Howay the lasses - it's thread (but hopefully not tier) 3!

[PennyDreadfuI]

Haway if you're in Sunderland, of course

Do you have a link @MissEWeatherwax - curious to see where the next one will be!

This might be a silly question but do you need planning permission for wall art? Just curious how it works!

His page is called Durham Spray Paints on Facebook. Can’t do links, but if you are on Facebook you should be able to find. Good luck. Has a picture a spray can.
He just seems to get the home owner permission. I know the next person who he has permission of. I am quite excited.

If you are on Facebook, you need to follow the ‘ I love Sacriston’ page. Normally it’s quite a moany complaining page, but the wall art seems to have cheered people up.

Thanks @MissEWeatherwax - I passed both on my way to/from the Arnison Centre after dropping DS off this morning and I was just wondering how he found the walls but it looks like he's had a lot of requests so expecting to see more of them.

It's nice to know it's brought a smile to faces and stopped some of the moaning!

DS has asked if we can go to see the Fenwick's window again tomorrow so that's us sorted for the morning! I don't really think he's bothered by the window but wants a cake from the food hall - he most definitely takes after me!

For those based in Durham, Ushaw College are putting on a light display Thursday-Saturday each week in December. I think it's £2-£5 per person depending on age/postcode (discount for some DH postcodes).

Fenwicks food hall is lovely, so many delicious treats. I really want to go see Fenwicks window, but I’m too old and it’s not essential. Enjoy your cake.
Ushaw college is beautiful, we normally go to the Christmas craft fair, but wouldn’t be happening this year. I’m looking forward to all of the Christmas light switch on, something to look forward too.

Just checked and it’s ‘ We love Sacriston’ Facebook page.

Ooh, I've forwarded the details of that to dh because Ds2 would probably enjoy it. Not that he'll organise himself to do anything about it.

It was close to 11 by the time I got to the arnison centre. The markses queue was snaked around and back to boots, like in the spring. Thing is, there's also a queuing system snaking through the store so it must have been a good half hour to get to the front.

No queue for sainsbos but there were long queues for the manned checkouts.

@PickAChew I've been avoiding M&S after hearing about the queues last week. I feel for all the shops that do have to have queues though as they must be losing a lot of business.

I've just had a look at the page @MissEWeatherwax - it's nice to see people having something to talk about in a positive way!

I blush to admit I have never taken the DC to see Fenwicks window, nor seen it myself. I'm an incomer (though been here 50 years!) so it wasn't part of my childhood. Back then the family used to drive into London to see the Christmas lights in Oxford St and Regent St.

I went to Fram Greggs yesterday and bought 2 cheese pasties and a sausage roll. Then I went home and ate them

It wasn't part of my childhood either due to being an incomer too. Did make it part of the DCs traditions though.
Having to get a bus & train there and back, or a long bus trip doesn't seem worth the risk this year sadly.

I'm an incomer, too. Headed to newcastle university in 1988 and haven't left the region, since. You could still get lost in Fenwicks, back then, as they hadn't aligned the escalators. There were at least 3 body shops in Newcastle and another 2 or 3 in the metrocentre. Tose were the dewberry scented days....

I'll be in fram greggs in the morning, since I gave up on markses, today. The queues are often not as bad as they look since the college students haven't got the memo about going in on their own and absolutely must take 3 mates in to make the experience of buying some chicken pieces and a sausage roll so much less traumatic. I avoid between 10:15 and 10:45, though, as that seems to be morning break.

Durham University 1970. Captivated

I’m born and bred Durham ( born in Dryburn) but never saw Fenwicks window until I was nearly 20.
But took children from toddler age. The bus ride was part of the adventure. I think my Dsis and I enjoyed it more the our children. I still go on my own now, my children are now too cool. They loved the top deck and it was a cheap day out. Took them after hot drink to Fenwicks toy department, was brilliant.

I'm born and bred, but moved down south for a while as a child. The Fenwicks window was one of the things I missed the most. My Auntie used to work there and would always send us a Christmas card with photos of the window.
Now I've moved back home, I get so excited about the window that I take the kids to the unveiling every year. I loved watching the online one this year!

I'm also an incomer, but my grandparents lived in the north east so we used to come and stay with them at the weekend and visit the window with them.

More recently we took grandma when we went with DS which was lovely.

It was a bittersweet visit this year with losing my grandad 3 years ago and then grandma this year. But I'm pleased we got to do it.

(I went solo last time as I had to pick up a spare part from John Lewis and it was very emotional)

@TheSilveryPussycat

Durham University 1970. Captivated

I was a baby, then:)

@Someaddedsugar the Christmas decorations are lit on the house coming up to Sacriston crossroads. The family have just posted on Facebook. They look fab.

Thanks @MissEWeatherwax - I'll have to come that way back from nursery pick up on Monday! DS will be so excited!

A secret Santa using local businesses was suggested a while ago - does anyone still fancy it? We're using an online generator at work that has a gdpr compliant address sharing element that we could use?

@Someaddedsugar I think that sounds like a lovely idea!
I'm trying to shop local a lot more in general for Christmas this year. I've found a couple of useful Facebook groups where local businesses can advertise for Christmas shopping so I've been scrolling those for inspiration!
I normally go to things like Tynemouth late night shopping and the North Shields Christmas market for a lot of my shopping but assuming those won't be happening this year?

Hi all. Just wanted to add a little note about shopping via small local businesses.
My career ended pretty abruptly due to Covid. But being the resourceful soul that I am, I decided to do something else. As a family of beekeepers, we have always sold our local honey. There isn't much of it left now, but I kept some aside and started making hand made soaps, using our honey and other natural ingredients. I've been quite overwhelmed at the support. I've also been told I'm selling myself short, so ik trying to work out a fairer price for my hand made goods (without being greedy) I won't know until after Christmas whether it will be a viable thing in the long term, but I hope so. I also make chilli jam and chutneys made from home grown produce so that gives me a little more scope.
I'm in North Tyneside if anyone might be interested, give me a PM. At the moment I only offee collection from myself or local drop off (because if I spend too much time delivering, I've no chance of actually making stuff!)
Anyway, hope you don't mind me posting this. I've been on this thread from the start. But just wanted to say thank you to all of you who are considering supporting local businesses. This year more than ever, we need it!

Oooh @FrolickingLemon sounds fantastic! I may end up PMing you as love things like that! :)