A Northumbrian Diary
Belated sun
Agustín Fernández autumn morning, rain 0 Comments
Long time no write. It appears that some of the stories I have been telling have caused one or two of their protagonists a degree of bother. My use of first initials was intended to protect their identities, but in England’s most thinly populated county there are not many of us and recognition is easy. […]
Bovine visits
Agustín Fernández Cattle, The Farmer 0 Comments
As I write the view from my window is of cows and calves grazing outside. We have no cattle, but one day The Farmer announced that, if he opened a gap in his fencing and reinforced ours, his cattle could have access to our field. He did all the work with invisible efficiency. All we […]
A night at the Riverdale
Agustín Fernández B The Farmer's friend, J the tree expert, Leevi, North Tyne, R the absentee, Riverdale Hall Hotel, The Farmer, Young R 0 Comments
Bellingham’s Riverdale Hall Hotel is a survivor of a bygone era. Not because it is in any way dilapidated; on the contrary, the building, dating back to the mid-nineteenth century, and its appurtenances, of a distinctly pre-World War Two character, are rather well kept. It’s the concept. The owner, John Cocker, oversees everything with a […]
A Christmas offering
Agustín Fernández María the Maran, The Farmer 0 Comments
Yes, K did get the Maran she had wanted. I, too, had been keen to have a home-based producer of the lovely brown eggs of which The Farmer had given us two examples. In late September I answered an ad in the Hexham Courant, in time for a Haydon Bridge-based, personable-sounding lady to agree to […]
16 December 2007
Agustín Fernández December frost, María 0 Comments
This incomparable corner of Northumberland is proving unique in more than one respect. As the rigours of winter bite, temperatures seem to reach lower nadirs than the official forecast, even those the BBC or Mozilla predict specifically for this particular postcode. After a diluvial November, the first fortnight of December brought welcome dry weather, but […]
Sunday 9 September 2007
Agustín Fernández Scrap Metal 0 Comments
Life on Tynedale and the endless works needed on the house have brought a procession of interesting characters I never tire of observing. There is the Chimney Sweeper, with a colourful, resonant voice and a use of the dialect that epitomises the vocal music of this region. There is the Calor Gas man, who doubles […]
Friday 31 August 2007
Agustín Fernández Black Rock eggs 0 Comments
Geordie’s demise has transformed the dynamic between the surviving hens. Bob Johnson is now in a minority of one, so she can ill afford to peck at her younger and increasingly stronger colleagues. There is no vindictive bullying from the black majority either, so the three go about their business in amicable normality. What’s more, […]
Monday 27 August 2007
Agustín Fernández Broody Geordie 0 Comments
The two new Black Rocks are feisty characters, especially the younger one, Rocky. Her friend Delilah is more corpulent and has more of a comb and her behaviour, although quite bubbly too, is less exuberant. Rocky spots you from a distance and follows you around running at high speed, and when she catches up with […]
Saturday 25 August 2007
Agustín Fernández Bellingham Show 0 Comments
Bellingham Show day. The road workmen have had the good grace to remove their barriers, cones and ‘no access’ signs for the occasion. I had to miss the show because of family business in Edinburgh. K went with her cousin J taking the Bouvier with her, but there was no category for him. An attempt […]
Mourning
Agustín Fernández A Northumbrian Diary 0 Comments
It has been windy and wet for days. The air had been heavy with the departure of a dear friend, spouse, parent and sibling. But it lifted today for the farewell. Bellingham mourned together and quietly.