1434 China and Dafur, a bad day at Cricket and some TV

First reality. BBC Panorama has conducted an investigation which shows conclusively that China supplied the Sudanese government military hardware which has been used against civilians in Darfur. This is important evidence in the case against its leader who has now been charged with war crimes in his capacity as head of the military services as well as head of state. Because the weapons can be shown to have been made after sanctions were agreed at the United Nations this reflects badly on China.

The significance is that the programme showed that the weapons are being used in Darfur something which the Chinese argue has not been the situation. China has repeatedly blocked or weakened resolutions which could have helped to create a situation where UN intervention had a chance of success. While the programme concentrated on the involvement of China, Russia is also involved in providing weapons which enable the Sudanese to wield unacceptable force against negro Africans in the country.

The programme brought out the impact of Government action on individuals. A woman described how three of her seven children were cut down before her eyes and those of her other children and a young woman told of her rape. The majority were too afraid to be shown on camera and one fears for those who were. It was not just the horror of what had happened to individuals which affected me but the reality of the nature of what governments have to do to sustain and advance the position of the governed and how once official violence is unleashed it quickly gets out of hand and individuals develop the lust for blood, sex and wealth from the most vulnerable and usually the innocent.

Reality two. People are being murdered, raped, accidentally killed and maimed around me and all over England and the British Isle. My and our concern must be for them first. It is good we have media which investigates and reminds us of what is happening elsewhere on a large scale beyond the compression of most and the capacity of the all us to cope with.

Reality three. Last night I watched Martin Shaw as a senior Northumbrian policeman investigating a murder back in 1964 where the body is burnt beyond recognition and no one is report missing or to suggest who the individual is. The two hour fictional drama reveals how in the interests of the state, individuals are knowingly sacrificed. The basic storyline is that in order to penetrate the security of the IRA, the secret service "special branch" pretends that an Ira marksman and gun runner is a traitor providing them information when in fact it is a more senior member of the organisation and to establish his ongoing credibility they allow him to execute the gun runner and to also kill the only witness to what happened as well as being prepared for him to take the weapons back to Ireland which could have been used against British soldiers as well as others. The character played by Martin Shaw with the help of his assistant prevent the guns being handed over and the senior IRA officer is killed. Martin advises that he will make a full report on the role of the special branch officer, while in turn the special branch officer asks Martin how he will be able to sleep at night having prevented the plan from progressing. The programme reminds the difficult choices which governments and individuals on behalf of government have to take and how easy it is for principles and standards to be compromised.

Reality four and five are of different order. It has been a glorious warm and sunny day and I decided early on that irrespective of how the game progressed in the morning I was visit Durham Cricket Club for the after lunch session. I had a belief that Somerset were the kind of Cricket Club who would declare their second innings at a point where Durham had a good chance to win the game rather than play defensively. I remembered that when Durham first became a First class cricket county they plated Somerset at Darlington and set Durham the task of getting some 250 runs which in fact Durham were able to achieve within the overs remaining. Somerset had been criticised for making the task too easy and this was one of the first wins if not their first win. Today the task set was some 280 runs with 50 overs, a task similar to that which faced Durham in the recent Semi Final of the Friends Provident Trophy and where in fact the same thing happened as it did then and Durham lost two quick wickets. At least this time Durham had no need to face a win or lose position as a draw would keep them in the title race as they continue to have one game in hand on the three teams above them and on Yorkshire who have the same number of points. It was just as well that the weather was fine as you have to be an aficionado to appreciate the defensive game. A good approaching 100 partnership between captain Blenkenstien and opener De Venuto steadied the situation but their quick departure, followed by a fifth wicket opened her possibility of defeat again. Phil Mustard held himself back and with Ben Harmison saw the game through to 5.30 when Somerset agreed to the draw and an early long drive home. Had the umpire accepted their call for an LBW shortly before the half hour I am sure they would have pressed on in an effort to claim the additional ten points for the win and which would have deprived Durham of four of their eight points. Durham were lucky for Somerset appeared to be in control of this game from the start and puts Durham's ambitions of winning the championship title in perspective.

It was only later in the evening on arrival home that the result of the Yorkshire appeal against being ejected from the competition was made known. It was an amusing decision because it was agreed that the Committee had been too harsh in ejecting Yorkshire from the competition and instead they were deducted two points but allowed the result against Nottinghamshire to stand. This consequently also punished Nottinghamshire who had claimed the game just as Durham had asked for a bye. The decision means that Glamorgan one of the third best placed teams in the final league tables go through to meeting Durham at Riverside at a date to be determined. Presumably Nottinghamshire may appeal against this decision. I like this decision though. It is also interesting to read an apology issued by Yorkshire Cricket Club to Durham Members and although this is wholehearted it is about the original mistake and not what happened a week ago. I had written to Yorkshire Chairman Brian Close as well as Durham's Chairman which led to a personal letter from the Club's Chief Executive. Twenty four hours later the date of the revised game has not been publicised. I contacted the Rosebowl and established that all tickets and pre parking has been sold except for the semi finalists. It is going to be a hectic few days if the date of 21st suggested to Glamorgan is correct.

Reality Six. Before returning home I went to Sunderland City Centre to see what was the latest position on replacement spectacles at Specsavers who provided a current pair where one lens has been affected by my fall which I have only recently noticed. Sadly it is a sign of the times that the shop was fully shuttered so I had to find out find out the position through the internet. However the visit provided the opportunity to see some changes to the side of the city centre where there are the offices of solicitors and accountants and such like. I will need to bring my camera on another fine evening to be able to photograph when there are no crowds. I also called in at Morrison's for some fruit but could not resist two packs of Cinnamon Danish pastries originally 79 pence on offer for 39 when you will pay over a £1 when eating in café. A cup of tea and a single scone without cream or jam cost £2.20 at the cricket. It became a day of facing different levels of reality. More about that another time, perhaps.

1433 JazzTraditional and Vamos on Tynemouth W

Tynemouth is still regarded as a village although located in a urban area at the north bank extremity of the Tyne. Standing by main the main stage, as big and technically structured for any international concert performances, facing a natural grass amphitheatre, it has one of the great perspectives in the world. Now that is a proud boast. To the right looking over the wall and you can see the north Tynemouth Bay and then further along, Cullercoats Bay and further along Whitley Bay and then on the left there are the ruins of Priory through which can be seen South Shields Bay and the entrance to the River Tyne. Facing the stage across the sea of faces as a major part of the population from this part of the coast were gathered, some in large family groups of a dozen, are the semi ruins of the Castle Gate House and where through gate entrance thousands of people streamed back and forth all day.

