North East thread 4: Fingers crossed we catch the Angel bus!

[Someaddedsugar]

Just thought I'd start a new thread for the north east lot as number 3 is getting pretty full!

@PennyDreadfuI hope you're ok and hope you don't mind me picking the thread up!

@Someaddedsugar the buses are going along North Road, all the way to where the Park and Ride buses go, opposite The Riverwalk. I think Go north east shared a map on their Facebook page.
On the council Facebook page, there are loads of people complaining about what a waste of money it will be. Don’t hate me, but it will need better security to deter the undesirables. My teenage DD won’t use it as she finds it scary.

It just looks like it'll cause chaos, and I do agree it seems like a massive amount of money and I can't really see the benefit - it's a bus station and surely as long as it's fit for purpose it's ok?

I hope it doesn't reduce custom for Robinson's the greengrocers. I love that shop and it'd be a shame if it shuts because the volume of customers passing reduces.

I do know what you mean - I used to get the bus from the bus station every day when I worked in Langley Moor and I often felt initimidated and there were often police attempting to resolve something or other.

The old one wasn't really fit for purpose, though. You can't even see the bus blinds from some of the stops and it leaks like a sieve, in the rain.

The new bus station isn't going to solve the problem of too many buses from too few stands, though. There is still going to be a scramble when the 22 is blocked by the 43 that has been sitting in the stand for 10 minutes or when the 21, x21 and 50 are all due to leave within 3 minutes of each other, when the timetables go all wonky in the late afternoon.

I agree, too small an area for too many buses. Didn’t knew it leaked!
The only bus station I like using is Eldon Square, I feel very safe.
North road is going to be very busy, shoppers, bus drivers hanging about, people waiting for the bus, it’s going to be a nightmare. Plus it’s going to take 18 months someone said! 18 months!
Today Robinson’s was the only shop with a queue, didn’t go as far as Tesco gave up and came home.
Not sure how they can fix it. My part solution but be knock most of North road down, it’s a dump. Robinson’s and Copeland are the only shops I use. I can remember when Walter Wilson’s the supermarket was where Argos was, it was busy, busy. But I still miss Argos. And M&S and Wilko. Which is why the Arnison centre is my go to place. Not sure what will tempt me back.

I agree, the only reason I go down now is for the market and Robinsons. No idea if our paperchase is one of the ones saved.

Just over 3 years ago, I was travelling twice a day from East Durham to Spenny and back to do a school run and the city centre had such a buzz. I spent more time than I care to think about in the bus station. I never, ever used that loo. Grim.

Every few mornings (because morning buses meant I had a 25 minute wait for the 6 so I had time to notice things) there would be an artfully arranged pile of cooplands pasty crumbs somewhere around stand H. One morning, they had even taken the trouble to tape the bag to one of the metal columns.

I'm hoping the replacement is at least as nice as the new one in South shields, BTW. That one has 3 times the space for half as many buses, mind.

I remember the old cast iron bus station, which I think was dismantled and given to Beamish. Don't know if they re-erected it or not.

Such perfect snow. I kept wanting to ask my neighbour upstairs if her and her kids would like to make a snowman out the back, or have a snowball fight, but they don't seem to go out much, and are originally from an African country so perhaps don't go Snow+Kids = Snowman.

I contemplated making a snowman myself, but wimped out. However someone else has walked to the middle of the communal lawn out the back, and made a snow angel. (Maybe it was a belated Christmas Angel?)

I love making angels in the snow, will only make in my garden now because I don’t like to think what is under snow
That must have been tiring bus journey, especially every day PickAChew.
I always get Cooplands bakery name wrong! But sometimes I still call it Peters when talking to my DP’s Still miss their devon splits.
There are some right characters using Durham bus station.
The snow was beautiful and it went warm when coming down, just shame wasn’t at home, because my feet were freezing. Didn’t realise how cold until was back in a lovely warm house.
Someone mentioned the old one went Beamish, it must be in a place I never go. Because can’t remember seeing it.
News mentioned this morning that Sunderland is starting to come down, not sure why there figures are high, was wondering if was part university and high density population.
I’m wishing the snow away.
I have never seen South Shields bus station, in fact I don’t go to South Shields much, even when children were little because I hate sand. When we did go we always went to the park, now that was a good park.
Reading that back, I don’t like much do I hate snow and sand. My poor children, my DF use to take them to South Shields on the bus as treat when they were little. The state of them when he returned them, but they always had the best day.

