Thursday 11th November
Another short journey requires some more tourism so en route to Alnwick, we stop at Durham. Unfortunately the Castle is closed but a quick spin through the Cathedral is well worth it as it surely stands as one of the finest building of this sort in England. Culture is thirsty work so after a quick stop in the Shakespeare pub, its off to the angel of the north – definitely one of England’s best known public art works. The angel of the north claims to be seen by more people per second than any other single artwork in England – or anywhere else – and being situated next to the motorway I find it hard to dispute this.

The Angel of the North

After a meander through Gateshead and Newcastle on Tyne we still arrive in Alnwick with plenty of time to spare. The Alnwick playhouse is a fine art centre which always provides both a good house and a good night without fail as well as sporting one of the finest addresses in all of England: Alnwick Playhouse, Bondgate Without. Without what I know not: Certainly not without mint cake.

After the gig Rob and I make our way to stay at Sea Houses on the Northumbrian coast with my wifes’s cousins who graciously put us up. This is a summertime mecca for seaside holiday makers though in November it takes that stark beauty sought only by that more romantic, or… alcoholic of vacationer. Luckily the clocks in this part of England are several hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, which allow us a good few pints before the 11:00 p.m. national witching hour.

Friday 12th November
After another splendid fry-up we embark on what turns out to be a nine-hour drive to Bradford on Avon and the Wiltshire Music Centre. This for us is a new venue so we are delighted that it is a complete sell-out. Before the gig I meet a man whom, it transpires, is a Knight. This of course begs the question, “How does one address such a person?” “Sir”; “Sir Richard”; “Your Liege”. I am afraid my breeding let me down and I had no recourse other than to forget the man’s name entirely – befuddled by convention I was.

Anyway, the gig was great and after the somewhat severe travel day, Alasdair and myself were lucky enough to stay at the Riverside Inn which although was closed by the time we arrived (11:15 p.m.) The Black Cat rock club was open next door until 1:00 a.m. – luxury. The stage on which this competent and requisitely loud combo performed was directly below our rooms so there was no choice but to join in the festivities and it was a great night.