Beach life!

Everyone's been talking about the weather....so unusual for this time of year. It's been so warm that the heat went to my head and my mind began thinking crazy things....like actually going for a swim in the North Sea! This was an almost daily occurence in my youth; down to the beach at 8am and returning home at 9pm...then to be carefully lathered with 'Calamine Lotion' by my mother!

The water today was reasonably cold, but once I got in it was a lovely feeling. Gracie sat on the beach and looked at me as if I was mad. Later on my mind wandered again, back to wonderful beach days like these, and drying off with that great feeling of salt water in your hair and sand between your toes.

And now for the WhitleyBUNIONS....

A bracing trip down to the beach Sunday to give Gracie a stretch after being cooped up on account of the rain. Big seas and chilly winds were the order of the day.Popped in on T&K who were baby sitting for granddaughter Teresa before she departed to Germany with her parents.

Whitleybunions #13

Family visiting this weekend... so the customary visit to Whitley Bay for a bracing walk on the beach and an ice cream from The Rendezvous Cafe.

On the way to the bus station to catch the bus home, I stopped to snap the recently refurbished Playhouse... nice!

In case you were wondering...

Our house is still for sale. We're trying yet another estate agent to see if that produces anything more positive than the recent incumbents. In November it'll be one year since we put our house on the market. According to media sources... (hem...hem) things are allegedly improving in the housing market... let's hope so eh?

Whitleybunions #12

Aaron was up for a few days (before going home and passing his driving test!) Also Matt's girlfriend Sari was visiting from Finland, so we took a trip to show her one of our beautiful beaches.
We also took Leon to The Mouth of the Tyne Festival last weekend. Good quality acrobat action in Front Street, masses of crowds in the sunshine and a grand day out. Teddy Thompson was on the bill at the castle.... but we had to leave just as he started his set!

Wedding bells...

Tim, the son of our good friends Kate and Terry, got married recently to Cornelia. We were invited to the evening do at their home. A barbecue was provided by Cornelia's family and friends (excellent bratwurst!) and Bren contributed some lovely singing to the proceedings.

Tim and Cornelia have a beautiful daughter, Teresa, who made an appearance before snuggling down for the night.Kate was rushing around preparing puddings 'n that...

... while Terry was keen to have a dance with his daughter in law...

... and muscle in on the singing too!

Some kind of anniversary...

It was twenty two years ago this very day that me and The Lady Brenda moved to Cramlingtonvilleshire. As I write she is driving home from our daughters in Essex and no doubt we will raise a glass tonight to acknowledge the fact. The second and third glasses will celebrate the anticipation that we will not make it twenty three years in this house.... but will by then have moved and become Whitleybunions once again.

Supper and dancing

Yesterday evening we were out for supper at our friends Terry and Kate. Mike and Christine were also there and the food was followed by a masterclass in neat footwork from M & C, who are experts in the 'swing' stylee. The 'Charleston Stroll' was soon mastered by us with more than two left feet, and from there we went on to further foot trickery of the 'Lindy' variety. A great night of fun and friendship.

Weekend Bulletin

Great weekend! Starting on Friday when we took Leon over for a visit to Longstone lighthouse. Unfortunately this is an experience which he must wait for, as I had omitted to read that the place is closed on Fridays! We settled for fish & chips in a lovely little cafe in Whitburn, and ended up at South Shields market.


Saturday was the day of another reunion of friends from way back. A get together at The Rendezvous cafe was our starter for ten, followed by a meal at Picasso's. Great to be together with old friends and to welcome Sue and Bengt from Sweden. Lots of trips down memory lane and plenty of laughs into the bargain.


Today the sun finally appeared and we took Gracie out to Plessey Woods for a long and exhausting walk. A plunge into a mud pool resulted in a shower for her when we got home. Then it was sleeves rolled up and a spot of gardening to finish the weekend of nicely.

Whitleybunions #6 Bank Holiday Bike Trip

Bren was working yesterday, so it was a solo bike trip for me. The gardening was enticing, but hey.... priorities eh? I've done this trip a few times and it is also a bit of a trip down memory lane as you will see.Down through the fields from our house to Seghill then on past Proctor & Gamble at Seaton Delaval, emerging at Holywell village and entering Holywell Dene. This was a magical, unspoilt playground when I was a boy; a place to explore, find bird's nests and generally get up to all kinds of mischief.
Me and my pals could walk all the way along the railway line from Monkseaton to Blyth. The 'Blyther' as the train was known, would come rattling and puffing its steamy way along this track, where we would be lying in wait having placed pennies on the line. If the driver or fireman saw you there was a shower of boiling water coming your way, but we were far too clever to be caught out like that! Nowadays this line is a lovely green walkway for the posh people of Whitley Lodge and Red House Farm Estates.
The track comes out almost opposite my old school.... Valley Gardens. From here you can see the art rooms where I spent most of my last year, trying to fill my portfolio with enough decent stuff to get into Newcastle College of Art. Between Valley Gardens and the High School there's a track and two solitary trees. This track used to lead to Red House Farm, where Bren kept her pony, Rapide, when I first knew her.
Then on down Monkseaton Drive, which was waste ground known as 'The Common' when I was a kid. Out onto the Promenade, find a nice place to sit with a lovely view of Whitley Bay while I have my lunch.
Then back on the bike and on towards the lighthouse - another place of great adventures from my childhood. Then the long haul up towards the Delaval Arms and back into the bottom end of Holywell Dene, (it was nice to bump into the Riley family going the other way!) Finally completing the circuit before returning back home. What a fabulous trip!

Whitleybunions #5 Out and About

Lovely warm April sunshine brought the crowds, and us, out at Whitley Bay on Sunday. We sat and ate our sandwiches on the beach, met the cycling Kate and Terry as we took a stroll along the promenade, and then watched the Morris dancers near Watts Slope.

Their button accordian player turned out to be none other than Frank Lee, a friend from years back and former resident of WB. The last time we met him was about ten years ago during a similar performance in Keswick market place!

Crowds thronged around The Amusements and ice cream parlours in greater number than I've seen down there for many a year. We treated ourselves to a Delaval Ice Cream and popped into the premises of Culture Quarter, who are taking their best shot at rejuvenating creative activity at The Dome amongst other things.

A walk on the beach, followed by lunch alfresco

Whitleybunions #4 Leah's off to India....

Last night we were attending a fund-raising quiz night. The event was to raise money for our friend Leah's impending trip to India with Tearfund. She's off in less than a fortnight so hopefully last night's efforts will have helped to swell her funds for the trip. A great night was had by all, the only slight annoyance being that my team (that is, the team I was part of) did not win. However, it's the taking part that matters isn't it? Here we have our hostess and the quiz master, fixing, sorry, checking the scores.

Among the glitterati present were the North Shields Jarvis's, who brought along their new baby Keona. She was definitely the youngest attendee, and her parents obviously wanted to give her an early introduction to the nightlife of Whitley Bay. Mind you, the Berkley Tavern would certainly not have been the place to introduce small people in my day. I remember it being the kind of place you were warned about by your parents, where bad people would no doubt acost you with a motor bike chain for no reason and plunder your innocence. How times have changed.

Whitleybunions #3 On the other hand....

Here is a shop in Whitley Bay (Park View) that is not only staying open but is doing very nicely thank you. Trendy Art is owned by a friend of mine and is a great little business with smashing people managing it. Why not nip in tomorrow and have a FREE photoshoot... yes, that's right... free!.. or just buy something.... like a lovely picture, a personalised Piggy Bank, a printed named T-shirt, a piece of gorgeous jewelry, or a hand and foot impression - an ideal baby gift.