Lunch at the Fish Quay June 2013

My late May and early June review of recent films and of TV gets put back another week after enjoying another three days of sunshine, the River and the coast. On Thursday June 6^th 2013 I failed to dress warmly for my first visit to the sea coast amphitheatre thus restricting my length of stay. It was my first walk along the sea coast this year although I have been down to the sea front in the car for mini walks before the car parking charges were reintroduced for the season.

I was not the only person who regretted not having a thicker coat as the temperature dropped despite the sun remain out until late and there was a flood of those dressed for the promenade and beach making their way home back along Ocean Road on foot/

There were also six merchant vessels laying off the Tyne entrance well away from the dangerous rocks close to the shores. As I returned home one of the ships, looking the largest, was being escorted into the river mouth by one of the four tugs still available compared to the twenty or so who traded until the 1970’s. Now the four are owned by an international company which provides most of the tugs looking after shipping in most fo the Worlds great River ports. They are equipped with the latest communications, radar and weather technology and their HQ is a short distance from that of the River Police, both on the South Tyneside side of the river, and where the latter also acts as a training centre, while further along on the other side of the hill is the Life boat training centre and also the centre used by the South Tyneside College marine school.

The sand dunes and large swaths of sand looked in pristine condition as did the new pathways and walling. The Marsden Rattler, twin train carriages Italian restaurant is still too expensive for every day eating for my pocket but the adjacent Restaurant pub compares with the nearest Wetherspoons in terms of special offers such as 2 for 1 which excludes me and Curry night which is a possibility as I have decided that I should eat our more at least once a week when at home.

There were a few camping vehicles and caravans in the park adjacent to the official site now given over fully to large attractive looking holidays home, too many in too close proximity for my lacking but bring more weekenders to the town.

As is my custom I walked up and along the walkway which overlooks the beach and the amphitheatre and water feature. The surface of the walkway has been redone with attractive all weather bench seating enabling panoramic view towards the Priory and castle ruins on Tynemouth hill across the entrance of the Tyne, six parked merchant ships, the great sands and then down the coast to Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough. Beneath me, keeping out of the cold and firm breeze, about a dozen keep fit men and women were being put through their paces and this year for the first time the local authority had invested in an all weather canopy above the playing stage located close to the amphitheatre but would also enable the show to continue if it rained with the audience sheltering under the walkway.

There were about two hundred people sitting in the amphitheatre or at the tables and chair around Minchella’s enlarged tea house and ice cream parlour with a steady queue at the take away service window. There were about half a dozen aging bikers who have made the location there own throughout the year.

The first act was a young female guitarist with a strong local accent Courtney Dixon aged 15-16 who reached the final of the North East and Scotland Open Mike competition where she also entered when she was 13 years of age. I did not feel the open air acoustics benefited her voice. There is a video from the competition on You Tube. I cannot remember if the next solo singer was Dean James or Paul Liddell who followed Courtney’s half hourish set. I had found a cold stone sat in a more sheltered spot but the music was not sufficiently compelling for me to stay.

On the way back I had a better look at the new paved area outside the new swimming and general Leisure centre which looks as if it will be completed soon and was scheduled to be ready before the end of Spring. The project is to be called Haven Point and will also include yet another Amphitheatre making three along the Coast and River. As previously mentioned although there is ane expensive recreation of the original bandstand in South Bents Park, it is not used until August with concerts during June and July on Sunday’s at the seacoast Amphitheatre.

On Saturday there is a three hour show covering local talent aged 15 to 19 years who will be competing to perform on the main stage at an all day event managed by the Customs House of August 4^th when I am in London watch Durham at Lords at the new as yet not completed amphitheatre. Young adults were invited to send their tracks to the organisers of the Bernicia Festival. Bernicia standing for the ancient Saxon Kingdom which covered Northumberland and Durham, Berwick and Lothian region of Scotland.

The organisers selected three of the most talented youngsters to perform on the Saturday evening. Although the weather looked good I wondered about the turn out because of the clash with the final of Britain’s Got Talent and which led to the Voice to switch its latest episode to last night. I decided to set the recorder and go and see for myself but this time taking the car to the bottom of the hill with a variety of clothing for outside wear.

On getting outside of the car the air felt warm and there were sunbathers in the North Bents Park although it was just on six o’ clock and those going in both directions along Ocean Road were lightly dressed so putting on a heavy coat seemed out of place so I continued with the same light jacket as on Thursday but as soon as I reached the roadside promenade I realised the wind was just as strong as before an decided against moving closer to the sands along the beach promenade.

I had a light evening meal of a small quiche and some cherries beforehand and wafting odour of the fish of fish and Chips from the roadside kiosks and the Ocean Restaurant was a powerful reminder that I had consumed little. Every outside table was occupied at the Sundial and there were six row of caravans and motor homes in the park adjacent to the official holiday home park and I had also noted that South bents park was full of families enjoying the children’s play parks, the train, the boating or just lazing on the grass. The fun fair was also doing good business including the giant swinging arm.

Although ti was well after six when I reached the amphitheatre it looked as the first act was just setting up the instruments with the amplifier and I judged he audience t be less than on Friday. I made my way along to the Sandancer, a pub restaurant I have visited many items usual around six in the evenings when the cross channel ferry could be view from one fo he beach side restaurants, This was then the restaurant was part fo a chain and where vouchers reducing the bill by £5 for two were frequently available.

This is now an individually owned facility aiming at the well dressed young with music evenings and with price a little above average with a two course Sunday mean £8.95. I had intended to continue to walk along the beach promenade to the Trow Rocks but tis would have meant cross sand without doubling back to the car park so I change tak and went back to the amphitheatre where the first act did not appeal and as suspected the temperature was lowering so I set on a quickly agreed plan B. This included calling in att eh first Kiosk for 1 £1.70 carton of fatty chips with batty which I then eat in the car which after travelling the short distance back to the temporary summer car park across the road from the amphitheatre. The second was more to my likely will summer sounding instrumentation so I stayed for half an hour before going back to view the Britain’s Got Talent final,

It was looking over towards Tynemouth Priory on Thursday evening that the idea of making the walk along the River bank to the north Tyneside Fish quay for lunch one fine day soon was planted. That fine day came sooner than anticipated when the urge to go out once more in the sunshine was strong on Friday morning and I decided to make the trip taking a near empty rucksack to purchase some needed items from Morrisons on the way back. I did take my mini pocket radio and enjoyed both classical and radio one 1 along the way. Radio One was enjoying some national publicity because the Queen was visiting the broadcast studio as part of opening the new BBC London HQ centre yesterday, on her own as Prince Philip had entered a private hospital for surgery on his abdomen after various tests and was scheduled to stay in the hospital for two weeks. The band, “The Script” were invited to the live studio to play a number and be introduced to the head of State and later the morning presenter gushed her excitement during an interview with the lead singer before the group played a couple of their favourite hits in a move designed to make Royalty more accessible and connected with the young.

