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Published: July 15th 2015
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Adventures closer to home We got back from China on 26
th May nine days earlier than planned and I was jetlagged for nearly a week taking longer than usual to recover from the flight. I am back staying with my friend Vicki in Jarrow, I can walk to Imogen’s or get a bus to Amy’s and the metro is under ten minutes walk away for access to Newcastle.
The early return did give me the chance to visit the theatre and Imogen, Amy and I met in town had cocktails and a nice meal at Cafe Vivo and then Vicki joined us for the performance. Newcastle has a small theatre called “Live theatre” which is quite informal, has a small stage and some of it is set out cabaret style. The performance we saw was five short plays inspired by a local writer who died of breast cancer 10 years ago. It is one of the things I really miss during my wanderings local culture and performance is always interesting but something in English is so much more enjoyable. In October we are going to the cinema to see Hamlet, beamed live from the theatre in London.
Benedict Cumberbatch is Hamlet and it has been sold out for months.
I’ve done a bit of catching up with people and have more planned. I am blessed with friends who accept my lifestyle and we can fit in meeting up and starting where we left off, and of course some of them keep in touch during my travels through emails and Facebook.
Chris got news while we were away that his son Adam had been attacked in Carlisle and his jaw was broken and required surgery so he was keen to go over and see him. We had a night at Troutbeck, in our motorhome Henry, which is between Keswick and Penrith in the Lake District, and we sat outside with fabulous views of Blencathra and the peace and tranquillity was such a relief after China. Whilst the UK is heavily populated, in the north it is relatively easy to get away from the urban centres. We had lunch with friends, Linda and Alan from Hampshire who were on holiday in the Lakes and it was good to see them. Alan had visited us in February in Spain. They are keen golfers and had both recently been
to Turkey to enjoy the sport and the 19
th hole.
I came back on the train and managed to catch an exhibition in Newcastle “Conscience and Conflict” the focus of which was the art that emerged and was inspired by the Spanish civil war and it had some interesting posters used to raise awareness of the problems of the Spanish during this period. There was also a Picasso, a rare sight in Newcastle and I was glad I managed to visit.
Art was my worst subject at school and have wanted to learn to draw or paint for years. I see such amazing things every day that I can capture with a camera but I want to see if I can interpret what I see. I got some pastels for my birthday but my early efforts were not good. I am never in one place long enough to join a course but I found a six hour course, Drawing for the Terrified, and I am on the waiting list . Age UK run a local group and the leader Angela said I could join and see how it goes. It is a weekly group and people just explore
whatever they want.
We had a voucher for two free nights at any site belonging to the Caravan Club so we packed up Henry and set off for Berwick on Tweed. This is the border town about 60 miles from Newcastle and I have been through it loads of times on the train to Scotland but have never visited!! The site is in Spittal on the opposite bank of the Tweed to the town and overlooks the sea. I drove the van and am still not the most confident of drivers and do need to get more regular practice. We booked three nights and had fabulous weather eating most of our meals outside and wandering around in shorts and tee shirts.
Chris is doing a long distance walk in September and wanted to test out his knee on a longer walk. We set off southbound on the coastal path and walked just over four hours, 12 miles, which is about his daily walk. The views were stunning and we finished near the causeway across to Holy Island, a major pilgrim site which was serendipitous as his walk is the pilgrim way from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. After two hours we had a welcome pit stop at Goswick golf club and a lovely cup of tea. At the end there was a pub serving local beer and then we got the bus back to Spittal
I had packed my new camera and decided I wanted to try and take a few really good shots rather than my usual point and shoot approach and got the opportunity to try it out. The next day we had another wonderful time, we watched the seals in the harbour and then walked over the fabulous old bridge into Berwick and then spent time walking the city walls in Berwick and I reflected how much we take for granted in the UK, where we at least attempt to preserve our heritage. Contrast this with China where many of the city walls have been demolished over the years, initially to prevent civil unrest and the development of secure places for dissidents to congregate. Latterly it has been about the construction of modern buildings as China wants to be seen as a modern economy and that seems to mean lots of skyscrapers.
On the walls we heard Spanish voices and had a little chat with a family who were visiting from Murcia, the region where Chris has his house, for a wedding the next day. We finished our walk and went into the centre of town and it was so disappointing after the walls. Like many town centres it had plenty of charity shops, empty shops and bargain shops as the three supermarkets are out of town and have taken away the independent traders. After tea we decided to try and find music at one of the three Spittal pubs and walked to the furthest the Albion Hotel and could hear noise and music-and Spanish flags and women in flamenco dresses........the night before the wedding get together of the English and Spanish guests!! It was very lively and a coming together of two cultures. We felt very welcome and watched knowingly as the Spanish partied. A little bit of our Spanish home.
Saturday was overcast and after a coffee stop at Beal we decided to wild camp in the Ingham valley in Northumberland. Fabulous scenery and absolute peace and quiet and the rain didn’t spoil it as I read the whole of the Saturday Guardian newspaper.
Monday I went to the art class and Angela had sorted out some pencil landscapes and she suggested I copy one of them. I was delighted to find that it looked quite good. So I have a little sketch book so that I can practice and I will finish it next time.
Chris was due to spend a week in Spain with his son, Adam, but he rang to say he wasn’t able to go. He is self-employed and his problems with infection in his jaw meant he had lost too time at work. So we had a spare flight and I was happy to pay to change the name on the booking and take Adam’s place. Not sure the airlines can justify £70 to make the changes that is about 9 hours work!!
Our week in Casas Nuevas flew by and the sun shone most of the week and at 35 degrees was a bit too hot for me. Village life goes on as normal, the apricot harvest is in and the almonds are looking good after last year’s dreadful crop and the olives well they can cope without much water so they will be fine.
Till next time
Take care
Norma xx
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