My weekend has been has interesting and at times enjoyable. I had three outings, two unplanned on Saturday. I received a notification from the Post Office saying that a communication could not be delivered because a signature was required and I immediately assumed Olympic tickets although there had been no advance emails. I therefore went to the holding post office early so I could park the car across the way in the limited holding area close to the entrance of the Metro station.
I was given a letter from my previous insurers for the house building and contents including travel away from home and for emergencies. At one level it was a good reminder that the direct debit payment had ceased although the primary purpose was marketing. Determined that my journey should not be wasted I ventured to the clothing section of the supermarket where I had previously noted a summer sale to find a plain coloured shirt in red, green and or brown.
For the greater part of the previous seven years I have worn black trousers with a black or white shirt, a grey house jacket and a black outside coat. This was part of the black and white aspect of my project 101 and where I have published a limited edition autobiography 101 in Black and White. It is a coincidence that Newcastle are a Black and White coloured kit team and the Durham 20 20 team are known as the Men in Black as well as the Durham Dynamos.
For the past two years I have worn green or brown Trousers with brown house jackets and a green outdoor coat. However I had only one well worn red shirt and none in green or brown hence the present search. Although the prices were cheap there were no shirts in the required colours. I decided I would venture out later in the morning and visit BHS when going for a baguette and a second £10 deal at M and S. At M and S I was taken by the availability of a gammon joint which would be eaten hot for one meal and as with salad for another and by two large breaded fish topped within the coating with a prawn sauce. I selected both and two more of the side dishes of cubed potatoes and cherry tomatoes with a cheese topping bake. I added one apple pie and the last carton of raspberries and blu berries available, one bottle of Rosé and a red. However the weight was such that I abandoned the visit to BHS and decided to go to Newcastle after the lunch of a cheese and pickle baguette followed by one of the half pounds of cherries purchased the previous day. Later I was to enjoy one of the fishes with sixth portion of the £2 giant water melon.
I made by way to the Metro station with the weather uncertain taking a small umbrella with the shoulder rucksack, I realised I was uncertain if the train continued to West Jesmond which was the nearest station for the Hoppings on the Town moor the large stretch of common land on which the Freemen of the City are supposed to be allowed to graze their animals and which at one point was planned to be the new home for Newcastle United Football club. I ought to have realised the Hoppings were on when the weather turned nasty as it is tradition for one the biggest fairs in Europe to experience heavy rain,
Because of the uncertainty and inability to see the Metro service map from where I was sitting I got off at the Monument to check and caught the next train from the same platform travelling the three stations of Monument, Jesmond and West Jesmond. From the station exist one could see the Moor at the end of a short row of terraced housing which looked as if it had been turned into rented accommodation for students. Later when passing a cafe used by students close to city University I saw a notice for accommodation that individual rooms available from between £50 to £100 in the city with the average £75 and therefore significantly cheaper than that offered in Brighton which I noted on my recent visit.
Some who has also alighted from the train or had parked nearby then made their way across the field at a diagonal where the tall thrill rides could be seen and music heard from the site. I had debated wearing my walking boots but decided that as I was intending just to view rather than participate I would stick to the permanent pathways and avoid the wet grass. I made my way along the side of the field and onto the road way leading to one of the main entrances to the fair appreciating the attractive suburban villas which enjoyed their open view of the Moor.
Reaching the busy dual lane roadway out of the city northwards I saw that the majority of those before me were wearing Wellington Boots of many colourings. There was one gravel roadway across the centre of fair but venture away from this there was deep slush and where rubber matting had been lain this squelched and sank because of the level of mud beneath. I quickly returned to the gravel and the far end I took what appeared to be a second pathway between the domestic quarters for those providing thrill rides, games and food at the fair. While some units could be described as traditional caravans there were many huge mobile homes requiring a major articulated vehicle to transport. I speculated if the mobile restaurant on one side and the music stage on the other would attract more people than usual because of the pathways available. There was nevertheless lots of mud and the tops of my shoes were soon covered.
