Category: Geordies Page 1 of 2

World Mental Health Day

On October 14, 2019

In Emotions, Friends, Geordies, Music, THoughtful

“Shake it off.”
“Why don’t you just relax.”
“Get over yourself.”
“Snap out if it.”

Some of the comments often said to those battling mental health issues.

“It’s all in your head.” That’s another and it’s very on the ball – as yes, indeed, it is all in your head! Depression and anxiety is exhausting as it is a battle all taking place in your own head. Your own mind. Your own psyche.

October 10^th is World Mental Health Day is an annual event “with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health.” (WHO)

This World Mental Health Day we attended St Nicolas’ Hospital, an NHS psychiatric hospital located in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne.

The day had a double celebration – raising mental health awareness AND celebrating the 150^th year of St Nicolas’.

The day was staged in The Grade ll listed Jubilee Theatre within St. Nicolas’ and was purposefully built for staff and patients of the Hospital in 1900.

A beautiful space, featuring a proscenium arch of Doulton tiles by W.J. Neatby, depicting two pre-Raphaelite figures. Absolutely gorgeous! The day opened with an introduction by the welcoming Ken Jarrold CBE the Chair of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust; leading into a question and answer performance led by Races Around The World’s friend, David Faulkner, with former Lindisfarne musicians Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell fresh from their sold-out second run of the play ‘Clear White Light’ at Newcastle’s Live Theatre along with the play’s director Joe Douglas.

L-R: Lindisfarne's Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell, Director Joe Douglas, Host David Faulkner

L-R: Lindisfarne musicians Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell, Director Joe Douglas, Host David Faulkner

Ray and Billy discussed the late Lindisfarne member Alan Hull who worked at St. Nicolas’ and wrote many of the songs featured in ‘Clear White Light’ during his time there.

Ray and Billy were wonderfully entertaining, relaxed and funny. Their acoustic performances were divine and engaging. Charming, informative and inspiring. Though talk about bad timing during the song ‘Lady Eleanor’…

We, the audience, loved it and the session was over far too quickly!

Taster sessions on mindfulness, chanting and sleep, amongst others, were staged.
As well as a talk around the history of St. Nicolas’ by former nurse Peter Nicol.

Such a thought-provoking, fascinating presentation:
How the patients were heavily worked (termed ‘slave labour’) and were referred to as “idiots”, “lunatics”, “hysterical (women)”.

Thank god we’ve moved on from those days!

So a brilliant effort by the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Communications Team, the voluntary participants, everyone in attendance. And remember to look after your own mental health.

Now Vlogging!

By Sharon

On September 20, 2019

In Geordies, Stories, Vlogs, Well I never!

Sound Day Out – Nice one!

By Sharon

On March 28, 2019

In Beer, Food, Food and drinks, Geordies, Stories, Up North

“How much can you see in a day trip out to Manchester?”

“Like everything in life, Sharon – it depends on how much effort you’re prepared to put into it,” said Mum with not one ounce of drollness.

A flying visit to Manchester, or should that be a train visit as that was our mode of transport, to enjoy an end of the week day out treat.

It was Thursday. It was drizzling. It was dreary.

Exiting the train at Victoria, as opposed to our usual Manchester Piccadilly, meant being greeted by the city from a different vantage point. The Printworks food and entertainment complex welcomes you as does the National Football Museum.

We had spent several visits to Manchester over last Summer so decided to visit the places we missed on our previous visits.

“I want to visit my favourite place in Manchester, Piccadilly Gardens,” Mum says.

We walk there, watched the fountains and are greeted by evoking smells as there is a food market on – pasties, kebabs, burgers and Yorkshire Wraps.

“Look, the Yorkshire Wraps stand. Looks like the one from York,” I say, a tad too excited.

“From York?”

“In the Shakespeare Village. It was one of the food stands,” I clarify.

Mum breaks into a smile: “Oh god, yes! From one of our favourite places.”

We were transported back to York and the Rose Shakespeare outdoor Theatre with its Shakespearean Village selling food and drinks. A happy last Summer was spent there!

“Were you at the York Shakespeare Village?” I lean in and ask the vendor, a handsome bearded fellow.

“Sorry?” he leans over the steaming gravy toward me.

