First Bothy Night of the Season, Northumberland, Oct 2023.

[@donnavansenior]

If anyone would like to help support the channel, they can at: www.buymeacoffee.com/donnavansenior Thank You Xx

[@TheNeilo-Audiosound]

You have to keep this one up Miss D on every Post 🙏

[@donnavansenior]

@@TheNeilo-Audiosound I always forget until about a day later 🙄

[@TheNeilo-Audiosound]

@@donnavansenior Is it an Age Thing😂😂😂

[@donnavansenior]

@@TheNeilo-Audiosound Don't I know it 🤣😂

[@michaelforster8440]

Green bothy is one of my favourites stayed there many of time's.

[@donnavansenior]

It's a great bothy, one of my favourites in Northumberland. I don't name locations though Michael, that's why I didn't name the bothy in the vid title or thumbnail, every little helps to keep undesirables away. TFW :)

[@emz_adventure]

Hehe minge n briquette back in the bothy again. Bloody marvelous. Fond memories of that place. Not sure I'm struck on the window accessories mind 😂😂. You two cheer me right up. 🎉🎉shits n giggles. Never knew that about the owld flakes of corn.........i don't eat them .....make of that what you will 😂😂xxx

[@donnavansenior]

Yooohooooo Azda's 🧡😁 yeah, I've got the best set of memories with this particular bothy, that night with you and Emma was an absolute howl 🤣😅 Annie's in full stealth mode on this one, but we had a good laugh and nice to sit round a canny fire out of the elements, chatting away. Annie didn't know that about the Cornflakes either hahaha. I'm back to working weekends, so I'm back to my usual days off on Thurs / Fri if you lasses fancied a bothy night sometime xxx

[@BorderRambler]

Ah yes I remember that bothy well , as it’s the only one I’ve stopped in lol . I dossed in the exact spot Annie was 😂😂 looks like they have lopped all the trees down to the rear as you said. Annie makes me laugh with her cooking concoctions lol . Bothies have there place especially now the grim season is upon us 👍

[@donnavansenior]

Yip - the 'grim season' is here with a large damp thud, that's for sure. We'd planned on having a forest camp, but the weather was worse than forecast, so a good call on heading to this bothy. I remember watching your video years ago when you were here. I've stayed at this one a good few times now, it's one of my favourites, especially midweek. There's been loads of forestry work all round this area, so on a dry night wood's not hard to source, unfortunately it was wringing wet when we were there last week. And the water sources 'nearby' aren't the easiest to reach, hence Annie's tasty ditch water lol. Her tea might have sounded a bit funky but it smelled tasty, and we had a proper good laugh sat round the fire. Not a bad start to Autumn 😉 Cheers Dave :)

[@catherineweaver9302]

Ill have you know my "Cooking Concoctions" are EPIC Dave.....😉...full of 'Rabbit food"...🤣.llama_ladee_anny

[@SarahLee220]

Great video and loved the Kelloggs story 😂

[@donnavansenior]

Thanks Sarah - the Kellogg's part went on for longer but I cut a lot of it out hahaha. Definitely an interesting history to those innocuous flakes of corn 😅😅

[@SarahLee220]

@@donnavansenior I had a bowl of crunchy nut cornflakes after watching that 😂 you can only imagine what Paul said to me haha

[@donnavansenior]

@SarahLee220 🤣🤣🤣

[@wildheartart7375]

Another entertaining video, thanks for making this. I think the misty forest landscape is beautiful 😍

[@donnavansenior]

Glad you enjoyed it - I usually do more bothies over the darker months, but this was the only one I did late last year. Bothies are always best if you go with at least one pal. Misty forest's always look amazing, I love seeing little pockets of mist drifting over the tops of trees when I forest camp 💚

[@chezzahurst6294]

Donna your craic is amazing! Loving your channel lass, a joy to watch

[@donnavansenior]

Thank you Chezza, as you can see I get myself out and about quite a bit lol. And I try and keep things a bit different when I'm filming, so people don't get bored. Super nice comment, thanks, it makes all the time and effort doing the vids worthwhile ⛺😊

[@Kev_Russ]

Loving the bin bag, old skool style war hat. 😂👒 Good to see you oot with Annie again. Looked a guid night. Annie hiding in the dark in this video. Hop you made a recovery fae the Rona. 😷

[@donnavansenior]

The bin bag hat was a stroke of genius Kev, and looked rather fetching too 🙄😂 Yeah, always a fun time had out with Llama Annie, the first night we had a van night up by the border, but had to retreat inside our vehicles with the nasty weather, so it was a good call for a bothy the night after. Annie's in pure stealth mode on this video lol, but it's the chirpy banter that's the star of the show 😁 On to official day 5 with the plague and defo on the mend. 1st three days were nasty 😷🤕🤢🥵 but overall not as bad as 1st time I had it.