Between the amphitheatre and the Castle Gate House there is a second vast area where for this weekend is located fast food concessions and other stall and tucked in one corner. out of general view a major set of male and female toilets. There was also a significant number of people standing facing the stage which was being set up for, LA 33 a band of intoxicating and seductive rhythms from Bogata Columbia which had some of the audience dancing out of their skulls at the front and others of all ages moving with rhythms on what at that point was a cold sunless Sunday afternoon. There few like me on their own.
Tynemouth has been a settlement since the iron age because the headland could be easily defended and the bank leading down to the former moat is used by children and young people to roll down although close parental supervision is recommended. The Queen wives of Edward 1st and 2nd preferred to stay at the Castle while their husbands were warring with the Scots. The Priory also remains regarded as having been one of the great buildings of England. Until 1974 Tynemouth was the name given to an administrative area which included North Shields, Cullercoats and south of Whitely bay. In 1974 the new administrative of North Tyneside was created to include Whitley through to the border with Newcastle and a new Border with Northumberland.

Although I was up before eight I felt a sense of pressure as I wanted to complete two Blogs as well as prepare for the day's outing. I began to wake myself up fully with a game of Hearts maintaining the 23% winning percentage as 1000 games played is approached.

I have switched from salami to ham sandwiches having purchased three packs of four think slices for £5. I am using smaller and thinner malted bread with just one thin slice of processed cheese. I have also settled for a metal flask of coffee and one of cold water, and which keeps cool for up to twelve hours. I was ready to leave by 10.30 am and made my way down the hill into town, hoping the bright weather would continue for the day. I was after a small over the shoulder and canvas chair as my existing one was too cumbersome to take on public transport, walkabout trips, especially as I also had my rucksack. Asda did not have one and before going to Wilkinson's I decided to pop into Woolworths, an excellent decision as they not only had the chair in question but had reduced the price from 9.99 to 4.99. After getting some cash from the bank out of hours service and I tested the chair using the benches in the town centre. Despite these activities the ferry was berthed at the landing and was ready to set off within a couple of minute's of arrival. The special bus was also waiting on arrival.

The Tynemouth main street was already busy as a procession to the Castle was underway at a slow pace as participants danced fiesta style. As there was time before the first Jazz stage performance there was opportunity to look at the range of eating and drinking establishments on both sides of the road. There were two of interest in terms of quality food, Sidney's is around the corner towards the bus stop back to the Ferry landing. It boasted some of the more expensive dishes with seared bream as a main course at £15. I buy a fair sized bream at around £1.50. It also had Northumberland land for a similar price. The more interesting was the Arch in the main street which offered Wild Boar, a Confit of Goose Rillets, pan seared Kangaroo steaks and an oven roasted ostrich steak. I was also fascinated by a desert called Eton Mess which I later discovered is a mixture of broken meringue, cream and strawberries.

There were Coffee houses and tea rooms, one at an art gallery and another attached to bed and breakfast accommodation with a bakery and coffee shop and Coffee 22.There was the Gate of India, Geogio's and Higo's and Louis' Bistro. The Blue lounge was well supported as were the Inns- the Cumberland Arms, The Percy Arms and the situation Inn. There was a Subway and a second sandwich outlet but no McDonalds or Burger King or Kentucky Friend which led to the attractiveness of the main street with the road way wide enough for cars to be parked at the centre weekdays and for stages with acrobats and other street entertainers which children sitting on the roadway in a semi circle and their parents and other members of the public looking on.

Although I took my time I had not needed to buy the portable chair as there was an end of bench seat close to the stage although it was where the public had their main access resulting in a constant flow of comings and goings.

Jazz in the afternoon is North of the Tyne Jazz band who play every Monday at lunch time at Cullercoats. They are middle aged plus musicians who play in a solid and professional way many jazz standards, Sweet Sue, On the Sunnyside of the Street, Oh Lady be Good, I can't give you anything but love, baby, Summertime, Stranger on the Shore, Muskrat Ramble, Water Melon Man. Somebody wants me and C C Rider. It was pleasant stuff suitable for a family audience many who would not have heard live jazz of any description played before although it was evident there were some like me who had made the effort to come for the event, ignoring all the others, at least for a time.

The main event was the appearance of the Bratislava Hot Serenders, a major ensemble from the Slovakian Republic who arrived in the poshist coach I have ever seen. There are not many bands to day, let alone in the thirties who would be able to travel in such style and who boast five stand alone singers, three young and attractive women dressed in style and two young men. The men of the orchestra were in general of more mature years and highly professional musicians producing an authentic well oiled sound which unfortunately the sound system could not reproduce. The stage was also cramped for such a large orchestra: three trumpets, one trombone, three who played saxes, clarinets, and flute, two tubas, pianist, drummer, one banjo guitarist, three violinists one of whom also played the vibes twenty one artists in total. They also have a MySpace site with four numbers and videos. Their music is not my everyday music but reproduces that which was being played during the decade of my childhood and over the past two decades since coming together to perform at special concerts they have acquired a following outside their country. They would do well in the USA. The weather turned cold and was most unkind given that back home it would be in the mid thirties.

Meanwhile on the main stage a representative of Latin American and Spanish sounds part of the Vamos ten days in Gateshead and Newcastle festival was being performed throughout the afternoon and early evening. More on Vamos later especially I get to some of the events over the next week.

1432 Asian films, Whose got talent and 20 20 cricket

There has been a variable mixture of watching and listening experiences over the past few days. My first choice is a Chinese film Seventeen years which was a revelation. A middle age Chinese couple have daughters by previous marriages and the daughter of the wife kills the daughter of husband and serves seventeen years in prison. She is discharged in time for the Chinese New Year celebrations because of exceptional good behaviour and after her family fails to respond to an advisory letter a prison officer accompanies the young woman, she has become, to the parental home, only to find they have moved, and it is late in the day when they are found. The wife admits to receiving the letter about the visit but puts off telling her husband for fear how he will react. He is stunned by the arrival and goes off to sit in the dark in the bedroom while his wife prepares food for their guests as well as having tea from a keep hot container.

