On my doorstep

Whenever I go anywhere new, on holidays, short breaks or visits to other parts of the country or world I always do my research, find places I want to go, have a list of things to do, get to know a bit about the place. 

This year I am definitely going to do more of that in my own home county.

I hate the word 'staycation' and I am a sun lover which is often the one thing you don't get right up north, but have vowed I will go out and about much more this year much closer to home. 

I am lucky enough to live in a beautiful part of the world, with oodles of history, amazing countryside, fabulous beaches and gorgeous places to go. 

So now is the time to start making more of this I've decided - and this week I took advantage of the sunny weather.

All this just over half an hour's drive up the road from where I live. Sometimes you forget what's right under your nose.

Portrait of Northumberland

I love mooching through secondhand shops for books. Despite the groaning book shelves and towering 'to read' pile already at home I can't resist bringing more back. I recently found a real gem, a copy of Portrait of Northumberland by Nancy Ridley, first published in 1965, in excellent condition. The Ridleys are one of the oldest families from the great county I now call home. Nancy was passionate about this area, she was born, lived most of her life and died here.

I can't wait to get into the book, written by such an enthusiastic, knowledgeable local lady. It'll be intriguing to see what's changed (first thing I notice is the county map looking a little bigger in those days than it is today!) but also to read about things that haven't changed.

Putting it out there

On a previous post It's alright to write I mused on why I don't feel like  a writer - not published, no readers etc - and about the need to feel validated by others. Well I guess if you don't get your writing out there it will never have the opportunity to be read by others, hence my new (and so innovative - haha!) approach which involves writing stuff I want to write and then putting it out there.

So I was rather pleased to see my first article appearing on a great new website and you can read it here
 Wild Birds at Arms Length