Author: Alan Hooper
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The Botanist Newcastle
I was at a loose end and my mother offered to take us out for Sunday Lunch. So I decided we should try somewhere we’d never been. I was sick of going back to the same places like the Toby and Crowne Carvery. This time we’d take a risk and experience the unknown. Imogen was…
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Just So Festival 2016
The summer holidays are getting closer and it’s almost a little daunting to think about six weeks of occupying our kids. One of our thoughts was an extended camping experience, but then we also thought about festivals. However when we thought back to the festivals we attended ten plus years ago, they weren’t suitable for…
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Now You See Me 2
Back in 2013 Catherine and me went on a date night to the Odeon in the Metro Centre. Generally our experience of the cinema had been a shrug and “yeah, it was alright”. So to set this date night on the right track we upgraded our seats to the Gallery and trough-ed lots of sweets,…
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Great Park’s Parks and Playgrounds
Around 5 years ago we decided it was time to relocate from St Peters Basin, to Newcastle Great Park. There were several reasons for this, but the primary one was that we had a 1 Year old Imogen. Living by the river was great for a young couple who enjoyed the proximity of everything Newcastle’s…
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The Secret Life of Pets
A little under two weeks after we waved goodbye to our dog sitting duties, Cat spotted that The Secret Life of Pets was released at Vue Cinema. The film had sort of skipped under the radar and didn’t seem to have that much hype about it. And sadly (in a way), when I realised it…
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Sage Summer Party
We received a flyer through the door the other day inviting us to Sage‘s Summer Party as their head office on the Great Park. We’d been to one a few years ago and it was a pleasant afternoon out. Our diary was empty… what could be more fun than a party organised by an accountancy…
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Geocaching in the Dark!
Ok I admit it I am a Geocaching addict. I started this exploration adventure around the beginning of May and I just can’t stop. It’s got so bad that Imogen has started to talk Geocaching to anyone that will listen. Our current weekend routine involves getting up at 7am and driving out to get a…
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Blaydon Race 2016
It was on the 9th of June that world-famous Blaydon Race took place. Ever since the song immortalised it the race has been done on the same day. Our friends (The Coulsons) Stephen and Louise, suggested the race and I like to rise to a challenge. Preparation It was Thursday evening at 7:15 that race…
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Seussical The Musical
We’ve been to Durham several times and walked past the Gala Theatre. We’d never stepped foot into the building until last night, when we went to see Seussical the Musical. Durham Gala Theatre The Gala Theatre is a new modern building right in the centre of Durham. It’s interior is clean simple and modern and…
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Camping in Kendal
When the early May Bank Holiday camping trip fell to pieces due to Weather, Boiler and Car issues, we knew we had to get another one booked in. So we looked for somewhere within a 2 hour range from home and Kendal fell into place. Camping in Kendal We’d joined up to the Camping and…