Sic transit gloria machinae (Not So-OK Computer)

Our little house in Haltwhistle is now up for sale. It's an ex-council house (which we've owned for five years) and we will be very sorry to leave here. Our neighbours are marvellous and the house is very warm and cosy!

Above: A view over to Haltwhistle Burn out of one of our side windows.

My computer (laptop) finally crumbled and gave up the ghost a few days ago (BTW just read Robert Harris' book "The Ghost" and thoroughly recommend it). It is one of the many reasons why I have not been blogging. Using hubbie's laptop at present. New one is on the way hurrah!

Above: More great views of Hadrian's Wall. I'm trying to remember which "lough" it is. I think it is Crag Lough pronounced "loff" (lake) and "crag"(obviously).

I've written the above in italics. My husband has pointed out (since I originally wrote the post) that it is the view of the Wall overlooking Cawfield Quarry. You can see the cars parked on the other side of the quarry.

Above: Another view of our B&B, on the borders of Northumberland/Cumbria. It is literally a stone's throw from Hadrian's Wall. It is also on The Pennine Way. The ruins of Thirlwall Castle, a Reiver Castle, (its stones are Roman) is hiding behind the trees on the right.

We are also looking into setting up language courses (Spanish, French, Italian and Latin) to run alongside the B&B. I've also started language tutoring - Spanish GCSE... (which is marginally like the "old" style O-Level Course).

We popped down to London at half term to see friends and relatives. I started to write a post a few days ago about being in London but lost the lot. (Stop press! There may some saved. It has been...it is below. Some repetition but never mind.) I was reminiscing about my College days in North London - Hampstead. I also got to go to the Language Fair at Olympia, Kensington, where I picked up some great ideas and tips. The marvellous chap on the Greek and Latin stand (www. latinandgreekforall.co.uk) was most helpful. Minimus and Cambridge Latin Course here I come!

We have had such a superb Summer welcoming guests. Plus there are always lots of meetings to go to. Such as the one the other night over at The Corbridge Angel Pub (this pub is very up-market....not really to my taste...I prefer The Wallace Arms) I did get to meet some German archaeology and tourism delegates from LIMES (the ancient German Roman Empire Frontier)...and Lindsey Allison-Jones and Paul Bidwell. The latter two are great scholars and teachers of all things to do with Hadrian's Wall.

The Volunteer Guides for Hadrian's Wall in the Tynedale area, of which I am one (a bona fide Yellow Badge Institute of Tourism Guide), have been shortlisted for "The Pride of Tynedale Awards" which is being held this Friday at Hexham Race Course. I've also been invited along to the Lunch Awards Ceremony so I'm dusting down my best frock and royal blue "Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd." fleece!

Yes. I know. I owe you lots of stuff. Promises. Promises. One of these days I might surprise you and it will all be here.

P.S. If you want to know more about Whitley Castle (an un-dug-up-Roman fort called Epiacum) and the joys of it. Look at a leaflet about it here at this website: http://www.northpennines.org.uk/ It is a downloadable PDF file.