I took the Ferry which arrived on the North bank in time for the just before half past buses. I had debated going to visit the Pitman Painters gallery at Ashington, but I had missed the connection just before the hour. I took the 10.27 number 19 bus for the short journey to North Shields metro station before the vehicle went on to the Northumberland park metro station where I assume it did a turn around. I had to wait only few minutes for the equally short train ride to Tynemouth where I decided not to take the stairway over the line and go out from the arrival platform just to see where it led. The walk paralleled that from the other platform exit, along to the famous private school one side with attractive terraced villas on the other the other side of the junction with the road to the castle and priory and the main road from North Shields where I could have arrived by bus

The coaster goes from Gateshead and Newcastle to Tynemouth and on to Whitley Bay via North Shields. There is also a service which commencing in Newcastle goes on to Blyth (306 308) and the 357 ends at Tynemouth from Newcastle and of course there is the one buss direct from the ferry, the 333 but which goes to the Coast Road to the North East of the town and involves a longer walk longer walk. I did debate this possibility back at the ferry bus terminal but the driver of the 19 came first while that of the 333 was having a smoke, but given the number of us waiting for the 19, the 333 set off just seconds beforehand.

Along the main street to the castle and priory there were not as many enjoying coffee at outside tables as I have witnessed on past visits. On reaching the ruins of the Castle I took the road down to the river side passing the route to the north pier on my left and the two free car parks on the right and noting three caseloads of tourists, all from the same company admiring the view back along the river and across to South Shields. I wondered where they were from and where they were going.

Reaching the esplanade the smell of sea weed on rocks greeted me. The smell took me back to the childhood recognition that a summer holiday away from home had commenced with this unmistakable badge of the seaside.

The views from this side of the river are gloriously spectacular and people pay thousands to experience abroad so I stopped at a couple of bench seats along the journey. The only dispiriting sight is the stern long block of flats above me, built to house seafarers each with a balcony view they were a commendable patronage in their day but now reminder everyone that this was an industrial and commercial river and not a tourist visitation.

As it was someway before noon when some of the restaurants offered their lunch time, daytime special I was able to view what all the establishments offered. Irvins Brasserie is the first the most pricey. I settled for Sambuca 2 one fo three owned by the same company at the other end after finding a yet another seat and admiring the view until noon. Cassia Sambuca and Sambucas are the other two adjacent but separate venues with the Cassia offering a three course £4.95 set meal with the two siblings £3.95. In between the two ends of the Quay area is the popular Martino restaurant with several pavement tables and which had the most diners drowsing in just before the hour sounded.

Oceans specialises in Fish and Chips with a separate Take away. They do offer a Pensioners special at £4.90 with the standard price a couple of pounds more. I did not check the take away prices although many were purchasing the boxed meal and eating from one of the riverside seats. There are several fish merchants, a continental foods store which also offered either a pheasant or a rabbit at under a fiver and one other eaterie as well as a couple of pubs, one by the fish dock and the other, the oldest in the town one with a maximum height of 5ft 8. There is also the Fish Quay Fair an indoor market with some 100 stalls open at weekends and possible midweek. I tend to look and not buy so just as well the venue was not open.

There were only two ladies in Sambuca 2 when I entered just afternoon and this enabled me to chose the only table with a full window view. I chose the potato skins starter although seeing the Minestrone soup offered another customer who arrived later this offered a more substantial portion. I also chose a penne carbonara- the egg cheese bacon dish with various pasta options and then coffee rather than ice cream have commenced with half a lager £1.50 so with £1 tip, the meal cost me £6.50. The decision to eat out rather than take a packed lunch came after a moment of rashness when before leaving I had purchased a £5 instant lottery ticked when getting my entry for the Euro lottery. I had then won £20 making net gain of £15.

Satisfied by the meal I walked leisurely back to the ferry landing arriving to watch it departing and therefore had half an hour to wait enjoying the view once more from one of the seats on the landing. I bought three £1 bags of cherries from the greengrocers under the Metro station and then at Morrisons, milk, a lettuce, some pate and margarine before reaching home. It had been a good morning which I wanted to make again.

Tyne River cruise June 2013

There was fog at the mouth of the river Tyne yesterday morning June 4^th 201 which lingered for most of the day and which was dense reducing visibility to the extent that in a boat in mid channel it was impossible to see either of the piers.

The fog was there when I went downstairs having planned to take a cruise on the Tyne but commencing in Newcastle. Fortunately it brightened sufficiently quickly for me to commence a packed lunch of four small home baked rolls filled with a pate, a small bag if cherries and two cans of Pepsi in a small cold bag with ice container.

The sun was warm as I went to the Metro station but I wondered if I should have brought a warmer coat, wearing my summer flannel as there is a cold wind off the river as the mouth is approached. I was not surprised how busy the train was as everyone seemed to be seizing the continuing good weather to be out and about. I then made a decision which worked out wonderfully well in terms of what could have happened. I stayed on the train on reaching Newcastle central station which was the stop for the shortest walk down to the quay side passing Monument and on to the Haymarket stop for the bus station when I just missed the every ten minute service to the quayside from the first stand.

It was while waiting that I suddenly remembered that I had not removed my cash from the thicker trousers worn the previous day when switching to the lighter pair I was wearing. I had no money to pay the £11 fare for a senior, a pound reduction on the adult charge and as there was no guarantee that a credit card machine would be available, I quickly rounded the corner back to the Metro station where again fortunately, there is a bank branch, my own, across the forecourt. The bus was back on station and ready to go as soon as I arrived with the driver having closed the doors, but again good fortune was me and he opened them again. This time the multi pass worked but I had to be reminded to take the ticket.

I was early for the river cruise with boarding at 11 am for the noon departure and alighted at the first quayside stop rather than continuing to the Millennium Bridge or the stop at the official end of the quay. It was a very pleasant morning and I use my phone the to take yet more photos of the bridges, the Sage and the Baltic although I am yet to find out what they are like as with the brightness I could not see what was in the frames.

There were already a few people out enjoying a late breakfast or just coffee at the restaurant bar opposite the Baltic. This brand has London city prices, yet the place was packed when I returned just after three as in fairness was every one of the street tables that now occupy every available space around every eaterie and bar in the city. I can remember what the quayside was like forty years ago when the cargo sheds remained, a score of then, from the days when Newcastle was a busy port and with the rest of river all the way to the sea, some thirteen miles alive with ship building and repair yards, cargo loading and loading docks, tug boats and customs.

I was also unsure give this was just the starting month of the river cruise season and a weekend if there would be sufficient customers for the three hour down river or later two hour up river trip and or the one hour around the city. The three craft used by River Escapes are moored midway between the Millennium Bridge and the end of the quayside. Along this stretch I noted a car park which although costing £1 for an hour £2 for two, cost only £3 for the day and on the bus ride down to the quay I noted that the extension Eldon Square Car Park is now free after 5pm which would ideal for visits to the Playhouse Theatre which I have to visited since finding that the Sleep Apnoea was affect my ability to enjoy the evening performances. It did occur that I would have to study the last traffic directions map I order to fid a way to reach both car parks!

