Thursday 30 May 2013

Washing the rocks below



 
We headed up to the North East coast on Tuesday, to meet up with my sister and her partner, and take charge of the kids again. 

Both halves of the party had had a wonderful time. 




The Victorian ironwork and glass canopies of Tynemouth's metro station never cease to delight me. They were restored a couple of years ago and look magnificent.




Ambling around this old-fashioned coastal town is always a joy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tynemouth Priory, with the statue of Lord Collingwood in the background, looking out to sea. 
He took command of the British fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar after Lord Nelson was fatally wounded.




I have never lived near the sea; I think I should do that before I reach my dotage.
 




Sadly, I will never achieve the glamour of the 1971 Miss Tyne-Tees entrants. 
I bet they were frozen!

This fabulous photo is on display in one of Tynemouth's many cafes.




The gang went out for a delicious Italian meal.

(No, Littlest isn't smoking a fag, it's a lollipop!)
 
 



Then back home to Sheffield, where the cats were delighted to see us, and an early night was had by all.
 


1970s dress - Ebay
Denim jacket, waistcoat, shoes, necklace, bangles and fishnets - charity shopped




 
The remains of the cherry blossom.





The kids and I are off to York tomorrow, meeting up with friends.

I might be able to squeeze in a browse in a charity shop or two before the kids start complaining...
 
 




I've tried to catch up on my blog reading today - a couple of days away means there are a lot of posts, so apologies if I've missed anyone!
 
    xxxxx

39 comments:

joyatri said...

Tynemouth does indeed look picturesque and I'm also a sucker for Victorian ironwork. So glad everyone had a good time.
What pretty fluttery sleeves on the cherry blossom dress. I like how you've combined hard/soft. And you can never go wrong with a denim jacket and red shoes.
Looking forward to reading about York. I haven't been there in decade, but I remember enjoying all the Viking material in the museum and York Minster.

silvergirl said...

Oh My Gosh, that looks so cool!
I love seeing all of your pics
Living by the ocean is definitely on my list of things to do, sadly, husband is a mountain person.
Looks like a lovely visit
Brett

Fashionista said...

The Victorians certainly knew how to do a railway station didn't they. Or any public building for that matter. Great photos.

Unknown said...

Hello my love, you are divine in that pretty dress - the colour is gorgeous and so are you. LOVE that pic - the blonde in the white swimsuit with the red bows in her hair is my favourite! The priory is amazing - what a fab place for outfit pics! So is your sister ok with your adopting me as your fourth? I'll need holidays with my aunty too. Thanks.

LOVE! Sarah xxx

thorne garnet said...

what a fun photo of the bathing beauties. I like how they're in color and everyone else is beige. Your kids are adorable, love the goofy faces.

The Style Crone said...

Beautiful photos of your travels. Looks like you had a fun reunion with the kids and the remains of the cherry blossoms are gorgeous. The fishnets give this ensemble that detailed special touch.

Anonymous said...

How lovely that they restored all that ironwork! Your photos really capture the beauty of the north of England. I love Durham and North Yorkshire, but it's just too damn cold. Although living by the sea would almost make it easier to take!

Your Littlest really takes after your sister, doesn't she?

Anonymous said...

You continue to make me want to come visit the UK. Glad you explained about the lollipop--you read my mind.

Seeing you in the fishnets made me glad mine survived my recent closet and dresser cull.

Pull Your Socks Up! said...

Poppies on your frock, spent cherry blossoms underfoot, your gorgeous scallywags looking happy with aunty and uncle ... ahhhhhh it must have a been a lovely wee break for the pair of you at home and now the house will be shaking with screeches and much stomping, to be sure:). Youngest with the lollipop-fag is a scream!!!! Oh and look at the swimmers, hair-dos and make up on those beach girl contestants - the one in red could pass for Vix! The Phoenix really enjoyed your last post and no doubt will love this stroll along the sands at Tynemouth. xoxoxo

Melanie said...

