Friday 18th July 2025, 14:25
This is just a draft. To be edited and illustrated later today.
Earlier I walked out to St Mary's Island. Perhaps people remember
that the first time I was at Spanish City and @turbineman susprised my
by pointing out the lighthouse. I didn't have a chance to go there
then. Haven't quite gone there today either because it was high tide
when I got there and the causeway was well under water.
Whlle I was there taking pictures there was a woman trying to do the
same with her mobile. As I was leaving I noticed her again but this
time in the car park trying to photograph the starlings that were in a
flock on the ground by her car. Instead of flying off they just
walked around her car as she got closer. I said to her how unusual it
was to be able to get so close to them and that when I was on the prom
by Spanish City earlier that i had managed to get even closer.
We fell to talking and she asked what make of camera I was using and
we had a conversation about how great compact ultrazoom cameras were
and how she was regretting leaving hers at home. SHe asked if I was
just visiting, my accent, or lack of, gives me away of course. And I
said I was just passing though this time but that Whitley Bay, and the
Newcastle area generally, was a favourite place that I had really only
discovered quite recently. She said she had lived here all her life
and we chatted for a while about how so many people just drive up the
A1 from the south en route to Scotland and never stop at Newcastle.
I said that I grew up in the South and the general impression was that
anywhere north of Oxford was The North so Newcastle was the far north
and must be cold and inhospitable. An impression not helped by pretty
much the only exposure to the area I had growing up was watching The
Likely Lads. She said that there was someithing in that and that as she
was nearly seventy she could remember when Newcastle was black from
coal dust and the spoil heaps from the mines were everywhere.
We fell to chatting about the weather and she pointed out that it
wasn't cold and I agreed that now that I live in NOrway where it
actually is cold (but see later comments) I could appreciate that the
North East has a perfectly fine climate. She was wearing a big pink
combined poncho and beach towel and said the water was warm, I looked
askance at her and she said that she had swum across Cullercoats bay
twice this morning. I said I had been in up to my thighs to get to
the steps up from the beach and that that was enough for me.
In all this conversation there was not the slightest reference or even
glance at my bare feet, nor any remarks regsrding my dress, jewllery,
nail varnish, etc. Just two people enjoying some fleeting company and
common ground.
About the weather in Norway: recent emails from home have been about
wild lightning storms and 30 C temperatures. Quite a bit hotter there
than here.
12:07
Time to stroll back to the car and set off for somewhere else. I told
Kelly at the cottage that I would be there at abou 16:30 so there is
no rush. It's only half an hour's drive from here if there are no
delays. I'll stop at the Campanile in Washington to top up the charge
in my car as it's only a few kilometres away and more or less en
route.
And I should do some shopping so that I can cook something this
evening. Probably something simple like a couple of medium sized
potatoes, some cheese, and some bacon or sausages so I can have baked
potatoes for dinner. Perhaps a bottle of wine or beer too.
