Crepeys who try not to look like creepy clowns....

[BeachysSandyFlipFlops]

Would that be OK?

Must try to avoid a thread switch on a Friday night

Thanks for that, CV, will mention it to DH. Actually the day didn't improve; the electrician came out because we had issues and after he and my nice man left, we discovered that we had no central heating. We don't know who had done what, as the nice man had replaced two radiator valves, so we huddled last night. DH emailed the electrician and the two men will be back later. Oh, and we discovered (or they did) that the dishwasher was probably causing the problems with the electrics (this was after a mouse had chewed through the outlet pipe), so we may need a new DW.

How is DS today, BTM? And your DS, too, BD?

We just had two groups of TorTs last night, one of whom was DGD, dressed in a black Spidergirl costume and her DB who wouldn't dress up, but was very interested in the sweets.

Arf at 'will mention it to DH'. In this house that would be the last anyone would ever hear of the matter 😊

Auriga we did 20,000 steps yesterday.

What ho crepeys. Sorry to hear of floor-based woe, NU, and decorating saga, CV. This is why we never move anything any more. It just uncovers a can of worms. Sometimes literally.

Sporting natty new pair of toe separators, as recommended by my osteopath. Apparently they help realign your toes, which then helps everything else. I certainly need it - my left hip is giving me proper gyp, as is my left big toe joint. Related? I believe so.

NU - our thinking about relocating up north-east is still bubbling under. I have become mildly obsessed with the town/village of Tynemouth. Is it as lovely as I like to imagine?

Tynemouth is where we went to the beach at Uni - can't remember it very well. I think it was quite nice and had a good pub at the end of the beach. Haven't been for 30 years though so it may have changed quite a lot.

Post disappeared...

I think Tynemouth is rather 'naice' these days. Independent chocolatiers, and all that.

But is it pronounced as it looks, or perhaps 'tinmuth'? Or something else?

Herbs, I like Tynemouth; there is a mix of property, the beaches are lovely, we sometimes go there with friends to eat (they live at Monkseaton, just up the coast). I don't know what the schools are like, though, but you could probably find that out on line. There is a good Metro link into Newcastle (stations at Tynemouth, Whitley Bay and Monkseaton, if I remember rightly). I have the impression that a lot of the university people live there, but I could be wrong. Your best bet would be to pay a weekend visit, of course, to see if you like the look of the place: it's a big decision, but I must admit that it's probably the best one we made (we moved from Berkshire).

Tynmuth (you weren't far off). Was thinking though it is pretty much the local beach for Newcastle.

We're planning to spend new year in the environs, and have a scout about. We'll see the places at their bleakest!

Other areas on my radar are Durham, Hexham, Alnwick (tho possibly too small and twee), Gosforth and Jesmond. And I'm wondering if North Shields might be an 'up and coming' area. Have seen the most AMAZING georgian house for sale there for half as much as this one is worth...

I used to live in Jesmond as a student and loved it. It is one of the chic areas of Newcastle and within walking distance of the city centre. Gosforth I don't know. North Shields, I envisage as a bit like Sunderland although I could be entirely wrong. Durham a cultural oasis in the middle of a desert but very small. Hexham and Alnwick are nice - depends how far you want to be from Newcastle. York is lovely - but is that too far south for you? Some of these places will seem very small after living in London - I found York much smaller than I remembered when dropping DD.

I think I should have had some semi colons in that paragraph

That's why I like Newcastle: lots going on, but not as massive and frantic as London. Community feel, but not too small and claustrophobic. Plenty for DS to do, and hopefully enough to keep him occupied as a teenager. And enough different sorts of people for him to be able to find his 'tribe'. Plus the metro, for his independence.

Never been to York, though believe it to be lovely. I'm a bit scared of Yorkshire people though!

York is gorgeous - although the hen nights on a Saturday night in York were a sight to behold, mind you, I suspect Newcastle can compete on that score. I loved living in Newcastle although I was a student. The Theatre Royal got some great productions and used to get the RSC run every year, I'm not sure if this still happens. Also, some very good schools, access to lovely countryside - lots going for it.

at scary Yorkshire people - we (DD and I) were struck by how kind everybody was (we do have Parisiens for comparison) - I think they're just more direct and louder (those Viking roots). DD2 is astonished by the drinking and eatingand partying that goes on almost continually.

