Durham, Friday

Because the castle is a uni residential college, you can only visit it on a tour, which I did this morning. We were first taken to the kitchen – an interesting mix. The brickwork over what was the fireplace is Norman – old and dark -but the space where there would have been fires now houses shiny stainless steel stoves. We went past some of the old residential room- they had 2 doors. If you were not in or in and did not want to be disturbed you closed both doors, if you were in and interuptable, you closed the inner door but left the outer door open. What is wrong with a sign? We were shown the chapel that is currently used, complete with working organ, and an old stone chapel in the Norman part that has recently been reconsecrated. All sorts of other things by a young guide with a good sense of humour.

Yesterday, some of the time, I knew it was Thursday, because I remember carefully looking at the Cathedral list to see if evensong was said or sung that day ( York is not sung every day) but some of the time I thought it was Wednesday. When I was planning what to do, I read the opening times of an interesting looking Tudor house and gardens. I remember thinking – yes , today is Wednesday so it is open tomorrow. Trouble is, today is Friday and the place, when I got there after a pleasant walk was closed. Back into town and I found a nice place to watch the river and rest of the world go past.

I walked around the loop of river and took some photos. I have never particularly noticed reflections of the sky in water before. Today the blue of the sky looked bluer in the water than the sky. See photos of this and other reflections.

I learnt more things at lunch. Coley is a type of cod-like fish and clapshot is a mash of carrot and swede. The butter was almost white. Cars with disabled stickers could be parked in the taxi rank opposite.

I wandered around the cathedral again and took some photos of the cloisters.