We are so lucky to walk here

I was with the Haltwhistle Intermediate Walkers today. We set off from Wark and took the riverside path through the bluebells (see extra).

After coffee by the riverside, we turned away from the water and climbed gradually uphill to the village of Birtley. It's very lush and green. Sheep and cows were enjoying their grub and I think the farmers have been able to stop supplementary feeding now.

The walk back down to Wark affords lovely views over the North Tyne Valley. The promised rain never came. It was a bit chilly and I wore a woolly hat all the way. 

We were in the garden at the Battlesteads pub for drinks afterwards.

Perhaps you had to be there, but Julie's new induction hob was christened the deductive hob by me. Brian misheard and wondered what the seductive hob was. We will never be able to call it an induction hob again. (Julie planned to boil potatoes tonight as she gets to grips with the seductive technology!)

Tonight, the Hay Literary Festival opened and I saw most of the gala performance which consisted of readings by a variety of famous authors and poets.