tanja

It was my last weekend in Newcastle, and I felt guilty lying in bed with the shades drawn, even if I did feel ill - especially with such lovely weather outside. I did not want to be a Morrissey song, at least not at that moment. So Saturday, I went to my new favorite little cafe and ate a prosciutto and gorgonzola salad, which was as odd as it sounds. Then I managed to make it to the OXFAM charity shop next door, where I bought a 1913 edition of Why Marriage? and some other odds and ends. I grew wobbly in spite of the meal, and made it back to the B&B where I again collapsed in bed.

But I resolved to make Sunday more productive, no matter what my state. I signed myself up for a river cruise along the Tyne. and was the third in line, anxiously waiting to board the ship. Lucky me, I got a bird's eye view.

but the ship didnt seem to want to leave for what felt like hours. When we finally embarked on our three-our Gilliganesque voyage, I turned around to see nothing but a sea of elderly faces in visors and giant sunglasses staring back at me. There was no doubt I was the youngest passenger on the boat, by decades. The first hour was interesting. The history of the seven bridges, as told by our fisherman cap-wearing guide, was colorful and informative. But when our vessel turned towards the other direction and all we passed were paint and lubricant factories, abandoned shipyards, and various other industrial tableaux, and the commentary was still going (right into my ear, mind you), I decided to head down to the ships bar. I proceeded to get good and drunk on Stella, otherwise I would have jumped overboard when I realized that we had two more hours of the cruise to go.

I made it back to the B&B feeling semi-accomplished. Then Tuesday, my friend and coworker took me to see, yes, Mtley Cre.



I wore a purple camisole-style dress and purple boots that used to be pants, but have since been cut off at the the thighs. Its not like Im crazy about the Crue - I like them enough just for being so over-the-top and from my hometown, but I gotta say, the guys rocked. Especially poor little, brittle Mick Mars, who is in his 50s and, up until a few months ago, weighed 103 pounds due to a painkiller habit and a degenerative spine disorder. He was actually playing, and playing well, bless him.

Thank heavens I had Wednesday off; I slept till noon and went off for another salad (blue cheese and walnut this time.) I walked into town to meet YUSHi who was in Newcastle for the day. He approached me at our meeting place at Greys Monument just as some sleazy guy was trying to chat me up. Instantly, any awkwardness I feared would result from the meeting quickly disappeared. I was surprised at how insightful, passionate, and wise beyond his years he appeared to be - and adorable, too.

We headed off to a rock bar, completely empty at 4:00 in the afternoon. That is, empty except for the kindly but boring couple beside us who felt the need to share the details of their voyage to Orlando, lost luggage and all. We got them to take a picture of us, though, before we left.



After the rock bar was a ritzy glass wine bar on the Quayside, where we consumed more alcohol and ate some Mexican food. Yushi then guided me to yet another bar that I had heard of, and we drank more and ate sticky toffee pudding and chocolate cake. Not feeling satisfied food-wise, we then went to Pizza Hut and, yes, ate more. Then it was time for YUSHi to catch his train, and we hugged goodbye. Not knowing him long enough to feel sad, but long enough to wonder about meeting and parting and life and all that, I resolved that somehow, that meant I would see him again.

And now tomorrow is my last day in Newcastle; Saturday Im off to London
where Ill be going to see Roots Manuva at the Wireless Festival as soon as I land. Sunday Ive some touristy things planned, then its off to see Grandpa. Not long before Im back in L.A. with some perspective and new plans...