DDD goes to University.... or Durham, here we come!

Friday morning started dull and rainy. Stormy in fact and we drove North...
Or rather, the ex-husband drove - I sat in the back and DDD sat in the front of the car. The weather was atrocious and the journey took about 7 hours. When we reached Durham we were rewarded with this... see photograph below and hopefully a good omen for the next three years of her Undergraduate life. Next morning we were up bright and early as was the sun ... What a difference a day makes... Durham Cathedral and the castle to the right.

Daughter, smiling even though I know inwardly a little nervous.

River Wear.

Old flagstones and cobblestones on the roads.

Entrance to the castle.

The Cathedral and quandrant in front of it.

Beautiful buildings... think this is early Regency.

Again, another shot of the cathedral. Apparently some scenes from Harry Potter movies were filmed around here in Durham - not sure which film but if it seems a little familiar then you know why!

And finally above. This is where I hope DDD will be spending much of her time as a diligent student!!

I have to admit to feeling pretty miserable today. Only to be expected I guess and I hope that she is enjoying the start of her University life with a fun "freshers' week".....

September day in the English countryside

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my previous post about my parents' move.


They were very touched....... All is progressing well and whilst I did not come back to UK from Oz specifically for their move - (am here to settle dearest daughter into University in a week's time) I am extremely glad to be here whilst their move is happening. Contracts were exchanged yesterday and it will all happen in six days. In fact I am writing this post from their house after another day helping out. Mr SE has turned his hand to disconnecting dishwashers, washing machines etc. and taking down shelves too. However, Mr SE leaves early tomorrow morning back to Australia (via the Grand Prix in Singapore)..... Phew! On to our day yesterday in the sunshine. Mr SE's mother came to visit and we went out for lunch to a lovely pub in the countryside - photo above.

The food arrived on boards. Mine photographed below and the MIL's above... however, the MIL did not like the fact that it arrived "on a bread board" and declared it to be unhygienic. We told her it was known as "presentation".

Mine were freshly grilled sardines on toast with a green olive tapenade.

Photos above and below of the garden at the pub.

Afterwards we went for a walk alongside the canal.

The canal climbs a steep gradient and a series of locks were completed in 1810. An AMAZING engineering feat which fascinated Mr SE no end.

Each lock is numbered.... love the old fashioned numbering.

Looking back at the at the 21 locks up the hill....

Gorgeous old brick bridge over the canal....

We saw this barge (or narrow boat as they are sometimes called) navigate through a lock....

At the end of the day the MIL returned on the train. All in all a lovely day in the sunshine.

Checking out a University (and a great shop on the return journey)

Sorry (again!) to post so late in the day but I have just returned from a trip to the county of Warwickshire and the University of Warwick in the heart of Shakespeare's country..... Dearest, Darling, Daughter and I went up yesterday to stay wtih a friend in Stratford Upon Avon and this morning drove the 20 mins or so from there to Warwick University as it is one on her 'list'........

I thought it was great. Well set out campus, good facilities, modern (maybe not so beautiful though) buildings, plenty of green spaces, reasonable student acommodation on campus and a great Arts Building too... However, - when will I ever learn that to say that I like something immediately puts the 'kiss of death' on it in her mind??!
Ah well, maybe it will NOT be on the list much longer - her father is taking her to see Durham University next week... watch this space!

However, on the return journey we stopped at this lovely place this afternoon (first photo) - great antiques and full of gorgeous Emma Bridgewater pottery too - check it out on www.emmabridgewater.co.uk. (Some of which is shown on an antique dresser there - her Union Jack range and her Starry Skies range - second photograph). They also stocked the most wonderful array of Belgian Linen too.....(I'm afraid I gave in to the Linen and bought two beautiful pillowcases - will post a pic. very soon) ....
A demain...