The weather seems to be following us everywhere as I look out the Dining Room window at Arthur and Edna’s home there are grey clouds here’s hoping we have some sunshine today, as it rained nearly all day yesterday. There was a sprinkle of rain but the rain held off for the day only had to put up with a cold brisk wind that went right through you.

Arthur and Richard had a busy morning repairing the two dents in the cupboard drawer door after getting all the right materials from the M&S Hardware shop. I should really say Arthur repaired the drawer while Richard looked on like a good apprentice. Arthur is a man of many talents and can put his hand to anything, from fixing a drawer, to building a boat or renovating a house which he has done with their home.

We all had a laugh when Richard told Edna and Arthur we slept on the floor as the settee couch was too soft with no real support causing us to roll into each other in the middle of the settee. We apologised for upsetting or embarrassing them so Eda and I took the mattress of the settee turned it back to a sofa and Richard and I were right to sleep on the floor.

What a lovely day we had today being chauffeur driving round by Arthur and Edna as our Guide showing and explaining the sights we were seeing plus I was glad Arthur knew where we were going as we would have been lost if we were on our own.

Newcastle upon Tyne is a university city on the River Tyne in northeast England. With its twin city, Gateshead, it was a major shipbuilding and manufacturing hub during the Industrial Revolution and is now a centre of business, arts and sciences. Spanning the Tyne, the modern Gateshead Millennium Bridge noted for its unique tilting aperture or as Enda says “a blinking eye” when it tilts, is a symbol of the 2 cities. We just made it in time to watch it tilt at 12 noon what a magnificent sight and the views up and down the Tyne River were beautiful with the blend of old and new buildings.

Newcastle has the original Sydney Harbour Bridge or I should say our bridge was designed on the same lines as the Big Tyne Bridge, next to it is the red Swing Bridge, which swings open to let the boast through, then the blue Metro Bridge where the trains cross the river and last the square High Level Bridge for the buses and there is also a Toll Tunnel under the Tyne River.

Crossing over the Tyne River via the Gateshead Millennium Bridge we had a fantastic view of the Sage Gates a concert venue and also a centre for musical education a beautiful glass and steel building reminds us a bit like Sydney Opera House. On the Quay side or Tyne River there is a little artificial beach with bright yellow deck chairs and beach huts in front of the law courts, Richard and I sat there while Edna took a photo. Crossed back over the river to walk through the Sage Gates Edna was disappointed she couldn’t show us inside one of the concert halls, top security here, but she found a photo showing all the beautiful wood panelling which is just right for the acoustics. We were lucky enough to listen to a school orchestra.

Arthur got a bit upset with the roads near the river as we couldn’t get through a small section to go down the coast round the river to the Fish Quay on the North Shields at the mouth of the Tyne River. Here Edna bought a couple of crabs for dinner before we had fish and chips at the Waterfront Restaurant, for a senior size meal it was huge. Beautiful panoramic views of the mouth of the river, the choppy water and distant shoreline pity about the wind. On the hillside is a statue of Admiral Collingwood who was Nelson’s Second-in-Command and practically won the Battle of Trafalgar when Nelson was wounded.

Down the coast we were nearly blown away on the hill overlooking the Tyne Mouth Priory where the Tynemouth Castle is located on a rocky headland, overlooking Tynemouth Pier. The moated castle-towers, gatehouse and keep are combined with the ruins of the Benedictine priory where early kings of Northumbria were buried. Beautiful old ruins right by the town of Tynemouth near the boats on Little Haven a safe beach if boats crashed.

It was still very windy when we stopped at Blyth a bustling port town with a long pier and sandy stretch of beach with little beach huts. Even though it was windy people were out enjoying themselves having drinks in their little huts playing on the grassed area. Good surfing weather.

A little further on we stopped at Seaton Sluice a village divided by a bridge, across the Seaton Burn on the coast at the mouth of the Seaton Burn, midway between Whitley Bay and Blyth. I wouldn’t want to take a boat through the little channel cut in the cliffside. Nice sheltered harbour for the boats and I love the statues all-round the buildings and the girl on the swing over the water.

In the distance you can always see St Mary’s Island and lighthouse making that our next stop for a quick look and photo, as the wind is bitterly cold. If the tide was out you can walk across to the island where there is a restaurant plus people live on the island.

Later Arthur parked at their son’s house in Cullercoats where we walked down to Tynemouth Longsands to a restaurant on the beach to have a hot chocolate with beautiful views of the beach and waves rolling in on the beach.

Lovely to meet Arthur and Edna’s son and grandchildren before a late light dinner of crabmeat and salad. With the help of Edna we planned the final part of our trip in the UK to end in Bromley near London. Will be sad to leave as we have had a great time and rest with Arthur and Edna.