Berwick, Newcastle and throbbing mouth

 Last day of February so I update now. Month started in Berwick-upon-Tweed, a place just over the border in England, hadn't really spent any time there before, but had passed through. It was quite a historical place with a wall more or less right round the centre (to keep the Scots out back then). It surpassed my expectations, was actually very nice, the place we were staying in-spent last 4 nights alone- was just over the bridge on the Tweedmouth side, just a 5 minute walk into centre of town. The weather really couldn't have been better, hardly a drop of rain, took the opportunity to travel by train down to Newcastle for a few hours, Newcastle being another place I had hardly been in before. All in all a good place to spend a week, and a good place to get over 10k steps every day, would go again. Perhaps the only downside were that the pubs weren't really up to much, probably the best being the Leaping Salmon (an ex-spoons) and The Thatch on the other side of river. I even got a couple of runs in-to Spittal- where there is a huge promenade and beach, so not very far from where I stayed. 

Got back home on the Friday, on the Saturday I went to work even though a toothache had started overnight. It got so bad I had to go home and called sick next day, was utter agony and had to wait until Monday to be seen by dentist. It was my lower right first molar, the one I had refilled a year ago, the one the previous dentist had screwed up when the Kinghorn surgery was still open, anyway it was semi-treated, then went back for root canal treatment a few days later. Was bloody expensive, almost £400 and it's not over yet as will be back in April for a crown, I don't like money much anyway..

The Monday after coming home was also the day of Davy Specs funeral, was my Auld Hoose pal for many years in Kinghorn, first time I had been to Dunfermline Crem, been at the Kirkcaldy one plenty times though.  

Got my steps target a couple of days back, well had a great start down south so wasn't likely to fail this month, also a few short runs, including yesterday and today from the Kissing Trees down into Kirkcaldy, only about 3k, so nothing too strenuous at my age! Maybe my increased activity this week is because I am now off the booze, well on day 5 anyway, hope to make the month before the next trip down to Chester and visit to Manchester. My liver is thankful for the holiday and need to lose another 3 kg.  

Here a few photos taken this month, I seem to like bridges, the long one in Berwick, the other the famous Newcastle one. The third is a stunning looking young man at the gate above entrance to Berwick town centre. 

Ancient old lucky driver

 Am updating now as I will be away over the border to Berwick-upon-Tweed tomorrow for a few days. Why there? Just one of those random decisions I make at night, been good in recent times visiting Carlisle, Ulverston, Whitby, Holmfirth etc, and it's a place I have passed through rather than spent any time in. Has the added advantage that carry-out booze should be a lot cheaper too as the SNP have hiked prices north of the border. Shouldn't take too long to get there, after all it may be in England, but nearest major place is Edinburgh. 

Not a fan of winter, hate it getting dark so early, though I have noticed that it is staying light a wee bit longer now, so that's good. It was sleeting when we headed to Norman and Gillian's for a meal on 5th January, my aunt and uncle that I didn't see a lot of growing up. It was fine, managed to get home ok.

A week or so later Davie Specs died, he was a character in the Auld Hoose in recent years and latterly in the Crown. Many of us have specs that Davie got us cheap or even free, was quiet close to him pre-pandemic, but less so since then unfortunately, there will be photos of him on here over the years for sure. Funeral in Dunfermline on 10 Feb, not too far from my vet's place. 

Talking of work I was driving there early on Sunday morning and hit black ice on the quarry road, before I knew what was happening I was all over the road and ended on a grass verge pointing the other way. Was very lucky there was no traffic on road at time because that could have been it for me otherwise. Luckily the car isn't damaged too.

I did survive and celebrated another birthday yesterday, mostly in the Auld Hoose, where I partook of several wee drams and a couple of shots. Don't remember coming home, but I must have had a Pot Noodle when I got in judging by the debris lying about. Took myself off to Kirkcaldy today for the Hair of the Dog, forced down a few and feel a wee bit better now, hopefully I will be out like a light when I go to bed. 

Made my steps target already on 28 January so been a bit of a lard arse since. Will be going booze-free at some point in February for a month, well it will have to be after 20 Feb as am going to the whisky evening in the Crown then :-) After the month it will be almost time for the next trip, this time down to Chester again, staying in same place as last year, is a great city. 

Photos show me in Auld Hoose on about pint 2, so I remember that bit, the cat is up the farm, had 4 kittens, super cute! Also the two bosses here, Kenny and Charlie, supervising everything in the living room. Need to hoover the carpet tomorrow before heading south, what a mess they take!