I escaped…..Annabel having a networking meeting, and then, in the afternoon rightly paying her pentience for the use of her sisters’ flat, by working in the local Bowe Sports & Leisurewear – a very good Dunbar store, for all of those fashion, sports and clothing needs I will say. This meant I had an opportunity…

Sums up the day. We had agreed a working day, to give ourselves a chance to catch up – we then also decided to try some of the local fish and chips, and relax in the flat. Feet up, I even attempted to do some sketching….a relaxing day.

Dunbar is a few miles up the coast from Skateraw and Annabel’s family have a lot of connections in the town. We were kindly offered the use of Annabel’s sister’s flat for a few days, which would give everyone a chance to catch up. So Tuesday saw us doing the short drive from Greenlaw to…

Monday I had a cunning plan, sadly the plan went of the rails in a work led way. While Annabel went into Kelso, I hoped to get some jobs done, and then go off to explore the local area. However, a hours job turned into a nightmare of slow broadband, updates and grumpy computers….but we…

Sunday was very much about memories and family time, as Annabel caught up with her mum, dad and sisters. For me it was a chance to explore a bit more of the beach and locations that mean a lot to Annabel’s family. Inparticular, this included the beach at Skateraw where family holidays camping were enjoyed.…

If you can’t be inspired with a drive up the east coast from Newcastle to Scotland, there is something missing. The strong imposing hills of the Northumberland national park carve the horizon on your left, or if you are fortunate to have the time and weather, turn a drive into an exciting set of hills,…

We had driven just behind Storm Babet on the way north, but at Houghton-Le-Spring we were well and truly in her skirt tails. Rain and high-winds meant my planned trip to Beamish was off, due to a power cut, and instead Annabel and I found ourselves making the most of the time working for various…

Thursday, 6 days after arriving into Otley, it was time for us to venture north towards Houghton-le-Spring, but not without taking in some interesting locations on the way. Avoiding the main roads at all cost, our first stop was the delightful town of Knaresborough in north Yorkshire. It is hard to imagine a town that…

Wednesday, and we decided to make the most of our National Trust membership and visit East Riddlesden Hall in Keighley. This meant a fun trip over Ilkley moor, which sits between Otley and Keighley. The drive over the moors was an enjoyable set of sweeping bends along open roads, boarded by the rich green of…

Fourth day, and we both accepted the fact we had to work, at least sometimes :-). Our lifestyle may have changed, but nothing comes free. Morning spent staring at computer screens, before Annabel and I escaped the confines of the world of IT problems, and social media. A drive with no real direction led us…