Sunday 18th August 2024

Woke around 0830. Hauled myself out of bed...feeling very weary today, despite a relatively good night's sleep. We descended for breakfast. Mum and dad joined us. Aki and I walked down to the Co-op at Darras to get some provisions...had decided to cook coq au vin for dinner. Walked back up Whinfell Road. Started cooking the chicken. Aki packed her bags, and then prepared lunch. Drove Aki into Newcastle to get the 1451 train back to Kings Cross. Managed to find a parking spot near St James' stadium, and bought a couple of hours...walked into toon. Ambled down to the Bridge Hotel, and took in the view from the High Level Bridge. Treated myself to a half of lager in the Bridge Hotel, then walked up Dean Street, popping in to the guitar shop at the bottom of the hill to buy a set of strings. Walked up to the Central Arcade and had a quick browse in Windows music shop, then bought a book at Waterstones. Wandered around Fenwicks and John Lewis's photographing kettles to show to John. Drove home. Took the chicken off the bone, as I reckoned the thighs were way too big for mum and dad...good value, though! Kath came round for dinner. Watched a bit of telly, then ventured upstairs to rehearse some "Worst Witch" songs, before descending for The Ten. Caught some MOTD2 before retiring to bed...