Tomorrow – I’m playing at the following, at The Viper Rooms, Harrogate. Sounds like a top Harrogate night in the making! The venue where the mighty FIRE cut it’s teeth! (and a Sunday night to boot!)

Women Rock!
Line up… 6pm – 7pm Dj Dharma
7pm – 7.30pm Dave Dowson
7.30pm – 8.15pm – Lively Breakbeats from 601
8.15pm – 9pm – Thrash-a-billy punk metal ‘n’ roll from Stilletto Farm
9pm – 10pm – Experimental, progressive rock from Tunji
10pm – 10.40pm Dj Dharma, live beat box and rap.
10.45pm 11.40pm – 601 up the tempo!
11.45pm – 1pm – Electric Press, experimental digital dance music and dj duo.
Viper Rooms from 6pm Sunday 31st August

We’re off camping tonight – At Cayton near Scarborough. Nice sounding campsite.

We were ‘booked in’ to a campsite in Goathland called Brow House Farm. Our friends trecked up first from Harrogate (a not inconsiderable distance) to find that the camsite was full apart from a boggy field – not suitable at all for vans (or tents for that matter). The rest of the campsite was full. They had to turn back and we (2 other vans, 3 other tents) had to ‘tell the kids’ that we would not be going camping after all. Very upset. What a time waster. Left it too late to book anywhere else (nice weather reports combined with last weekend of the school holidays meaning all places were full – we were lucky to find a second option for tonight!)

Dunstanburgh Castle, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

View photo set of ‘Northumberland Aug ’08′ by clicking this>>

I’d been carting round this cartograph all week.. on the last day I used said map to work out which beach we should hang out at. This one looked like it had a view of a castle – I didn’t realise at the time it was the same castle (but shot from the other side) as the cover shot of the OS map.

We loved Northumberland. It’s a superb place to get away from it all. So few people, quiet roads, dramatic scenery and loads to see. It’s got more castles than anywhere else in the world. As well as about 1400 castles there’s Hadrians Wall, loads of folly constructions and earthworks, settlements, forts and bastles.. The place is a gem of historical remains. Other highlights would have to be geocaching, Kielder forest drive, and the fish and chips shop in Wooler!

The reset button has been pressed, I’m ready for action again now

After a chill morning of sleeping reading and swimming we headed out to hunt a geocache I’d read about called Staircase to no place. A cave set in the middle of nowhere on the side of Cateran Hill. A stunning walk through the exploding purple heathers up a barely legible path lead us to the cave mouth. What I thought would be a tiny little ‘cave’ turned out to be a deep crack in the hillside – I’d guess over 30m in we hit the end of the safely navigable bit (there was a tight squeeze that lead further). Found the cache and brought it top side where we drank green tea whilst investigating it’s contents. Then back underground to put it back. My red head torch showed up thousands of water droplets – they looked like a night sky of red stars. I really like geocaching as a sport (“The sport where you are the search engine”). It opens up so much more cool things to see and do for free. We’ve been to some really top spots that we would never of ever considered pre geocache. Soon.. I’m off to hide one of my own!

A stunning view – right to the sea and right over to the Cheviot (the most Northerly Pennine – where the Pennine way starts) and incredible beauty all around – a definite highlight of our Northumberland adventure.

I love Sat Nav. Some of the die hard map readers say it’s killing the age old art of reading maps and/or studying the land as a result. I say it opens up more doors and when used in combination with a paper map (for the bigger picture) you can do some tip top, grade A adventurising. Another bonus is that you can just plug in where you’re going and then sit back and enjoy the ride. Today’s mission was built for a sat nav adventure. It started with a trip to (near) Morpeth in the morning to a ‘pat pat’ farm (Whitehouse Farm Centre) where we met goats, sheeps, cows, snakes, rabbits, mice, chinchillas and a bunch of other soft and/or squishy animals. As well as that lot we saw some pigs – Kune Kune pigs are officially ace. Also ace were the 4 day old litter of piglings that we saw. (photos to follow)

After here we went on a massive tour drive – first stop – a top butchers in Belingham for some pies (and that). Then, up to Kielder (bagged a geocache), then to the Black Middens Bastle House English Heritage site which was ‘quite’ interesting… but not a high wow factor – would make a nice barn conversion followed by a drive through some spectacular open moorland landscapes in the South Cheviots.

