What Happens In Alnwick Doesn't Stay In Alnwick

Introduction

This is not about Alnwick per se, but Alnwick has given me inspiration for a lot of poems and I don't like publishing more than one poem at a time, it makes me feel that I am being lazy and cheating, but that doesn't stop me doing it, but I thought it might be worth saying something about how Alnwick gives me inspiration.

I know everyone knows that I can see anything and then write about it, but I have returned from another week in Alnwick feeling I have missed the chance to visit so many places when in reality I took the chance to explore many new places and revisit some great haunts.

The music I have included is Lee Marvin's "Wanderin' Star" from the musical "Paint Your Wagon" because I do wander the UK quite a lot and also do a lot of walking. It is also a great prompt for a poem. I still love the song al always wanted the album because I liked the cover, but that is not the sort of thing pre-teenage boys had in their record collection. Thinking about this I think I will get myself a vinyl copy from somewhere.

So What Happens In Alnwick?

Though we have visited Alnwick many times, the first week's stay here was in 2022 after I had my Liver Cancer (hopefully) sorted, but unfortunately, I was unable to do much walking. You can read about that here.

While I had plans, that just turned out to be a week of recovery and the precursor to a long time off work. My main target that week was to get my debut book on the shelves at Barter Books but as I could barely walk across the road that never happened. You can read the story of how that book came about here.

So I watched Netflix and looked at Alnwick Castle from the flat patio doors and rested and recuperated.

In Alnwick Once More

A year after that first visit (earlier this year) we came back to Alnwick, and I was recovered. Now I had three books to drop into Barter Books and I knew that I could walk the half mile or so to the old railway station that now houses Barter Books.

The week gave me many stories including one about the straight-tailed Lion and my visit to Barter Books, who are rightfully wary of accepting self-published books, but this is what happened there.

I also visited the Alnwick Garden and The Treehouse Restaurant and saw them building Lildorei (the completed tower is the main image for this piece). I wrote a piece about The Poison Garden much to the amazement and delight of many of my Vocal friends.

On my walks, I circumnavigated the Castle and with Julie, we went to visit Hulne Park but it was closed. I really didn't know what I had missed.

This Week In Alnwick

This week has revealed more treasures. Lilidorei is now open, but we did not have the chance to visit, but it is on the to-do list.

I finally visited Hulne Park and was amazed at the views, wildlife and architecture on the grounds and documented it below, but this was only one of the three official routes and it was the shortest one, so when I am next there I will take another route.

However, the most amazing find was when Fiona told me that The White Swan's dining was the First Class lounge from the RMS Olympic, the sister ship of the Titanic and is identical to the one on the Titanic apart from the doors.

Conclusion

I'm back home now, but you can see I brought a little of Alnwick with me, and I will be back there early next year.