[@catherineweaver9302]

Donna shut me in the wood shed after to 'Shut me up" LOL..😲.😉..llama_ladee_anny🤓

[@Kev_Russ]

@@catherineweaver9302 😂

[@catherineweaver9302]

She gets fed up with my constant drivel..@@Kev_Russ 🤣

[@jimmy.mccutcheon.1961]

Nice one Donna 😉👍 & Annie 😉👍

[@donnavansenior]

Cheers Jimmy, another good couple of days out with Llama Annie and as always a great laugh 😁

[@stealthandysteath1069]

Morning hun, sorry to here you getting the covid mate. Don't let it keep ya down lol. Thanks for sharing. Keep warm. Tc Andy

[@donnavansenior]

Tested negative on Thursday Andy, so that was me back to work yesterday. It was super fast this time, like a full blown flu for 3 days then 2 days recovering. Really weird. Cheers Andy :)

[@stealthandysteath1069]

@@donnavansenior just glad your OK Don Don 🤣🤣

[@bulletproof5472]

You've got a 'Mad Ivy' vibe going on there with your bin bag hat n clip. I'll have nightmares tonight. 😉😂 Winka x

[@donnavansenior]

Hahaha, she used to terrify us didn't she 😅 She was like an A-list celebrity in Forest Hall, everyone knew her, but no-one went near her. She would just mumble and swear if you got too close, then scurry off. Bless her.

[@bulletproof5472]

Oh aye, bless her... 😂X

[@mickyb05111]

Glad to see you had a good time up there. Thanks for the birthday wishes.

[@donnavansenior]

Never had a bad stay there yet, it's a lovely bothy. Have you had your birthday or is it coming up? I'm sure it was round this time last year when I was chatting with you and your wife there.

[@mickyb05111]

@@donnavansenior it's this weekend. Off to Scotland for 3 bothy nights up there with mates. Yeah it was around this time last year when met you before we left.

[@donaldgibson3009]

I really look forward to your videos Donna keep it up girl

[@donnavansenior]

Thanks Donald, really enjoyed this bothy night, nice to be sat indoors with a good fire when the rains hammering down outside.

[@grahamswildcamping]

Ah, the great Northumbrian bothy! I’m always chuffed to think how many good bothies we’ve got up here and that one is a gud’n- although I did have a slightly negative experience in there last year. Thanks for the videos Donna, good craic as always. Shame about the bothy book- hope it hasn’t gone up the lum. In time I think they form an important record of a little micro-history. ATB, Graham 👍👍👍

[@donnavansenior]

Yep, you're right Graham, we're so lucky to have the bothies we do in Northumberland and the Borders, for people like us they're invaluable (usually) safe havens so we can still get our outdoors fixes when the weather's totes pants. What was your negative experience there last year? And the old bothy books are still there (going back to 2013), but there's no current bothy book, the last entries I found were from the beginning of the year. Cheers Graham & thanks for the coffee - I'll turn it into beer for my days off this week now I'm free of Covid & can play out again lol :)

[@nickfaiellacool3184]

Hi Donna, this is Nick from Arizona your videos are great. I hope you and your family are doing well. You have a great personality. Stay well my friend God Bless.

[@donnavansenior]

Morning Nick from a dreary, cold and wet Newcastle. Thanks for the nice comment, I hope your week is going well. Just tested negative for covid this morning so that's me a happy gal :)

[@thegeordiefellwalker8878]

autumn,bothys & broth👌 I'll try & get up to stock the fuel up🔥aye jason does a splendid job👍never eating cornflakes again donna 💪🤣🤣

[@donnavansenior]

Aye, gan canny with the Cornflakes Geordie 🤣and never mind fire wood - that bothy is desperately in need of a new Bothy Book if you've got owt lying around and are passing that way :)

[@helenreeves6978]

Not a bad evening, looks a decent place ….. here in Co Durham it’s rain rain and more rain, just waiting for the next storm to roll in 🙄🌧️🌧️

[@donnavansenior]

Same here today Helen, rain and more rain - and last week it was pretty similar up by the borders. This is when bothies are invaluable, when there's two of you out, it's a lot more social sitting indoors round a cosy fire than shouting between 2 tents with the rain hammering down. Looks like there's another storm arriving tomorrow, I'll not be out, still recovering off Covid, but I'm on the mend 🙏🏼

[@helenreeves6978]

@@donnavansenior hope it wasn’t too bad, some people have felt quite poorly with it. I’m still walking the Northern Saints Trails but Lanchester was under water at the weekend and I don’t think it will be getting much better this weekend 🙄

[@donnavansenior]

@@helenreeves6978 I hope you get back out on your Northern Saints Trails soon. Surely this wet weather can't last much longer.

