2313 Devastating and Dangerous Weather on Tyneside

Thursday June 28th 2012 Tyneside experienced biblical weather with a black darkness descending mid afternoon followed by several episodes of torrential rain interspersed with spectacular lightening and thunder claps.  There were 1500 lightening strikes recorded in one hour in the area according to official sources.

Although the rain came in again though the alcove ceiling above my desk it was not as bad as happened a few days before and apart from that I was not affected. It was not until seeing the local papers in the morning and viewing the regional news programme in the evening that the full extent of the damage was appreciated and with many families and individuals having their memorabilia of a lifetime destroyed as well as the contents of businesses and schools wrecked. The damage to individual lives and to property is incalculable and yet there were also many tales where the Geordie nation demonstrated Christian and socialist ethics and principles coupled with a spirit of accepting unpredictable freak acts of nature and getting on with it.

The storm is described as supercell and has already been recorded in Wikipedia as one of two in the UK in recent years and third known in Europe. They usually occur on the Great Plains of the USA and in this instance involved the clash of warm air from the south with cold air from across the Atlantic and the super strata of weather activity above. It should be mentioned that the storm swept across the UK and more accurately there were two storms and elsewhere there was hail the size of golf balls and a tornado. However it was the speed and intensive which stunned Tyneside and the wider North East and it was as one relative commented as if one had all the lights on because of the blackness outside and a power cut plunged the house into darkness.

People have used the expression of War of the Worlds and Armageddon thinking of Hollywood films seen than the biblical texts but for once they accurately described the impact of what happened. As much  rain  fell in two hours that is usual for the rest of the month and only once in the past 100 years has more rainfall been recorded and there are a couple of days to go.

The most used video was of lightening striking the Tyne Bridge although elsewhere in the city a house was struck and the upper floor caught fire but the family inside escaped without physical harm. The young man who pointed his phone camera at the Bridge and filmed the event shared a flat overlooking the Tyne and relayed the video to his closest friends. The video has appeared on televisions worldwide including Japan, and a huge photo dominated the background of regional news Friday evening. Only a week before the Bridge was also on national TV as someone abseiled on a wire from the top of the Bridge to the Quayside.

The other dramatic events immediately hitting the headlines was the flooding of the main city station and the closure of the Metro train system with the track between platforms in one photograph a lake. Both were closed several hours so too was the Tyne Tunnel which became a canal at its lowest point and with similar effects on part of the Metro system especially between platforms and in one instance a landslide also prevented use. I am not sure if it was this event or a separate one where the water accumulated on the Metro swept down and swamped housing turning one garden into a boating lake for the young person of the property. There was also film of two  others canoeing down the main street and the out door  artificial ice skating ring at  Tynemouth which I mentioned as part of my recent  visit to the town  was photographed as a swimming pool.

The damage to railway lines affected more people which the East Coast line only able to operate a reduced service between Newcastle and Scotland 24 hours later because of a major land slides on the line. There was a similar problem on the West Coast Line via Carlisle to Glasgow which caused passengers on one train to arrive more than 12 hours late making a journey time of over 16 hours. When the train was held up in Cumbria someone had the idea of taking the train across county from west to east to Leeds where it was not able to make progress north because of what happened on the East Coast Line.  Eventually it was sent back to the West coast when the line was cleared only for electrical failures causing a fire at the front of the train sending the passengers cramped to the rear for the remainder of the journey.

There were dozens of similar tales of multi hour hold ups and similarly on the roads because of closures and of people stranded or unable to reach destinations on time. A group of teenage girls with hair dos and special party frocks were shown trying to make their way to the School Prom at the Assembly Rooms in central Newcastle which had began two hours beforehand. Their once in a lifetime experience irrevocably ruined. Two people from South Shields were given overnight accommodation at the Metro and staff at a Tesco’s car park provided blanket and drinks for a family one of whose members had missed their flight and  was staying on to catch the next in the early morning once roads became passable once more.

No one appears to have died or suffered injury in this region although a man in his sixties was swept to his death in Shropshire. A holidaymaker in Alnwick had a lucky escape as she and her husband got out of the car which suddenly commenced to fill water in the main High Street and she was swept away by the force of the current. She attempted to grab hold of not one but two lampposts without success until an estate agent managed to get hold of her from his shop entrance and with the help of two others got into the safety of his premises. An elderly woman on her own because her husband was in hospital could not thank the young neighbours enough who had rallied round to help her when water filled her ground floor by several feet. An elderly man was taken to hospital after being rescued from his property suffering from hypothermia. There were several reports and one video of bus drivers finding ways around the blocked roads, picking up people often ankle deep in water and getting them to their destinations.

On Thursday evening was limited coverage on the regional TV because reporters could not get out and as one later said it took him four hours to get home from the studio. In fact on the night the presenter appeared stunned like the rest of us. By the morning the event had made national and internal news with the Journal having a front page full of headlines- Homes Flooded, Trains Cancelled, Roads Closed and Businesses and Schools Hit. Inside it was reported that 23000 homes were without power, Later the number was given as 50000 because of lighting strikes on ground based Transformers and overhead cabling. 7500 were reported to have been without power overnight and some 2500 remained affected some 24 hours later with 200 engineers working to restore normal coverage.

Earlier in week I mentioned having overheard that Ocean Road with its restaurants on one side and B and B’s on the other had been flooded but without confirmation. On Friday I saw pictures of what happened when the roadway turned into a lake with photos of other places under water in South Shields and Borough. There was flooding in Hebburn and in Bolden the River Don rose threatening to burst its banks and flood local housing to one inch. Being Thursday there was to have been a show at Amphitheatre but that was underwater as well.

I was puzzled by a report that he Metro Shopping centre Gateshead had closed in parts as the main under cover Malls there are between one and two storey’s of car parking between the main malls and the roadway, but Ikea store had water coming in through the roofing which was said to have been damaged, Youngsters from nursery at Newburn had to be evacuated and taken to the Ambulance shelter HQ to await pick up by their parents.

A significant number of schools were closed for Friday throughout the region. There was film of the damage to schools in North Tyneside and Newcastle with one teacher explaining that they had witnessed a sheet of water 100 metres wide, the length of the pitch approaching and sweeping through the ground floor causing ten of thousands of pounds of damage. Teachers at one school   stayed until midnight rescuing the work of pupils

One of the worst places where shops were affected was the Durham village of Lanchester where flooding has occurred before and where the owner of a hardware store said he would have to beat losses or risk being uninsured or having impossible to pay premiums. There was the damage caused to restaurant business that had only recently opened where the owners wondered how she could pay her staff with no income. In South Tyneside the Leader of the Council made a point of offering help to businesses including the provision of temporary accommodation.

It was evident that dozens if not hundreds of households had been affected. For those involved there was the shock, helplessness and then where do I begin to clear up on finding their irreplaceable lifetime records and memorabilia destroyed. One adviser encouraged everyone to take the initiate admitting that the insurance companies do not have the number of loss assessors on hand to immediately visit everyone. It was evident from previous events in Cumbria and elsewhere that it will time for properties to dry out before repairs can be made and family homes and businesses used as before. The adviser said it was likely companies would pay for the replacement of cars written off on damaged because of the flooding and speed at which it had occurred.

Despite the problems of the alcove ceiling above my work desk which I had repaired after water penetration two years ago, I congratulated myself again for living on a hill although having to walk back up after going out and returning with luggage from the stations (train and coach) or from shopping is not always welcomed especially when caught in the rain.

According to the weather forecast for the region while there was to have been showers later on Friday the morning was expected to be dry and warm although not as muggy as the previous day. It looked reasonable when I went out around 9 having forgotten to get a supply of the hard boiled sweets which I use one a night when my mouth has dried out on waking. I also bought the Journal and obtained a copy of the free morning paper called Metro.

I called in at the three bakeries for a cheese and pickle baguette but none were made up and also purchased three of half pounds of cherries. Because the sun was out and noting the queue that formed outside Barclay’s bank for its opening, I took a seat in the sunshine to read the papers before making way home.  It was windy and I had difficult keeping tot he pages and then I noted the sudden appearance of ominous black clouds and would you Adam and Eve it, heavy rain poured forth again. I dived into the small M and S store nearby and could not resist their two can dine for £10 offer. I purchased  an already  part spit roasted chicken with a side of potato cubes, cherry tomatoes and Mozzarella for baking, and a carton of raspberries and blue berries resisting the apple tart and other tempting puddings plus a bottle of red wine, the latter for putting down for the future when the under 16 stone position is reached.  I will return for two coasted fish with a prawn topping and the apple pie (for the freezer) plus a bottle of Rosé in the fridge but also for the future. I was impressed with the selection available and delighted to see that the local store which is primarily food is participating. I returned on Saturday morning and in addition to the planned also purchased a joint of ham with more berries and a further bottle of red plus the side dishes of potato, tomato cheese bake, with only one other left after me. I would have one of the excellent fish meals with one of the potato bake plus another chunk of the melon which has provided seven good portions for the £2 but of the fruit season to--date. Alas I did not get two. I was able to enjoy a cheese and pickle £1 baguette for lunch with some cherries.

I did note that we have now lost a card shops in High Street and that one of the two shoe shop is closing down which together with the other recent and longer term closures begins to reveal the extent of the downturn on our High Street which brings me to writing the politics’ piece or more accurately pieces as a plethora of developments make one integrated note beyond me as a quickly written item.

First as the sun is shining another walk into the  town centre  with an umbrella just in case it rains again on the day of the Northumberland Plate, The Pitman’s Derby at Gosforth with the Hoppings Fair on the adjacent Town Moor. It will be interesting to see if Tyneside does dress up or it is macs and wellies given the forecast for the rest of the day.

