ooh aye, like

It has been awhile hasn't it? And I will have to keep this fairly short as I am reacquainting myself with the Trills of the Modem so things are taking a bit longer than usual (ie I'm on dial-up not broadband).

Arrived in Newcastle 10 days or so ago, and am staying with my Grandma and Uncle, this is my first visit here so it has been very exciting seeing all the places I've heard about. Although the way my Dad describes it meant that it was a pleasant surprise not to have to shovel my way through six feet of snow every morning while being blown off the ground by a gale... that said, the vista currently before me is proof of Turner's accuracy in his work with mist.

Started getting acquainted with the region by a stroll up the sea front, and being intensely amused by the concept of anyone surfing in the North Sea - sure they wear wetsuits, but you would need to hollow out a dead seal to surf any later in the year in these parts. Do enjoy being able to go for a stroll and incorporate the ruins of a priory and castle (conveniently named Tynemouth Priory and Castle) located up the road. The priory was formally inhabited by an order of coalmining monks - and wouldn't you be thrilled as a young monk to find out you were going to the coalmining priory, nevermind the secluded life concocting liquers and illuminating manuscripts, no, you'll be down the mines.

Have been into Newcastle city a few times, checked out the quayside down there, which reminds me of home, as it is complete with lumpy opera house and a coathanger. Other than, you know, being on a river, and having a slightly different climate, you'd barely notice the difference. Enjoyed visiting the Baltic Centre, which is an old flour mill converted into a contemporary art 'space' - weird how central to any plans to rejuvenate an area is building a contemporary art gallery, despite how few people actually go. I was happy as they had some Takashi Murakami stuff up. Then we went to the New Castle - v. modern, built in the 11 century. Also went to Newcastle University and the gallery there, which has Schwitter's Merzbarn - Scwhitters created a series of sculptural collage constructions in the places he lived in, but none of them were destined for total success - the German one was bombed in WWII, the Norwegian one burnt down and the English one he completed one wall (of the projected four) and then had a heart attack... This latter one was going to be a total environment within an old drystone barn, and after he died the whole side of the barn was reinstalled in the art gallery.

Following day was a family road trip - we went up to Alnwick Castle and had a look around. As long as one had appropriate staffing levels, inheriting a castle wouldn't be too bad. Especially one which comes with Canalettos, a Velasquez and a few del Piombos. And where they shot part of Harry Potter. The castle has been in the family for 700 years, and when they owned the rest of Northumbria, they used to have three castles. I wonder when you start thinking 'is it too much? Oh go on, just one more castle then'. Probably around the time you defeat the Scots who are marauding about.

Will write some more soon, am off to Dublin tomorrow, then Paris on Monday. Tres bien!