“Were you at the York Shakespeare Village?” I repeat. “Last Summer. Next to the outdoor Shakespeare Theatre. Selling Yorkie wraps. The best food stand in the Shakespeare Village. Yes?”

“No,” he said. “There’s loads of us Yorkshire Wraps,” he smiled.
Pffft…

We popped into the Harvey Nicks store – to use the toilets.

“We can’t go in just to use the toilets,” said Mum.

“Course we can,” I said. “Just act as if you belong there. To quote Jennifer Saunders in Ab Fab, when dealing with snooty staff, ‘You only work in a shop you know, you can drop the attitude.’”

“True,” nodded Mum as she walked ahead of me and let the doorman open the heavy glass door for us.

Surprisingly, the beauty department was empty so we were approached by every heavily made up counter assistant with offers to be squirted with the latest of everything. Of course, there’s only so many perfumes one can have sprayed on before one pongs – or gags.

Having been in this store many times, though strangely never with Mum, I know where to head for the ladies toilets – a sharp right to get to the lift, up to the bistro on the second floor and cut through the food halls before finding relief in the ladies.

The lift is like an art installation: circular mirrors adorned the walls.

“I don’t really want to see myself a thousand times,” Mum laughs. “Once is enough!”

But the lift is fantastic, I love it!

Having emptied our bladders, we walk back out Harvey Nicks, courtesy of the kind doorman again opening the glass doors and head to Sinclairs Oyster Bar at Shambles Square.

Sinclairs has historical significance, as its origins date back to the 16th century.
We aren’t put off getting a drink and sitting in its famed, popular beer garden by the large, burly bouncer guarding the latter.

We struggle to get through the single file, heavy doors.

“Where’s the Harvey Nicks doorman when you need him?” I pipe up.

We are hit by the smell of stale beer. The smell of a proper, old fashioned boozer.

“Reminds me of the smell when your Grandad used to come home from the pub,” Mum smiles fondly.

It is small and cramped with low-beamed ‘old England’ atmosphere.

“I don’t like it. It’s too cosy,” I say, wiping the beer spillage from my arm that the man I brushed past left.

“Look, the sun has come out for us!” enthuses Mum as we squeeze back out of the single file doors out to the beer garden. “I love it!”

Manchester, nice one.

No Tights In Sight

By Sharon

On March 5, 2019

In Geordies, Reviews, Stories, Up North, Well I never!

“Robin Hood, Robin Hood. Riding through the glen.
Robin Hood, Robin Hood. Riding back to his den!”

“They aren’t the words,” I correct Mum.

“Well they should be,” she says.

We’re on a road trip to Nottingham.

What do you think of when you hear Nottingham?

“Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood, Maid Marian,” Mum says. “Though Sherwood Forest is about twenty miles away from Nottingham centre, so should they really claim it?”

“What else comes to mind with Nottingham?” I ask.

A long pause. “Kevin Costner.”

“That film is always a guilty pleasure,” I reply. “He’s definitely the best Robin Hood, despite the American accent,”

Kevin Costner – Robin of Loxley

“He looked gorgeous throughout. Plus you had Alan Rickman being brilliant as the Sheriff. What more could you want? I mean that was the last Robin Hood film made, ‘coz they know they can’t top it.” Mum is resolute.

“There’s been two more since Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.” I say.

“Has there?” Mum is surprised.

I nod affirmatively.

Mum is astonished. “Well they must have been shite ‘coz I can’t recall them at all,” she says.

I nod affirmatively.

Nottingham city centre is compact so you can get around and see most of the sights easily, which is great for a cheeky weekend away.

We visit the Robin Hood statue – goes without saying – standing akin to the castle wall.

The castle is undergoing a huge redevelopment of the Nottingham Castle site, including the Grounds and the sprawling cave systems hidden within the Castle Rock and will be until 2020.

We can’t hang about that long, so, speaking of sprawling cave systems, we go on the Nottingham City of Caves Tour.

The City of Caves is part of a hidden maze of over 500 original sandstone caves underneath the streets of Nottingham dating back to the dark ages.

We bought joint tickets for the City of Caves and its sister attraction, the National Justice Museum, saving us a few quid. Score!

