Mr M has generously shared his cold with me, so I’m glad I went to visit Hopetown Museum yesterday, as I won’t be participating in any of the 200th anniversary celebrations this weekend. 🤧🫩🤒 How profoundly railways changed the world & the experience of being human. It all began 200 years ago today.

Could resist bunking off work for a couple of hours this afternoon to visit the #Hopetown Museum in Darlington whilst the replica of Locomotion No. 1 was there and in steam. 😍 Such an iconic anniversary to those of us with a soft spot for railways or steam locomotives. #SDR200

Not great footage as taken from a live feed, but sharing for any steam engine enthusiasts among my friends. This is a replica of Locomotion No. 1, working part of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Tomorrow marks the 200th anniversary of the first commercial public railway journey in the world.

Absolutely tired out today after successful day-trip to York yesterday. Thanks all for your kind posts regarding the anxiety I felt about travelling alone, prior to the trip. It was fine on the whole, felt a bit panicky in very noisy/busy York station, but coped ok. xx

My knees are knocking a bit about tomorrow. It will be the first time I’ve travelled anywhere (other than very local/familiar stuff eg supermarket) on my own for years. But I really want to see my friends! I hope I don’t wimp out at the last minute. 🫣

Please can any of my friends recommend a good, quiet pub or restaurant in central #York for lunches? I’m supposed to be meeting friends tomorrow, but having to change venue last minute due to Mr M being too unwell with Man-Flu to take me. Going by train on my own instead and am a bit nervous.

Making the most of walks beside the river Wear after work while the evenings are still light enough to do so! Today, our walk took us past the site of a former medieval hospital at Kepier. Saw a kingfisher darting down the river and later, bats. I love my adopted city so much. 😊

I know some of my friends on here are keen on steam trains, so I’m sharing the enclosed from Instagram for anyone interested. I’ll be working, sadly, but hope others might get some lovely photos! xx “The iconic titan of steam is due to arrive at approximately 2.20pm tomorrow under her own steam.”

Ambled along the river in Durham today to see how full it was after the rain and to enjoy the start of the autumn colour (equinox tomorrow!). River a frothy chocolate-brown colour. I can’t seem to upload video clips to Blue Sky any longer, which is a shame.

Had rather a fun walk around #WaldridgeFell this afternoon. Nobody there, pouring with rain and we managed to get lost. But what an interesting area of lowland heath, a habitat that’s increasingly rare in the UK - and, indeed, in the world. I loved it. Will definitely be back. 😊

Mr M called me into the study this evening and this is what I saw! It turns out that his new keyboard has moving disco lights on it. This was unknown to either of us in the shop. We have no idea how to turn them off. 😂

Today’s the day. 😊 #snowdrops I don’t tend to have a lot of luck with snowdrops. They’re expensive to buy and I get a high failure rate, with bulbs either being eaten or drying out and not coming up. Am planting these now and hoping for more success this time. #gardening

Really pleased with how colourful my rather tangled border of flowers looks at the moment. Glowing in the sun and the bees are bustling about! Was definitely worth the effort of digging the new border out of the massively heavy clay last winter! 😍 #gardening

I missed #rosewednesday yesterday, but never mind, because now it’s a day closer to the weekend and Crocus Rose is smiling in the sunshine. 😊 #roses

My #sunflower has a little message for everyone today. 😊 xx 🌻💛 #LoveNeverFails

Had a walk around the Croxdale Hall estate today. Parkland starting to look a little autumnal. The estate & Hall have been owned by the same family since 1402. It’s lovely agricultural countryside, but upkeep must cost a fortune.

50 seconds of Byer’s Hole cove near Newcastle upon Tyne. xx 😊

Chippy tea! 😊

Have put the central heating on tonight and I’ll bet I’m not the only one. Dog has burrowed deep in a blanket. Rainy and windy outside. Proper autumnal evening. 🍂

Saw this and thought of you @mrsmhere.bsky.social heheh

Decided to delete my earlier posts about a certain sad individual, and be the better person.

