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Calling all Geordies!

 
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Julia



Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 556
Location: a hillside desolate

PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:07 am    Post subject: Calling all Geordies! Reply with quote

Hello all,
I know there are a lot of people from the Newcastle area on these boards... so was wondering if any of you would be able to help me:

I'm looking for the nearest ice rink - I've googled it and even looked in the yellow pages but can't seem to find anything?!

I'm a figure skater but am worried I won't remember it anymore Shocked Must get back into it - and get those skates out from under the bed

Thanks guys Very Happy
Julia
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Rachel
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Julia,

when I was a wee lass we used to go to Whitley Bay Ice Rink ... It's not too far from the toon........

http://www.whitleybayicerink.co.uk/

Oh there's a great fun park there as well ... the one that features in many Dire Straits Tracks .... Tunnel of Love -Making Movies being one of them ... It's called Spanish City... or it was when I was last there in 1977.

"And girl you looks so pretty to me, like it always did, just like the Spanish City to me, when we we're kids"

A fountain of trivia ... that's me... Wink
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Julia



Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 556
Location: a hillside desolate

PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 11:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Rach Smile

.. I just hope my skates still fit!
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Fog on the Tyne



Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 1094

PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 5:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rach,you're right about the ice rink but sadly the Spanish City is no more. Crying or Very sad Unfortunately Whitley Bay has ,like many resorts, fallen on hard times.The beach is still lovely but there's little else left of a traditional British sea-side town. Nowadays it's more a venue for stag and hen nights and weekends. Sad
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mark occomore



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 9955
Location: UK

PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rachel wrote:


http://www.whitleybayicerink.co.uk/




I remember when I went there when I was a kid and living in Ashington and Morpeth.
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Rachel
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fog on the Tyne wrote:
Rach,you're right about the ice rink but sadly the Spanish City is no more. Crying or Very sad Unfortunately Whitley Bay has ,like many resorts, fallen on hard times.The beach is still lovely but there's little else left of a traditional British sea-side town. Nowadays it's more a venue for stag and hen nights and weekends. Sad


Hi Foggy ... No Spanish City!! Shocked that was "the" place to go when we were young.... it was the treat of year to go there. I'm quite sad about it not being there anymore Sad ...... Makes the Dire Straits songs about the place even more important.


Last edited by Rachel on Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:12 am; edited 1 time in total
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iwarburton



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 2133
Location: Northumberland

PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Have been in the Whitley Bay area a bit recently as our daughter-in-law was in North Tyneside Hospital, locally known as Rake Lane, having our second grandson. It was a bit touch and go but mum, baby and dad are all home and doing fine now. On Saturday Mrs W and I had a bit of time to kill so had a walk on WB's sea front--attractive but you can't miss the slightly down-on-its-luck atmosphere.

Ian.
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Rachel
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Spanish City as it was... when we were kids




Julia, Smile

get those skates on ( did they fit?)... it'll be all tripple toelooops and double axels before you know it....... Smile
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Behind Geddon's Wall



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 1553
Location: Kingston Upon Hull/ The Cloud Factory

PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 1:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ian,
Unfortunately that air of faded past glories is continued down the East Coast.
Bridlington is pinning its hopes on a london-eye style big wheel to bring in the tourists. It has lost a lot of light industry of late.
Hornsea and Withernsea haven't changed since the 1960's, except to lose the Sunday markets which brought in the folk from the Caravan sites. Generally there is an air of depression from these town that were vibrant seaside towns and now are dormitory town for Hull.
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Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil
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iwarburton



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 2133
Location: Northumberland

PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, I visited Bridlington for a weekend in 2002 when my choir gave a concert there. You couldn't miss the air of slight decadence. And the hotel was much the worst in which I've ever stayed in on such an occasion. But the hosts, at the Methodist Church, were kind and friendly.

Ian.
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Cherskiy



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 3701
Location: near Amble, Northumberland

PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rachel, it doesn't look like that now - maybe I'll pop down the coast this weekend and take a comparison photograph for you! Crying or Very sad

Julia, you'll be fighting through the little charvas at the Whitley rink. It's a five minute walk up Hillheads Road from the Whitley Bay Metro station - pass the supermarket on the right hand side of the road, the rink is another 600 yards or so on the left.
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iwarburton



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 2133
Location: Northumberland

PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

To develop the Geordie link a little, all credit to James Whale, who on Steve Wright's show yesterday sang the praises of Northumberland, where he lived when he was on Newcastle's Metro Radio many years ago (I remember seeing him around once or twice). I've long believed that the County is one of England's underrated treasures. Do you agree? Do you know another part of the UK to which the same applies?

Ian.
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Behind Geddon's Wall



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 1553
Location: Kingston Upon Hull/ The Cloud Factory

PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Yorkshire Wolds. The bumpy bit on the Journey from Howden to Brid, from Beverley to Malton, or from Hull to York on the 2nd worst road on the country, the A1079.

Lots of villages ( and Pubs), Wetwang ( it has its own Mayor, Paul Hudson, used to be Richard Whitely), The Tea stop at Fimber, Stamford Bridge ( the original, not the bit of green in London), Rolling hills, Spectacular views, Sledmere House, The drop down into the vale of Pickering at either North Grimston, or Staxton, Bempton Cliffs ( RSPB ), Flamborough Head.

I could go on for a lot longer, but i think the Boss is watching.
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Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil
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Cherskiy



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 3701
Location: near Amble, Northumberland

PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

iwarburton wrote:
To develop the Geordie link a little, all credit to James Whale, who on Steve Wright's show yesterday sang the praises of Northumberland, where he lived when he was on Newcastle's Metro Radio many years ago (I remember seeing him around once or twice). I've long believed that the County is one of England's underrated treasures. Do you agree? Do you know another part of the UK to which the same applies?

Ian.


Well, as far as Northumberland goes - you could pick any of the following as under-rated treasures that don't feature in the normal guidebooks:

Allen Banks
College Valley
Coquet Valley
Embleton Beach
Etal
Harthope Valley
Langley Viaduct
Simonside
Stonehaugh
Swinhoe Lakes
Thrunton Woods/Coe Crag

Elsewhere in the UK?

Orkney (but I'm biased!) - yes, it gets a few tourists during the season but it never feels crowded and I've never seen it plugged much in the holiday programmes or magazine articles.

Numerous archaelogical remains, plenty of islands to explore, good local produce to sample, amazing sunsets and friendly locals.
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Julia



Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 556
Location: a hillside desolate

PostPosted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thank you everybody for the skating rink info Smile

not got the skates out yet... will take them home over the holidays and hopefully get to Whitley Bay one after easter Smile ... sit spins here I come!

I am surprised though that there are so few rinks! We have about 4/5 in glasgow
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Fog on the Tyne



Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 1094

PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just an update on the Spanish City

[img]


Looking rather sad and broken.Around the back where there was once a funfair there's a new school.[/img]
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Rachel
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looking pretty grim now.... Crying or Very sad
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