BY JEAN WATTS – November 18th 2005 -

Actually, it’s really Saturday, as on getting to Newcastle yesterday evening I was in no fit state to do anything but collapse in my little room up in the eaves of the ornate Victorian Royal Station hotel – more wedding cake and chandelier decor; it seems to be a theme…

Anyway, couldn’t resist checking in to see who’s around, and my goodness, Klaus has been hard at work on this site ain’t he? It’s transformed, just like the Ferry – my head is spinning, and, since I can’t bookmark it on my computer from here, who knows if I’ll ever find my way here again… so here’s an update on what I’ve been up to just in case.

Yesterday morning Deborah and I visited the Lighthouse design and architecture museum in Glasgow; it’s in an old printing works, and you can climb about eight floors up a narrow spiral stair inside what was the water tower and come out on the roof for a great view of the city. Then we descended and got the train to Newcastle, where, as noted, I went straight to sleep.

Today, in the most beautiful, but frosty sunshine, I went all over the Castle Keep (dating from 1080, and being the New Castle for which the town is named. I suppose it WAS new in 1080…) then walked along the river to the new footbridge over the Tyne and visited the new art museum and concert hall on the far side of the river; walked back over the high level Tyne Bridge for some more stupendous views; visited the municipal art gallery and the old market hall and saw some other fine buildings, including a Victorian Music Hall where Charles Dickens once performed readings of his novels. So I’m well in the mood for the Jukes tonight; and I’d better go get ready, as I’m meeting Deborah, Dave and friends for a meal beforehand.

And anyway, guess what? – I’m still freezing my a** off.

THURSDAY 21 OCTOBER: NEWCASTLE PARK HOTEL

Wave farewell to Chris, who has to go back to work, and set off on my own for the train to Newcastle. Though in fact the show is not in Newcastle; it’s in Tynemouth, a small resort on the North-East coast, about a 30 minute Metro ride out of the city. When I get there, it’s just stopped raining, and I walk beside a lovely bay, with unspoilt sands, in a luminous twilight as the sky clears and the air gets colder. A lone surfer is lifting his board out of the sea – brrrr.

The Park Hotel is a long, sweeping Art Deco building which must once have been a truly elegant hotel, now slightly run to seed. The venue is in a building attached to it, and when I reach my room (since it IS a hotel, it seemed simplest just to book in there for the night) I find that my windows overlook it, and I can just hear what sounds like a soundcheck. The bedroom window won’t open, but the bathroom one will, so I end up sitting on the toilet seat, listening to the Jukes rehearsing Bobby’s Love (Messing With My Mind) and Ed’s There’s A Reason.

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