Returning after a trip is always unsettling as there is so much to do before switching into the being at home groove. Not that I want to be in such a groove that I cannot look back on any day without having added something different and worthwhile to my experience
Durham’s collapse on Monday evening meant that all hope of gaining a place in the quarterfinals of the Friend’s Provident Trophy had vanished and the intention of getting up early to travel to Headingley for the noon start of the next match in the series against Yorkshire was abandoned. Just as well because only on Wednesday morning did I discover that the match was scheduled for that day.
On Monday evening I had filled up with petrol at the garage close to the Travel Lodge, bought four rolls, two pecan twists and a small jar of mustard. I eat one of the twists as part of the evening meal after two of the rolls filled with salami and mustard and a cup of soup. The original intention had been to stay on the South coast and find a sports bar showing the Boro at the Toon, but decided for the comfort of the room and a listen on the radio.
Boro scored through an own goal in the opening minutes and one felt the depression descended on what had been a vibrant and buoyant crowd when the talk was about the Boro’s team selection. The Newcastle equalised and went onto score two more with Boro said to have become demoralised along with their loyal supporters. The following night the supporters turned their wrath on the manager for his performance over the year and his selection on the night. Apparently there was almost riotous celebrations in Newcastle after the match but Alan Shearer was quick to bring everyone down to earth. Only two wins in the remaining two games could ensure survival although one more points might be sufficient.
On Tuesday morning I enjoyed a leisurely start the day with a coffee and a croissant. The weather was dull and I enjoying an hour reliving the Worthing experiencing and drafting a Blog. There was a knock at the door an expecting the cleaner I was greeted by the friendly assistant from the night before who asked if I had lost something. I had been out early for a copy of the Telegraph but had not gone to the car. I had left the keys in the driver’s vehicle all night and the owner of the next vehicle had seen them on going to his and handed them in at the office. To have done this once was bad enough but twice within a few days was inexcusable.
Suitably chastened I finished packing and made my way to check the vehicle and make my way home. It was after ten and the rush hour was over and for once the M25 was fast moving all the way to the start of the M1. The new four lane development has ended the bottle neck which sometimes developed here and in sunshine I sped towards my destination the Toddington service area. Here I bought coleslaw to add to the two roles for lunch followed by the pecan twist and brought with me coffee. The previous evening and in the morning I had listened to Dire Straits Alchemy and for the drive I had a tape of my Bruce Springsteen records which helped my momentum. I read a little but decided that the news about the expenses claimed by Member’s of Parliament was such that it would spoil my relaxed and content mood.
I drove comfortably averaging more sixty than seventy miles an hour to the Tibshelf service area between Nottingham and Sheffield. Taking my lap top I bought a medium size diet coke for £2.20 with small £2.05 and extra Large £2.40 although there were no extra large plastic beakers.
Logged on to the free BT internet link for an email check and then finished off the Worthing Blog which I then uploaded. It was a pleasant break and outside I was tempted to sit on one of the outside tables but decided on returning to car. One reason for logging on had been to find out the location of Wilkinson’s in the northeast and was surprised to find so many, at Stockton, Thornaby and Middlesborough within a few miles of each other and at Hartlepool, Peterlee and Seaham. There is also a store at Chester Le Street. However I was so relaxed that it was closing time before I reached the first area and decided not to bother and continue homeward.
I needed to stop at Azda for milk and fruit. There is always that moment just before arrival that I wonder if the house has been able to look after itself in my absence. All was well. The there were only a few tulips still in flower but I would leave those already ended with the daffs and other bulbs till close to the end of the month to remove from the their containers to dry out and replace with bedding plants for the summer. That would give me two weeks to get them started before the Isle of Wight trip.
I unpacked slowly and methodically and then printed out the Blogs posted over the past ten days, transferring the records but leaving the transfer to the master disks until later in the week. The post was uninteresting, mostly requests for money from charities. There was no return of the bus and metro passes which was disappointing. I watched some TV, had some food and went to bed and sleep.
I was enthusiastic about tackling return home activities the following day but where to begin? Against expectation the sun continued to shine but it was late morning after a midday meal of stir fry vegetables bought the previous evening and the chicken breast pieces brought at Marks and Spencer’s through their 3 for £5.
I went to Nexus to report the loss of the bus and metro passes, filled in the required form and paid the fee of £6.45 for the replacement which would take 5 to 10 working days. There was less success at the phone shop although the phone had been checked by an engineer and packed but had not yet arrived. I noted that there was no reference to being repaired which may or may not indicate a continuing problem.
On the way out I had acquired the summer What’s on programme. Next week there is an Alan Ayckbourn thriller at the Westhovian Theatre on the sea front with tickets at only £5 or £6 depending on the day
The first summer concert at the Amphitheatre is in Thursday 4th June, followed by Saturday 6th with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the Throes, both at 7 and a the Westoe Brass band on the Sunday at 2. This is surprising because a vast fortune has been spent on recreating the bandstand in South Bents Park. I checked the Council web site to discovered that performances are planned on Saturday afternoon during July and August.
