View of Elvet Bridge Here’s an iconic view of Durham City, looking out towards Elvet Bridge. We walk past it most days on the way to the car. It’s a beautiful sight during the day, but it becomes something truly special at night. It’s so easy to take for granted the beauty we see every day. As the saying goes, when it’s gone, it’s gone — and that’s when we miss it. In a world filled with so much brokenness, it’s easy to get pulled into the despair of it all and find ourselves asking, is there more than this? As for me, I’m choosing to look for the beauty in what’s right in front of me each day, and to focus a little less on the despair.
We had the loveliest morning out in Teesdale today. The snow was crisp, clean and brilliantly white – a rare little gift for February. There’s something wonderfully refreshing about looking out over a snowy landscape; it makes everything feel still, calm and just a bit magical! What made it even more striking were the flashes of green peeking through where the snow had either melted or never quite settled. Those soft contrasts between winter white and fresh green gave the whole valley a layered, almost painterly look. And after weeks of gloomy skies, the sun finally decided to make an appearance. The light bounced off the snow and shone across the fields, making Teesdale feel alive again. You might think it’s grim up north, but honestly – it couldn’t have been further from the truth. The place was absolutely glowing. A simple morning out, but one that lifted all our spirits.