Cherie's Place

Filed under Anecdotes, Holidays, Newcastle & Crookham 2013

Newcastle & Crookham – Day Six

After checking the weather forecast we decided to visit Cragside because the weather was going to be favourable. On our way there we detoured via Rothbury in order to find a cash point. Whilst we were in Rothbury Mr C insisted on locating for me the nice ladies clothes shop that I visited last time we were there. Our shopping expedtion resulted in a lot of banter and laughter between us, the staff and the other customers. I am not sure how that happened but it is a regular occurrence Ultimately I left the shop with a nice two piece outfit with jacket cardigan to match.

After the detour to Rothbury, we continued on our way to Cragside and its formal garden which is always our first port of call when we visit. The garden was spectacular as always and I noticed that the Dalhia bedding was different this year. I gave myself a personal challenge of photographing the garden with my ‘macro lens’ to provide a different perspective from my previous visits to the garden.

After the formal garden and a walk to one of the four 150th anniversary featured artworks, it was time for lunch in the tea shop. After lunch we had intended to visit the house but it was rather busy so we elected to do the leisure drive. After the leisure drive we found that the house was still too busy so we had an enjoyable walk around the rock garden whilst we waited for the house’s congestion to subside. Eventually the house was quiet enough; we entered and re-acquainted ourselves with our favourite house features. Then we returned to The Coach House where once again we had interesting conversations as we dined and later enjoyed coffee in the lounge with other guests including a group of Aussies. The other guests retired just before Leona (then Toby) arrived and we all sat up chatting a little too late.

Tags: Cragside, Crookham, National Trust, Rothbury, The Coach House, Vacation

10 Comments CherryPie on Sep 23rd 2013

Filed under Faith Foundations, Holidays, Newcastle & Crookham 2013

Cherie’s Place – Thought for the Week

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

The Buddha (c.563 – c.483 BCE)

Tags: Cherie's Place Thought, Sea, Tynemouth, Vacation

20 Comments CherryPie on Sep 22nd 2013

Filed under Anecdotes, Heritage, Holidays, Newcastle & Crookham 2013

Newcastle & Crookham – Day Five

The 9th September was the 500th anniversary of The Battle of Flodden which took place in 1413. We visited the battlefield straight after breakfast whilst it was still quiet and there were only a few other people about. One of those people was a kilted Scotsman with whom we got into a discussion. We talked about the battle which led onto discussions about politics and politicians. We agreed that politicians have a tendency to behave like overgrown school children. He commented that he would like to think that we had learned from the battle and that we (and our political leaders) wouldn’t make the same mistakes again.

Access to the field itself has been refreshed and a zig-zag path has been added across one of the fields to allow easier access for those who are less mobile. This is good in one way but it detracts a little from the atmosphere of the place. As we made to leave the hill where the memorial stands it was starting to get busy. In the distance the first bus pulled up and I saw someone with a very long flag pole sporting the English flag. As we made our way down the hill they were making their way up. As they came close I heard ‘I am Justin from the BBC’ and as I turned I noticed Justin was talking to the flag bearer and his two companions. They looked at me and asked the quickest way to the monument. I answered and then we beat a hasty retreat to the car park where we noticed some people dressed up ready for re-enactment of the battle.

We left them to it and made our way to Holy Island to visit the ruined priory. The museum explaining the history of the site is much improved since my last visit many years ago and we also took the opportunity to visit St Mary’s Church which is right next to the priory.

Unfortunately our chosen tea shop wasn’t able to provide any sandwiches that day due to staff shortages so we settled on lunch in the local pub where I had a very delicious crab sandwich. The weather looked a little uncertain so we decided against a stroll along the beach and departed the island to visit the churches of Ladykirk and Norham. Before arriving at the first church there was a slight detour through Berwick for shopping list pads… I decided to stay in the car!!

After visiting the churches we had a leisurely drive in the countryside near the hotel before returning there for afternoon tea. We had convivial conversation with some of the other guests, which we all continued over dinner as well.

Tags: 500, Anniversary, Commenmoration, Flodden, Flodden Field, Heritage, History, Holy Island, Lindisfarne, Northumber- land, The Battle of Flodden, Vacation

9 Comments CherryPie on Sep 21st 2013

Filed under Holidays, Newcastle & Crookham 2013

52 Photos Project – Gallery 22 – In My Hands

People who know me well will appreciate this photo

I always have my camera in my hand/s when I am out and about.

More ‘In My Hands’ can be found in the gallery.

Tags: 52 Photos Project, Camera, Corel Painter Essentials, English Heritage, me, Photo manipulation, Photoshop Elements, Portrait, Self Portrait, Tynemouth, Vacation

10 Comments CherryPie on Sep 20th 2013

Filed under Anecdotes, Heritage, Holidays, Newcastle & Crookham 2013

Newcastle & Crookham – Day Four

We packed our bags, had breakfast and checked out of the hotel before setting off for Tynemouth in glorious sunshine. We enjoyed a short walk around the Spanish Battery and the towering Collingwood monument before visiting Tynemouth Priory & Castle. The site contains interesting history including gun batteries that were used in the first and second world wars and a former coast guard station (not open to the public). It was all very photogenic.

