Saturday - our arrival

We had been on holiday before - but only for a few days, so this was the longest Stephen and I had ever spent together. So on the Saturday I stuck on my nicotine patch and after a brief Morrisons shop we headed for the North York Moors. The owners of the cottage were away for the day so we had to locate the key under a flower pot. We also located a partially sighted cat, who appeared to be starving. We gave her milk and then walked into the village (down a steep hill which was fine, it was coming back that hurt) to get a tin of tuna for her. The first afternoon was spent looking after and discussing the future of what we believed to be a stray. The cottage was lovely, but the bedroom was very strange - the ceiling sloped over the bed so it was a bit like sleeping in a drawer (not that either of us actually recall ever having slept in a drawer). The only cupboards were in another room which also had a sloping ceiling which made a lot of contact with my head at various stages of the holiday (at these times I think Stephen was impressed with my grasp of Anglo-Saxon)

In the evening we went to Runswick Bay. It was lovely and warm and a perfect romantic evening. We saw the local youths on the beach starting a beach party: well, when I say starting a beach party I think I am being a bit generous and stating what they thought they were doing. What we actually saw was four youths with cans of booze trying to cut up drift wood and light it. They weren't having much luck as they had nothing to cut it with so were trying to break huge chunks of wood over rocks. Maybe it did all come together after we left - and loads of people turned up and they partied into the early hours eating food cooked over a raging fire (or maybe that was just in their mind). When we got back we gave more food to the little cat and then went to bed ready for the next day's exertions.

Sunday - face to face with my biggest fears

We decided to do a small walk round to Glaisdale on the first day. At this point I should explain a few things about me - I hate bullocks and geese because I believe they have something against me. I have kept horses with both types of animals and other people have got passed them - but not me. I have been bitten by geese, I have been chased by bullocks. I also have a thing about bridges. It was therefore unfortunate that the first thing we met on the walk was cattle (I couldn't determine the sex). They were gathered by the gate we had to get through. I was determined to be brave so I closed my eyes, held onto Stephen's coat and he led me through. I would have been mortified but I can get rid of spiders for him. After that bridges were no problem (as you can see from the pictures).However I did have a dodgy moment over the stepping stones. I am sure that one moved and then I had to do my breathing exercises as Stephen came to rescue me. I was so proud of myself on the other side I demanded a picture of my victory. Whilst posing I heard a strange jeering noise from above - yes I was being heckled by sheep!

Bullocks and stepping stones over we the enjoyed the countryside and the abnormally warm weather for mid September. We also saw our perfect house - as you will see later we have a habit of house hunting even though we aren't really looking for a house. But it is a gorgeous cottage by a river in the middle of the woods. The only downside would be people like us traipsing passed and having a good gawp. We got back, fed the cat and then went for a meal at the Horseshoe in Egton Bridge. It's a wonderful pub with HUGE portions, but the food is really good.