Tynemouth Market - Treasure for All

I thought when going to Tynemouth Market that I was off to an arts & crafts market. That is the Sunday version. Turning up on a Saturday one encounters the flea-market format.

There were wonderful aromas from food stalls. The Caribbean one with its beaming hostess was oh so inviting. Other highlights for me included an organic bakery stall, where I was impressed to meet a loaf of beetroot bread, a lush pink sourdough, for the first time in my life.

For the long-standing collection of my 'mater-in-law' (my ex' Mater), I sourced a couple of pieces of the long defunct green Jasperware by Wedgwood from a ceramic stall by the café. So I was a happy chap.

[Image description: wooden cherry bowl on cherry flooring]

From a crafty craft stall by the restaurant my friend bought for and gifted to me an artisan turned cherrywood bowl, from a tree that lived and perished in Tynemouth itself, even coming with a label recounting its provenance.

My chum's little lad found some second-hand Lego - so he was happy too.

Only Mum came away with nothing but memories.

Next time I am up in the North-East, I shall look forward to the Sabbath event and purchasing something for my walls at home.

Access Issues

You need to arrive early to park close by - there is no designated disabled parking that we could see. Wheelchairs would be diffiult to manœuvre through some of the stalls. The mobility-impaired cannot cross the train-lines to the other side. There is no seating for resting, other than some of the eateries.

[Image description: wooden cherry bowl on cherry flooring, birds'-eye view]

Saint Vincent & the Grenadines

My blog has had its first visit from a reader somewhere on Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. I knew the islands to be located in the Caribbean, but I knew not exactly whereabouts. As ever I referred to Wikipedia. It is situated roughly in the centre of a triangle formed by Saint Lucia to the North, Barbados to the East and Grenada to the South.

[Image description: a map of the globe showing the position of the islands North of Venezuela, courtesy Wikipedia]

And what exactly is the European connection? Well obviously the French and the British had colonial interests there and there is an approximate 4% of the population who are Portuguese. However, more interestingly is the contemporary angle.

"Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, bearing the title Queen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines."

Per Wikipedia.

Well, I for one was completely unaware of the United Kingdom's Queen Bess' other title nor this additional rôle out in the Caribbean.

[Image description: the country's flag, courtesy Wikipedia]

Thanks for visiting, whoever you were. And how exciting to continue discovering parts of Europe(an hinterland) one knew nothing about!