Seeing a few people board one fo three boats I decided to make my way, paid the £11 and was disappointed that my ticket was retained by a young woman at the gang plank entrance after taking the lower river level pathway to the second and largest of the vessels. I secured a place on the top deck and was surprised and several of the later arrivals preferred the lower deck at the end of the boat and as the journey progressed down river their wisdom was evident sheltered from cold wind, enjoying drinks and food in the sunshine.

On both decks there was a number of chairs and tables (for 30 said at notice at the top) although there was only a couple at the front, me to one side and three men to the other and a woman on her own towards the rear. Half these vacated to lower deck before the River moth was reached because of the cold wind.

The first difference from my previous journey is that the Spillers factory site has been cleared although there is a Spillers Toffee making factory elsewhere in Newcastle. On the Newcastle side of the river the various warehouse Loft conversions, new flats, town house and maisonettes around St Peter’s basin and Ouseburn have been completed and with modest prices compared to London and the South generally where two and three bed properties are on the market at between £180000 and £250000 and with those closer to the town centre or with river views, riverside balconies commanding the higher prices. I will take the bus one day and continue to the Ouseburn where there is an attractive looking pub by the small boat basin,

There are few penthouses visible on both sides of the river and a large now well established Jury’s Inn development £55 without breakfast, £65 with on the Gateshead bank by the Baltic, and the huge Holiday Inn £72 with breakfast, two of several new hotels that have been added to the city, along with a Travel Lodge and Premier Inn, attracting business, conferences tourists and families visiting some of the seventy thousand students that are now in the city.

On the Gateshead bank down stream there is the Elephant on the Tyne, a 28 bed Hotel, restaurant and entertainment centre once owned by the traditional Geordie humour comic Bobby Pattison who along with the Little Waster, Bobby Thompson who owned and ran a Comedy Club in the centre of Gateshead once led the Comedy revival in the north east. Opposite hotel with a commanding riverside view is a residential block of accommodation. The site is in the area of the Gateshead stadium which I will be visiting of the European team Championship

Further along on this bank isolated is the giant Marine Paint factory complex which I believe still employs several thousand people and provide the paint required for some 40% of the British Naval Fleet. There are tree wooded banks on both sides of the river replacing former boat yards until reaching Hebburn where I once watched large vessels being launched from one of the many great shipyards on this stretch of the Tyne on to South and North Shields. Swan Hunters, Palmers yards at Jarrow and Hebburn, Armstrongs, Parsons Marine, McNulty marine etc. Now among the little craft marinas there are still cranes, some ship repairs, North Sea Platforms and repair and maintenance and cabling. There is also the giant coal dock between Shields and Jarrow opened by the Queen mother but where now the coal comes in from Russia and Poland. The mountain of white goods destined for China appears to have gone.

Palmers of Jarrow went because its owner was wedded to building naval craft when the nation hoped the need had reduced with the end of the First Word War. An opportunity to retain a large port was missed when the idea of creating new docks at Jarrow by filling in the sandbanks at Jarrow Slake was rejected until more recent decades when the arrival of the Nissan car works, their most successful in the world, was created at Washington Sunderland and a car export port was required. Now thousands of vehicle were gleaning in the sunshine waiting to be shipped around the world.

The great Tyne Dock is no longer with the last created used for the second Tyne river road Tunnel completed two years ago. It said that up two hundred sail mastered ships once used the docks in its heydays. Middle docks South Shields is also now derelict and only partly cleared with the ambitious plans for the site appearing now to be on hold until the Town centre development has been completed.

As recently mentioned on the cross Tyne ferry visit, North Tyneside has cleared the former dockland area on its North Bank but again there as yet no signs of development. What has been created with some success is the North Tyneside Ferry Port. These are huge Channel crossing passenger and Lorry Transport vessels and adjacent to the ferry terminal is also the berth now used for visiting cruise liners, from time to time.

Our small craft, by comparison, continued in a growing wind into the dense fog between the two piers turning as the official entrance to the river was reached passing once more between the two buoys which marked the channel with rocks, the black maddens on one side and sand banks on the other. I have promised myself a visit to the Fish Quay and do the walk from the beach area to Tynemouth.

Yesterday discovering that my vehicle urgently needed its MOT I visited the Customs House area after the vehicle was taken to the garage to purchase my ticket for the Traditional Jazz and Blues evening at the end of October associated with the Whitely Bay Jazz weekend. I noted that the Coffee shop and bar premises which was once one of three public houses on the road down to the Customs House complex, the first a sports and karaoke bar and the third a real ale specialist was now closed.. It was on this walk that I realised that the new amphitheatre is being located at the Customs House end of the new Riverside park although my query whether it would be ready in three weeks time for the proposed large screen relay from Glastonbury remains. I then went over to Asda buying a chicken for the weekend, some, dried figs, individual quiche and a pack of smoked mackerel. I then enjoyed a pot of tea and a chocolate brownie(£1.80) in the cafe until notified that the vehicle had passed without requiring immediate additional work although the advisory suggests that I will need to start saving now to attend to various works which will be required sometime when the service is due in December and by next Spring time.

As soon as the cruise craft turned up river I went to the bar on the lower deck for a coffee and cake bar £2.80 and warmed up although once up river we lost the cold wind and I was able to relax and enjoy the speedy return to the city. The Millennium bridge had been opened for the start of venture and I had listened to the 60^th anniversary of the Coronation ceremony from Westminster Abbey which seemed a fitting event as I remembered my forty years on Tyne and Wearside.

Back at the quay I decided to walk up to Haymarket, fist along the Quay and then up the great Georgian Street, Grey Street to the Monument, passing Eldon Square full of people enjoying the sunshine and then to the Haymarket Station where a young man was having trouble finding his pass which he did. It was on the walk back that I appreciated the extent to which every available pavement space was being used by shoppers and visitors enjoying this first real taste of summer. I was back home just before five pleased I had interpreted the weather conditions correctly. It had been a good day.

10October 2012 shopping Newecastle and South Shields

It is another bright morning October 10^th 2012 and I will shortly get myself ready to go to Newcastle to Lakeland for another microwave dish, two more egg poaching pouches and the toaster toasted sandwich sleeves. More about which another occasion I also want some spring flowering bulbs. It is just before 9 am and I have been up wasting time for an hour and half playing chess and Free Cell patience. I had some mushrooms and tomatoes for breakfast with coffee.

I had an interesting dream (s) which I have not been able to work out. There were two reoccurring recent themes. The first is where I am in a building. Some times a variation of a place where I am at work, a Town Hall with entrances/exits which end at unrecognisable places or a departmental store. With similar issues about where I sometimes find myself. I am usually going somewhere specific, a place to eat or to meet up someone, and usually someone I know. Sometimes I find myself in unknown territory getting further and further away from where want/need to be although there is sometimes a but, usually the last which I sometimes miss and there are no other means of transport, sometimes I know a way to a railway station, and some times I get back to where I want to be. Other instances involve moving between floors in the building and finding one is required to take a risk, difficult stairways, having to jump. I enquire or search for an easy way. This was one aspect of the dream this morning. And my original family, the aunties were involved. I was due to meet one of them who also worked in the building at a restaurant but I found myself in the area. Then there was something like a fire or alarm and we all had to be moved. In this instance some distance away to a strange building or series of buildings passing stalls peopled by Muslims... I told someone, I wanted to see the President I had a message, I was being challenged, where did I come from and instead of saying New York than Washington as I knew we had all been moved.