2312 BBC Radio 1 Hackney and Isle of Wight Festivals 2012

I have had no cause in my life to visit the London Borough of Hackney or its famous Hackney Marshes, and Leyton Orient Football club is only one of two London club Charlton Athletic at the Valley, the other, which I have not visited. The ones that I have are Crystal Palace, the Old Millwall Den Stadium, the former Wimbledon stadium, Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham Hotspurs, and the former Arsenal Stadium together with Chelsea and Fulham, although it is a decade since visiting any of them. I visited the Old Wembley for three Cup Finals, two or three Internationals, two Rock concerts, including the first Live Aid and once for a weekend competition. I have visited the new Wembley for the Diana concert and will be visiting this August for an Olympic Football match.

I mention the London Borough of Hackney (where one its Members of Parliament is Diane Abbott a regular sofa sitting on the late night Political Programme This Week), because the latest of The BBC Radio 1 free but ticketed rock and pop concerts was held there this past weekend in direct competition to the Isle of Wight Festival covered by the Sky Arts Channel and Sky 3D over three evenings at the same time.

Because of the availability of 3D and the advertised appearance of Bruce Springsteen on the Sunday evening I opted to watch the Isle of Wight event and have only caught up with the BBC event since then. The reason why I have been able to do this is that unlike the Sky Channels the BBC not only provided red button coverage of the music in addition to the main magazine style live coverage with videos and some live performances, but now has hours of full performance on line, at least for the remaining part of the subsequent seven days.

I have been an admirer of the BBC event in the past which in my view ranks along with their coverage of Glastonbury where the concert and the BBC coverage has attracted world wide fame and standing, I must confess that it is rare for me  to listen to BBC radio 1 these days or to view the various pop and rock Music channels on Sky and with the departure of Top of the Pops I  only keep in touch with what is happening  in the music and pop scene now and again with the Festivals  from the comfort of my armchair.

I would like to have been a Festival goer and have been tempted when younger but now the idea of sleeping under canvass or standing for hours; often in the inclement British weather has less appeal. The scale of music festivals is extraordinary and if I was to start going then it those which provide traditional jazz and swing music, usually in a hotel where one can sit and enjoy, would top of my list. I did have one glorious weekend in my youth when I went to the Cy Laurie Club on the Saturday night followed by the all nighter at the Skiffle Club  where those appearing including Lonnie Donegan, and then after a wash, made my way to the Thames embankment for a day long River Boat Shuffle to Margate and back  where the hit was Sandy Brown playing an extended version of the When the Saints go Marching In which continued for at least twenty minutes if not longer as the boat had difficulties tying up on return and which blew the minds of Sonny McGhee and Howard Terry the American Blues singers who had also made the trip. I then went to what was Humph’s club at 100 Oxford Street which is still in existence to this day as the 100.

I did plan to go to the Whitely Bay Jazz Festival which for several years was the only one to concentrate on traditional jazz and swing from the 20’s through to 50’s and sixties, only to find that it had been held the weekend before and which incidentally takes place at a hotel in greater Newcastle and not the Bay or even North Tyneside, and now occurs in October and is already sold out. In the past there were whole jazz and swing bands from across Europe who also played sets at the Mouth of Tyne Festival on a stage next to the Rock of Gibraltar Pub at Tynemouth.  This year there is jazz by the Rock but only from the UK on the second weekend of July. The Whitely Bay event will feature about 30 musicians who specialise in playing trad jazz and swing from the 20’s and 30’s. I met someone at Tynemouth who is a regular for the Glasgow event which covers a week beginning to day where the cost of attending all the pay events comes to over £300 plus hotel accommodation. The problem with the Glasgow events as with many other is that in order to attract an audience there is a wide range off jazz usually provided and which if good is good but can also prove unenjoyable or boring. Looking at some of the annual events available the one which did attract me was Scarborough where one of the sons of Take Five Dave Brubeck is performing with his quartet in September.

For the general music lover there are hundreds of festivals events each year with over 30 in the classical music and choral with the Proms the most well known over eight weeks with Aldeburgh, Chichester, Edinburgh, Glynebourne, and the York Early Music Festival the most well known. Bestival is the most prominent for Dance and Electronic Music along with the entire genre Glastonbury among also among 30 others.  Cambridge and Edinburgh are known for their Folk music festivals among forty others. The Party in the Park and T4 on the Beach headline concerts devoted to contemporary popular music with the Isle of White, Knebworth and T in the Park for Rock and the list of all forms music has well over 100 from the well known to the most obscure e.g. Sheep Music and The Midge Death Free Festival. Not on one list was the   important annual Leeds and Reading Festival which takes places in both cities/towns over the same weekend.

The Radio 1 event has now had three transformations with the biggest this past weekend when it changed from to the Hackney Weekend to celebrate the Olympics 2012 Cultural Programme which has now been published in a 100 page plus brochure of free and other events to be included over the coming months, The former Big Weekend Festival has increased the number of stages from four to six and doubled the number of free tickets made available. Because the concert is not residential it originally assumed that the majority of those attending would be local but this did not take into account its growing popularity so that the queue to get ticket policy resulted in an estimated half the tickets allocated on a two per applicant basis going to those from outside the immediate area. Now there is a ballot with 95% going to the area where the weekend is held. In order to combat the free tickets being offered on E Bay a passport photo has to go with application to so that there is a ticket and  applicant match up on the day. So far the weekend has been held in Manchester and Cardiff 2003, Londonderry 2004, Birmingham, 2004, Sunderland 2005, Dundee 2006, Preston 2007, Maidstone 2008, Swindon 2009, Bangor 2010 and Carlisle 2011.

The artists appearing tend to be very current rather than from the past fifty years and therefore the weekend as does Radio 1 generally appeals to the youth of today and provides an important platform for new music and new singers. The post popular return appearing on other stages to the main one before moving to the point of being the headline events. Last year as well as this, for example Plan B and Professor Green, Jessie J, Dizzee Rascal. the Rizzie Kicks, Vaccines, Tinie Tempain appeared again and unlike other festivals notably the Isle of Wight, Artists, however big they have become are prepared for their full performances to be available on the Red button at the time and online for the next week over 75 in total. This is also a feature of BBC Glastonbury.

In 2011 the headliners were Lady Gaga the Black Eyed Peas and the Foo Fighters. 2010 Florence and the Machine, Dizzee Rascal, Justin Bieber and Scouting for Girls, Cheryl Cole and Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Pixie Lott, In 2009 Snow Patrol, Kasabian. Dizzee Rascal, Lily Allen, Scouting for Girls, Maximo Park, Gossip, Enter Shakiri and Lady Hawke. In 2008 there was Madonna, Usher, Fatboy Slim, Editors, Duffy, and Scouting for Girls, The Kooks, the Raconteurs and the Wombats.

2007 saw the Scissor Sisters, Razorlight, Kasabian, the Frantellis, Natasha Bedingfield, Kaiser Chiefs, Rihanna, Bloc Party, Dizzy Rascal and Gossip. In 2006 it was Paolo Nutrini, Corinne Bailey Rae, Razorlight, Snow Patrol, Pink, The Feeling, Feeder, The Editors, Keane and Franz Ferdinand. 2005 the Foo Fighters, Kasabian, Natalie Imbruglia, Chemical Brothers KT Tunstall, Basement Jaxx, Kaiser Chiefs, The Black Eyes Peas, Maximo Park and Jamiroquai.

I mention only those I knew in advance with some only from having watched them at Glastonbury or other festivals before on the TV. This past weekend the star turn divided between three young women, the first Rihanna who brought along her full troupe ensemble of singers and dancers and whose hour set performance is available in full for the next few days. She wore an extraordinary sexy outfit and had command of everyone’s attention throughout. The second was local girl made good through the X Factor, Leona Lewis and who I have seen live as part of the X Factor Tour which caused my membership of My Space when I saw that she had a site. She opened her half hour set 25 minute set with Tell the World I am coming home. She included her Chart Single success Bleeding Love and another of her successes accompanied by a local choir. She was evidently thrilled at the opportunity to sing in the town where she was raised. It is debateable if the third female would describe herself as young anymore and it was the BBC who brought Florence and the Machine to UK attention back in 2008. Florence another local girl from South London came home for the concert from her two year round the world tour! She provided a 40 minute set with her tour group on the Sunday after originally being advertised for the Saturday. You Got The Love was one of her chart topers performed before she has said finding somewhere in East London to get drunk.

Two of the previous participants joined forces to provide another memorable hour long concert available on line Plan B with Professor Green both I would describe under the broad church of white rappers and for once what they had to say could be understood and was appreciated.  I listened to the set twice.

I also had a good listen and look at Ed Sherran, the young man who was given a spot at the Diamond Jubilee Concert and who has entered into the spirit of the Festival type performance by getting mass audience participation in his 45 minute set. He had the type of voice, Leona Lewis is another, that should be listened to rather than become part of a collective singalong, jump up and down and hand gesturing which tends to be the most sophisticated participation today’s concerts goes are capable, unlike the intricate and watchable traditional jazz dancing of two people who danced together on a regular basis.

As Mick Jagger explained in the Black and White Film on the day the Stones gave their extraordinary free concert in Hyde Park in 1969 and the Hells Angels provided security, if you want to listen to music you buy the record and put on the Hi Fi. Whereas in the past people went to concerts to be entertained in a passive way, the Stones Concert, as the Isle of Wight and Glastonbury signalled you went to participate. Originally people also went to get drunk, take drugs, exposure flesh and participate in casual sex. I  am not pretending these aspects are not part of festivals as they are part of most social events involving young people today, but the emphasis today is being part of the event, singing along as well hand gesturing and jumping up and down.


I also watched something of all the 20 artists and their bands who appeared on the Introduction Stage noting that some attracted only what appeared to be fifty to a hundred people but the one which I thought the best and seemed to have drawn the largest crowd was the Skints with a West Indian beat and female lead singer who was very very good and also played several musical instruments. They have been worth listening to again and as consequence of doing this I heard they are having a headline tour later in the year.

