Curly's Photoshop

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2007-01-30T23:57:00.000+01:00

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South Shields Daily Photo

Dreaming Spire

2007-01-29T00:01:00.000+01:00

St. Michael and All the Angels

The rather unusual tower and spire of St. Michael's Church in Westoe Road, South Shields is something of a landmark, and can be seen from most locations in the town.

Map.

Black and blue

2007-01-28T02:17:00.000+01:00

South Shields (as seen from Tynemouth)

I've titled this 'Black and blue' to help describe the blackened rocks of the 'Black Middens' on the Tynemouth side of the River Tyne, and the stark blue sky over South Shields in the distance. It's often refreshing to look at your town from a different view point, as an outsider looking in, rather than the inhabitant looking out!
The obelisk just left of centre is the clock tower of South Shields Town Hall, and the high point to the right of centre is the Lawe Top.

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Family tree!

2007-01-27T00:01:00.000+01:00

Dysfunctional family?

I found this tree in a patch of land that I never thought existed, I was unaware of it. A small patch in South Shields in between The Lonnen and Cleadon Park's Quarry. It looks as though one side of the family has been totally expunged - divorced perhaps?

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Benny's Pomodoro

2007-01-26T00:03:00.000+01:00

Pooling resources!

This is one of my favourite little shops in South Shields, at least it was before the fruit and vegetable diet began! Benny's is on a corner site in Stanhope Road, South Shields and as you can see even looks inviting just after it's been pouring with rain! Italian food of all varieties, I think "Pomodoro" is the Italian word for tomato.

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Stately Home?

2007-01-25T00:01:00.000+01:00

Ingham Infirmary, South Shields

No, this very large residence at Ingham Grange, Westoe Road, South Shields, it used to be the main entrance to the Ingham Infirmary. This was our main Accident and Emergency hospital for many years, and I spent some months in one of it's wards when I was a teenager. The hospital was built using public subscription, and opened in 1873 as a lasting memorial to the town's first Member of Parliament, Robert Ingham. You can get a very good background to the hospital's beginnings - here.

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Finial

2007-01-24T00:05:00.000+01:00

Form and shape

I was captivated by the form and shape here, the contrast from bright light on one side and deep shadow on the other. Being a place of worship you might relate this to the contrast between good and evil.

This finial (or small minaret) is a fine ornamental addition to the Al Azhar Mosque in Laygate, South Shields.

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Spot light!

2007-01-23T00:01:00.000+01:00

The North Pier

This is the pier and lighthouse that we look at when standing on our pier on the south side of the harbour. This is Tynemouth's pier and lighthouse, caught about twenty minutes after sunset.

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Secret Shields (No. 2)

2007-01-22T00:02:00.000+01:00

Secret Alley

This little alleyway runs between East Street and the main shopping centre of King Street, South Shields. It is adjacent to an old pub commonly known as The Lambton Arms (Smugglers) and it has the feel of an old smugglers alley.

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Secret Shields (No. 1)

2007-01-21T00:05:00.000+01:00

Tyne Dock Metro Station

This is really the only remaining remnant of the original LNER station at Tyne Dock, the passenger entrance/exit to Boldon Lane, South Shields. It's just a short walk to the left for the shops on Boldon Lane, or St. Peter and Paul R.C. church.
The image has been bronzed in Photoshop, masked then the debris, leaves, etc. revealed.

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Trinket time

2007-01-20T00:22:00.000+01:00

Friday Market

Friday is the day for the "flea market" in South Shields, time to find those curios and bargains.

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Men at work

2007-01-19T00:01:00.000+01:00

Broadband saviours

Two engineers make good repairs to the fibre optic cables that carry our broadband connections, cable television, and telephones. The individual cables are almost as fine as the hairs on our heads, without these men we wouldn't be able to this blogging thing, eh?

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Tryptych

2007-01-18T00:01:00.000+01:00

The January Sales

Of course when every shop in the street is offering some sort of bargain after Christmas it can be difficult to drag customers into your shop.
What's a poor girl to do, other than look after her nails?

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"Titty Lizzie"

2007-01-17T00:03:00.000+01:00

The Town Hall

The Georgian Town Hall in South Shields is widely acknowledged as one of the most ornate and majestic public buildings in the North of England. Originally it had a statue of Queen Victoria outside along with six of her escorts which popularly became known as the "Tittie Lizzies" (yes, we are pretty much down to earth up here!).
Some years later, Victoria's statue was removed to a public garden at Chichester but her escorts were placed on a terrace in the South Marine Park, where four remain to this day. After the opening of the Tyneside Metro Rapid Transit System Queen Victoria was brought back to the Town Hall because the garden at Chichester was to become a Metro station, she is now attended by a pair of "Tittie Lizzies" which helps to balance the front facade of this fine building and provide some symmetry.

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The workers

2007-01-16T00:05:00.000+01:00

Readhead's

Many years ago Readhead's shipyard was one of the largest employers in the town, for over a hundred years they had built ships at Redhead's. They built ships to help the war effort and they built ships in time of peace. Sadly they do not build ships now, the name too has gone, with McNulty Aker Marine now operating from the yard once occupied by Redhead's.

There is a car park nearby for the shipyard workers and someone (and I'm afraid I don't know who) has created this mural from small pieces of ceramic tile , a mosaic, to commemorate the thousands who built ships at the famous Redhead's yard in South Shields.

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Old and new!