I have won £6.40 in the lottery with two numbers and a star. It is the fourth time I have one small amount in the Euro lottery with the same numbers with a month. I had the TV on last night when the numbers came up and recognised that I had three, I checked emails and there is no notification but there is a winner notice on the account and the on line ticket check also confirmed. Interesting

13.15 I had an excellent visit to Newcastle, having been made aware in advance that the Duchess of Cambridge was coming to town when listening to BBC North East Radio while I was getting ready in thee bathroom. William was scheduled to be with her but had to cancel with the Funeral of a former Nanny. As I crossed over from the Monument Mall Metro entrance to Eldon Square Shopping centre I noticed a hoard of police including police horses and barriers on either side of the road in anticipation of the Royal cars. The Monument Mall building is being ripped apart from the inside with little progress appearing to have been made. It is possible to exit by the escalator or lift from the basement level to the ground level but everything thing else is barriered off and looks a mess.

I was able to find a copy of the morning Metro paper to look at for the early part of travel. The Celia Imrie Who do you think you are programme is tonight having being cancelled last week. She has aristocratic connections. The other papers are fill of the Police statement regarding Jimmy Saville and other celebrities at the BBC where there is now significant accounts that he had sex with many young people below the age of consent, mainly girls 13 -16 although a man has now come forward to say he was molested as a child. The family have removed the recently created elaborate grave stone following official and public reaction to the revelations. It is one thing to talk of the culture developed in the late fifties through to the seventies following the availability of the contraceptive pill, but the information suggests calculated systematic predatory behaviour of a criminal nature. To talk of sexual abuse not accurate as if somehow abuse is less harmful than criminal assault. There was an anything goes culture and very young girls threw themselves at rock and pop stars, just as there had been lots of casual and promiscuous activity associated with the peace movement of the late 1950’s and sixties, but what is being reported about Saville is of a different order and what also appears high level cover up meriting investigation as it is underway by the Police and the BBC.

All around the Monument in Newcastle there is a seasonal street market with some substantial cabin like stalls offering objects, novelties, clothing and lots of food including great cauldrons of Paella, Chilli con Carne and other dishes, mountains of Greek olives, large chunks of fudge, Mexican dishes, Hog Roast and others foods to tempt the palate on such a cold morning.

I have been into Eldon Square via Monument Metro Station earlier this year but not noted the extent of the changes that have taken place ion the ships on the first floor especially the Tyneside Film Theatre Film School on two floors. There is of course the new extension leading to the new departmental store and other fashion stores which attracts huge numbers on a Saturday attracting people to the City and away from the Metro centre on the outskirts of Gateshead. I am still surprised that both former Departmental Stores in Sunderland are now closed, Binns and the one in High Street although another opened in the extension to the uncover centre which I remember as once open streets.

I had a good look around Lakeland while I searched for another Microwave dish holder, not in the same place as before but I then found the poached egg pouches and bought two in orange as those given were in green so I will use one of each colour. I missed the Toasted sandwich bags/sleeves which were adjacent and had to ask an assistant. I could not resist three packs of soft chocolate covered nougat bars for £3.98 delicious as have been wolfing them since. I needed the loo and went up a floor noting in the opposite corner the North East Artists cooperative with ten galleries or rooms featuring the work of those involved. There is a wide range of artists on show here and price from a couple of hundred to several thousand pounds. I was Interested in industrial scenes of miners, Tyneside ship yard workers and locals, I did not linger too long as I do not have the resources to purchases and was not as a consequence interested in a window shop. I did have look at the Comet PC World store with a check on additional computer memory with costs around £75 to £100 but which I suspect I will need to have professionally fitted as it did not appear the same as additional storage. I promised myself an Internet check which I will do now.

I am not sure of the basis of the problem which could be a virus or malware of some kind so I have attempted system restore and other system support rather than go to a purchase. I will consult a local store if the problem persists. I reminded myself the need for a new answer phone and have reserved one at Argos to be collected tomorrow and costs under £20 as a half price sale item. It has a cordless handset. I have the reservation number on mobile and will go for it when printer arrives. The delivery company have sent email with a tracker check but as yet they have received the package to advise the expected delivery slot.

On both journeys I read more of The Snack Thief and made a few notes. Although tired on arrival at South Shields I decided to in search of spring flowering bulbs. There was a large group of young people leaving the station and three young girls possibly sixth formers possible students at Hebburn College liked noticed a pair of mixed bright colourful high heels worn by a well dressed woman in her twenties. The shoes were attractive as well as the heels high and not the usual wear for the day time street of South Shields. The girls were envious and then I overhead a comment by one of the accompanying young men in the party that this was the first time one or more of the girls had been to South Shields which I found amazing given the evident North East accents. There was a congregation of other young people who this group greeted at the King Street entrance to the Station and they stood there and later when I passed several were eating sandwiches or had drinks with them. They had departed the next time I passed the station entrance,

I went first in search of a £1 cheese and pickle baguette and was shocked to find these had been priced up to £1.50. When I checked at the two other Gregg stores it was confirmed the £1 baguette is no more although there was a ham for £1.30. The justification is greater cheese and pickle which I agree did make a difference but a 50% increase I ask you?

However any disappointment was offset by the visit to the original Pound wise store in the look out of springtime bulbs. I noticed some 2013 pocket diaries with leather looking cover, week to a view and a locking clasp which houses a biro pen all for £1 brilliant. I also noticed many other items of interest including some glitter glue and stick glue which I assume is also for £1, However I decided against at this point and went for the bulbs where I purchased two packs of four different coloured scented Hyacinths and two of the multi coloured 10 tulip packs also at £1

　

　

Mouth of Tyne Festival 2012 and the great Pot Hole

The sky is clear blue and cold this summer’s morning July 21st 2012, one week before the commencement of the Olympic Games in London and although I want to write extensively about the best TV drama series I have experienced, the six episode Millennium with covers the two stories of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and, the four episode two part story The Girl Played with Fire with the Girl who kicked Hornet’s Nest, I need first to catch up on the cultural and sporting events of last weekend and other developments.

As the weekend approached the weather had been a better mixture although it was disappointment on Saturday morning when I elected to make my visit to the North Tyneside Mouth of the Tyne Festival at Tynemouth. Sunday was to be warm and sunny but I wanted to do other things at home.

I decided to take the large red umbrella as the skies were grey and looked full of rain and headed for the Tyne Ferry walking at a good pace. On reaching the road crossing I saw that the ferry had just arrived with the majority of passengers already reaching the end of the landing stage so I quickened my pace to a trot but was still overtaken by a man who appeared about my age. He continued running until entering the Ferry but I worked out I had time to stop and walk at a normal pace. In this I was proved correct and took one of the few available seats downstairs on a bench where a teenage girl in the latest fashion of short hot pants and tights was engaged in enthusiastic conversation with a young man with a bicycle and where from the subsequent conversation it appeared that although they knew each other, possible from school, they had met unexpectedly but were both delighted to have done so.

