The Grange

On our way north, we stopped in Alnwick (just north of Newcastle and sounds like Anick) at Barter Books to have a bit of lunch and a look at the book store built inside an old train station. I couldn't understand the Geordie accent of the young man taking our order, so Kirsty had to help out. He lost me at "brown" when asking about brown or white bread.

Trains run on an elevated track around the store. This Santa Fe engine reminded me of the Santa Fe train depot in San Diego.

One of three posters designed to boost morale after the start of WWII. This one was not intended to be displayed unless Germany invaded England. Since the invasion didn't happen, most people never saw this poster, and most all were destroyed in 1945. An original poster was found in the bottom of a box of old books bought by auction by Barter Books in 2000. This is the original poster and is so quintessentially British.

We found a wonderful little cottage in Dolphinton, Scotland (about 20 miles southwest of Edinburgh) for our next adventure. Araminta and Charles have converted what appears to have been a barn into a very nice place to hang one's hat.
A couple of pictures before the renovation:

Driveway up to the house from the gate at the road's end.

Love the green!

View to the pond with rowboat.

View of the garage/barn and Araminta's house.

Our front door.

View from front door to garage/barn.

 View to the right from the front door.

View to the left from the front door (towards Araminta's house).

View from the back garden to our conservatory.

View from the back garden towards the fields.

 The conservatory.

 Bedroom.

 Kirsty reading the Observer Sunday paper. Nothing like reading the Observer on a Sunday morning!

Kitchen with the fabulous Rayburn oil heater and stove!

 Chickens all about and the eggs are divine.

Shetland Ponies. I can ride one if I want my legs to touch the ground.

The drive up here was a beautiful thing, especially since Kirsty drove. After driving all over Italy, it was nice to be able to look around without worrying about driving off a cliff or into another car. Besides, they drive on the wrong side of the road here.

Peace to you all my friends!