2007-01-15T00:01:00.000+01:00

Westoe Baptist Chapel

This is the rather old (1881) Westoe Baptist Chapel in Westoe Road, South Shields. It resides next to a modern office bloc, South Tyneside House, which used to be used by the Borough Council. Oddly, whilst the church is still in plentiful use, the office block is not, and is now waiting for a purchaser.
Late afternoon sunshine about an hour before sunset.

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Pot Black

2007-01-14T00:15:00.000+01:00

On Cue

It's one of my favourite pastimes and a good way to relax with friends, Snooker is quite popular in South Shields. This picture was taken in the private member's club Shields Snooker Centre in Chichester Road, South Shields.

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Deserted

2007-01-13T00:09:00.000+01:00

Frederick Street, South Shields.

This picture saddens me deeply. This street was one of the busiest that I had ever experienced, it was full of hustle and bustle, it was longer, and crowded with busy shops and busy people when I was a boy. Now it's people have gone, its shops are shuttered and deserted, and some of the properties are decaying rapidly. Just what went wrong?

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Big yellow skip

2007-01-12T00:16:00.000+01:00

Favourite armchair?

Someone got rid of their favourite armchairs to replace them with some new leather furniture. These yellow chairs were found in the backlane in a big yellow skip. I've tried to replicate the effects of infra red photography with a Photoshop action here.

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Olde charms

2007-01-11T00:01:00.000+01:00

Sylvia's China and Gift shop

This lovely little window can be found in Westoe Road, South Shields and has all the charm of an older world, a past time for pastimes perhaps. This shop specialises in things like dolls houses, wooden horses, fine china dolls etc. Definately a "girly" sort of place!

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Green Pegs

2007-01-10T00:03:00.000+01:00

Washing line and pegs.

Just viewed through a backyard door slightly ajar, green pegs and a red washing line, was it too damp to hang out washing today?

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Cayman

2007-01-09T00:01:00.000+01:00

Porsche Cayman S

I found this little beauty in Laygate, South Shields. We hardly see any Porsches in this town, so I just had to record the moment. You can tell that it was a dull and damp day by the reflections in the bodywork.

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Prime Minister's Place

2007-01-08T00:10:00.000+01:00

Sir William Fox Hotel

This is the door to the William Fox Hotel in Westoe Village, South Shields, it was the birthplace of Sir William Fox, New Zealand's second Prime Minister. Born in this house in 1812, he was educated at Durham School and Wadham College, Oxford, he went on to become Premier of New Zealand four times before he died in 1893.

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Kirky's

2007-01-07T00:02:00.000+01:00

Kirkpatrick's Bar

This popular bar retains some of the cudos and architectural inheritance of the institution that first inhabited the building. Dr. Winterbottoms Marine School occupied this site for many years.
The current name of this public house was chosen because of it's close proximity to the statue of
John Simpson Kirkpatrick.

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"F1" Pit Stop

2007-01-06T00:01:00.000+01:00

The Car Wash

Now just like in motor racing, now and then we need to stop for a "splash and a dash". The place to make your pit stop in South Shields is F1 Handwash in Mitre Place, Commercial Road, near Tyne Dock.Here there are no automated machines or mechanical brushes, your car aerial stays intact and the whole wash and polish is done by hand by Frankie and his boys, a bit more of a "personal experience" , as I found out today. Frankie has operated this venture for the past two years from this site.

This business is part of the new enterprise culture found in South Shields, you can call Frankie for further details on 07796 332977

If you are planning a photographic expedition - wear your wellies!

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Wooden Roses

2007-01-05T01:02:00.000+01:00

Four pounds per bunch

I caught this picture in King Street, South Shields, of a flower seller and his stall. The roses looked so colourful, but incredibly they were all carved from wood and coloured later!

It was the young lad who caught my eye, perhaps counting out his pocket money to buy a small gift for his mother?

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Wheels

2007-01-04T00:06:00.000+01:00

Back lanes.

We could never have had a childhood without them in this town! Every decent footballer honed his boyhood skills by playing "doors" with his street mates. Instead of a soccer ball, a tennis ball might be used, and each player had to defend one of the back doors in the lane. Hit the door to score a goal!
This town has lots of terraced housing, as a look at the map link will show, but many years ago there was an awful lot more, especially close to the riverside, the back lanes run in between each row of houses. The back lanes were very communal, women gossiped with neighbours as they hung the washing out to dry in the lane, "fish-wives" and "coal-men" plied their trade in these lanes. Today, of course, the noise of balls thumping against doors may not be tolerated, but some children still get to exercise and play in the lane, away from traffic.

This lane is situated between Laygate and St. Jude's Terrace, South Shields.

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Norman Bates?

2007-01-03T00:05:00.000+01:00

No, Norman Hurst.

This delightful old house at the top of Westoe Village, South Shields must be one of the largest residences in the town, just take a look at the aerial view via the map link (You might just see the tennis courts and stables to the right of the house).
For many years it was occupied by Mrs. Marjorie Cox, the former Chairman of the Conservative Party in South Shields, often alone whilst her husband "the doctor" worked in Africa for the U.N.

Personally I've always thought it had a bit of Norman Bates about it, so I've tried to spook it up as much as I can (remember Psycho?)

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No. 3 Westoe Village

2007-01-02T01:36:00.000+01:00

Who lived in a house like this?