I also enjoyed the UD Vocal Collective, a local choir of some 20 voices who were in a good grove. (Kershon Bailey, Stevie Neale, Savages, Joe Black, Arthur Beatrice (I liked the voice of Beatrice?) Driving Lolita (was anything but) Lala K.... Kickers, Sehzar, Lecke Brugge, My Panda Shall Fly, Random Impulse, Issac Dayguach, Paigey Cakey, and Lil Sims In Search of are some of the names from my scribbled notes to see if they make it. I thought most would remain playing to family and friends and local support in pubs and clubs around heir neighbourhood although the musicianship was often a good to high standard, but they just did not have that factor which is likely to get them a chart toping success or International fame and Festival headlining. I hope for their sakes, given the effort that had obviously gone in I am proved wrong.

The weekend was held on the former Hackney Marshes which is part of the Lee Valley Park with adjacent land forming part of the New Olympic Park with the view of sculpture work visible as the skyscrapers of the City and Canary Wharf. As at the Isle of White in addition to the  stages including the Circus Tent style all weather stage there were Fair ground attraction including the 37 metre swing arm thrill ride all lit up witch I noted at Brighton for £5 for 11 revolutions  to the  one minute. There was also the usual range of food outlets, merchandising toilets, lost property and lost people provision with security and all round event enclosure. It appeared an all round positive atmosphere with plenty of too for everyone, all 50000 invited for each of the two days

This all contrasted with my disappointment at the Arts Channel and 3D Channel presentation of the Isle of Wight three day festival. It was first held over three years in the last sixties. It commenced in 1968 as a small affair, comparative speaking with 10000 participants, Jefferson Airplane, Arthur Brown. Tyrannosaurus Rex, Pretty Things and the Move.

The event explored in every sense in 1969 because of his appearance of Bob Dylan after recovering from his motor accident. 300000 of the hippy generation descended on the Island over the summer and some are said to have never returned home. Dylan was supported by Ritchie Havens (seen Live at the sage Newcastle, Joe Cocker, the Who, The Moody Blues, The Nice, Pretty Things, Pentangle, Julie Felix, Free Marsha Hunt and the White Trash and the Bonze Dog Doo Dah Band

Given that the Island population was then well under 150000 it is not difficult to imagine the effect on a local population where the aristocratic sport of Yachting with the Royal Cowes Week is most notable event other than being the former holiday home of Queen Victoria, a holiday resort, and then retirement centre for  the middle class and where I had two summer holidays with the aunties in the late 1940s, early fifties at Bembridge and Sandown followed by two three visits over the past five years as well as a single day in the eights or was  it the nineties?   I also became interested in the allegations of historical child abuse on the island, with Masonic, political and other worrying allegations which were brought to my personal attention in the 1990’s.

However it was the appearance of Jimi Hendrix, only a short while before his death which brought and estimated 600000 people to the island, brought down the barriers and led to action being taken top repeat events. In fact the event itself was peaces as confirmed in the testimony of Hampshire’s Chief Constable to the Inquiry committee which was set up afterwards. I still have a tattered poster of the line up somewhere. On the Wednesday Kris Kristofferson had a hard time because of the acoustic limitations something which Paul McCartney experienced at the end of the original Live Aid Concert. There was also Procul Harum, Mungo Jerry, Lighthouse, Chicago and the Family on the Friday, John Sebastian, Joni Mitchell, Light house, Miles Davis, Emmersen Lake and Palmer, Ten Years After, The Doors, The Who, Melanie, Sly and the Family Stone provided a sensational Saturday. Joan, Byez, Leonard Cohen, Hawkwind, Ritchie Havens, Pentangle, The Moody Blues, Jethro Tull and Kristofferson, The Moody Blues, Ralph McTell, Free and Donovan all built up to the performance of Hendrix.  Although the numbers and anarchistic nature of the event resulted in its closure the following year the first Glastonbury event was organised as a direct consequence and which over the past forty years one or more millions of people have participated and enjoyed.

Three decades were to pass before The Isle of Wight welcomed a rock festival again in 2002 with Robert Plant and the Charlatons appearing to an audience of 8000 to 10000 although the capacity had been set at 22000 suggesting fears on the part of potential participants about what had occurred before. There is also the additional expense of the high cost ferry travel and the extent of camping and other facilities but I suspect the main problem was limited level of performances and stages. There were similar limitations in 2003 with only Bryan Adams and Paul Weller commanding attention.

The situation became more positive in 2004 with an audience of 32000, and with David Bowie, The Who and Sterophonics headlining together with Manic Street Preachers, the Charlatans and Snow Patrol. It is of interest the bands who played and have continued to perform notable Feeder who returned this year and Roxy Music’s Bryan ferry although he appears to have stopped travelling the circuit. Others on the 50000 attended show over three days included REM, Snow Patrol, Ray Davis of the Kinks, Snow Patrol, Travis and Faithless.

The larger gathering trend continued the following year to 55000 with the Proclaimers, the Foo Fighters and Primal Scream; also back this year, with the Editors and Susanne Vega Coldplay, Maximo Park, the Kooks and Whiter Shade of Pale Procul Harum.

It was in 2007 that the festival reached the heights with The Rolling Stones, Kasabian, Amy Winehouse, and Snow Patrol. The Feeling, Echo and the Bunnymen, Ash, Donovan, Keane as special guest, Paulo Nutrini, James Morrison, The Fratellis, and Melanie C. There were 60000 paying customers.

In 2008 the numbers were down but measures had been taken to reduce queue and offer those who wishes guaranteed tickets for the following three years. In terms of performances it can be said the line up failed to up to the previous year With the Sex Pistols, NERD not everyone’s cup of tea but there was the Police, the Kaiser Chiefs. KT Tunstall. Scouting for Girl who is headlining a free concert in South Shields in mid July, Amy McDonald and Kate Nash, The Hossiers and the Wombats.

In 2009 I enjoyed the Ting Tings also seen at with Basement Jaxx at Glastonbury and Palo Nutrini who did a New Year Eve Show with Jools Holland one year.  Headliners were Neil Young, Sterophonics The Prodigy, Razorlight and the Pixies also Maximo Park and Simple Minds, The Human League, Bannerama, Alesha Dixon, Beverely Knight and Pixie Lott. Judy Collins who I have seen at the Sage and should have been headliners was way down on the menu, Ultravox, Will Young, McFly, Eddie Reader, Ladyhawke and the complete Stone Roses.

In  2010 Florence and Machine and Jay Z, headliners also at Hackney, topped the bill on the first night, Blondie and Crowded House on the Saturday, Paul McCartney, The Editor, Pink, Spandau ballet and Susanne Vega, Suzi Quatro, Shakespeares Sister, Noah and the Whale and Oribital. Last year it was the time of Kings Of Leon, Light my Fire, Kaiser Chiefs and a band whose  records I have Big Country, the Foo Fighters and Pulp, Kasabian, Pixie Lott and Plan B, Alexandra Burke and Imelda May seen in 3 D. Tom Jones also in 3D and the Vaccines and the Manic Street Preachers.

Which bring me to this year and the great disappointment because of the absence of red button or online sets of the mainliners Bruce Springsteen whose only number of note shown was Wrecking Ball and Pearl Jam. There was little more of Tom Petty and Elbow, Noel Gallaghers (Oasis) High Flying Birds. I have just discovered that it is possible to  view  the full three evenings broadcasts  on the Sky Player over the  coming month however this still excludes the full sets compared to the BBC Hackney and able for  the limited period of one week.  My complaint is therefore at the management of the event in terms of broadcasting rights and the decision to hold both events at the same time which is worthwhile looking into.

An event such as the Isle of White Festival commands big bucks. The event costs £160 per adult with an addition £30 camping fee unless the camper van is hired for £100.  A 500000 crown will bring in £10 million on top of which here is the income from broadcast rights and concessions for food, drink and everything else. Obviously the costs of buying the attendance of the artists, creating the site, stage crews, security staff and the ticketing administration from the organiser’s viewpoint are also considerable and a risk but we are talking big bucks profit.

I need to complete the politics writing given the way the events have unfolded over this week and last so I will close this piece but take the time to go over the recordings in the hope of uncovering talent which I have not appreciated to date.

2311 Sleep apnoea, some sport and some food

My most recent piece of drafted writing has been split in four ways, first with a view on Royal Ascot already published 1309/2309, then with a political update which is now held over as I reflect on the issue and try and make coherent a number of developments which seem to me linked and could lead to premature breaking up of the Coalition Government, thirdly to events at the Leveson Inquiry, published on Monday 1310/2310 plus a piece about the Isle of Wight Festival which has now broadened to include the Hackney weekend event where I want to view more of the substantial hours now available on the BBC Player unlike Sky and the Arts Channel.

This leaves a miscellany of other matters including sport. The most important to me subject is the progress being made in the use of my CeePap (CPAP) Sleep Apnoea Treatment machine. Until the past seven days my experience was a very mixed one although I was learning to understand what has been happened although there are chicken and egg aspects which only others may be able to explain.

The basic problem of Sleep Apnoea as previously discussed is that with the face and neck muscles relaxing when sleeping insufficient air passes through to the lungs  and there are stops in breathing which can last a few seconds to a minute or two and where such episodes can occur every few minutes within each hour. Overweight and thickening of the neck can be the main cause although there are more long term constitutional factors. A significant reduction in weight can reduce and even eliminate the problem, where it is primarily or solely weight related and the CPAP can only compensate by forcing air under pressure into the lungs thus establishing consistency which prevents the stop starts and therefore leaves the subject significantly less tired during the day, more energetic and able to exercise where the alternative is falling asleep, especially when relaxed.

The situation can become dangerous in two ways as a precursor for heart problems and a stroke and through the uncontrollable need to sleep become dangerous when driving, which is why notification to the DVLA is a requirement once a medical diagnosis of the condition has occurred.