Eventually the husband is able to talk and confront his step daughter. He explains that he has dreaded this day and had thought of moving out of the home, and he would have done this had his wife told him in advance. Then in one of the most truthful and moving moments in the cinema he communicates his love for his wife, the loss he has felt and his wish for them to become a family and the prison officer discretely and with equal sensitivity leaves them together. For once fundamental issues of crimes and punishment within a family are dealt with honestly, realistically and with great love and understanding. It is one of the best films I have seen this year and was shown on the Australian Sat channel World Vision. I appreciate that the film can be regarded as a propaganda message to the Chinese people about how easily a small incident, in this instance a few coins of little value can lead to such great tragedy and years of suffering within the family and one suspects that in real life the outcome will never be as good, but this does not take away from what I have said about the film overall.

I also part watched a Japanese film about two brothers who become infatuated with the same girl and when she dies, one brother is accused of her death and her other brother and their father support, until the trial when it is first revealed that the girl had a lover which begins to explode the defence and then when the brother is supposed to provide good character testimony he stuns everyone, especially the defence lawyer by revealing that he witnessed his brother push the girl off the bridge. The film moves to several years later but it was at this point I decided I needed to concentrate wholly on something else and that I would watch the film with attention another time as it has also been listed several times on the new World Movies channel. I only mention now because of the similarity between aspects of the two films.

The unexpected highlight was Last Choir Standing where I watched the second programme in what has become a formulae series on the main terrestrial channels as the decade has progressed. In this instance the choirs have no commercial ambitions and comprise people of all ages who like to sing and who would like to win the contest or progress to the final stages when week by week one choir is eliminated. They varied from a long standing police choir from Hereford of mainly retired officers who want to do well for their comrades and partners who have departed and appear to be one of the front runners, to a community group with disability members who were put through along with several other in order to give them encouragement rather than having any chance of making the final groups who are then subject to the public vote. I am a sucker for such programmes as has been frequently revealed before but I had another interest which is part of my own story, one of those parts which is likely not to be significant enough or of interest to others in any standard account of a life.

The St Elphege School was a small fee paying preparatory school for Catholic children with small classes which employed a music teacher who gave a piano recital at the Wigmore Hall to which pupils a small group of pupils were invited but where I was unable to attend because of illness. The performance was recorded for radio broadcasting if I remember She formed a school choir and we were entered into a choir competition which if I remember correctly there was only one or perhaps two other competing schools in our category. We were such a small school that this was the only activity I remember in which we competed with other schools and although we performed surprisingly well the aspects which the judges mentioned is that we all did not smile and looked terrified, which we were. In my first year at the John Fisher school we were all briefly tested asked to sing a few notes for selection for the school choir and I was one of several who was laughed at when attempted to reproduce the required phrasing. I was a great fan of a previous BBC programme which I believe only lasted one series in which people who could not sing were helped to perform on stage.

I fell in love with all kinds of music at a young age as a means of self expression and have continued to envy those able to sing and play musical instruments with my own failures at the piano with one horrendous stage performance as a first stage pupil, the learning of the clarinet my way but being unable to progresses and the one performance on the washboards as part of a skiffle group singing Mama don't Allow at the Croydon Treasurer's department annual dinner and dance!

I therefore also enjoy the Got Talent contests and have been surprised at the USA edition with features Sharon Osborn the "professional" of this kind of programme, David Hasseloff as the true American judge along with Jerry Springer as the kindly master of ceremonies and Piers Merchant playing Simon Cowell. He performs surprisingly better than expected but it remains a surprise that has made it to this big time kind of TV, suddenly. The aspect which surprises me most is that the level of talent in these programmes is not dissimilar to that of the UK programmes thus indicating the great loss of genuine variety and novelty acts including the absence of comedians which used to be a staple component of any variety show. Some of the turns which were selected for the last twenty and to perform in the two top ten heats were poor.

I have watched some of the first Test Match against South Africa in which England were put into bat a scored a magnificent six hundred runs with Peterson 150 against his formed homeland and Bell 199 and others contributing substantial innings. South Africa were then bowled out with a first class across the board English Performance with spin man Panasar taking four wickets and were then asked to follow on. Everyone expected that that the game would have been over yesterday and that England would have won by an innings or only having to make a few runs for victory. At the end of play South Africa had amassed the great part of the deficit for the loss of only one wicket and therefore there is the prospect of an amazing defensive reaction today to create an unexpected draw and moral victory in the circumstances.

Meanwhile the farce re Yorkshire, Nottingham and Durham in 20 20 continues. Last Thursday evening it was announced hat Yorkshire were to be eliminated from the competition and that Durham would play Nottingham in the revised quarter final. Darren Gough on his own and the teams. Behalf let it be immediately known that it was likely they would appeal and were given to 5pm Friday to appeal, no doubt after getting legal advice that they had grounds arguing that the penalty was not justified by the offence and no doubt also using the refusal of the Board to allow individuals players to play in the New Indian competition which no doubt also affected the interests of the retiring Mr Gough. Yorkshire backed him and I understand the appeal is to be heard to day. Durham and Nottingham are therefore left in a hopeless situation. I received a personal reply from the Durham Chief Executive to my letter of complaint to the club chairman which went some way to convincing that the major responsibility for what happened rests with Yorkshire and the Board, although I still need convincing that the situation could not have been sorted one way or the other before the public were let into the game. The Chief Executive has since admitted that the reputation of the club has been damaged adding that it was not of their making, which I accept is substantially true but not entirely. A few weeks ago the Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison expressed concern about the implications of the development of the 20 20 format for the rest of cricket. I was interested by his reaction which is typical of a man who had put his family relationships first and prefers a life which involves being home for about once a month every year and where the development of 20 20 will only increase the pressure involving more time away from a family. I begin to thin the 20/20 development is a curse upon cricket.

1431 Jazz on a Summer's day

Jazz on an English Summer's afternoon became an amazing experience which will be long remembered. The day commenced with a disturbing dream which was of being rejected, the details of which I vaguely remember but will not attempt to recapture the detail. This is only significant in terms of the subsequent acceptance.

After waking and getting up and did some writing I prepared for the arrival of a local builder and household repairer at 10 am. He arrived early as I was finishing coffee after two slices of toast. I had attempted to open the garage doors and they had continued without stopping so I continued to have a problem and decided to leave them as they were, finding the hand winding tool just in case.

Not only did the builder immediately identify the problem causing the rain penetration on to my work space area but the solution was provided immediately. There was also time to fix the bathroom cold water tap which involved the collapse of the valve and the a return visit was promised for later in the week to sort out the light fixture and clear the guttering which would need someone else to hold the ladder. I was well pleased with the work and the cost and given that it was sorted by 11 and the sun was shining I decided to go to Tynemouth for the mouth of the River festival and the three concerts by bands participating in the Whitley Bay Jazz festival. The atmosphere of my day had changed within the space of one hour.

