It's the HappyToast ridiculous last minute Christmas giveaway! I'm shoving a load of Christmas themed prints of various sizes in some envelopes tomorrow morning. If you want a chance of receiving some, just Like, Repost and Follow (UK only because Brexit soz)

Some excellent knitted mice in the Christmas window display at the Bridlington RSPCA shop. A volunteer spent two years knitting them, and it looks amazing. Bought myself a jester mouse and he'll live on my desk.

A very picturesque stream flowing through a woodland valley, somewhat surprisingly located not far from Huddersfield, which hasn't traditionally (in my mind anyway) been synonymous with magical woodland vistas.

Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna
Near Pateley Bridge

Well that's Whamageddon lost on day 1. #whamageddon

Them's the rules for anyone who's been living in a bunker: whamageddon.com

Pine resin shows up yellow under UV light, which can make pine branches look interesting and maybe a bit xmassy.

Meanwhile (again) in my hotel room (last day 🙏), my latest neighbours have just arrived back and are playing tennis or football or 10 pin bowling against my wall whilst coughing. And they've just closed their curtains. Walls really are that thin, I wish I WASN'T hearing any of this!

Northumberland fungi, on a private site in Kielder Forest.

Velvet shank (Flammulina velutipes), Silverleaf Fungus (Chondrostereum purpureum) and Purple Jellydisc (Ascocoryne sarcoides)

Meanwhile in my hotel (Riverdale Hall in Bellingham, forewarned and all that), there's a very busy event, which means the car park is full and I've parked/wheelspun in a literal field across the road. Presently, there's very loud music which I can hear with perfect clarity from my room - we've had..

Day one of tariff training today, and if I had to sum it up in 4 words, I'd go with maths and tree hugging

So my hotel room is lovely except for the walls, which are so thin that I've been subjected to next doors 'romantic' activity and now I'm listening to both of them snoring.

Training in Kielder next week so I'm staying in Bellingham. Love the Northumberland roads, it's like driving on a rollercoaster. Had a walk along the Hareshaw Burn but sadly too late to reach the waterfall before dark so made do with a murky weir.

5000 signatures at my bed time.
Thank you for all the support.
We start again tomorrow.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...

I would really like to speak to whoever is in charge of the weather please.

If anyone’s looking for alternatives to GoodReads, I highly recommend StoryGraph. It’s owned by a black woman, and the platform is so much more accessible and easy to use.

Morning visit to a public woodland near Beverley. Mature and veteran oak and some lovely wood pasture. Bonus Witches Butter (Exidia Glandulosa).

Yorkshire Arboretum on Saturday in blue sky and sun (and just a little rain). Trees and the glorious autumnal colours work wonders for the soul.

The National Theatre are streaming Nye, starring Michael Sheen, for free on YouTube until 11 Nov - really well worth a watch
youtu.be/GNqtupRGSW0?...

Let's keep the joy going, I've got another 6x8 print sat here, just Follow, Like and Repost to be in with a chance of winning Pat Butcher from Ghosts. The lucky so-and-so will be chosen Monday morning.