There’s a lot coming up in and around Ryton. The festival begins on Friday kicking off at 6.15pm in Emmaville Hall, Crawcrook. They have a new-look website, click on the link to see what’s […]
From the Live to the Little (Gateshead Little Theatre)
A local dramatic group not so far covered in this blog are the Progressive Players. They’re an amateur company founded in 1920 at the Westfield Hall in Alexandra Road, Gateshead. Since 1939 their permanent home […]
Ryton Festival – Baby Boomers
My former English teacher Richard Reid kindly suggested I get in touch with Susan Emmett who lives in Ryton and runs the Throckley Drama Group. They are going to be performing Baby Boomers Behaving Badly, […]
Beamish Hall Winter Festival 2016
I don’t envy Mark Zuckerberg his millions, because it’s down to him that I’ve re-kindled many friendships and enjoyed some fantastic times. Yesterday was a case in point, because without Facebook Heather and I would […]
Keeping fit
If, using your own body and without any props or materials, you’ve never been asked to construct a series of objects from a Lynx Helicopter to the Eiffel Tower, or stomp your way through a […]
Thorp Academy, official opening of STEM
I was thrilled when a couple of months ago an invitation dropped onto the mat inviting me to the official opening of the Thorp Academy STEM building. STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering […]
Sleeping Dogs – upcoming gig
During my stint at Ryton Community Library last week, I got chatting to fellow volunteer Lin, who mentioned an upcoming gig at The Cluny in Byker on Saturday 27th February. It’s in aid of the […]
Our own Community Library
Since retiring at the beginning of October, I’ve had the time to visit different events and write about them here, and even had a day’s paid employment on the freezing cold set of Vera. Recently […]
Cats, cards, charity & the doghouse
I was in the Hexham branch of Marks and Spencer’s shortly before Christmas, a regular port of call for Mum and me. It’s one of the growing number of places where Mum has a solid […]
Carols at the Cross
Lovely winter evening enjoying Carols at the Cross, accompanied provided by the Ovington Tynedale Reunion Band, joined by the Caedmon Choir from the Gateshead Sage. Merry Christmas everyone, and thank you for following me this […]
St Agnes reception..more nativity magic !
Another wonderful afternoon along at St. Agnes Catholic School in Crawcrook to see the last of their nativity plays, this time the turn of the reception class. Lovely to get chatting to two of my […]
Nativity magic from St. Agnes !
The first thing that struck me when I arrived at St Agnes Catholic School this afternoon, is that even though I got there half an hour early, the queue of parents, friends and relatives stretched […]
Snow a little too late for the produce market
Today was last Ryton Local Produce Market until the spring. Having to trade from the core of a quagmire didn’t dampen spirits at all, and we were treated to a selection of carols courtesy of […]
St Agnes treat us to Oliver!
I was delighted when the head of St Agnes School in Crawcrook, Mr Laidler, allowed me to sit in on their atmospheric production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! I’ve seen professional productions of the show twice, […]
Straw and Order, an Emmaville treat!
Christmas is a time beloved of the young, the lead up to it being more exciting than the day itself I think. A major joy during the run up to December 25th is the school […]
Retirement life
I think it’s gradually dawning upon me that I’m not going back to work. I’ve dreamt of being retired since I was sixteen, and I’m certainly not complaining, although I suppose that in all of […]
Bradley Gardens
I wrote last week about meeting Kalem (Patterson) to interview him about the play he’s starring in at the Live Theatre, Day of the Flymo. We arranged to meet up at Bradley Gardens (off Sled […]
Kalem Patterson, another day for Flymo
Walking through the Haymarket Metro Station yesterday my attention was drawn to an illuminated poster advertising Day of the Flymo, about to begin its second run at the Live Theatre, Newcastle. The lead role in […]
Irene goes zip!
On Saturday afternoon Heather and I headed off down to the Quayside to watch my best friend Irene do her zip wire jump. Quite how she got into this, or was persuaded to do it, […]
Ryton Local Produce Market ….. traders get into the Halloween spirit!
Traders at Ryton Market got themselves into the Halloween spirit last Saturday. Don’t forget, the next market will be the Christmas one, on 12th December.
Bringing Words To Life!
Last month I published photographs taken at the Ryton Local Produce Market. Whilst I was there I got chatting to the organiser Melanie Cornish. Melanie has a busy schedule, but she kindly agreed for me […]
Demolition due to begin at Thorp
It’s half term, so while the students have their break, preparation is underway to begin demolishing the old Thorp Academy, to make way for the new. I’ve been down there this foggy autumn morning to […]
Many a tear has to fall ……..
I have always believed in this simple concept. If you’re feeling lonely, or a relationship has just ended, you will never get anywhere if you sit moping in the house. Ten years ago this weekend […]
Some extra help for Vera
Last Wednesday was an enjoyable day; I spent it on the set of the ITV detective series Vera, which has just completed filming season six. Created by ITV Gallowgate, Vera is based on the […]
Time to move along please
This following paragraph is the gist of an article published in the Evening Chronicle a couple of months ago. Following a new round of financial predictions and spending reviews, Northumbria Police face further cuts to […]
