So, I forgot to mention a little junket to Northumberland a month or so ago.  Right up there on the blustery northeast coast to a little village called Amble.  Stayed in a lovely cottage, ate lobster, and went to visit castles. 

Bamburgh

This coastal Norman stronghold sits on a grand stretch of beach and is where some of the show Last Kingdom was filmed. 

Here’s another castle at Morpeth…

Part of this is now a holiday rental home. That was a good buy! I’d rather like to live there. 

Alnwick Castle

You all know this one cos this one is the Harry Potter Castle!  Disappointingly, I didn’t get to watch a game of Quidditch.

How Much Is That Doggy In The Window?

I don’t think the pup is for sale but I did see the boat of my dreams.

Now this is the kind of boat I want. It’s perfect. I just need someone to buy it for me and go and put it in the river. Thanks.

In the Meantime

I’ll keep telling tall stories and teaching kids about monsters. Perhaps then I’ll be able to buy a boat.

 I got booked for a day’s storytelling and found that the adults enjoyed it even more than the kids!

Only Eat in Season

That’s what they say, isn’t it? I don’t know if this is a fashion trend or health advice. Anyway, I’m very lucky to have good friends that own an allotment so I get brought all sorts of loveliness in boxes. 

Just look at the late afternoon sunshine settling on those sunflowers. Such a homely, vintage vibe. Gorgeous.

And down the road near Cobweb Cottage, I got some fresh eggs from the chickens running around in the garden. 

Food for Thoresby     

I attended the great food fair at  Thoresby Hall where Great Expectations was filmed and my great expectations were met. Thoresby Hall is an absolutely stunning country mansion that is now a hotel and spa resort with delightful grounds.

The food fair was fantastic and even better when I realised Sandro from the Great British Bake Off was appearing and decorating a cake. EEK!  

I love the Bake Off and the new season started again last night. Don’t ever ring me on a Tuesday evening in Autumn.

Food was consumed,

buses were caught,

And the day was rather lovely. 

Total Tractors

This weekend just gone I went to see the Vintage Tractor Run through the villages by the Young Farmer’s Association.

 This weekend coming I’m going to the ploughing show. I’ve been wanting to go to that for years and see how competitive ploughing can actually get. No, I’m not a farmer but with this level of recent experience, I probably could be. Anyway, I’ll let you know about that next time.

 Right you are.