U.K. a start

We're on holiday, the 4 of us together! at the very last moment, i.e. the moment we finally booked the ferry and sleeping accommodations, our eldest decided he did want to join us on our trip to the U.K.
We arrived Saturday morning in Newcastle on the overnight ferry, drove North (after a slight detour through Gateshead in search of a particular type of coat which could only be bought in this particular store, which turned out wasn't where it was supposed to be, for our friend who's looking after Django) and had a stroll along Hadrian's wall (we even walked on it, until I saw a sign which kindly requested one to refrain from doing exactly that, to avoid further damaging the 2000 year old wall)
I was so excited about this whole walk I suggested to my husband we do the entire walk on a holiday in the near future and bless him he said Yes!

vandals 1,2,and 3, me being number 4

pretty windy, however it remained dry

friendly encounters along the way; speaking of which, at the visitor's centre where we had a cuppa tea, the two counter ladies were pouring their friendliness all over us, with their 'that'll be three pound twenty luv' and 'there you go luv', 'if you want luv' you can take a free poster today luv' 'goodbye now luv' have a nice day luv'' well if you don't feel loved after that I don't know when you will

after our first day and worn out from the drive, walk, wind and excitement we finally arrived at our first stop in Edmundbyers, a youth hostel where we shared a room and had a scrumptious meal at the Punch Bowl Pub just across the road. Great first day.
day number two saw us driving through the grouse moors where we did indeed spot lots of grouse and we drove all the way to Scotland, Galloway and Dumfries in the SouthWest to be precise for our second more luxurious stopover at the Argrennan Lodge:

which we gladly shared with this nest of house martins, very cute

grand walk around the estate and below in the walled garden, I was not alone for I was accompanied by Merton the jack russell who followed me around most faithfully - we also watched Federer-Djokovic Wimbledon men's final -