a tick for January

 

I decided it was time to tick something off for January, for my big year challenge.

I remembered  yesterday that it  was the last day to see the Flying Scotsman at Locomotion in Shildon, which is part of the National Railway Museum at York.

I quickly booked a ticket online, hopped out of bed and headed off the   miles down the road.

Locomotion is so close to my house and its somewhere that I go to quite often, I think its good to support something so wonderful and so local.

I really am not sure if I have ever seen The flying Scotsman before, it may have been at the huge steam cavalcade that came through where I live in 1975, to celebrate the 150th annivesary  of the Stockton to Darlington railway. Its first lines connected the collieries at  Shildon and passing through where I live now, although it wasn't even thought of then, having just celebrated its 75th birthday. It was one of the first new towns from the new towns act brought into place after WWII.

Anyhooo, I digress. I may also have seen it  York, but I'm not sure, so as this was the centenary celebration, it was worth heading off. Good to see something older than moi!!!!

And it didn't disappoint,

If you are ever in the area, Locomotion  is well worth a visit. They change the exhibits often and always have things on in the school holidays.

After all this excitement I as quite hungry, soI then headed off to Redworth Hall which was on my route home, and had a light lunch. 

All in all it was a good first tick of the year and a lovely morning out.

And so I am looking for something else local to collect another tick before the end of January.

Oh yes I also booked another antiques fair, its in May but it will be a new area , I'm spreading my wings.

Have a great week.

2023 was some year

 

Wowsers!  I started 2023 thinking, I might have a summer beach break, who knew I'd pack quite a lot in.

Mid January I got a great deal on a mini break to Amsterdam, so I hot footed it to North Tyne Dock at the end of the month and sailed over to Holland. The weather was kind to me ( although I am a fairly good sailor) and Amsterdam didn't disappoint apart from not enough time.

Got home, came down with covid! after 3 years it finally got me.

I felt pretty ropey and the after effects are still ongoing ( cough and awful fatigue).

That pretty much wiped out February for me.

I headed off to the beautiful cottage in Yorkshire for Easter  weekend in April, the peace and quiet there was just what I needed. 

The cottage is one bedroomed with amazing views, and very close to Sutton bank, not a drive that ever intend to do again, once was enough for me a couple of years ago!

May saw me head off to Tunisia, for a none stop thrill filled week, well breaking my nose within half an hour of arriving at the hotel, has to be a first in my book.

I have been to Tunisia many times, and sometimes the idea of going back is nicer than the actual reality. I had a good holiday, but have no desire to go back  again. It had lost a lot of its appeal under a blaze of neon, fast food and over building. I appreciate that things have to move with the times, so I decided that it was time for me to lay those memories aside once and for all. 

June saw me travelling to Marlow in Buckinghamshire, primarily for work, but also great to have some free time in a lovely town. Fine dining was very much the order of the week and a very tired and over indulged Lainey came back home. 

I also headed over to Leeds for a weekend with friends where we  caught up  with Jason Gillespie, former Yorkshire coach.  great night was had by all.

July had me racing down the A1 and flying out from Leeds/ Bradford to Beauvais, an airport that feeds tourist into Paris, I was the only person on the flight not heading that way, and had booked an apartment in Beauvais. I had four fabulous days, including being escorted to the police station ( long story which involves me taking some cuttings of the local hydrangeas and finding some credit cards on the ground, its in a previous blog).

This was a most amazing place with a fabulous Gothic cathedral and a museum of the local area. You can also have a wander round the local fire station but I never got to do that ( Fireman's daughter so obviously of interest).

My apartment  was in the old town around the cathedral ( the cathedral was literally in the back garden, I kid you not) so timber framed buildings and cobbled streets and the city walls, fabulous for an architecture geek like me.

The end of the July saw me heading over to Sedbergh for the weekend to meet up with friends, Sophie and Terry. A great time staying in a lovely apartment just behind the high street. Lovely bars and fine dining to be had, definitely worth a visit.

I just worked in August, and stayed at home!

September saw me do my first Antiques Fair in 20 years, a good day and it gave me the confidence to do more.

I also headed off to Nottingham to meet my old friend Harry Latchman, I rented an apartment just a street away from Trent Bridge ground and walking distance of West Bridgford. It was perfect for the few days that I was there and handy for everything. 

October once again saw me racing down the A1 to Leeds airport, and this time flying out to Limoges.

What can I say, this was a beautiful city and the people were wonderful, I stayed once again in the old town behind their Gothic cathedral and in an apartment on a cobbled street ( make that hill, my glutes still haven't recovered). The timber framed houses were beautiful, the botanic gardens were so peaceful and the 'old town' was just wonderful. I would go again, it was such a wonderful place.

I'd no sooner emptied my bag, then it was time to pack my case for my birthday getaway and the start of my big birthday year. 

Yes the next 12/13 months are going to be fun packed as I head towards being 60.

So I nipped off to Spain to celebrate being 59, I booked a hotel in Torremolinos and was not disappointed, it was set in a very Spanish area, no English/ Irish /Scottish bars, no pizza restaurants, just prefect for me.

Had a great time visiting a Museum of crystal and china in Malaga, and finding the first hotel in Torremolinos, I liked it so much I intend to go back.

December saw a quick trip down to Berkshire for a retirement /Christmas 'do', and then me coming down with flu. Not the best start to the run up to Christmas.

I spent Christmas again at the lovely cottage in Yorkshire ( again), complete with chickens

 And enjoyed a  visit to stay at my friends new home in a tiny hamlet near Malton .

I rounded off 2023 with a meal for one at my house and an early night.

Time to get the energy levels up ready for the next chapters.

Christmas in Yorkshire

 

I had decided to spend Christmas in Yorkshire, at the lovely cottage that I hire often. I was no sooner settled in then I headed out to see 'the girls' who have been not allowed out on my last two visits due to avian flu.

They all looked very happy to be out and about, and came running down the field as I got to the fence. Obviously thinking there was food, and disappointed to find that I had none.

Christmas Eve was lovely, having been invited to lunch with the owners of the cottage and their family.

So very nice.

Christmas morning saw me  go out to feed the girls and be watched by the wonderful Herdwick sheep in the other field.

I had a very quiet day, which is just how I like it.

I was packed and away on Boxing day which was a beautiful crisp winter day, blue sky and sun.

I was heading over to stay with my friends Martin, Alison and Lily, who had moved to a hamlet outside of Malton called East Lutton, this added up to another tick for places I hadn't been before, but I ended up ticking off another place.

I had decided to not take a trip up Sutton Bank, my last trip up there I had promised would be my last, so I set off across country.

I passed through the village of Coxwold with the most stunning church, 

This is St Michaels Church and stunning to say the least. I didn't have time to stop but will be heading back this year.

The church is a fifteenth century church with the usual octagonal tower added later.

So a trip is in order.

I headed to East Lutton and had a wonderful time with good food and drink, including a secret recipe cocktail, which was exceptional.

I set off home on Wednesday just in time to hit the latest storm, and after fighting through flooded roads and hideous rain, I got back home, emptied the car, and settled down to having some time at home.

And so the new year begins and time to fill the diary with new adventures.