At North Tyneside I discovered that for some unexplained reason the new bus turning circle and facilities had been closed on June 25th for four weeks so there was a little walk to the bus stop where a 333 was waiting and I took a seat and waited for other passengers to come and although several walked by along towards the Fish Quay. I did not see or may have missed what happened to the new found young couple but I believe that the man who had passed me on the way to the ferry also got on the bus and I subsequently know that he alighted  in the North Shields town centre and made his way to the Metro train station.

Before making my way there I went to Greggs and purchased my lunch, a £1 medium baguette filled with cheese and pickle. For the same money I could make myself two or one larger but this presently meets my needs and I enjoy  two or three times a week when I have decided to eat the main meal in the early evening. Whereas the French made baguette goes hard, these become soft if left for several hours before consuming.

The North Tyneside Metro station has been undergoing major renovations for the best part of a year and the line is regularly closed over weekends so that the work can be undertaken without interruption. There is now a long walk on either side of the track with a new entrance at the far end of the platforms and it was here as I sat down that I encountered the man from the Ferry landing at Shields who recognised me and asked if I was the person he had also passed running.

It is a feature of the North East, only in part because we are of the same generation, that strangers of both sexes will engage in passing the time conversation. I cannot remember how we got onto the subject of the Second World War he was born afterwards but remembered sweet with his rationing sister four years older remembering the puzzlement of what did one do with a banana which I matched with the story of someone who had rejected a fried egg for a proper egg having been used to powdered eggs until then. We moved onto the challenges which young people faced and also the world in which they now lived as well as our reality of being elders.

On the train my attention was taken first by a short man in an RAF uniform with a shoulder of medals who I felt sure I had seen in a previous year at the Festival or elsewhere, and then a young man accompanied by two young women and who wore a top which said weekend offender and had the crest of Her Majesty’s Prison department. He and the  girls appeared cool about the situation and I assume that if it was for real he would have worn a coat but the top attracted considerable attention from other passengers especially as nearby there were a couple of policemen. I suspect the trio were making their way to the Castle for the evenings Rock concert with the Wanted whereas I saw the policeman and woman walking about the Festival site in the course of their arranged duty.

I was headed for the next station Tynemouth on the circular route to Whitley Bay for two reasons. I wanted to view the £1 million plus restoration of the station to its original Victorian splendour and there was also a full day of music and dance events on a stage within the station concourse and where a bric-a-brac market is also held every Saturday and Sunday with stalls on both sides of the station. On the side from Newcastle and North Shields where I alighted there are twenty large overheard glass canopies fronting the platform with glass arches to the station walls and entrance. One needs to go over the bridge to the other side to reach the town centre and the ruins on the headlands of the Priory and Castle Keep.

It is on this side that the greater expense was incurred because the glass work had been absent from a significant area and the iron metal supports had rusted and required considerable repair. There are some thirty large vaulted arches spanning perhaps twenty five metres from platform edge to station walls and facilities. There is an expensive Italian restaurant to one side of the main entrance and a coffee shop cafe on the other plus a newsagent store, hairdressers and toilet facilities. I explored the full extent of the stalls on this platform area. There was quite a crowd of visitors so that passage between the aisles was difficult. It is the kind of place where I could readily spend a lot of money buying jazz and other music CD for £1 as well as books for the same price. There are also interesting books and original gramophone records costing tens of pounds. There were lots of other items of interest but I decided to keep my cash firmly in my pocket until I catch up on the videos and books already in possession and listen again too much of my record collection. I therefore resisted a copy of Stag Larsson’s the girl with the Draft Tattoo , but later regretted after viewing the four CD disk of all three books made into a six part TV series and considered making the trip this Saturday to see if the book was still available.

The other temptations were the food from delicious olives at £3.70 for 200 grams or extraordinary rich cream decorated cup cakes home baked for £1. There were also hot food stalls and specialist coffees ready to drink. I had quickly consumed the baguette and was hungry again but resisted. A couple of young woman were performing an intense artistic dance on the stage with occupied seating and a standing audience behind. A Street Dance Cru of young men drew great applause and there was then a gap for the establishment of new sound equipment for another intense duo of artistic dances which a young man playing what seemed to be an African type of drum 

Leaving the station I went a few steps in the opposite direction to the start of the road down to the Castle because my attention was directed at the recruitment drive at the local Territorial Army base. The government has announced it is to increase this force to 30000 balancing out the reduction in the full time forces. A poster listed the rate of daily pay for officers and other ranks plus the signing on bounty once basic training was successfully completed. At one level these appeared generous until one remembered the use of the TA in Afghanistan. While the emphasise was on the logistical trades and rolls required in small print there was reference to basic training with all that this entailed omitted.

There is a church with a tall steeple at the commencement of the wide thoroughfare leading to the Castle and Priory on the headland and which I can view from North Marine Park a few yards from my front doorway, the headland not the church I mean!  On either side of the entrance to the church building, which as in other years invited people in for coffee and sandwiches, an attractive young woman on stilts stood to one side in a very short skirt with a young man also on stilts on the other. Because of the weather there were comparative fewer people than previous years. Most were gathered by the main stage located on an area used for car parking. Here there were acts designed to appeal to children as well as families. Throughout the day there were walkabout artists. In this instance I spotted two men in costumes of artic explorers but it was the five young persons on stilts dressed as some kind of creature with tentacles and large colourful wings which aroused great interest.

In addition to the stilts for their feet they held two long poles as an aid to walking although from time to time they used a pole as a form of greeting to a young person with those present fascinated as how the creatures were able to get about as their faces were fully masked but as one mother explained the material was one way see through.  There were several pavement hot food sellers from specialist sausage rolls and burgers to unusual roasted meats. Here as at the Metro Station there was a preponderance of middle class families and individualists some bordering on the eccentric elderly with trimmed beards and their confident well dressed ladies unphased by the cost of meals in the restaurants.  However I did note that while there was huge crowd exploring the stalls at Tynemouth station the majority appeared to be looking and few buying. Having said this hot food stalls at the station and along the High Street was doing good business. It was that kind of day.

I made my way to the Rock of Gibraltar Inn overlooking the start of sandy bay far below where an elderly jazz band with a female clarinettist was preparing to start their set to a bedraggled audience although there was about a dozen souls who had brought their own seats or sat on the damp grass with their protective clothing as I had originally planned to do had the weather appeared likely to be better. The rest sat on the benches at the pavement roadside of the small green with an audience of thirty to forty in total. I sat in the enclosed bus shelter together with a dozen young Asians clustering around me to get out of the cold wind and spitting rain. Why they had come and what they intended doing next remains a mystery.

We were outnumbered by a long line of mainly teenage girls who appeared to have already queued for sometime at the closed entrance to the headland grounds and then down towards the riverside. They had come early to ensure a front of stage place for the band The Wanted who was scheduled to appear seven hours later in the evening.  There was a steady flow of the young women to the modern public conveniences brought to the area adjacent to the stage and which required a coin although the queue was such that most were able to keep the door opened for the next individual.