With a bus basher for a child I could probably write a book of bus stations I have known. That'll be pretty much all of them in the North East. If ever we did take a family holiday (we don't. Even without covid. It's too complicated and not relaxing for anyone) a trip to see or use the bus station would be a given.

Beamish does have a new bus depot, along with some preserved Northern buses in it. The modern versa on the right in this picture gets used on the 28 which might be a treat for kids, once we're travelling more normally, again.
www.beamish.org.uk/news/opening-of-beamish-museums-new-bus-depot-to-preserve-transport-heritage/

Blooming cold night. This is the current reading for ushaw Moor ❄️🥶

More snow in Whitley Bay this morning ❄🌨👏

We've had more snow today, too. I haven't been outside the house, apart from the garden, for several days. When I refilled the bird feeders first thing I noticed that I had had a visit from a pheasant as there were tracks leading across the lawn onto the front step. We really must go out tomorrow as we have no fruit or vegetables for the weekend.

Numbers in Northumberland are coming down well. My Covid Messenger subscription said that six days ago the rate per 100,000 people was 137, so things are going the right way, I still hear the occasional ambulance siren, though (although I suppose it could also be the fire service or police).

It's my oldest DGS's tenth birthday on Monday, so we have booked afternoon tea from our local baker, and we'll celebrate it with a Zoom party. It's DH's on Thursday, so we're having a takeaway for that, too.

Gosh it’s very cold isn’t it, -2 this afternoon. We went for a walk yesterday and I was freezing. Went shopping today because we ran out of milk and bread. There would be a riot if no toast in this house .
The spray paint guy has finished two more pictures, one of pitman and pony looks amazing.The other he has sprayed over his pigeon picture, and it’s now a spaniel and NHS sign it looks amazing too. That one is Sacriston pit on way to Broom House Farm.
I’m looking forward to snow and ice going, it bloody dangerous walking. So hope everyone enjoyed the snow,

It is cold @MrsEWeatherwax! I didn't leave the house yesterday and made excuses not to take DS out . Definitely have to today as he had far too much energy.

Apparently it's going to get warmer this week.

DP's parents have had their vaccines much earlier than we expected (both mid 60s) at a Pelton. I hope my parents hear asap. I'm really missing them at the moment.

Hope everyone's ok!

Someaddedsugar, about your parents. As soon as their age group is "released" they can book their appointment. There is no need to wait for a letter - that's what happened to me. They need to look at the NHS website Book a corona virus vaccine. If you are eligible it will let you book. They will need their NHS numbers. Alternatively my GP rang me a few days after I had my appointment at the Centre for Life. Fingers crossed for them.

It's very windy here and the snow has hardly shifted - lethal underfoot.

Thanks @NUFC69 I don't think the 50s group has been released just yet but I'll be keeping an eye out!

We've just had a rain shower and it looks as though the sun is trying to get through the clouds!

Yeah, it's over 65s and the CEV and carers, rolling out this week I think.

I couldn't remember how old they were @Someaddedsugar . Definitely worth keeping an eye on it for later.

If we're at over 65 though it means they'll have theirs soon enough!

I'm excited for them as silly as that is!

Ooh, that means I can get mine. Although I'll probably wait for the GP surgery to get in touch - they were very efficient at giving the flu jab last year.

I've not been on this thread in ages but hello! Nice to see you still chatting.

For those saying Robinsons of one of the only things they go into Durham for did you know they deliver? Wide area too, we get them to is on the far reaches of DH7. It's great, you can ring them or order through their website. They never deliver anything dodgy either, always perfect.

Counting down the days until 8th of March here. And fun as the snow has been i am glad it is melting and the sun is out.

Yeah, I've had a delivery from them, in the past. Cheaper than return bus fare or parking, too.

My vaccine letter came today, but although I could book a pharmacy or vaccine centre I have decided to wait for the GP - letter says it could be any day soon.

I surprised myself by being quite excited!

My DH got a vaccine text yesterday to book for this week (he's group 6). Just saw a vaccination centre is now at Northumbria Water site at Arnison - I've not seen that before.

Another vote for Robinsons delivery and another local veg box is North Country Ken - doesn't deliver down to Durham but northern postcodes may be luckier!

Is that Northumbria water next to Lidl?
So pleased the snow is gone/going. Sorry to anyone who is going to miss it
I might order a veg/fruit box from Robinsons especially if I can order some of the weight your own stuff.
I haven’t been to Arnison centre since I got struck in the McDonald’s queue for 5 minutes when the rest of the centre was empty, I could have kicked myself as I joined queue. What was I thinking 🤨.
Definitely need to go to Wilko for stocking up on cleaning stuff and gardening.