a Northumbrian abroad
Froth and frippery
Felixstowe Ferry
Jul 24th
I visited a favourite Suffolk haunt today. Just beyond North Felixstowe is the hamlet of Felixstowe Ferry, where the River Deben flows in to the sea, and you can see the Bawdsey peninsula. Felixstowe Ferry is well worth a visit – it’s often busy, but not overly touristy or developed. There is plenty of freshly landed fish for sale.
The power of Twitter and generous people
Mar 16th
Every couple of months I drive up to Orford – it’s one of those rare places in the UK where the sky seems a little bigger, and the light a little warmer. Watching over the village is the arresting Orford Ness lighthouse.
One cold afternoon in January I stumbled on the news that Orford Ness lighthouse had been recommended for closure, and had an idea. An idea which, thanks to Twitter, I could simultaneously share with the world and pitch directly to Radio 4 continuity announcer and Suffolk-born man Zeb Soanes:
What began and ended with a few casual (and easily forgotten) keystrokes for me was the beginning of a chain of thought and real time commitment for Zeb, so it’s really pleasing that by his own account he had an enjoyable time reading an excerpt of the shipping forecast from the lighthouse this morning.
This recording is from today’s Lesley Dolphin show on BBC Radio Suffolk and yes, of course, I blushed a little at the name check.
Five reasons to visit Northumberland
Feb 28th
As I begin to write this I’m on an East Coast train with the Tyne Bridge to disappearing to my left. When heading back down south there’s always a sense that I’m leaving behind a special place. I guess many people feel a close connection with where they were born, but above and beyond that the reason I bang on (and on and on) about Northumberland to people from further afield is that I really think it’s one of the most beautiful places in the country.
So if you’ve never been, I thought I’d try and lure you with five possible reasons why Northumberland might one day win you over, with the aid of the interweb:
- PUFFINS, on the Farne Islands – who could resist? Northumberland is also one of the last remaining places in the country where you can see red Squirrels.
- A thriving regional music tradition, centred around the Northumbrian small pipes
- If you spend a lot of time in the cities, you might want to experience the empty open spaces of the Cheviot Hills or the North Pennines
- After you’ve had a Stottie, a regular sandwich will never seem quite as filling (and you can pick up a Greggs Steak Bake for 80p!)
- And finally, who can forget Hadrian’s Wall? I don’t think it’s possible to truly understand the history of the United Kingdom without standing on one of the high vantage points and taking in the scale of the construction. On that note, on 13 March the good people of The North will be illuminating Hadrian’s Wall – definitely a spectacle worth seeing.
If I can be cheeky and squeeze in a sixth, and one you can’t easily prove online, I’d say one of the defining characteristics of Northumberland and the North East is that though life is still hard for a good many people (and there are parts of the area where you can see poverty deeply etched on the faces of the residents) you’re never too far from a smile from a stranger. We were brought up proper, we were.
Francesco Mazzei launch @ Pizza Express
Feb 2nd
I had a great night on Monday at the launch of the Francesco Mazzei menu at Pizza Express, courtesy of Mark Pack, and the lovely ladies of 1000heads. Lisa, one of the said lovely ladies, handled my tipping half a flute of Champagne over her with admirable grace and professionalism.
Each of the Franceso Mazzei menu additions were a delight in their own way, though the Calabrese should come with a health warning. HOT. I was stunned in to silence for upwards of a minute, and that is quite something.
I believe the menu is being rolled out nationwide from today – try the Rustichella. To die for. In time it may even tempt me from My Usual.
But then again, perhaps not… why break a habit developed over 10 years?
Christmas in Northumberland
Dec 26th
It’s been a beautiful white Christmas in north-east Northumberland, so I thought I’d share some photos of the area around Alnwick: More >
Vlog: Church and state – something public buildings can learn from churches
Nov 7th
To the Church of St Peter, Chillesford today. There’s always a slight moment of apprehension when you try the door of a rural church – you never know whether or not it’s open to the public. This church had an approach which was simple, but put the visitor at ease straight away.
I’ve been looking for an opportunity to try out the video camera on my new phone (HTC Hero), and though I’m a bit disappointed with the recording quality, here’s the resulting vlog on that church, and some thoughts on opening up public buildings.