While my assessment was borderline and therefore did not hopefully take me into the Driving Licence withdrawal category my experience when getting a head cold over the past three years led to seeking treatment accepting that my continuing ability to drive could be put into question. There was also the potential risks of nastier developments if the situation progressed although having reduce my weight by a stone and half had considerable helped and reduced my neck width before the 18 inch mark which was one of the signals for major concern.

I spent the first couple of weeks getting familiar with the use of machine, and at one level going away for the week was a handicap. The main obstacle has been a blocked nose which led to breathing through the mouth which dries up, causing swallowing air which produces body wind.  How far the sinus problems are a consequence of the Sleep Apnoea or has other causes I need find out but the more hours I use the machine at night the less blockages, especially early morning, although just when one thinks the situation is mastered a further night of limited use is experience because of not being to breathe naturally through the nose. 

One problem is that not having made notes or kept records before the treatment commenced I have no basis for making generalization or reaching conclusions. The machine has some in built record keeping in terms of the hours of treatment use per day, and therefore the total hours and average over a month.
While I was only averaging over just four hours just over a week ago I am now approaching five as this week progresses although this covers a couple of nights when there was no use and others where I was only able to use for one session during the night.  Recent I have managed my longest period with 9.1 hours and several of eight and seven. What I do not know if there is a minimum of use for the treatment to be fully effective or one need to maintain use throughout the sleeping period.

Yesterday I was under six hours because  of waking with a block stuffed nose or at least that is the way it felt I had rise and this led to a  an early afternoon dose after  a good walk which included a cheese and pickle baguette eaten overlooking the mouth of the Tyne from the North Marine Park. Then last night I failed in two attempts to get started and only clocked up over one hour just before rising.

I have posted my notification and application to continue driving to the Medical group at the DVLA who will decide if I am fit to continue driving and therefore hold a Driver’s licence, although I could not say that the sleep is yet under control (their terminology) as I do not know the parameters for being able to say this is so. I therefore decided to answer the question in the negative but explained why I had said this bearing in mind the borderline assessment and the forthcoming treatment progress review in the first week in July.

It was not until ten on Friday that I was ready to make a quick visit to the shops taking the car because it looked like heavy rain and it commenced to rain as I set off but stopped when after shopping in Asda I went onto the Street. I visited Wilkinson for second time in two days for plant support canes which are quite expensive about 40 pence each in a packet of 10. While the perspective of the patio remains essentially a green one there are signs of flowering which progressed a little more over the weekend despite the horrendous weather. The disappointment is that the mixed petunias appear to be only purple and white but I have the red geraniums in flower,  a couple nurtured over the past three and several others well on their way as well as  small yellowy chrysanthemums and the box of  red phlox(I think) also small but in flower. The broad beans still look promising although hammered by the driving rain while only the sweet peppers grown from seed are now doing anything although I have those bought doing well as are the three tomato plants on one which begins to flower before forming the fruits.

The rain this Sunday was as hard as I have encountered and came through the ceiling to the window side of the desk. On the walk yesterday I saw the newsstand headline from yesterday’s local paper which said flood chaos in Shields and someone commented that Ocean road was awash no doubt from all the water which runs down from the two hills on either side. Looking out of the window there was a sheet of water river like across the road outside the house which is close to the top of the hill and therefore flushing quickly away.  I mistakenly thought the weather was going to be fine tomorrow and warmer but according to the forecast there is only a period before ten and then a good spell from tea time so I shall aim go walking then. I had hope to undertaken another tip across the river. There are performances at the sea front at seven.

On Saturday I enjoyed southern fried chicken pieces, with boiled new potatoes in their skins and some baked beans and tinned tomatoes for lunch followed by a prawn salad in the evening,  fresh cherries and a piece of water melon during day plus a cuppa soup. At Asda I had purchased for the weekend a lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, a made up mushroom stir fry, some liquorice, one small packet of peanuts and I thought two pints of milk. I forgot the milk and to get it the following day.

I run down the freezer for a defrost on Sunday but also containing as part of the attempt to reduce my weight further with below 16.7 still proving difficult to achieve. When getting the milk I purchased one of the biggest watermelons ever for only £2 and which will last days. I have also enjoyed helpings of raspberries also at £2 a carton. There was roast chicken boiled new potatoes in skins and a mixture of runner beans and peas from frozen via the microwave on Sunday with a salmon salad. The stir fry was yesterday with only a cuppa soup and crackers as the second meal while today I enjoyed the baguette as mentioned and made make a curry with the rest of the chicken...

Most of the sport has been disappointing with the looked forward to third one day between England and the West Indies at Headingley cancelled without a ball being bowled. I learned that Geoffrey Boycott has become the President this year and for next when the club celebrates 150 years of playing top class cricket. He will be justly proud of that and will hope to see Yorkshire return to the first division of champions so that for the first time in a  long while, the quarter of  Yorks and Lancs., Surrey and Middlesex will back where they should be. The sad aspect will be that Durham is not likely to be with them.

On Friday evening Durham played Yorkshire at Chester Le Street but with the weather forecast dodgy and Durham’s performances iffy I decided not to seek a ticket. Although the start of the match was delayed the full innings of 20 20 overs took place and for a short time during the start of the Durham innings I regretted not going. Yorkshire had gone off fast, getting runs on the board before the patches of rain cloud passing could interrupt play,  The rain stayed away in this instance and Yorkshire amassed 171 runs which Miller hitting five fours and six sixes in his 76 not out and in most instances this would be enough to secure victory. It was  with Durham’s special 20 20 signings of Herschelle Gibbs supported for a time by Johann Mybough  started at over 10 an over and I prayed that rain would fall when the were ahead on the Duckworth Lewis system for matches which have to be stopped because of the weather. Gibbs also score 76 with ten fours and two sixes. However after they were out only Muchall 16 not out and Plunkett 15 showed resistance and the team was all out 12 runs short. Worse was to follow when last night on Sky I dared not watch as Durham were disastrously beaten by 8 wickets with overs to spare by Lancs at Old Trafford. There is no inclination to attend this Wednesday when  anything but a win against the  weak Derbyshire team means all hope of a place in the quarter finals will end.

I also watched part of the European Grand Prix from Valencia where Lewis Hamilton was  set for second placed when he was taken out by Maldonado who  went off the track in an effort to pass Hamilton and then came back sharply forcing Hamilton on to the fence. He was punished with a 20 second penalty which took him out of the points but Hamilton was unable to continue. Maldonado who has only come to the fore this season appears to have bad blood with Hamilton as I believe this is the second incident between them this season. This places Hamilton only third in the drivers championship, instead of second to the surprise winner Alonso, a winner in his home country for the first time. Jenson who started the season with a win has increasingly struggled and finished 8th which is also his position in the championship.

I hoped England would do better than they did in the quarter finals of the European Cup on Sunday evening and in fairness they started off well and had opportunities to score as then did Italy who increasingly came to control, the game. England‘s problem, thus it ever, was that collectively they are unable to complete passes consistently and kept losing the ball. Although the game went to extra time and penalties Italy were the better side and in the shoot out lottery they held their nerve better after missing their first spot kick after which England failed  through Ashley Young and Ashley Cole  for Italy to win 4 2  without needing the fifth. Twenty three million are said to have million watch the disaster. Moreover they have been practising penalties but the two players who missed showed that no amount of practicing can cover for the tension and pressure of the reality moment. However no one was really surprised by the result.

There was an unexpected better outcome when Andy Murray crushed his first round opponent in the Wimbledon Grand slam after prediction he would find it tough. This in part was  because he had crashed out of the pre Wimbledon Tournament on grass at the Queen’s club  a couple of weeks ago, He won the men’s singles as this competition last year. He has reached the Wimbledon semi finals of the men’s singles for three years in succession and this year he has the opportunity twice to go one better. He has also entered the Olympic Games event on behalf of the UK.

Mentioning the Olympic games I enjoyed the Torch coming to the North East although I woke too late to see it live in South Tyneside. I also missed out that the BBC were showing the relay live in the red button although from midday in one instance and then in the evening. I had hoped to see the journey to Whitby, Scarborough and York as well as Harrogate and Leeds back and forth to Cumbria and Carlisle twice. The service stopped suddenly although will continue next month, at least that is what one caption said.

McDonalds has opened its biggest branch in the world on the Olympic site seating 1500. There was also a showing of a model of the opening scene of the Opening show with the English countryside, farm animals and all. Then a paper leaked an aerial shot showing the land covered with coal Pit heads and industrial chimneys. Foul I cry why spoil the excitement of waiting to see what happened for millions and billions who will watch. Shame Shame Shame you......

2310 Leveson The Michael Gove Associated Newspapers Nexus

It was my intention to write a number of short pieces  covering the weekend of TV sport watching, the Rock Festival concerts on the Isle of Wight and Hackney and recent political developments together with  my usual updates on food,  shopping, sleep apnoea and anything else of interest. Because the political development required much consideration I set aside and then similarly the music festivals as I wanted watch the recordings on the BBC of the Hackney free ticket event. I decided to do a piece on Royal Ascot when it ended and this has been published. This morning I started to write on politics following the appearance of an aged, haggard yet ebullient former Prime Minister Tony Blair on the Andrew Marr Show, and just on 10 decided to switch on Sky for the Leveson Inquiry to see if he had anything to say after the break of another week, only find that he was speaking on the main Sky Channel, breaking into the pre arranged news headlines.

This is what he said

Lord Justice Leveson:
I wish to take the opportunity to deal with concerns that have been expressed in the press about my approach to aspects of the Inquiry and, in particular, to concerns that I have sought to prevent debate on its subject matter.

1. Shortly after 4.00 pm on Friday 15 June, Brendan Carlin of the Mail on Sunday contacted the Inquiry outlining in broad terms a story that ‘an excellent source’ had provided. It was made clear that the story would run (by implication irrespective of any response) but a number of questions were put. These were:

“• Can you confirm that following comments made by Michael Gove on February 21 regarding the ‘chilling effect’ on press freedom of the Leveson Inquiry, Lord Leveson [sic] contacted Downing Street?