I think it's the direct-ness I find difficult. I've got a Yorkshire friend who has no difficulty in asking me to wash up. Naturally, I don't mind at all. But I'm so ridiculously indirect and southern that I would rather die than ask a favour of anyone. Probably do me good!

According to the Guardian's 'Let's move to...' York is 'unbearably smug'.

Herbs - would just add - I lived in London in the 80's and absolutely loved it. I still love it as a city to visit but am always struck by how full and busy it is and seriously don't know if I'd have the energy to live there now. Paris is much smaller but I do like to be near a city so I can have access to that dynamism a city provides - I'm not sure I'd go for Hexham or Alnwick for those reasons. I love the country but like the city buzz. DD1's boyfriend's mother put it best "a cottage in the country in Zone 2".

- X post Herbs - go see it for yourself. But they do say what they think.

I hardly go into central London these days. The last time I did, I realised maybe I'd had enough. We were doing the BFG jar trail, and started at Buckingham Palace. I was enraged by the hoards of slow-moving tourists dawdling and getting in our way, and just wanted to run amok with a flame thrower. Ended up in the City, and we were nearly mown down by Terribly Important Bankers on their phone having to get somewhere Double Fast.

I used to love the buzz and the crowds, but now I want to kill them, tourist or banker.

Whereever you decide, Herbs, just make sure it has good transport links. Youn Herbs will soon be a tennager (I know...) & you don't want to live somewhere where you will have to chauffeur him to everything.

I love living in Sussex - it's close to everything but still far enough away IYSWIM. We chose it for retirement & I have never regretted it.

Oooh yes indeed. Especially as I'm the only driver, which already pisses me off. Hence the idea of Newcastle with its lovely metro!

My sister loves Newcastle.

I have to say I love London's grimy multicultiness. Was Up West yesterday - it's so nineteenth century.

Also if we moved I'd get lonely. I'm going to get lonely when the girls move out too. I feel I need to do something about this loneliness.

Btw I said something along those lines to DP and he said - this is actually true - but you'll be able to come away with me on t'ai chi weekends.

With you on the loneliness, MI. On the walk back from school this morning I bumped into loads of people I know, and last night TorTing was lots of larks with chums.

But then would I make new friends? And the sooner we go the better, for that purpose?

But you don't need to worry, MI. Not with t'ai chi weekends to look forward to.

Moving out sounds great (if it was to another big, multicultural, vibrant city) but also bad - not near to all my friends. But maybe in the future.

I do love Alnwick, but I think that's because DM's BFF lives there (and hasn't got dementia!)

And what is scary about Yorkshiremen and women? Speaking as someone who went to uni in Yorkshire and has many Yorkshire friends, including my BFF. Direct and down to earth is good!

At home today - DS having a bad day and have been to the hosp. Hoping he will be well enough to go in tomorrow. I am feeling wiped out.

Oh, BTM.

I am getting a bit fed up with Mr Inferior's insistence on either working or doing t'ai chi. I'm not exactly twiddling my thumbs myself but it does make him spectacularly boring.

Herbs, I reckoned that I knew more people here after six months than I did after six years in Berkshire. Have just spent a couple of hours in Jesmond Dene, followed by lunch at our favourite (cheap) Italian. Gosforth, Jesmond, Tynemouth and Monkseaton to a lesser extent tend to be the more expensive places, as do parts of Ponteland. Hexham is about 30 miles outside of Newcastle; there is a train service (Carlisle to Newcastle) which stops there, otherwise it's a dual carriageway in. Alnwick, whilst lovely, has poor road links south as successive governments have refused to upgrade the A1.

If you fancy a trip up by yourself let me know, I am sure we could put you up for a couple of nights and take you round. I know when we moved up all those years ago we loved the fact that the DC could have more freedom.

MI, at DP wanting you to join him on tai chi holidays, bless him.

I have lots of Yorkshire friends, BTM! Mostly from Leeds. I just fear the Geoffrey Boycott stereotype 'speak as I find' type, and what they might say to soft southern nancies coming up with their unearned London property money. There's that old saying, isn't there: "You can always tell a Yorkshireman, but you can't tell him much."

Admittedly, no-one I actually know from Yorkshire is remotely like Geoffrey Boycott.