Home and dry

At last the Food Lady came home. I was beginning to think she had gone the same way as Dougal even though I heard her voice on the computer most nights when the Alph started talking to the screen and trying to hold me or the squirming Pest on his lap. But all I could see was a swirl of colour. And of course, her letters, but she wasn't here to read them to me!
Anyway, before continuing with my normal life, the Food Lady has a few more photos that she asked me to post for her - the last few days of her stay in the frozen north

with Jethro

  and his humans,

 and the new kitten.

On Sunday they went to a place called Aydon Castle. Here is Marie-Anne-the-Fair decorating her sword in readiness for a day in a medieval castle.

And here is Vincent-the-Brave decorating his weapon in readiness for some fearsome battles.

 And this is them choosing some delicious cakes for their feast in the castle orchard from a bakery in Corbridge.

The inevitable decorative Scottie dog in a gift shop in Corbridge called Acanthus. (Although the Food Lady did not see ONE real Scottie the whole time she was in England.)

There were however, lots and lots of spaniels - including this handsome Emma Bridgewater mug.

The bookshop in Corbridge has a poodle sign.

 A quick lunch in a garden centre that has special tables for kids, 

 then they arrived at the Castle

 and King Vincent-the-Brave and Queen Marie-Anne-the-Fair sank onto their thrones in the royal hall.

 But thrones are a bit boring after a while, so some climbing and exploring,

 some sword-fighting,

 and some tree-climbing was also undertaken

 before settling down to a feast on the lawn.

Omie-Domes found some ponies to admire in farmlands of Northumberland.

 The next day, Monday, was school as usual for Marie-Anne and Vincent.

 Beth, Omie Domes and the Food Lady went off to Durham for a morning of shopping and cathedral visiting.

 I spy a CAT! A psychedelic one at that. 

 Beth spied some shoes.

 And all the shops it seems, are dog friendly.

Tea in Durham Cathedral gardens.

Durham Cathedral.



They picked up the kids from school, and later that afternoon, went for a walk along the Whitburn coastal path that starts right outside their house. Lucky Jethro!

A curious neighbour.

 Marie-Anne took some photos of the Food Lady and Omie Domes,

 and found them rather entertaining!

Jethro talking to a neighbouring horse. I don't think he is very polite to them.

 "Hey! Wait! We want some grass too!"

 On Jackie's Beach, Jethro destroyed his tennis ball

 then found a huge log to take home.

Fascinating migrating flocks of birds all round,

and Jethro pointing to them. Pity no-one had a gun to shoot one for him.

 All along the coastal path, there were wild flowers - planted there in an effort to save what few bees there are left in the frozen north.

 Back home and re-united with Neo.

A bunch of wildflowers for Beth.

Vincent and Omie Domes watched the Antiques Roadshow,

 while Marie-Anne went for a ride with the Food Lady keeping a watch for cars.

Falco the show-off Cockatiel.

Best friends - Neo and Marie-Anne.

 Sad faces at breakfast on the Food Lady and Omie Domes' last day in England.

Bye Marie-Anne and Vincent.

 Bye Jethro.

And HELLO Coco and hello to the Pest! Lets go for a walk!

 The Pest helping the Food Lady unpack her case.

Walkies in the Greenbelt again. Yay. With Simon too! Double yay.

and the infernal PEST with the Alf having a round the block walk. Triple yay.

Lindisfarne and Alnwick

Dear Coco
This will be my last letter as we are coming home tonight. It seems ages since I last saw you and the Lad and I hope that he hasn't grown too big yet.

 This is what my room here looks like - case all packed, Vincent on the computer, Jethro on the bed,

and Marie-Anne and the Krazy Kitten having fun.

 We had a really fun weekend - starting with a trip to Lindisfarne in Nortumberland. There is a castle and a ruined cathedral and you can only drive there at low tide.

The castle was made into a really comfy summer holiday home in the early 1900s by Edwin Lutyens. This is Marie-Anne and Vincent getting into the part of turn-of-the-century children.

 We then walked across the sheep-poop lawns to the utterly delightful little walled garden with lovely views across to the castle.

 The garden was designed by Gertrude Jekyll

 and was full of wonderful colours and interesting paths and nooks and crannies

 including a plaque to the designer herself.

 A beautiful butterfly in the garden - contrasting with the rather windswept terrain on the other side of the walls.

We went in search of food in the funny little village - watched rather disapprovingly by this creepy little dog-man.

 A quick dip into the ruined priory there, and a look at this lovely statue of St Aiden,

 before we settled down to tea and scones.

 On the way back to the car we saw lots of signs to dog-owners to please PICK UP THEIR DOG POOP!

 We made it back over the causeway to the mainland by the skin of our teeth.

 Then, our next destination was Alnwick Garden where Beth steered us to the roses while the kids played in the many fountains all hidden in mazes. Very impressive. This is the Alnwick rose by David Austin.

 and this one is called "The Lark Ascending" and is also a David Austen rose.

 The formal garden was full of blue delphiniums and agapanthus,

 beautiful Autumn Crocuses (Colchicum autumnale),

 and these echinacea daisies.

 While Marie-Anne and Vincent played on the grass, we had some tea and watched a wedding party arrive.

 Then we went home to play with Neo - who was playing "now I am small as a mouse"

and now tall as a house. Such a cute kitten - Coco - I am sure you would rather like to chase her all over the house.
Well Coco, we are off to the airport soon, so I will show you the last few photos when I get back. See you really really soon - and hopefully we can have a walk on the beach when we take Mom home.
love to Simon, the Alf and the Lad
from the FL xx