A Place of Cavy Dwellings

Our City of Caves guide, Alex, was affable and entertaining, giving us puns and jokes along the way. He was also canny dishy, which kept your attention. Well, he certainly kept mine …

Alex quipped, on describing the ancient, natural Spring water well, within the caves: “The water fetchers did ‘well’ – ”

“Do you write your own jokes?” Mum asked with a giggle.

“I do. I ‘spout’ them jokes out,” Alex replied with a smirk. “Thank you for noticing.”

The caves were used for smuggling, slums for the poor; larders and pantries for the rich; they house the only medieval underground tannery in the country as well as being used as air raid shelters in WW2.

“So people would take shelter here in the caves to escape the bombings,” Alex tells us. “Several hundred people at once.”

“ And one bucket…” I joke.

He laughs – yay!

The cave tour lasts approximately forty five minutes, but you can stay and explore the network of caves and exhibitions as long as you want. After Alex had told us this, I half expected someone to come staggering from the tunnels, asking “Dr. Livingstone, I presume…”

The National Justice Museum is fascinating, viewing the gaol, the cells and dungeons of days long gone by – and thank god they are.

Guilty as charged… But does the punishment fit the crime…?

There’s tours and re-enactments from the resident actors. There’s even a trial we participated in of highway woman, Joan Phillips, where I, along with other audience participants, was asked to play a witness, swear an oath and stand in the witness box.

We participants, the ‘jury’ decided guilty or not guilty.
Don’t worry, we won’t spoil the ending for you…

These attractions are definitely worth a visit if you’re in Nottingham. Along with many of the historical inns and pubs. Not to mention the assortment of newer pubs, including the Castle Wharf Canalside, a peaceful oasis in the city centre.

“Nottingham has more to offer than I thought it would,” Mum piped up.

“Yeah, it’s been good. A good place for a city break” I said.

“It is. It’s not just all Robin Hood, Robin Hood – “Mum muses.

I nod affirmatively.

Not quite Kevin Costner, but he’ll do 😉

Two French Tarts

By Sharon

On December 15, 2018

In Christmas, Drinks, Food, Food and drinks, Geordies, Well I never!

Well, we did the Brum Christmas Market, hence had to do the one on our doorstep – Newcastle’s Christmas Market.

So we met at Grey’s Monument, a primary meeting point in Newcastle city centre and happens to be where the Christmas Market is set, being open until this Sunday, December 16^th.

“I’m pleased it’s here at Monument, ‘coz if it was at the Quay, don’t think I could’ve been arsed,” said Mum as I walked up to greet her.

“Good to see you too,” I replied. “Shall we walk round?”

“Yeah, sounds good”

We pass the real Christmas tree and plant stands plus the roasted chestnuts and mulled wine fella, where we each buy one to peruse the rest of the market. Newcastle’s International Market and Christmas Market have been merged this year to allow people to experience the best of both worlds!

There’s plenty of stalls selling Winter accessories, scarves, hats, gloves.
Lots of baked goods stands.

“So pleased I don’t have a sweet tooth,” I say. “I can’t afford the calories…”

Crepes, waffles, French pastries – gorgeous tarts. Too much choice!

“Look at that, two French tarts for a fiver,” Mum says.

“You can’t go wrong,” Me and Mum say in unison.

We gasp and look away from each other. Have we been spending too much time together??!

The Pick and Mix sweet stall had the longest queue. Everyone getting their sugar fix. Sweets are always very popular. Explains those British Smiles…

There’s so much choice food wise, there’s all kinds – Greek, Indian, Chinese, Mexican. Plus the German market food, including the infamous bratwurst.

We plumped for the Yorkshire Pudding wraps.

“I wasn’t sure how they would serve the Yorkshire Pudding wraps. I thought the gravy would’ve splattered out all over the place whilst I was eating it,” said Mum. “And I wasn’t wrong.”

“Think I needed a bib!” I moaned. “It’s gone everywhere –“

“It’s on your shoes,” pointed out Mum.

“Oh god. I expect I look like a dog’s dinner.”

“Don’t you always…” laughed Mum.

To wash down the Yorkie Pud Wraps, and avoid any pooches, we nipped into the pop up Bavarian cabin style bar, took a seat inside and had a little drinkie each. I had a fruit beer while Mum continued on the mulled wine, adding a shot of rum to spice it up!

“What do you think of Newcastle Christmas Market compared to the Birmingham?” I ask.

“Well it’s a lot smaller for a start. But it also seems to have more choice,” Mum replied. “Birmingham seemed to have a lot of repetition with the stalls, more of the same. I mean, I enjoyed it – “

“Yeah, it was good,” I chip in.

“Absolutely but I felt it was quite corporate and samey.”

“We do things well but small up here,” I say.

“We do indeed,” said Mum with a self-satisfied smile. “ I mean, look at me – I’m five foot tall but perfectly formed.”

Bo Rap!

By Sharon

On November 30, 2018

In Geordies, Music, Reviews, Stories, Well I never!

“What time does the film start?” asked Mum as we made our way to the cinema foyer.

“One thirty,” I replied. “It’s quarter past one now, so we’ve plenty of time.”

“Good. I hate to rush.”

We were going to watch Bohemian Rhapsody, the biopic of music icon Freddy Mercury and Queen.

Now one would think a city centre cinema would be empty-ish of a midweek afternoon for a matinee showing. One would think.

A queue of seniors awaited us at the ticket counters. I am not ageist and know I will be old myself one day. But that day is very far off.

Every senior who bought tickets – and yes, of course, they were going to watch Bohemian Rhapsody – had a chat about at least two of these topics:
The price of cinema tickets in their youth, why was it so expensive now; how much is pick ‘n’ mix; where was the best place to sit in the screen; did they have to sit in their allocated seat number; was there an usherette; how loud was Queen’s music going to be???

Eventually we get our tickets and make our way to the screen showing the movie.

Not actual cinema workman…lol

Unbeknown to us, however, the cinema was like a building site. The cinema’s website displays the disclaimer of: ‘We are working hard to bring you the best cinema experience… Please bear with us as ongoing works may restrict access to some areas…’

So some slight disruption we expected. We didn’t expect the whole place to look like the higher floors of Nakatomi Plaza – you know what I’m talking about Die Hard fans.

Obviously Mum and me were hoping Bruce Willis would swing down and escort us to our seats. Unfortunately he didn’t – not today at least.

As mentioned, many seniors were at the screening. There were discussions of were they in the right seats, the rustling of sweet papers and continuous talking throughout the ads and trailers. I had faith that they wouldn’t talk during the movie. As long as they didn’t sing along to Queen. Please god don’t let anyone sing along!

The film eventually started and was worth the wait.

Rami Malek’s performance as Freddy was impeccable. He was wonderful, mesmerising, having studied and replicated the great man’s every move, habit, gesture. Surely an Oscar nomination must be his!

The supporting cast in the other Queen band members were great too.

Who would’ve thought that Ben Hardy, formerly Peter Beale from EastEnders, would look so good as glam rocker Roger Taylor, without even taking his shirt off (which he frequently did in EastEnders…)? Or that Gwilym Lee, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Brian May (it’s the wig for sure!) is the Sergeant sidekick in Midsomer Murders? Apart from that, John Deacon being played by Joseph Mazzello best known for his role in Jurassic Park as the little boy, Tim?

Excellent job by Susie Figgis the Casting Director!

Lovely moments of humour throughout the film, even during the dark moments.

The soundtrack? what can we say? There are no words for how fantastic the Queen music was – and is.

This outing reminded me of when I was given my first cassette recorder stereo one Christmas. Mum got me Queen’s Greatest Hits album.
Why would she do that? Being a kid, why would I want that music; why would I like Queen?

She admitted years later, it’s coz’ she loved Queen and wanted the album.
Nothing like a mother’s love.

The One and Only…

By Sharon

On November 23, 2018

In Beer, Food, Geordies, Up North, Well I never!

“How many Newcastles are there?” asked Mum.

“Over one hundred,” I reply. “A hundred that we are aware of, anyway.”

“Bloody hell! I thought we were the only one.” Mum was surprised.

“Did you, why?” I queried.

“’Coz of Newcastle Brown Ale.”

“What?”

“Newcastle Brown Ale says it’s ‘The One and Only’.”

“Right – ”

“So, as it made here in Newcastle upon Tyne, we’re the only one,” summed up Mum.
We were attending an event with the Newcastle upon Tyne Network of the Newcastles Of The World.

‘What’s Newcastles Of The World?’ I hear you ask.

It’s a friendship network to share experience and ideas on culture, heritage, education and business.

‘So what is ‘Newcastle’?’ you ask.

The origin of the name is often the same whatever the language – an old castle was destroyed or fell into disrepair and a “new” castle was built to replace it.

However, many Newcastles in the English-speaking world take their name from some connection with Newcastle upon Tyne – well of course they do…

‘What’s so special about these Newcastles?’

Nyborg (Newcastle), Denmark was from 1183 to 1413 Denmark’s capital and the Parliament – the Danehoffet – met at Nyborg Castle.

Nové Zamky (Newcastle), Slovakia, west of the capital Bratislava has a Mayor who is an opera singer.

In our own Toon, a recent immigrant to the city became so enamoured with it, that he has legally changed his surname to Newcastle!

Some of the “Newcastles” have been meeting every two years for conferences. The most recent being staged in Shinshiro City Japan just this September for the Newcastles Of The World 20th anniversary.

“A Newcastles Of The World Cookbook,” I said, looking at the cover as we settle down for the event.

“Oh, what a nice touch – everyone who’s here is getting a free copy,” said Mum.

“What recipe do you think will be in from Newcastle upon Tyne?” I asked.

“Hmmm,” mused Mum. “I’m not sure –“

“What’s Geordie food?” I say out loud.

We both go silent as we muse.

“What about Pan Haggerty?” I say

“Pam who?” says Mum.

“Pan Haggerty,” I repeat.

“Think that’s a Northumbrian dish. Irish as well.”

A pause as we think again.

“Newcastle Brown Ale and steak pie,” I offer.

“Possibly,” agrees Mum. “Singing Hinnies?”

“Them scone things?”

“Yeah. Like a stodgy drop scone. Lovely with butter on!” smiles Mum. I can tell she’s now imagining a warm Singing Hinny with a nice cup of tea. She pauses: “What about pease pudding?”

Pease Pudding is something of a North Eastern delicacy, a savoury dish made of boiled split yellow peas, with water and seasonings. Sounds revolting – but isn’t!

“What would a recipe with pease pudding entail?” I ask.

“Well, I think most people have ham and pease pudding sandwiches, don’t they?”

“Someone told me their colleague has pease pudding and tongue sandwiches,” I say.

“Ugh. A tongue sandwich tends to go on and on…” smirks Mum. “I remember someone telling me to try fried pease pudding – “

“How do you fry pease pudding when it’s sloppy mush?”

“Dip it in a bit of flour to give it a slightly crispy coating then fry it. They swear by it!”

“Sounds interesting.” I nod. “Though my fella told me that his Dad only ever serves pease pudding as a block, like cheese, on their Sunday dinner. As a garnish”

“Now I’ve heard it all!” Mum rolled her eyes.

“Let’s find out then,” I say as I flick through the book.

“Stop there, Newcastle upon Tyne,” says Mum pointing.

“Ah ha, I was right,” I am triumphant. “Newcastle Brown Ale Stew!”

“You said Newcastle Brown Ale and steak pie,” smirks Mum smugly. “Close, but no cigar…”

‘Newcastles Of the World – The History, Culture and Diversity of Places Called Newcastle’ edited and compiled by Sue Wilson, CBE and printed by Tyne Bridge Publishing, is available to buy via Newcastle upon Tyne City Library for £7.99.

For more information and to get involved in Newcastles Of the World, visit https://newcastlesoftheworld.com/

Thanks to David Faulkner

Life Centre’s For Life, Not Just For Christmas!

By Sharon

On November 9, 2018

In Beer, Drinks, Food, Geordies, Stories, Up North

We were informed of the launch of Newcastle’s latest Christmas extravaganza – a Christmas Village in Times Square – as well as brilliant The Centre For Life’s ice rink opening and encouraged to attend.

“This is brilliant,” said Mum. “We have the whole place to ourselves!”

Bar the half a dozen workmen and staff setting things up the Christmas Village ahead of its five PM launch countdown. If you don’t count them, then yes, we have the whole Christmas Village to ourselves….

The Life Centre’s seasonal ice skating rink is a Newcastle Christmas steadfast, hugely popular and will be open to the public from Saturday 10^th November. The Life Centre has a wonderful Seasonal programme coming up.

Photo courtesy & copyright of The Centre For Life

Sarah Reed, Communications Manager at Life Centre gave us the lowdown on all that will be happening at the Life Centre in the lead up to Christmas!

“There’s been loads going on today [launch day]. We’ve done an event on the ice rink as we’ve brought it back and it will be here until next February’s half term holidays, and although the event is centred on the ice rink, today was to launch our whole festive season. So we’ve got the ice rink that opens to the public skating from tomorrow. We’ve got Santa in his grotto, from November 17^th on weekends only up until Christmas. Plus our friends in the Christmas Village launching today so that’s exciting that it’s alongside Life Centre!”

There’s also lots going on in the Life Science Centre as well. Not everyone knows that we run Christmas themed activities – you can explore fake snow in the experiment zone; make Christmas crafts in the Making Space; and on the 4D Motion ride, we’ve got The Polar Express, which gives you a completely new way of experiencing the show.”

We also have a fantastic exhibition opening for the Christmas holidays! If anyone likes a nice sci-fi movie for Christmas they should come along to Alien Invasion.”

“We can hardly contain our excitement as you’ve got so much going on!” I tell Sarah.

“It must be a very busy time of year for you?!” Mum chips in.

“There’s just so much going on – there’s a lot of buzz and excitement. There’s going to be as much buzz and excitement in Times Square as there’s going to be in Life Centre this year which makes it particularly brilliant!”

“Will you be at the Christmas Village launch this evening?”

“Oh, definitely! Who doesn’t like a nice, warm drink and a log fire? It just gets you into the festive spirit. It’s so pretty,” Sarah told us. “The Christmas Village team have done a really great job with it – it looks so impressive, so pretty with all of the fairy lights and Christmas trees. It looks fantastic!”

“We look forward to raising a stein with you – cheers!”

“Cheers!”

Life Science Centre https://www.life.org.uk/

Newcastle Christmas Village https://www.christmasvillagenewcastle.co.uk/

Women of Substance

By Sharon

On October 19, 2018

In Geordies, Stories, Up North, Well I never!

We were driving. Returning to York to explore its historic streets some more as previously we’d had a flying visit in the Summer to watch a show at the pop up Shakespeare Rose Theatre, which is now long gone.

We had booked into a faceless chain hotel (which begins with a ‘T’).
Had had a nightmare journey. Stuck in a traffic jam on the A1(M) for over an hour. We were boiling hot, bothered and bored.

Eventually we arrived at hotel. We were dishevelled, worn out, sticky.

Got checked in, no bother; made it to the room. I’d been dying for a wee for the last ten miles, so headed straight for the en-suite.

“Thank god!” sighed Mum as she stripped down to her undies, flopped down on the bed, put the TV on and said: “I’m having a nap.”

Next thing she knew, I came flying out of the bathroom:
“Get up! Get up!” I exclaimed. “’I’m going to demand they come in to clean up the room. I take umbrage. Pure umbrage at that bathroom!”

The bathroom was dirty. The bath marked, hairs all over the floor, toilet stained. Taps needed descaling. Not sure the last time it had seen a cleaner, but imagine it was probably the last time that Richard the Third visited York!

The shower curtain had a full hand print on it. What went on previously in this room? The mind boggles…

I grab the telephone and phone down to reception and give them a good mouth full of Geordie charm. They agree to come up and inspect the room to re-service it. I breathe.

It was at this point I noticed that Mum was sprawled out on the bed, hand leisurely perched behind her head, leaning on plumped up pillows in just her lingerie. Reminiscent of the Sleeping Venus by Giorgione, not, as she likely imagines, Rose in Titanic.

“We have to leave the room. Apparently we can’t be in it whilst they clean it.”

Mum sat bolt upright at this: “What? I’ve just got comfy!”

“They’ve offered us a complimentary drink. They’re coming right up.”

