Let's try that end again.

Our Scotland trip may have ended abruptly, but we weren't ready to give up on northern England. So when Craig had a three-day weekend, we made it happen. 

Day 1: Anlwick Castle 

It's a pretty cool looking castle but I'll admit, we were here for the Harry Potter stuff. They filmed a number of scenes here including Harry's first flying lesson. 

Then flying lessons which was actually quite cute. Of course, I had to take some photo's to document their "progress."

Then we took a film locations tour. In addition to several scenes of Harry Potter, parts of Downton Abbey and Blackadder were filmed here. As well as this, uhm, interesting looking disney film. Not sure we'll get around to watching that one but who knows, maybe. Since neither Craig nor Jude care too much about Harry Potter (yet), they did some of the more archeology stuff and we met up to tour the state rooms. They were quite fancy as to be expected, featured a lot of taxidermy which I didn't quite expect (I mean, a bit with a deer head isn't abnormal but several dogs perched on couched and a few mice scattered around the (incredible impressive two-story) library. 

Another cranky Jude photobomb. I feel like I always need to add the disclaimer that he isn't miserable on all our trips, he just doesn't like photos so normally makes a stinker face when he sees us attempting on. 

Norah demonstrating where Hermoine would be rushing out crying. 

The wall, not features in any films but cool views, courtesy of Capability Brown. That Capability, he really got around this country!

But he did know what he was doing! Worth standing in the rain for. 

We finished the day by meeting up with an AO family that lives nearby. I love AO and its ability to connect people all over the world. Instant friends wherever you go! We had a lovely time and I wasn't sure Jude was going to let us leave without a fuss but somehow we did manage it. 

Day 2: The big stuff! I've been dreaming of visiting Hadrian's wall ever since Lucy was in year 1 and we read about it in our Island Story. There are lots of places one can go to see it (you know, because it does stretch across the entire country!) but Housesteads seemed like a good choice. 

Okay, Jude was actually upset in this picture. I wouldn't let him use the gift shop binoculars. 

The Roman fort here isn't big but it is interesting. Especially the Latrines, everyone enjoyed seeing those. 

Then we went to the outside of the fort to see the wall itself. 

Standing at the edge of the Roman Empire! 

Beyond, Caledonia and the untamed lands of the Scots and Picts. 

It was a bit windy for Jude. 

Back by the parking lot but had to test out the latrine benches before we could get back in the car. See what I mean about the latrines? Not that I blame them, Roman plumbing is pretty impressive. 

Then we headed down to Vindolandia just a few minutes away to see a bigger Roman settlement. It isn't on the wall itself but more impressive in terms of size and the archeological finds and museum that displays them. 

In fact, I was pretty shocked when we hiked out and saw just how big this settlement was. A very cool stop. 

It also had replicas of Hadrian's wall towers that we could actually climb to see how big it would have been back in the day. It's impressive how much has survived but the real thing is considerable shorter now that it was. 

Of course, gotta stop by the cafe and have tea and scones before we headed home. 

Day 3: Today's main event was just a few minutes away from our rental and it didn't open until 10 so we actually got to sleep in a bit. Woohoo! But we were at Beamish Living Museum right when it opened and ready to jump on the first trolley. We love Living/Open air museums and this is a really good on. We started out in Georgian times visiting a church and Georgian home. 

If you look at the church you can see the numbers leftover from when they took it apart and reassembled at Beamish brick by brick! Hmm, I smell a future job oppurtunity for a lego lover like Jonah :-) 

Then we moved forward in time to the 1910s courtesty of a vintage double decker bus

. 

The best part is in reenactors. You had to engage them a bit to get them talking but they were all so friendly and informative once we did. This "banker" was telling us all about the old and new money systems, how they related to each other and where they got their names from (hint: Latin!). 

We also explored the bakery, general store, candy shop, pub, dentist office and fairgrounds. I really wanted the dental reenactor to be there but not this trip. Maybe another time. 

At this point I must have given up on photos becuase we visted a 1940s Coal mine town and a 1950s Home Farm and all you get is a pictures of us snacking on cheese pasty's and the boy inside a pill box. 

On the other hand, maybe you should be grateful I put the camera up because we were there 4 hours! At this point, we were all pretty tired but Craig's top spot on our northern england bucket list was the Durham cathedral so there was no way we were skipping it. 

Bede's grave. I've actually read him thanks to my own AO readings!

The boys took the steps up to the top of the tower but Lucy was tired and no one under 8 was allowed so we just meandered around until Jude fell asleep on my back. 

The Nave is beautiful but I could have lived without the giant moon currently on display. That was..interesting. 

St Cutherber's Shrine was also beautiful and no moon, so the girls and I stopped and prayed (just was barely awake at this point). 

 

On our way out was the cloisters where some more Harry Potter scenes were filmed. Hency Jonah's hand/arm positioning. He has high expectations of my photo shop abilities and expects me to place a nice snowy owl in them. I'll be trying! 

And that was our 3 day weekend. Crazy full but a lot of fun.