I prepared two ham and cheese sandwiches, a banana and a flask of coffee and one of cold still water., also a notebook and pens, my hat and rain top and the coloured red umbrella which I thought could be used as walking stick to lean on if I could to find a seat. I decided against the camera as the rucksack was already weighty. It was only 11.30 when I left the house and walked to the ferry landing, finding that a ferry had arrived, the passengers disembarked and already filling up but fortunately there was a small queue which enabled me to become the last person on board as the vessel immediately set off. There was no available seat on the entry deck so I had to go upstairs, decided to begin my notes, felt like a drink of cold water but only had the first small cupful when I realised we had already reached the other side. There was a small queue formed for the bus which when it arrived was the North Tyneside and back bus and the driver mistakenly or massively said there was no special bus so I stayed on but a couple with whom I had spoken pressed him and they got off. I should have followed them for as we set off the number 2 special bus to from the Ferry to Tynemouth arrived. I guess the competing bus company was upset about the loss of trade with everyone heading for Tynemouth.

The bus terminal is nearby the Metro station and having missed the location of the Tynemouth Metro station on my previous visit I thought this was a good opportunity to find its location and was rewarded with a bonus. For on Saturdays there is a station market with over 100 stalls I would guess packed onto both platforms, selling records, including jazz records and books antiques and nick knacks, I had a quick look but as midday had arrived I was anxious to see if there was a seat for the first jazz band concert.

The fine weather only lasted till then as the clouds commenced to gather overhead as I made my way passed the Tynemouth School which is opposite the station and then turning right into the main road which leads to the Tynemouth High Street, a wide thoroughfare where car can usually park at the dividing central areas. It is a road full of bars and bistros, antiques shops and boutiques. A delightful place to visit on any day. A little way along the road is closed to traffic where there is a performance area which was already busy with visitors and events getting underway. The Jazz stage is set back on a small green against the Gibraltar Rock Inn where two meals are available for £6.75 every day and children eat free. There are railings to one side, good for leaning against, separating the green from the roadway and green entrance to the ruins of Tynemouth Castle and priory. On the nearest side to the main road from the Metro Station there are seats facing on the road but if you are nimble you can sit reverse or get a side view to the stage. Not only was I able to find one seat but within half an hour able to move to the end of the seat and where there was a gap on the green. This meant that I could put by umbrella and haversack down but have access as well as face onto the green and stage.

The first band was from Milan Italy called the Chicago Stompers, a ten piece band of hot Chicago instrumentalists aged between 16 and mid twenties with a singer who had the looks and style similar to Thursday night called Elena Paynes and she was sometimes joined by Veronica Sangagostina Baldi who in addition to vocal support played the Tenor Sax, Clarinet and Ukulele. In addition to the usual make up of drums, piano, trumpet Trombone, Alto sax and Clarinet individual musicians doubled with Alto, Cornet, Guitar and Violin. Given that they had flown over just for the weekend festival, funding their performances justified a good amount from my month's council tax. It occurred that this was well spent Council tax money, albeit by North Tyneside.

As a challenge to the weather the band played on the sunny side of the street. Their performance of Minnie the Moocher which the Humph band was fond of playing can be found on You Tube and there is a video on their own site www.chicagostompers.it. It was while they were playing I was joined by a couple just younger than me and then their friends who have been passionate followers of traditional jazz since their on youth but have remained stalwart of the local jazz club, had been New Orleans and attended both the Edinburgh Jazz festival for over a decade as well as that at Whitely Bay. Their friends had been to the Benny Goodman show on the Thursday so were able to show joint amazement when the player of the vibes was one of the star turns in MaMa and the Kids from Switzerland. MaMa is a joke because the oldest member is Papa and his son is the main vibes player and they have a MySpace site.

Raymond Grasier is an extraordinary musician and performer who at the Sage was very sedate playing authentic Lionel Hampton who let himself go only with a piano duet but this afternoon he was mainly on the drums and provided the vocals as well as joining in on the vibes but the highlights was when he took to the washboard with tin hat and his antics delighted the younger members of the audience. However those listening as well as watching noted that even here he was a brilliant musician. There are four numbers on MySpace.

Then it really rained but were we downhearted no and I felt sorry for the final band of Local Traditional Jazz players the Vieux Carre Jazzmen as the passing by spectators commenced to dwindle. I also stayed for only the first set however not before having two experiences which added to the day. First the couple who I had met at the Ferry bus stop came over for a chat and their daughter worked as a nurse at the District General. Then a female voice said don't move your umbrella away and someone two if not three decades younger than me snuggled up under the umbrella, although she was accompanied by her husband I would add who stayed in the rain, which they subsequently admitted they did not mind having remained passionate campers throughout their lives which left to another chat about camping horror stories when I met them again at the bus stop back to the ferry landing although they were going in a different direction.
Earlier I had been tempted to join the conversation between a local couple and local man, a widower who had sat on the grass a few feet away and marvelled at the extent to which experiences of people living on their own are similar from the gratitude at waking up each day to the enjoyment of going out and about to the small practicalities such as getting up after getting down. During the afternoon I was to talk about the free bus travel experiences and pass on information about special travel lodge offers so I felt I was contributing something.

Staying at the Jazz stage meant that I only saw something of the rest of the festival as individual performers came by. There was a group of giant figures four males with musical instruments forming party of their heads followed by two female head figures and led by a normal size person playing two wailing clarinet type instruments. They moved in slow procession into the main performance area behind the Castle and back into main street three times and were a great attraction for the children. There were three dragon form figures, also two person size being chastened by a wicked witch from the north figure. There was also a human size bee and a woman in a machine collecting honey. There was also a screeching mechanical called Paka the Fire Horse made out an old electric wheel chair.

We were able to watch the Castle and Priory site prepared for the evening concert, paid ticket affair hence the army of stewards arriving before the sad looking audience given the weather conditions. The concert was to begin as I was leaving at 5 with Beverley Knight the main headliner at 8. There did not appear to be many at the earlier time.

Back home I enjoyed two Bream fishes after a glass of red and some peanuts followed by delicious fresh strawberries without sugar. The weather was taking effect with several sniffs so I enjoyed a whisky, put on the central heating, started to write and look up performers on the internet before a coffee. There was also an interest and moving film from China Seventeen and the end of the third day of the Lord's Test but again this will be left to another day. I could hear the sound of fireworks despite the damp conditions and that it had just stopped raining but I thought having got warm its was sensible to stay in and plan for the morrow.