This rather grand Georgian terraced house is No. 3 Westoe Village, South Shields. It is situated quite close to Sunderland Road, and many years ago, before the age of urban sprawl, it would have been almost on the edge of the picturesque village.
For a time in it's history it was home to Elinor M. Brent-Dyer the authoress of over 100 books, including the Chalet series of popular children's titles.

You can read more about her - here

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A Happy New Year

2007-01-01T01:14:00.000+01:00

Dawn with the Angel.

First day of 2007, dawn rises at The Angel of the North. Gormley's world famous statue sits overlooking the A1 in Gateshead just a few miles from South Shields.

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An eye on the past

2006-12-31T01:45:00.000+01:00

Remembering better days.

As I sit at home recuperating, I thought I would try to make a little use of my new graphics tablet and wireless pen. This image has been created to remind me of the busy summers days had down on the beach in South Shields, a long cry from the wet and windy winter we have now. I've tried to create the illusion of the busy beach reflected in the fresh eye of a young girl, ready to rush down to the shore.
Two images merged in Photoshop, the eye having been desaturated, painted, and some noise added, and the beach scene with the South Pier, masked and blended with the iris. A little extra drawing was used to give emphasis to the lashes.

Hope you all like!

The Big Thank You

2006-12-30T23:59:00.000+01:00

The Big Thank You!

May I take this opportunity of thanking Trigger17 for kindly informing the blogosphere of my recent absence, and also say a big thank you to the 102 bloggers who took the time to email me expressing their concerns and support. Your prayers and thoughts are most welcome and comforting. May I also say a big thank you to my workmates and colleagues in the Corner Shop for their support and best wishes.

This has been a most memorable Christmas period in the Curly household, but not for the best of reasons; some of us were not looking forward to our first Christmas without a very important member of the family in our midst, yet circumstances prevented too much sentimentality on Christmas Day which was the normal bustle of frenetic activity transporting children and sacks of Santa's presents from house to house as we did the family rounds. It was the normal helter skelter of activity and included some quality time with my father before we were ready to crash out at home, long before midnight!

Boxing Day started with the confused indecisiveness of whether or not to run up to Sunderland early in the day to get tickets for the home match against Leeds United, I had a strange unworldly feeling, rather like being detached from reality, it's difficult to put one's finger on it, but I did not "feel right". Eventually I decided not to go to the match (I must have known we were likely to win, but ugly) and thought instead of taking a walk into the town centre to see which shops were open, perhaps in the hope of finding an early January sale bargain.

I had a light lunch and was just installing the software that came with the new graphics tablet when it happened, it came with a slight light headedness and a quick rise in temperature along with a massive feeling of tight compression on the upper chest, arms, and neck which led to breathlessness and sweating. Years of professional first-aid training told me straight away that I was suffering a myocardial infarction (heart attack) and that a 999 telephone call was required. Whilst Mrs. Curly summoned help the children both wanted to climb up on my knee, and couldn't understand my protestations as I pushed them away and sought to settle on the settee. It was hard to exclude them in such a brutal fashion and emotionally difficult to watch them witness my suffering, but fortunately a paramedic was with me in less than three minutes. Having quickly inserted an intravenous vent and administered morphine he then attached a portable heart monitor which confirmed my own diagnosis. The ambulance and crew arrived less than two minutes later and I lost the fight to remain lucid within one minute of settling into the interior of my saviours' transport.

To make matters that little more worse, as I came to at South Tyneside District Hospital it quickly became apparent that I was paralysed from the neck down! This was unexpected and caused my spirits to sink just that little further, the medical team at the hospital's coronary care unit were unsure how the paralysis had been caused and felt that more specialist resources were required to find the cause of my problems, so I was dispatched by ambulance through the pre-closed Tyne Tunnel to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, a journey that took little more than ten minutes! Sadly my wife and father had to stay behind in South Shields.

I have to say that at all times I felt very comfortable, paramedics, ambulance personnel, doctors, and nurses were all saying the right things to me, I felt reassured and calm (even when my heart rate dropped to 15 beats per minute and looked in danger of stopping.) It didn't take long for the coronary specialists in Newcastle to decide to reopen the theatre late at night to perform an emergency angioplasty, they whisked me through without any formal pre-op preparation and spent over two hours investigating then repairing the blockages found in my coronary arteries. I have their tenacity and skills to thank for being here to tell the tale. I give you many thanks guys. Years of smoking, before I eventually decided to give up in 2006, poor diet, lack of strenuous excercise, had all combined to produce the dreadful circumstances that create arterial sclerosis. The left anterior descending artery in the heart was 70% blocked, and two of the diagonals were 100% blocked, my existence was hanging by a mere thread! I now have the arteries reopened and kept open with three stents, small metal coil like inserts designed to prevent plaques building up in these locations again.

Remarkably by 7.30 on Wednesday morning I was feeling magnificent and fresh as a daisy, and full motion had returned! I returned to South Tyneside District Hospital on Wednesday evening and stayed there until this morning when I returned to my family armed with a carrier bag full of tablets and drugs which must now be consumed every day of my life. I now feel as though I have been reborn, or at least given a second chance. The National Health Service performed to it's best this week (although there were one or two issues that I could talk about) and the ambulance service was notable for it's speed, efficiency. and highly trained life saving paramedics, to these I give the greatest thanks of all.

