Areet mate? alright mates!

Our last full day in Newcastle, we have enjoyed our visit here and have found it peaceful to be out of the tourist hot spots – even if we are one of them ourselves! The locals are all very friendly and willing to engage you in conversation. Seven bridges in the middle of the city centre appear to make the traffic move a bit more smoothly than in some other places we have been and we have walked over several. Our accommodation is almost on the waterfront on the other side of the river from the city centre but easy to get across to the shopping and other amenities.

Four of the bridges across the River Tyne

Our first priority were haircuts and we found a small salon and Dalton, a Jamaican hairdresser with an encyclopaedic knowledge of rugby! Very impressed with his recall of New Zealand activities on the field and of our players, both former ones and current.

The next day we took a train to Durham, just a 12 minute trip away. This is a delightful small city with narrow, cobbled walkways and streets. One of the main ones is controlled by traffic lights to hold traffic at one end as you can’t drive up and down at the same time, it is so narrow and twisting! The Durham Cathedral dates back to the 11^th century and was very impressive! It is one of the seven original heritage sites in the UK.

Cloisters of Durham Cathedral

Yesterday was family time and I met up with a 2^nd cousin, David Hanvey, and his wife, Wendy. They took us to see the Angel of the North, a large sculpture that sits on a hill to the south of Newcastle. 20 metres tall with a span of 54 metres. Following this we had a good look around Ryton, the area to the south of Newcastle where my paternal grandfather’s family settled in the early 1900s. Later in the day we also met with their daughter, Amanda. She was in New Zealand at Christmas time last year so enjoyed hearing of her adventures there. A great day out and enjoyed seeing some areas we would not normally have got to.

Barbara with Wendy, David and Amanda

Last day in Newcastle today before getting the train to London tomorrow then Heathrow before our trip to Malta and cruise starting Tuesday.

Barbara

Howay now all canny lad and lasses! Divent worry I’m not losing the plot, just giving you a taste of the local lingo. Newcastle/Geordie/Toon Town/Whey Aye Man and How ye deein’?

 The geordie accents mean you have to have a keen ear to understand some of the folk.  This time my “go to” song has been the theme from the TV series of the late 1960s “When the Boat comes In” starring James Bolam. Of course some of you won’t have a clue what I’m talking about but for the rest of you – “Who shall have a fishy on a little dishy, who shall have some haddock, when the boat comes in”.  Classic.  Durham is a delight.  Such a charming “City” (because it has a cathedral), vibrant university life, a café called “Flat White”, that disappointingly had nothing to do with New Zealand even though it had marmite on the menu, and a pretty walkway along the winding River Wear. 

Durham Town Square

Durham display

I find Newcastle a treat. The myriad of bridges add an extra interest to the River Tyne. A couple of them swing open to allow bigger vessels. One of them is called the blinking eye (or Millennium Bridge) which we hope to watch in action today.  We are going to a local version of The Last Night of the Proms tonight at the Newcastle Cathedral. It features the cathedral choir and Dunston Silver Band. Seeing The Angel of the North up close was great.  Very well-developed calves I thought! 

Angel of the North - spot Pam in pink

Poser

It was nice to meet Barbara’s northern family, they showed us around some hidden gems and gave us some interesting local info.  The ammunitions industry employed thousands in its time  (Vickers Armstrong especially).  And…… not only did we brave a haircut, I also had my eyebrows done – in a Superdrug store (think supermarket with a one stop beauty/make-up area at one end of a cramped aisle) – cheerful and cheap – my two favourites things – and they appear to be even!! Added bonus! Our accommodation here is just a 10min walk across a bridge(of course) into Newcastle, or Gateshead the other way. The Hilton is opposite and the Masters Golfers are staying there at the moment.  We have been over a couple of times to voyeur (to no avail – but then we wouldn’t actually know if we had seen anyone important anyway!)

Hilton Hotel with Tyne Bridge

So until our next update….”Champion wor kid” – meaning we are doing alright xx

Pam

Thomas Cook travel promotion - Quayside, Newcastle

Getting close in Newcastle