1937 Visting Durham,a summer concert by the beach and cricket on a summer's day and Carmen from Covent Garden

Thursday June 6th began and ended as glorious a warm and sunny day as Wednesday. But by Sunday the weather had reverted to its recent summer norm, wet and cold. Thus the four days encapsulated my present life as it has become.

On Thursday morning I took the Park and Ride from just off the AIM on the 690 road from Sunderland into the City of Durham. A field has been converted into two huge car parks just off the junction roundabout and where there has been built an attractive waiting area and automatic ticket. There is a single Decker bus every ten minutes taking the short circular route into the city stopping close by the paying multi-storey car park which has been used since it was built for visit to the city, although during those early years in the 1990‘s when Durham played cricket at Durham Riverside I usually managed to park within the grounds or along at the Rugby ground within view of the infamous Durham jail, now considerably extended to cope with the overall rise of the prison population.

There is now a congestion charge to enter the area of the Market Square and continue up to the Cathedral where there is also the former castle and the university Library. The park and ride ticket, usually £1.70 but free for concessions can also be used on a second single Decker bus to take one up the narrow winding road to the Cathedral, with shops, inns and restaurants and rooms used for university and student activities. Durham University is Colligate but with the 14 colleges spread in the city and to the southern parklands, and at Stockton where there are two colleges.

It will be fifty years since first going to the adult Education college situated at Oxford and with special links to the university and undergraduate life. Given my life immediately prior to arrival I was ill equipped to make best use of the experience in terms of the academic and social life available as then I did not understand the nature of my learning difficulties and knowledge retention. In fairness I did throw myself wholeheartedly into the experience which at times was overwhelming, at others lonely, challenging throughout as I took to notion of academic truth with great enthusiasm and then to the potential power of social case work for making fundamental changes to the lives of individuals. It remains a regret that I did not have the normal route of sixth form and undergraduate experience before jumping into the deep end of a course where all but five others of course students were first and second class honours graduates.

I am guessing that the Durham undergraduate experience is close to that at Oxford and Cambridge and other colligate universities where the student is able to participate in several levels of academic and social experience. The individual college is a total life system during term time, with the appointment of a college tutor to see them through their individual courses as well as the tutorial system, seminars and lecture system provided by the University through its faculties and departments. The college provides accommodation and food and college facilities such as a gym and bar common room, sporting teams, musical and dramatic and other social and interest activities depending on the culture and bias of the college and its size. Each college has its own budget and staff

However the undergraduate has also to be registered with a department of which there over a score within three faculties, at Oxford they are called Schools. These provide the structure, teaching and study framework as well as assessment and examination process in the chosen subject. The University is a large organisation with 15000 students of which a fifth come from overseas, and 3500 are undertaking post graduate work. There are over 3000 staff with some 40 separate administrative and organisational staffed functions, an annual budget of £160 million to cover its functions which as had been mentioned emphasised are separate from those of the individual colleges.

In addition to social and sporting activities provided by individual colleges there are a large number of university wide sporting and social activities which each having officers and a committee usually made up of representatives of the individual colleges. There is also a student union which offers information and support services as well as social. In addition some students like to participate in the life of the local community whether it is to attend a church or faith group, hang out a local bar or nightclub, undertake voluntary work, or join a political or other social group. It is easy for some who become sidetracked away from their studies although much depends on why they have come to university and if they know in advance what their occupational activity is going to be afterwards. Looking through the on line features of the university and its colleges I noted that one is now offering two scholarships for ex service men and women.

I must do some work comparing student life today and fifty years ago and whether anything has changed other than costs and student loans. My two years at Ruskin were fully paid by Surrey County Council as was the 12 month Child Care Course at Birmingham University by the Home Office, although the grant meant I was on survival rations during practical work placements outside of term time with the consequence that I was able to start work without inherited debts. To day around £8000 is required to cover tuition and live in cost during term time although there is overprovision for the provision of accommodation without food at other times.

The focus of my visit was the great Cathedral about which I wrote at length after making the first visit after several years last twelve months ago. The Cathedral is one of the most welcoming along with Beverley and Southwell Minsters and I am always affected by the sense of history, spirituality and repose. I had forgotten where the audio visual commentary is located and was just as impressed and moved. Later in the space between the Gala Theatre and cinema there is the sculpture of the monks carrying the remains of St Cuthbert after they fled Lindisfarne from the rampaging Nords and eventually settled for 100 years at Chester Le Street after going as far as the Cumbrian coast to the west. I enjoyed a four seasons pizza at an Italian restaurant just over the Elvet Bridge before making my way to Marks and Spencer’s in the hope there were some summer trousers in my size. There were not.

I then walked over the Framwelgate Bridge where the two course lunch at the Cafe Rouge was prices at close on £11, two to three pounds more than London Victoria or the Metro centre at Gateshead. Further along towards the bus station there is a Wetherspoons and a Yates Lodge both offering meal deal at a fraction. I debated taking the bus to Sunderland and then the fast service back to Shields, but it was such a fine day and feeling relaxed I mistakenly settled for the bus to South Shields, which took all of 90 minutes, thirty to reach Chester Le Street, 30 to reach Washington bus station and another 30 to Shields.

I have only taken this bus route once before and could not remember the detour just outside of Durham, close to the village of Pity Me where a new shopping development has been created with the usual mix of stores restaurants, including giant Sainsbury’s supermarket, a Frankie and Benny’s and McDonalds. In Washington the bus takes a detour to the huge government office complex and to the Nissan car plant.

In the evening I walked to the amphitheatre for the first of the season’s evening concerts with a two young female singers and then a boy band. The Council are laying a new coloured concrete designed path on the beach roadway way parallel to the coast road and continuing past the amphitheatre and covered walkway. It continued to be a fine evening and I estimate that about a thousand people attended bringing continuing custom to the fish and chips outlets, the beachside pubs, the amusement park and car parks.

The fine weather continued on Friday when in early afternoon I prepared for the first 20 20 cricket match of the new format season at Durham Riverside. By the time I returned home the ground had been renamed the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground. There were several bursts of fireworks to mark what should have been a special day in the history of the cricket club. Given the weather I had a cooked meal at midday and then prepared some rolls and fruit for later and set off to arrive some two and half hours before the scheduled start anticipating a full house and a traffic jam as every one attempted to arrive having left work as early as possible.

It was also half term which added to those spending time at the riverside park. Anticipating the evening would cool I prepared coffee but I also filled the small cooler bag with a can of Pepsi, the bottle of tap water and a pint container of milk plus an ice pack. Alas I then left the small cool bag on the kitchen work surface only realising I had done so after I had undertaken a vigorous walk to other end of the park and back.