The Cave showcase event is on the 11, and which I enjoyed last year followed by two of the original Boomtown rats on the Saturday. The South Tyneside College perform on the 18th and the Paul Kappa Band on the 20th, unnamed for the 25th and the Billy Mitchell and Donagan bands 27th. There are brass bands on the Sundays. The annual Cookson Parade and Summer Fayre is on Saturday 4th July. Toyah Wilcox, Carol Decker and Sinead Quinn entertain in Bents Park on Sunday July 5th on the 19th the Soundpower Orchestra and These Beatles; on the 26th Andy Abrahams, the Moobs and Elle and on August 2nd Bjorn Again S Club and Scott and Sive. All these events are and if there is raid there is cover under the walkway on the sea front.
The weekend of July 9 - 12th covers the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival and the Mouth of the Tyne Festival I must check that I am home for 9th where there is a recreation of the early years of Louis Armstrong’s Hot five and seven, and before then with Kid Ory and other at the Sage Hall two, hopefully the seats are still available. Yes they are and I was to get my favourite seat in Hall 2 which is at the second level front row overlooking the stage and at aisle for £16 which includes the on line booking fee I was tempted by the appearance of Heather Small but will take a further look at the programme and my present plans for the summer over the next week to ten days.
There are 29 traditional jazz and swings artists and groups appearing at the Whitley bay Festival this year, 140 musicians from nine countries. There are twelve hours of jazz on the three days with four venues at all times within the hotel complex at an amazing £70 or day tickets. Surprising the programme for the Mouth of the Tyne Festival has not been announced which suggests the event may be in question although. This free event includes a wide range of music on venues on both sides of the Tyne with two areas in North Tyneside at Tynemouth including 4 jazz performances on each of the two days at a special stage close to the Rock of Gibraltar pub, with other artists appearance in the main street Tynemouth and in the grounds of Priory. The South Marine and Bents Parks are the venue for most evening in South Shields with the highlight being an artistic parade in the evening followed by fireworks which local residents can view by walking the short distance from their homes to the top of banking at North Marine Park. There are brass band concerts during August on the sea front.
There is are also regular conducted walks, eight every week, five conducted cycle tours and Petanigue on two mornings a week. The Jarrow Festival tales places over the last two weeks of May. Thee are various activities arranged at Bede World and at the Souter Light House, where between 11 and 4pm, there are events designed for children during the school holiday. These take place Saturdays to Wednesdays. On Tuesdays and Thursday there are also Tommy’s Party’s for children at the amphitheatre. There are also activities at the Arbeia Fort and Museum and Art gallery. I leave to another day what’s on at the Customs House, the Sage, and other live venues.
During the day I sorted completed work cards into one pile and generally worked out what to do over the rest of the week. I was not planning to go out unless the weather prevented play in the Test match at Chester le Street. I then watched Celebrity in the evening. You either tune in to the way Woody Allen looks at life or you do not. Most critics did not like Celebrity his1998 black and white film about those who seek fame and the company of the famous
Kenneth Branagh plays a would be serious novelist who first attempts were critically savaged but still has ambitions while working as a journalist and bored with his highly strung and unconfident wife becomes sex obsessed with any and every young woman who crosses his path. The film is full of excruciating social situations, art show and film previews, parties and fashionable restaurants. One interest is Melanie Griffiths who he first meets as a film extra and with whom the later establishes a relationship after meeting her again when she is living with someone and he has just arranged for his girl friend to move in and have her possessions brought over. She, Winona Ryder, then destroys the only copy of his novel in revenge. That he has no copy is one of several absurd points which removes credibility from this piece of well trodden nonsense.
The film is amusing for the appearance of Leonardo Di Caprio who invites Branagh to participate in a four way swinging session. Another is the cameo appearance of Allison Janney (CJ of the West Wing) interviewed having a posh nosh, Charlize Theron plays a super model who is turned on which ever part of her body is touched but abandon Branagh when he gets so excited that he turns his Aston Martin into a store window.
Judy Davis plays Robin his neglected and abandoned wife who is picked up by a TV executive who for some reason enters the cubicle where she is waiting to see an eminent plastic surgeon and who compliments her on the work that has been carried when she has decided not to have any. Why the man finds her personality and appearance more desirable as a potential wife and mother given the opportunities previously and subsequently is a further flaw although that he is able to get her a job when she has no talent or experiences in the industry probably is not. I liked the ending in which Branagh meets his happily married and confident former wife who has become a celebrity interviewer in her own right whereas he still struggles to write his book, finding out that someone else has made a success of a similar theme and abandoned by all the girl friends including Melanie Griffiths. He is genuinely delighted with the outcome for his former wife. It was time for an early night.
