Sunday, September 13, 2009

Gateshead

This is where I went last week for my association's annual one-day seminar. An iconic view. I flew from Southampton to Newcastle in the company of a colleague who had said to me at the outset, “You don’t mind if I don’t talk to you, do you, only I’ve nearly finished my book and it’s really good!” Well, I didn’t mind as I was myself in the final stages of a particularly riveting Jeffery Deaver.

Anyway, despite not speaking to each other, the journey could hardly have been described as quiet – I reckon the volume control for the propellers was broken. The outside toilet was a bit awkward, too.
On arrival, one of the first things to strike me was the open friendliness of north-eastern folk, like the Metro employee who took the trouble to come out of Gateshead station to street level with us, just to give us detailed directions to the Hilton Hotel. I didn’t even take offence at the old lady walking behind me who took the mickey out of my suitcase which seemed to have a mind of its own when it rocked on one wheel then the other as I pulled it along. She laughed as she told me she thought it was “contrary” in that wonderful accent.

We arrived at the hotel, somewhat bedraggled – it was cold, wet and windy - and, when I checked in, the receptionist explained that, although there was a room available, it was a disabled one and did I mind? I held up my walking stick in silent affirmation. When I got into the room, the bathing facilities were breathtaking (about the same size as reception, I reckon) with a huge walk-in shower which I used so many times over the two days I was there, I probably won’t need another wash for at least, ooh, five or six months at least.

I was also very gratified to note that, far from having been phased out (I seem to remember there wasn’t one in the last two hotels I’ve stayed in, despite one being there previously), the trouser press is alive and well; my socks were done to a turn - and lovely and warm, too.
Something else I thought had also been phased out on health grounds was the mini-bar; the one in my last hotel was empty. Perhaps this was naive of me, but, when I checked on this occasion, the fridge was chock full of goodies - including, of all things, a packet of Mates. Well, it was very warm in the room.

All in all, a very pleasant and interesting trip, but, unfortunately, I saw little of the city. Wuh divvnt gan oot in bad wethah, ye knah.
Tara.

You need to keep hold of your widgets

I decided to tart up the blog with a new template - what d'you think? I quite like it and I tried quite a few before plumping for this one, which is called "Notebook". I got it from this website but I'd like to give you a tip; if you're thinking of mucking around with your Blogger template, copy and save all the scripts and code for your widgets. Because when you download the XML file and upload it to Blogger, it tells you that several most of them are about to be deleted. Why they can't be retained in this process, goodness only knows. Anyway, keep hold of 'em.