The Geordie Tourist.: September 2015

Tynemouth: The Outdoor Pool and Other Stories.

Beach 07:03

Way back in January when I started writing this blog, one of the first posts I wrote was about a trip to Tynemouth that I took with my best pal Nic and my pooch Poppy. Fast forward eight months or so, and were in exactly the same place, but only not.

It’s strange, you can visit somewhere, and then go back even just the very next day and it most probably won’t be the same experience. There will always be something different. Maybe you go to a different part of the beach (which we did) maybe the weather was different. (It was) My point being that, no two days are exactly the same and even if you go to somewhere that you've been before, chances are you’ll see something you missed the first time around.

It’s still the time of year when the dog can’t venture onto certain parts of the beach so for the most part we just took a stroll along the path instead. We came to the massive ruined swimming pool. (You know the one.) Even in its abandoned state, I can’t help but fall in love with it.

I remember ages ago we visited once when it was getting dark, the tide was quite far in and just walking around the outside of it was so scary. The water was black and murky and I imagined all sorts of horrible creatures lurking inside of it. (That’s the beauty of it though.) I love the ruins, the flaky paint. I like watching over the sides as the waves crash against it. It’s soothing in a weird kind of way.

I had this idea in my head that it would be amazing if the pool got renovated. I can’t imagine anything better than a pool at the beach. (It just blows my mind if I’m honest.) So I decided to have a little look online and I stumbled upon a page for the Tynemouth Outdoor Pool. It turns out that there’s an ongoing project to try and help bring the pool back to its former glory. You can get involved too, whether volunteering your services, or some spare change etc. It’s worth a read, seeing what is actually going on, what the Friends of the Tynemouth Outdoor Pool hope to achieve. It all sounds rather exciting. They have a Twitter and Facebook if you want to keep up with their progress etc.

After the excitement of the pool, further along we found a little abandoned spot where Poppy could just run around and be a dog for a bit. Nic and I just sat on the rocks and felt present in the moment. Life is full of these moments. Most of the time we’re too busy to realise that, but every once in a while it’s just good to sit back and take it all in.

From where we were we had a great view of the Tynemouth Castle and Priory in the background and you could also see King Edward’s Bay. I, up until that moment didn't know there was such a thing as Tynemouth Priory. You can bet that we walked straight over there when we were done, to see what it was all about.

I've also never set foot onto sand at King Edward's Bay whilst we're on the subject. A new fish shack has just opened up there too which I'm dying to check out.

You can see what happened when we visited the Tynemouth Priory and Castle tomorrow.

Have any of you been to Tynemouth recently?

What do you think about the outdoor pool getting an overhaul?

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Night-time at the Angel of the North.

Angel of the North 00:00

I was looking back at some old photos and came across some from visiting the Angel of the North. It made me realise that 1. It’s been ages since I went and just stood and looked at it for a while. (It’s quite calming if you've never been before.) 2. That I've never been when it's dark. I’m not talking 11 O’clock at night when its pitch black and you can barely see your feet never mind the big 20ft statue. No, I’m talking more like just as the sun is setting. You know those great nights, when the sky is beautiful and shows every shade of blue, orange and pink imaginable. Its times like this I wish I had a top notch camera that could pick up every hue. My phone didn't do too badly though when I went with Poppy for a little stroll.

I met a nice couple when I was there and the lady was talking to me about how much she loved seeing the Angel. I guess when you live right beside it you forget what effect it has on tourists. For me the Angel will always remind me of home, it’s that big hunk of steel that I see on my way back from a lot of journeys and it just instantly puts me at ease. Any other Geordies’ have that feeling?

I walked the dog around for a bit whilst getting as many pictures as I could. I must have shot it from every angle possible. I then tried to get a decent selfie which was just nigh on impossible. I have a blurry pic of me mid laugh with some steel feet in the background. Slight fail maybe.

I got one of Poppy standing beside it though which will have to do. Maybe I should invest in a selfie stick. Or maybe if I wasn't so embarrassed I’d ask someone to take my picture. My face would do that weird smile things that Chandler’s does on Friends though and no one wants to see that. It’s better not to have the picture.

We were just getting ready to come home, when a girl that had been jogging appeared out of nowhere. She started taking pictures. I moved so my Chandler Bing grin wouldn't be in any of her shots. Next thing I know she seems to be on her knees praying or meditating or something. I guess the Angel means different things to different people which is amazing. I like the idea that people can get something out of visiting the Angel instead of just looking at it. Don't get me wrong that's great too, but there's just something magical about people using it to prey or help them in some way.

I also find it amazing how from one direction the light is totally different and the Angel's figure is in silhouette, then when you see if from the other direction, it looks like you're seeing it at a different point in time entirely.

Have any of you been to the Angel recently? What about past bed time?

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Ousbrough Wood and it's Many Paths.

Dog Friendly 10:10

You know I like to go walking. I think more than 60% of the posts that I write on here are to do with walking through woods, or thinking I’m some kind of wilderness explorer. (A little Up reference for you there.)

