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!

@MrsEWeatherwax I'm still waiting on a link for you but there is one for volunteering - I'll share it ASAP!

Do you have a helicopter fly over at about 10pm each night?

@PickAChew DS goes to nursery behind the bus station and when I was looking on the photos they send it doesn't look like there's been anything visible at all that's been done! But they have put horrid blue hoarding up everywhere and it makes driving up and down the nursery drive an absolute nightmare!

I bet it does. It's not the most accessible drive at the best of times!

Heard another jet at about 10, this morning.

Thanks Someaddedsugar.
It’s windy today, but I’m still going for a walk. Sun is out.
I haven’t been to Durham for ages, hope the bus station is finished on time and they get better security. My DD was propositioned by some weirdo yesterday at the bus stop. So I am not happy, if it happens again we are going to report, but don’t think police will care. She came home very upset.

Hope she's ok @MrsEWeatherwax!

@Someaddedsugar, it’s just knocked her confidence and scared her. It was first time out, other than walks since end of November.

How's your DD @MrsEWeatherwax?

She’s okay, thank you @Someaddedsugar. Hopefully going back to sixth form will build her confidence back up, plus will be busy at times coming home.

DS sent home today to isolate after positive test in his class. Not even back a flipping week. Teach me to be smug 🤐😪

Oh no gingercat02. Hope time flies over and he is okay.
Ordered my DM a Beamish afternoon tea for today, heard good things so am excited. Plus wish I could visit to help her eat it Also ordered her flowers 💐. Definitely cheaper to normally visit
On Broom house farm they have delivered their first lamb 🐑.

@MrsEWeatherwax hope she gets confidence back soon!

Lovely to see the photo of the first lamb. Is that the afternoon tea they deliver in costume? How exciting! I hope it's lovely.

We went to the Arnison Centre today and it was chaos so we just turned around and came home. One of our neighbours' granddaughters works at Sainsbury's and I saw her this evening while she was dropping some shopping off and she said it was all Mother's Day customers and the flowers looked like they'd be sold out at 5pm!

Hope he's ok @gingercat02 - that's not what you need after just a week!

Yes, they deliver in costume. Told her she doesn’t have to share with my DF unless she wants too😂. She will share because she is lovely. Normally she only gets my company, a card and some allotment daffodils. So she has done well, but she would rather we were allowed in house, roll on June.

Anyone around Durham City area who has been ordering lateral flow tests for home by post, they're now available to pick up from the county hall walk in site. They're doing symptomatic tests in the mornings then giving out lfts from 1:30 to 7:30.

Thanks @PickAChew - that’s really good to know. We’ve ordered our first lot for delivery as recommended by our nursery but will arrange to pick up next time to save time.

@MrsEWeatherwax how did the afternoon tea go?

I’m meeting my mum tomorrow and can’t wait!

@MrsEWeatherwax this is the link you need for volunteering nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/i-want-to-volunteer

Thank you @Someaddedsugar. I now need to read and actually apply .
DM said afternoon tea is lovely, they have just finished it yesterday, so really good value. She let DF have some as obviously too much for one person. Think might order another for a upcoming birthday.

@MrsEWeatherwax I think they have enough volunteers to get them through to end of April as my first shift is in May so plenty of time to volunteer . I'm an NHS responder on the check in and chat calls and I love it - so many interesting people to talk to!

Oooh that's good to know - I may have to order for DP's parents!

Did anyone see the plans for Newcastle city centre re all the outside seating and eating. I’m so miserable I don’t want to sit outside, most of the time it’s cold/ windy. Even yesterday was lovely and sunny but cold. But good luck to them.
On news this morning they were talking about more money for street lights, shame Durham council has removed loads of lights.

My hair salon is on grey Street and it has the same problems as north road. Here is almost always some argy bargy going on when I walk down there.

At least the proposed new layout would give them somewhere to sit while they air their differences.

Yes, the seating looks lovely, wonder if will be real or plastic. Hope whatever they plant likes cigarettes butts, vomit, urine and lastly alcohol.
Some bits like Ridley place is always in the shade.
There was me thinking Grey Street was posh

The buildings are spectacular but there's not much open in the mornings so it does tend to get taken over.

I agree with the sentiment expressed that it's just like a car park. Last time I was there, it was like a car park with bollards everywhere.

I very rarely go past The Theatre Royal, last time walked down to Great British cakery to collect afternoon tea, but I was too lazy to walk back up hill
I do agree that money is from central government for things like that, but no money for pot holes and metro to west of city. Hopefully John Lewis /Waitrose and Fenwicks stay because they are what I go for otherwise Metro centre is better and I hate Metro.
I had to go to bank at Durham today and I wonder how much will re open after 12 April. I felt very sad. So I will be part of problem because I will shop online and just use local shops for everything else.
The comments on Facebook Durham council re the Aykley heads development were exactly the same.

I haven't seen the Newcastle plans but will have to have a look!

I met my mum at Gibside today for a picnic and it was lovely. The sun was out so it was warm enough to sit and chat, and it was so nice to see other people doing the same.

I've booked our first meal out for the end of April at White Church in Durham and even though it'll be the three of us sitting outside I'm looking forward to some lovely food.

@NUFC69 we had the PoN tandoori salmon with mango salsa for dinner last night and it was amazing!

Glad the weather was lovely for you Someaddedsugar. Gibside is nice.
I’m waiting for indoors. Can’t wait to have a meal made for me.
I have booked my vaccine, whoop whoop, sorry not very mumsnet, but I’m thrilled.

@MrsEWeatherwax, so pleased to hear that you have your jab booked, hope your side effects are like mine, ie practically non existent.

@Someaddedsugar, we've had that, too, and it is lovely. I am so pleased that the recipe books are working out for you, it's difficult to recommend books, I think. If you like pasta, the tuna bakes are good, as is the beef ragu fettuccine. Actually the only thing we haven't liked is a vegetable bake.

The Northumberland figures are coming down well, down to 50 per 100,000 population now.