There was a variety of expensive thrill rides include the giant revolving swing arm seen at the end of Brighton Pier but also two others similar with one have a single double row of seats at one end and which was raise to a great height and then allowed to swing as pendulum until reaching its central balance. There was also another similar to the full revolutions but again with several seating areas at one end and the other having a counterbalance. These attracted mini queues of young people. Because it was early afternoon and the Northumberland Plate racing day was being held nearby I was not surprised at how few was the overall number of people about although plenty of families with some very young children.
Having reached the end of the site close to the city of Newcastle I made my way out of the entrance and immediately onto Exhibition Park in the gathering gloom which promised more rain. I made my way under the dual carriage way road just at the time it commenced to rain resisting the temptation to visit the military vehicle museum which was also supporting Armed Forces Day.
Earlier in the week I had watched the Queen and other members of the Royal Family with connections to the military attend the unveiling to the memorial to the men of Bomber Command in Green Park which I will visit at the earliest opportunity.
Although a memorial was previously created in Lincoln Cathedral in 2008 it was not until last week that a National Memorial was dedicated. The reason for this is that although as a proportion of any force more of the young men were killed with the odds against survival rapidly decreasing with each mission, the country became understandably ambivalent about the merits of the action during the course of war on realising that between 300000 and 600000 men, women and children died and whole cities were destroyed notably Cologne and Dresden Alongside the policy of attacking civilian populations to reduce the moral of the German people the Command made a major contribution to destroying the arms and industrial base of Germany particularly in the Ruhr Valley.
Some 50000 aircrew died including 10000 Canadians who provided the roof on the memorial from the remains of a Halifax Bomber and other metals from their national museum were melted into ingots. The main building was made of Portland Stone and a metal wreath was created and contributed by an Australian
Robin Gibb who recently died was the publc figure who promoted the call for the £6.5 million funds raised with substantial sums from the controversial former Treasurer of the Tory Party Lord Ashcroft and the business man John Caudwell as well as from public subscription and donations from surviving members of the aircrew together with the families of those who died.
There was further controversy when the government refused to guarantee the £700000 to put on the ceremony and survivors and the families of others were forced to provide financial guarantees if the call for public subscription failed.
6000 veterans and the families of those who died attended the ceremony where the nature of site meant that the majority had to view the proceedings on a large screen a little distance away and therefore without the close up of view of the Queen as experienced as the those in Royal Enclosure at Ascot.
It is difficult to come to judgement about the effectiveness of the memorial from the TV pictures which include seven greater than life figures of aircrew putting down their kit having returned from a mission, beneath a rectangle of open sky in the roof of the Memorial. I was not sure about the overall scale whether the memorial was large enough to produce the right scale for the seven figures.
Having made this important digression I return to my walk from the Hoppings through Exhibition Park and across the road into the University of Newcastle city complex where I made my way to the new development which transformed the carpark used by those attending the Playhouse Theatre, and formerly the University run Theatre into one of several new blocks which dominate the city skyline as the University expands, competing with its comparatively new relation, Northumbria University and offers undergraduate and post grad studies to the world especially to China. There is now a pedestrian/wheelchair and pram friendly way down onto the main road close to the Haymarket. It was open day at the University and I had just missed one of the concerts being offered to those attending by the musical school.
My first interest was M and S where I was shocked by the price of Shirts £29-£9 although I discovered some less expensive although none in the colours I wanted. I then crossed through the store after making a comfort break and on to the Primark store in Northumberland Street which is being expanded with the creation of two additional floors. There was the usual Saturday chaos with the store packed and huge lines at the checkout and some cheap and nasty shirts none in the shades I wanted. My last resort was the basement of BHS where the four floor expansion has been completed with a furnishings and restaurant on the second floor with toilets and offices on the third. I was successful with shirts in red and in green at £10 each albeit with short sleeves.
There is a new super lift and I decided to go for a cup of tea and something like an Eccles cake it was raining outside. The cafe is excellent and I chose a seat at large window looking down on Northumberland Street and the entrance to the Eldon Square Shopping centre. At the counter I was for just a cup of tea £1.40 and a buttered scone £1.40 when I noted that for an additional 15 pence I could have jam, cream and a tea refill. I choose this but the young man in charge offered the same priced deal but exchanging the scone for a cream cake on offer from £2.40 to £2.80. I fancied the Lemon Slice which was wicked but enjoyed together with a second cup of tea. Thus I enjoyed a £5 20 deal for £2.95.
