"By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer’s best of weather
And autumn’s best of cheer."-   Helen Hunt Jackson, September, 1830-1885

I wonder how many people enjoyed last week's sunsets as much as I did.
From the back of my house I have wonderful views
of the sun going down and only a short time later
I can walk to the front and see the moon rising above the rooftops.

7.30 pm The sun sinks lower and the sky turns orange.

But on Sunday morning the swallows were swooping and diving across the sky or perching 

impatiently on telegraph wires as they prepared for their long flight to warmer climes.

And in the afternoon, Raby Castle near Staindrop welcomed a crowd of visitors on their Heritage Open Day. The 15th century walled garden, with an almost unbelievable riot of colour from its display of roses, was admired by many people while others paid a visit to the castle itself or explored the extensive parkland. A day to remember whatever their choice.

A few weeks ago I entered my story, “Body on the Track,” into the Room-to-Write Short Story Competition.   http://roomtowritepublishing.wordpress.com/

On 27th August the Long list was announced.
From about 200 entries, only 20 had reached this Longlist. Mine was one of them!

I was so proud and delighted and grateful to the judges who appreciated my work.

Many thanks to all the friends who sent messages and congratulations.

Welcome to Samson - he can never replace Gypsy but he's the latest addition to the long line of dogs this family have owned.

A lively 2 year old now;  he should enjoy at least another 10 years with the younger members of the family. Good luck, Sammy.

Cold Cotes Garden at Harrogate and Littlethorpe Manor, Ripon made a magical combination for an end-of-summer outing with a coach full of friends on Wednesday this week.

A Footpath at Cold Cotes

Cold Cotes is a small garden almost hidden between green hedges and twisting lanes – a delightful place where footpaths meander through trees and flowers blossom as high as a person’s head.  Be welcomed by the owner and hear how they’ve renovated the house and developed the garden over the last eighteen years. Drink coffee before exploring the garden; sit on wooden benches in shady corners; read poems written by Ed Loft and soak in the peaceful atmosphere before enjoying a really delicious lunch in their pristine café.

In complete contrast the second garden Littlethorpe Manor is a large estate offering 22 varied gardens and walks. Stroll under the arches hanging heavy with ripening apples; gaze at the fountain between statuesque trees; discover the pets’ graves in a small wood; walk round a lake with the clearest reflections of the building and trees beyond it and wander by the river that forms a boundary.

Already in August conkers are on the ground. A gardener explains how one of the ancient trees was almost blown down in a gale but some of it was saved and the damaged trunk is now a home for wild bees.

Continue across the grass and back to the Cut-Flower Garden; listen to the gasps of surprise and appreciation as people look at the beauty and colour of its beds. Even well known flowers are twice as high here as in other gardens and the colours defy description.  Congratulations to the head Gardener and his wife with their very knowledgeable assistant.

We came away with memories of a wonderful day and a coach full of healthy plants.

Favourite Devon Cafes

Tables with a Sea View at the Angel cafe at Babbacombe..

Good Plain Cooking here.

Mouth-watering Sandwiches - Overlooking the Sea at Torquay.

Seen inside the Crab Shack on the Back Beach at Teignmouth.

Auckland Castle in the centre of Bishop Auckland, is fast becoming a museum rather than the home of the Bishops of Durham as it had been for centuries. Yesterday as part of their Tudor exhibition they presented a lecture on costumes worn by Henry the Eighth and the ladies of the Court.

Julia with her husband

The Grandeur of Queen Elizabeth 1st

 It turned out to be a spell-binding account of their clothes and their lives, given by Julia Soare-McCormick, a real enthusiast who had graduated in Theatre Design from both Sunderland and Nottingham universities and had also sewn every garment worn by the four manikins as well as by her husband playing the role of Henry the Eighth; who at 6’1”tall had towered above the rest of the population.

 The clothes were all magnificent; perfect in every detail from the jewels and gold-thread that decorated the rich top garments to the cotton chemises worn against the skin.  Interwoven with all this, Julia told of their lives and executions with details surely not heard before.

I can now recommend two more delightful cafes.  One in Craster; the other in Alnmouth, two beautiful villages on the Northumbrian coast.

Even on damp spring days these places are picturesque and entrancing.

The Fish restaurant, overlooking Craster’s tiny harbour, offers unusual and delicious meals.  With a view of the harbour outside and artists’ impressions of the sea inside, it is well worth visiting.  

Dandelion café close to the sea at Alnmouth is light and cheerful and serves tea in individual green pots complete with strainer and striped cup all on a wooden platter. Also soup and sandwiches and light meals. Another special place.

The Tiny harbour opposite the Fish Cafe.

Craster Village