Worth the hassle

We are having a mini break in the Lakes for our wedding anniversary but, no you’re not mistaken, we are in Durham!

Since reading ‘Cuddy ‘ last year and previously, ‘To the Island of Tides’ by Alistair Moffat following in the foot steps of St Cuthbert to Lindisfarne ( both excellent reads), I have wanted to revisit Durham Cathedral. I think my favourite cathedral, though I like many, which we first visited  many years ago. The nearest to it in my opinion is Chartres.
It must have been a school holiday when we made that first visit to Durham, I remember having an extravagantly dressed student guide showing us around the Castle with its student accommodation and refectory. In the noughties daughter Grace had a boyfriend at Durham when she was at Newcastle before she got together with John who was also at Newcastle. He (the boyfriend) played the French horn and we came to see his orchestra playing an Easter Requiem in the cathedral, most memorable.

It rained nearly all the way here and we had quite a hassle getting into the city due to traffic and road systems. We’d intended going to a NT property for lunch but, although we followed the signs, one seemingly taking us into a multi storey car park and then doing a circuit of the city centre and accidentally going down a bus lane, for which we will no doubt get a fine!, we decided to just park up for our hotel and explore the city as it was too soon to check in.
We found a little Italian cafe and had a wonderful Halloumi salad with a large glass of red wine ( I asked for small but he said it was as it came - full to the brim!) all felt much better after that!
The rain had stopped and we walked around the Cathedral close, seen in the blip and then down to the river and across the other side where you get a more usual view. ( extra including one taken from the bridge that night)

Checked into our hotel and then headed out for a drink. I had tea and being in danger of falling asleep I’ve come back to do my blip and maybe have a nap before going out to eat again.

We’ll be going into the Cathedral in the morning. Looking forward to it already.