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!

I am in awe of anyone who can sew. Re-hemming trousers and sewing on buttons is about the limit of my expertise.

I do knit though. I have been trying to knit a lace scarf on and off for more months than I care to say I have never worked with lace before, and had to undo it three times after only a few rows.

Curry in Shields sounds nice.

A curry sounds amazing!

I went into Durham yesterday lunchtime and it was pretty busy, but just at that right balance between busy enough and too busy!

Baking is another skill that is lost on me @MrsEWeatherwax. I can follow a recipe with good results but if I ever try and attempt to be a bit more creative it's usually a disaster!

I’m sure your baking is wonderful Someaddedsugar.
I had a little drive along the tip road the other night just to go over the hump in the road. Little bit of roller coaster excitement.

Dh got his second jab at the arnison as a walk in today pretty much bang on the 8 week mark. He said it was dead, only 3 people in total the whole time he was there. Am waiting for him to start feeling all grotty and sorry for himself.

Durham vaccine figures are great something like nearly 68% double vax’d. I now know a couple of people who have COVID, none actually poorly. Hospital figures still not bad, so that’s something.
I’m more shocked and saddened by the horrific crash last night on the A1.
Hope everyone is still healthy. And enjoying the weather ☀️.

I'm currently on a train returning from a delightful few days with a friend in Worcestershire. Did a lot more walking than usual, but boy was it hot!

I saw pictures of thatcrash on the BBC news website

Sounds like you have a lovely holiday TheSilveryPussycat.
I really want to go away for a couple of days, I’m so sick of my house. But I can’t be bothered .

I had some lovely walks by the River Avon. But spent yesterday scratching the resultant insect bites

It was nice to go away, I didn't realise how much I needed to. And it's nice to be back. What a scorcher, thank goodness it got cloudy late afternoon.

Had a quick trip to the Arnison Centre this afternoon (and went over that dip @MrsEWeatherwax ). Lots of people still wearing masks and distancing. It felt a little bit like it did back at the start when people were super courteous to each other!

Yes, I found it surprisingly civilised. Was dreading a bit of a free for all.

Weird orange moon, tonight. Air quality must be dreadful.

Popped into Tesco in Langley Moor today, and everyone was wearing masks

I hate masks, but distancing can stay for ever.
Can I just say on this thread, why does everyone think Durham and surrounding area is rough? In fact at moment the city centre is looking worse for wear. And the surrounding villages etc are fine.
But as someone who lives in one of the rubbish ex pit village, everyone is fine and have really pulled together doing COVID. Village groups made sure vulnerable people had shopping done and prescriptions etc and even received a free meal twice a week for free.
I always get quite upset reading it.

I'm with you there. I moved from Gilesgate out to a former pit village around 12 years ago and here I will stay. Friendly, welcoming, safe, good community. My work has taken me into all kinds of homes in some of the most deprived areas of county Durham too and I've met people from all walks of life. I might not be a proper local but I get quite defensive about our towns.

I think the north east in general seems to come with that perception of being rough @MrsEWeatherwax - I've noticed it a few times particularly on the 'moving to Darlington / Durham / Newcastle' or whatever threads.

It's a shame really as our village is lovely (and I'd guess near you @MrsEWeatherwax from what you've said on here) and the people are so kind and generous. Granted some of the houses might need a bit of maintenance but the same can be said for anywhere surely!

I agree it might not be chocolate box pretty but the countryside outside my front door makes up for it! Can I also admit I have no interest in living near the coast.
I like living where I live, everything I want is within 30 minutes drive at most.
My DH is from one of the places always mentioned in Newcastle and he would never move back.
Our figures re covid seem to be staying stable. And hopefully I won’t jinx deaths are now very low.
It’s still hot but definitely trying to rain ☔️. With any luck it will clear the air, feels very muggy.

I only moved to NW Durham last year but I love it. Our village is one of the prettiest I’ve seen in the north east and the people are so friendly. When I go back to my home town I’m always thinking how awful it is compared to my village.

I don’t understand the perception of the area.

In my time I have come across a fair few expat Southerners, including myself, who found they loved it up here. And some of them, also including me, used to tell those down south that it was cold and windy, we didn't want to share!

Mind you, it is true that Co Durham is in fact a bit cold and windy

Until recently I lived up near Crook, right next to the Mineral Valleys. Fields all around, Weardale not that far away, and Durham not that far away.

I could hardly wait to get as far away from Croydon as possible, and what a brilliant choice I made.

and Darlington not far away, where I worked before my retirement.

Do you live at the village beginning with L that has a market on this Sunday Florelei ?
Chester le street has a nice food market on tomorrow (Saturday) which I like going too.
Another lovely day, the rain never arrived yesterday ☹️.
Can’t believe Northumbria water are telling us to preserve water! Not that I’m a car washer that’s what rain is for.

I lived in a pit village for 14 years. We movEd into Durham mostly to be closer to ds2's school but also because we wanted to be more central for those mythical services for the boys.

@MrsEWeatherwax - yes! I think you’re quite near to us as well from what you’ve said previously.

I’m looking forward to the market this weekend. Parking can be a bit of a problem but we just walk along.

I was wondering about parking, would love to go, I love a food/craft market . Will just have to visit Chester instead.
You are only 2 minutes away from hospital @PickAChew. I think other NHS treatments etc has fallen off a cliff the last 18 months.
Even in normal times everything is so slow, it’s free at point of use(for now).
The North East Autism centre is not far from Durham city and I have heard good things.

@MrsEWeatherwax - there are loads of residential streets where you can park if you don’t mind a bit of a walk. You also need to book tickets online in advance i think (I’m not sure if this has changed since ‘freedom day’).

So we won’t have a note on our car? .
I don’t mind a little walk especially as will have DH to carry my shopping .
On of my DF’s fun facts is the Roman wall, I can remember visiting lots as a child because he loved to tell us about it. I was always expecting Hadrian’s wall every single time. Can you tell I’m a child of the 70’s.

@MrsEWeatherwax not if you park a little further away from the market. I’d check out the little car park on the right as you go up Newbiggin Lane.

Where is the Roman wall? Is it in my village? I’ve not heard of it!