Staycation 2

Before I look back again over a summer which was so busy, let me keep you up to date first. As well as a journey down to York and another to see friends in Hexham (yes! Me doing all the driving... thereby hangs a tale)- we went to the Live Theatre to see 'The Prize'- go! go! go and get a ticket! Personal stories of the efforts Olympians and Paralympians make to get to the Games- just down from the Fringe- and such acting!
Our walk to the Live on Friday night was frothing with the screechs of power boats racing between the bridges- what was taking place?

I strode out along a favourite walk with the Ladies in July- following the Ouseburn through Jesmond Dene (great scones in the tearoom!), Heaton Park, Shieldfield, past the Cluny (but call in at the Byker City Farm en route), round the back of  Seven Stories (Britain's National Archive and gallery), down to the River Tyne (ahem! via the Tyne Bar near the barrage- You must think we eat and drink our way round the North!).

The Quayside is an interesting place to be! I spy with my little eye...... (click on the photos to see them enlarged)

 The Blacksmith's Needle is adorned with all sorts of symbols connected with the city and the river.

Ships from the Tyne travelled all over the world, mainly with coal from Newcastle- thus the phrase about there being no point taking things to places which already have those things- it would be like 'carrying coals to Newcastle'. Most trade was done with the Hanseatic League mainly round the Baltic  so the Art Gallery on the south side is named the Baltic; apparently the powers that be want the old Rank flour store just called Baltic -how pedantic-but we Novocastrians ignore that request and everyone sticks 'the' in front of it. Irreverent names like the 'sea slug' are given to the Sage but as the 'skin' reflects the colour of clouds above, thus changing its appearance with every weather mood, folks now regard it with affection. It is said the window panels of the Sage which overlook the river, represent the Tall Ships which have visited the Tyne twice- check it out!

There is a sandy beach built on the north bank now- bring your deck chair.....we HAD to call in for lunch at the Pitcher and Piano; often you can see the Millennium Bridge go up by looking over the rim of your glass (oops! Have I given you the wrong impression again?!)

Slowly and reluctantly we then had to make our slovenly way up to the Haymarket for a bus.