• Can you confirm that he spoke to Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood?

• Can you confirm that Lord Leveson expressed his concerns at the comments?

• Can you confirm that he said that if ministers continued to comment publicly in this fashion, he might have to consider his position?

• Can you confirm that subsequent to Mr Gove’s comments, he asked the Education Secretary to give evidence to his inquiry?”

2. I addressed the approach to these questions the next day (Saturday) and I authorised the following statement which I recognise was faithfully repeated in the subsequent article:

“Lord Justice Leveson is conducting a judicial inquiry and, in that capacity, will not comment on prospective press stories outside the formal proceedings of the Inquiry.”

3. On 17 June 2012, under the very substantial front page headline “LEVESON’S ‘THREAT TO QUIT’ OVER MEDDLING MINISTER” and the sub headline “Fury of press probe judge after Education Secretary blames inquiry for ‘chilling’ effects on free speech”, the Mail on Sunday asserts that, because of a speech made by The Rt. Hon. Michael Gove M.P. to the House of Commons Press Gallery as long ago as 21 February 2012, I made “an angry call to the Cabinet Secretary”, “demanded that the Education Secretary should be gagged” and said that “if Ministers were not silenced”, the inquiry “would be rendered worthless”. It went on to say that I “summoned Mr Gove to give evidence to the inquiry to explain himself”.

4. The story was picked up and repeated in other papers. It was further amplified in the Daily Mail for 18 June 2012 under the headline “Now MPs say that Leveson is stifling free speech” which repeated the thrust of the previous article and noted that Mr Gove had been “defended” by the Prime Minister on the day after his remarks. It also quoted two MPs, first, Mr Philip Davies MP as commenting that the intervention raised questions over my attitude to free speech and that if I was sensitive about criticism I ought to move aside for someone else and, second, Mr Douglas Carswell MP as saying that my intervention “raises questions about the integrity of the inquiry”.

5. At the heart of this story are two allegations, first, that I sought to prevent Mr Gove from exercising his right to free speech including by making a threat to resign and, secondly, that I misused the process of the Inquiry to summon Mr Gove in order that I could challenge his behaviour.

6. In the light of the story and the follow up, I felt it appropriate to raise the matter in the Inquiry and, had I been sitting on 18 June 2012, I would have done so then. In the event, I was not sitting that week and I was conscious that s 17(3) of the Inquiries Act 2005 requires me when making any decision as to the procedure or conduct of the inquiry, to have regard (among other things) “to the need to avoid any unnecessary cost (whether to public funds or to witnesses or others)”. In the circumstances, I decided to refer all core participants (who are entitled to raise any issues which concern them as and
when they wish) to these articles and to invite submissions within 48 hours.

7. It has been suggested (in rather more colourful language) that my intention is to challenge the Mail on Sunday. In fact, my intention is and always was very different. The papers had, after all, felt it appropriate to make very serious allegations expressly and inferentially to the effect that I had behaved improperly, challenging my position in the Inquiry. Usually, applications about the conduct of a judge in the exercise of his or her judicial functions (which, in view of their seriousness, are rare) are made in public to the tribunal against whom the allegation is made and backed by evidence; any decision can then be challenged on appeal. My purpose was simply to give Associated Newspapers Ltd the opportunity to pursue the allegations they made on the front page of their newspaper before me; this obviously had to be done quickly and I should certainly have preferred it to have been sooner than the week that has passed

8. In the event, to my surprise in view of the allegations that they had made, Associated Newspapers Ltd, by their solicitors, asked for an indication of the specific issues upon which I would welcome assistance and any written submissions. It was indicated that core participants were offered the opportunity (without obligation) to offer any observations they had. Associated Newspapers Ltd made no submission of any sort, and, more specifically, no application. Given the prominence that they had afforded this story, at the very least, I find that equally as surprising as their apparent failure to understand why I might have sought observations or submissions from them.

9. Unlike others who have been approached by the press in this way, I have the advantage of being able to deal with these allegations in my own time and in a way that does not allow for confusion. Given the open and transparent nature of the way in which I have conducted this Inquiry, that is what I shall now do.

10. When Mr Gove addressed the House of Commons Press Gallery, his remarks were widely reported and I asked for a transcript which was later made available. I do not need to set out what he said in detail but it is important to underline that he went further than emphasising the importance of freedom of expression and gave as his opinion that there is a chilling atmosphere which emanates from the debate around the Inquiry. He spoke of the danger of the cure that is worse than the original disease and the danger that ‘judges, celebrities and the establishment, all of whom have an interest in taking over as arbiters of what a free press should be, imposing either soft or hard regulation’ and that, effectively, it is sufficient if we vigorously uphold the laws and principles that are already in place while encouraging ‘the maximum of freedom of expression’.

11. On many occasions throughout the hearings, I have consistently and repeatedly emphasised the fundamental importance of free speech and a free press. Further, I have recognised that everyone is entitled to an opinion on a topic such as this which is of widespread public interest and the subject of vigorous public debate. All are entitled to express personal views that they hold in whatever way and whatever circumstances they consider fit and Mr Gove is no exception. It is worth pointing out that many others have spoken about the Inquiry and about me both inside and outside the formal proceedings and I remain entirely supportive of their right to do so.

12. Mr Gove, however, also occupies a position which has a critical further dimension. As he is a senior member of the Cabinet, a question arose in my mind at the time as to whether, in speaking as he did, he was speaking for the Government or reflecting the view (or the perception) of the Government that the very inquiry that it had established was no longer to be supported in its work. That concern was underlined when, the very next day 22 February 2012, during the course of Prime Minister’s Questions, there was the following exchange:“

Q5. [95251] Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Lab): On Tuesday the Education Secretary said that the Prime Minister’s decision to set up the Leveson inquiry was having a “chilling” effect upon freedom of expression. Does the Education Secretary speak for the Government?

The Prime Minister: The point I would make is this. It was right to set up the Leveson inquiry, and that is a decision fully supported by the entire Government, but I think my right hon. Friend is making an important point, which is this: even as this inquiry goes on, we want to have a vibrant press that feels it can call the powerful to account, and we do not want to see it chilled—and although sometimes one may feel some advantage in having it chilled, that is not what we want.”

13. It seemed to me at the time (as, indeed, the Daily Mail of 18 June has now sought to suggest by saying that the Prime Minister was ‘defending’ Mr Gove) that the Prime Minister’s response was open to the interpretation that he was, indeed, agreeing with Mr Gove’s views. I also recognised that it was open to the interpretation that the Prime Minister was not saying that free speech was being chilled but only that ‘we do not want to see it chilled’. Of greater concern to me was the question whether what he had said was or had become the Government’s position in relation not just to the effects of the Inquiry, intended or otherwise, but also that that there was a danger that I (as a judge) had an interest in taking over as arbiter of what a free press should be, imposing either soft or hard regulation and that it was sufficient vigorously to uphold the laws and principles that are already in place while encouraging ‘the maximum of freedom of expression’. What I did not appreciate at the time (but have been referred to in a submission by a core participant in response to these articles) is that Dr Martin Moore and Professor Brian Cathcart had similar concerns. In an open letter to the Prime Minister (published on the Hacked Off website at the time) referring to Mr Gove’s comments and Prime Minister’s Questions, they sought an assurance from him that the Government was still ‘fully committed to the Inquiry and its validity and need’.

14. From my perspective, the issue was straightforward. Had the Government reached a settled view along the lines that Mr Gove had identified, it would clearly have raised questions about the value of the work that the Inquiry was undertaking (at substantial cost). I recognised that the Prime Minister had said that it was right to set up the Inquiry, but I wanted to find out whether Mr Gove was speaking for the Government, whether it was thought that the very existence of the Inquiry was having a chilling effect on healthy vibrant journalism and whether the Government had effectively reached a settled view on any potential recommendations. Put shortly, I was concerned about the perception that the Inquiry was being undermined while it was taking place.

15. Following Prime Minister’s Questions, I therefore considered it both necessary and appropriate to make an enquiry to that effect of Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet Secretary. I received the assurance that no fixed view had been formed and that it was wrong to infer from the Prime Minister's observations any concerns or collective view. I fully accepted that assurance and made my position clear in a session of the Inquiry, when I said (27 February 2012, AM, page 4, l. 9-17):

“For the avoidance of all doubt, let me make it clear that I have no wish to be the arbiter of what a free press should be or should look like, and I have no interest in doing so. Publicly to express concern effectively about the existence of the Inquiry, when it is doing no more than following its mandated terms of reference, is itself somewhat troubling. For my part, given the background, I do not believe that the Inquiry was or is premature, and I intend to continue to do neither more nor less than was required of me. ”

16. I turn to the decision to call Mr Gove to give evidence. The background is very simple. There was a considerable body of evidence to the effect that Mr Rupert Murdoch had expressed an active interest in education in this country and had involved himself in discussions about Academy schools with a view, potentially, to providing financial support for one or more such schools. To that end, he had engaged with the Secretary of State for Education. The extent to which he was offering support and the place of such support in his relationship with politicians was, in the judgment of the Inquiry, highly relevant to the Terms of Reference. The fact that for many years Mr Gove had been a journalist employed at The Times, and therefore was able to look at the relationship between politicians and the press from both perspectives, further added to his interest as a witness. The decision that Mr Gove should be asked to give evidence was made before his speech to the Press Lobby but there was obviously an opportunity, after he had made it, to invite him to say more about these views as well if he chose to, as indeed he did.

17. One great value of the way in which the Inquiry is being streamed on the website means that everyone can see the extent to which I have consistently and repeatedly emphasised the critical significance of free speech and, in that very important context, can watch the exchanges that I have with witnesses and reach their own conclusions.

