Cragside

Mr C had an optician appoint this morning. He paid £10 extra to have a scan. The extra 10p a week he gets on his pension for being over 80 won’t cover that. However it’s good to know he has healthy eyes with no signs of macular degeneration or glaucoma.

Tommy came to put sandbags out to divert the drain deluge so that he can dig up the drive in an attempt to find where the drain is blocked. If in the road it is the council’s issue but we’d still have to pay for our drive digging up and re-tarring.

I took the car to Cragside to look at the autumn colours. The 6 miles round is one-way single track and there was always a car behind so I couldn’t stop to take any photos. I parked at the play park and walked round Nelly’s Moss Lakes then parked near the exit to have another walk by the stream to the house where I got some lovely colours. I had asked Ailie if she wanted to come but she’s looking after Andrew, and Chris never replied. She’d already been to the beach and won’t like Cragside as the dogs have to be on a lead.

We have booked the Exodus Bosnia and Montenegro trip for next autumn. It’ll be more luxurious than usual for us as we’ll stay in hotels, not camp or be in a hostel!

I’ve just realised this is the same place as I did a painting from years ago. Someone from USA bought it from the gallery. Mr C wasn’t happy as he liked it.