[@hikermikem8]

👻😁 Evening ladies of the bothy.. Despite the grey and drizzle outside, you two had a great time in the bothy.. A good option this time of the year and your still out in the fresh air with your cooking and bothy gear. Plus cheeky ciders 😁 Teaseing again with your dumplings donna 🤣😁👍 Annie needs to start cooking up some precamp proper winter warmer meals at home for nights like that.. 😁 Good to see you both out n about . Takecare x

[@donnavansenior]

Hya Mike, I've been quiet of late, storms and Covid make Donna a dull girl, but it was great to squeeze in a few days out with Llama Annie, and even better to have a nice bothy night in the forest. We're fortunate to have places like these to use, especially on nights like this. Good banter as always when we're out together - my broth and dumplings hit the spot, Annie's healthy pasta meal sounded weird, but smelled tasty enough - and Annie has no need for stockpiling winter foods.....not where she's heading lol. She's not a fan of dark cold winters, so she heads somewhere lighter and warmer..... Cheers Mike, hope you're keeping well, catch up soon X

[@hikermikem8]

​@donnavansenior 😁 hiya donna x looked a decent sized bothy, but shame no firewood was left there.. We don't have many around these parts, and those we have your lucky to have a stone floor and even a roof 🤣 There is a couple of good ones dotted around in the peak district ( shooters huts ) but always busy at weekends.. I use to use camping barns a lot years ago esspecially up in the lakes. There very posh these days and prices to match 🤣😁 I think next winter, I'll take a leaf out of Annie's book and travel to warmer climes 🌎🌞 I'm off to Edale on Friday for 2 nights with the racoon this weekend with @drunkonwanderlust and the gang 😃 After that I'm busy moving home so won't be out for a while 😢 You look after yourself dvs and hope that covid is clearing now.. xx

[@donnavansenior]

Any firewood left is always a bonus, but never to be expected, that's why I carried in as much as I could Mike. We're very fortunate to have these buildings up by the borders, and of course into Scotland, they can be real life savers, but can also be sadly mis-used by others. I'd never head for a bothy at a weekend unless it was an emergency situation, they get too busy and that's not for me. Great to hear you're back out with Kerry and the gang this weekend, I just finished watching her Cape Wrath vids last night, a damned good effort, well done to her and Steve. It'll be a cracking good weekend whatever the weather and the Rakoon sounds like a good choice :) And you're moving house? Crikey, that's a stressful thing to do, I hope you're happy in your new home and that it's in a good area with easy access to the great outdoors (and work lol). Fingers crossed you get back out real quick Mike and that the move goes smoothly. Xx

[@hikermikem8]

@donnavansenior x Thanks donna, the move will be good and swift as everything is virtually packed and ready to go. It's Oop north, by that I mean thurther north of Manchester to where I am now.. lots of local parks and huge outdoor areas to explore and 2 mins from the M62 👍 closer to work also .. It was time to move on dvs and grabbed it whilst I could 😃 looking forward to it .. Catch up soon.. About to get turfed out of Costa.. 🤣🤣 x

[@catherineweaver9302]

@@donnavansenior ☀️☀️☀..🌋⛺️🏔...Yayyyyyy...🏃‍♀..🤣.llama_ladee_anny

[@binkyboo4793]

Glorious autumnal weather? It's not stopped raining all week. I'm starting to think I might need to build a boat! 😂🤣

[@TheNeilo-Audiosound]

Ark with 2 of everything so be generous with the Size😜

[@donnavansenior]

It's been pretty constant for the last 2 weeks, a boat mightn't be a bad idea @binkyboo4793 😂

[@djsiimz]

Donna without a tent wow haha nice one 😊

[@donnavansenior]

😂😂 I had 3 tents packed and raring to go in the Lingo, but the weather had been rotten all day Siimz and the lure of spiders, rickety chairs and a smoky, smelly fire was too much to resist 😉😁

[@diana-jh6hj]

😂💚

[@otf.outdoors]

Looked like a great night in the Bothy with Annie 👍, Annie’s meal sounded…interesting 🤔😬🤣, looked like it’s a canny size in there, spot on. Gotta say when I’ve ate cornflakes the only thing it’s suppressed is my appetite 🤣😬, is there any good areas to pitch up near there Donna, looks great, atb Mick 👍