18. It is absolutely correct that the press should be able to hold this Inquiry, in general, and me, in particular, to account; the Mail on Sunday, the Daily Mail and those other newspapers that published the story are and were entitled to do so with whatever comment they considered appropriate. Having said that, however, it is at least arguable that what has happened is an example of an approach which seeks to convert any attempt to question the conduct of the press as an attack on free speech. For my part, I will not be deterred from seeking to fulfil the Terms of Reference that have been set for me.

19. I add only this. I understand only too well the natural anxieties of editors, journalists and others of the dangers of a knee-jerk response to the events of last July. Whilst I continue to state my belief in a free press at every possible opportunity (and not a single witness has sought to suggest that healthy and vibrant journalism is not essential to our society) I also understand that on every day of the Inquiry, every exchange I have with a witness will be analysed and considered in order to reveal a hidden agenda. There is none. No recommendations have been formulated or written; no conclusions have yet been reached. Testing propositions is not any equivalent to the expression of views concluded or otherwise.

Lord Leveson also mentioned that it had been suggested that he had decided to require Mail On Sunday Political Editor Simon Walter to attend to answer questions about the June 17th Article. This is what he said to an uncomfortable, defensive and hostile looking Mr Walters.

LORD JUSTICE LEVESON: Mr Walters, contrary to everybody's expectation over the last week, I have no intention of asking you any questions about the article in the Mail on Sunday of 17 June, but there is some nonsense I would like to deal with, if you don't mind.  It is a suggestion that I specifically called you to ask about the article. That has been said by many people. Would you agree that must be absolute rubbish? A. That is not the case, sir.

LORD JUSTICE LEVESON: Because, just so we have elaborated
 it, you received a section 21 notice, I think on 11 5 April. On 23 April, you provided a response in a statement which, as you have just confirmed, is dated
l
A. (Witness nods)
LORD JUSTICE LEVESON: Then on 29 May, your solicitors were
 informed by email that the Inquiry wanted you to give oral evidence today.  A. That's correct.

LORD JUSTICE LEVESON: And on 31 May, you agreed to do that. A. That's correct, sir.

LORD JUSTICE LEVESON: And that is all before 13 June. A. Yes.

 LORD JUSTICE LEVESON: And anybody wanting to research the  article that they wish to write about how I was going to  call you specifically to deal with this article could  easily have found those facts out by asking you,  couldn't they?
 A. They could have done.

Which means to say that the piece that was written was pernicious and mendacious and intended to do damage I use the words to link with what the excellent respected Jon Snow had to say in his evidence to Leveson sandwiched between the early morning statement and the one way exchange with Mr Walters. I openly declare my prejudices   in favour of the world and UK perspective on news provided by Channel Four News at 7 each evening with John Snow as its presenter a post held since 1989 produced under contract with ITN which he joined as a reporter in 1976.

Mr Snow closed his comments with the following passionate condemnation of the approach of Associated Newspapers which publishes the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday.  Seeming to imply that its approach was top down led by Mr Dacre. Mr Snow said

“I believe one of the problems about the environment in which this inquiry is set is that there has been enormous emphasis on the Murdoch papers, on News International, and possibly not enough on other areas of the press. I would say that Associated Newspapers are at least, if not more pernicious than anything you see in the News International stable. They are vying with each other, perhaps, but there is something more insidious about Associated Newspapers and very possibly they will go after me for saying so. But I believe they have an agenda for trying to undermine or wreck the careers of individual people in public life, and I think that is unhealthy. I think people should stand or fall by what they achieve or fail to achieve in the job they are employed to do. It is of no interest that they have -- unless it is in some way in conflict with their actual responsibility. But if it was found that an Archbishop of Canterbury was -- and God rest our souls that he would never be found here, but just supposing he was frequenting Soho or something. That would obviously have some clear public interest.  But I'm afraid to say this goes way beyond anything like that, where people who have a quite modest, perhaps, role in public life are undermined. It is part of the fare, it is part of the staple diet, and I don't think it is a diet actually that people really need even.

It is not a question of suppressing press freedom; it's just: why don't we deal with the important things in life? And, you know, it is not -- it is, as I say, pernicious and I think at times mendacious. I don't -- I try to analyse it a lot. I try to see what it is that makes this worthwhile.

Where does it come from? What role does the editor at Associated Newspapers have in this? You have heard the atmosphere there can be quite difficult and I know -- and it is something I really want to say to you, is that Fleet Street, as we still call it, even though it is nowhere near Fleet Street, is populated by really decent, good, wonderful journalists. No question. Every single paper I have ever had any contact with on Fleet Street has superb people working for it. But somehow this culture sweeps through and is allowed to prevail, irrespective of the quality of the people who try to work there. And it doesn't happen in broadcasting, and it is not just because we are regulated. It is because we don't see it as any part of our news function.  For example, in the chitty chatty days before Diana's demise, we took it as sort of almost self-denying ordnance. We said, "Look, who she is dating, what she is doing is not really our business. If some news development occurs, there is some mêlée or something and she is in danger, then we will report it, but fundamentally her private life is not an issue for this programme."

Then, of course, she died, and she became a massive interest and we had to talk about people we had never talked about before, somebody called Dodi Al Fayed, et cetera. These people had to be resurrected.  But in my view, this is the great need, is for this area either to be divorced from our understanding of news and placed somewhere else, maybe in a brown paper bag under the shelf, but for it to appear as being mainstream news is incredibly destructive. I think people get a distorted a view of the world in which we all function.  After all, Britain is made up mainly by people who live by the law, do their best -- politicians, workers, and people in the health service. These are the people who make this country work and simply demonising them, exposing them for some human frailty, is, I think, very destructive.

It may be suggested that Mr Snow was out for revenge given a previous experience which he mentioned, although did not identify Associated Newspapers as the offending news agency.

He said in answer : When it comes to apology, I mean, obviously on the  basis of gravity of offence, apologies should be commensurate with the scale of what was got wrong in the first place, and I think that that would be a fantastic  pressure on editors to get things right. If you knew you were in fact possibly going to have to run a front page in which the typeface was going to be as bold as the original assertion, you would think twice about whether you were going to risk it, because you are just going to look an idiot.

Q. So by prominence, you mean located in the place and
 given the same --

 A. If the offence is bad enough, yes. I mean, I think there is no problem with that at all. I am not saying that would happen every time but there would be varying degrees of it. But as somebody who has been apologised to by a tabloid, the original offence spread over five pages. The confession was that it was completely untrue and they accepted it was untrue and they retracted it and apologised. The apology was 1.5 inches by a column, and then the wrestling was over whether there should be a photograph of me above it. They didn't want the photograph because that would draw attention to the apology. Actually, in the end, we got the photograph, but I mean, this is pathetic. Wrestling over 1.5 inches  when you have had five pages of something which the  paper itself deems untrue? That is not the way forward.

The way forward has to be that people -- that  a newspaper suffers when it gets things wrong. We  suffer when we get things wrong. We have to correct  them. We have no choice but to correct it if it is  wrong. We will often, if we can, apologise in the  programme. I am afraid I have had to make far more  apologies than I care to admit, but they tend to come at  the end of the programme: "I'm very sorry to have to say that when we reported X at 7.10 tonight, actually we had a mistake there, and it was X, Y, Z", whatever. You know, it is standard practice and right.  What is so shameful about being wrong? We are all human beings. Let's admit it. There is no exceptional  about an editor. Editors are human beings. They can  apologise.

 Q. How important is this idea of a photograph -- I understand that your main view would be if there has  to be an apology, it should be given the same prominence  as the article which led to the apology. In the alternative, what is in this idea of a photograph to draw attention to a particular --

 A. The whole idea of apology is to hide it, is to keep it  as low key as possible. In my case, it was on page 2. I didn't know, but page 2 of a tabloid is the least read  page. There will be people here who will confirm that  that's not true, but I think it is true. Page 3 is the  one you look at, not because Murdoch has made it a sort of nude job but because that is where your eye falls,  and so if you can get the apology out on page 2 and  little and preferably without anything which defines it  as anything more than just a couple of columns of boring  print, you are in business.  So in case, right up to publication moment, the  issue is: would we allow a less than passport photograph  of me to go at the top of the column or not? And they said no and we said yes, and in the end, they caved in  and this vast concession was made to put a photograph at  the top of the apology, which, as I say, extended for 1.5 inches. That is the process we have at the moment. That is justice; that is the way any reader who -- or any person offended by a paper who has something wrong gets redress.

Mr Snow signalled that his direct and committed style did lead him into make comments which other might hesitate when asked about the relationship between Number Ten and newspaper owners and Editors he said

A. I mean, we can be very clear that we were very well aware of Rupert Murdoch's movements, either at the back  of the premises or the front. They tended to veer from one to the other. Not always, but sometimes. And that  should have raised a little bit of an alarm bell.

 Q. What is it about what you have heard that has astonished you about the access or level of access?

 A. Well, I mean some of it is allegation, isn't it? So one has to be careful.

Q. Yes.

A. I am shocked that there is the strong allegation that there was an attempt to change legislation affecting the commercial interests of a broadcaster -- that would seem to me to be amazing -- in reward for -- in return for  support for a particular election campaign. Those sort of things. You know, we used to laugh up our sleeves and say that is what the Italians did. Now we've  discovered we do it. It is amazing. I am astonished.

One can be cynical as a journalist and say they are at  it all the time, but actually I never did think they were at it. I didn't think we were a particularly  corrupt society. I have always worked on the basis that  there was something a bit better.

The statements speak for themselves but the  position and role of Mr Gove who was sitting, and looking best buddies, with Mr Hunt last Wednesday PMQ’s merits further attention and will be covered in the separate piece on  recent political developments. Tomorrow Mr David Mellor gives evidence in the afternoon and I look forward with interest what he will have say.

2309 Royal Ascot impressive 2012 meeting

I gave Royal Ascot week some attention this year. There were three reasons. Having won a bet on the Derby which led to winning £200 net when Chelsea won the European Cup I contemplated doing so again. It the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year and thought one of her horses would win. I have always been fascinated by displays of wealth, despite the lottery and unfairness of those who participate and those of us who do not.