Almost all the girls were wearing the latest fashion of short hot pants and many without tights.  Later when I walked in the sunshine in Newcastle centre there were also dozens of similar and again as I had noted my visit to Hoppings and Newcastle two weeks previously that as with mini and micro skirt they can appear attractive and sexy, but alas many do not have good legs and have large bottoms to the point of being fat. Such is group pressure and not wanting to be different or out of the mainstream fashion. I have only seen such attire once in South Shields recently. 

I also noted the Sunday afternoon show where the cost was less had been sold out. The cost for Wanted was £25 plus the usual booking extras. 

I stayed for about half an hour of jazz when I decided I was not enjoying the experience and made my way back for a bus to North Tyneside and the Ferry. I waited for over 15 minutes and the only bus that came along was a park and Ride. The airman with his medals arrived and engaged in conversation with a woman also at the bus stop and she advised that they go for another bus which stopped around the corner. I debated joining them and set off only to see a bus coming up the road in the distance. I was able to get back only to see it was the bus destined for the other stop. I put out a hand more in hope than expectation but it stopped so I was able to find myself a good seat whereas the other two had to joined a long queue and were amazed to see me smiling at them and comfortable.

On reaching North Tyneside town centre I changed my mind and stayed on board as I was feeling tired and went all the way to the in Newcastle and the Haymarket. The bus took the more direct route used that is known as the Coast Road and the one I take when travelling from the Silverlink roundabout to the Freeman Hospital, and which also passers the People’s Theatre if you continue into Newcastle. The other bus I had intended to take goes closer to the Tyne and visits Wallsend. On the way into to the town centre I was struck how much is now given over to the buildings of the two universities with their 50000 students from all over the UK and indeed the world. Newcastle has become a very exiting city for young people.

On arrival I was torn between a growing tiredness and not wanting to make use of the warm sunshine even I considering returning to the Festival. While debating to catch the Metro back to South Shields I heard the sound of a good band coming from down Northumberland Street, so went along to listen. It was an interesting group with saxophone, trumpet, drums, trombone and a  West Indian singer all of middle age to older, I stood against a wall to listen as the many new seats  now in the Street were all occupied enjoying the music in the continuing sunshine. I was still torn between the sunshine and tiredness so after a short walkabout went back to Haymarket for the train home. My barber and the female assistant she employs on a Saturday were outside enjoying the weather at the entrance to their small building once a newsagent, then Pizzas and then a nail bar. The Pizzas have moved down next to Station taxi office. In the updated former railway station building with the award winning Women’s health centre in one part I noted that the Mobility centre which provided electric wheel chairs for the shopping centre had closed down and was up for sale. The “barberesses” gave me a wave of recognition as I continued wearily up the hill and home deciding against going into the pub for a coffee.

On Sunday I decided to remain home and research and write in the morning despite good sunshine outside and then watch sport on TV in the afternoon rather than go to Exhibition Park for a free concert by Scouting for Girls. In the afternoon Durham was playing in a televised 40 40 game at the Rosebowl Hampshire reminding of the difference between the aggressive and hostile security staff  on my visit there for 20 20 final and the contrasting approach of those employed for the one day international at Durham.

I had a discouraging feel about the game and this was reinforced as four wickets fell with the Durham total below 60. Stokes had played and missed for 1` and with Mustard out early for 5, Stoneman had looked promised and then out for and Collingwood  confident now as captain of the champion side  went for 28. Fortunately Gordon Muchall showed what he can do and with 5 fours and 2 sixes he was unbeaten in the end at 96 with Benkenstein helping out in a stand of 80, The second disappointment of the innings was that the South African Myberg who has been given an extend contract from the 20 20 to the 40 40 and could not celebrate this with what could have a match winnings on a difficult wicket.  Hampshire got off to a great start and the usually tight Graham Onions was hit for several fours in one over. Young Borthwick was the more expensive with 51 runs off his eight overs but with the prize of four wickets. Durham’s total of 200 was never enough and Hants achieved what was required by a good knock from Katich not out with 59 as the home side one with 8 balls to go. While all is not lost in the completion they cannot afford another defeat if they are to gain the fourth spot as the best runner up. Rain again prevented a win in the championship at Worcester as previously report so Durham continues to hug the bottom of the table. Losing the wickets of Smith and Muchall with only one of the board Durham again struggle on a difficult wicket at Arundel against Sussex a game I had hoped to visit when planning my summer visits earlier in the year, Benkenstein 43 and Borthwick rescued the side to a modest total of 231 and only one batting point. Sussex is looking better after the second day with 100 for 3 in another game where a draw looks promising and defeat is possible. Sussex were 100 for 3 at the close with Goodwin ands Yard moving forward after the wicket went at 

It was a different story at the important first Test against South Africa which commenced on Thursday in which England hopes to reinforce their position as the number one Test side in the world.  England won the toss and elected to bat on what had appeared to be a flat Oval wicket  when a wide range of personalities were present from the Lord Chancellor to former Prime Minister John Major and the personality Michael Parkinson and his wife. There was also a host of former Cricket stars spotted from around the world.

The South Africans had a brilliant start getting captain Straus out for 0 in the fourth ball on appeal. However the indefatigable Alistair Cook batted through the rest if the day and is 114 not out and a long period he was supported by Trott who took the total to 170 before going for 71 before he out. Kevin Pieterson who is not in the World Cup 20 20 squad because of his decision not to play one day cricket looked as if wanted to prove a point before  getting out  when he also look like making a good score when 42. Bell stayed with Cook until the close at 267 for 3. On this wicket England will need a 500 plus total to exert sufficient pressure to be able to enforce the follow on although with the spin likely to be a major factor on the fifth this might be a better alternative for Swann. I shall watch the game on TV at least keep one eye on the screen while I get on with this piece.

There was an enjoyable game on Sunday Tea Time on BBC TV as Warrington beat Huddersfield convincingly in the second Semi Final of the Challenge Cup to play Leeds in the Final at Wembley in five weeks time. This is the third time Warrington has reached the final in four years winning their two previous visits.

I have fully mastered the use of the treatment machine for sleep apnoea as well as settling into a pattern of nightly use between five and six hours although I cannot say that this is being achieved without difficulty as I find the head gear uncomfortable and the balance of being able to breathe naturally through my nose with my mouth shut and the absence of upper body wind is not always managed. I am also not getting as much exercise as I need although I have commenced to jog on the spot in the house and to walk with purpose when out and about. I have not progressed with weight loss but so far prevented the kind of swing back increase that occurred last summer which keeps me in a good place to lose more.

I have achieve 29 of the past 30 nights with a use above the recommended level of four hours and the reading should become 30/30 over the next week. I am hoping to be able to demonstrate this pattern on my next visit to see the consultant in November. The average hours over night is 5.8 although I am unlikely to keep this up and indeed I only managed 4.2 one night during this week. Having been told those four hours is adequate I am relaxing and not persisting with use of a third session at times. Another reason is that while the addition of a humidifier has been positive in that it appears to be the main factor in having sleeps of three and last night four hours at a time I am still waking with a sticky dry mouth. I have tried various levels of use on the register of .5 to 6   although with no attempt above 4 which I plan to try over the coming days. What I have decided is to start high and keep for a few days and then work downwards until I and only isolated bouts of tiredness during the day, usually related to the total hours of sleep the night before as well as its quality. My total use of the machine exceeded 275.

