back to town

Back in Newcastle again today, bit fresher than yesterday. As I waited to cross the road at Pilgrim street/Blackett Street, I found myself standing next to a young straight couple, holding hands tightly. On the other side of them a middle-aged, balding, ginger man stared at them.

Presumably because one half of the couple was wearing a burkha. Wait for it... Wait for it... Ginger man is clearing his throat.. here it comes...

"Ah'm not bein' cheeky or nowt, but..."

There we go! Trust me, anything a Geordie says that starts with the words "I'm not being cheeky or nowt" will always offend you. I wanted to stay and join in what was probably going to be quite an entertaining discussion between the three of them, but the traffic signals started bleeping and I crossed the road, but not before I heard the response of the couple. They burst out laughing and said "Aww, ne way man!"

I do like Newcastle, it feels more culturally diverse than Edinburgh. Driving into range of BBC Radio Newcastle, I got to tune in for the nightly 2-hour Bhangra and Urban Flavazzz show; I just missed Newcastle Mela last weekend, and there's L'Afrique a Newcastle in a week or so.

Walking through the Grainger market (traditional Victorian market, lots of fruiterers, butchers wearing stripey aprons, cheap clothes, the oldest M&S still runnin) I spotted a sign on one of the Butchers:

"Sick of Barneys at the Kebab shop? Get the last bus home + make your own! ask us how!"