A Trip to the Coast!

I know it has been a while since I last added something to my blog, but I really didn't have anything to pass on to you... until now. 😌  For the first time in nearly three years, we decided to go away for a few days. so, we unlocked the door and ventured out. So, where did we go?

No, we didn't fly off to the moon. Though, I admit, it would have been very tempting, should we have been given a guaranteed a first-class return ticket 😉  Nor did we join the never-ending queues at the Airports, or Dover, hoping to swan off abroad. Instead, we simply took a short trip down the Northumbrian coast to Whitley Bay, a seaside resort situated a mere ten miles from Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  Having lived in Whitley Bay in the past, I thought it would be a good idea to spend a few days there to see how it had fared over the years. 

Premier Inn

We had booked a room in a new hotel situated on the main Promenade, a short distance from what was known as the the Empress Ballroom. Our room was at the front of the building and looked out over the Promenade towards the sea.

 

The following day, we set out along the lower Promenade towards the Rendezvous Café. Actually, it seemed further away than I remembered it. But then, when you haven't been somewhere for a while, everything never appears to be the same, or could it be an age thing? After all, I am older now 😒 We stopped off in the café for tea and some wonderful, large buns. Mine was filled with ham & cheese, while Phil enjoyed Ham and Pease Pudding - a favourite of his from years ago. Incidentally, if you watch Vera on TV, you will recall seeing this Café several times

Then we ambled back towards the hotel, pausing every now and again to sit on the one of the benches and enjoy the sun, sand and fresh sea air while watching the world go by. 

The Beach at Whitley Bay, looking north.

Most of the changes to Whitley Bay had taken place on the main Promenade. overlooking the sea. The road, which used to run along in front of the Spanish City had gone and is now pedestrianised. I must admit, it was all very impressive. A new road, had been built behind the Spanish City for traffic to get back onto the Promenade. 

However, the town hadn't been as well looked after. I won't say too much about that - they could still be drawing up new plans . Nevertheless, I was disappointed to find the pavements in such bad condition, especially as my husband needs use a scooter to get around. Several times, I had to grab the scooter to stop it falling over.

Anyway, we are home now. Nevertheless, I am still reflecting on my trip to the northeast coast. I can only hope I will get there again in the not too distant future. 

 

I have added another two photos below!

Cheers all, have a great time wherever you go! 

 

Looking down at the Lower Promenade.

Lower Promenade

Hi Everyone!

 Yes! It's me. I am back!

Throughout the pandemic, as I hardly set a foot out of doors, I really didn't have anything to pass on to you. That's the reason I only bobbed my head above the surface now and again. However, now that everything seems to be getting back to normal - well sort of - I thought that I would let you all know that I am still here. 

During the months we were all stuck indoors, I read more books than I had done for a long time. I began by reading the first novel in the Professor Acton Mysteries by J. Robert Kennedy and am now up to the 17th book in the series. 

In between, I also read several novels by other authors which I enjoyed so much, I pre-ordered book in the series. Should anyone be interested, here are a few names of the authors whose books I really enjoyed: Irina Shapiro, C.J. Archer and Karina McRoberts. 

However, like I said, as we are back to normal, I would like to let you all know how excited I am about my Tyneside novels. 

At the beginning of May, when Floors Castle opened the grounds to visitors, I spoke to the supervisor of the gift shop. I hoped they would accept a couple of books to put on sale. But, she asked me to deliver four copies of each title - 16 in all. 

Since then, I have delivered another 30 copies of the books. As you can imagine, I am delighted they are selling so well. 

Now, I can almost hear you asking me what other news have I to tell you? 

Well, actually, not a lot. Other than I am hoping/planning to visit Whitley Bay sometime this year. Whether it is simply for a day, or even a couple of days, I haven't yet decided. As I said, it is simply a thought whirling around in my head and might not even happen. 

However, as I used to live in Whitley Bay many years ago, I really would like to see the changes that have taken place on the sea front. Especially those outside, what was know as, the Empress Ballroom. I would also love to take the opportunity to wander down the streets I knew back in the day. Will I find them the same as I remember them? I doubt it.

Has anyone here, reading this, ever taken a trip down memory lane and found that all the places they knew, or grown up with, had changed beyond all recognition? Or, perhaps, had found that nothing had changed. 

I am sure anyone reading this would enjoy hearing your thoughts, especially me. Simply leave a message below. 

Meanwhile, I wish you all, good wishes for the months to come.

Take care,

Cheers!

Hello Again

 Hello again from the Scottish Borders.

It is such a lovely day, I thought it was a good time to drop you a quick message. The only problem being, I don't have much news. 

As usual, due to covid 19, my husband and I haven't been out much. However, we do hope to get away for a few days in May (fingers crossed) and then maybe take another break later in the year. Though we won't be travelling far, just getting away will be great. Therefore, I might have something more exciting to pass on in another blog. 

At the moment, I am still trying to work on the fifth novel in the Agnes Lockwood Mysteries. While it started well, it now seems to have come to a full stop. My brain seems to have switched off, probably because of being indoors every day for almost two years. But I now realise that I need to get to grips and carry on, if only to stop Agnes Lockwood from getting annoyed and keep popping into my head. 😉 

In the meantime, my publisher has informed me that most of my novels are now available from various online booksellers, Therefore, I have found a link for each of the Agnes Lockwood novels which will lead customers to various book stores, not just Amazon. So maybe that will keep her quiet for a little while. 😀 

However, I also understand that most independent book shops can order books from Bookshop, while large bookstores can order any books from their own supplier. I will now need to start finding the all inclusive links for my other novels. 

Later this evening, I will be watching Grantchester on TV. I have watched this series from the beginning and have always enjoyed it. However, things seem to have changed a great deal since the end of the last series and I'm not sure where this one is going... I guess it's wait and see time. Being a Geordie myself, I love to see Robson Green on screen as an actor, not so keen on the fishing programmes. Last night, I watched a repeat of  Vera. A series with Brenda Blethyn playing the part of a DCI in the Newcastle and Northumberland Police. As for tomorrow... it's wait and see time. 

I think that is all for the moment.

Take care all, 

Cheers! 

The Wonderful Tyne Bridge

Where Has The Time Gone

 Hello there, it's me 😀 I'm back!

You will probably forgotten me as I haven't added a post for such a long while. But, quite honestly, I haven't had a single thing to pass on to you, otherwise I would have posted it here immediately. 

This virus seems to have taken over our lives. But you must already know that as most of the UK, including my husband and myself, have played it safe by staying home. However, I understand that things are getting better, so maybe, touch wood, we will be able to get out and about again.

But, in the meantime, perhaps we could all pass on how we spent our time trying to cope with the boredom of being indoors for almost two years. Simply add a reply to my post. I understand if you would prefer to put the whole episode behind you and move on. But there might be a few out there who would like to say how they spent their days. Maybe some took up sewing, knitting, reading, writing, or even painting. Whatever it was, I'm sure we would all be delighted to hear from you. 

As for me, I started working on the Agnes Lockwood Mysteries Book 5. I had hoped that being stuck indoors I would be able to finish it very quickly. However, I don't seem to have got anywhere. Not sure why, maybe it's just one of the those things. I open the PC, add a few paragraphs then the next day, I change them all. Not a good way of going about writing a novel. But then, maybe it happens to other writers all the time. Who knows?

But, until I can move on, my latest novel is still:  A Mystery on Tyneside. 

A Mystery on Tyneside 

Cheers to you all 

Cheers from Tyneside!