[@donnavansenior]

Ey-Up Mick, yeah it's a good bothy in a nice location, there's pitching opportunities up the track from the bothy, either with a free-stander on moss covered side gravel tracks, or where the forest starts again about a quarter mile further up. It's a great area to explore by bike as well. Annie's tea sounded a bit funky but it smelled pretty good, she always adds hods of extra veg to whatever she's eating. Healthy and filling.......which is more than I can say for Cornflakes 🙄😂 Nice to have an unexpected bothy night and a good bit of banter as per usual when we're out together. Cheers Mick :)

[@bonysminiatures3123]

Looked a great evening out their donna whats with annie she gone camera shy heheheh

[@donnavansenior]

Hya Bony's, yeah Annie's always camera shy, so I respect that and film accordingly - but you can see that we have a good laugh with the banter. And always good to get a bothy night in when the weather's like that :)

[@DaveandBuddyOutdoors]

Loved this Donna, plenty of laugh out loud moments in this, Bin-bag hat looked the business, they'll be selling them on the market before you know it, with this cost of living crisis 😆 "Squatters in the spare room" 😆 , I used to stay in a squat (many years ago), if that's Annie's "mess", then what I used to stay in was apocalyptic! (Defo a health hazard) Banter between Annie and you is absolutely crackin' had me rollin' with laughter 🤣🤣🤣 And yep, I knew why cornflakes were invented! I watch Q.I and learned it from there, before you say owt! 😆 Hope you recover from covid soon, (I had it 2 yr ago, knocked me for 6, not had it since 🤞) Take care Wishing you a quick recovery All the best D & B 👍

[@donnavansenior]

Morning D&B - we have tread similar paths in the past, I've stayed in squats too (Brixton and Islington in the early 80's) and yeah lol, Annie's set-up looked like the Ritz compared to them 😂 The bin bag hat is a definite keeper, and looked rather fetching - even though someone above said I looked like Hilda Ogden 🙄😂😂 how very dare thee haha. Aye it's always good banter when I'm out with Llama Annie, this was a really funny night (& I cut a big chunk out of the Cornflakes part) so it's nice to get it on film. She doesn't like the camera shoved in her face - which I totes respect and I film accordingly. This was my 2nd bout of Covid - the 1st one was really bad, this one was more like a full blown flu, but hasn't lasted as long. I'm on day 5 and over the worst. Cheers D&B :)

[@thescottster5057]

as ever good to see you girls out and about, at first I could have sworn that was the Spirit of Hilda Ogden, with your heart fashioned from a bin liner and a clip, if you had thought of that 45 years ago You might have taken Vivienne Westwood's career 🤔 Shame the weather was piss poor 🌧 So no drone footage. Yet again a good food and drink review, if you mix the beer and cider It would be a Seven-inches or a Bite-snake 😂 Hope you're feeling better after your bout of covid, catch you's on the next one 💕

[@donnavansenior]

Morning Scotty 😁 laughing at the Hilda Ogden comment, I knew I'd seen that look somewhere before 😂 I'll have to get some flying ducks for the bothy wall. Yeah piss poor weather means no drone footage, but tbh with the amount of wood I was carrying I doubt I could have managed the drone as well, I was on my limits, and obviously a lady has to prioritise food and drink and fire over tiny flying machines 😉 Defo on the mend from Covid thanks, turned the corner yesterday after 3 days of suffering & I'm hoping to be allowed back to work on Saturday. Stay clear of the 7 Brothers brew - you never know what might happen 🙄😂

[@DMAC1966]

My very first Bothy back in Dec 2020. Think it's well overdue another visit ☺

[@donnavansenior]

It's a great bothy, in a great location. Not a bad choice for your first bothy Derek - mine was Spithope a good few years back ;)

[@RamblingRuth]

I’ve had a crap week but seeing you always cheers me up! Nice to hear Llama Annie too. I hope the Covid is a mild case and you’re ok. Take care x

[@donnavansenior]

I was full of wit and sparkle on this one, and great to be out with Llama Annie for a few days, but when I got home on Friday, by tea time it had hit me like a bag of hammers. I'm immunosuppressed because of meds I take, so I always know it'll get it bad - the irony was that I'd just had my 2 jabs on the Wednesday 😒 Today is full day 4 and I think I've rounded the corner, Sat-Mon were horrible, like a full-blown flu, but I'm hoping to be back at work this Saturday if they'll have me 🙏🏼🙏🏼 X

[@RamblingRuth]