After the visit we strolled into town and had lunch in a bakery tea room which was sadly due to close down the following week and be turned into a Fish and Chip shop. After lunch we left Tynemouth, following the coastal route towards Alnwick where we stopped briefly to visit Barter Books. Some things just have to be done

After a purchase or two we resumed our journey to the Coach House at Crookham. It was lovely to see Leona again and the place still feels like home from home. We dined in as we always do when we visit; the food is so good and there are always interesting people to talk to so there is no reason to look elsewhere.

Tags: Admiral Collingwood, Alnwick, Barter Books, Crookham, Newcastle, The Coach House, The Spanish Battery, Tynemouth, Tynemouth Castle, Tynemouth Priory, Vacation

16 Comments CherryPie on Sep 19th 2013

Filed under Anecdotes, Heritage, Holidays, Newcastle & Crookham 2013

Newcastle & Crookham – Day Three

After breakfast we set out for Durham in order to visit the cathedral and the Lindesfarne Gospels exhibition. Unfortunately when we enquired at the visitor information centre about tickets to see the Gospels we were advised that the earliest time slot possible for that day was 7.30pm. We didn’t fancy hanging around all day so we decided against it and chose to visit the castle instead.

When we arrived at the castle gates we were told that visits were by guided tour only and the last tour was in a few minutes due to a wedding being held there later that day. The only snag was that tickets had to be purchased from the visitor information centre which is where we had just come from… After some grumbling Mr C went back to purchase the tickets. The castle tour was interesting and informative. The hall and stairway reminded me of Hogwarts from the Harry Potter films.

After the castle tour, we visited the cathedral and had lunch in the undercroft. I also spent some time in the book section of the gift shop.

We then made our way back to Newcastle where I went into M&S to quickly purchase a pair of trousers to replace the ones that had got soaked and muddy the previous day. This was not to be. The lengths looked different so I had to try them on. The assistant reliably informed me that the lengths had been changed by what she called a ‘cuff length’!! This means that M&S trousers no longer fit me as I am between lengths.

We returned to the hotel to freshen up before our evening meal. The weather was fine and dry so we walked along the Quayside before settling on dining in Cafe Rouge. After the meal we returned to the hotel for a cool glass of wine before retiring for the evening.

Tags: Durham, Durham Castle, Durham Cathedral, M&S, Newcastle, Vacation

10 Comments CherryPie on Sep 18th 2013

Filed under Anecdotes, Holidays, Newcastle & Crookham 2013

Newcastle & Crookham – Day Two

When I got up in the morning and looked out of the window I noticed that the weather had changed to rain. After breakfast, equipped with raincoat and umbrella, I left the hotel and set off towards Grey Street to see the monument. Luckily on this occasion the scaffolding had gone so I could enjoy the view properly. I didn’t take any photos though because it was raining too much.

When I turned the corner into Central Arcade I realised the scaffolding hadn’t gone, it had just moved around the corner! After visiting the arcade Mr C and I made our way back towards the Castle Keep via the Vampire Rabbit and Amen Corner. The Castle Keep was very interesting and there were some spectacular views from the rooftop. However during the walk to the keep, I had somehow managed to get one of my trouser legs soaked. This meant that after the tour of the keep I had to go back to the hotel to change before having lunch in the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas. The Cathedral’s tea shop does very nice cherry scones and the young man who served me tried very hard to tempt me into having two. I managed to resist the temptation!!

After lunch Mr C and I went back to the hotel where we had arranged to meet JD in its newly refurbished reception area . He came bearing ‘mini’ gifts (thank you JD ). We again set out into the rain to the Side Gallery which was displaying old photographs of Newcastle. They rather reminded me of Frank Meadow Sutcliffe’s work.

Afterwards, we walked to the Laing Art Gallery which contains some interesting art. JD got talking to the curator and asked her about two pieces of art that used to be on display in the gallery but she couldn’t immediately recall them. She must have been intrigued because, even though she was busy with a large group, she later caught up with us whilst we were enjoying a cup of tea and produced a catalogue of all of the artwork that is in the possession of Tyne & Wear’s galleries. JD found the two paintings listed in the catalogue, which delighted the curator. She mentioned that by prior arrangement they could be brought out of storage and viewed.

When we left the gallery, Mr C and I parted ways with JD after which I got a bit carried away in Waterstones, ending up with three books and some ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ mini-bookmarks!!

In the evening we dined in a nice Italian restaurant after which we returned to the hotel lounge for a nightcap before retiring for the evening.

Tags: Amen Corner, Central Arcade, Frank Meadow Sutcliffe, Grey Street, Newcastle, The Black Gate, The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas, The Laing Art Gallery, The Side Gallery, Vacation, Vampire Rabbit