As also anticipated is was nearly a full house and the largest crowd for a 20 20 game experienced with a greater number of young people and young adults, especially young women, drinking Pimm’s, in summer frocks and two with a flower in their hair and four near me who had hysterics when Claydon came on to bowl, could they have been related?

The moment Lancs won the toss I sensed disaster, especially as Morkell gave away nine runs in the first over, but others were even more expensive setting Durham the task of scoring no less than nine runs an over to win. As the skies became full of cloud and Durham lost two quick wickets and the writing was on the proverbial wall when after scoring 1 and facing a couple of balls import New Zealander Taylor tried to open his account with a six and was caught at the boundary. Great day, pity about the cricket. I did some walkabout and shopping on Saturday as well as viewing the Test Match and catching up on the whose got Talent semi finals before watching the final. The outcome was unpredictable with an unfancied dance troop who Simon originally disliked winning the prize. Another dance act came second.

I did not check the weather forecast for Sunday until just before bedtime so I was not surprised by the overcast start but the extent to which the temperature had lowered was disappointing. Checking the hour by hour forecast for Chester Le Street there was a sixty percent likelihood of rain from mid morning until late evening. Originally I had planned to take a picnic lunch to the Riverside park and have a good walk before the start of the first of two games which commenced at 2.30. The first, the second 20 20 match against Worcestershire to be followed by a special game led by Steve Harmison as part of a Tribute day for our forces now on active duty and those who have returned injured and the families of those whose blood now makes up a foreign field.

I decided early on making a hot lunch of two pieces of juicy steak and tined vegetables and then filled rolls and some fruit in the event that play was possible at some point in the day. It remained dry although the gloom appeared settled and it was colder than for several weeks. I got as far as the roundabout before the AIM and decided to take the road to Sunderland as the rain commenced, a drizzle which soon, became heavier and continued until late evening. It was the right decision as there was no play at the Emirates Durham with refunds advertised today less administrative costs. The decision to go towards Sunderland rather than a full retreat homeward was taken because there was the showing of Bizet’s Opera Carmen from Convent Garden at the Bolden Cineworld. This did not communicate as a live performance to the same extent as Metropolitan Opera Relays but I have to admit proved to be a more inspiring production than that from the Met which I watched at the beginning of the year, when Robert Algna proved too gentle a Don Jose for my liking and Placido Domino in an earlier Met Production viewed on the i Player too senior and experienced for the role. Bryan Hymel is ideal as the young Don Jose, entirely convincing as the soldier and as an obsessed young man capable of murder in a moment of passionate disappointment. I was also impressed by the other debut performance in the role by Aris Argiris as Escamillo, Christianinos Rice was also voluptuously wicked and credible as Carmen. Although the singing and acting of Maija Kovalevska was of the highest quality, it is still difficult to accept to someone over 30 as an innocent 17 year old village peasant girl. I have previously reported on the history of my experience of this opera in the writing 862 1862 in January of this year. I was ready to get back to work for the rest of June.

1936 Last week in May 2010

Everywhere the news was no play because of rain. Not one first or second division county game was able to start on time, similarly the Test Match at Lords was delayed. There was no rain until the afternoon when it also became chill again, and more like autumn than high summer. It is dispiriting. This was Thursday of the last week in May, ten days ago and it was early on Tuesday when I commenced to write and the first Sunday in June when I finished drafting. It was also forecast as a chill and wet day with continuous rain for long periods but then a good and long spell of summer weather is anticipated. We shall see. The summer weather came but only lasted from Wednesday to Saturday evening

May has been a disjointed month with scratching at the installation project for most of the month until recent days when I created, processed and completed twice as many sets as last month although in both instances a long way short of the necessary target to complete the work in my lifetime, perhaps this is as it should be, working with an end object until the end.

On the last Friday of May day started well for after taking my car for the MOT test I walked back through the town centre and saw a delightful pot plant for sale in the square outside the TSB Bank across from the market. The plant was well developed with several crimson flowers among its deep green leaves and ideal for the large green pot in one corner of the outside windowsill. I wish I knew its name. With the hot fine weather of the previous week the plants had commenced to grow with the indications of flowering which emerged more fully in the week that followed..

The car only need replacement windscreen wipers and the cost was lower than what I had expected to pay just for the MOT because of the half price voucher. On the way to collect the car I bought about a pound and half of cherries. There were not of the best quality but provided two portions. The treat of the day was the decision to call in at the Woudhave for a small coffee and bacon toll for the good price of £1.19, some 30 pence cheaper than previous enjoyed in the pub in the centre of town. Excellent value but in fact I did not have to pay anything as the assistant had been given a voucher to pass on which was free. Having picked up a copy of the Metro paper I had an enjoyable break. Later I successfully experimented using the lap top to show the Test match cricket on the Sky sport channel in the patio using a cardboard box to provide a shield from the sun light. This means that I will be able to write here when thee weather is better. The Cricket was not of the first class with Bangladesh poor opposition. The weather conditions then changed over the holiday weekend although bank Holiday Monday was bright and dry. I needed to attend to house washing the front door and clearing flowering growth from the below the font steps which I had let spread from a neighbour, finding root between wall and concrete base and providing a carpet of purple flowers at this time of the year for a short period.

The rest of the ground floor and bathroom has been give a thorough clean and I would not be embarrassed to entertain a visitor or two.

I have found it difficult to undertake concentrated work on one subject over the past days although I have completed over 60 atman glitter cards in one session. I am slowly getting back on top of my work schedule after several weeks of limited activity. Several of the projects need hours of attention searching for what meets the requirements of the overall project.

The great disappointment of the past week was the public decision in the USA not to vote for Crystal Bowers ox not to become the last American Idol with Simon Cowell on the Panel. The two hour finals special, when the contest between the final two was spread over an hour on the previous night was not an anti climax those with several good surprise performers and the appearance of several past American Idol winners and popular contestants.

I enjoyed an early Robert Mitcham film(1958) called Thunder Road in which he plays the son of a family of bootleggers in a southern county area where bootlegging had become a way of life, but where the authorities were clamping down hard because of the emergence of major criminal involvement. Until this development and the attempt of the crime boss to take over the rural enterprise Mitcham had established a kind of satisfactory life, undertaking potentially dangerous work which could lead to prison if caught, protecting his younger brother and family and with a girl friend who he only see periodically. Given the chance to break free by helping the authorities to capture the crime boss and stop his enterprises the underworld code prevents him and his sense of independence that he also resists the offers to accept an overlord. When first a friend is killed, along with a government agent, in mistake for himself, and then there is an attempt to involve his young brother he see red, but pays a personal price for bringing the crime boss down.