A big slap up fish and chips for our tea from the 10/10 chippie in Wooler. Quite wiped now.

The highlight of yesterday on our away mission to Northumberland was Barter Books in Alnwick. A great rainy afternoon was spent browsing the myriad of books – the place is HUGE! cashed in a bunch of read books for tokens to buy more books. Got some great reads.

Today we’ve been to the Holy Island. After an argument with a spitty swearing local on parking. Even though the road was not yellow lined etc, he insisted that we were not welcome to park there. Without resorting to the “I pay my road tax” argument I let him have his was and moved to the overpriced car park. Not to be put off by this we explored the island. The Priory was quite cool, after that we went for a walk to the castle, then a round walk back to the car. Heading back to the mainland, over the causeway before the tide came in was a good idea. Stopped off to find a geocache before heading to Etal castle for a picnic. We hit the nice weather belt today with much luck and found ourselves in sunshine for nearly all the time we out.

Were now back at the covet (as it’s called – a former cart shed in Akeld Manor Country Club). It’s nice here. Nestled in the crook of a Cheviot hills elbow we’ve got the best of self catering freedom with the convenience of a resort – swimming pool, stuff for the kids, restaurant and stuff. Eirene Sophie and Jay have gone to the trampoline to build up an appetite – I’m about to cook a chili con carne.

Had a wonderful couple of days so far on our holiday in Northumberland. We’re staying at a nice cottage – part of a complex so we’ve got a swimming pool, sauna, games room etc. It’s called Arkeld Manor Country Club. Yesterday we went to see some Sheepdog Trials up the road. This was ace. I love remote control dogs. It’s proper chilled up here. Just what were after!

Currently in Alnwick ‘Barter Books’. A top spot. We brought a bunch of read books – they gave us tokens for new books! It’s in the old Railway station. Currently very busy (raining outside!). Right – back to browsing!

Newlyweds – double happiness, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

My cousin Ian just got married to the lovely Fontaine. Pictured in the background – the ‘Double Happiness” symbol.

What a whirlwind adventure we all went on. After a good drive down to London on Friday morning, we headed in a taxi to the venue. Slap bang in the middle of London – actually in Trafalgar Square is “St. Martins in the Fields” church. A lovely service. It was rather strange coming out of the church right into Trafalgar Square. It was packed – they had a big screen up showing the Olympic opening ceremony from Beijing.

After a brief rest back at our hotel we headed out to another downtown location for the reception. This was in the “The Institute for Public Health” HQ, 28 Portland Place. A super nice meal followed (including the best beef I’ve tasted in ages). We were sat at table with two doctors and their little boy. I’d asked “have you ever been in a situation where someone has said “is there a doctor in the house?” minutes later, there was an actual ‘doctor in the house’ moment when I noticed a woman from the next table had passed out on the floor! poor lady. Lucky there was professional help at hand!

The next day was another treat – we were invited to a 10 course Chinese Banquet on “The Lotus” – a floating restaurant. Friends of the family I believe. In Docklands. This was fantastic. We ate and ate and ate. Then ate some more. Then drove home!

A lovely couple of days adventure.

TONIGHT:

Bloggin from the field – quick on the spot report from Lime Tree Festival, Stage II, aka the Jason Rae, aka circus circus, aka the fun zone, aka the Smyth and 3 Matt’s stage. What a festival it’s been so far. The Gentleman’s Dub Club on early doors yesterday were the dogs – should of headlined this tent last night (imho). It’s bigger than Thornborough was (on the same site a few weeks ago) Where as that felt like a gathering, this feels more like a festival – partly because we don’t know everyone and partly because it’s got a different raw edge to it. Or something. Loving it anyway – shouldn’t compair the two really, both totally different things but this fest, thanks to it’s £60 pre sale ticket price has had more buying power for some ace acts. Not sure about some of the music policy decisions but it’s all worked out nicely! ANyhoo – we take over tonight.. FIRE ! bish bash bosh.

Just about to sound check Light Garden who seem a lovely couple with a range of fascinating instruments.