Durham’s collapse on Monday evening meant that all hope of gaining a place in the quarterfinals of the Friend’s Provident Trophy had vanished and the intention of getting up early to travel to Headingley for the noon start of the next match in the series against Yorkshire was abandoned. Just as well because only on Wednesday morning did I discover that the match was scheduled for that day.
On Monday evening I had filled up with petrol at the garage close to the Travel Lodge, bought four rolls, two pecan twists and a small jar of mustard. I eat one of the twists as part of the evening meal after two of the rolls filled with salami and mustard and a cup of soup. The original intention had been to stay on the South coast and find a sports bar showing the Boro at the Toon, but decided for the comfort of the room and a listen on the radio.
Boro scored through an own goal in the opening minutes and one felt the depression descended on what had been a vibrant and buoyant crowd when the talk was about the Boro’s team selection. The Newcastle equalised and went onto score two more with Boro said to have become demoralised along with their loyal supporters. The following night the supporters turned their wrath on the manager for his performance over the year and his selection on the night. Apparently there was almost riotous celebrations in Newcastle after the match but Alan Shearer was quick to bring everyone down to earth. Only two wins in the remaining two games could ensure survival although one more points might be sufficient.
On Tuesday morning I enjoyed a leisurely start the day with a coffee and a croissant. The weather was dull and I enjoying an hour reliving the Worthing experiencing and drafting a Blog. There was a knock at the door an expecting the cleaner I was greeted by the friendly assistant from the night before who asked if I had lost something. I had been out early for a copy of the Telegraph but had not gone to the car. I had left the keys in the driver’s vehicle all night and the owner of the next vehicle had seen them on going to his and handed them in at the office. To have done this once was bad enough but twice within a few days was inexcusable.
Suitably chastened I finished packing and made my way to check the vehicle and make my way home. It was after ten and the rush hour was over and for once the M25 was fast moving all the way to the start of the M1. The new four lane development has ended the bottle neck which sometimes developed here and in sunshine I sped towards my destination the Toddington service area. Here I bought coleslaw to add to the two roles for lunch followed by the pecan twist and brought with me coffee. The previous evening and in the morning I had listened to Dire Straits Alchemy and for the drive I had a tape of my Bruce Springsteen records which helped my momentum. I read a little but decided that the news about the expenses claimed by Member’s of Parliament was such that it would spoil my relaxed and content mood.
I drove comfortably averaging more sixty than seventy miles an hour to the Tibshelf service area between Nottingham and Sheffield. Taking my lap top I bought a medium size diet coke for £2.20 with small £2.05 and extra Large £2.40 although there were no extra large plastic beakers.
Logged on to the free BT internet link for an email check and then finished off the Worthing Blog which I then uploaded. It was a pleasant break and outside I was tempted to sit on one of the outside tables but decided on returning to car. One reason for logging on had been to find out the location of Wilkinson’s in the northeast and was surprised to find so many, at Stockton, Thornaby and Middlesborough within a few miles of each other and at Hartlepool, Peterlee and Seaham. There is also a store at Chester Le Street. However I was so relaxed that it was closing time before I reached the first area and decided not to bother and continue homeward.
I needed to stop at Azda for milk and fruit. There is always that moment just before arrival that I wonder if the house has been able to look after itself in my absence. All was well. The there were only a few tulips still in flower but I would leave those already ended with the daffs and other bulbs till close to the end of the month to remove from the their containers to dry out and replace with bedding plants for the summer. That would give me two weeks to get them started before the Isle of Wight trip.
I unpacked slowly and methodically and then printed out the Blogs posted over the past ten days, transferring the records but leaving the transfer to the master disks until later in the week. The post was uninteresting, mostly requests for money from charities. There was no return of the bus and metro passes which was disappointing. I watched some TV, had some food and went to bed and sleep.
I was enthusiastic about tackling return home activities the following day but where to begin? Against expectation the sun continued to shine but it was late morning after a midday meal of stir fry vegetables bought the previous evening and the chicken breast pieces brought at Marks and Spencer’s through their 3 for £5.
I went to Nexus to report the loss of the bus and metro passes, filled in the required form and paid the fee of £6.45 for the replacement which would take 5 to 10 working days. There was less success at the phone shop although the phone had been checked by an engineer and packed but had not yet arrived. I noted that there was no reference to being repaired which may or may not indicate a continuing problem.
On the way out I had acquired the summer What’s on programme. Next week there is an Alan Ayckbourn thriller at the Westhovian Theatre on the sea front with tickets at only £5 or £6 depending on the day
The first summer concert at the Amphitheatre is in Thursday 4th June, followed by Saturday 6th with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the Throes, both at 7 and a the Westoe Brass band on the Sunday at 2. This is surprising because a vast fortune has been spent on recreating the bandstand in South Bents Park. I checked the Council web site to discovered that performances are planned on Saturday afternoon during July and August.
