Blogs from Durham County, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Hello everyone! So it appears I'm not very good at this whole writing blogs malarkey! So while on a train heading north, I thought Id take this perfect opportunity to finally write a post and update you all on everything that's been happening over the last 3 months! So where are we at the moment. So this week has been our second exam week, with the first being just before Christmas. More on them later though. So now I have the joys of a week off before returning to Warsash for my Basic Safety Training Week (basically a week of drowning me and setting me on fire) before completing Phase 1. Before going any further I will announce the big exciting news...my first ship appointment. I will be joining Fred Olsen's Bolette in Southampton on Thursday ... read more

Thought we had completed Durham until breakfast when fellow inn mates (actually their son had graduated from Durham University yesterday and is on the way to the continent for the next three months) informed us the cathedral may be open today. Really! This was confirmed between their taking an additional look at the website and our innkeeper. Super! William, the innkeeper had insisted on driving us to the cathedral area yesterday, we steadfastly declined another ride. This guy does not stop; yes he took us again. Furthermore, that constant complainer HP had lamented the fact the only cottage pie he has seen on a menu was at a Costco. Yeah, the sap ate it, but really? So, that morning our innkeeper informed us he had prepared a cottage pie and our presence was required after the ... read more

Well now day 3 at Barnard Castle and still love the place, if I am honest - but really would I return for another break, probably not and that is not due to anything wrong with the place as it is lovely but now getting itchy pants so have to move on. We walked along the Teesdale walk and then decided as it was getting muddy that we would turn around and go into Barnard Castle - think I am getting a bit of a princess and YES everyone who knows me, I am a princess with a bloody big TIARA, ha ha. So after walking around the town again Mike is getting really annoyed with me as the older I get the more ants in the pants I get and can I sit still, NOOOOOO. ... read more

Well day 2 and it is still glorious weather. Mike had a shower in the motorhome this morning, the first time the shower has been used. Probably because I was brought up camping in a tent and we always had to use the shower and toilet blocks on the campsites, I just automatically go to the shower block. We even wash up now in the motorhome sink instead of going to the pot washing block, another thing we used to have to do as kids - think I am really getting into the motorhome life ha ha. So today we are going to walk to who knows where but possibly the opposite way from Barnard Castle town centre I think - will keep you posted. This part of the world is really pretty. Hey ho a ... read more

The bus journey from Durham to Bishop Auckland took about half an hour or so and it was a nice drive through some small towns, villages and the countryside. I loved all the green fields. The bus stops in the marketplace in Bishop Auckland and I got off there as it was near to the art gallery I would be visiting first. I had some time before my allotted visit so I took a bit of a walk around the town centre. I headed across the marketplace, which wasn't too busy. There were a few people sitting outside one of the cafes as the weather was nice. I took a walk up Bondgate, which is one of the streets adjacent. Since it was still early not all the shops and galleries were open, however it was ... read more