol's.

Lord Crew Arms, Blancland

Fire place in Lord Crew Arms

 Blanchland is a little village which goes back to pre King Henry VIII days and was established by an order of monks that wore white habits.  It has an ancient priory which is very well preserved and loved still.

The Lord Crew Arms, now a popular pub, has an amazing fireplace where legend has it that the monks hid up the chimney to escape from king Henry's men during the reformation of the church and you can in fact see a ledge when you look up the chimney. 

In no time at all we arrived at Hamsterly and very excited to see my little ster again.  

Carol and Alan's cottage

 We enjoyed a great pub meal at The Cross Keys that night and I sampled the northern dish of black pudding which I haven't eaten for years.  I think it is made with pigs' blood. Debbie was not impressed.

After sad farewells we hit the road again, this time for Durham city, famous for its Castle and Cathedral. It must be something to do with age as I am curiously much more interested in the local history than ever before.

Durham Castle & Cathedral

I grew up in a part of the British Isles that is absolutely drenched in history. We were taught it at school and lived with it on a daily basis but like everything that becomes too familiar you no longer see it and somehow a part of your identity gets lost too.

Durham Cathedral from banks of the Wier

In Durham Cathedral I found myself once again overwhelmed by the design, architecture and engineering of a building that is 1000 years old dating back to William the Conquerer.  I found myself at the shrine of St Cuthbert which I had no idea was there.  There was opportunity for silent prayer and meditation which Debbie and I both took advantage of.  I became very aware of the Divine Presence and sense of peace that was there.  St Cuthbert's ministry was based at Holy Island, part of the Lindisfarne group of islands which we were later able to visit.

A glimpse inside Castle

I was excited at the prospect of visitng Durham castle (now part of the university complex) which in all the years I have lived near Durham and revisited over the years I had never been inside, so you can imagine my disappointment when we got there to see the 'Castle closed' sign, apparently for a wedding party.  Didn't they know I was coming that day!?

A quick visit to see my dear old Auntie Gwen, now 92, at The Convent nursing home at Ebchester,  and still bright as a button, and then to my special neighbours, Ray and Mo, where I grew up at East Law.  My mother and Mo were great friends.  Was great to be greeted by Ray with a Eeeh! ya bugger, one of my Dad's favourite expressions.

Friends, Michael and Susan and family

Goats on the Roof

This turned out to be a very busy day and finally we ended up at mylong time friends' home near Newcastle upon Tyne and finished the day at a rare species, goat breeding farm called Goats on the Roof for dinner out in whoop whoop somewhere, where the goats hop around on the roof.