It seems such long time since any of us had a holiday to report on!
Our week in Northumberland
Saturday
I knew it was a mistake to have so many things going on the day before we went on holiday. At the end of a busy week. Including being invited out to friends for the evening. We said we would come for an hour or so and ended up staying until after 11pm!
This meant all packing, leaving cat sitter notes and last minute cleaning was left until today.
Anyway we got it done and were only about an hour later than we had planned.
We drove to Northumberland, the sun shone. We met the cottage owner and he showed us round. Very nice little cottage (the only downside, for me, is that they allow dogs. I have a very sensitive nose and although it was clean I could from time to time detect a doggy smell) The over-bath shower was tricky for me to get into with my knee. I have to at home, but this had a fixed shower screen making it harder. Minor complaints though, it was a lovely cottage and the main benefit is the short path to the beach is next to our cottage. Two minutes from door to beach!
We unpacked settled in and ate in that night. Very comfortable bed. This is very important to us (it probably is for everyone in our age group?!)
Sunday
The next day, Sunday, we had booked lunch at local restaurant. Rain was forecast so we were glad we had the lunch booked as we didn't think we would be doing much apart from that. There was no rain and in fact by afternoon it was lovely and sunny! So after our roast we had a wander around Amble Harbour and looked at all the little craft pods they have there. We bought ice creams and ate them in the sunshine
Monday
After a leisurely start we drove to see Northumberlandia
We fancied seeing this last time we were here, but it was a bit far from where we stayed that time and we ran out of time. It was very interesting, and gave us some exercise. It was dullish and windy, but not cold.
The sun came out mid afternoon and we went for a walk on the beach, then had a cuppa outside the cottage.
Tuesday
All day sun was forecast, so we decided to have a beach day. As the beach was our garden, it was easy to come and go. We spent a couple of hours or so there in the morning, went home for lunch then back in the afternoon. We chatted, read, watched the world go by and had a paddle. OH went for longer walk along the beach while I read.
This evening we ate out at the pub where we plan to have lunch with the Omas on Thursday.
Wednesday
Today was forecast dull and not as warm. We decided to visit the wildlife reserve nearby. First I needed a stamp to post SIL1’s birthday card. We went into Amble and bought the stamp and posted the card. By now there was full blazing sunshine! We went into Boots to buy sun cream. If was very peaceful at the wildlife place, lots of birds to see, and plenty of rest places along the way, including the hides. I took my stick. OH took her binoculars.
After tea we went to the beach. The tide was a very long way out. We walked right out to the edge and along, then sat on a rock for long time. Some little rabbits were running in and out of the dunes, and horse and rider passed us.
Thursday
Another sunny day.
This morning we did a bit of housework as we were having visitors! Hoovered the sand in the entrance hall, plumped the cushions, quick splash around the bathroom.
The Oma’s arrived and it was lovely to see them. We had a drink in the cottage before going out for lunch. Poor Mr Oma had to have his coffee unsweetened. We had forgotten to bring sugar (neither of us takes it) and there was none in the cottage.
We had an enjoyable pub lunch and good catch up. We hope it won’t be so long before we do this again!
We said goodbye at the pub then came back to the cottage, changed and went to the beach. We had a couple of hours in the sunshine, reading and enjoying the sea. We saw four different sets of people swimming in the sea this afternoon!
Friday
Rain was forecast and it arrived! It began mid evening yesterday. Grey and wet and several degrees cooler out there this morning.
The rain had stopped by afternoon, with just traces of dampness in the wind. But a summer’s day it was not!!
We decided to spend the morning inside as it was so wet. I had a bath and read for bit. We watched Corrie on Catch Up and I baked some potatoes in the oven to have with cheese and salad for lunch. I even had a glass of wine as it is the last day of my hols!
We went out for a drive along the coast a bit this afternoon, then into Alnwick where we had coffee and cake. I was complaining to Oma yesterday that I hadn't had enough puddings on this holiday!
On the way back we stopped overlooking Coquet Island (only inhabited by seabirds) OH was hoping to see a puffin but we couldn't. The wind and the waves were immense, very wild! We walked along the cliffs a bit. They are not high cliffs so we would have been OK were we blown off – which we were not! We took a selfie!
Back to the cottage for a warming cuppa and to do our packing. We have to be out by 9am tomorrow.
We drove into Amble for fish and chips (HUGE!) in the evening and ate them in front of the telly.
Saturday
Up early, a cup of tea, then we packed up the car. A drizzly and dull morning. Despite the weather we walked over and had a last look at ‘our’ beach, but didn’t go onto it.
The windy weather had blown away all the seaweed which had come in with the tide, which meant the beach looked beautiful. Just too cold and wet to go on!
We drove to a nearby pub restaurant and treated ourselves to a full English breakfast. We lingered over that, then made our way home. The nearer we got to Yorkshire the better the weather became! It was dry when when we got home, with sun and clouds.
We got to chat to our catsitting friend before she set off home. We are going to go over to where she lives soon and take her out to lunch. She met up with half a dozen different friends this week, so had a very social time for her!
And that is the end of my Northumberland holiday journal!
