Blustery day at the coast

A picture of Newcastle on Tyne from the Gateshead bank, looking east. The Norman Castle Keep is just visible above the High Level Bridge.

A six span, two level bridge it carries both rail and road traffic over the River Tyne between Gateshead and Newcastle. The bridge opened in 1849, and is a Grade 1 listed structure 412m long.

It is a cast iron heritage structure designed by Robert Stephenson, and is one of Network Rail’s 'Major Structures'. Travel the East Coast Mainline and you will go over the bridge. In May 2008 the High Level Bridge reopened to the public following an extensive, £42M programme of repair and strengthening to extend the life expectancy of the structure and conserve it as an important piece of our national heritage.

We went out today, escaped down to the coast and ate fish and chips from Kristian's on the North Shields river frontage. It was a bright and clear day, but windy enough to blow away every last cobweb. We walked along the river frontage, head down into the blast, and watched several ships come storming into the Tyne on the high tide. The City of Sunderland works between the Nissan car factory and the rest of the world. The factory where 1200 people were laid off a couple of weeks ago because no one is buying new cars in these credit crunch recession days.

It was good to get away from the computer and watch the world go by. I should have had the camera trained on the acrobatic gulls and terns hovering alongside the car as I threw out left over chips. One chip and twelve birds dived for it. The chip never touched the ground! Sadly the camera was in the boot, but next time I'll be prepared.

Bought some jeans and a top in the M&S outlet at Royal Quays, dithered over the sale stock at the Barbour factory in South Shields but left there without making a purchase.

Coming back through Newcastle with the sun sinking in the west I saw lots of pics I could have taken, but the traffic flow was such that I didn't care to stop and hop out with a camera in my fist. One day soon I shall go into town on the bus and walk around and take all the pics I want.

It is a very photogenic town.

This for example, is the view from the same spot as the first picture, but facing west instead of east.

More bridges! And looking so very different because of the light. And that's not all of them. Newcastle is a city of bridges.

I'll catch the rest on that next trip out.

Frogspawn, lean-tos and North Shields

How things change and grow! Just look at those little tails forming! The sun wasn't shining when I took the pic, so perhaps I'll get a better one tomorrow.



As well as having a study all to myself I now have a lean-to greenhouse tucked against the side of the house. It catches the sun most of the day and though it was hell to put up (they said erection was a two man job*, but hey - you needed as many hands as an octopus!) now it is up and correctly anchored it is an amazing little room for all things gardening. I might become a "shedder" and take the box of red wine and a book with me, though I'm not sure true shedders would have me. Tomorrow I'm going to plant seed for coriander, basil and lettuce. Tomato plants on Friday. Whey-hey!



*No sniggers, please. I can't be bothered to think up another way of saying it.



My wonderful critique partners have given me some great advice on my wip, so I have a good day's work tomorrow to sort things out. I do so want to get a partial off by Saturday, but I suppose - sigh - it is better to take an extra week and get it right. Might pay off in the end.




This is me down at the ferry landing stage at North Shields. Remember you can click on the pic to see a larger version.
The background is interesting, if not yours truly.

Day out with fish'n'chips

A lucky day today! Fine weather - blue skies, sunshine and quite mild for the time of year, so off we went to the North Shields fish quay, a favourite place of ours, ordered haddock and chips at Kristian's and ate them on the sea wall.

M'mmm. Delicious.

Afterwards we walked down to the ferry terminal (where I took this, looking east towards the river mouth, just out of the picture) and poked out noses into all the nooks and crannies on the way. The ferry in question plies back and forth across the river from North Shields to South Shields, and I think we must do it one day, just for the fun of crossing the river.

On the way back I dropped in at the library, couldn't find Titles & Forms of Address and asked at the desk. They had had a clear out - but it might still be on the premises. The upshot was I bought the book for 50p, so I now have my very own copy!

I quickly checked the address for an earl's son. The eldest gets the courtesy title, of course, but the younger sons are styled Honourable with their forenames and family names and there is nothing to distinguish them from the sons of viscounts and barons - The Honourable Thomas Collins. This title is never used in speech or letter writing, but only on the envelope. A servant would announce him as Mr Tomas Collins.

Daughters of earls bear the title Lady with their Christian and family names, ie Lady Diana Spencer. In speech, the same rules apply as for the daughters of dukes and marquesses - when the full title is not used, then she will be called Lady Violet. Only extreme intimacy would allow use of the forename only.