North-west by north-east

Now for two short breaks in the north. The Chester trip is an annual reunion with up to 20 friends who are ex-work colleagues (I never worked or "turned up" with them but have come to know them well). Chester needs no introduction as an ancient city founded by the Romans, and the first image is taken from the walls which encircle the whole city. It's also famous for half-timbered buildings and in this case, a virtual face from a massage parlour peering out from a window. No visit to Chester would be complete without seeing the Cathedral cloisters, but the stained glass from the next image can only be from licensed premises!

I'm back in London only a couple of days before the second northern break, to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The oriental menu includes some exotic Vietnamese dishes, while the soju is from Korea, a clear, quite potent drink flavoured with fruit juices. The excellent Gaucho, part of a countrywide chain, makes one want to cry for Argentina. It's good to be there on a Monday, when the lunch set menu lasts most of the day!

Newcastle, famous for its five bridges, has its own Cathedral and here's a view of a monumental brass. The Victorian and Edwardian architecture is impressive as well. Sadly the Central Arcade is mostly closed for shopping, reflecting the struggle that retailers are having with operating costs, but the covered Grainger Market is soldiering on with some wonderful shop fonts and probably the oldest M & S you would hope to see.Read more