Royal Ascot is after all the perennial major social event of each year in terms of posh dressing, posh nosh and extravagance which anyone and everyone can participate if they have the dosh. The reason why this is a banker event is that the Queen has been attending not just one day but every day of the week, Tuesday to Saturday  and apart from illness, come rain or shine she is there arriving in the first of four state livery open carriages accompanied by her special guests and other members of the Royal Family. Despite the torrents of rain elsewhere she only needed to put up a costume coloured fringed see through umbrella  once and she looked great and happy in several pastel shades throughout the week. She was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, who looked his age and glad to be able to participate after his recent ill health. On one of the days she was accompanied by the ninety four year old former horse racing Peter O’Sullivan so the three of them notched up 270 years between them with the second guest only in his fifties. The cheers were genuine including some spontaneous bouts of three cheers.

Apart from Her Majesty, the owners, trainers, jockeys and BBC commentators in what I understand is the last year when they will cover the event for the time being, I wonder how many of the 50000 a day participating attend more than once, given the essential ingredient that if you are female you do not go wearing the same outfit twice. In addition to wearing a smart dress you must also wear a hat which no one does  usually these days. There are restrictions for the men on when  they can remove their black or grey Top Hat, unless they are from overseas when they wear their national dress,  which sparked one Australian to appear in the traditional bush hat with bobbing corks to ward off the flies. He had the other 5000 Aussis attending  together with the  thousands watching on a  large screen in Melbourne in the early hours of the  morning nearly got their comeuppance as will be reported.

This year while tickets were available at a price to anyone you had to comply to the dress code for each designated area with a glossy brochure with style pictures listing rules and showing the preferred approach. This indicates the serious intent of the course owners to make Royal Ascot even more of a posh event than previous, In the past in the fifties to seventies it was tradition of stars and starlets, up and coming politicians and the whores of criminals to gain international publicity by wearing the most outrageous of outfits to attract the TV Lens and National press, especially on what regarded as Ladies Day. Now there are daily opportunities for anyone with a good media agent to place their photo or film clip before the world if they are prepared to show flesh  however expensively the little of the rest is covered.

The Course proprietors and  advisers from the Palace felt that recently the displays of bare midriff and the fascinators was all getting too much as well as skirts which just about covered the thigh. I did not know about fascinators until they were worn by the Duke of Yorks daughters at the Wedding of William and Kate. According to the Ascot guide fascinators can still be worn by young women between the ages of ten years and sixteen but after than you can wear a small base hat but the preference is clearly for the full head covering with a wide brim.

Having said anyone can go, the one exception is a car park where a place can be handed down generation upon generation unless presumable sold at a price rather like Wimbledon or Lords debenture seats. You have to have been on four previous occasions to purchase entry to the Royal Enclosure which provides a close up view of the Queen arriving in her carriages and an overview of the paddock where owners and trainers give their final instructions to their jockeys after the horses have paraded and the jockeys mounted up as well as victory parade and prize giving for the winning and placed horses. This year the first noteworthy prize giver was Jenson Button before flying off to the Euro Grand Prix in Spain. Two of the races  had prizes  around the half a million mark with others  over £100000, Two bets of £100000 were placed and one of £50000 was mentioned on short odds favourites who both won at ten to one against yielding a profit of £10000 and five to one which yielded £20000 although the latter was nearly caught up at the finishing post demonstrating once and for all that the British Irish Thoroughbred as well as the French and USA are in general a class or two above their Aussi cousins and who won the Ashes back to back recently my beauties?

The grandstand is one of the most spectacular and attractive sporting viewing accommodations in the world and I challenge anyone to provide evidence of better, Sky please note? There are 225 boxes for which full catering must be provided by the Ascot organisation on the top tiers but with the panoramic restaurant topping this. I was not able to find the prices of the boxes but it was possible to find the cost of the various packages  with between £1000 and £1650 for the Panoramic and £550 for a chalet place looking back on to the grandstand and finishing line.
For the DIY inclined or less wealthy, picnic lunches can be provided for between £50 and £75 a person with traditional tea boxes at £50 for two.

The Royal Carriages Restaurant provided one car park place per couple and Grandstand admission with balcony view, Race Card, Royal Ascot Magazine and Racing Newspaper and TV viewing. You can start the day with a glass of champagne or Pimms No 1 accompanied by a Mese en Bouche (usually chef’s tasters for the food ahead) but which in this instance were mature cheese straws and Osaka rice crackers. The starter included poached and smoked salmon with an herb fromage Blanc. The main dish was rump of English lamb with posh nosh veg followed by mandarin parfait and miniature shortbreads, the cheese selection and biscuits, coffee or tea and chocolates strawberry and champagne.

The afternoon tea included smoked salmon cream and chives on brown bread, traditional coronation chicken on white bread, egg and cress and beef horseradish, scones jam and cream, lemon drizzle cake, chocolate éclairs and teas. Oh I nearly forgot the fine wines. I am not sure if you got unlimited champagne served until thirty minutes after the last race or  an unlimited bar but this was so for the highest priced panoramic lounge plus Liquors.  Here there was also an Amuse Bouche of chilled garden peas, buttermilk and snow pea veloute, Serrano Ham and mint blossoms. The starter was the famous Dressed Folkstone Crab and salad, the veg with the beef included shaved truffles, rosemary and jasmine flowers or sea bass and the three Taste of Summer puds included Pink Champagne Sorbet, Lemon Parfait and a Summer Pudding with the cheeses and coffee chocks strawberry champagne as before. The afternoon tea was also similar except of the addition of raspberry and pistachio macaroons. I enjoyed some raspberries for tea today on their own alas.

And of course there is the racing with the great owners with the  Arab Princes powerful and successful and the O’Brien Training dynasty with  the grandson winning jockey and of course the Italian background Frankie Detorri still goings strong at 40 winning against the younger challengers within and without the great Godolphin Racing Empire.

The horse Frankel lived up to all the hype. This inbred horse with the same parent for both the sire and damn third and fourth generation won the 2000 guineas and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Ascot in 2011 and came into the Queen Anne Stakes 1/10 odds, winning by a staggering 14 lengths to establish himself as legend. There is speculation that the horse will command stud fees in excess of £150000 and to be worth up to £100 million as a consequence. The big question is whether the horse will run again before going to stud and if so when and where.

The other star horse at the Royal Ascot meeting, Black Caviar whose colours are garish orange with black spots had travelled from Australia where the odd had become 20 to 1 against after winning a score of successive races and clocking speeds in excess of 44 miles an hour. The horse is big but did not share the fine looks and grooming of many other creatures. It was evident that horse been brought to make a cultural as well as racing point about Australia having grown up and was now equal if not better not the mother country. It just about won after being nearly caught on the line and demonstrated the limitation of the average Australian racing stock compared to that of the UK, France, the USA and Dubai and perhaps Hong Kong although obviously the scale is smaller there.  Frankel versus Black Caviar would clear be no contest

I was also interested to see how the Godolphin Empire performed. This twenty year old racing giant with several hundred horses in its stables moves all those at Newmarket to Dubai for every Winter. Godolphin is approaching 2000 winners in 14 countries with nearly 200 group 1 wins since formed by the Vice President and Prime Minister of Dubai some  twenty years ago. Its longest serving and successful trainer Saeed bin Suroor like their champion jockey Frankei Detorri may be past their prime but still are able to deliver when it matters most. Saeed was four times champion trainer in the naughties while the excitable Dettorie continues to prove he is one of the best of not the best flat race rider of this generation although still had along long way to go to challenge Lester Piggot.

This brings to me back to the Queen with 40 horses in training and whose horse Carlton House, a gift from the Godolphin’s, I thought I had backed each way to win when it came in second only to find I had not so lost half of the remaining original stake money and now rely on England winning the European Cup in a week’s time to keep £200 now spent win intact. She did win the Royal Vase with Estimate on Friday and by coincidence, perhaps, it was the Duke of Edinburgh who had been booked to present the prize, the first time he has done so at Ascot. Rumour has it the horse will be entered for the St Ledger at Doncaster in September although this has been denied.

Was I converted? Sort of, but only if I had the dosh. One thing I am more certain of is that my days of going to Rock concerts and festivals is over although I also believe in never say ever. My attention over the weekend has been with the Isle of Wight Festival which is being shown in 3D as well as on the Sky Arts Channel. Bruce Springsteen plays tonight and I admit I was tempted to go and see him live for a fourth time when he played at the Stadium of Light last Thursday.


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2308 Morning Tynemouth and look ahead to Mouth of River Festival

1. Wednesday June 21st 2012 was a glorious day with the sun shining from shortly after the dawn until dusk. It was not a day to working at a desk whereas Thursday from mid morning the skies darkened and it has rained solidly until early evening. Knowing the weather forecast for the rest of the month I was determined to enjoy the sunshine and shortly before 10 am set off for the ferry across the Tyne to North Shields taking my over shoulder rucksack with me. I was well on my way down the hill towards the station before realising that I had not brought a notebook with me and having long lost not one but two hand voice recorders in previous years I hesitated but then decided to continue and trust to memory anything which I would otherwise had made an immediate record. Other than taking the decision to cross the Tyne I had no plan although I did have in mind the need for more black display folders for the top copy printing of the Google Blogs.
   
   There was about a dozen waiting with the ferry still berthed on the other bank of the river and about twenty individuals alighted and a similar number boarded when it arrived. I found a copy of Metro which I flicked though with nothing engaging my attention and seated myself outside at the rear with the diesel fumes filling my nostrils on what was forecast as a high pollen morning.
   