As mentioned when attending the one day International between England and Australia at the Emirates Chester Le Street a warning light came on as the journey commenced, I  was due to replace two tyres following the MOT and asked if the garage could deal with the problem or should I take to a Suzuki dealership. I was advised that they provided a diagnostic service  which I decided to use and was advised that according to the error code which  on the system the spark plugs should be replaced and also the coil a significant more expensive item. I was faced with a bill of £350 and set off to Sunderland to check out the PC speakers at PC World which I looked at when at the Silverlink Odeon for the Men’s Tennis Final 3D relay. There was no warning light but as I approached the city the same light returned. 

I continued to PC World and decided to obtain the least expensive speakers available which I had viewed on my visit to Silverlink for the 3D Odeon relay of the Wimbledon Men’s Tennis Final. Because of the changed circumstances a pair of speakers with a small base box was available for £10 but not in stock but as luck would have it, and which I badly needed they had a pair at the Comet which is now part of the same enterprise and next door. I can now enjoy voice and music with a good volume more than I need together with sound quality which is a joy and also will be excellent for sound when using the TV as a large monitor for the PC.

I returned the vehicle to the garage upset at having wasted £250 on repairs which were evidently not necessary. It was agreed that the amount would set against the eventual cost. It became evident on Friday that they had been unable to diagnosis problem and contracted with a nearby electrical specialist to undertake further diagnosis. The hope was a loose wire but it now appears that a new electrical unit is required. By Saturday morning before going out to the Festival I heard that the cost of a new unit would be astronomical and that the effort was being made to find a less expensive alternative. I viewed a telephone call on Monday with apprehension. In fact it was Wednesday before the situation was resolved with payment of a further £140 and all the prospective gains from having paid off the vehicle were wiped out until Christmas and by then the annual would come around, assuming that the work proved effective and an electrical unit of some £1000 was not required.

Also at the time of the visit to the cricket a hole had appeared in the back lane following the great rains and which following referral by a neighbour the local authority had barriered off. At the time it was possible for my vehicle get by. However after what appears to have been a further inspection by either the local authority or the Water Authority the hole had been made larger at the surface indicating a gap between the surface tarmac and what appeared rubble and earth below. The barrier had been strengthened and moved in such away that further passage by was not possible. Usually there are vehicles obstructing the other exit at various times including the vehicles of those working at some of the properties on both sides of the lane but fortunately the work was completed and a passage out of the garage was possible. Then I was without the car for almost a week so although noticing the lack of progress with filling the hole I was not concerned. With the return of the car I decided it was time to make enquiries. I first contacted the local authority and spoke to a receptionist and then someone who appeared to have the information on computer that the problem had been reported and referred to Northumberland Water authority on July 10th. I also gained the impression that communication between the authorities was not good because of different viewpoints about levels of responsibility for undertaking remedial works and costs of such problems when they had arisen in the past.

What concerned was the suggestion that rats in relation to sewer workings dislodge earth and given the size of the hole this concerned. This was added when on reading the headlines from the local newspaper online I noted concern about the release of rats into the open in another part of the Borough. I spoke to neighbours and the concern mounted as reference as made to two previous  similar occurrences and today another neighbour revealed that they also have a Roman origin Well in their yard  as another had previously mentioned and on further examination of the hole later it looked as if this another  Well so the plot thickens. 

I decided to contact Northumbria area direct via customer services and Operations and explained what I knew.  Later in the afternoon I was contacted by the authority to say that an investigation team had been sent out and I would get a report back on Friday, He added that there was the possibility of a sunken main. After the call I looked outside and there as a Northumbria water vehicle at the back. I drafted a note which I then circulated to my neighbours and those on the other side of lane. I had also contacted the three Ward Councillors and was contacted to advise that contact had been made with officers. My understanding is that following contact between the local authorities the Local authority has agreed to fill in the hole on Monday although there remains the longer term issue of the overall situation given the history and the situation on the hill which was once residential quarters and storage facilities for the fort which served as the supply base of the whole length of the Wall.

On Thursday my Azda home deliver arrived as uncertain at the time when the car would be returned I had used the on line home delivery service something which I had done   for several years, not on my own behalf but for my mother and aunt when they were prevented from going out to shop on their own in the late 1990’s. Then I had used Sainsbury at Purley Way  and after talking to them and  a cousin who lived nearby each week I would make the order on line and then have a call after it was delivered,

In this instance although I telephoned on Wednesday the order was delivered on the Thursday afternoon for one of the lost variable charges listed of £3. The delivery driver lives lower down the hill and he told the tale of neighbour that the side wall of her house was affected by subsidence due to Roman workings with the consequence that  this side of house had to be underpinned. The delivery provided everything I had ordered although I discovered that I had not as I thought reduced an unintended order of four whole chickens to two so I have a six to eight week supply.

I am leaving the major sporting event of the weekend and the subsequent week until the next writing as Bradley Wiggins kept the Yellow Jersey as the overall leader of the Tour De France and looked to becoming the first British winner of the race after 99 years since the race commenced. Moreover his team mate Chris Froome has remained in the second position before the final Time Trial on Saturday afternoon followed by the Sprint race in the centre of Paris Sunday afternoon which could be won by the British Mark Cavendish who won the Sprint finish race on Friday and who could become the best ever Sprint racer in the history of the race, Chris was the only member of the British team at the 2008 Olympics not to win a member from the most successful cycling team ever. The impact of the win on Bradley personally and on cycling in the UK will be extraordinary.

Bomber Command Memorial, a visit to the Hoppings and a search for plain colured shirts

My weekend has been has interesting and at times enjoyable. I had three outings, two unplanned on Saturday. I received a notification from the Post Office saying that a communication could not be delivered because a signature was required and I immediately assumed Olympic tickets although there had been no advance emails. I therefore went to the holding post office early so I could park the car across the way in the limited holding area close to the entrance of the Metro station.

I was given a letter from my previous insurers for the house building and contents including travel away from home and for emergencies. At one level it was a good reminder that the direct debit payment had ceased although the primary purpose was marketing. Determined that my journey should not be wasted I ventured to the clothing section of the supermarket where I had previously noted a summer sale to find a plain coloured shirt in red, green and or brown.

For the greater part of the previous seven years I have worn black trousers with a black or white shirt, a grey house jacket and a black outside coat. This was part of the black and white aspect of my project 101 and where I have published a limited edition autobiography 101 in Black and White. It is a coincidence that Newcastle are a Black and White coloured kit team and the Durham 20 20 team are known as the Men in Black as well as the Durham Dynamos.