Sometimes I like to go further afield and explore somewhere new, other times when I just can’t be bothered, but yet still need to take Poppy our pooch out, I’ll stay closer to home. I've explored quite a lot of the forest lands next to where I live, but that still doesn't stop me from stumbling upon the unknown.

Like the other day for example. I was just going about my business, on the same route I've walked numerous times and it was just like out of nowhere this little path appeared at Ousbrough Wood. I’m making it sound like magic, as if the earth came to life and made me a passageway, I wish. No, but I can’t believe that I never spotted it before.

Being the curious little so and so that I am I decided to walk along it and see where it would take me. It basically took me to another wood. It was still Ousbrough, but not how I know it, or how I'd seen it until that point. I passed a tree where there was at least ten caterpillars just huddled together on a branch. The air seemed cleaner and fresh. Ousbrough to me is always quite misty and mysterious, as it’s so low down and shaded by the trees. This part wasn't at all. There were still huge trees about. You know when you look and you can just see pines for miles and miles. The sun was shining through them though.

There was a wooden walkway and a massive trunk had fallen along the way. It’s like its set up as a proper walk, yet nature happens and there’s things growing through the planks and the wood is twisted to accommodate the trees.

After a little while we found the exit. It took me a while to realise where I was to start with. It was another entrance to the woods. I've drove past it so many times without knowing. It’s strange how you can just do that.

My aim now is to try and see where other paths lead to. It’s like exploring the same parts, but not entirely. I went with my mam recently too and we pretty much got lost as we had wandered off the track so much. There are just so many little winding paths and dirt roads that you can follow. I like finding a new one and then seeing if it leads to somewhere that I know. I’m making a mental check list and crossing them off as I go.

We crossed the road and started on another path, again one I’d been to a few times. I was still finding little routes that I knew nothing about. We passed some cool looking fungi too, which just came out of nowhere.

So maybe sometimes you get bored of walking, or having to take your dog/cat/pet fish out etc. Finding a new route can make all the difference. You never know what you’re going to stumble upon. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a talking tree or a magic wishing well. A girl can dream…

Have any of you been exploring anywhere new lately?

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Tea and More at Mrs Pumphrey's Curious Leaves Tea Bar.

Chamomile Tea 02:10

I had one last voucher after my mad spending session over the past few months. I’m talking about Groupon and Living Social Deals by the way. I always seem to find things and then buy the vouchers, before I know it I've got like ten to use. I then use them just before they run out, or normally on the last day if I’m cutting it fine.

This one was for Mrs Pumphrey’s Curious Leaves Tea Bar. I paid £10 and got a voucher for £20 to spend in the shop on whatever it was that I fancied. Having never been before, I didn't know what to expect.

Curious Leaves is a gorgeous antique looking cubby based in the Grainger Market in Newcastle. If you've never been to the Grainger Market before then what the hell are you waiting for? It’s been ages since I went and just from going the other day I've found so many cool and eclectic places that I just have to visit. Among them was a bakery, cake shop and a place selling authentic Turkish street food. My mouth is watering just thinking about it all.

As soon as I spotted Curious Leaves, I fell in love instantly. It is the tiniest little shop. One side has a gorgeous looking tea bar. High stools sitting against a counter-top, rustic shelves in the background showcasing teas and quirky tea pots and cups. The other side has tables and chairs, not just any old chairs though; no these were like miniature church pews. It was part little school house, part café. There was a fridge with sandwiches and cake and things too.

Above all of that though, Curious Leaves is about the tea. Their menu was extensive. I’m not really a tea drinker, but I do enjoy the odd cup of herbal tea. (Or I force myself to enjoy it anyways. I think the more you drink it the more you start to like it.) I love chamomile tea now. They had guides on the wall about how to brew the perfect tea. You could make your own tea blends too.

I went with my mam for a little girly catch up. We both ordered some carrot cake. She then got just your average cup of tea and I went for chamomile tea (shock)

The carrot cake was amazing, so moist and tasty. Sometimes you go places that specialise in one thing and the other things they sell aren't up to scratch. That definitely wasn't the case here. My chamomile tea was something else entirely. It came on a little wooden tray in a clear tea pot. You could see the flowers inside. There was a timer too and a flask with more hot water in if I needed it. The lady that served us was so friendly and helpful. She told me the recommended brewing time of the tea and when it was ready the timer would go off. It was such a nice touch and made the trip for me.

What we ordered came to about £7 ish. Since I still had a lot to use from the voucher I decided to get one of those all in one teapot and mug things. (Not using proper English at all there, but you know what I mean.) It has a cool retro design on it and I hope it's going to help me get into drinking more tea.

The shop filled up quite fast when we were in there so its obviously a popular place, which I don't doubt for a second. I definitely want to go back to Curious Leaves. Maybe I'll be more bold next time and try one of the more 'out there' flavours.

Opening times are 09:00-17:00 Monday to Saturday.

Have any of you been to Curious Leaves before?

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