I dragged Si up to Newcastle this weekend to see all my old mates as I haven't been back since I moved to blackpool a year ago.
A missed shortcut meant we got their late but manage to drive past the angel of the north ond over the Tyne bridge to Oscars. A quick chill later we were off into the toon and first stop was the Trent House which is a great student pub which has been loved by generations, It has a cabinet of novelty condoms and claims to have the best juke box in the world. From there we moved over to a similar pub called the Forth which was far too noisy so after a toilet break it was off to Coco.v which was full of hen parties, stag parties and a waiter with a fantastic butt, as Oscar pointed out.
Then on to the Gay scene we started at a new bar called gossip which is part of the club. Bland bar, high prices. Then down to The Eagle (or the Vulture as oscar called it) this was always my HQ where the nights out would begin and end. When Simon saw the place he pointed out it looked like the hillbilly shooting range at the amusement arcade on the North Pier. By this point I had consumed several vodkas so recollections may get haizy. Over the course of the night we met up with many old friends including Mitch, Jeff, Bobby, Jason and many whos name I couldn't remember not to mention a few I have no recollection of ever seeing before in my life, but they all asked how I was doing in Blackpool. At some point we ended up over at the yard and heavens above although I cant remember much from there other than a fight broke out on the stairs. When we drunkenly made it back to the eagle se met up with paddy, a good friend who is far to intelligent and thinks too much or his own good.
By then it was time to go home, particularly as the drinks rounds were astronomical, as was the taxi fair home.
Day 2 started with the full tourist thing, breakfast in blakes (according to the observer the 50th best place in the country for breakfast) Then down the beautiful dean street, through the Sunday market and over the winking eye bridge to the Baltic art gallery where we popped up to the viewing platform to see the bridge raise . We then looked at all of the exhibitions, includeing a collection of paintings by Beryl Cook. This collection included a painting of sailors getting tattooed, which was slightly different to the drawing, on the same subject, by Tom of Finlad that we say earlier in the day in Oscars
collection.