I did catch a episode of what is billed as the last season of a contemporary American Mafia story in which crime, politics and business intervene featuring two brothers, one a ruthless murderer and the other attempts to do good and becomes a junior politician, quickly finding of the reality of corruption. I do hope American cities are not like this although the persistence in which Hollywood and TV cover the subject suggests there is more than a smattering of truth.

This contrasted with Surrender Hill based on the story of Brigadier General Donald Blackburn who first came to attention during World War Two in the Philippines where prior to the war he was a special advisor to a battalion of the Philippine Army. Cut off after the fall of the island of Bataan, he undertook guerrilla warfare on the island of Luzon using tribes people to form what became an Infantry regiment and a regular unit in the army after the War. The main purpose of the film is to portray the heroism and self sacrifice of the people of the people of the Philippines where there Japanese were ruthless in killing whole communities of women, children and old men because of the activities of the young men organised by the then young enlisted officer. This sacrifice is given an individual significance with a young boy who acts as a look out until shot saving the female interest who is first hostile to the office after the death of her brother because of his activities. She becomes a ruthless a courageous companion providing the romantic interest. She also perishes.

The film does not cover the rest of the Don Blackburn’s life. He held various military positions in the rest of the 1940’s and 50’s serving with NATO for a time until becoming an adviser in Vietnam after becoming responsible for special forces in South East Asia and then quickly became Deputy Chief of Staff and the Director of Special Operations in the early 1960’s and then as Director of Plans and Programmes in the office of Research and Development until his retirement in 1971. Between 1971 and 1977 he worked as Vice President of the US supplier of technical military equipment Braddock Dunn and McDonald. He lived for another thirty years until 2008 when he had reached the age of 92.

Britain’s Got Talent has been running in the UK featuring Simon Cowell along side American Idol for the past two months. The programmes condenses the period between the those selected to perform at the auditions with 180 acts and several hundred performers then invited to London where the judges assisted by their staff select less than quarter to form the five semi finals with 8 acts performing over a 90 minutes show and then a half hour results show shown on consecutive nights, quickly followed by the final. The two successful acts last night then have a week to perfect their performance for the final while those on Thursday and Friday have less. The objective of each show is variety with the inclusion of novelty acts such as a middle aged man chopping wood with great dexterity but a professional wood chopper no less! There is the usual banter between, Amanda and Piers Morgan. It is evident that a great deal of time and expenses goes into creating the live variety performances and where the audience response is predicable. They are sympathetic to children, animals and old people with exceptional special talents. They also like singers and dancers in general. Comics, magicians, quirky or amusing oddities also do well. Last year it appeared evident that Susan Boyle would win, but she broke down after her amazing audition and came second but still managed to make a career for herself as have the street dancer who are no appearing in a 3D film called Street Dance. Yesterday I favoured, as did the three judges and group of Bollywood Dancers who created a contemporary music hybrid but alas they did not make the top three, nor did a 14 year old song bird with brace as the judges preferred an individual creative dancer after the public vote.

The English Football team has not performed well in either of its warm up matches before thee world cup and world cup fever is being promoted hard by the advertisers. They won both games, after trailing Japan for the greater part of the game on Sunday afternoon. Andy Murray also crashed out of the French Open Championships as is clearly in poor physical shape as well as form in the run up to Wimbledon. As when he lost in the USA Open he appears to take time to recover from a major defeat when he lost in the final of the Australian Open.
The English Cricket Team had a harder ride in the first Test than expected after scoring over 500 runs in the first innings with Warwickshire’s Jonathan Trott getting 226. Bangladesh came within half a dozen runs of avoiding the follow on and also batted well in second innings and for a time yesterday it looked as if they might bat long enough to prevent England have the opportunity to win, However Captain Strauss, Petersen and Trott gained the required runs in quick time to finish at tea.

The unexpected sporting achievement of the weekend was the Turkish Grand Prix when the two Red Bull cars collided towards the end of the race as second man Vettel tried to overtake his championship leading colleague who refused to yield with Vetell then having to retire. This left the two British world champions as first and second and for one lap as the race end approached it look as if there was to be a repetition of what had just happened.

1935 A visit to Cragside, a folk musicConcert at the Sage and Cumbrian Horror

I am having an unplanned holiday and yet my mood is a mixture of joy and great sorrow.

I have experience great horror and sadness in my life and although the horror was at a distance, affecting people unknown to me, it has been real and traumatizing.

A middle aged taxi driver living and working in West Cumbria given a gun licence despite having convictions for theft shot his twin brother, his solicitor, and others he knew and also strangers he encountered before killing himself. Eleven other people have been wounded.

The killing started on Wednesday morning and by the time the Prime Minister started to answer Questions in Parliament he was able to report that five people had been killed. I knew none of this at the time.

On Tuesday the forecast weather of rain prevented a planned boat trip from Newcastle to the mouth of the Tyne and back. It did not rain as much as expected but it was not a day for going on the river. Fortunately there was an alternative as the Sage was hosting a folk music event by students who were completing there music degree course at the local university.

Anticipating the weather change I had booked tickets, there were free but these had not gone through the system, but fortunately I was able to get tickets from the box office for the 2pm and 3 pm performances in the small concert theatre built in the round and which holds 400 on three levels. It is a most attractive venue and I enjoyed the 2pm performance by Lucy Coggle, a cello player. She was joined by a fiddle player who also sang one number and a pianist for the second half of her 50 minute set. Folk music without voice is not something I usually listen to but it was relaxing and foot tapping. She played a mixture of Scottish, Northumbrian and other pieces.
Afterwards I enjoyed a cup of tea and a chocolate muffin despite the above average charges at the cafe. On arrival the ticket barrier was not working and I had to purchase a pass out at the Box office, suggesting that barrier breakdown is a common event.

In the evening had I an enjoyable meal at the Woudhave with a good piece of steak, jacket potato and salad with a glass of wine for £5.99 followed by an Americano coffee. Rather than walk directly home I went on a short walkabout alone the fill top overlooking the river and then back through North Marine Park descending to the beachside and then come back up the hill through the park and home.

As forecast Wednesday, which will now be known as the Cumbria shooting’s day, started brightly and I set off for Cragside the wonderful estate in north west Northumberland not far from the Cumbrian border. The route took me through the Tyne Tunnel where considerable progress is being made with the creation of the large new area for making payments on the north south route which is use the new tunnel whose entrance can now be seen, and where recently the tunnelling operations from either end met after breaking through to each other.

