The Angel of the North

Day 86 Monday 26th March 4.8 miles : Miles to date 565.5 What a glorious day it is up here in the North East. I have come away for a flying visit to see the outlaws, on route to bonnie Scotland for a few days in Edinburgh, hopefully running up Arthur's seat. The sun is shining on what feels like the hottest day of the year so far. After last nights sumptuous repast and vino galore, it was always going to be a steady run over to the Angel of the North, few tourist photo's and back for an early afternoon bbq with my mate Dr. Bud and his pals, Stella and Miller. Having partaken again of the amber nectar, I am now learning how to be a Geordie. The basic steps are as follows;- 1. Love football and mention Peter Beardsley, Gazza and the other bloke who scored a lot of goals, in every sentence; 2. Learn the lingo ie "hoi ye, ower there, hoy that hamer ower heer" translates as, "I say old chap, would you mind passing that instrument of labour over here, jolly good"; 3. When it gets really, really cold, go out in a t-shirt instead of just a vest; 4. Buy all your clothes in black and white stripes; 5. When every one else comes home to go to bed, go out for the night and make your way to the nearest night club: 6. Provide a warm welcome to friend and foe and treat everyone like they are your best mate; 7. Drink vast quantities of, er, anything alcoholic; 8. Petition the government for independence; 9. Pretend Sunderland doesn't exist; 10. Tell everyone that the Angel of the North is the greatest sculpture in the world. Well, it seems I am halfway there. As for today's run, a lovely trot in glorious sunshine over to the base of the Angel and then back up to the outlaws, who live on top of a rotten great hill which I ran up all the way. I even went past one bloke who had stopped halfway, pushing his bike and gasping for breath. Mind you, that's cyclist's for you. Not fit like us running folk..he he he he he