“Aww, bloody hell. For god’s sake,” Mum said and then continued muttering about how ridiculous it was.

We were down at reception and shown to the bar area, which was within spitting distance. We were the only guests in there.

“What can we get you, on the house of course?” smiled the receptionist now on bar duty.

I was perusing the coffee menu when I heard Mum say: “A bottle of prosecco.”

The receptionist clasped her hand to her jaw, to stop herself from gasping.

Mum gave a Mona Lisa smile – she was obviously in a Renaissance art mood, and turned to me:

“What are you having, Sharon?”

“The same,” I said.

And that, my friend, was that!

Giorgione, Sleeping Venus painting – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=101652 –
edited/adapted for our purposes

Cold Women of the North

By Sharon

On September 17, 2018

In Geordies, Reviews, Up North

“Oh, you’re bloody joking, aren’t you. You’re the third person that’s told us of a different way to get in!”

We were attending the closing ceremony of the Great Exhibition of the North at Gateshead Quays. No body – security, stewards – seemed to know any of the right information. Usually the case when it’s a large scale public event.

“You’re not allowed in Zone A, in the better, front of stage seats with these tickets. You are in Zone B. Do not move out of it!” barked a steward.

Of the three ways to get to our ‘Zone’, the correct way was up a steep hill, not the best seeing as Mum is asthmatic. The doors were ten minutes late in opening.

“People are like vultures,” I said as people pushed, shoved, rushed to seats. “That woman there has a walking stick and is now making a run for middle of the row seats.”

The setting was an open plan, open air car park, staggered down two sets of stairs.
The stage was already lit, as was Gateshead’s famous Millennium Bridge.
It all looked impressive.
We got seats. On the front row of Zone B. No one else was sitting near them. The end of row seats too. Maybe because they were furthest away from the stage?

“What we sat here for?” asked Mum. “We won’t be able to see a bloody thing!”

“We will.” I say. “Plus we’re sitting next to the exit ramp – we can make our escape any time we like”

“Thank god!”

It was fri***n cold and quickly getting dark. Mum’s face was tripping her up.
Giving me the evils, blaming me for the situation, as it was my idea to attend the event.
Just the forty minutes to go until the show started then – this should be fun…

Then I spotted someone taking their seat directly behind us. It was Brenda Blethyn, the wonderful actress in too many fabulous things to mention and currently in ITV’s ‘Vera’.

“Hello,” I said, turning around.

“Hello,” she smiled.

We started chatting and Mum sat stony-faced facing ahead, trying to adjust her coat collar to keep the wind-chill out. Eventually she turned around and upon realising it was Ms Blethyn, broke out into the biggest smile I’d seen all evening. As we continued chatting, Kenny Doughty (Vera’s trusty Sergeant) came and sat down.

“We write a blog,” I began, explaining what it was, “could we get a selfie?”

Ms Blethyn and Kenny were very accommodating and bloody lovely.The show, The Great North Star, began just after nine via a teenage girl dancing atop the staircase descending to Zone A and the stage. She was enthused, going for it, fantastic!

A woman audience member started up the stairs to go to the toilet at exactly the same time. The girl was giving it her all, dancing up and down the steps, as the woman continued toward her and had to squeeze past. Talk about timing!

“Bet she wishes she’d crossed her legs,” I whispered to Mum.
“Or wore a Tena lady.” She replied. “Shame for the lass, when she was having her dance solo.”

The theme of the music and dance celebration performance was past and present achievements of great northern women. Female performers of stage and screen explored the empowerment of women. Volunteer performers took on the chorus and crowd roles. It was a wonderful event!

“What was your favourite bit of the closing ceremony?” I asked Mum.

“The end,” she said.

Eh?!!

She continued: “No I mean, because it was a real finale. Done in style. Music pumping, everyone dancing. Fireworks. Plus we were clapping which kept me hands warm.”

All in all a great way to celebrate the North!

[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”4″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails” override_thumbnail_settings=”0″ thumbnail_width=”240″ thumbnail_height=”160″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”20″ number_of_columns=”0″ ajax_pagination=”0″ show_all_in_lightbox=”0″ use_imagebrowser_effect=”0″ show_slideshow_link=”1″ slideshow_link_text=”[Show slideshow]” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]