2024 Short Trips – Berwick-upon-Tweed

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• Wed 17th April.
  This is not the visit we had planned.
  Last week, we were going to see Stuart and Hazel, Hazel suffering from cancer, and she phoned the day before we were due to leave Brighton, saying she was about to start a new round of chemotherapy.
  Yesterday, Stuart rang, no chemotherapy, things are slithering downhill. Mathew is flying back from Australia, Adam is already there.
  We hastily bundled everything into the M/H, and set off. Too far in one afternoon, we broke the journey around half way, just short of Newick. A CL, quite a find, very nicely laid out, about a mile and a quarter down a very potholed single track road, then down a short no through road, the farm and CL at the end. Very peaceful (Traffic noise from the A1 in the distance). Despite being in the middle of open fields, nothing around, the very pleasant host offered to lock the gate at night. Struck me as totally unnecessary!
  

  

  We were entertained by hares running around yesterday and this morning.

  Seeing Hazel this afternoon was as difficult as we imagined, she is not conscious or making much sense most of the time, although she clearly knew who we were. She is, of course, being given morphine for pain relief, and she is not in discomfort.

• Fri 19th April
  Yesterday, we caught a bus into Berwick, on a drizzly windy cold day. Walked round a bit, went to The Green Shop, a surprisingly good selection, think it has been extended since we were last here. The fled to a rather nice tea room for tea/coffee and a cake for me, minus a corner for Sue and a corner for Josie. Nice to be out of the cold drizzle.
  A string of nurses have been attending to Hazel in the morning, which leaves her tired, which was why we waited until the afternoon.
  So, afternoon visit, Hazel, in an all singing all dancing hospital bed, what exemplary treatment she is getting.
  Difficult seeing her, very weak, constantly drifting off, but some limited conversation, and she certainly knew we were there. All very upsetting and difficult. Stuart is being supported by Adam, Julie and Zoe, Adam able to work online whilst there. Mathew in the air en route from Australia.
  This morning we went round again, two nurses doing their stuff, but we saw her after they left. They said her condition had deteriorated from yesterday. I don’t think she knew we were there, she was asleep, although not always easy to know if she is just closing her eyes.
  Left late morning, and stopped for lunch at an English Heritage site (Hylton Castle).
  

  Didn’t realise they were still building it!!
  

  And, what appeared to be a chapel just up the hill. Surprisingly, for English Heritage, no information about either, although the lady in the tea room as able to give us a piece of paper showing that entry to the castle is by tour only, bookable online, next tour 12.30 tomorrow. All a bit of a wet fart, although did make a nice lunch stop. As Sue said, better than Tesco car park!
  

• 20thApril
  Have heard, Mathew finally made it to Berwick, Stuart sent us a photo of him hugging Hazel, who was fully aware it was Mathew. So pleased he arrived in time.

  Saturday, we drove to Hughenden Manor, the home of Disraeli.
  

  Odd house, this is the back, with the parterre garden and the view, but only one very small door out of the house.

  

  This is the front.
  

  In the extensive grounds, an elaborate gate to a field.
  In the house…..
  

  The very dark dining room.
  

  A comfortable living room ( referred to as a saloon).

  

  Disraeli’s office, apparently just as he left it.

  

  The bedroom.
  

  A room in the wing added after his death. And an astonishing story. The whole house was requisitioned by the Air Ministry during WW2, and decommissioned on 1947, when it was gifted to the NT. Although the NT knew it had been used during the war, they had no idea what for. It wasn’t until 2007 when a room attendant overheard an elderly man telling his grandson he worked here during WW2, and the attendant grabbed the opportunity to ask him. It was used to analyse reconnaissance photos, identify targets, and produce maps for use in aircraft of bomber command. The NT managed to find other people who worked here during the war, and they all had to be released from the official secrets act before they could tell their story.
  Thence to Annette’s, and a splendid evening and meal.

• 6th May
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• 6th May
  Hazel’s funeral tomorrow. A very long drive (by car) to St. Boswells, just SE of Melrose. Had a dreadful meal in the hotel restaurant – Sue wasn’t charged for hers.

  Simple funeral rendition by a Celebrant at Melrose Crematorium, followed by tea/coffee and finger buffet at our hotel in St. Boswells. Ended around 3.00pm, so Sue and I went to Dryburgh Abbey.

  Hadn’t taken my camera, so photo taken from my phone. Never actually used it to photo before, and had enormous difficulty. The above photo taken from the top of a narrow tower, balanced precariously on a very narrow step, hanging onto a handrail with one hand, and struggling with the phone camera one handed. I have a multitude of shots of the top of my head, where the camera insisted on reversing into selfie mode.

  Had a picnic meal in our hotel room – much better than last night’s meal. Tried to watch TV, but reception kept breaking up, so gave up. Convinced we ran a better hotel. In fact, one of the main reasons we bought our first motorhome (in 2003), was because we were so disgusted with hotels whilst touring round Norfolk. And all more expensive than ours at the time.

  Following day, a long drive home. Fortunately, not too hot, as car aircon has broken.