#RoseWednesday Some more #roses from our trip to Wynyard Hall rose garden (near Stockton on Tees, NE England) last weekend. There is a large arboretum there as well, and a kitchen garden. 😊 (Names in the alt text). xx

Heehee! #TheArchers

Well, it appears my complaint to Octopus has paid off. The sizeable refund they owed me has been quietly transferred back into the bank account this afternoon. They expected me to wait until the 18th to receive my refund. Complaining has seen it returned within 48 hours. 🤨

What’s your favourite #gardening job? Mine is definitely planting spring-flowering bulbs. 😊 You have to do it several months ahead of when they’re to flower, so it’s like popping hope into the ground. 😊

Our giant sunflowers are still flowering and v popular with the bees. 😊 Hoping we can escape nighttime frosts for another few weeks, to enjoy sunflowers for as long as possible. In other news, Octopus have received a formal written complaint. They’re now blaming the bank for the refund delay. 🙄

This is a #rose I fell in love with in the rose gardens we visited yesterday. Luckily for our bank balance, the shop didn’t have any in stock! 😆 This is Susan Williams-Ellis. A snowy white rose. 😍

A few more photos from #WynyardHall yesterday. The names of the #roses are in the alt text. xx

Had a lovely wander round the rose gardens & arboretum at #WynyardHall this afternoon. The rain held off; just as well as the main hotel was hosting a wedding, guests dressed up to the nines. The wedding photos will be fabulous in such a setting. Hope the bride & groom had a wonderful day. 😊 #roses

Our tallest sunflower plant has been measured today, using the reluctant Mr M as a yardstick. We reckon it’s about 12 or 13 feet! 😊

Not impressed with Octopus at all. If thinking of moving to a different supplier, I *strongly* recommend you obtain return of any credit balance b4 initiating move. Octopus are deliberately delaying issue of final bill in order to hang onto several hundred pounds of my money. V poor.

Had a lovely wander along the beach this evening after Mr M finished work. Picked up lots of sea glass. I feel so lucky. I love living here. 😊

Bought 5 plants in total! Aster frikartii, Japanese anemone, hypericum, helenium, and a fuchsia that looks distinctly unwell and which I probably shouldn’t have paid full price for. Oh well. 😜 #gardening

Half-day off work today so… Off to the garden centre for a lovely browse. Heehee! #gardening

First delivery of BULBS!! 😍😍😍😍 #gardening

Spotted another special offer on spring bulbs and am planning a splurge! Sarah Raven isn’t cheap but bulbs are gorgeous. 😍 She curates collections that go together colour-wise & flower at right time. Takes some of the guesswork out of fab display for novice gardeners! www.sarahraven.com/all-bulbs

#GardensHour #SixWeeksofColour My pink contributions: Phlox ‘Crème Brûlée and roses ‘Mill on the Floss,’ ‘Blue Eyes’ and ‘Eustacia Vye.’ 😊

Hello #GardensHour! Let’s round off #SixWeeksOfColour with a celebration of all things pink in your gardens. What have you got?

Rang my old dad this evening to see how he & my stepmother are settling into their new abode. He says he’s been putting up antique chandelier in new sitting room. He’s nearly 80 with heart problems, but thinks he’s still 30 and immortal. Got v cross with me when gently reminded to be careful! 😆

An hour ago, weather app said only 30% chance of rain, so of course I put my washing out on the line; and now of course it’s raining heavily. 😖 @chrisworthing.bsky.social I should’ve profited by your near-identical experience the other day, shouldn’t I? 😖

37 seconds of #RiverWear in late summer. 🥰 xx

I recommend East Grange Farm’s sunflower field for a visit, if you’re in the Durham area over the weekend. We had a lovely time after work yesterday, wandering among the sunflowers and watching the bees. 😊 xx

Other work of the Ladybird artists. Shell Guide, 1955. ‘August’ Artists: Edith Hilder, Rowland Hilder

Bumblebees instinctively know how to escape from a spider’s web! If caught, they are still for a short while, to avoid spidery notice. Then, slowly, carefully, they use their legs to disentangle themselves. I’ve watched 2 different bees successfully use the same technique today. Clever bumbles. 😊

Have you ever watched a bumble bee navigating a snapdragon flower? They clamber right inside to get to the goodies. It’s so lovely to watch. 😍🐝

My #roses today seem to be very pleased with the showery weather lately. 😊

Here’s the link to T&M’s spring bulb packs for £3 offer, should anyone wish to partake! I’ve ordered some for my new garden and saved quite a lot of dosh with this offer. xx #gardening www.thompson-morgan.com/TMFB922W

Hope I’ve done a sensible thing: I’ve just signed us up for a 2-year fixed rate on our energy bills. The unit rates are slightly higher than we’re paying now, but I’m hoping we’ll gain through the daily standing charge not increasing. What do you think, @chrisworthing.bsky.social? You’re the guru! 😉

My borage is starting to go over now, and the bees have begun to forage on the other flowers provided for them. This beautiful bumble seems to favour the pot of Bidens outside our back door - she’s been on them a lot today. 😊

Our team recently came across these beautiful drawings of wild flowers in Libya. They were made by Jocelyn Russell in 1940s. Her Mechanised Transport Corps was stationed in North Africa during WWII and it was during this time that she made illustrations of the plants she saw. #KewLA #Wildflowers