My son’s just had it too and it knocked him for six and he’s a strapping 18 year old. Hopefully you’re on the upward turn now! Get better soon x

[@TheNeilo-Audiosound]

At first with the Hand Gesture’s I thought That’s Donna Catering for her Lack of hearing Subscribers or was that my sound just went Off on my headphones😜 No fear the Pot Noodle was introduced and the World was right again🙏 Then we hit the Nights accommodation (The Bothy Premier Inn) but this time with a Space Blanket,Probably a Fisher Space pen and First Edition hardback Copy of The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy (Or Cadbury’s) whatever your Preference left by the Bothy’s Management in the Bed side drawer. I was then hoping Miss D revealed a Packet of Space Dust and Some Flying Saucers for Treats and to keep on Topic😜 Donnas new in Vogue black Ascot Hat was very Fetching (with Not a Jockey In Sight) and Yet very purposeful for the Venues Inclement Weather. Donna brings The Essentials Whilst on this Tour of Duty whereas Annie Just brings Everything🙈 The Cowboy Chat round the Bothy Kitchen Fire was a Chuckle and Led to the Beer review that Donna Seemed Far too knowledgeable about and even made me Question my own Cornflake Consumption as I go through a Kilo a week 🙈 (I live Alone What Can I Say😜) Even the Navy uses Bromide to Quell Mrs Palmer and her Five Sons Happy Time but I now think should be Scrutinised and Corn Flakes Put on the Menu instead if Donnas Research is right😮👍 All told Another Happy Excursion and a Good Time had by all which we also enjoyed🙏Thanks Miss D and Llama for the Time and Effort.👍⛺️🥾 (Comment Saved Just In case)😜

[@donnavansenior]

Crikey, your comment hasn't disappeared so far. I'll reply properly tmora, just off to bed, still a bit rough but mostly on the mend now :)

[@TheNeilo-Audiosound]

@@donnavansenior Good to Hear Miss D🙏 No hurry as I’m Sitting with my head In my hands at the moment assessing the huge Amount of Sweets I gave away to Kids for Halloween.Adults can Sod Off as I only offered the Good stuff To the kids. Refreshers,Anglo Bubbly,Freddos,Chomps, Turkish delights,Double Deckers Boosts,Crunchies,Star Bars,Twirls,Double Deckers,Breakaways,Star Mix,Chewing nuts,Sarsaparilla Tablets,Kola Cubes,Sour plums,Rosy Apples,Pineapple Chunks, NO ONE GOT MY CRUNCHIES😂

[@donnavansenior]

That was a very spaced out and sweet comment Neilo 😉😁🍬 Space Dust! Wow, been years since I had that. I usually just stick to a Picnic or Double Decker these days and keep off the sweets, but we were talking about quarters of sherbet in paper bags, and lollies to dip in at work last week. That used to be one of my favourites. Never mind sweets though, this one is all about the bothy and a good bit of banter with the enigmatic Llama Annie. It's nice to get these fireside gems on video, and it's not scripted, it's just 2 friends having a laugh round the fire. Priceless. The Cornflakes scene was loads longer, but I cut a big chunk out because I wandered off track a few times. But yeah, Mr Kellogg's was obsessed with the subject 🙄😂 and I think he'd be turning in his grave if he knew beer was being brewed with his holier than thou flakes of corn 😂 All in all another memorable outing with the enigmatic Llama Annie, good banter, nice food and drink and a roaring fire to boot. That's my kind of perfect day out 😊 Cheers Neil, nice to see you've not disappeared this time 🥳🥳 atb DVS :)

[@catherineweaver9302]

🤣🤣🤪.llama_ladee_anny

[@kevinwilde]

canny crack you take care.

[@donnavansenior]

Cheers Kevin, it's always good banter when I'm out with Llama Annie 😁

[@drwn-board6486]

Primary colour bothy ; ) ill say no more

[@donnavansenior]

If you know you know 😉😁

[@thelifeofbrian282]

Like you said Donna ideal bothy weather 😅 glad you're still getting out and about with your invisible friend 😂 you did well keeping the video interesting especially with your dodgy conversations on underwear 🩲 colour and STDs 😂 keep on keeping on DVS atb Brian 👍

[@donnavansenior]

Morning Brian, yeah Llama Annie was in full stealth mode on this vid 🤣 a cracking good night though and defo the right decision to head to a bothy. It's another grim day out there, and I've just had my negative covid test (woohoo), but I'll not be heading out this week due to storms. Hope you're keeping well, atb DVS :)

[@thelifeofbrian282]

@@donnavansenior all good Donna, glad you are Covid free 👍