If you have to apologize that means I have to mega-apologize because I've been missing...
I love the photos of your family here, especially the "smoking" and Burt Reynolds one - chips off the young block. And the architecture and history, gah. You are lucky to be around such depth.
You do look gorgeous standing on those cherry blossom remains. The waistcoat and jacket are perfect with this. LOVE it all.

Vix said...

I love seeing you and the family out and about! The kids are such naturals in front of the camera. Tynemouth is gorgeous, I've never been to a Northern seaside resort, isn't that appalling?
Love the beauty queens, my favourite is the highlighted blonde in the black swimsuit, what a bod!
Your frocks are perfect, as always. Hope you get to squeeze in some chazzing in York.
Loads of love! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Unknown said...

Great picss , looks really nice . York i have actually been to ! Back in the early 80´s -also wisited Scarbourogh and London of course.
Your outfit is great as always !
xxx

Fiona said...

Superb seaside snaps Curtise and like Vix I've never been to a Northern resort either, how shameful!
Love the pics of your delightful family, LB with her 'fag', the beauty queen photo is lovely. (the one in black looks cold) Hope you manage to get a spot of chazzing in before meeting your friends today, enjoy York.
x

Señora Allnut said...

fabulous snaps, love that victorian station and all that landscapes!
and love your pretty floral dress with waistcoat and jean jacket, so cool and flattering!, you really know how to sport waistcoats!!
besos & red shoes

Ulla-Marie said...

Mmmmm. North east coast looks very nice ... and so does your red fishnets with the shoes and the dress. Beautiful!(And you never have to apologies if you miss some posts. To spend time with your cats is much more important!)

Vintage Bird Girl said...

Beautiful photos....your country looks so fascinating to me. And you look so pretty in that dress. It works really well with the jacket & vest. I hope you get to a couple of op shops this weekend....maybe it will be a good lesson in patience for the kids! Xx

Becky said...

I think you might like living by the sea. Over here it turns you into what we call a 'beach bum'. It's awesome. Lolzzz at the lollipop/ciggy pic!!!
Becky

Pam in Texas said...

Thank you Curtise, so much, for such stunning photos, you give me a much needed taste of England.
I forward your posts onto other ex pats living here in the US, so they are much enjoyed by all. The US is so very different in all aspects so I find your posts very grounding and appreciate the time you take to post such interesting things.
Pleased that you had a nice time and fingers crossed for good weather this summer for you guys.
Love from Pam in TX

The Small Fabric Of My Life said...

I love the skirt of that dress. Great colours and pattern.
I have lived by the coast (Formby) since 1988 and I walk on the beach most days. I would hate to move away. Growing up in landlocked Manchester there isn't a day that goes by in which I forget how lucky I am.

Anonymous said...

I always so enjoy the photos you post of your travels!1 It satisfies my Britain loving soul!!
You look fabulous as always and the littles are just adorable!!

freckleface said...

I must buck the trend and say that I have been to a few places on the NE coast (him indoors is a North Yorkshire man, so it's part of the job requirement to go Oop Noorth) but I've never been to Tynemouth. To begin with I thought you were talking about Teignmouth and I thought it was odd that I didn't recognise it. You'll have to excuse me I'm having a day of garrulous confusion..the point is, that it looks lovely. I love all that Victorian ironwork and that ruined priory. And the fact that it remains old-fashioned is a huge attraction. I must make the time to visit soon.

I adore that picture of the bathing beauties. They are so young and beautiful and I also love the fact that they are in marvellous technicolour while the others are sepia toned.

Your sis and her man look like great fun and the kids are obviously have a great time. There's no sign of The Look anywhere. I think this exercise must be repeated, surely?

You look great in your floral frock with waistcoat, all fragrant and summery. Cats give a welcome like no other, bless them. Enjoy your next trip you gadabout!! xxxxxx

Lakota [Faith Hope and Charity Shopping] said...

I always enjoy seeing your photos of where you've spent your weekends, although it does make me painfully aware of how little of the UK I've actually visited, let alone the world.
That 1971 beauty queens photo is an absolute classic - their hair is absolutely hilarious!

Love your outfit, the waistcoat really looks great with the dress. Have a great weekend xx

Unknown said...

Pretty dress! Pretty you in it, as well, and aren't those adorable shoes kinda transitional?