Therefore, I hope you will excuse my absence over the next couple of days as I try to catch up on some lost sleep, regain some strength, relearn how to properly relax, and begin to plan the future. Blogging may be erratic, and visitors of Curly's Photoshop will be treated to one or images from my archives until such time as I am able to get out and about (armed with the camera) on a more regular basis.

My new life is about to start, a change of diet, a change of regime, a fitness plan, and a permanently positive attitude will help me launch the new me!

Once again thank you all for voicing your concerns and support.

Break in Transmission

2006-12-28T21:40:00.000+01:00

Sorry to report that Curly was admitted to hospital on Boxing Day. After preliminaries he was transferred to Freeman where he underwent surgery in the early hours of Wednesday. He has now returned to STDH and is making good progress. Indications are that he should be well enough to return home at the weekend. All this, thanks to the woders of the NHS not forgetting the lifesaving work of the paramedics. The blog should return to normal soon afterwards.

Posted in Curly's absence by Trigger17

Winter Wonderland No. 4

2006-12-26T00:30:00.000+01:00

Blue Christmas

Own up, who remembers that song? That's what I thought of when I spotted this house on one of the outlying estates in South Shields this evening.
I will try to bring you one of our traditional Boxing Day events tomorrow.

Happy Cristmas

2006-12-25T00:10:00.000+01:00

Merry Christmas

Curly and his family would like to extend our very best wishes to the DP blogging community and our many visitors around the world. May you all have peace this Christmas Day.

The Christmas Tree

2006-12-24T00:30:00.000+01:00

Old Town Hall

This is the Christmas Tree in front of the original Town Hall in South Shields. This was our first Town Hall and dates from the late 1700s, our Town Council used to meet here.
The image has been cropped from a larger image of the Market Place and was an HDR merge in Photoshop (three images at differing exposures merged on top of each other) I hope the High Density Range retains a fair bit of detail from this night shot.

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The Performance

2006-12-23T00:01:00.000+01:00

The Nativity Play

Pupils at a South Shields school perform their Nativity Play at Christmas time for the benefit of their parents.

Hark the herald angels......

2006-12-22T00:02:00.000+01:00

Carol Singing

A group of carol singers performing for the shoppers under the Metro bridge in King Street, South Shields.

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Winter Wonderland No. 3

2006-12-21T00:05:00.000+01:00

South Shields Town Hall

The Town Hall in Westoe Road, South Shields, all decorated and illuminated for the Christmas period. Just a shame that the statue of Queen Victoria at the front isn't lit up too.

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Sunset over the Tyne

2006-12-20T00:02:00.000+01:00

The River Tyne

Taken half an hour after sunset catching the 'afterglow'. You just see the South Shields to North Shields ferry leaving it's landing (centre left) to cross the river to the North bank. This shot was taken from a vantage point on River Drive, South Shields, an old ballast hill.

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Away in a manger

2006-12-19T00:03:00.000+01:00

Nativity.

Every year the lads from Northumbria Fire and Rescue Service (South Shields Station) build a replica of the nativity scene, featuring Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. They use it raise money for local charities to ensure that the less fortunate can enjoy a comfortable Christmas. They always display the nativity scene in King Street where many shoppers can remind themselves of the true message of Christmas.

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Boy and dog.

2006-12-18T00:20:00.000+01:00

A dog is not just for Christmas.

Boy and dog look as though they are letting the Christmas rush pass them by, in King Street, South Shields.

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God works in mysterious ways!

2006-12-17T00:20:00.000+01:00

Bethesda Methodist Church, Maxwell Street, South Shields

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"The Lights" No. 3

2006-12-16T00:24:00.000+01:00

The Criterion

The final public house standing on one of the four corners of the intersection of Ocean Road, King Street, Fowler Street, and Mile End Road (commonly known as "the lights") is The Criterion.
This pub still manages to retain an older charm about it, reminiscent of the first half of the last century. Again it is popular for eating during the day and more energetic disco music at the weekends. This is a very popular spot.

On the fourth corner is a bank!

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Coffee and colour

2006-12-15T00:30:00.000+01:00

Cafe Culture

The new Cafe Nero again, in King Street, South Shields.
Black and White with a splash of colour painted in. We are just about getting used to cafe culture in South Shields, maybe next summer when the weather is warmer, we might see tables and chairs outside on the street?
I would quite enjoy coffee and biscuits over a friendly chat, whilst we sit and watch the world go by!

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"The Lights" No. 2

2006-12-14T00:02:00.000+01:00

The Ship and Royal

Remember this post about meeting at "the lights"?
Well, we have three pubs (public houses) at this, normally busy, junction. The previous post showed The Scotia, and opposite is The Ship and Royal with the Assembly Room upstairs. This is busy pub, especially favoured by the younger crowd at weekends when they can enjoy a drink and a dance upstairs. It is also popular for enjoying a cheap and wholesome meal.
Look out for the third of these old pubs appearing soon!
The Christmas tree looks fabulous at night!

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Rainbow Ferry

2006-12-13T08:00:00.000+01:00

DFDS Ferry

Whilst I was shooting at Marsden Bay on Sunday morning I turned around just in time to catch this shot of a DFDS ferry approaching the River Tyne from the continent. In the pre dawn light she had just sailed past the end of a glorious rainbow!

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Rise and shine

2006-12-12T00:02:00.000+01:00

Dawn at Marsden

Here's another of the sunrise shots that I grabbed on Sunday morning, this was taken about 15 minutes before the sun appeared.
Konica Minolta Dimage Z3, ISO 50, 1/8 second at f8, velbon tripod.