Our week in Northumberland
Saturday
I knew it was a mistake to have so many things going on the day before we went on holiday. At the end of a busy week. Including being invited out to friends for the evening. We said we would come for an hour or so and ended up staying until after 11pm!
This meant all packing, leaving cat sitter notes and last minute cleaning was left until today.
Anyway we got it done and were only about an hour later than we had planned.
We drove to Northumberland, the sun shone. We met the cottage owner and he showed us round. Very nice little cottage (the only downside, for me, is that they allow dogs. I have a very sensitive nose and although it was clean I could from time to time detect a doggy smell) The over-bath shower was tricky for me to get into with my knee. I have to at home, but this had a fixed shower screen making it harder. Minor complaints though, it was a lovely cottage and the main benefit is the short path to the beach is next to our cottage. Two minutes from door to beach!
We unpacked settled in and ate in that night. Very comfortable bed. This is very important to us (it probably is for everyone in our age group?!)
Sunday
The next day, Sunday, we had booked lunch at local restaurant. Rain was forecast so we were glad we had the lunch booked as we didn't think we would be doing much apart from that. There was no rain and in fact by afternoon it was lovely and sunny! So after our roast we had a wander around Amble Harbour and looked at all the little craft pods they have there. We bought ice creams and ate them in the sunshine
Monday
After a leisurely start we drove to see Northumberlandia
We fancied seeing this last time we were here, but it was a bit far from where we stayed that time and we ran out of time. It was very interesting, and gave us some exercise. It was dullish and windy, but not cold.
The sun came out mid afternoon and we went for a walk on the beach, then had a cuppa outside the cottage.
Tuesday
All day sun was forecast, so we decided to have a beach day. As the beach was our garden, it was easy to come and go. We spent a couple of hours or so there in the morning, went home for lunch then back in the afternoon. We chatted, read, watched the world go by and had a paddle. OH went for longer walk along the beach while I read.
This evening we ate out at the pub where we plan to have lunch with the Omas on Thursday.
Wednesday
Today was forecast dull and not as warm. We decided to visit the wildlife reserve nearby. First I needed a stamp to post SIL1’s birthday card. We went into Amble and bought the stamp and posted the card. By now there was full blazing sunshine! We went into Boots to buy sun cream. If was very peaceful at the wildlife place, lots of birds to see, and plenty of rest places along the way, including the hides. I took my stick. OH took her binoculars.
After tea we went to the beach. The tide was a very long way out. We walked right out to the edge and along, then sat on a rock for long time. Some little rabbits were running in and out of the dunes, and horse and rider passed us.
Thursday
Another sunny day.
This morning we did a bit of housework as we were having visitors! Hoovered the sand in the entrance hall, plumped the cushions, quick splash around the bathroom.
The Oma’s arrived and it was lovely to see them. We had a drink in the cottage before going out for lunch. Poor Mr Oma had to have his coffee unsweetened. We had forgotten to bring sugar (neither of us takes it) and there was none in the cottage.
We had an enjoyable pub lunch and good catch up. We hope it won’t be so long before we do this again!
We said goodbye at the pub then came back to the cottage, changed and went to the beach. We had a couple of hours in the sunshine, reading and enjoying the sea. We saw four different sets of people swimming in the sea this afternoon!
Friday
Rain was forecast and it arrived! It began mid evening yesterday. Grey and wet and several degrees cooler out there this morning.
The rain had stopped by afternoon, with just traces of dampness in the wind. But a summer’s day it was not!!
We decided to spend the morning inside as it was so wet. I had a bath and read for bit. We watched Corrie on Catch Up and I baked some potatoes in the oven to have with cheese and salad for lunch. I even had a glass of wine as it is the last day of my hols!
We went out for a drive along the coast a bit this afternoon, then into Alnwick where we had coffee and cake. I was complaining to Oma yesterday that I hadn't had enough puddings on this holiday!
On the way back we stopped overlooking Coquet Island (only inhabited by seabirds) OH was hoping to see a puffin but we couldn't. The wind and the waves were immense, very wild! We walked along the cliffs a bit. They are not high cliffs so we would have been OK were we blown off – which we were not! We took a selfie!
Back to the cottage for a warming cuppa and to do our packing. We have to be out by 9am tomorrow.
We drove into Amble for fish and chips (HUGE!) in the evening and ate them in front of the telly.
Saturday
Up early, a cup of tea, then we packed up the car. A drizzly and dull morning. Despite the weather we walked over and had a last look at ‘our’ beach, but didn’t go onto it.
The windy weather had blown away all the seaweed which had come in with the tide, which meant the beach looked beautiful. Just too cold and wet to go on!
We drove to a nearby pub restaurant and treated ourselves to a full English breakfast. We lingered over that, then made our way home. The nearer we got to Yorkshire the better the weather became! It was dry when when we got home, with sun and clouds.
We got to chat to our catsitting friend before she set off home. We are going to go over to where she lives soon and take her out to lunch. She met up with half a dozen different friends this week, so had a very social time for her!
And that is the end of my Northumberland holiday journal!
Comment