Night Bell

It was still grey when I woke up – and remained grey all day, though at least it didn’t rain.  I knew everywhere would be very wet and muddy, but forced myself out for a  run.  The boys were still in their pjs when I got back.  We eventually headed to Howick Hall where we had a lovely lunch in the tea room, watching a red squirrel and nuthatches on the bird feeders.

We went for a walk around the gardens and the arboretum and did something we have never done before.  We left the arboretum by the bottom gate (which means you cannot get back in), to walk down to the sea and then along to Craster.  It was MUDDY.  Horrendously muddy in fact. We were so glad to get to the coastal path after wading through the mud and slipping everywhere.  It was a miracle that none of us fell over.  It was a huge relief to get to the coast after the mud.  The sea was wild and the crashing waves were quite mesmeric.  However it soon became muddy, wet and boggy – we were all in need of refreshment by the time we got to Craster.  The café provided us with what we needed including fabulous cakes and we also picked up some kippers.

We returned to Howick through the fields, which was marginally less muddy than the other routes we had been on.  Once home the washing machine had to go on, to deal with the mud.

I love that Howick Hall has a “night bell”.  Presumably the door would have been answered by the night porter?