Holydays

Managed to catch the only blue sky of the day earlier this morning.I believe the Middlesbrough area has since had a snowfall!!
This is the gateway to Bishop Aucklnd Castle which has been in the news recently.
It has been revealed that the centuries old paintings which reside there are not going to be sold off after all and it's all thanks to a generous donation of £15m by a Teesside born philanthropist called Jonathan Ruffer. In Debrett's he lists his hobbies as opera and sleeping. He was born in Stokesley and has been a stockbroker, barrister and investment manager.
He has created a new charitable trust which means the pictures of Jacob and his Sons, which have hung on the walls of a specially designed gallery at Auckland Castle, for 250 years, won't now end up at auction. It is hoped that by keeping these on show and diversifying activities run at the castle more people ,will now visit. The Church Commissioners say talks are underway to secure more funding to allow the public greater access to the castle and grounds, which have been the official residence of the Bishops of Durham for the last 800 years. The ambition is to make it a leading arts and heritage centre for the North East.
Good news indeed for Bishop Auckland, along with the rumour that plans for a cinema in the area might now go ahead, to complement recent additions of eateries, supermarkets and anticipated shops.Perhaps things might just be getting better.