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Papa's gotta brand new day!

2006-12-11T00:03:00.000+01:00

Sunrise at Souter

I was out and about nice and early yesterday morning to catch the sun rising over Marsden Bay, I was lucky, it was one of nature's spectacles. Here we see the sun creeping over the horizon behind Souter Lighthouse in an absolute blaze of glory.
It looks golden and warm, but let me tell you it was pretty cold there this morning with a gusty wind thrown in for good measure.
Stay tuned for another sunrise tomorrow!

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Winter wonderland No. 2.

2006-12-10T07:35:00.000+01:00

Hot Nuts!

An unusual sight in South Shields, somebody selling hot roasted chestnuts in Ocean Road. definately an old fashioned Christmas theme here!

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The Tea Party

2006-12-09T01:01:00.000+01:00

Ocean Beach Pleasure Park

As is common with most seaside towns we have a fairground, the Ocean Beach Pleasure Park, it is not open all year, but certainly for about two thirds of the year when the weather is good. We also have a young man in South Shields who has gathered a reputation for outstanding air brush art, his name escapes me right now, but his work is now seen in fixed and travelling fairgrounds as well as on many seaside reorts' shop fronts and in individual commissions for trucks!

Here is one of his earlier pieces depicting Lewis Carrol's "Mad Hatter's Tea Party" from Alice in Wonderland. (Lewis Carrol - now there's another story relating to South Tyneside -I'll save it for another day.)

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Long Sands

2006-12-08T00:02:00.000+01:00

Tynemouth

Sometimes when we feel the need for a little change in scenery we get the ferry across the River Tyne and visit Tynemouth. It's beach is not quite as large as ours but is much favoured by surfers. This view is of Tynemouth Long Sands and Church Point in the background. Tynemouth used to have a huge fairground called The Spanish City for many years, but it has now been demolished - pity really.

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Coffee break

2006-12-07T00:03:00.000+01:00

Cafe Nero

After a hard day out doing some shopping for Christmas presents it was so good to sink into a comfortable chair and enjoy this cappuccino at South Shields' newest coffee house, Cafe Nero, which is almost adjacent to the Metro Station in King Street. I also enjoyed the option of being able to request extra strong coffee, sometimes you feel as though you need a strong injection of caffeine.

I tried to create a 'film noire' look to this late afternoon coffee and chocolate indulgence.

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The Ghost Train

2006-12-06T00:02:00.000+01:00

All aboard!

This is almost a repost of my picture of 27th. November, shall I explain how I came to make this? It's a dreary wet day and commuters were waiting to board the train to Newcastle. I had set up my tripod in the corner of the station and took a few shots with longish exposures as the train arrived.

In Photoshop I copied and pasted four frames and duplicated them twice each and used them on separate layers, before playing around with the blend modes and transparency. That's how I came to make "the Ghost Train."

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Winter wonderland No. 1

2006-12-05T00:05:00.000+01:00

All ready for Christmas.

Last Christmas I ran a competition to find the best decorated house in South Tyneside, and I noticed that this recently imported American tradition has taken off in a BIG way here in England. I don't have the time to run such an effort this year but I will feature a few of the best that I see during the course of December.
These houses are in Copley Avenue, Whiteleas, South Shields and it's hard to decide whether this is a communal effort, or more a case of "keeping up with the Jones'es'". What do you think?

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Windswept.

2006-12-04T00:01:00.000+01:00

Bendy Trees.

Yesterday's weather was grim, to say the least. Dark all day with driving winds and heavy squally rain showers, horrible!

I found these trees bending to the breezes in the North Marine Park, South Shields. Picture taken at 16.25 GMT, in the rain, hand held with a little fill-flash.

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Strapline

2006-12-03T01:04:00.001+01:00

Watches

Here is the final part of this small series of pictures from this weekend's Continental Market in King Street, South Shields. These guys were from Turkey and offering watches complete with straps.

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Ostrich Meat

2006-12-02T01:07:00.000+01:00

Continental Market (part ll)

It's quite fascinating what some people will eat, I'm not sure how many folks will be buying this Ostrich "Sausage" offered in the Continental Market, King Street, South Shields this weekend.
Perhaps some of our Australian visitors can let us know what it tastes like. However, as they say, "variety is the spice of life".

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A nice bunch!

2006-12-01T00:05:00.000+01:00

Continental Market

Today saw the start of a special Continental Market in King Street, South Shields, a host of traders from mainland Europe offering us some delights which we don't get to see very often in England. They are trading here until Monday evening. I think I will feature a few pictures from this market during this week-end.
Here we see a collection of roses in some amazing colours, frankly I don't know how they do it!

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Autumn in the park

2006-11-30T06:00:00.000+01:00

West Park

Glorious swathe of autumn colours as leaves surround the Edwardian band stand in the West Park, South Shields.

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The other pond

2006-11-29T01:25:00.000+01:00

Whitburn Village

Back in October I posted a picture of the village pond in Cleadon, and mentioned the fact that we only have two village ponds in South Tyneside. This is the other one in Whitburn.

Oddly, I found no ducks at either!

