Christmas greetings

Audi! (as the cowboy said when he went into the German garage).  Birtley News is back for a Christmas special by popular demand.  

The time has flown by since OC (Old Cheviot) & Mrs OC tied the knot.  We celebrated our first wedding anniversary in November with a weekend at Threlkeld under the shadows of Blencathra with Mike & Julia (baker of our wedding cake).  

OC is still fellrunning, sailing, and birdwatching.  Fellraces have included the Chevy Chase and Borrowdale.  Sadly Stella Genesta has been sold (a tough but correct decision), but OC intends to keep sailing on the Broads.   The birding ranges from goldfinches on the back garden feeder to a hen harrier at Chevington.  

Holidays have included a fantastic week of walking at Ullapool in May (with a fab day on An Teallach shown below), and 10 days on the via ferrata in the Dolomites in September (pictured above).

Over the Christmas period we will be attending services at St John's Church (where we were married), having the odd beer or two in The Station House micropub (at least OC will be), then heading off to Ullapool YHA with friends for New Year.

And for specific news about Mrs OC - see the post above.

And finally:

What hides in the cupboard at Christmas?  A mince spy.

As Santa says when he's gardening - hoe hoe hoe!

OC & Mrs OC wish all their friends and family a Happy Christmas. 

Birtley News - 18 years on - time to pause

Birtley News has been running in one shape or form for nearly 18 years now.  It started off in print, before moving on to the internet.   YC's life has changed somewhat in the last year - marriage, a move to Durham, other priorities etc.  So this seems a natural time to pause, take a break, and reflect.  BN hasn't necessarily disappeared.  But there will be no more posts for a while.  

But don't despair readers!  YC can still be contacted by e-mail, mobile (on his whizzo i-phone), Royal Mail, and carrier pigeon (possibly).

A week on The Broads with The Green Wyvern

It was a tad windy at times - with Storm Katie making her presence felt in no uncertain times.  For the first 3 days, Stella had 3 reefs in plus the storm jib.  But gradually the weather improved, with blue skies and a  gentle breeze.  Haunts visited included Surlingham Ferry, Beccles, and Oulton Broad.  A kingfisher, barn owl, and numerous marsh harriers were on view.  Plus just the half or two of excellent ale (top marks were awarded to The Adnams at The Waveney, Oulton Broad).

Photos (clockwise from top left) - Stella at North Cove, Puck with 3 reefs at North Cove, Peter & Will on the Waveney leaving Beccles, and the crew of Puck (Andy, Dave, Tim & Theresa).

a weekend in the lakes

It was a beautiful sunny spring weekend in the lakes.  Mr & Mrs OC tackled the Causey Pike Fell Race on Saturday.  This steep affair heads straight up the nose of Rowling End/Causey Pike, before hurtling down the side of the hill back to the finish.   After a night of rest and refreshment in Derwentwater Independent Hostel (highly rated) on the shores of Derwentwater, it was round 2 on Sunday. 

OC ran the new Carrock Fell Race (a 5 miler in the fells to the north of Blencathra) whilst Mrs OC meandered along the Pennine Roads by bicycle.  A rendezvous at Rookhope in Weardale outside the Rookhope Inn seemed an appropriate moment for a refreshing pint of Pennine Pale Ale.

OC's quads are now feeling the strain after 2 races.  Mrs OC simply sails serenely on...

Skiddaw from Derwentwater

Carrock Fell Race finish

jigsaw completion

Please sir, can I have some more [jigsaws]?  Mrs OC shows off the completed 1,000 piece Charles Dickens jigsaw.  Next up is a jigsaw of Australia.  Maybe it will contain a picture of the Lions' test rugby victory in 2013.  That's probably a tad unlikely; especially, as Mrs OC points out, as the jigsaw was bought some years ago.  

photo competition

Another training run, another photo competition.   Can any reader name: 1) the hill on which the trig-point sits and 2) the burn in the second photo.   They are both landmarks on a local fell race.  The photos were taken today (Sunday 14th Feb).  A drink of your choice (which must be claimed at the NFR annual dinner) awaits the correct entry drawn out of the hat.

Susan & Vince's wedding

Congratulations to Susan & Vince who were married at Cape Point Winery near Cape Town. Susan Miller is OC's cousin, and has been living and working in South Africa for a number of years now.  There was a full turnout from the Miller clan who came from all points of the globe to be there. Mr & Mrs OC and Mr & Mrs Rev T were the UK family representatives.  

Mr & Mrs OC enjoyed numerous good walks including Table Mountain, Silvermine Nature Reserve, and Fernkloof Nature Reserve in Hermanus.  There was also time to run on the beach, and swim in the Atlantic Ocean (chilly) and the Indian Ocean (rather warmer).  Fortunately OC avoided the fate of the man who drowned in a bowl of muesli - he was pulled under by a strong currant [joke provided for Natalie by special request!]

Below - 3 photos from the wedding, and Mrs OC on Assvoelkop summit in Fernkloof.