For the past two years I have worn green or brown Trousers with brown house jackets and a green outdoor coat. However I had only one well worn red shirt and none in green or brown hence the present search. Although the prices were cheap there were no shirts in the required colours. I decided I would venture out later in the morning and visit BHS when going for a baguette and a second £10 deal at M and S.  At M and S I was taken by the availability of a gammon joint which would be eaten hot for one meal and as with salad for another and by two large breaded fish topped within the coating with a prawn sauce. I selected both and two more of the side dishes of cubed potatoes and cherry tomatoes with a cheese topping bake. I added one apple pie and the last carton of raspberries and blu berries available, one bottle of Rosé and a red. However the weight was such that I abandoned the visit to BHS and decided to go to Newcastle after the lunch of a cheese and pickle baguette followed by one of the half pounds of cherries purchased the previous day. Later I was to enjoy one of the fishes with sixth portion of the £2 giant water melon.

I made by way to the Metro station with the weather uncertain taking a small umbrella with the shoulder rucksack, I realised I was uncertain if the train continued to West Jesmond which was the nearest station for the Hoppings on the Town moor the large stretch of common land on which the Freemen of the City are supposed to be allowed to graze their animals and which at one point was planned to be the new home for Newcastle United Football club. I ought to have realised the Hoppings were on when the weather turned nasty as it is tradition for one the biggest fairs in Europe to experience heavy rain,

Because of the uncertainty and inability to see the Metro service map from where I was sitting I got off at the Monument to check and caught the next train from the same platform travelling the three stations of Monument, Jesmond and West Jesmond. From the station exist one could see the Moor at the end of a short row of terraced housing which looked as if it had been turned into rented accommodation for students. Later when passing a cafe used by students close to city University I saw a notice for accommodation that individual rooms available from between £50 to £100  in the city with the average  £75 and therefore significantly cheaper than that offered in Brighton which I noted on my recent visit.

Some who has also alighted from the train or had parked nearby then made their way across the field at a diagonal where the tall thrill rides could be seen and music heard from the site. I had debated wearing my walking boots but decided that as I was intending just to view rather than participate I would stick to the permanent pathways and avoid the wet grass. I made my way along the side of the field and onto the road way leading to one of the main entrances to the fair appreciating the attractive suburban villas which enjoyed their open view of the Moor.

Reaching the busy dual lane roadway out of the city northwards I saw that the majority of those before me were wearing Wellington Boots of many colourings. There was one gravel roadway across the centre of fair but venture away from this there was deep slush and where rubber matting had been lain this squelched and sank because of the level of mud beneath. I quickly returned to the gravel and the far end I took what appeared to be a second pathway between the domestic quarters for those providing thrill rides, games and food at the fair. While some units could be described as traditional caravans there were many huge mobile homes requiring a major articulated vehicle to transport. I speculated if the mobile restaurant on one side and the music stage on the other would attract more people than usual because of the pathways available. There was nevertheless lots of mud and the tops of my shoes were soon covered.

There was a variety of expensive thrill rides include the giant revolving swing arm seen at the end of Brighton Pier but also two others similar with one have a single double row of seats at one end and which was raise to a great height and then allowed to swing as pendulum until reaching its central balance. There was also another similar to the full revolutions but again with several seating areas at one end and the other having a counterbalance. These attracted mini queues of young people. Because it was early afternoon and the Northumberland Plate racing day was being held nearby I was not surprised at how few was the overall number of people about although plenty of families with some very young children.

Having reached the end of the site close to the city of Newcastle I made my way out of the entrance and immediately onto Exhibition Park in the gathering gloom which promised more rain. I made my way under the dual carriage way road just at the time it commenced to rain resisting the temptation to visit the military vehicle museum which was also supporting Armed Forces Day.

Earlier in the week I had watched the Queen and other members of the Royal Family with connections to the military attend the unveiling to the memorial to the men of Bomber Command in Green Park which I will visit at the earliest opportunity.

Although a memorial was previously created in Lincoln Cathedral in 2008 it was not until last week that a National Memorial was dedicated. The reason for this is that although as a proportion of any force more of the young men were killed with the odds against survival rapidly decreasing with each mission, the country became understandably ambivalent about the merits of the action during the course of war on realising that between 300000 and 600000 men, women and children died and whole cities were destroyed notably Cologne and Dresden Alongside the policy of attacking civilian populations to reduce the moral of the German people the Command made a major contribution  to destroying the arms and industrial base of Germany particularly in the Ruhr Valley.

Some 50000 aircrew died including 10000 Canadians who provided the roof on the memorial from the remains of a Halifax Bomber and other metals from their national museum were melted into ingots. The main building was made of Portland Stone and a metal wreath was created and contributed by an Australian

Robin Gibb who recently died was the publc figure who promoted the call for the £6.5 million funds raised with substantial sums from the controversial former Treasurer of the Tory Party Lord Ashcroft and the business man John Caudwell as well as from public subscription and donations from surviving members of the aircrew together with the families of those who died.

There was further controversy when the government refused to guarantee the £700000 to put on the ceremony and  survivors and the families of others  were forced to provide financial guarantees if the call for public subscription failed.

6000 veterans and the families of those who died attended the ceremony where the nature of site meant that the majority had to view the proceedings on a large screen a little distance away and therefore without the close up of view of the Queen as experienced as the those in Royal Enclosure at Ascot.

It is difficult to come to judgement about the effectiveness of the memorial from the TV pictures which include seven greater than life figures of aircrew putting down their kit having returned from a mission, beneath a rectangle of open sky in the roof of the Memorial. I was not sure about the overall scale whether the memorial was large enough to produce the right scale for the seven figures.

Having made this important digression I return to my walk from the Hoppings  through Exhibition Park and across the road into the University of Newcastle city complex where I made my way to the new development which transformed the carpark used by those attending the Playhouse Theatre, and formerly the University run Theatre into one of several new blocks which dominate the city skyline as the University expands, competing with its comparatively new relation, Northumbria University and offers undergraduate and post grad studies to the world especially to China. There is now a pedestrian/wheelchair and pram friendly way down onto the main road close to the Haymarket. It was open day at the University and I had just missed one of the concerts being offered to those attending by the musical school.

My first interest was M and S where I was shocked by the price of Shirts £29-£9 although I discovered some less expensive although none in the colours I wanted. I then crossed through the store after making a comfort break and on to the Primark store in Northumberland Street which is being expanded with the creation of two additional floors. There was the usual Saturday chaos with the store packed and huge lines at the checkout and some cheap and nasty shirts none in the shades I wanted. My last resort was the basement of BHS where the four floor expansion has been completed with a furnishings and restaurant on the second floor with toilets and offices on the third. I was successful with shirts in red and in green at £10 each albeit with short sleeves.

There is a new super lift and I decided to go for a cup of tea and something like an Eccles cake it was raining outside. The cafe is excellent and I chose a seat at large window looking down on Northumberland Street and the entrance to the Eldon Square Shopping centre. At the counter I was for just a cup of tea £1.40 and a buttered scone £1.40 when I noted that for an additional 15 pence I could have jam, cream and a tea refill. I choose this but the young man in charge offered the same priced deal but exchanging the scone for a cream cake on offer from £2.40 to £2.80. I fancied the Lemon Slice which was wicked but enjoyed together with a second cup of tea. Thus I enjoyed a £5 20 deal for £2.95.

It stopped raining so I made my way back to the Haymarket Station arriving in South Shields fortunately after another burst of rain had taken place. It had been a good outing.