Still being blown away.

Mutterings continued.

In spite of all the rain, I've had to water the potplants on the balcony as the winds have dried them out. The flat looks like a bomb has hit it (hmmmmm, that's a thought) as I've decided to do a spot of spring cleaning. The cats are perplexed and having a great time investigating areas behind the furniture that don't normally see the light of day. I expect to find at least a dozen of Gus's ping pong balls.

The car is in for a service and I've had call from the garage saying that the brakes need work ($170, thank you) and the rocker cover thingie needs replacing (that'll be another $30, ta).

This time last year:

Staying just south of the Scottish border in Berwick Upon Tweed at the stunning Clovelly B and B (only 22 quid a night - bargain!). The landlady is Scottish, her husband is called Rocky and isn't Scottish. Huge twin room with sitting area, Evelyn and Crabtree in the bathroom and porridge for breakfast.

On the way to Berwick we stopped at Barter's Bookshop which resides in a converted Victorian railway station near Alnwick (pron. Annick). I bought a copy of The Hollow Crown and watched the model trains chuff along the top of the bookcases. The books are housed in 3 large rooms and there are a number of small reading rooms on the side which have leather sofas, fireplaces and tables with chess boards.



A huge mural of authors overlooks the centre room.