It stopped raining so I made my way back to the Haymarket Station arriving in South Shields fortunately after another burst of rain had taken place. It had been a good outing.
I was given a letter from my previous insurers for the house building and contents including travel away from home and for emergencies. At one level it was a good reminder that the direct debit payment had ceased although the primary purpose was marketing. Determined that my journey should not be wasted I ventured to the clothing section of the supermarket where I had previously noted a summer sale to find a plain coloured shirt in red, green and or brown.
For the greater part of the previous seven years I have worn black trousers with a black or white shirt, a grey house jacket and a black outside coat. This was part of the black and white aspect of my project 101 and where I have published a limited edition autobiography 101 in Black and White. It is a coincidence that Newcastle are a Black and White coloured kit team and the Durham 20 20 team are known as the Men in Black as well as the Durham Dynamos.
For the past two years I have worn green or brown Trousers with brown house jackets and a green outdoor coat. However I had only one well worn red shirt and none in green or brown hence the present search. Although the prices were cheap there were no shirts in the required colours. I decided I would venture out later in the morning and visit BHS when going for a baguette and a second £10 deal at M and S. At M and S I was taken by the availability of a gammon joint which would be eaten hot for one meal and as with salad for another and by two large breaded fish topped within the coating with a prawn sauce. I selected both and two more of the side dishes of cubed potatoes and cherry tomatoes with a cheese topping bake. I added one apple pie and the last carton of raspberries and blu berries available, one bottle of Rosé and a red. However the weight was such that I abandoned the visit to BHS and decided to go to Newcastle after the lunch of a cheese and pickle baguette followed by one of the half pounds of cherries purchased the previous day. Later I was to enjoy one of the fishes with sixth portion of the £2 giant water melon.
I made by way to the Metro station with the weather uncertain taking a small umbrella with the shoulder rucksack, I realised I was uncertain if the train continued to West Jesmond which was the nearest station for the Hoppings on the Town moor the large stretch of common land on which the Freemen of the City are supposed to be allowed to graze their animals and which at one point was planned to be the new home for Newcastle United Football club. I ought to have realised the Hoppings were on when the weather turned nasty as it is tradition for one the biggest fairs in Europe to experience heavy rain,
Because of the uncertainty and inability to see the Metro service map from where I was sitting I got off at the Monument to check and caught the next train from the same platform travelling the three stations of Monument, Jesmond and West Jesmond. From the station exist one could see the Moor at the end of a short row of terraced housing which looked as if it had been turned into rented accommodation for students. Later when passing a cafe used by students close to city University I saw a notice for accommodation that individual rooms available from between £50 to £100 in the city with the average £75 and therefore significantly cheaper than that offered in Brighton which I noted on my recent visit.
Some who has also alighted from the train or had parked nearby then made their way across the field at a diagonal where the tall thrill rides could be seen and music heard from the site. I had debated wearing my walking boots but decided that as I was intending just to view rather than participate I would stick to the permanent pathways and avoid the wet grass. I made my way along the side of the field and onto the road way leading to one of the main entrances to the fair appreciating the attractive suburban villas which enjoyed their open view of the Moor.
Reaching the busy dual lane roadway out of the city northwards I saw that the majority of those before me were wearing Wellington Boots of many colourings. There was one gravel roadway across the centre of fair but venture away from this there was deep slush and where rubber matting had been lain this squelched and sank because of the level of mud beneath. I quickly returned to the gravel and the far end I took what appeared to be a second pathway between the domestic quarters for those providing thrill rides, games and food at the fair. While some units could be described as traditional caravans there were many huge mobile homes requiring a major articulated vehicle to transport. I speculated if the mobile restaurant on one side and the music stage on the other would attract more people than usual because of the pathways available. There was nevertheless lots of mud and the tops of my shoes were soon covered.
There was a variety of expensive thrill rides include the giant revolving swing arm seen at the end of Brighton Pier but also two others similar with one have a single double row of seats at one end and which was raise to a great height and then allowed to swing as pendulum until reaching its central balance. There was also another similar to the full revolutions but again with several seating areas at one end and the other having a counterbalance. These attracted mini queues of young people. Because it was early afternoon and the Northumberland Plate racing day was being held nearby I was not surprised at how few was the overall number of people about although plenty of families with some very young children.
