boybear

durham_rambler's brother (another D.) and siste-in-law (M.) are in between some impressive holidays, and are filling the gap with a short tour of friends and relations in the UK. They fitted us in between an old friend in Easingwold, and a couple of days on Lindisfarne (just because). We had a couple of evenings together, and the day in between - long enough for a lot of chat, a bottle or so of wine and a visit to the cathedral.

It was Sunday, so access to the cathedral itself was restricted. We cut across the west end of the nave, on our way out to the the cloisters; I just had time to photograph this detail of some Restoration woodwork:



It's part of the casing of the old "Father Smith" organ, relocated when the organ was replaced.

Rather than dodge the worshippers in the cathedral, we wanted to visit the cathedral's museum, which currently houses an exhibition around Magna Carta. Durham owns the only surviving copy of the 1216 issues of the Charter (the year after the original, and restating it after the original was rescinded) plus, if I have this right, two copies of the definitive 1225 issue.

( More than you want to know about the museum... )

We left the cathedral through the College. At the gateway into the Bailey we met a man in military dress, crisp knaki and cockade in his beret, studying the notices, and durham_rambler asked if we could help.
Was this, he asked, Saint Nicholas' cathedral?
Durham cathedral is dedicated to Saint Cuthbert, and I told him so.
No, he definitely wanted Saint Nicholas.
Well, the church in the Market Place is Saint Nick's, would that do?
He didn't seem all that sure, but he asked for directions, and we pointed him along the Bailey towards the Market Place.
We were heading towards the Market Place ourselves, and before we got there we met our friend coming back (very much more briskly than we were going). He had found someone to solve his conundrum for him: he wanted Newcastle cathedral. (I should have thought of that).

We had a late lunch at Turkish Kitchen in Saddler Street: new to me, but would go again. Excellent bread, and a glass of pinot grigio rosé. M's halloumi salad was enormous: she boxed up most of the salad part, and we all shared it for dinner.

Reading yesterday's paper, as I do, over my breakfast, I was surprised (in a good way, for once) by an old friend: the Guardian's 'My Best Shot' column featured our literally old friend Richard Grassick's picture of the Stanhope Silver Band crossing the ford.

The article gives the photographer's 'top tip' as "Immerse yourself totally in what lies on the other side of the lens." What Rich always said to me was "Get in closer," which isn't so very different.

More pictures from 'People of the Hills' on the Side Gallery website - though it doesn't include one of my favourites, Elinor Betton in the top pasture, a small girl in pink hurtles towards the view from the huge open space of the hillside.