(no subject)

[turps]

Yesterday I went with James to Beamish. It's an open air museum about the north east and is full of buildings that have been taken from around the region and re-built on the site. It's an amazing place, set out over a lot of space, but there are old-fashioned trams and buses that circle the site.

It was so cool, it's a place we live close to but I hadn't been for a long time, so really enjoyed the time there. We wandered through old pit houses and talked to the staff, all of whom are in character and dressed in clothes from that era. Checked out the mine and climbed up to see how the wheel worked that sent miners down into the ground in tiny cages, and were told how the pit ponies were lowered down the shafts on harnesses, only coming up to see daylight if they were sick or for their annual two week holiday.

We ate fish and chips from actual newspaper made into cones, food that we waited almost an hour for as they cook it on coal fired ranges. Though we were entertained by watching a sheep dog work and then for me anyway, watching the pretty hipster boy with his flat cap and waistcoat rule the fish and chip kitchen with a rod of iron. After that we decided to go to the old town which was at the opposite side of the site. Walking through a wood we ended up at the tram stop and saw that there was a tram waiting, but it was full, and the next one would be about 20 mins. A woman there was talking to her family and said it was only a ten minute walk, so she set off, and we decided to do the same.

And it was a ten minute walk, but all uphill on a day that was really hot and humid. By the time we reached the town I was giving a tomato a run for its money in terms of skin color. Plus, I was wearing shoes with no padding so after already spending hours walking on uneven and stony ground my feet were burning. Still, we checked out the shops and hall, walked down to see the railway station and steam powered carousel and then realised it felt like it was going to rain any moment.

Getting on a tram, we'd just got settled when the heavens opened, and were so glad we'd stayed downstairs and not gone on the open top deck. A quick tram journey and we headed back to the car, and even though my feet and calf muscles were protesting, had to go grocery shopping as it was James' only day off for a while. A hobble around Asda later I was finally able to get my shoes off and get in the shower.

We'll be going back soon, but next time, trainers and our own food I think.

Today I have stuff to do in the house, garden ( especially look up how to freeze courgettes because omg, we're harvesting so many of the things daily ) and online. None of which needs shoes, thank goodness.

Comments

[pocus]

that sounds like a pretty magical day, actually! i am mostly intrigued by fish and chips because i've never actually eaten fish and chips in the uk (or anywhere else) before. i don't think fried herring and mashed potatos counts. :P

[turps]

It really was a good day, and the fish and chips were delicious. I don't eat them often due to being fried, but so good om nom nom.

But yeah, I don't think fried herring and mashed potato is the same *g*

[turlough]

It sounds like an absolutely marvelous day. Well, apart from your poor feet of course. I hope they're not protesting too much today?

I love places like that. Stockholm has a bit open-air museum like that, Skansen, that I grew up visiting regularly. When I still lived in Stockholm I tried to visit it at least every couple of years but now it must be at least five or six years since I was there.

I know nothing about taking care of courgettes I'm afraid. Truth be told I kind of loath them.

[turps]

My feet were so sore the next day, but it was worth it.

Skansen looks amazing. I want to go visit the Nordic animals and check everything out. No wonder you went so often.

Loath courgettes, but they're awesome! Also very easy to grow *g*

[rikes]

Beamish sounds like a really cool place! We have something like that too, but obviously with completely different buildings and things, so it would be super cool to get to see yours.

[turps]

Yeah, Beamish was so interesting. I'd love to see your version too.

One day maybe :) Also, I love your icon.

[rikes]

Thankyouuu! It's a quote from Eddie Izzard. :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6hijsqO8H0

[turps]

\o/

That's so awesome!

[glitteryv]

Oooh, that sounded like an awesome outing! I hope you got to rest your feet the following day though.

Though we were entertained by watching a sheep dog work and then for me anyway, watching the pretty hipster boy with his flat cap and waistcoat rule the fish and chip kitchen with a rod of iron.

My mind flitted through a lot of Bandom faces when I read that. LOL

[turps]

Oooh, that sounded like an awesome outing! I hope you got to rest your feet the following day though.

It really was, and yeah, I got lots of rest the next day.

My mind flitted through a lot of Bandom faces when I read that. LOL

Pretty hipster boys always come back to bandom eventually *g*

When people say hipster I tend to think of Ryan, but somehow I doubt he'd be much good in charge of a shop.

[tara]

Apart from the feet, it sounds like a great day. I've only just eaten, but I'm sure I could SQUEEZE in some of those fish and chips ;)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Oh man, they were so good. I'm not usually a fish fan but this time yeah. Though it's good we had to walk so much to balance out the calories *g*

[tara]

Gotta say - the fish and chips we had out by the lighthouse that day were pretty incredible as well :D

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a fantastic day!

[turps33.livejournal.com]

It really was. Just a bit too hot and humid but still good.

[crowgirl13.livejournal.com]

That sounds like all kinds of fun. Excepting the ouchy feet, of course. I hope you're enjoying your shoeless day. ♥

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Most of my days are shoeless as I never wear them unless I'm outside :)

But it was a fantastic day.

[dr-jasley.livejournal.com]

dude sounds like it was shinier than shiny(minus the feet thing)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

It was an excellent day out, but yeah, trainers next time for sure.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bettina_/]

That sounds like a great day! :D

[turps33.livejournal.com]

It really was!

[myorangecrush.livejournal.com]

Randomly, I was going to go go Beamish tomorrow, as we're up visiting the parentals - but I can't go any more, due to other circumstances which have arisen

[turps33.livejournal.com]

It's such a great place.

I'm sorry you couldn't go ♥

[sunsetmog.livejournal.com]

I LOVE BEAMISH. I haven't been there in years, though.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Beamish is amazing!

I need to go more often, it's only about a ten minute drive away but it had been years for me too.

[monkey-pie.livejournal.com]

One easy way to freeze courgettes (zucchini, right?) is to grate them up first. I did that and just froze it in ziploc bags. You can use the shredded stuff for baking later - i love zucchini bread and muffins.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Ye, they're zucchinis.

That's a fantastic idea to freeze them after grating. Also to make them into bread and muffins. I'd have never thought about that. Thank you!

[squashbee.livejournal.com]

I love it when museums hire staff to act out in character based on the era they're in. Makes it interactive and more interesting! :D

It's great to hear you had a great day, and I hope you get (or perhaps you have already gotten) a good rest!

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Yeah, staff that act in character give an extra element of awesome to museums. I really liked listening to the woman talk as if we'd just wandered into her house :)

I did get a good rest. My feet remained intact *g*