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Watching the Tyne go by

2006-11-28T00:05:00.000+01:00

Dolly Peel

This is the statue to commemorate Dolly Peel (1783 - 1857), she stands guard on the old ballast hills on River Drive, South Shields. She was known as a fish wife, but was also a smuggler, poet and story teller and served in the Napoleonic wars. She lived in Shadwell Street in South Shields and on numerous occasions hid her husband from press gangs. She was a great favourite of Robert Ingham, the town's first MP.
Billy Gofton was the sculpture and the statue was unveiled in 1987.

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The train now arriving..............

2006-11-27T00:01:00.000+01:00

South Shields Metro Station

A rather dismal and damp scene at the Metro Station on Sunday as a few shoppers come to town, they weren't keen on standing in the rain. I found out yesterday that the day after Thanksgiving in the USA is known as Black Friday, a day when retailers traditionally go into the black (financially). This is because it is a HUGE shopping day, the first shopping day of the Christmas season, I wonder if we should have an "official" first day of the season here?

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After the match!

2006-11-26T00:10:00.000+01:00

Self portrait (ish)

After a long hard week in the Corner Shop, I decided to relax by going to South Shields Snooker Centre to watch my favourite football team (Sunderland) playing an away match at Wolverhampton Wanderers. The match was broadcast live via satellite and quite a few of us were there to generate a little atmosphere. Of course, we enjoyed a few pints of beer as well. My father took the photograph.

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Pan the messenger

2006-11-25T00:10:00.000+01:00

South Shields Town Hall

This statue of Pan (the messenger) stands above his copper domed cupola directly above the Council debating chamber at South Shields Town Hall. Full meetings of South Tyneside District Council take place here every six weeks. We have 54 councillors representing 18 wards across two Parliamentary Constituencies (South Shields and Jarrow.) The chamber is one of the most ornate in the North of England with hand carved oak paneled walls, leather upholstered oak seating, and stained glass windows, and a canopied raised dais for the Mayor, who chairs the meetings.

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The Lake

2006-11-24T00:03:00.000+01:00

A peaceful country park

This is the lake at Hardiwick Hall Country Park just outside of Sedgefield, County Durham. There is a large stately house there and the park is filled with "follies" (fake ruined castles etc.) It's a great place to take the children, both in summer and winter with lots of adventure trails and playgrounds, there is also good provision of tables and chairs for a picnic.
Less than fourty minutes drive away too!

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The car park

2006-11-23T00:10:00.000+01:00

No cars today!

One of the problems with having a car park so close to the beach occurs in winter, North winds, driving rain, and high tides combine to cause this flooding. This view across the car park looks towards the South Pier and the Volunteer Life Brigade Watch House. It was taken late afternoon as the sun was setting, creating these wonderful warm colours.

You can read more about this car park in Curly's Corner Shop, the blog!

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Bloomin' Bob

2006-11-22T00:10:00.000+01:00

Flower seller.

This chap is very popular in the Market Place at weekends and on Mondays. He sells barrow loads of flowers to passers by.

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Artwork Door

2006-11-21T00:01:00.000+01:00

Colourful door.

This is the entrance door for South Tyneside Arts Studio in Beach Road, South Shields, pretty colourful huh?

They are moving soon to a new building, hope they decorate it just as well as the old one. The current building used to be South Shields' only Synagogue.

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Sky Car

2006-11-20T00:01:00.000+01:00

Smart Car

I was rather amused to see this advertising stunt in South Shields Market Place. No doubt some of you will have seen these tiny little plastic coated "Smart" cars, but did they have this much "In Car Entertainment"?
It was complete with a plasma screen T.V. in the back, sub-woofer and associated speakers in the front and a sattelite dish on the top!

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Rocks and sky

2006-11-19T01:31:00.000+01:00

Graham Sands.

Here's a complete change of scenery for today, a picture taken from Graham Sands, South Shields, situated just behind Trow Rocks and looking north towards Tynemouth. The weather was relatively bright but with a sharp biting breeze, winter is definately on the way!

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Catherine Cookson

2006-11-18T10:00:00.000+01:00

Dame Catherine Cookson (1906 - 1998)

Catherine Cookson, the world renowned authoress, was born in Leam Lane, South Shields and wrote over 100 books which sold over 120 million copies and were translated into at least 20 languages. You can read more about her - here

This is a picture of a Catherine Cookson exhibit in South Shields Museum and Art Gallery, it is a reconstruction of the small terraced house in William Black Street, Jarrow where she lived in around 1912. You will note that there is provision for cooking, eating, and sleeping, all in the one room!

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Abide With Me

2006-11-17T00:01:00.000+01:00

Salvation Army

The band of the Salvation Army Citadel in Wawn Street, South Shields, provided the music for the hymns. If you look really close you might find a picture of me in this cornet!

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Old Soldiers Never Die

2006-11-16T00:01:00.000+01:00

Veteran

This old campaigner looks lost in thought during the service at the Cenotaph, Westoe, South Shields. The service was conducted by the Revd. Paul Kennedy, Vicar of St. Michael and all Angels, Westoe.

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The Mayoress

2006-11-15T00:06:00.000+01:00

Alice Malcolm

Alice is the Mayoress of South Tyneside, her son Ed is the Mayor, the two led the Borough's tributes to our war dead on Remembrance Sunday.

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Old Sea Dog

2006-11-14T00:03:00.000+01:00

Merchant Seaman

We must remember that many lives were lost in wars, and amongst them were many merchant seamen in the convoys that kept Europe supplied. This veteran, Ken Elsy, wears his medals with pride.

