ext_15169: Self-portrait (Toon Army)

[identity profile] speakr2customrs.livejournal.com 2010-05-11 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
An American who can't do basic arithmetic. She says that it has an '800-year-old castle' but gives the date of the castle's building, correctly, as 1080.

[identity profile] thismaz.livejournal.com 2010-05-12 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
*laughs* I'll admit to being too taken with the words to have counted the numbers.

[identity profile] hawera.livejournal.com 2010-05-11 07:39 am (UTC)(link)
Lovely description of my home town. I left it many years ago, but it is true, it always did have a buzz, even then.

[identity profile] thismaz.livejournal.com 2010-05-12 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
It does have a buzz, but what seems to surprise visitors, is that it has grace and charm, too.

[identity profile] seadragonlady.livejournal.com 2010-05-11 08:44 am (UTC)(link)
The people are great too. Out spoken, blunt and very down to earth but warm and welcoming. I have always wanted to go back and explore further.

[identity profile] thismaz.livejournal.com 2010-05-12 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
It's not usually at the top of peoples' lists of potential tourist destinations, but with Northumberland just up the road, it really should be.

[identity profile] curiouswombat.livejournal.com 2010-05-11 12:06 pm (UTC)(link)
She is quite right to wax lyrical! Although I don't necessarily agree with In the 1980s, it was a little on the grim side -- poor, post-industrial and decidedly shabby. I lived in Newcastle and environs from 1973 - 1988 and it never seemed decidedly shabby to me.

[identity profile] thismaz.livejournal.com 2010-05-12 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
I lived there from 1979 to 1982 and with Eldon Square just beginning to look worn and dated, I think there was a shabbiness to the town centre (when the roads were not blocked off for the Metro drilling). Plus, remember the Handyside Arcade - charming, enticing, magical, but definitely shabby? There were a few places like that. I visited again in 1988 and seem to remember being surprised by how bright the city centre looked and felt.

[identity profile] sparrow2000.livejournal.com 2010-05-11 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Very nice article. I'm feeling kind of nostaligc for stones that whisper in your ear.

[identity profile] thismaz.livejournal.com 2010-05-12 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, I get that. *hugs* Speak to you soon. Have a great rest of the week.