Durham

During the second week of our spring break, we spent two nights in Durham. I had never been before. I think the closest I'd been previously, must have Beamish, while on a trip with primary school. This was when Johnathon, my best friend at the time, brought back a lump of coal from the mine, as a gift for his sister :) It's funny what you remember isn't it? 

We set off mid morning, stopping at Barnard Castle on the way to have some lunch. After a walk along the river, we enjoyed our picnic overlooking the castle.  The daffodils were all in flower, and looked lovely, albeit a little windswept. The sky was definitely looking more than a little grey, but luckily we managed to eat our sandwiches before it began to rain.There was just enough time to have a wander along the main street, where we visited a small cafe for hot chocolate, before we were on our way once again. 

Arriving in Durham late afternoon, we checked into our hotel and went for a gentle walk along the river, then straight through the city centre, past the castle and cathedral. The presence of the university there was quite obvious, as the whole city had a student vibe, and everyone we encountered was incredibly warm and friendly. By this time, the sun was shining and it felt wonderful to feel the warmth on our skin. It didn't take long before we were back at the hotel, as the city itself is really quite small. Then, knowing there was very little chance of me getting lost, I retraced our steps alone, but this time went a little bit further, and wearing my running shoes. After all, I didn't want to miss out any of my training, if I didn't have to.

The following day, the rain came, which wasn't too much of a issue, given that we had already planned to look around the cathedral. And it certainly didn't disappoint. It is a large, impressive building and has the most beautiful stained glass windows. We walked all around the Nave, Chapels and Transepts, then through to the Chapter House and the Cloister, which was apparently used as a filming location for one of the Harry Potter films. But that was a little lost on me, seeing as I have never seen any of them. 

There was even a model of the cathedral made entirely from Lego. 

Also, while we were there, we each made a paper Peace Dove, which are to be included in an art installation later in the year. The plan is to suspend fifteen thousand paper doves from the Nave, each with a message of peace, love and hope written on their wings.

We spent the whole morning at the cathedral, but probably could have stayed for longer. I would have quite liked to have gone up The Central Tower, but unfortunately it was closed while we were there. That afternoon, we explored the city some more, and enjoyed a look around the visitor centre, which is situated right next door to the castle. The city is steeped in history, and they had so many interesting artefacts on display.

After a  tasty fish and chip supper, we spent another night at the hotel, then the following day, before heading for home, we took a drive out to the coast at Seaham. The beach at Seaham is well known for it's sea glass, so we thought a morning searching the shore line would be fun. Although it was a bright, sunny start to the day, it was a good thing we were well wrapped up, as the see breeze was making us feel rather chilly. The rough pebbly beach made walking along the shore a little tricky at times, but we weren't in any rush, stopping regularly to collect the tiny pieces of smooth coloured glass. And I couldn't believe just how much we found. Only yesterday, I found another piece right in the corner of my coat pocket! 

It was a lovely couple of days, and we will definitely be returning to the north east later in the year.

This week has seen the start of Lily's final term at primary school, and already it seems to be going fast. There will be a lot of changes and challenges for both of us in the months to come, but my first challenge will be at the weekend...

Oh, and I've also spotted my first bluebells of the season.

J. X 

April Catch Up

Each year I am exactly the same. Just when I start to really struggle through the damp, grey days and become exhausted from holding my body tense during  the cold winter months, spring arrives and with every moment that passes I begin to feel myself gradually relax. The hours of daylight grow longer and the sun feels just that little bit warmer. I was not designed for cold weather, which may sound extreme, but anyone who has seen me turn blue from a slight chill in the air and a gentle breeze could readily bear witness to this :)

The last few weeks I have been busy,  both at work and home, but I have found brief moments here and there simply to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine. And as I have felt my body unwind, I have also noticed my sleeping patterns have improved over time, which is a huge relief. It is not much fun feeling exhausted before my day has even begun. 

I've been I've been out for walks through the fields and in the woods. The bluebells are in flower just now and as usual they look so beautiful under the trees. Last week I felt the need for some sea air so took a walk along the shore instead. Sea air hits different and it felt energising and restorative. It was a beautiful afternoon, with hardly a cloud in the sky and the bright sun shimmering on the water. I even discovered some more pieces of sea glass to add to my collection. 

Following my trip to London, I have spent some time getting on with a few necessary chores around the house. I feel like I'm getting on top of the clutter now, with yet another bag of clothing to take to the charity shop and a few more items sold online. I realise it is an ongoing process but the results are definitely worthwhile. I'm even considering getting rid of a side table which doesn't really serve much purpose other than to gather dust and hide even more clutter in it's drawer. I'll think about it. I'm worried I might regret it if I do, but this is only a small house and it doesn't take much furniture to fill a room and I like to have plenty of space to move around.

I have, finally, got around to sowing the wildflower seeds in the raised bed and I can't wait for the garden to be filled with pollinators again this year. I do miss growing a few vegetables but I think the small space is better utilised this way and it will look beautiful in the summer. The herbs are beginning to grow again, so at least there will be something in the garden I can cook with. Oh, and the strawberry plants and blackcurrant bushes are beginning to flower :) I still need to repot my apple tree, and I will be moving the little lemon trees back outside again this week once the winds have subsided. I'm sure they are ready for some warm sunshine, much like myself.

J. X