I drove past Rothbury on my way from Edinburgh to Harrogate today and thought of you.

Keeping all crossed for you. Gardens look amazing

Hahaha you all still think we live near Rothbury!

If only you'd said Debster, you could have popped in... I have a strong feeling that on that route you came within a couple of miles of our real location!

We were near Harrogate last week...

Thanks Amber... when are you popping over?

I've left the address book at home. Went via the poison garden and the A1

We were very disappointed by The Alnwick Gardens, Debster - but we went at the end of May (last year, where does time go?) just before rose season. What did you think?

You didn't go the way I thought you would. But you could have... Next time :)

I was mostly disappointed by having to pay actual money to go in. I got in the castle for free but had to pay about 20 for the garden. It was ok but the poison bit was fascinating. Two very knowledgeable guys explaining things. I'd never seen a stricnine plant or the suicide plant and a few others were a surprise. Box and holly? Also vaguely annoyed at no photos in the castle but snapped happily at Bamburgh. That was free. But both places stiffed me for car parking. I'm going to have to go to Betty's tomorrow to calm down lol. I went the way I thought I could drive fastest. The cars overheating but if I can belt along it helps. The window's playing up too. Might be new car time. What do you suggest to replace a zafira?

Having life memeberships to NT, EH, RHS and Art Pass, I know what you mean about having to actually pay to get in anywhere!

My thoughts on new cars are don't. Pay to patch up and save loads on new. Have you seen the prices of new, or even new-to-you?!!! That's what we are doing anyway.

Betty's - nice I'm sure, but you'll need some blood pressure tablets and a mortgage! Good luck!

Loving the cloud border. Much better than regimented.
How did your community resilience go?

Caroline - let's just say that we were astounded by the level of ignorance of basic legal and insurance issues by the council employee, and the money being thrown at a trendy sounding project without proper planning or consideration of wider issues and complications. And as for built-in evaluation - what's that?

There is absolutely no point in throwing money at the North when there aren't people with the skills and knowledge to ensure it is well-spent.

Lovely looking garden and in the sun too.

Hopefully when schools go back?

I went to Betty's in Harlow Carr. Had a great time there and found a cat. Trouble is the cars 14 now and like me a bit of an old banger. I can't keep it going forever alas. I've had it 13 years now.
Went in Lincoln cathedral to take some photos and ended up having to sit through choral evensong which was lovely.

We were at Harlow Carr last Wednesday! I still think it's the least inspirational of the RHS gardens. You were spoiled living so near Wisley and we were spoiled living so near Hyde Hall. Have you been to RHS Bridgewater yet?

Did you do all that driving on your own or have you got company?

Nope all by myself. Got the car booked in for an engine thermostat so that's another getting on for 300. Tried to buy a grapefruit at the nice services and they wanted 1.34 for just one! Looked quite antique too. Got three in Tesco for 30p each which was more like it. Nope still not been there but my favourite garden round here is Iford Manor just south of Bath.

Good grief, how do you do it Debster!?

If you do the sums on a new/new to you car (depreciation/uncovering of unknown faults) I think you will need to spend a hell of a lot more than £300 before you are making a loss...

You know that car... keep it as long as you possibly can. Road tax on any non-electric new car is now £284 a year, and electric cars will have road tax in a few months time. And don't forget the inflated insurance for a newer car.

Second hand cars are very expensive currently because of the high cost of new cars. The price of electric cars (and so all other cars) is going to drop a lot in the next few years - it has to if emissions targets are ever going to be to be met. Plus, new technologies, and new fuels, are just down the line...

I've already spent a grand on it due to birds. A pheasant took out the compressor and condenser for the AC and then a pigeon took off a wing mirror with extreme prejudice. What I like about this car is you have to drive it. There's no satnav or cruise control or any of those useless fripperies. The power steering is nice and when the electric front windows worked properly they were good. You still have to wind them in the back. Nothing beeps. There's no parking assist. A proper car.

I'm with you there Debster.

If you want nightmares, go to a new car showroom.

Mr BW upset a VW saleswoman the other day by telling her that the new Golf (launched 3 weeks ago) looked like it had an iPad plonked on its dashboard, and we could not consider buying such an appallingly ugly design and so would be cancelling a planned test drive.

Ha ha good for you! I'm off on a coach trip to Devon tomorrow but at least I'm not driving! Did you know you can buy bottles of the new car smell?

Oh and most cars these days don't even have keys. Or handbrakes. You just have to go near it and wave at it for the doors to open.

And have a faraday bag in your pocket for the access gadget so it doesn't get cloned.

Oh, and most are automatic too.

All in all I preder Mi1dred, now 91, who still smells of 'old car' They definitely don't make 'em like they used to.

I'd balk at driving to Scotland and back in Mildred though. I do like the aircon.

Well the car is having to stay at the garage overnight. The engine thermostat has taken out the blower resistor which has already been replaced 3 times and now it's leaking water and needs another part. On the plus side the electric window problem seemed to sort itself out. I've spent nearly 2 grand on it so far this year.

I read the other day that more and more cars are having to stay in overnight because of parts shortages.

If you buy a 2nd hand car, you will have no idea what is wrong with it. Could well cost more than £2K a year...

Depreciation plus increased costs on a new car (insurance, tax, servicing) will cost more than £2K.

But yes, the Law of Diminishing Returns applies.