Getting the family up to speed!

First off:  our place.  It's fabulous!!  Very roomy and comfortable and has got everything we need.  It has quite a bit of history.  Designed and built in 1957 by some significant architect for a local builder, Mr. Liddell, for his daughter.  It has been featured in magazines and it's used for photo shoots (I'm quite sure that Susan's Robert would just have a ball here!)  But it's not just the architectural style, it's the fact that it's been maintained, furnishing and decoration-wise, in the style of the swinging sixties! Fab!  Austin Powers come on in!

It's on three levels.  First is just the very funky entrance way.  Up one floor and that's living room, kitchen and dining area (the latter two being up a few stairs from the living room).  Then up again to two great bedrooms.  One with a jacuzzi tub,  the other with a shower room.

Views are fabulous.  And the morning usually means mist or fog off the sea and I love it!

Day One:  Friday.

Arrived in Tynemouth early evening after a very long journey.  Unpacked.  Toddled over to the Gibraltar Rock (you've been there Peter) for Fish and Chips.  No reason to hold off.

Day Two:  Saturday.

I went out early to the Co-op to get in breakfast supplies then we went over to the Tynemouth Station for the big and super weekend market.  (I got a Rington's mug to match my Rington's tea caddy so I was pleased. )

Photo courtesy of google

The old station office becomes a cafe on weekend.  We had elevenses there:  me a toasted teacake.  Dennis a cheese scone.  Nothing changes for us in this regard!

In the afternoon PC Gillian came over with our land lord and lady!  Tony and Kath.  Won't go into agonizing details but something to do with developers of attached buildings and theft from the loft.  Once the good constable had done her policing bit Tony and Kath stayed for a while and conversation was interesting and informative.  Nice folks.

Once they left we walked to the Tynemouth Morrisons (BIG grocery store) - took about 40 minutes.  Got a pile of shopping to get us going then got a taxi back.

Day Three:  Sunday.

Rather chilly and jet lag was making me feel so so sleeeepy.  Samantha and Lilly arrived for tea and chocolate biscuits.  After they left we went down onto the beach and walked through the village just for the air - fresh air - and it was fresh.

Day Four:  Monday.

Very thick fog over the North Sea this morning.  And it was a bit too windy so our plan to walk up the coast to Whitley Bay was re-routed.  We walked an in-land route which brought us into the middle of Whitley Bay.  We scootled around my old town - the highlight was elevenses at 129 Coffee Shop (just around the corner from where I used to live).  The toasted teacake and the pot of tea was the best I've ever had.  Ditto for Dennis and his cheese scone.

We worked our way from one end of town to the other being transported 40 odd years - remembering what was what and what was where and what my mother had to say about it!  Time for lunch. Late actually.  It was already 1:30.  Pub lunch at the Rockcliffe Arms I suggested.  The pub where Ann Cleeves hangs out (she writes the Vera books).  Sadly they don't do food - so we didn't stay.  Ended up at "Beaches and Cream" on the seafront at Cullercoats for delish sarnies and salad.

Afternoonses was in Tynemouth at the Priory Cafe then back home for a NAP!

Supper:  FISH FINGERS!!!!  As good as I remember.  Served, of course, with Birds Eye peas.  Also cornish potatoes.  Dessert was strawberries and ice cream.  The strawberries here are quite different.  Dare I say nicer?

Day Five:  Tuesday (today).

Dennis went over to visit with Sam.  I had an early start and went up to Newcastle and had a really great day in the Tyne and Wear Archives.  I viewed some wonderful (original) documents and got some information which was totally new to me about my family,  I was pleased.  I will be back there for more.  That's what's so nice about having a goodly amount of time here.  Have time to digest and consider and review and go back when needed.

Got a little shopping and browsing done in the "toon"  (that's what we call Newcastle) but by 6 I was on the train back home where there was a surprise in the fridge for me:  Tennant's Lager.  I had been led to believe that it couldn't be purchased outside of Scotland.  A treat indeed!

So, here endeth the first post.  Cheers from Tynemouth.

P.S.  It would seem that most of what I've written is about FOOD.  Just something we have to get out of our system - tackling all the good old favourites.  I'll try to be more expansive in future posts.

And a couple more pics...  (I'm not taking many - will try and do better!)

Edwards Bay and the priory & castle

red circle - our town house