500 blips and 7500 tweets marked in the sand #portobello

Today I managed to sync some of my social media so that 500 blips = 7500 tweets

Went for a walk with T2 after work on the beach

Thorp Perrow Arboretum

Thorp Perrow Arboretum near Bedale is a beautiful place to go for a walk especially n a sunny spring day like today. Still some daffodils but also lots of blossom coming out on trees.

Seaham

Seaham - beautiful coast, lots of waves, a bit of beach

Durham - blue sky and riverside walk up to cathedral

Durham from the footpath through St Oswald's Churchyard and along riverbank to Prebends Bridge. Then up via South Bailey and North Bailey to the Cathedral and Palace Green.

Portobello sunshine stripes

Nice evening walk on beach after work - sunshine after a rainy day

Chinese Warrior Lanterns #donlanplaces

In the quad at Old College there is an exhibition of Chinese Warrior Lanterns.
They are on display to celebrate Chinese New Year and were originally displayed at the 2008 Olympics.
We went to visit them on Saturday afternoon before they were lit up and it was possible to get a good view of the whole army.
Later we went when they were lit up and it was possible to get up close but too many people to get a whole view. They look very impressive. They are on display until 7th February.
Link below for more details.
http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2014/warrior-lanterns-100114

New Year Resolutions 2014

Every year I make new year resolutions which vary from definite 'to dos' to wishful thinking - this year they are not strict guidelines or targets, just general things to try and do or think about. I will make an action plan for work stuff and maybe a 'to do' list for life stuff but for now, this is it:


New Year Resolutions 2014

Don't worry unless it's actually a life / death scenario
Keep things in perspective - stand back
There doesn't have to be a solution for everything, you don't have to find it and you don't have to own it.
Look out for opportunities and go with them
Continue to have a backup plan
Be more organised - have a work plan
Busyness is not necessarily cool
Technology is cool - exciting and interesting
Network and build relationships where possible
Communicate with those who want to - don't worry about those who don't

Walk more
Read more
Sleep more
Take time to be at places
Continue to take a photo a day
Eat less unsuitable stuff
Continue to eat tea and cake when necessary

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Plus the holstee manifesto

Winter Carnival Parade and Fireworks #donlanplaces

On New Years Eve there is a winter carnival parade and fireworks in Newcastle. It starts at Grey's Monument and ends at the Civic Centre. We have been to it for the last 5 years and each year it gets busier. But it is worth going to and the fireworks are excellent.

























































After the fireworks we went for a drink in a bar near the Theatre Royal and then headed home.
We stopped briefly in Gateshead to see the Millenium bridge and the Sage.