Die Reise nach Wien – iii
July 18th, 2026
“Das lichtmaschine ist kaput”
After two eventful weeks in the Austrian capital we said our goodbyes. It was the end of a relationship for me and so a blue return home alleviated by the company of a bi-lingual native who knew the region. The journey would have been far more difficult without him which leads me to wonder if he had been encouraged to travel on my behalf as much as his own desire to visit London.
I don’t remember the journey back from Vienna until the German city of Wurzburg where the red light on the dashboard came on once again indicating a loss of charging from the dynamo and this time it was terminal. “Das lichtmaschine ist kaput” were the mechanics exact words, late at night at a garage in Wurzburg, which is where from memory we spent the night while I believe the battery was charged while we slept, since there would be no more engine charging available.
Die Reise nach Wien – ii
July 18th, 2026
“I wouldn’t take that out if it was made of gold”
The evening of our arrival consisted of a welcome home for my girlfriend and a buffet. For me, meeting the family and at last a good night’s sleep – but the state of the car weighed heavily on my mind and the following days were devoted to its further repair.
My two week stay in Vienna involved spending the first few days underneath the car in a garage pit made available by a friend of the family. The missing fourth gear had become a priority being one of many items preventing any chance of a return to England in that vehicle, and I could not afford another.
Die Reise nach Wien
July 18th, 2026
“You will not get to Vienna in this rustbucket”
Nearly fifty years ago I had to decide whether to say goodbye to my girlfriend at the airport, or drive her back to Vienna in order that we could spend some more time together before saying goodbye. A friend of hers owned an old Morris Minor ready for the scrap heap, in spite of which we accepted the offer of a loan. Such is the folly of youth.
Read the rest of this entry »Elswick Newcastle – research notes
November 13th, 2017
I was planning to write this up and perhaps one day I will. But the closer I look the more the subject grows and the less I actually know about the district. You can see my walk above and I met some interesting people but life is taking over and this will have to wait. Likewise Byker. So I’ll leave these notes here for anybody else planning to go.
Jesmond – schools, big houses, 4x4s, and students in Tyneside flats
November 9th, 2017
My walking route from Sainsburys High Heaton. Yellow pins points of interest, many missed though later research found them.
Jesmond – research notes
November 8th, 2017
Faulkner, Beacock and Jones (<£10 on Amazon)
A building list in the order in which they appear in the book – with notes from Pevsner Northumberland when found.
“Jesmond was no more than a village up to the middle of the C19th when it became the residential suburb for the wealthiest inhabitants. The monuments reflect both these aspects.” p254/5 [1]
North Shields in the sunshine
October 20th, 2017
I like North Shields. Its impressive collection of buildings on Howard Street, and along from the ferry to Fish Quay and beyond are ample reason to praise it as one of the most attractive districts of North Tyneside.
I came to know it gradually, firstly Howard Street in fading light at the end of a long day in Hebburn, Tynemouth and Whitley Bay. Then in bright sunshine three days later one afternoon when the walk East from the ferry along New Quay, past the former Northumberland Arms (aka the Jungle) and then the former Porthole and Golden Fleece (now architects offices) to Union Quay showed the area at its best.
Later up the steps to High Town past the High Light and up Howard Street in the evening sunlight watching the DFDS ferry leave for Amsterdam.
Another look at North Shields
A wet walk round Tynemouth
October 20th, 2017
Misty Priory
Below the intention outlined in blue. Above the reality seen through rain. We’ll start with my wet arrival in Tynemouth and come back to the housing search further down the page.
A flying visit to Hebburn
October 18th, 2017
Newcastle – Tyne & Wear – reading and walks
October 17th, 2017
If you are able to start with this book, read every page and use the buildings you like as stops on your tour. Some of the better known buildings have been demolished such as the Dunston Rocket and the Gateshead car park. The Elswick Swimming pool is out of use through lack of funding.
I haven’t been paid to say this it’s just that having found it in Byker library I wish I had read it before coming to Newcastle because I missed some good buildings and I don’t want you to repeat my mistake.
Otherwise continue below where I have provided all the information I could find from the libraries for interesting walks.