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Pipes and Drums

2006-11-13T00:03:00.000+01:00

Remembrance Sunday

Last week I featured a series of pictures from Jarrow, South Tyneside. I started this week on the theme of the Armistice and Remembrance Sunday and I will continue to present a series of pictures from the event all this week, partially because of the importance of the event, and partially because I'm pleased with the quality of some of the pictures.

This is the South Tyneside Pipe and Drum band leading the parade up the incline of Westoe Road, South Shields towards the Cenotaph.

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Field of dreams.

2006-11-12T01:02:00.000+01:00

Remembrance Sunday

Today in the U.K. we celebrate Remembrance Sunday, the closest day to the Armistice of 11.11.1918. A day to recall the sacrifices of our young men and women who gave their lives in the defence of our freedoms and liberty. This may not have been only in the two great wars fought mainly on European soil, but also elsewhere, and additionally in the major conflicts since 1945. The Suez crisis, Korea, the Falklands campaign, Northern Ireland, the former Yugoslavia, and more recently the two Gulf wars, as well as other regional conflicts around the world. We stand in silence for two minutes at 11.00 a.m. to contemplate their deeds, their sacrifice, and our loss.

We do not send our young men and women into battle zones lightly, we do it because, as a nation, we believe strongly in the value and correctness of the action, history will be the guiding judge of how right or wrong our decisions were. However, those who chose to pursue a career in the armed forces, and merchant navy did so of a noble intention, for Queen and country, none went looking for valour or heroics, just to do a job to the best of their ability in the belief that they were acting of the highest intentions.

We use a poppy now as the symbolic representation of the flowering youth who gave their lives that we may enjoy freedom of thought, expression, and liberty, without the threat of tyranny and oppression. A reminder that history has many lessons to teach us, if only we have the will to learn.

These poppies were photographed in a field near Malton in North Yorkshire. I think that the picture shows a representation of hope in the future.

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Red and Blue

2006-11-11T00:45:00.000+01:00

"Star of Hope"

This little red boat is named Star of Hope and I found her moored along with a few others near the bank of the River Tyne close to the riverside park in Jarrow.
(The Ektachrome transparency was created with Photoshop.)

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Yellow and blue

2006-11-10T07:30:00.000+01:00

Autumn berries

Yes, we are now moving towards wintertime as these autumn berries on a tree in Jarrow's riverside park contrast strongly against the blue of a clear sky.

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Charles Mark Palmer

2006-11-09T00:02:00.000+01:00

Jarrow's great benefactor

Charles Mark Palmer was born in South Shields and went on to become a merchant, a shipowner, shipbuilder, and social benefactor to the people of Jarrow. He became their first Mayor and Member of Parliament, and was responsible, also, for the building of two hospitals. You can see a detailed account of his life's work - here

This statue to Palmer is erected in Jarrow's riverside park and continues a small series of Jarrow pictures started yesterday.

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Ancient and Modern

2006-11-08T00:02:00.000+01:00

Tyne Tunnel ventilation shaft

A reproduction gas lamp stands sentinel in front of the air ventilation shaft for the Tyne Tunnel in Jarrow. Ventilation is essential to clear away the exhaust fumes from the thousands of cars and lorries who use the tunnel every day.
The Tyne Tunnel carries the A19 trunk road deep under the bed of the River Tyne and motorists pay a toll at the North end for passing through, you can view the tunnel's webcams - here
This is the start of a small series of pictures taken in Jarrow.

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Have you got the time?

2006-11-07T05:16:00.000+01:00

Manhattans, Mile End Road.

This public house opposite the Scotia and a few yards up Mile End Road, used to be called The Sportsman's Bar, and the clock outside is a relic of the latter. I think they liked it so much they decided to keep it. Comes in handy when the bar staff have to call:

"Time ladies and gentlemen please!"

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Guy Fawkes Night

2006-11-06T00:02:00.000+01:00

The big beach party!

South Shields staged it's annual Guy Fawkes Night fireworks extravaganza last night when thousands turned up to watch a pyrotechnics show on the beach. Set on the dunes behind the Sundial public house and with free car parking along the sea front virtually half of the town arrived. Needless to say, getting away was a huge problem!

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"The Lights"

2006-11-05T00:31:00.000+01:00

The Scotia.

This public house has stood in this location for many years and is a traditional Geordie pub, selling a variety of ales, wines, and spirits. Why have I titled this post "The Lights" you may ask?
Well, many years ago when we used to allow cars, and buses to drive through the town centre, this was an important cross roads, right in the centre of town. Mile End Road, Ocean Road, King Street, and Fowler Street all meet here, and we had traffic lights at this point to control the flow of traffic. It was a popular place for pedestrians to meet each other, and to this day, if we want to meet someone down town we will say:

"Meet you at the lights!"

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Twin pieces

2006-11-04T00:24:00.000+01:00

Naval guns (part ll)

This is another picture of the two guns mounted on The Lawe, South Shields. In the distance we can see Knott's Flats in Tynemouth.

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Lookout

2006-11-03T00:06:00.000+01:00

Naval gun.

This gun is mounted on the Lawe, South Shields, and is one of a pair looking out over the Mouth of the Tyne. They were not put there as defensive pieces but were mounted as 'prizes'. I went there today to refresh my memory about how these naval guns arrived in South Shields. There used to be a plaque describing their history, but sadly, it is no longer there. They were either captured in battle, or salvaged from a wrecked ship that floundered at the mouth of the Tyne.
I'm sorry but I can't remember the history of them.

