Kieran's Air Cadets Uniform arrives

Kieran has finally received his uniform for Air Cadets.

He is in 1313 Whickham Squadron, ATC, which is actually based in Dunston, near where we live, so handy for him to get to (when it doesn't clash with his Training Nights for Redheugh that is).

This is him in his uniform looking 'dapper'.

Well done mate!

Back to work again.

I notice the canopy over the rear patio has been finished ready for the smoking ban coming in.

Off to the Pictures...

Saturday Morning - Kids Club at the Cinema. Today's film is Zoom starring Tim Allen, at Cineworld, Boldon.

Social drinks at Clear

Not working there though tonight... Just called in to say hello after work along with Chrsitina.

We ended up helping out with some bother Lee from Fleet Street had next door. So afterwards, we all had a drink in Clear Bar.

(That's Christina, Jaffa, Lee, and Ian, in the photo above).

My New Workplace...

Where I've been working for the last month or two on weekends. The Queens Head in Chester-le-Street. Excellent little number, lovely little place, canny clientèle, and Christina is sound as a pound on the Door with me, and great to work with. No hassle off management, your own boss, what more could you want... Only and the money is canny too...

Whitley Bay for the Strippers (No Topless Shots)

With it being a Saturday with us having free time to spare, we decided to visit Whitley Bay and sample the delights of the 'exotic dancers' it is famous for on Saturday afternoons.

Actually, the 'true story 'is that my mate Davy had not seen us for a while, and had some free time, and Joanne and Michelle fancied a day out too. Moreover, my old and great mate Darren the Doorman from Easy Street, had told me he was now doing the MC/comparing, for the "For Your Eyes Only on Tour" party at Envy Bar, on Saturday afternoons since it's take over by the Ladah Leisure Group, who own Blue Velvet, FYEO, and Diamonds..

As this meant that my mate Keeley (stage name Rachael) would be there 'working' as well as mine and Joanne's mate Jo (Danni), and Joanne's other mate (Tara), then we thought it would be a good afternoon out - and it surely was!

Rest assured, as this is a universal audience blog, none of the photos below show anything worse or more untoward, than a girl in a bra and knicker set/bikini style outfit.

As such, they are still safe for all ages.

^Jo and Michelle heading to the bars

^Michelle and Big Davey in Envy

^ Big Darren and the girls, with a poor Stag party victim

^ Danni (front), Tara (left) and Rachael (rear centre),
along with the other girl of the day

^Michelle and Jo (Danni)

^ Me and my old mate Jo (Danni)

View from St. James'

I was at St James' Park for the Stewards' Football Club, Sportsman's Dinner tonight, in the Magpie Restaurant, so took this picture of the pitch and stadium.

Good as the view is, this is from Level 5 or thereabouts. The view from the seating deck up on Level 7 is even better again.

The 'Hidden' Village of Hett...

Well it's not exactly 'hidden' but it is fair to say that it's a little gem, not well known about, and slightly off the main road. Hett is a small 'village' roughly between Thinford and Sunderland Bridge, south of Durham.

It's off the main road slightly and hence why not many know about it (so don't you all go rushing to find it at the same time).

It's a quaint little place, made up of a road through the 'middle' of the village, which basically cuts straight across the 'village green' or common land in the middle. It has a street on one side, and more substantial farm-like converted homes on the other. Horses graze freely on the 'green' which also has a playground and Community Hall on it.

Further up, and there is a lake or pond with ducks, which actually goes right up to the garden path of the houses in the street.

A lovely place well worth a visit on a warm late Sunday afternoon - there's a pub too for refreshment.

All photos taken on a Nokia N80 Cameraphone

Ingram Valley and Alwinton

We had another trip up to the Ingram Valley, the River Breamish, then over to Alwinton and Rothbury again toady, this time taking Joanne.

The kids had a splash about in the River Breamish, saw the newborn lambs, and then we crossed the ford and headed west over to Alwinton. On the way we spotted the Otterburn Moor moorland Fires starting, but none of us had any mobile phone coverage to ring it in. Eventually we heard the sound of sirens etc however. Finally, we dropped down to Linshiels, and then back home via Otterburn.

Ingram Valley, and Newburn Park

On the Thursday during the Holiday week, Kieran got the opportunity to go with Air Cadets to the Ingram Valley, for an Outdoor Walking Day. Joanne being at work, and me having the other two, I decided to take Carl and Connor for a day out to show him where the Ingram Valley, and the River Breamish was.

The weather was beautiful! And despite my camera batteries ALL having died (there seems to be an issue of them not holding charge between uses), I had my Nokia N80 with me, and managed to capture photos that I am sure you will agree, are excellent, given the device used for them!

All photos taken on a Nokia N80 phone:^ Carl by the river.

^ Carl and Connor not fighting for a change.

^ Posers, posing!

^ Carl paddling (or thinking about it).

^ Not bad for a Cameraphone

^ Connor, Carl, and my Mondeo, alongside the
River Breamish, just east of Ingram.

^ Playing by the River.

^ The 'Ford' near Brandon Village - it looks
nothing special, but I had a look on foot, and
NO WAY is it suitable for cars!

^ We finished off in the afternoon by calling
in to Newburn Riverside Park.

Perth for the Weekend - Tuesday heading home

We set of home on the Tuesday, but on the way, stopped off for food in Dunfermline, and then a look around in Seahouses. Strangely, the weather was superb, until around 2oo metres from the Scottish/Englsih border, where you could see the cloud and rain in advance. How typical.

^ A Ferrari we spotted outside Bannatyne's
Health Club in Dunfermline. Not sure if the private
plate bears any significance at all?

^ And another curio for you - Asda, Dunfermline
which has it's own MacDonald's inside, instead
of the usual customer restaurant.

^ Seahouses Harbour, looking grim - I told you
the weather changed once we got back to England
(Wonder who those people are on the wall)

^ Ah, it's Joanne, Kieran, Carl and Connor!

Perth for the Weekend - Monday

On the Monday we headed of into Perth itself (as we were staying at the Travelodge, Broxden Manor, just on the outskirts), and took the kids into South Inch park.

^ The view from our hotel window showing
Broxden Manor Brewer's Fayre, and good old
MacDonald's straight over the way.

^ Connor in the hotel room, looking innocent?

^ Kieran and Carl playing football in South Inch

^ Connor on the swings, with Mum

^ Joanne, Connor, and one of the friendly swans

^ Told you they were friendly...

^ And they like to pose too!

^ Carl, Connor, Kieran and Mum, in the park

^ Connor next to the swans (he's actually in front
of them - the photo is almost illusionary)

^ And again, chasing them

^ Coming in to land...

^ Finally, we had a quick visit to Hunting Tower
near to our Travelodge.

^ Then on the night time we took the kids
into the Broxden Manor Brewer's Fayre
and let then run wild in the Whacky Warehouse

Perth for the Weekend - Sunday

We spent the weekend at the start of April, up in Perth in Scotland, for a break with the kids.

This is the view on the way up, taken near Lamberton, just over the Scottish Border, on the East Coast.