We had set the radio alarm to wake us in plenty of time for a 10 am departure. I awoke to hear the breaking news that ‘Talk Talk’ (our email/web provider) had experienced a cyber attack and that users details had been downloaded. I lay in bed considering logging on to change the passwords to the accounts as advised. There was an additional problem in that all the account details and passwords were in an encrypted file on Mr C’s computer which had experienced a fatal disc crash a few days previously. Between us we remembered a few of the passwords and then I had a brainwave and remembered that I had a printed copy somewhere and quite surprisingly (to me) I remembered exactly where it was.
I logged onto the Talk Talk website and found that the members accounts page had been taken off line which meant it was impossible to change the passwords as advised. We could have done without the hassle but as there was nothing more to be done I filed it away as, there is nothing I can do to change what will happen, so whatever will be ‘will be’.
Despite the unexpected hassle we managed to set off on time, picking Mum up before we set off on our long journey to Newcastle. We broke our journey for a drink in the motorway services. Then later we had intended to stop in Kirkby Lonsdale for lunch but there was not a parking space to be had so we carried on driving to Brough where we knew there was a nice tea shop next to the ruined castle. After lunch we continued on our journey to Newcastle, arriving mid afternoon. On arrival at the Vermont we checked in and dropped our bags off in our rooms before taking a stroll along the quayside.
After the walk we returned to the hotel to unpack our bags and freshen up before dinner in the hotel restaurant. After dinner we retired to the hotel reception/bar to wait for my brother and his lady to arrive. As we were sitting enjoying a glass of wine we overheard an American asking at reception, if he needed a passport to travel from the UK to Scotland…
My brother got a little lost in Newcastle, but he eventually turned up and we sat chatting until well after midnight.
And in the meantime, lots of bridges to keep you entertained, I see.
The bridges are fabulous
Oh I have only been through Newcastle many times on the train.
Check this out:
I guess I need to make a proper stop over in the near future.
Just saw your “Rest a while with me” poppy bench.
You know what?! I saw the same bench in Hereford last week.
But it came with a Poppy Man (Hereford bull not included!), slightly cooler than yours. I guess.
http://www.ipernity.com/doc/498743/39344768
Newcastle is well worth a visit. Lots to see and photograph
The ‘Rest a while with me’ poppy benches are part of the WWI commemorations and can be seen in various locations around the country
we overheard an American asking at reception, if he needed a passport to travel from the UK to Scotland…
You should’ve answered “Yes, and take your pocket Gaelic translator because everyone still only speaks Gaelic and there’s a secret handshake, too, they won’t let you in unless you know it, it goes like this…”
…and then proceed to teach them a handshake with very odd hand gestures that you, Mr. C. and your mum can giggle about to yourself, later, at the thought of them trying to greet people with it in Scotland later
Wow, allow me to apologize on behalf of American ignorance, but at the same time, with all the border and security issues lately, perhaps it actually wouldn’t hurt any country to double check anyone.
Your room looked cozy and who can beat the view? (Except the questionable “shiny” glass building I think we’ve discussed here before, yes?)
What a mess with “Talk Talk,” hope it all was straightened out in the end
The thing that amused us the most is that he didn’t say from England to Scotland. Scotland is after all part of the UK
Many years ago Mr C did play that trick about crossing the border from England to Wales convincing one of his friends who had recently settled in the UK that they needed a passport to cross between the two!! He has never been allowed to forget it
The shiny glass slug is quite out of place in between all those bridges
With regards to Talk Talk, I seem to be experiencing email problems today. I am missing some that should have arrived and when I try to send emails they linger in my outbox in the process of sending for quite some time!!
“The shiny glass slug”
Ha! One of my friends called it the sea slug
To be fair, it does look very good on the inside but not so good from the outside.
an engaging post, CP. and i like the shots from different periods of the day
Thanks Ayush
Hi CherryPie , I have been to Newcastle but only once and that was the shopping centre , when my son lived up near there. Also been through it on the train but that is about it. Will have to do more travel in the UK , I think ..
I hope that you get your Talk Talk sorted it
..
Newcastle is well worth a visit. I fell in love with it many years ago
Are those middle pics taken at twilight? Lovely! Did you remember to take coal with you to Newcastle? haha
The pictures were taken just as the sun was about to set. I have a couple of pictures where you can just see the sun setting.
That looks like a good bed. Allways a problem for me. We hat a better cabin on the ship to newcastle, I need a better bed. We are allways so bussy, that we had no time for Newcastle.
Sigrun
I prefer my bed at home, but it wasn’t a bad bed.
So glad I resisted them when they were hanging about the supermarket and mall.
Presumably you are meaning Talk Talk?
Some people in the south either think Newcastle is in Scotland or not bothered if it was !!
Some people don’t know their geography well.