Fiona and I had a great urban ramble around Newcastle today and a mini ramble in Durham City. There was a cool breeze blowing in Newcastle. The tide was rushing in up the Tyne past the Kittiwakes and their fledglings perched on the Tyne Bridge. We walked along the Ouseburn River path with   the new buildings pushing up nicely and then to the Biscuit Factory art gallery to see the  landscape art of Julie Dumbarton. The heads up to see her work came from my FB mate David Forte who runs the fantabulous Larrys Lodge B n B  at Keswick in the Lake District . Mrs Dumbartons work is exceptionally  good and worth having a look at . A Costa coffee cool down slurping a crushed ice cappuccino was had before heading off to Durham to meet Miles and Clifford at the great Inshanghai eating emporium. After food wolfing was done we went  back home to  two episodes of the WW2 miniseries the Pacific. I've got another song written so that has to be recorded this weekend . I'm back on the tune trail now some family problems and potentialities have been sorted. I never forget that love is a rose that has thorns as well but I will never give up growing roses. Scratches and all !

Yesterday I had a beautiful day out in York with my family. We met up again with Verona a lady from Berlin who we did a big Yorkshire Dales tour and walks last Thursday. We paddled around York in the rain visiting churches and snickleways. Verona really enjoyed seeing the bits of York  she had not seen before. She has been regularly visiting the city since the mid 80s. As we walked up Birdcage Walk heading back into town for tea we met, joy of joys, Emily Peattie and Toni Maynor two fine ladies I knew really well from the 80s but had not seen  since 1996. The last time they had seen Miles and Clifford they were 4 and 1! It was a beautiful experience seeing them and they were as friendly as ever. Verona is going to do some trips out with us again next year when she holiday's in York again.  A very beautiful day out.