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!

@Brainmuddled - I agree best bet is to go to a walk in centre. I know of at least one were a 16/17yr old living with a CEV/CV mom asked for vaccine and vaccinator made clinical decision to allow.

@ZNation

Hello everyone we are visiting family in Blyth area and looking for any help with teen activities in Blyth/Newcastle area if anyone has any ideas?

Beaches obviously but depends what sort of teens i suppose. Whitley Bay has cafes and arcades and a lovely indie cinema. There is a climbing wall in Byker and another centre in Newcastle with a big Lane 7 bowling alley. Cullercoats has paddleboarding and kayaking. And then there's Newcastle - shopping, cinemas, city tours, Castle Keep, Quayside, Baltic, Sage, Museums, Galleries,Centre for Life, etc

Went out for a meal yesterday in Durham it was heaving. Durham pride was on. Looked like it was a successful day and evening.

Where did you eat MrsE - my Dd has just started working as waiting staff in a restaurant/bar in Durham and is loving it - and seems to be good at customer rapport etc. Am very proud of her for being able to make that step - it has opened up her world a bit more and she'll have wider group of friends which will be good when her school friends leave for Uni and she's re-starting 6th form...

@myrtleWilson we just went to Ask Italian, was lovely. Not very exciting I know, but the veggie options are good, and the chips too good.
My DD is trying to find a job, but with no experience so is a problem.
Good luck to your DD. Mine goes to Durham sixth form and loves it.
Went for food Saturday then cinema Sunday. What an exciting life I lead.

Ha - I wonder if they know each other @MrsEWeatherwax - I would imagine so...

DD didn't have any experience so got lucky with her job - hope your DD finds similar luck

Sounds like a lovely weekend to me @MrsEWeatherwax!

How's your DD doing @myrtleWilson?

We went to the metro centre on Sunday morning and that seemed really busy (probably no busier than pre-covid but I appear to have forgotten how busy or not busy places were!). House of Fraser is closing and we were wondering if that'll be the end of the metro centre as surely the rent must be sky high for the shops that are still there?

It was a very tiring weekend, not used to going out. Definitely going to cinema again, I love films and watching at home isn’t the same.
The weather is all over the place, what was that rain ☔️ the other night.
With both Debenhams and House of Fraser gone that’s two big/ massive shops to fill. But I haven’t been to Metrocentre since before COVID.
Now I don’t have to wear mask I will go back to Newcastle, couldn’t cope in John Lewis and Fenwicks. I will continue to social distance.

@MrsEWeatherwax Next has moved into the Debenhams space so that doesn't feel quite so empty. They still have the flagship store further down and the Debenhams space is home and beauty I think. There seems to be a lot of moving about as Flannels has moved and JD Sports is also moving.

A colleague at work said they'd heard that at some stage in the future the new owners might look to turn it into apartments but I can't quite see the appeal if I'm honest!

I’m pleased the old Debenhams store is being used. I like Next furniture .
Can’t say I would fancy living in Metro centre!
Never been in Fannels, no idea what they sell.
We normally only go to cinema, but as Durham now has Odeon, not much point.
And I love visiting IKEA, my DH hates it, says it like hell.
Pleased Durham figures seem to be still coming down and our vaccine rates are excellent. Can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t have vaccine if I’m honest, but free will and all that.
COVID has definitely killed my love of a wander around the shops. In fact I can’t be bothered to do anything

Just bumping this thread.
Happy to see Co Durham’s figures dropping.
Is the vaccine centre at Arnison closing? It isn’t showing as a vaccine choice.
Will be relieved that by September no one in house will have to self isolate unless ill.
Hope everyone is well. Off to cinema again tomorrow, I think I have a problem.

@MrsEWeatherwax I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure the last thing I heard at work was end of September for the Arnison Centre site. I wonder whether that might change with the booster jab?

We're going to the Odeon at Durham on Saturday and I'm trying to work out whether there's anywhere to get a good pick and mix from!

Has anyone been impacted by the tv mask that's burnt down? Quite a few people I've spoken to this week have had no tv signal since Tuesday!

I know Poundland use to do pick and mix, but not sure if still there .
I would probably go to outdoor market sweet

stall and buy a selection. There is also an old fashioned sweet shop in the indoor market.
I’m going to see Free Guy. Looking forward to it. I’ve been to cinema do much since it reopened definitely need to buy a Limitless card.
We apparently lost tv but didn’t notice as was watching catch up sky/ IPlayer etc

Thanks @MrsEWeatherwax I forgot all about the marketplace so will have a look there first.

I love Ryan Reynolds. You'll have to let me know what it's like! I don't think there's ever too much cinema! Especially with all of the films missed last year!

We're off to see Paw Patrol - not quite as exciting

Enjoy Paw Patrol, it’s lovely and relaxing in the reclining chairs.
I will admire Ryan especially for you. He is very easy on the eye.

he definitely is!

Free Guy was really good and Ryan Reynolds was divine. Blue shirt guy. Was really funny laugh out loud. I enjoyed it.
So you should definitely go see it @Someaddedsugar.

@MrsEWeatherwax thanks for the recommendation! Pleased you had a good time!

I don't suppose anyone has any recommendations for at home dog boarding in Durham? A bit of an odd one but I'm a bit stuck!

Sorry no idea, but if you are on Facebook, Mums in Durham is a friendly page.
Hope that means you are going on holiday @Someaddedsugar.
Went to Newcastle today was very busy for a Friday lunchtime. Also the picnic seaside on Grey Street was fun. Didn’t want to leave my deckchair . And I really want to sit on the pink swing seats. But they were never free.

Just a weekend away @MrsEWeatherwax - but it'll feel like a holiday as we haven't been away from home since 2019 .

Finally managed to get something sorted!

Newcastle is lovely in the summer isn't it!

Have you been to the deckchair bit in Durham just outside the Odeon?

Yes I have seen the seaside at Durham, it tiny but looks great for small children.
The weather is awful today, Hardwick live is on this week, shame the weather is awful.

Just seen that Lanchester market is on tomorrow, I’m definitely going.
First time in weeks we aren’t going to cinema, but can’t wait to see new Marvel movie Friday.
The weather is lovely today, I’m on my second wash/dry.
My DD has had her second vaccine she just went to the walk in at Arnison. She is so pleased she is going back to sixth form double jabbed.
I’m now looking forward to Christmas, bought my first Christmas craft/food magazine.
Hope everyone is still well and I’ll say is again it has been a lovely thread.
Here’s hoping the Angel bus runs the Santa bus again!

How was the market @MrsEWeatherwax?

I’m also looking forward to Christmas and have decided to make my own cake this year. Hoping for a more sociable one this year. It’s been lovely seeing the Christmas bargains thread active again over on the Christmas board too.

Also hoping everyone is well!

We went to the transport rally in Seaburn, this morning. It was damp, just like all the others have been, this summer, but we've appreciated having some, even if Ds1 hasn't felt up to any bus rides. Maybe next year. This year, he's been building up a small collection of model buses. We have various ones from the region - today's find was an OK travel bus. One we couldn't resist was a routemaster with an advert for Corona soft drinks on the side!