Looking After Molly Weasley in Newcastle

We have been in Newcastle since Sunday 14th August looking after Fiona's cat Molly Weasley while the family are all in Holland. On Wednesday we visited this old Coal Bing near Crammlington called Northumberlandia. Its on the site of an old Opencast Mine and the bing has been landscaped to form a lovely park. These photos have not uploaded in the order taken but cover the period Monday to Thursday.

From the highest point you can see the pharmaceutical factory of Mercke Sharpe & Dohme (MSD) and over my working life from about 1998 to 2008 I must have visited this factory over 50 times. We flew MSD pharmaceuticals all over the Middle East for 10 years. They were a super customer to deal with and we enjoyed a great relationship with them. The account was with Wilson Logistics (UK)Ltd and then moved with me to EMS Cargo (Carlisle)Ltd.

Another part of Northumberlandia.

We also visited Newbiggin-By-The-Sea and the weather was beautiful. We had spent a week here a year ago and loved the place. When we arrived the beach had just been swept clean by the local council and it was immaculate. The hat Gaye is wearing was bought in Los Gatos California in 2019 for $1 from a charity shop. It has been very useful this summer. 

Another view of MSD. The area where the machines are working is a huge extension of Nortumberlandia where they are going to create another 9Km of walks and plant 88,000 trees.

On Monday we visited St. Mary's Isle near Whitly Bay. There were loads of Starlings about.

Having a paddle at Newbiggin-By-The-Sea.

This rock on the beach was left after the ice age

St. Mary's Lighthouse

From the highest point on Northumberlandia.

Morning Coffee at Cullercoats

The beach at Newbiggin-By-The-Sea 

St Mary's Lighthouse. As the tide was out there were loads of rock pools for kids to look for Crabs in

This is Molly Weasley. It took a couple of days for her to get used to me but now she follows me everywhere. She sleeps at the bottom of our bed and at about 6.00am comes and sits next to me and then purrs for a while while she gets stroked. 

The causeway to St. Mary's Lighthouse with loads of kids exploring the Rock Pools

Another view of Newbiggin-By-The-Sea beach.

 

A Visit to Holy Isle and Alnwick and then a Promenade Walk

Its 5 years since we last visited Holy Isle and then we stayed overnight. Today we arrived at 10.30am thinking it would be fairly quiet as the schools started in Northumberland today. It was mobbed and the causeway would close at 1.45pm but when we left at 12.46pm there were still people coming over. I am willing to bet there were people stranded today.

There were Starlings everywhere.

The harbour area with the ruined Abbey behind. 

The main street.

Upturned boats now used as sheds.

Lindisfarne Castle but we did not go along there as there were just too many people. 

Gaye enjoying a seat beside the harbour but she had forgotten Suntan lotion and was in danger of burning so we did not linger for long. 

On our way back we stopped for a walk round Alnwick and Gaye managed to buy something at a Charity shop so was very happy. 

Back home in Newbiggin I finished off the day with a 3 mile promenade walk. The beautiful Sailing Yacht was anchored in the bay.

Looks like they had come to rescue the young couple stranded on the breakwater 

High tide and this fisherman was having no luck.

More Starlings. At night they seem to roost in the big church on the headland.

Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Bay

The Crew having a swim.

 

Day 2 and 3 in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea

A visit to Amble on Sunday to see the Market next to the Harbour. The tide was almost fully in so there was plenty going on. We enjoyed a Coffee and a Crab Sandwich.

My walk on Monday morning and the inshore Lifeboat had just arrived back from a trip to sea.

Monday morning walk along the Coastal Path south and some spectacular cliffs

Amble harbour on Sunday afternoon

More cliffs on my Monday morning walk

Newbiggin harbour area at low tide

The estuary of the river Aln on Sunday afternoon at high tide

 Our new Toyota Yaris Hybrid parked next to the Beach at Alnmouth

Gaye enjoying her Coffee and Crab Sandwich at Amble

Some Poppies in the sand on my Monday morning walk

Market Stalls at Amble

 

Our First 24 Hours in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea

We arrived on Saturday afternoon and within an hour I was walking along the 1 mile promenade and then back along there shoreline of the beach. 

It is a really nice promenade and the houses are not fancy but look nice and affordable. In The Times last weekend Newbiggin-by-the-Sea was described as one of the most affordable seaside places in England, although that will push prices up.

This is a most unusual statue of a young couple looking out to sea. 

Looking across to the Maritime Centre and the Church

Just off the promenade is a lovely central area with cafe's and a Bandstand

A smaller version of the sea statue beside the promenade.

 

Sunday morning and after breakfast I am off for a walk beside the Golf Course and Caravan park

It's low tide and this fisherman is trying his luck from the rocks. No coastal erosion here.

In the distance at the furthermost end of the Golf Course is a Power Station

No beach looks it's best at low tide but when the tide is in this will be quite nice.

The path next to the Caravan Site but it petered out and I had to turn back and then go along by the Golf Course.

The Golf Clubhouse. There were loads of Golfers on the course this morning so its very popular. I am not a golfer but it looked a bit dull compared to some of the Links courses in Scotland. 

The rocky foreshore

Another view of the Power Station

The beach next to the Power Station