Durham – 8th-11th August 2024

On the morning of 8th August seven EFOGers set off for Durham, two by car and five by train. The race was on, who would arrive first? The plan was to meet at Crook Gardens at about 2.30 pm. However, there were a couple of diversions on the roads and the driver and passenger needed refuelling (the car was fine), so we suspected the train would be faster. However, with a change at York their connecting train was cancelled and so they had to await the next one.

Suffice to say that Cathy & I had a cream tea and a wander round Crook Hall & Gardens then met up with the other five a little later.

After settling into our rooms in the halls of residence, we had a stroll along the river, past the Kathedra (stone throne) and a single room dwelling once lived in by Josef Boruwlaski, an 18th C. Polish dwarf.

This was followed by a very welcome meal in a Lebanese restaurant just near the halls (though the centre of Durham is pretty small so everything is fairly near).

The next day was a trip to Beamish Museum where there were trams, trolley buses, a steam train etc, 1920s houses, bank, dentist etc, a colliery village, 1940’s farm. Staff are dressed for the eras and play the parts well, some really getting into character with banter and backstories between them.

That night we ate at a Thai restaurant down by the river and although we’d been told that some lights weren’t working it was light enough. The food was good, though Marian was rather surprised that her ‘Duck with Tamarind Sauce’ had rather more sauce than duck, but it wasn’t that there was a lack of duck.

Saturday was a trip to see The Angel of the North, which is certainly impressive when you are stood alongside, looking up at it.

Cathy & I having been there a few years before opted to walk instead to the Botanical Gardens, which are part of the University and were very peaceful and pleasant.

Trevor also opted not to see the Angel, but started off with a river walk, but then found a trail along a disused railway. Unfortunately at one point on his walk he was going up some steps and in looking down at the steps, failed to notice a branch at head height. Luckily, although it drew blood, there was no major injury, but now as well as the University dining room making us think of Harry Potter, Trevor had the Harry Potter scar on his forehead.

At lunchtime we met at the Cathedral Café and afterwards had a stroll round the Cathedral. We were very taken with a modern piece of artwork hanging in the main aisle consisting of thousands of hand-made paper doves tied to the dangling ribbons.

Evening meal was at an Italian restaurant called Uno Momento, whilst the food all tasted very nice, the pizzas which three of us had did take some effort to cut and chew.

On the Sunday Cathy and I headed to Lindisfarne whilst the others had a boat trip on the Wear, before which two real water lovers, Marian & Trevor hired a rowing boat. It was then back to the University to collect their luggage from reception, having had to vacate rooms by 10 am, then an Uber to the station and back to London.

 Richard.   25th August 2024