Ernest Bar, Ouseburn

Thursday 16th June 2016

I had a meeting with various people at the Ernest Bar in Ouseburn, Newcastle. I'm not sure if this building has always been a bar but it is quite pleasant inside. Food was served up at the meeting. Assuming this was produced on the premises, it would be worth having a meal there. The food was slightly unusual but good quality.

Crystal Palace Market

Saturday 4th June 2016

Crystal Palace market was set up a couple of years ago and is going strongly. When in London on Saturdays, I tend to pop into the market to have a look around and maybe to buy something I need. This visit had another purpose. I produce preserves, honey, goats cheese and eggs and once we have gone through the registration and inspection process (for the dairy produce) we are looking for outlets to sell our goods. So this was also something of a scouting mission. Meanwhile, I recommend you pop in if you are in Crystal Palace.

Back to the White Hart

Friday 3rd June 2016

We spent most of the day at our flat at Crystal Palace but we decided to have a late lunch at the White Hart in the Triangle. I went for the burger this time. Richard had the fish and chips. London prices apply but still good quality.

The Go-Between at the Apollo

Thursday 2nd June 2016

The main reason we were in central London was to see a performance of The Go-Between at the Apollo Theatre in Soho. I studied the novel 31 years ago for A' level English Literature and when I arrived in London I spotted adverts for it on the tube. The lead role was played by Michael Crawford. We managed to get last minute tickets. Well worth it.



It seems the Apollo bar has a sponsorship deal!

Little Four Seasons, Soho

Thursday 2nd June 2016

Time for dinner after the British Museum and Museum Tavern visits. We found the Little Four Seasons restaurant in Soho. This turned out to be a good find. Food was reasonably priced and good quality. Happy to recommend it.

Museum Tavern

Thursday 2nd June 2016

After the visit to the British Museum, we crossed the road to the Museum Tavern. It was rather busy. We stayed for one drink and no food.

Sutton Hoo at the British Museum

Thursday 2nd June 2016

The Sutton Hoo treasures are among the greatest from the Anglo-Saxon period of English history. I studied them when I was a history undergraduate at Newcastle University. I took the opportunity of being in London to call into the British Museum to look at them and the other Anglo-Saxon finds in Rooms 40 and 41. Well worth a visit and it's free to get in.

A quick visit to the Tate Modern

Thursday 2nd June 2016

We made a quick call into the Tate Modern. I'm not always a great fan of the types of works they exhibit but I did like the Marwan Rechmaoui sculpture of a large tower block built in the early 1970s in Beirut. It was never used for offices but the Lebanese Civil War saw it used as a snipers' post. I saw the building for myself when I was in Beirut in 2008.

Also catching my attention were photos by Bernd and Hilla Becher, especially the water towers.

Zizzi Italian Restaurant

Thursday 2nd June 2016

We headed into London, taking the train from Crystal Palace to London Bridge. The aim was to get to the Britiah Museum but we stopped off for lunch on the South Bank on the way. We found Zizzi, an Italian Restaurant, overlooking the Thames. A busy establishment but with prices not as expensive as could have been expected, given the location. Food was reasonable.

La Bruschetta in Crystal Palace

Wednesday 1st June 2016

Sticking with the Triangle in Crystal Palace, we headed out for lunch. La Bruschetta looked both interesting and quiet. Good food and more competitively priced than I expected. We bought a couple of pastries to take away.

Postal Order again

Wednesday 1st June 2016

It seems to be a bit of a habit when in London - go to Wetherspoon's Postal Order in Crystal Palace for breakfast. This day was no different. I had the usual traditional breakfast.

Yak and Yeti

Tuesday 31st May 2016

I am back in London for a few days so we headed out to eat in the Crystal Palace Triangle. We ended up at the Yak and Yeti again. Satisfactory food though not cheap.

Valley Farm, Team Valley

Saturday 21st May 2016

A friend recently retired as a councillor in Gateshead after 25 years in the post. So his retirement party was held in the Valley Farm in the Team Valley. It was the first time I had been there. Competitively priced and the food was reasonable. Worth a visit.

Things to see on a walk from Gateshead to Newcastle

Thursday 19th May 2016

I had to meet the BBC for an interview in Baltic Square and then walk up to Newcastle. So here are 3 of the sites I snapped on the way.



Gateshead Millennium Bridge - the footbridge from the Gateshead to Newcastle Quays. It may be the Millennium Bridge but its official opening was in 2002 (I was there for it!)









The Corner Tower of the medieval Newcastle Town Walls. Neighbouring Pandon Dene was filled in over 100 years ago. The Corner Tower was never meant to be a corner until medieval Newcastle decided to change the course of the wall to include Pandon village.



Holy Jesus Hospital is now surrounded by roads and multi-storey car parks. The site started off as an Augustinian friary in 1291. The current building contains elements from a number of different historical periods.