THE SOUTH COAST NORTHWARDS

We left Hove (on Monday 9^th) and our friends behind after a very alcoholic week-end to head towards the M25 and a quick coffee and a chat with my son Matthew- we will see him later in Yorkshire . The real attraction was the dogs he has which were born in our home in Cornwall on 20^th July 1999. They both looked good and it was good to see them before we head on – after all it may be our last chance to see them in fine fettle.

It was then onto M25 and then onto M40 where we knew there was a good spot to see Red Kites as well as woodland birds. However the weather was against us and so we continued heading north to Stratford-on-Avon and Shakespeare. Planning is always good but a slight slip of the memory and a sudden cold did mean that Monday’s Richard III did not happen. Just one of those things. It is now booked for a matinee in September. Instead, on the following night, we saw a performance in The Swan Theatre relating to the Aztecs entitled ‘ A Soldier in every Son’ which was a bit different to most works of the Bard but, nevertheless, it was all good stuff.

 Who would have thought I would be drinking Estrella in Stratford Upon Avon!

The following morning we were on the move again on the way to Durham via Woodhouse Eves – to visit Joss and the kids, put flowers on Richard’s grave (Michelle’s father) and to have lunch at ‘The Wheatsheaf’ where Richard was born and then to Durham.

We arrived on a very wet evening but when there is a Camra guide on the Satnav what else could we do. Then it was a wet walk to ‘The Dun Cow’ and then we found ‘The Shakespeare’. What could be better than a literary drink of old fashioned English ale?

The following morning saw us gathering our thoughts before we set foot down to the high spots of the city – the Cathedral and University. Scaffolding and signage everywhere does not help the photographer at all. It is some building this monster of a place of religion but I did not feel that comfortable within it. You have to give credit to the designer, craftsmen and labourers that contributed to this structure and you have to believe that they had a great degree of skill and faith in their own ability was necessary to complete it. I wonder how many people died in its construction but they were totally different times to what we know today. The history and the religion did not sit comfortably although I sat very quietly at noon to listen to the prayers and I say unequivocally that I could not dis-agree with any of it. Topics such as Syria, Libya and ‘The Bankers’ were all included and if prayers would do any good, I would happily join in with that. 

We needed a less active day and so a little bit of shopping, a spell of watching the world go by, a little ale and meeting some friendly and informative locals helped us complete our day. There were even notes made for a poem or two and some photographs taken to add to the archive.

Tomorrow morning it is Amble, Alnwick and our first week in one place at Seahouses just along the coast from Bamburgh. This will give us opportunities for seabirds and photography.