Angel of the North - Gateshead - April 2008

Not everyone likes the Angel of the North and that's fine.

Some people say it's a waste of money.

Others argue that it's a brilliant work of art seen by thousands of people everyday.

Me - well, after having seen taxpayers money needlessly squandered whilst working for the government in 2006, I reckon you may as well spend the money on something decent that characterises and identifies the local area, so I say fair play to the Angel.

I really like it.

It doesn't look as big as it is from the road but when you get up close to it, as shown by the pictures, you can really see that it is pretty big.

These pictures are from two days - the afternoon of Sunday 6th April 2008 and the next morning after more snow had fallen, before I went to work on Monday 7th April 2008.

Enjoy!

Belsay Hall, Northumberland - April 2008

Spring!

Warm weather, birds and animals abound, trees grow leaves again and yes, in England, it snows!

What to do on a cold Spring afternoon in Blighty?

Let's head out to a local ruin and have a look around and while we're at it, enjoy the snow!

Belsay Hall is about ten miles north of Newcastle, near where all the would be's and footballers live, just past Ponteland. Of course, as these were all Toon supporters, raised fingers and pressed hams were the order of the day when passing their estate but onward to Belsay Hall.

Belsay Hall itself is a large old house with a large internal hall area, complete with Greek columns - as you do.

Not a bad place and the gardens were very nice indeed....especially with the snow tipping it down outside.

We wandered through the gardens which led to the original Belsay Castle. It was fairly cold up the top of the castle but nonetheless, well worth it and pretty cool.

We wandered back through the gardens again, stopping for the obligatory photos to be taken.

But who'd have thought, Spring and snow...only in England perhaps!