Friends, Dogs and more Friends

On arriving in Catterick, I was made welcome by my friend, it was good to be able to spend time with Sue and her husband Dave, and the dogs Jackson and Mojo. The evening was spent catching up, and reminiscing about the good times we had spent together.

On Tuesday morning the first job was to take the dogs for a walk, we had a lovely riverside walk in Richmond.

We took the dogs home and then we returned to Rchmond Town Centre for breakfast after which we had a walk around this picturesque town.

We decided to go for a drive and we went to Brymor Ice Cream Parlour in Wensleydale where we each enjoyed an ice cream, it was a bit difficult choosing the two flavours I wanted, out of the 35 that were available!!!

We returned home to take the dogs for another walk, and then Sue took time to show me some wood carving she had done. She also writes poetry.

After this we shared relaxing evening and had a lovely meal cooked by Dave.

I left Catterick Tuesday morning, to make my way back to Home, it took a few hours and that wasn't just the mileage involved, as I called into the retail village at Castleford. My final destination before Home was Earls Barton near Kettering visiting more friends, this time someone I had worked with over 35 years ago, it was good to catch up with Shirley, Rod, Lousie and her family.

Well that is the end of the first week of my Sabbatical, looking back I can't believe how much I have achieved. 

I thank God for every opportunity He has given me. For the times of stillness and peacefulness in the midst of a very busy week.

Drop thy still dews of quietness

Till all our strivings cease

Take from our souls the strain and stress

And let our ordered lives confess 

The beauty of thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire 

Thy coolness and thy balm

Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire

Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire

O still small voice of calm.

Goodbye Durham Hello Beamish (oops forgot to post!!!!!)

After breakfast on Momday morning, I returned to Durham Cathedral, this gave me opportunity to view the masterpiece of Durham Cathedral in Lego Bricks. The last brick to this magnificent construction was placed the day after I visited.

Just before I left Durham I decided to retrace my steps I made daily as I walked towards the coach.

The last photo I took in Durham, is the picture below, which shows the steep hill we climbed every evening on our return to the college. This was our last challenge of every day, as returned to the college tired and weary.

On leaving Durham I made my way to the Beamish Museum. It was good to spend time here and I had the opportunity to visit a typical early 1900's village, a pit village and school, the park, the fairground and the church to name but a few. 

There was opportunity to ride on the trams and the old fashioned buses.

I took time to visit the sweet shop and had the opportunity of watching a demonstration of how rhubarb and custard boiled sweets were made. Of course I sampled one as well!!

I also took the chance of buying a bag of chips which were made in the same way as they were made in 1913, unfortunately the pice was typically 2016!!!!

I concluded my visit to Durham etc and on Monday evening I travelled to Catterick to spend some time with a friend I hadn't seen for 20 years!!!

The Farne Islands

On arrival at Seahouses we made our way to the harbour to board the boat, it was called the Serenity II as we travelled to the Farne Islands with the engines roaring many of us commented that iit was far from Serenity!!

I don't think many of us realised how close the boat would get us to the wild life on the Farne Islands,we were able to see many varieties of birds including Guillemots, Shags, Puffins and many more, we also had the opportunity of getting close to the seals that inhabited the islands.

The photos below are a selection of the different birds and seals we were able to see.

We then travelled on to view two lighthouses, one of them was associated with Grace Darling

On returning to dry land we made our way to the coach for our journey back to the college and dinner which was served at 8pm.