I have to tell you. I don't usually go gushy over kids pics. But I just love it when you post your crew's photos. They look like great kids. I imagine they're a handful , but I'll bet you spend some time LOL-ing.

Love the travel photos!

Off to work,
Have a great weekend.

Vintage Coconut said...

*HAHAHA* Littlest most surely did look like she was having a quick smoke break. Oh the picture of the Sea is so gorgeous. And I love the pic of the 1971 girls.
Your shoes and dress go fabulous together. Have a lovley day Curtise.

Lucys Lounge said...

lovely outfit. great tour of tynemouth. lucy

Camelia Crinoline said...

The metro station is looks amazing. I love the glass canopy. The big hair on those Miss Tyne-Tees contestants is fantastic. I love the print on your dress.

CityScape Skybaby said...

I recognised Tynemouth station as soon as I saw it Curtise, it really is beautiful isn't it, I love the north east coastline. I have to apologise too, as you say, miss a few days and that's a lot of blogs to catch up with! Lucky you getting a break for a few days, hope you thoroughly enjoyed yourselves, a little time away from the kids makes you appreciate them more when they're back again. I can just imagine the cats when you came back, they act so aloof but they miss us really I'm sure. I'll be down in your neck of the woods in a few weeks, I'm going to a caravan in Filey with my friend and six kids between us, I hope our friendship survives the experience! xx

Krista said...

This is a beautiful spot and Tynemouth kinda blows me away! I think all that glass and still is pretty sexy too! I love that your sis and her man take the kids off your, I mean love having the kids, they all look happy! That bathing suit photo is fab! I have one hanging in my house from a bathing beauty contest in the 50's in California, I love staring at it always find someone new.
Your dress is pink and pretty on you or maybe that was the few days of freedom, no it's both:) have a great weekend sweetie!
Xxxooo

Saucy Siciliana said...

Italian meal? That's the best, after a Sicilian one:

Gorgeous pictures, and you look stunning in your outfit. Here in Sicily we have the almond blossoms in Agrigento, but this year it didn't last long because of the strong scirocco winds we've had.

Sue @ A Colourful Canvas said...

{Happy sigh} I've had a delightful read through several posts, thank you! Loved reading the bits about your part of the world, and also enjoyed the photographs very much. The metro station is indeed a masterpiece!

If you possibly can, do give living by the sea a go!

Sue xo

Jean at www.drossintogold.com said...

It's breathtaking-so beautiful!! I would visit Tynemouth in a heartbeat and thank you for my little history lesson. It looks like everyone had a fabulous time.

Love your outfit, and shoes especially!! :-)

Patti said...

I love the vintage swimsuit shot, though I do feel for the women in the, um, crisp British air! You look ravishing in your floral plus denim, and your children are adorable, as per always xoxoxo

Ms. Falcon said...

this dres is so adorable too! great floral print and colours ... the flared sleaves are to die for!

Flora Cruft said...

Such a beautiful bright print on that lovely dress! Looks like you had a fabulous and well dressed time my dear.

Emma Kate at Paint and Style said...

Yes half term certainly gets in the way of blog reading! It looks like you've had a lovely time at the seaside. Hope York was just as good for you. xxxx

Diane said...

Tynemouth is on my list of places to visit - it looks fab. Also, loved your tour of Sheffield in the previous post. According to a recent poll, we are the happiest people in all the land here in Sheffield - I think that sounds about right! xxxxx

Melanie said...

The railway station ironwork really is very lovely and I love that seafront clock tower. I also have shoe envy; my mum had red button up dolly shoes when I was little and have coveted red dolly shoes ever since xxx

Connie said...

Man oh man. I HAVE missed a lot! Bonkers over the Victorian grillwork. There's very little of that kind of loveliness around here. Such a pretty dress. And your hair is looking especially nice :) So funny. I used to pretend to smoke all the time when I was littlest's age. That got it out of my system so I never smoked as an adult. Too bad I didn't pretend to swear when I was little...

Vicky Hayes said...

Dear old Tynemouth! You do get about Curtise! Vicky x