Last Day of our Family Holiday

On our last morning at the Holiday House in Seahouses I went with Fraser, Leslie and Elliot to the beach for a last walk. It involved crossing this stream on the way back and Leslie managed to get her feet wet.

Elliot took this photograph. If he had taken one more step back he would have fallen over the edge onto the beach

The Graham family. It's been such an enjoyable holiday with plenty of activities to keep our Californian family active. 

At the front entrance to The Jesmond Dean Hotel where we had a wonderful afternoon tea. We should have been at St. James Park to see Newcastle United play Manchester United but they changed the fixture to Sunday for TV purposes and by the time it starts Fraser and family will be flying over the Atlantic. It was a big disappointment to everybody.

The Afternoon Tea which was brilliantly presented and tasted wonderful. 

 

A Beach Walk at Low Newton

We headed to Low Newton for a 4 mile walk along the beach and back through the sand dunes. Gaye and Fraser only did the beach section as the dunes were too steep for Gaye. 

Fraser looked after Gaye and she enjoyed the beach walk as the tide was out and the sand nice and firm. It’s been a fabulous week and it’s so nice to be together as a family, especially with Fiona joining us as well. 

Leslie with our American grandchildren Eleanor and Elliot. Tommy is missing as he is on a school trip to Washington and New York.

Fiona and Leslie had a paddle in the North Sea

Among the sand dunes and Huts

After this Fraser and family went to Bamburgh Castle. This seat is the same seat their granny Sidne sat in on a visit in August 2016 as in photo below. Sadly she died three years ago but so loved her visits to UK

A Family trip to Farne Isles

On the boat to the Farne Isles with two of our grandchildren Elliot and Eleanor

The Graham family on Inner Farne

As its early in the season this was the only one sitting on a nest we saw.

The Puffins have only been here a few days and they are cleaning out their nesting burrows

Loads of Guillemot's

This was taken on Brittania in Leith on Wednesday. I have loads more photos of Farne but the Wi-Fi in our holiday house is not good and it takes an age to upload them.

 

Graham Family Kayaking on River Coquet

This Kayaking trip on the River Coquet was booked some time ago and we couldn’t have chosen a better day as the weather and tides were perfect.

Elliot and Leslie in the double one as he was only 10. He did really well and paddled for over 2 hours.

Fraser paddling like mad.

Some of the group setting out. There were 10 people on it plus 2 instructors who were excellent.

On the way back after over 2 hours.

Leslie and Elliot finishing. 

A visit to Alnwick Gardens

Our planned trip today was to Alnwick Gardens just 20 minutes down the coast. The weather was again magnificent and quite warm at times in the sheltered parts of the garden. This archway will be green in another week or so.

This is the Cherry Blossom orchard and it is just beginning to bloom. It will be beautiful in another week or so.

Gaye with Fiona and Fraser and loving every minute of being in their company.

Among the Daffodils

Another archway

Looking down from the top of the fountains

Grandson Elliot enjoying all the ponds and streams

These blue flowers looked great but the photograph does not do them justice.

The fountain display comes on at regular intervals but I missed it and didn’t bother to wait another half hour or longer for it to come on again. A lovely afternoon and everybody enjoyed themselves. Apologies as the photos are not larger but our Wi-Fi is not great and photos are slow in transferring to my Laptop so this blog is loaded from my phone.

A Visit to Cragside

Our plan today was to meet all our family at Cragside at 2.30pm and it worked perfectly. Fraser and family all had long lies except Fraser who had to pick up his hire car. They were still a bit jet lagged but the weather was beautiful so a good time was had by all. 

The lovely lake at Cragside

The view from the highest public room in the house

The stunning marble fireplace in the Gallery

Pride of place in the Gallery is this painting of Gilnockie Tower. Cragside was built by an Armstrong family and they were proud of their Border Reiver connections. So are the Graham family.

Elliot and Eleanor

A Hat Parade

Fiona with her American Nephew and Niece

In the basement where the bathrooms are plus a spa

A very posh bath. A most enjoyable day and so nice to have the family together again. Mario and Leo came from Newcastle as well but Mario is working next week and Leo is still at school as their holidays are later so they wont be able to join us at Seahouses for the rest of the week, but Fiona is staying with us and the American Graham's.

 

Arrival in Seahouses

We arrived in Seahouses and managed to get into our holiday rental 2 hours earlier than planned. Fraser and family arrived in Newcastle at 7.15pm and will stay with his big sister Fiona tonight and tomorrow we will all be together again. It’s a year since we were in California. We are on the Northumberland coast for a week now. This was my first walk along the beach just 5 minutes from our holiday house.

I was on the beach at 6.00pm and it was very cold but these surfers were having a great time.

I never know if this is called Gorse or Broom but I suppose it depends what part of the country you are in.

This tree outside our house is full of Starlings and they are making quite a noise.