The Cave showcase event is on the 11, and which I enjoyed last year followed by two of the original Boomtown rats on the Saturday. The South Tyneside College perform on the 18th and the Paul Kappa Band on the 20th, unnamed for the 25th and the Billy Mitchell and Donagan bands 27th. There are brass bands on the Sundays. The annual Cookson Parade and Summer Fayre is on Saturday 4th July. Toyah Wilcox, Carol Decker and Sinead Quinn entertain in Bents Park on Sunday July 5th on the 19th the Soundpower Orchestra and These Beatles; on the 26th Andy Abrahams, the Moobs and Elle and on August 2nd Bjorn Again S Club and Scott and Sive. All these events are and if there is raid there is cover under the walkway on the sea front.
The weekend of July 9 - 12th covers the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival and the Mouth of the Tyne Festival I must check that I am home for 9th where there is a recreation of the early years of Louis Armstrong’s Hot five and seven, and before then with Kid Ory and other at the Sage Hall two, hopefully the seats are still available. Yes they are and I was to get my favourite seat in Hall 2 which is at the second level front row overlooking the stage and at aisle for £16 which includes the on line booking fee I was tempted by the appearance of Heather Small but will take a further look at the programme and my present plans for the summer over the next week to ten days.
There are 29 traditional jazz and swings artists and groups appearing at the Whitley bay Festival this year, 140 musicians from nine countries. There are twelve hours of jazz on the three days with four venues at all times within the hotel complex at an amazing £70 or day tickets. Surprising the programme for the Mouth of the Tyne Festival has not been announced which suggests the event may be in question although. This free event includes a wide range of music on venues on both sides of the Tyne with two areas in North Tyneside at Tynemouth including 4 jazz performances on each of the two days at a special stage close to the Rock of Gibraltar pub, with other artists appearance in the main street Tynemouth and in the grounds of Priory. The South Marine and Bents Parks are the venue for most evening in South Shields with the highlight being an artistic parade in the evening followed by fireworks which local residents can view by walking the short distance from their homes to the top of banking at North Marine Park. There are brass band concerts during August on the sea front.
There is are also regular conducted walks, eight every week, five conducted cycle tours and Petanigue on two mornings a week. The Jarrow Festival tales places over the last two weeks of May. Thee are various activities arranged at Bede World and at the Souter Light House, where between 11 and 4pm, there are events designed for children during the school holiday. These take place Saturdays to Wednesdays. On Tuesdays and Thursday there are also Tommy’s Party’s for children at the amphitheatre. There are also activities at the Arbeia Fort and Museum and Art gallery. I leave to another day what’s on at the Customs House, the Sage, and other live venues.
During the day I sorted completed work cards into one pile and generally worked out what to do over the rest of the week. I was not planning to go out unless the weather prevented play in the Test match at Chester le Street. I then watched Celebrity in the evening. You either tune in to the way Woody Allen looks at life or you do not. Most critics did not like Celebrity his1998 black and white film about those who seek fame and the company of the famous
Kenneth Branagh plays a would be serious novelist who first attempts were critically savaged but still has ambitions while working as a journalist and bored with his highly strung and unconfident wife becomes sex obsessed with any and every young woman who crosses his path. The film is full of excruciating social situations, art show and film previews, parties and fashionable restaurants. One interest is Melanie Griffiths who he first meets as a film extra and with whom the later establishes a relationship after meeting her again when she is living with someone and he has just arranged for his girl friend to move in and have her possessions brought over. She, Winona Ryder, then destroys the only copy of his novel in revenge. That he has no copy is one of several absurd points which removes credibility from this piece of well trodden nonsense.
The film is amusing for the appearance of Leonardo Di Caprio who invites Branagh to participate in a four way swinging session. Another is the cameo appearance of Allison Janney (CJ of the West Wing) interviewed having a posh nosh, Charlize Theron plays a super model who is turned on which ever part of her body is touched but abandon Branagh when he gets so excited that he turns his Aston Martin into a store window.
Judy Davis plays Robin his neglected and abandoned wife who is picked up by a TV executive who for some reason enters the cubicle where she is waiting to see an eminent plastic surgeon and who compliments her on the work that has been carried when she has decided not to have any. Why the man finds her personality and appearance more desirable as a potential wife and mother given the opportunities previously and subsequently is a further flaw although that he is able to get her a job when she has no talent or experiences in the industry probably is not. I liked the ending in which Branagh meets his happily married and confident former wife who has become a celebrity interviewer in her own right whereas he still struggles to write his book, finding out that someone else has made a success of a similar theme and abandoned by all the girl friends including Melanie Griffiths. He is genuinely delighted with the outcome for his former wife. It was time for an early night.
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