   A large area in terms of  the north bank, in length and width, has now been cleared of buildings and other workings in preparation for major development similar to here in South Shields passed the Customs House entertainment centre and  along until Tyne Dock and the Port of Tyne. I suspect it will be years before the finance is amassed to commence the building projects, On reaching the roadway from the landing stage I immediately saw that the new bus turning circle and  bus stop was finished with the road started from beyond the gates which marked the commencement of the development area project. Clearly whatever the intentions for the development the buses would continue to time their arrival with that of the Ferry and then turn round. I went over to the stop with its new shelter and  public toilet facilities only to note that the other passengers divided between going to this stop and staying where the old stop use to be just across the road from the entrance to the Ferry landing. This was because the white 333 bus came and deposited passengers by the landing and then turned the circle to stop here. It was going to the Park Hotel at Tynemouth so instead of the decision to walk to the Fish Quay and perhaps along the river bank to Tynemouth I took this bus. I was not in the mood for a long walk  such as from the Fish Quay along the river bank to the Tynemouth pier which matched that on the other side of the Tyne at South Shields.
   
   The bus is provided by Pheonix Coaches who  only appear to operate this service and about which I can find nothing or published timetables except a note that it operates the service weekdays daytime. From the turning circle the bus went along to the Fish Quay to the turning circle there where the promenade walking commences along the river bank and on the way I noted a restaurant offering a three course meal for £3.98 which is the best value seen advertised for many a day and I would have investigated later had a three course meals been on my agenda.
   
   The bus then climbed the bank to the North Tyneside shopping area and instead of turning right towards Tynemouth it went left following the one way system to the mini bus station and then instead of going the familiar route parallel to the river bank the bus went inland though pleasant middle class homelands until the Park Hotel which is an isolated position on the coast road close to Seaworld and Tyneside Park with Tynemouth Longsand below.
   
   The Park Hotel is regarded as a Northeast flagship hotel Art Deco in style with rooms from £60 to £90 a night for a double with full sea view. I had only been to this part of the north bank sea coast a few times before, the latest four to five years ago having taken the Metro to Whitey Bay and then stopping off the Coast liner bus to  visit  St George’s Church. I had then taken the bus to Tynemouth. This time I walked on the grass overlooking the Sands, continuing past the Rocky headland which separates the Sands and King Edward Bay.
   
   The coastal areas either side of the Tyne have more in common with Cornwall than the southern beach resorts I had visited the previous week although the perspective and feel of the coast between Tynemouth and Whitely Bay and between South Shields and Seaburn beach Sunderland is very different. One is still trade union labour working class and the other Tory middle class and this is how the voting works out in local and national elections when the battle remains between the two national parties, North Tyne going briefly Tory. Interestingly the Lib Dems only making inroads and taking Newcastle for a time. 
   
   Similar to the coast road between Roker and the River Wear in Sunderland the beaches between Cullercoats and Tynemouth Priory are  a long way down below so that from the grass bank at road side pavement one has extensive views towards Whitely Bay and to the ruins of the 7th Century Castle and 11th century Benedictine Priory.  While some had made it down to the sands there were acres of space to sit or walk without other humans in view if one wished.
   
   The Longsands is regarded as one of the top Surfing beaches in the UK with national events held annually. On the other side of the road is the impressive Tynemouth Park with a pedalo boating lake, a 9 or 18 whole adventure mini golf course populated by lifelike dinosaurs and the largest outdoor synthetic ice skating rink in the UK. There is a licenced restaurants overlooking the three featured areas so that the grown ups can relax while keeping an eye on the youngest participating in activities if they wish.
   
   There is a fine semi circle three or four storey Georgian Terrace before reaching the Gibraltar Rock Pub which I visited over the past five years for the annual Mouth of Tyne Festival as traditional Jazz and swing bands play on the outside stage in the adjacent gardens on both afternoons.  Before then I had passed the Grand Hotel Tynemouth where I had attended the first meeting of the Association of Directors of Social Services after the 1974 local government reorganisation and the displaced Director for Tynemouth was the host, He was retiring after failing to gain the post for the new local authority of North Tyneside. I had speculated if the Director at South Shields would be attending. He stayed away while the new man coming from outside to North Tyneside had not yet arrived. The extraordinary Brian Roycroft from Newcastle acted as a kind of crown Prince. I have moved on from the years when I speculated if what was said about him was true.
   
   Of interest now was whether there is to be another Mouth of the Tyne Festival with Jazz bands playing outside the Gibraltar Pub. I checked online later and learned the Festival is flourishing and expanded on this bank of the Tyne with South Shields opting out and holding one of the free concerts with Scouting for Girls in Bents Park on the Sunday afternoon. There is to be a parade on the Saturday as part of the Family Fun weekend, the weekend before when full use will be made of the performance areas along the new boardwalk.
   
   The Mouth of the River event at Tynemouth has been expanded to make full use of the vast undercover area at Tynemouth station and I will head here for at least one day given the range of cultural events with have been posted including Flamenco, Jazz, a Choir and the Sage Academy of Performing Arts a steel band and other local performers.
   The jazz sessions are also continuing with six instead of four sessions each day but with bands playing two sessions each day, providing the opportunity to visit and participate in the full range of streets events and performance which will take place along the wide Grand Parade normally used for park cars.
   
   The other change is that instead of free concerts on the main stage by the Priory on the Sunday afternoon there will be a charge of £10 for adults and £5 for children in addition to holding to major band concerts at £25 a ticket on the Friday and Saturday evenings with McFly and Wanted. The Undertones are also at the Whitely Bay Playhouse on the Thursday. I wonder if they will also have the firework display which used end the event at South Shields.
   
   On Wednesday there was no concern about the weather which has badly affected the Mouth of the Tyne event in the past, with the pavements cafes were full of people enjoying midmorning coffee with toast/teacakes and such like. I was very tempted but resisted. I took the Coastliner bus  back to North Tyneside shopping centre going though the rear of the Beacon centre to Wilkinson’s Store to see if they had the black display folders. There was major reorganisation of their stationery and related supplies with little on view. I hoped for better in South Shields on the return journey. The Coastliner bus goes from Gateshead and the Newcastle Bus stations via Biker and Wallsend to North Shields, Tynemouth, Cullercoats and then Whitely Bay. This service can take 90 minutes plus given the route goes through the heart of Newcastle over the Tyne Bridge.
   
   I was feeling peckish although it was only 11.30ish and looked in at the nearest bakery where unfortunately the £1 cheese and pickle baguettes had already sold out and I did not fancy the egg and tomato. I checked out the buses to see if there was one for the Ferry, suspecting that the stop for the 333 would be the same as for the 19 service which goes from the Ferry to the  town centre and then on to Silverlink and Cramlington, a journey of an hour before   going back into the town centre. I checked out the Asda store suspecting that it was too small to have a good range of stationery items similar to those at Shields or Bolden. Before reaching the store I passed a greasy spoon cafe called the Cottage which offers an all day Breakfast of Bacon, Egg, Sausage, Mushroom Tomato and Beans, plus pot of tea or coffee and slice of toast for £2.20 or with double helpings £3.20/40. The amazing value ever. Pity about my dieting and I was greatly tempted.
   
   I took the upper deck on the homeward ferry having confirmed that the 19 and 333 buses left from close to North Shields Metro station. At the North Tyne stop the bus was approached by two women who wanted to know if the bus went to the coast/beach  and the driver sent them into town centre, It was not clear if they wanted the beach on the Fish Quay but they had departed before I was able to intervene. It occurred that if strangers to the area they had confused North and South Shields. Outsiders can think that because of the common name both communities are at the mouth of the River and therefore have coastal beaches. There is a good beach at North Tyneside in the mouth of the River as there is in South Shields but the coastal beach is at Tyne mouth a good couple of miles further along the riverside. I will never know if they found what they wanted and where.
   
   When a group including an inquiring middle aged woman and a man with a walking disability inquired puzzled when the ferry ended its journey across the river I responded. She had come with her parent’s years before when they had stayed as now at Whitely Bay. Now she did not recognise the location. This is because the new Ferry Landing has been created with the buildings demolished creating a grassed bank between here and the Customs House. I explained that the huge contemporary glass and panel building was a new 400 staff BT centre and the church looking buildings on the  frontage by the new yuppie housing in the former  east docks was also a call centre with the housing and the boardwalk and its sculptures replacing the east docks. No sooner they were on their way after telling them about the £3 million spent recreating the original Victorian South Marine Park did a young Asian young clutching a map wanted to know the location of the Metro station. I escorted across the road into Market Square pointing to the trees with the track above the High Street beyond before going to Wilkinson’s where yet again a major reorganisation and restocking of the stationery area was taking place.
   
   Fortunately they had 7 of the required display volumes at £1.40 an item. The nearest bakery also had several Cheese and Pickle baguettes and I enjoyed one on a bench seat close to W H Smiths. I purchased two ready bagged half pounds of cherries (£2 in total).  I walked back via the Morrison escalators arriving after one. It had been a good outing and I perspired during the walking but I needed two or three such outings a week to begin to have some effect.
   
   It stopped raining but the roofs remained watery. Next I will begin write about recent sport with England cricket one day games against the West Indies with the third game tomorrow at Headingley although the weather forecast is poor. Ireland play Australia on Saturday and there is a 20 20 against the West Indies on Sunday afternoon. The 20 20 season is now fully underway with Durham‘s game against Derby on the TV last night and a home game last Tuesday evening, Yorkshire also at home tomorrow, and away to Lancs on Monday.
   
   I have been watching Ascot every afternoon including the amazing horse Frankel. The Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix is from Valencia this weekend. I am half watching Portugal play the Czech Republic in the first Quarter Final of Euro 2012 while of greater interest is the match between Germany and Greece tomorrow evening, then Spain and France on Saturday evening followed by England against Italy on Sunday.
   
   However I will have a choice to make as Sky and the Arts channel have three evenings at the Island of Wight Festival in 3D from 6pm until 11pm. The opening day of Wimbledon is on Monday with Murray also setting his sights on the Olympic competition. I will use both working TVs and the recoding button to try and capture the best of everything. There will be a  lot to write about. I achieved  over 9 hours sleep using the  Apnea Treatment machine last night and feel good.