Having reached the end of the site close to the city of Newcastle I made my way out of the entrance and immediately onto Exhibition Park in the gathering gloom which promised more rain. I made my way under the dual carriage way road just at the time it commenced to rain resisting the temptation to visit the military vehicle museum which was also supporting Armed Forces Day.
Earlier in the week I had watched the Queen and other members of the Royal Family with connections to the military attend the unveiling to the memorial to the men of Bomber Command in Green Park which I will visit at the earliest opportunity.
Although a memorial was previously created in Lincoln Cathedral in 2008 it was not until last week that a National Memorial was dedicated. The reason for this is that although as a proportion of any force more of the young men were killed with the odds against survival rapidly decreasing with each mission, the country became understandably ambivalent about the merits of the action during the course of war on realising that between 300000 and 600000 men, women and children died and whole cities were destroyed notably Cologne and Dresden Alongside the policy of attacking civilian populations to reduce the moral of the German people the Command made a major contribution to destroying the arms and industrial base of Germany particularly in the Ruhr Valley.
Some 50000 aircrew died including 10000 Canadians who provided the roof on the memorial from the remains of a Halifax Bomber and other metals from their national museum were melted into ingots. The main building was made of Portland Stone and a metal wreath was created and contributed by an Australian
Robin Gibb who recently died was the publc figure who promoted the call for the £6.5 million funds raised with substantial sums from the controversial former Treasurer of the Tory Party Lord Ashcroft and the business man John Caudwell as well as from public subscription and donations from surviving members of the aircrew together with the families of those who died.
There was further controversy when the government refused to guarantee the £700000 to put on the ceremony and survivors and the families of others were forced to provide financial guarantees if the call for public subscription failed.
6000 veterans and the families of those who died attended the ceremony where the nature of site meant that the majority had to view the proceedings on a large screen a little distance away and therefore without the close up of view of the Queen as experienced as the those in Royal Enclosure at Ascot.
It is difficult to come to judgement about the effectiveness of the memorial from the TV pictures which include seven greater than life figures of aircrew putting down their kit having returned from a mission, beneath a rectangle of open sky in the roof of the Memorial. I was not sure about the overall scale whether the memorial was large enough to produce the right scale for the seven figures.
Having made this important digression I return to my walk from the Hoppings through Exhibition Park and across the road into the University of Newcastle city complex where I made my way to the new development which transformed the carpark used by those attending the Playhouse Theatre, and formerly the University run Theatre into one of several new blocks which dominate the city skyline as the University expands, competing with its comparatively new relation, Northumbria University and offers undergraduate and post grad studies to the world especially to China. There is now a pedestrian/wheelchair and pram friendly way down onto the main road close to the Haymarket. It was open day at the University and I had just missed one of the concerts being offered to those attending by the musical school.
My first interest was M and S where I was shocked by the price of Shirts £29-£9 although I discovered some less expensive although none in the colours I wanted. I then crossed through the store after making a comfort break and on to the Primark store in Northumberland Street which is being expanded with the creation of two additional floors. There was the usual Saturday chaos with the store packed and huge lines at the checkout and some cheap and nasty shirts none in the shades I wanted. My last resort was the basement of BHS where the four floor expansion has been completed with a furnishings and restaurant on the second floor with toilets and offices on the third. I was successful with shirts in red and in green at £10 each albeit with short sleeves.
There is a new super lift and I decided to go for a cup of tea and something like an Eccles cake it was raining outside. The cafe is excellent and I chose a seat at large window looking down on Northumberland Street and the entrance to the Eldon Square Shopping centre. At the counter I was for just a cup of tea £1.40 and a buttered scone £1.40 when I noted that for an additional 15 pence I could have jam, cream and a tea refill. I choose this but the young man in charge offered the same priced deal but exchanging the scone for a cream cake on offer from £2.40 to £2.80. I fancied the Lemon Slice which was wicked but enjoyed together with a second cup of tea. Thus I enjoyed a £5 20 deal for £2.95.
It stopped raining so I made my way back to the Haymarket Station arriving in South Shields fortunately after another burst of rain had taken place. It had been a good outing.
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