Today was a calmer day, it was difficult to follow Edinburgh!

Breakfast was devoured promptly and the girls set to work on their diaries, worksheets and reading. No photographic evidence of that, unfortunately.

Before lunch, we took Pip for a walk and I threw the girls in at the deep end. I handed them a purse and a bag outside the bakery, and told them to go in and buy a loaf. Daria looked at me in absolute horror! I emphasised that I couldn’t take the dog in with me, so I had to wait outside. Luckily, Marina was up for the challenge and in they went, Pip sat outside howling at the loss of his two new besties. Daria was adamant that it was very stressful. We got to the farm shop, and I wanted Strawberry Jam – and anything that they might want, I got the jam – and they were less stressed. Following this, we got to the Deli, and I thought that this might be too much, so Pip sat outside with Daria – and not a murmur from him.

We took the opportunity afforded us by the absence of rain, and walked down to the seaside, so that the girls could see Whitley Bay beach and the typical seaside atrocities – fish ‘n’ chips shops, amusement arcade and ice cream parlours. The tide was in, so the lighthouse was connected to the shoreline. I pointed out the key local features – Leli’s future school and the road Camilla lives in – wildly exciting.

On the way back, they went in and bought some cakes – and that went far more successfully, they’re getting the hang of it.

Marina acting as chef, and Daria as sous-chef, lunch was made and thoroughly enjoyed.

The afternoon’s entertainment was a trip into Newcastle to see it properly. Arriving at the Monument Metro station, we ascended to a musical accompaniment – buskers everywhere, people on deckchairs – some crazy stunt by the council, they’re all over the place, parks, riverside etc.

I was about to give my usual spiel about Earl Grey at the top of the monument, but sadly the girls weren’t familiar with Earl Grey tea, so that didn’t go well. Then we walked past the National Theatre – currently showing The Bodyguard – the Musical – they hadn’t heard of Whitney Houston – oh it’s terrible to be so old that all the references that I take for granted are meaningless to the young. (Although it turned out that when I forced them to listen to Whitney Houston at dinner time, they recognised the song, so all is right with the world – all I need now is to buy some Earl Grey tea, then mission accomplished).

We walked down towards the river – taking in the architecture and many pubs, restaurants etc. The weather had picked up, so it wasn’t actually too bad. As we approached The Tyne, we got a good view of the various bridges before crossing the Millenium Bridge. The goal of all of this walking was to get to the Baltic Centre, which has a good 5^th floor viewing gallery of the town. We could make out the monument, with the terrible back drop of St. James’ Park (Newcastle United’s football ground, for anyone who is interested). It isn’t anything as exciting as being atop the Camera Obscura, but the weather had turned out more decent.

I felt that we could at least have a look at one of the exhibitions (we had peaked at the gardening one – ‘The Waiting Gardens of the North’, which had left us puzzled). So, we looked in on the  Chris Killip retrospective. Having been influenced by Henri Cartier-Bresson to become a photographer, and then bored stiff with the New York scene in the 1970s, he returned to the North East to document the lives of the poor in the Thatcher era (I gave a brief breakdown of my views on Margaret Thatcher, I actually left out quite a lot! – I’ll explain the milk-snatcher reference when the girls see this tomorrow). It was actually quite poignant for me, but I’m not sure what the girls made of it. I fear that they’re too polite to tell me what a waste of time it was. However, for me, pictures of children’s playgrounds with tall smoking chimneys behind them, houses right next to a ship being built, young people looking incredibly bored and with new future prospects – it was both depressing and well produced.

We headed back, passing through Newcastle castle – I still find it incredible that you’ve got the Norman Keep on the one side of the railway bridge going into Central Station, and the rest of the castle on the other side – who knows what they could have destroyed! The girls were keen to see it, but sadly, by then it had gone 4pm and therefore last admission had passed.

We explored St. Nicholas Cathedral instead, which was far more interesting. They had done a lot to involve young people, so the girls made a brass rubbing and then we walked around an otherwise unimpressive cathedral. What was interesting was the presence of Shaun the Sheep! All around Newcastle, there are copies of Shaun the Sheep decorated/designed with an array of different motifs – and here too, by the entrance to the choir, was another one – with a wall behind filled with children’s pictures of sheep. All of it is for St. Oswald’s Hospice, part of a fundraising project – we saw at least five today.

Walking back I pointed out the Stephenson monument, I am fairly certain that Daria and Marina are not impressed by George Stephenson’s invention of the steam engine and the key role it had in putting the UK ahead of the rest of the world in the Industrial Revolution (there speaks the Year 9 history teacher), but they should really thank me that I’m not taking them to the Stephenson Museum, that is a must for steam engine enthusiasts (of which I am not one, so I haven’t been there either). Yet, I am happy to point out the statue…

We walked through Grainger Market that was a shadow of its lunchtime heaving self, I really don’t like crowds, so I was good with that – but I concede that we’ll have to go back when it is at full capacity, as it is one of the attractions.

I showed the girls the shopping centre and gave them 30 minutes of free time, I can happily drag others around historical sites, but no-one can drag me around shops aimlessly. The girls seemed pretty pleased, and it is on the list for a return visit.

Once home, Marina and Daria were introduced to the evening’s challenge – following a recipe in English to make their dinner – it was very clearly delicious, they did a fantastic job, whilst simultaneously dancing to Ed Sheeran and others. As well as a few bars of Whitney, they listened to Sting, who they recognised, Newcastle born and bred!

To finish off the evening, today’s biography was Beatrix Potter, the most successful children’s writer ever (according to the film). We watched ‘Miss Potter’ with Renee Zellwegger and Ewan McGregor (also total unknowns). Not the world’s most exciting film, although it is a good glimpse into Edwardian life of the rich, a life of appearances being more important – and of course women who didn’t get married to whomever they were ‘introduced’ to by their parents. As well as being beautifully filmed in the Lake District – 90 minutes away, so near yet so far.

Anyhow, tomorrow we’re off to see the Romans and in the evening the live performance of Britain’s history at Kynren – the forecast is actually fairly good (famous last words).