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.

The fact that the Public and Commercial Services trade union had called a strike on Wednesday gave me the excuse to take an extra day off and accompany Mr C to Newcastle where he was delivering a training course on Thursday.  I have fond memories of business trips to Newcastle a number of years ago and I was long overdue another visit.  Those of you who read me regularly will know that Northumberland is one of my favourite parts of the world.

I got my bits and pieces ready in the morning and set off for the north just after lunch.  By the time we reached Leeming Bar it was time for a refreshing cup of tea at a motorway service station.  It was distinctly chilly when I stepped out of the car, but on setting foot inside the service station I realised that it was even more chilly inside!!  Then I sat on the wooden chair…  Needless to say I didn’t take my coat off and I drank my tea quickly before it went cold.

Once in Newcastle we drove a couple of circuits trying to spot the hotel and then as every good photographer knows to do I looked up.  I could just see the neon  sign of the Hotel Vermont peeping out from behind another wall and luckily there was one last space on the car park.  As I entered the hotel I noticed a Ferrari and a Rolls Royce flanking either side of the entrance door.

The hotel reception is currently being refurbished and a temporary reception was set up at one end of the dining room.  Booking in was a little cramped. The reservation had been for up to two people but they never did ask who the second person was and there was none of the usual signing a registration document…

There was just enough time to unpack before going down to dinner.  The weather was a little bit iffy so we stayed in the hotel for a meal.  For some reason we got free veg and free drinks at the end of the meal although we did have to retreat to the other side of the dining room for the drinks, it had dropped decidedly chilly outside and there was an avalanche of cold air coming off the windows!

As you can see from the photo I dropped lucky and got a ‘room with a view‘ again