Back to Northumberland

Continuing our theme of holidays within holidays, off we went to spend a few days in Hexham with old friend Les. 

Glasses in hand: cheers!

Les took us to Whitley Bay and its revamped Spanish City, both outside…

…and in.

We were a bit early to eat though

Moving on to Tynemouth, Les & Tine…

…but of course Les’s adoring gaze is only for me!

Hunger calls and Crusoe’s beach-hut was just the job

Then a walk by the castle…

…arty shots included.

The beaches are very similar to ours: we’ve decided to visit further in the future

Of course we visited Anna & George (and Arthur & Eve too) in their new house

I couldn’t resist taking a photo of these beautiful berries in Les’s garden

On our way back to the caravan we stopped at Barnard Castle where we met Edith & John on their way to Hexham

The castle looks very impressive but we didn’t visit it this time…

…mind you, we didn’t see any sign saying Cummings Was Here either!

Morning in Skipton

The prospect of a good weather forecast meant a short journey up the Aire valley to Skipton, ‘The Gateway to the Dales’ as it is known.

The Leeds/Liverpool canal runs right through the town…

…complete with Yorkshire stone bridges…

…and swans…

…lots of swans.

It’s market day…

…but we prefer to wander…

…even seeing the statue dedicated to local cricket hero, Freddie Trueman.

But nothing beats getting back to the Brown Cow with its amazing choice of Timothy Taylor’s beers!

Fifty-one years later

It’s hard to imagine we started our teacher training at Bingley College of Education in 1970. A group of us (the Bingley Boys) had organised a reunion for 2020, until Covid got in the way. So, a little later than planned we finally got together, and what a night we had!

Four of the ‘Bingley Boys’: Brian M, John W, Steve & Ian…

…and John N to the right of Nick…

…not forgetting Rob to the right of Mike & Moira.

Of course some attendees we’ve seen over the years: Edith, Norfolk John & Welsh Dave

Welsh Dave with Brian S: I’d not seen him for many years!

Jenny S is wearing the old college scarf in the middle of Sue W, Nick, Jenny H, Liz, Anne & Pam

A close-up of Jenny & Anne, still big friends after all these years

There’s a Tine come between two Daves here…

…and Edith with Sue (Mrs Welsh Dave)

My turn to come between John & Dave…

…and Lindsay between Christine & Sue.

Friday night was always disco night at college…

(There’s Tine with Basia, Ro and Sue B. I reckon she’s part of their gang now!)

…so it had to be done, dancing to 60s/70s music of course!

Not the clearest of photos but a very happy Mr & Mrs Blogger!

Visiting

Young Philippe moved house whilst we were back in the UK and it was great to see how quickly it became ‘chez lui’…

…complete with exotic plants (& Tine) at the front door on moving-in day.

A week later and look how comfortable he’s made it…

…Cuddles seeming very contented in his new home.

Happy Maman & fils!

We ate lunch in this café, a short walk away. Some might recognise it as the shop in the recent ‘Back in Time for the Corner Shop’ BBC series.

Old (she won’t thank me for that!) college friend Pauline with daughter Nicola, over from Norway. We hadn’t seen Nicola for far too many years: I reckon she was as happy as we were.

Dressing up for an inspection of Pauline & David’s garden. It’s funny how we are so used to wearing masks these days.

Not to be let out of the picture, Nadine with AlfnBets at their home.