The first part of the journey is along the two lane each way A19 which then joins the A1 which forms the AIM south of the river after passing through Newcastle. Just after passing the junction with leading to Alnwick, the road is taken north westwards towards Rothbury where there are two route to the estate. One is direct but the other is more attractive with views towards the Simonside hills, part of the Cheviots alongside the river Coquet which continues for 40 miles until reaching the coast at Ambleside. Along here is also Brinkburn Priory, a National Trust Property in a beautiful setting overlooking the river.
This route take one round part of the estate with its thirty miles of car drives and separate thirty miles of pathways. The entrance leads quickly to one of two car parks within a short walking distance of the main house and the separate areas of former stables and estate workers converted into restaurant, shop and visitor‘s centre.

There was a brief visit to Restaurant for a coffee in the former stables overlooking the Tumbleton lake before commencing pre lunch walk, Behind the restaurant and car park the rock is steep and high above which the trees then tower. It is a spectacular position. The selected pathway takes on below the main house which itself stands over one of the largest rock gardens anywhere and which falls sharply down to the burn, then taking the autumn colour walk up to the Clock Tower and the formal gardens, involving a steep climb. Only half a mile from the House the walk takes a good twenty minutes of steady climbing meriting close attention to where you place your feet. The spring bulb season over the gardens are just being to put on their summer finery and another month will see them at their best.

There are splendid views across grassland towards the Simonside hills at this point as well as a giant owl carved out of a large broken tree. From here close to a car park and the wildlife Hide, I went down to the valley garden, the route to the original Pump House where the first hydroelectric plant anywhere in the world was created to bring electricity to the main house, the first home to have electric light in the world.

This is the appropriate point to record how Cragside came to be created. William Armstrong, later created Baron Armstrong, was born in Newcastle. His father was a corm merchant who became a Mayor of Newcastle. Thus with a middle class background he was educated at private schools and followed the career chosen by his father for him that of the law, and he became a local solicitor after qualification in London, and practiced for more than a decade before deciding on a dramatic change of career. In fact it was not a sudden change because William had become greatly interested in engineering and it was while visiting the engineering works of William Rams haw that he met his subsequent wife Margaret Ramshaw, six years his senior. They lived in Jesmond Dene, an attractive gorge part of Newcastle to the western boundary.

As a child he had suffered from chest coughs and this led to his parents taking him the Northumberland Countryside and in particular to Rothbury where he fell in love with the rocky crags and hills surrounding the village. This might have remained his association with the area had not he worked out the first of many ideas which was to change aspects of the nation’s future and create a fortune for his himself and his childless wife.

It was on an angling trip to the River Dee at Dentdale in the Pennines that he was struck was struck by a waterwheel used to supply power to a marble quarry and he realised that that the opportunity to hardness water in this way was being missed so on return he designed a rotary engine and then a piston engine for this purpose and his work was recognised becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society just before the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in 1850. Before then he had designed hydraulic cranes for use on Newcastle Quayside to unload ships. He established a company and a factory to build more cranes starting with 300 men in 1850 and increasing to 3800 by 1863 producing over 100 cranes a year. He then added bridge building with that at Inverness one of the original orders.

His next interest as to create a more effective field gun for the army because of their experience in the Crimea War. This then led to creating naval guns and to designing the Swing bridge which is still in operation in Newcastle to provide access further up the river. By the 1880 he had moved into warship construction at his works at Elswick where the community increased from three and half thousand to twenty seven thousand because of the work provided.

Thus with his wealth and position he decided to purchase a estate of seven square kilometres near Rothbury, starting with a small house on the site of the present one overlooking a tributary to the Coquet. It will be evident that Armstrong did not do things on a small scale and began clearing and reshaping of his estate, planting seven million trees, creating five artificial lakes and the carriage way and pathways around the estate. Deciding to make the estate his main home he arranged for the house to be enlarged from 1969 taking 15 years to complete and became a place in which he could entertain the highest from many lands including the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Prime Minister of China, the Shah of Persia and the King of Siam. He died on 1900 aged 90 years leaving in his will a sum of over £10 million in today’s money for the creation of the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, a sum of over £1million in today’s money for the creation of the Hancock Natural History Museum and donating the Jesmond Dene wooded gorge to the people of Newcastle as well as the Armstrong Bridge and Park.

And now protected and nurtured by the National Trust there is Cragside for everyone to enjoy, at a price with £48 being the sum for entry to all National Trust properties for a year or £9 for single adult entry to grounds.

Returning to my visit I pressed the button in the Pump House to commenced a one revolution cycle of the original motor bringing electricity to the house. From there a picnic lunch was collected from the car before finding a pot overlooking Tumbleton Lake where the view and meal was enjoyed in hot sunshine. After that and a relax there was a drive around the outer edge the estate to admire the glorious azaleas in their golden yellow and rhododendrons in the varied colours for mauve through to deep crimson in their hundred if not thousands of plantings from small infant shrubs to ancient huge tree like growths clinging to crag side or surrounding the roadways and paths.

This road way goes through the house and on to the north east edge of the estate where I took a detour to the Cragend car park which I cannot remember previously venturing and which is a extraordinary place which looks as if the rocks have been sliced in blocks for use in the buildings but where now tall trees have progressed from what appears to be bare rocks with visible roots spreading to reach anchoring earth. The road turns south at Blackburn Waterfall where there is also parking, then passing the Thatched Boathouse which once led to Blackburn Lake, no longer to the main area for families overlooking the adjacent lakes of Nellies Moss North and South. Here there is a large adventure area and various trails for children and adults, a refreshment kiosk doing a continuous trade in ice creams and cold, and toilets. I was able to find a picnic table overlooking the lake to enjoy a chocolate ice before continuing the car journey past the Labyrinth, the Timber fume and several more care parking areas, passing an exit, and then back along one side of Tumbleton where at the restaurant two scones, a pot of jam and a carton of cream plus tea cost £4.50

It was time for the journey home with a traffic build up approaching the Tyne Tunnel, with four lanes becoming two and then one through thee tunnel and for once the other motorists behaving sensibly. I looked forward to have evening meal of tomato soup, salad and strawberries and cream and then discovered the new of the killings and that the international media was descending on the Cumbrian coastal town of Whitehaven. I switched over to Britain’s Got talent and an evening 20 20 cricket match as the horror and the pain was too great to bear, and if so for me what for loved ones, other relatives, friends and acquaintances.