Thursday 15 July 2021

A beautiful day on Lindisfarne ~ Wednesday July 14th, 2021


...to which Julia and I both took our umbrellas, jumpers and jackets, to ensure that the temperature would stay at around 23 degrees with scarcely a cloud in the sky, all day.  It works, try it!


We took this one to send to my friend Amy, as she came with me on my original research trip for my books UK2 and Lindisfarne, and took some wonderful photos for me.  Love the hazy quality around the castle. ðŸ˜ƒ


I felt as if I was walking through my books, most of the time; I'd think, ah, that was where Heath and Cleary went to hide from the invaders, that's where Wedge killed the Kaiser, and I'm standing right where Lottie was when she saw Dex and Rowan kissing in the hallway of the hotel...).

For those who don't know, Lindisfarne (or Holy Island) is a tidal island off the north east coast of England, only a stone's throw from Scotland.  There is a high tide twice a day, when the sea comes in and covers the long causeway, thus cutting the island off.

It's magical and I wish I could live there. 



My spiritual home!


Sadly couldn't go inside the castle because it was pre-book only, 
and I'm far too rock 'n' roll to do anything that organised.



(Above: Lindisfarne Hotel, where Rowan was in charge of the stores!)



In the lime kilns, behind the castle



~~

The Priory.  As ever, I wandered round and imagined what it must have been like for those monks looking out to sea and seeing all those longships heading their way, not knowing who they were or what mayhem they would cause. 

The priory was founded by St Aidan in 634AD.  In 793, the first significant Viking raid took place; there had been others, but this one 'attacked the sacred heart of the Northumbrian kingdom, desecrating 'the very place where the Christian religion began in our nation" (English Heritage).







The sky really was this colour :)








And when you spot that village called Rock on the way home, 
it's got to be done.....

(yes, we asked the taxi driver to take it, and yes we're both over 60!)









15 comments:

  1. Brilliant, Terry. It's hard to believe, as I write, that this time yesterday, that was what we were doing. Thank you for suggesting it, it was wonderful.

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    1. I have got a very nice suntan on the bit of my legs below the bottom of my leggings, down to my socks!!

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  2. What a wonderful day and the last picture is brilliant! So glad that you had fun.

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  3. These are fabulous photos! Looks like an amazing time. I'm thrilled that you got to go. What a gorgeous area. I was hoping you would blog your day. And keep rockin' on.

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    1. Thought you would like to see them - so lucky with the weather, too! Just wish we could have stayed longer, but the tide would have been in an hour later.

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  4. Love this, Terry! One of my absolute favourite places. Last time we went the abbey ruins had to be pre booked too, which we didn't realise so could only walk round the outside.
    Love the last pic...rock on!

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    1. Oh, we climbed over the wall...! Did so a few years back, without realising that you had to pay to see the Priory, and no one noticed, so did it again this time. I did pay the other two times I've been, honest! But they were both in the winter, so I wanted to spend time in the museum; thus, it was worth it. This time, the weather was too nice to want to be indoors.

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    2. You naughty girl 😉 Yes, it was a gorgeous day. Looking forward to making a return visit in the not too distant future.

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  5. What a fabulous trip! And the two of you look great :-D Keep rockin'!!

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    1. Well, thank you kindly! And we don't so much rock as tilt gently, these days!

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  6. This was a great fun read, thanks for the smiles on a gloomy wintry day here. I can imagine you feeling like walking through your books. Especially love that last photo :)

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    1. We actually asked the taxi driver to take that one! Happily he was a good laugh and most obliging!!

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  7. What brilliant pictures. And I remember the scenes from the books and wish I could take your guided tour!! It is the most fabulous beach by the castle, isn't it? Glad you had such a great day out.

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    1. Thanks, D! Was so good to get out there (and pretend to be Lottie in my head!!) x

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