The Geordie Tourist.

I live next to a nature reserve, which I may have mentioned once or twice. Or maybe every time I go there. (I guess I just really want you to know.) It’s been a little while since I had a good walk around the area though. Now that it’s Autumn I wanted to take Poppy my pooch and have a good little explore just like old times.

It was a pretty sunny day, but when the sun goes behind the clouds it can turn a bright blue sky into a dull grey. We walked by the lake and I waited as per normal until Poppy finished sniffing whichever patch she was interested in and joined me. 

Gone are the bees and butterflies, I still saw the odd dragon fly flitting about though. The bright coloured flowers are all but gone. That just makes way for the orange leaves on the trees. The deep red and yellow and the dark greens, the colours of autumn. It’s one of my favourite seasons, the colours being one of the main reasons.

Its the time for Halloween and Bonfire Night. For getting your big coat out and wearing matching gloves and scarves. I love it, if you couldn't tell already.

My mam recently celebrated her birthday, and thought it would be nice for the family to go for a little meal together. She decided on the Imperial in Low Fell.

The Imperial is nestled right in the heart of the Fell (Bit of slang there, for regulars of the place) and it’s been a firm family favourite for many years now. They specialise in Chinese food, good food at that and especially grand style banquets that can get any mouth salivating just by the thought of it.

Prawn crackers

Sweetcorn soup

Deep fried vegetable spring rolls

Deep fried vegetable trigons

Crispy Seaweed

Tofu in chilli and salt

Egg fried rice

Mixed vegetables in bird’s nest

Mixed vegetables Szechuan style

When it was time for my mam and Geoff to finally tie the knot, I had good intentions of getting some lovely snaps taken of their wedding. Fantasy and reality are two different things though.  I spent most of my time laughing in a corner and drinking alcohol. (How naughty) I’m sure that’s up there on the list of duties for chief bridesmaid though.

Luckily, they had two great photographers on hand to really capture the beauty of their big day. Beth and Emma from Beth Takes Photos and Emma Howe Photography were absolutely amazing. (All of these beautiful photos belong to them.) I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like to shoot a wedding. I’m guessing lots of stress, excitement and worrying among other things. 

Recently we got to see the snaps that they took and I just had to share some of my favourites. We all had a great time putting them on the TV and flicking through them. Beth and Emma got some really great shots, unusual shots. I love all the ones they took of the decorations, the way they captured them. I love the group shots too. With the different hues of blue for the bridesmaids, the smiling faces of the lads. The Angel of the North was in a few of the backdrops which was such a nice touch.

My favourite has to be the one when everyone is together throwing confetti in the air, the reactions are priceless. It was a fabulous day and the photos that Beth and Emma took really capture it. It’s definitely worth checking out their Facebbok pages if you want to find out more about them. I can tell you, they’re simply amazing, I think their photos speak for themselves though.

Any of you lot been to a great wedding recently?

How was the photography?

Autumn is here and I love nothing more than grabbing my camera (phone) and going off to take some shots. It’s all in the burnt oranges and yellows of the leaves, the way they lay by the roadside. It’s all quite poetic really.

I went with the family and our pooch Poppy on a nice little stroll around Derwent Walk Country Park. We did have to intention of going to Thornley Woods, but we stopped just short of it and tried a different route instead. I’m all about the exploring of new places.

Cullercoats Bay is the beach of my childhood. I remember days out with school, the picnics and the cold water as we played for hours on end, jumping over the waves. I remember the steps and the little lagoons that would form by the entrances of the caves that are there, the games of mermaids that I would play with my cousins. I honestly hadn't been in years, but when it was finally October and thus dog friendly I just had to go and walk on the sands again.

The place is gorgeous. You have big cliffs at one side, and there are caves that if you’re brave enough, you can have a little wander inside. I’m not sure if they go that far, but still. There are a couple of piers that you can walk along. The view from them is quite amazing. They have the huge steps next to the life guard hut and honestly just thinking about the place always fills me with nostalgia. I think it’s my most perfect favourite beach spot in the North East. It’s simple and easy and just…well I could go on and on, but I won’t.

So I went with Lillian (My mother) and we took Poppy so she could just run around and play with the other doggies. Anyone else that has a pooch will know the struggles when you go on to a beach. It’s like doggy day care. Every dog and their mother are out and sometimes when you have a runaway dog; it’s a bit of a nightmare. Poppy is much better now though, and comes back when we call…most of the time.

We wandered on the beach for a while before stopping off at Beaches and Cream for a hot chocolate. Oh My God! I’m dying to go inside Beaches and Cream and just go crazy with my camera. The place looks fabulous, even the pastel bunting outside has me all giddy. One of these days I will do it. I just have to.

The weather started off pretty cloudy, and then by mid-afternoon it was like a summers day. We went for chips and then explored some of the rock pools for a bit. I love a bit of rock pooling. I just don’t think there’s an age when you don’t like it anymore. In fact I refuse to believe it.