Lilac time

Quite a lazy Sunday for a change!

Another late start after another late night - the wedding ceilidh MrM played at last night went on for longer than expected. After a leisurely breakfast, we walked on Weetwood Moor with Louie - it was overcast, but positively balmy for Northumberland. MrM spotted a rather lovely wild flower on the moor that neither of us has seen before so, on arriving home I spent about an hour trying to find out what it is, but failed. Emailed a couple of rather blurry(!) photos to a friend who's very knowledgeable about wildflowers, hoping that he will enlighten us.

Some housework after lunch while MrM spent a few hours in the workshop. Then he packed us a picnic and drove us the short distance for a walk to the remains of Old Middleton, a deserted Mediaeval village. According to Historic England, documentary evidence suggests that it was originally called Midilest Middleton, and was first mentioned in 1242. In 1580 11 tenants lived there, and the settlement is thought to have migrated in the late 18th century. It would be interesting to know why. Today all that remains are some banks of earth and stone, a few exposed walls and the remains of what is thought to have been a kiln. There are also the ruins of two much more modern cottages.

By a stone wall there are 3 lilac bushes with the most wonderful scented blossom, and we sat near these to eat our picnic before walking back down to the car.