Northumberland 2019 – Fergy's Rambles.

Lock-down Diaries #3.

Hello again, dear readers and welcome back to the diaries. This one is nominally dated 25th May, 2020 although, based on the admittedly small control sample so far published, it will probably see the light of day about July!

You may remember that these entries are intended as a bit of light relief for the reader and a means of preserving my rapidly diminishing sanity whilst incarcerated in my flat as the weather gets better and the days longer. These are ideal walking conditions and I really want to get back on the trail again. If you want to see what idiocies I come up with today then please press the “read more” button and we’ll have a bit of a peregrination (I love that word).
Continue reading “Lock-down Diaries #3.”

Building works, Beckton and a bloody bad back – Jubilee Greenway 7.

Hello once again and welcome to a somewhat ridiculous seventh day of walking the Jubilee Greenway which, considering it is only 35 miles long is pretty poor going but it was only ever intended as a means of getting a bit of exercise whilst I was fairly well grounded due to a succession of hospital appointments. If you haven’t read my previous posts about this jaunt then you may wish to start here. If you have read them, I thank you and let’s go for another walk.
Continue reading “Building works, Beckton and a bloody bad back – Jubilee Greenway 7.”

Bye bye Berwick.

I woke in my room in the Castle Hotel on the morning of Wednesday 6th October 2019 in the knowledge that the next bed I slept in would probably be my own in London some 350 miles more or less due South.

After the events of the previous morning I had decided to skip breakfast, tasty as it was, as I would have had to have awoken at about 0600 to allow my slightly battered gastro-intestinal system time to get going and do it justice. It wasn’t as if there weren’t plenty of decent options for a bite to eat round the town. Continue reading “Bye bye Berwick.”

A heavy blow in Berwick, in both senses of the term.

“Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot”.

So runs the old children’s rhyme concerning the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Guy aka Guido Fawkes and others attempted to blow up the King and Parliament. I once had a friend who was affectionately known as “Mad Katie” who wore a T-shirt with the legend “Guy Fawkes – the only man ever to enter Parliament with honest intentions” which always amused me. So here I was, 415 years later, waking up in a very comfy bed in the Castle Hotel in Berwick-upon-Tweed and, to be honest, attempted regicide was not really on my mind. Continue reading “A heavy blow in Berwick, in both senses of the term.”

Bearing North to Berwick.

Up on the Monday morning and it was time to pack as I was back on the road again. More properly speaking I was back on the rails which made a pleasant change from being off the rails as I so frequently am. Paul’s time-critical project was becoming less time and more critical by the day and I thought I’d get out of the way and not overstay my welcome as he and Sue had been so lovely to me.

I was off to Berwick-upon-Tweed as I had already booked my ticket and I’ll explain the rationale for both of these things now. Continue reading “Bearing North to Berwick.”

A Sunday stroll and singing in the Saltgrass in Sunderland.

Sunday, 3rd November and the weather had turned wintry again but that was not too much of a problem as I had little planned before a gig in Sunderland that evening. Having had such a wonderful wander round Newcastle the day before, as featured in the previous entry which I do hope you have had a chance to look at, I thought relaxing day locally might be in order. Day of rest and all that. I know the concept of Sunday as a day of rest is bound up with a belief system I do not subscribe to and that being retired means every day is essentially a day of rest for me but you get the idea. Continue reading “A Sunday stroll and singing in the Saltgrass in Sunderland.”

Newcastle – bridges, bridges and more bridges.

Hello again, and welcome to this entry about Newcaste-upon-Tyne which may or may not go according to plan as I am charting new technological waters here. I have “owned” my own website now for quite a while and can still barely believe it but I have so far restricted myself to very standard style entries and this is my first attempt at a gallery post so anything might happen. Continue reading “Newcastle – bridges, bridges and more bridges.”

A trek round the Toon.

Saturday, 2nd November and this was the big one, the final of the Rugby World Cup which I had been watching avidly all the way through but before we get to that I should explain the image that heads up this entry.

My alarm woke me up quite early so I didn’t miss the match and as I opened my eyes I was greeted with the sight you see above. It is fairly obvious what it is but I thought it was a lovely thing to wake up to. Sue loves sailing boats and has models of them all over the house including the windowsill of the bedroom I was in which also just happens to have blue curtains. It was gloriously sunny outside although sadly that didn’t last long but the way the shadows went it looked for all the world to me as if the little boat was riding a swell on an ocean somewhere and I just had to take a snap of it. I know I am always trying to take what I refer to as “arty farty” images and they rarely work but I do like this one. Continue reading “A trek round the Toon.”

Rugby, rehearsal and a right royal repast.

Welcome back folks and we have made it to winter depending on which definition you use. The first day of November and with weather appropriate to the new season, it was a bit dismal to say the least. Continue reading “Rugby, rehearsal and a right royal repast.”

Hallowe’en with a hearty breakfast, a decent walk and a great gig.

It’s almost winter.

Fair warning first, this is another one of my rambles, both literally and in it’s writing form so you might want to grab a drink and make yourself comfy if you feel like doing it all in one hit. OK, if you’re sorted, let’s get to it. Continue reading “Hallowe’en with a hearty breakfast, a decent walk and a great gig.”