There are few things in life which are better than a big walk, good company and a pub lunch in a country pub.  Taking a day off is as good as a holiday or so they say and I'm inclined to agree, sometimes you just need a day away from the world, a day to be with nature, a day to stand and stare as long as sheep and cows as WH Davies reminds us we need to in his poem (one of my personal favourites) leisure.

Fountains Abbey isn't too far away if you live in the North East of England, a mere sneak over the border into North Yorkshire and a prettier alternative to Lightwater Valley which you'll find in mostly the same direction but you'll more of a contented sigh than a scream at the former of the two.

Fountains Abbey consists of a cistern abbey, a Georgian water garden and a deer park, steeped in history, beauty, peace, and tranquility, it's the perfect place to take time off away from the hustle and bustle of real life for a few hours and with very little in the way of phone signal you'll be able to justify not answering calls or checking messages, well just for a little while anyway.

I find sometimes I miss my big girl, I see her nearly every day but I don't often get to spend quality time with her, especially without Looby also being there but Looby, infested with cold germs had decided to spend the day at home with Iain and so off we went.

Abigail is perpetually hungry as most teenagers are so we just kind of stumbled upon the Galphay Inn near Ripon.  I'm so happy we did because we were welcomed by an open fire and a gastro pub which is both dog friendly and child friendly.  If you're ever on your way to Fountains Abbey and you see the board at the side of the road gesturing you down to the Galphay Inn take a chance and do it, don't eat at Fountains Abbey, whilst Fountains Abbey is lovely and dog friendly you can't take your dog into the cafe so why not have good hearty food at very reasonable prices where your dogs would be welcomed with open arms, the staff fussed over Holly and Petunia and to me that's dog friendly.  I have to say that one of my problems with the National Trust is that they set themselves out there as dog friendly but not one of their properties has space in any of their cafes for people with dogs, this is fine in summer, I don't at all have a problem with sitting out in sunshine but what are you supposed to do in the rain or mid-winter, I'd say the National Trust are more dog tolerant than dog friendly but that's just my personal opinion.

One thing the National Trust does excel at is beauty, tranquility and history all within reach of most peoples doorsteps, I pay just over £9 a month for a family membership so that Looby and I can have days out, Paul and Abigail can have days out and if we're all having a family day we can use it together.  Fountains Abbey has all of the above qualities, you can almost feel the history seeping through your skin like osmosis and when you leave you feel enriched and full (possibly from all the cakes the NT are so good at making).

And so we come to the photos of quite a lovely day out.

Mandy Charlton

Photographer, Blogger, Writer

mandycharlton.com

Welcome to October

Welcome to October dear reader, October is the month which promises leaf kicking, hot chocolate, Yankee candles, snuggling, Halloween and the start of period in my house when you are officially allowed to watch Christmas movies, yep that's right, it's always been the same, as soon as it gets to half term you can watch Christmas movies right through until January, it's definitely one of my favourite months of the year.

October is also one of my busiest months of the year with families rushing to get out and make autumnal memories, I think the photos you create in Autumn are the ones you keep on your walls all year, partially because they're the ones you tend to give as Christmas presents but also because Autumnal photographs tend to be the most beautiful photographs of all.

I just want to share a photograph I took yesterday in Jesmond Dene, it was a celebration of the first year of the life of this little lady, what a poppet and I am so privileged that I got to photograph her because I've been photographing her mummy and daddy since before they got married, being a photographer has brought me so many wonderful clients who I'm so happy to also call friends and I'm so thankful that I get to watch tiny babies grow up into the most amazing children.

It is the best thing about the career I chose and long may it continue!  If you want to make some memories with your family this Autumn you can book a photo shoot with me for only £40 or if you can make a weekday session in Jesmond Dene you can book a photo shoot with me for only £25 and that offer extends to half term week but do be quick, all dates are filling fast and I'm now pretty full until Mid November at weekends, do get in touch though and I will see if I can squeeze you in if at all possible.

Working less at weekends has meant a lot more family time although you can't please everyone, Abigail remarked that "you should work more, money is much better than time together"  You've got to hope that as she gets older she'll realise that's not the case, I think she secretly knows it although I did tell her that we would all be getting together for an autumnal family day out on Sunday to Fountains Abbey, one of my favourite National Trust Properties, it's glorious in Autumn and I love to spot the deer, it's always been a special place for us as a family and I can't wait to visit again on Sunday.

Speaking of the National Trust, today I am going for a walk around the Wallington Estate with a friend for an Autumnal stomp, I'd say with hot chocolate at the end of it but it really is rather unseasonably warm out there at the moment, I am actually loving a warm autumn, I can only hope it leads to a mild winter as it's a lot easier to do photography outside in winter when the weather isn't so awful.

Today dear reader go and leaf kick, the leaves are perfect, dry and crunchy, feel them under your feet or submerge your wellies in them, hop in them, kick in them, fall in them if they're deep enough or collect the leaves and take them home to make a collage (especially if you are under the age of 12), whatever you do today though celebrate the glory of October it really is one of the best months of the year.