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Water works

2006-11-02T00:02:00.000+01:00

Cleadon tower.

Although we are in an urban environment we still have a small smattering of farms and agriculture here. This farmer's field on the southern boundary falls from Cleadon Hills where there was an old water works, the former pumping station was housed in the tower in the distance.

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Hallow'een in South Shields

2006-11-01T00:03:00.000+01:00

Hallow'een, breaking the rules!

It is only in the last two or three years that we have, in this country, followed some of the American traditions associated with this festival. It seems, that it is no longer celebrated as the Christian Feast of All Hallows, but has become yet another 'commercial opportunity'. Pumpkins have only recently been used to make lanterns with, in the past we always used turnips (or 'snadgies' as we called them). Trick or treat is now the norm with hosts of children, supervised in most cases by parents, trawling the streets knocking on doors in the hope of collecting masses of sweets and confectionery (candy). Personally, I'm beginning to think it makes for lots of greedy little gluttons.

I'm breaking the rules today to show you a small collection of images of how yesterday evening went in South Shields, - and to show off my prowess at carving a pumpkin! Click on the thumbnails to enlarge.

The miner

2006-10-31T00:03:00.000+01:00

Museum piece

South Shields once had many coal mines dating back to the Templetown mine, others were at Harton, and Westoe, and Boldon. This is an exhibit in South Shields Museum and Art Gallery and shows a hewer working in a typical 36 inch coal seam, which was physically demanding. All of our mines are now closed. There is a great history of the Durham and Northumberland mine fields here.

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Arbeia

2006-10-30T01:00:00.000+01:00

More Roman History

Arbeia Roman Fort stands on The Lawe, South Shields, there are extensive excavations of the site which housed a garrison of Roman soldiers and granaries to supply Hadrian's Wall. The fort also has an excellent museum showing many of the artefacts unearthed during the lengthy and ongoing excavations. This is a picture of the reconstructed west gate, there is also a reconstruction of the living quarters of a centurion and the commanding officer.

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Sandhaven

2006-10-29T00:41:00.000+01:00

The harbour

This is our harbour where the River Tyne flows into the North Sea, the picture shows the Sandhaven Hotel, Sandhaven Beach, the Groyne pier, and "the Conversation Piece" (a public sculpture commonly known as the "weebles")

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Regina

2006-10-28T00:19:00.000+01:00

Roman history

This replica of the Roman godess Regina can be found in the corner of the Asda supermarket car park in South Shields. The original Roman artefact found near the site, is now housed in the Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum just a few hundred yards away.

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Crusaders

2006-10-27T00:02:00.000+01:00

The Jarrow March

It is 70 years since 200 men set off on foot from Jarrow to march to London during the depression years in their quest for jobs. They were led from Jarrow by their Member of Parliament "Red Ellen" Wilkinson, this bronze statue has been erected in Jarrow town centre to commemorate the struggle of their menfolk.

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Little ships

2006-10-26T00:05:00.000+01:00

Market Dock - Captain's Wharf

This is a work of public art, a collection of stainless steel ships floating in the remains of Brigham and Cowans dry dock. Amazingly this former shipyard had it's land reclaimed and redeveloped with nice new houses with a riverside view. Click on the map link to see the development.

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Flags

2006-10-25T00:12:00.000+01:00

Market standards

You can buy almost anything in South Shields market! As you will see by clicking on the map link, our market is quite big and surrounds the old Town Hall; market days are Monday and Saturday, on Friday there is a flea market.

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Make ready to sail

2006-10-24T00:10:00.000+01:00

DFDS Ferry

The DFDS ferry, King of Scandinavia, gets ready for a regular cruise to Amsterdam from her berth in North Shields. This roll on-roll off ship carries thousands of tourists and their cars to the continent every year from the International Ferry Terminal opposite the Customs House (see previous post.) As you can see, it was another grey day!

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Night at the opera

2006-10-23T00:02:00.000+01:00

The Customs House

This old building in the Mill Dam, South Shields, sits on the bank of the River Tyne and was formerly the Customs House used to collect revenues and taxes from the shipping that used the Port of Tyne. It has now been converted to an arts centre where you can enjoy opera, theatre, cinema, live music, art galleries, comedy, pantomines etc.

It is speculated that at the time of the Roman occupation the river had a delta and this second stream ran through the town from here, the Mill Dam, creating an island which the Romans built their fort upon.

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Window Triptych

2006-10-22T00:01:00.000+01:00

Stained Glass

These windows are displayed in South Shields Museum and Art Gallery, sorry about the upward looking view, I was standing on a staircase leading up to them. They were originally installed in two different churches; the two outside panes depict St. Luke (left) and St. John (right) from St. Andrew's United Reform Church in Hebburn, they were donated to the trustees in 1982, the centre pane is from Holy Trinity Church in Laygate, South Shields and was donated by the Diocese of Durham in 1980.

Neither of the two churches still exist.

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Burger Bob bogged down!

2006-10-21T00:13:00.000+01:00

Rainy day.

I was planning to post something completely different today, then I thought, why not show you just what the weather brought us?
This is Bob's burger van in the B&Q car park, South Shields just before noon today, it had been raining cats and dogs for at least an hour before I happened upon this scene. It took another hour for the flooding to subside.

"Do mine with plenty relish Bob, and just float it out please!"

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