It was a lovely morning, as we set off south to Newcastle. We had a quick stop in Belsay for a cuppa (you know I can't be away from a teapot for too long!) I was very glad we stopped, because it gave me an opportunity to take photos of more lambs!
You probably noticed that the ewes have both black and white lambs. The first time I saw this when we moved here, I asked a sheep farming friend why the ewe had different lambs. Her answer was straight to the point - she said 'the ewe was obviously a hussy, and the lambs have different fathers'!
When we got to Rachel's, we had a cuppa, with a piece of the most wonderful lemon drizzle cake, then we left Malcolm to wrestle with the dishwasher, while we took the dogs for a walk. We walked under the amazing Armstrong Bridge
Then Flossie posed in front of the new footbridge (it was rusty from installation, as a design feature!)
We passed the pet cemetery (which made me think of the very scary Stephen King book)
Spring is far more evident there - the blossom is already out on these trees ........
....... and the rhododendron is flowering
However Flossie wasn't in the least interested in such things, much preferring to run in and out of the river with a big stick (sorry the photo is blurred, but it's the only 'action' shot that I managed to take of her!)
In case you're wonderfing where Tosca is, she only went with us on the first part of the walk, as her little old lady legs aren't up to running round the park, so we popped her back home to supervise Malcolm.
When we eventually returned, Flossie was suitably wet and muddy, and had to be hosed off before being allowed back in the house. Malcolm, meantime, had dismantled large amounts of the dishwasher.....
........ but despite his best efforts, he was unable to find what was wrong. (don't worry, he did put it all back togehter again!) Rachel then fed us a lovely lunch, with more of her wonderful homemade bread, and sent us on our way laden with lemon dizzle cake, ginger biscuits and homemade red gooseberry jam.
On the way home, we were stuck for a while behind this .......
........ fortunately he eventually turned into a farm. Then later, this rather large timber lorry pulled out of a side road in front of us
As you can see from this next photo, the driver wasn't content with just his own side of the road!
We weren't looking forward to being stuck behind him on the long uphill climb from Bonchester Bridge, when, oh joy, he turned off!
Rachel and I now have to co-ordinate our diaries, so that she can come up to visit us!