Sweet

Final cleaning and tidying this morning before the estate agent arrived to take photos and to measure the rooms in the flat. It's all beginning to seem a bit surreal!

After he'd left neither of us could settle down to do anything, and decided on a trip out. MrM suggested a walk at Sidwood.
Access to many woods in north Northumberland is still restricted since Storm Arwen ripped through them last November, as the Forestry Commission and land owners are still clearing huge numbers of fallen and dangerous trees. But the website indicated that some of the trails through Sidwood are open again. The first trail we tried to access, from the footpath near Black Middens Bastle, was blocked at a bridge which has been deemed unsafe. So we retraced our steps, then followed the road to the next entrance to the woods. One of the trails there was closed due to storm damage. We followed the other trail for a very short distance, but there was lots of forestry work going on, and views were of fallen trees and vast, desolate areas where the land had been cleared.

So we headed back to the van, picking hazel nuts along the way. By the time we reached the main entrance to Sidwood it was too late for a proper walk, but at least we established that the trails there are open!

We stopped at the Redesdale Arms and treated ourselves to a meal. during which we decided to organise a second viewing of the house in Thirsk. It would be ideal, and was still listed as 'for sale' this morning. But this evening, it's Sold Subject to Contract...
C'est la vie!

This sheep stood and watched as we walked towards her on the footpath. Thought she has a very sweet face.