Coming toward the end of May – Sunday was a really nice day: warm but not too warm; sunny but not too sunny. After cooked breakfast, we drove from Lindisfarne Inn down to Bamburgh via the coastal route. Walked briefly in dunes at Bamburgh: magnificent castle, but bank holiday crowds, so didn’t attempt anything ambitious. Back to Holy Island, where the tide had gone out, and we accessed the causeway, then parked in the visitors’ car park. Walked around town and went in the museum and priory, which is still stunning.
Bought a David Adam book on Aidan, Bede and Cuthbert. Had ice cream, walked some more – halfway to the castle – and had a coffee. Struck up conversation with couple who had been to Norwich, where the woman bought a £180 teddy bear from a shop on Elm Hill. Drove back, stopping at a couple of points on the causeway road (pre-causeway) and did short walks up into the dunes and over on to the sands. Back to hotel for evening meal. Fell far short of finishing my fish and chips.
Monday – the journey home. Warm and dry, and not too much traffic, considering it was a bank holiday Monday. Filled up with petrol before leaving, and Dot drove to a service station near Durham that was well away from the main road (Don’t you hate that?), where we switched driver. Didn’t even go to the loo. Then I drove, taking the route not recommended because of forecast hold-ups. Glad I did. Stopped at a nice service station – Woolley Gap, near Wakefield – very friendly and a lovely view.
Then Dot drove and I spotted speed cameras using Google Maps. Arrived at Fosse Park Aldi at Leicester about 3.30pm and found Heather and Simon in the cafe. Heather was quite bouncy, and Simon was very positive, but I think he made a big effort for us. Since his stroke, their life has been extremely difficult. Suggested they write a book about it; they seemed to like the idea, but it might be too big a burden. I drove to Cambridge Services, where we bought some food, and then Dot drove home. Ate most of a pizza, watched final MOTD of the season and then Masterchef.
Surprisingly, Tuesday was much colder, while Ballater basked in 22C. Dry, though. Woken by skip arrival, together with Colin. Spent most of the morning unpacking and sorting out, while Colin demolished our steps in rather noisy fashion. Dot made some phone calls, and Austin came to wash the windows. Spent much of the afternoon on the computer, catching up with various things left undone. Cooked sausages for supper and watched Detectorists, which is wonderful however many times you watch it. Beautifully written and directed, and with a lovely atmosphere.
Wednesday – Had quite a good sleep: think my back is improving. Still quite cool and cloudy, with spots of rain. Colin and his brother James came to continue work on our front garden, and our Naked Wines order arrived, probably within 12 hours of our ordering it, which is remarkable. Later did some shopping at Morrisons. Felt exhausted at end of the day. Watched quite a big of TV and cooked salmon.
Thursday – Bit chilly again, with grey skies. Colin and James here again all day to put in the new slope – coming along nicely. Wrote piece for website in the morning. In the afternoon Roger and Debbie called in for tea and biscuits; they came by bus from North Walsham for a day in Norwich. Later showed Des and Chris the garden work so far. Later still Dot went to handbells at the Greens. I walked with her to the upper Close, then later went and met her on Prince of Wales Road. Watched Test cricket v Ireland and then the final of Masterchef. Any of the last three could have won. All were pretty much perfect.