Corrie weekly update - drugs, dogs and heart disease

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here

This week on Corrie, they saved the flaming dog!

I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Corrie weekly update - the battle for Betty's hot pot

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here

This week on Corrie, there was a cricket match.
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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

My Heritage Open Day

This weekend is the Heritage Open Days weekend. It's the first time I've been in the country when it's  been on as I'm usually away on hols. 

And so, to a vintage bus ride around the City of Sunderland. We set off bright and early on Saturday morning. Our chariot for the day a lovingly restored and very cute "1961 Bristol" which used to ferry paying passengers between Leeds and Newcastle via Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

The bus set off from Monkwearmouth Station Museum which is currently showing an exhibtion of 1914 WW1 recruitment posters.

First stop on the vintage bus tour was Hylton Castle where we were given a very interesting guided tour and plenty of time to wander about taking photographs.

Back on the bus to our next destination - the Washington F Pit museum. One of the oldest coal mines in the area where the winding room has been restored for visitors to look around. It's only open a few times a year so we were lucky to get in and see it.  A canny little museum that was worth a look in.

Back on the bus again to our final destination - the North East Land, Sea and Air Museum, (NELSAM)  This is a true gem of a place that I didn't even know existed.  It's located next to Nissan on what was the old Sunderland Airport site. 

NELSAM is a bit ramshackle to be honest, with various planes, trams and vintage vehicles in various states of restoration dotted about the in what seemed like a haphazard type of affair. But therein lies the joy of the place. It's fantastic.

There was also a WW1 exhibition inside of the hangars which was very enjoyable. We had our picnic lunch on the benches on what was a gloriously sunny day and I can't recommend NELSAM enough, if you haven't been and you live in the area, do visit.

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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Books I read on my holidays 2014

Just back from a lovely bit of Spain and while I was there I got through four novels and one band biography as follows:

Monique Roffey - White Woman on a Green Bicycle
Another wonderful book from someone who is fast becoming one of my favourite authors - check out her website.  Set in Trinidad, it's a love story to the island and between an English couple who live there. Monique's style always leaves me feeling I want to know more - about the background to her stories, about Monique herself.  I lost myself in this book, it was magic, and  cried a little bit too.  10/10.

Douglas Kennedy - The Job
His publishers should be given a stern talking to about the covers of his books because they make his work look like chick-lit when they're anything but.  Also this book had nothing to do with a woman and a suitcase.  It did have a lot to do with the American dream going sour. It's a rollercoaster of a read, you jump in the carriage on page one and don't stop until it chucks you off at the end of the book. A cracking storyteller.  9/10.

Roddy Doyle - The Guts
I haven't read The Commitments but this book made me want to go back and start at the beginning with the Barrytown trilogy. A great book that had me laughing out loud a lot. Very enjoyable, read it in one go.  10/10

Barracuda - Christos Tsiolkas
An Australian family saga about achievement and failure, growing up male.  It was a strong storyline that was well written but didn't have the magic I like in a book.  Still, very enjoyable.  7/10

Unknown Pleasures - Inside Joy Division, by Peter HookExcellent read and I learned a lot. Set me off thinking I ought to read Debbie Curtis' book next, which is on my list now.  8/10.
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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora