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!

We went to Dalton park yesterday and it was a lot quieter than we expected. It was so nice just to be able to have a little bit of normality!

I’m getting my eyebrows done next week. So looking forward to it!

Has anyone been to the metro centre? I wonder how busy it is?

Haven't been to the metro centre for over a year!

Durham was lovely, this morning. Got the ring binders I'd been needing more of from paperchase - for pennies. They have a massive clearance sale on. Picked up some cards, too. Spent just over £3 in there, then went and spent £9 on a bag of locally produced coffee! Grabbed yet another Indian cookery book in a charity shop then caught the bus home, for a change. My knee is not up to 2km of uphill, at the moment.

I might pop into Paperchase if they have a sale on.
Did you buy the coffee from the Discovering Durham shop, I wonder if that is the coffee that is roasted at the exotic Langley Park.
I won’t be going back to Metro until no masks, because I can’t cope wearing one.
Have to start taking my DM to Newcastle on bus because she loves Newcastle and pre covid went every week on her own. In fact she was never in always out and about on her own.

@MrsEWeatherwax the Fika coffee is lovely! I would definitely recommend it!

I treated myself to the coffee! Hope it is nice. Have been in the Discovering Durham shop a couple of times and it is lovely and the owner remembered me! So excellent customer service.
Durham felt really nice and friendly, I had a nice chat to an elderly lady in Tesco, I must look friendly even in a mask!
Actually I am lovely

It was a Lanchester based one. The lady in the discovering Durham shop said she was so glad to be back.

I briefly considered catching the bus to the metro centre but the realisation that I would get no respite from a mask, whatsoever put me off. I am off into Newcastle on Tuesday for an appointment with the hedge trimmers.

That's the kaffeehaus Amadeus coffee. They sell it in the cafe too so if you go buy it there you can pick up some of their divine cake too go with it.

My youngest insisted that I pick him up from school yesterday and take him into Durham because it was my day. The dc all had book tokens and other birthday money to burn. We bought a pile of books and half of Games Workshop. Then I had to get them to karate on time. I'd love a more relaxed saunter around to browse books for myself and go to meeple games and around the discover Durham shop buying yummy things. Sanction Gin is the best thing ever.

It has been lovely this week. Biggest child has been back at harriers for a little while, smallest neck at rugby and now karate is back face to face instead of zoom and cubs, scouts and explorers. Happy days. Plus the husband gets to go back to evening touch rugby so is magically more relaxed having exercised and socialised. He's found it so hard only seeing people over a screen working from home. I get to go to work so I've always had human contact.

I’ve got that coffee too, in the house, I bought the Fika one this time. I bought chocolate and soap.
So the Durham coffee must be roasted in Lanchester. Going to enjoy my caffeine in the morning.
Can’t imagine karate over Zoom.
Just going wondering around Durham and I’ve done 15000 steps. So feeling very accomplished
I will have to look for meeple games.

Anyone on here know the area Guidepost Choppington and can tell me what it's like as we have been offered a house here and looking to relocate?

Enjoy your haircut PickAChew.
I can’t help I only really know Durham/Chester @ZNation. I would maybe start a new thread.

15000 steps is some going. I can walk into town, wander around and walk back again (killer hill) and just about rack up 10k!

I don't know guidepost any more than we've been through it on the bus and a friend at university became a gp there.

Meeple games is in the old smiggle shop.

I did go to Chester in morning, but had a good wonder round, gosh I’m so sad. It felt like a normal day other than mask.
I window shopped meeple games but didn’t look up at name. Was looking at the Durham hoodie in window and was wondering if I should treat myself . Smiggle didn’t last long really did it.

The old smiggle shop is meeple world which has some more popular games and merchandise like plushies etc. It is the sister shop to meeple games which is down the bottom of North Road. It has all the super geeky games. It is brilliant.

Super geeky games I’m sold. It haven’t been further than Robinsons the veg shop for about 2 years. I just don’t like North road. But I will take my geeky DD because it sounds brilliant. Never even dared go in the Games Workshop shop.

I have just been out for lunch with my Mum. It was wonderful to be out with other people and it was beautifully sunny and not too cold

we're a board game family (well DH is, DD and I join in!) - we've been to Maple on North Road - friendly guy in there.... Happy to join in board game chat too!

Finally got to the Range, this morning. Spent a whole hour in there. Bought a calculator, for ds2, a new bird feeder and some bacofoil🙄

Dinosaur Island is the best game in the universe. Discuss.

I'm looking forward to DS getting into board games when he's older! Although I like the old ones the best - love a game of Cluedo!

I'll have to have a look at Dinosaur Island @OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea.

Pleased you got there in the end @PickAChew! I do find the layout of the one at Dragonville quite strange but that might just be me!

Where did you go for lunch @gingercat02? Pleased you had a nice time!

Meeple games is in the old smiggle shop.

Most puzzling sentence on this thread - but I have googled now

I found the layout better than the metro centre one. That one is cluttered and absolute torture when the sun shines. The Stockton one is better - just sprawly - but it's a bit convoluted to get to by public transport, so I'm glad we have our own, now, for the once a year I fancy it.

Took my life into my own hands (because they haven't installed proper crossings, yet) and did a loop of tkmaxx, too. Finally managed to get some more of ds1's shampoo. Normally get it from ocado, where it's £8.99 for 250ml when full price. Got a litre bottle for a tenner!

Thats an amazing bargain - do love a bit of a txmaxx haul at times!

Am off to Northumberland tomorrow with DD so DH can have some down time. We're off for a beach walk & then a pub lunch which will be only the second time DD has eaten in front of others in almost a year...don't think the weather is due to be as sunny as today but just being by the sea makes her happy so hopefully we'll have a good day!

@Someaddedsugar We were just in Dil and the Bear at Whitley Bay metro station, one of our favs when it was Olives but also because we knew it would be sheltered and sunny. Loving the weather, planning to get the garden and veg patch sorted this weekend 🌱🌷🌞