North East thread 5: The one where we move to Chat!

[Someaddedsugar]

Here's thread 5 everyone! I'll post a link over on thread 4 too.

I haven't been there since October, so couldn't tell you, unfortunately.

My local area never got into the black and cases are finally dropping again, I see. Unfortunately, it appears to have just hit ds2's school big time and we've had 2 covid update letters with big class lists in 3 days. They never stopped the class bubbles, so I'm crossing my fingers, after the month long Christmas holiday!

It seemed everyone had it after Christmas, I’m sure the whole of Steel town and out to Hamsterley had it! Numbers here do seem to be dropping again.

Hello everyone how are you? I’ve been unwell with pretty much every symptom of omicron but consistently tested negative so who knows what’s going on!

A few weeks ago it did feel like everyone I knew had it. In our village cases now do seem to be dropping thankfully.

Let’s hope we can have a more normal spring summer etc!

Numbers do seem to be dropping, hopefully hospital numbers stay manageable.
Arnison centre vaccine hub was quiet when youngest went for booster. Mostly teenagers getting jabbed.
Durham’s vaccine figures are good. Especially the older residents.
Lovely day again, a crisp winter day. Frosty this morning but the sunset last night looked amazing and the moon was very bright. Lots of photo opportunities.

Anybody got any recommendations for a restaurant in Newcastle?
We are staying the night for my birthday at the end of the month.
It's been a while since I ate out there and although I have some old favourites just wondering if anyone had any other ideas.

@wonkylegs which area of ncl are you staying in?

If you’re anywhere near the quayside try Gusto. I also like DatBar near the Theatre Royal.

@Florelei we're at the Crowne Plaza by the station but happy to look at anywhere in the city centre / quayside

This week's Hairy Bikers is in Newcastle, I think.

Not that Ds1 would let me watch it :o

Dabba Wal is v nice @wonkylegs - round the corner from Theatre Royal.

We’ve just been watching a new mini series on Netflix about the conman Robert Freegard. There was a map show. And for a few seconds the villages north of Durham and Pity Me were the focus of the map - very exciting 😂.

Is your DS still enjoying game shows @PickAChew?

I tried taking a photo of the moon this morning but my phone definitely doesn’t show it in the best way. I’ll not be putting photography on my cv anytime soon!

Oh, the game shows we're so 4 years ago! We've had our phases. Some more enjoyable than others. Over the past year have watched every taskmaster, red dwarf, IT crowd and toast of London ever made.

My phone refused to capture the man in the moon, when I tried. The. Giant moon above the houses opposite became a tiny dot.

And the formerly derelict house across the road now has someone living in it. I'm happy for it! (and will be stalking the land registry to see what it finally sold for!)

@PickAChew

This week's Hairy Bikers is in Newcastle, I think.

Not that Ds1 would let me watch it :o

I saw it the first time the series was shown. They went to the Block and Bottle, which specialises in craft beer and is also amazing butchers shop. DD and her DP often buy meat from there - it is very expensive but very very high quality, and they are meaty foodies! The bacon from there is Proper Bacon, like in the olden days.

@PickAChew that's what happened with my photos - a tiny dot when to me it looked huge in person.

I think I know the house you mean and would love to know what it went for! We've been to see a few this week but haven't fallen for any of them and I've come to the conclusion I'm being too fussy!

DP wants to try Block and Bottle @TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat - I'll have to let him know about the bacon!

I want to try Block and Bottle, I once bought a bottle of beer, when they where in Gateshead ( railway arches) the part of Heaton they are in looks very up and coming. Some good food shops.
The Hairy Bikers is really showing the north east at its best. That and watching Vera.

Things that look quite big for a photo often aren't. Hence I have a number of photos which feature swans looking tiny in the distance.

That's where optical zoom is useful as it arrows the angle captured. I think most phone cameras default to slightly wide angled then rely on digital zoom and cropping. Definitely wider angled than the 35mm lens in my old slr.

Narrows

I can see the fussiness with 2 of the contenders, @Someaddedsugar. One lovely and not messed about with too much while still being livable, so lots of future potential, but backs right on to a secondary school and, I think, right at the top of your bracket. Another, beAtuful inside, spacious, right in catchment of everything good but close to a main road that makes mine look like a village lane and with the front door in the lounge. Those things have probably brought the prices down to about 20k less than the usual eye watering ones for those areas, mind.

Are you looking at NH or is that likely to restrict your school options for secondary, too much, further down the road?

I'm pleased you can see it @PickAChew! My in laws think I'm being very picky but the sheer amount of work on the first would make it cost a fortune and as you say the other is so busy. I'd consider most places as long as they're more central. We do like being in a village but in our street everyone knows everyone else's business and there's not much here. I sound so awful but I promise I'm not! I'd just like a good school for DS and somewhere you can walk out to something.

Everybody knowing my business was something I struggled with with village life, too.

Oh I love our village and the community it has. Some people seem to know everything, some of us are clueless. I have a friend who knows everything, it is great as I cam just get all the gossip!

@OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea if your village is the one I think it just has that bit more to do with more facilities (if that's the right word) - and it's gorgeous! Ours is lovely but just doesn't have that much and with the new housing development near Sniperley it could move us is out of most catchment areas for secondary school which is annoying.

Mine has a village hall and a local pub for local people and that's it. It is a very friendly plane to live though.

Apologies @OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea I think I was thinking of Florelei. Having a friendly place location is a massive bonus in my opinion 😊.

@Someaddedsugar - I’m in the place that rhymes with Manchester!

I think you’re not too far from me @OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea