Rods,Reels and Fish Hooks.....

Then you need weights and bait. Live bait -lugworms,ragworms and I think any other sort of worm you can find that wriggle and preferably doesnt bite. For those who know me well I am always coming up with a new idea -some more scatterbrain that another.We were in New Zealand 6 years ago watching people fish for their supper, the idea has stuck with me. How often I have gone ar

ound the Marine Drive at Scarborough and watched the men fishing over the railings. Men fishing ...well I decided to change all that -enter fisherwoman. Google is a marvellous thing, this is how I found the very patient and generous Bill Coshin. He is up a tiny street at the back of the main seafront in Scarborough. I was like a kid in a candy shop. There was such an amazing array of fishing tackle. 20 minutes later I left clutching my new rod with reel kindly fixed on. Susan, my friend, used to dress crabs for pocket money I was sure she would know where we would go from here to get our first catch.Unfortunately she didn't but hay ho with the "bit between my teeth" there would be no stopping me now.

Scarborough Late Night Shopping

It wouldn't be Christmas without a look around the shops after 5pm. Late night shopping they call it. Freezing should be added to that as well. As my good friend lives and works in Scarborough I decided to go through on Thursday night. Susan runs www.barstreetbeauty.co.uk in Bar Street, right in the centre of town. The wind was certainly blowing off the North Sea and it was far colder than it felt at home. It wasn't very Christmassy. I think Helmsley is still one of the nicest places to look around in December and is beautifully decorated too. Never mind I was in Scarborough so off trotted down Huntriss Row. The florist on the corner has been there for years since I was at college. That was over 40 years ago but it was closed. A little further up was Bonnet's again a long standing establishment.This is a chocolate shop and cafe.I wont take about chocolate as that is in my next blog... At the top of the street was the only person I saw who looked to have made any effort to get in the Christmas spirit.Sorry I didn't get your name or the name of your shop. My excuse is the cold had set in and I was rushing to see if there was any bargains in TKMax.Over the loudspeaker came that was shutting its changing rooms in 5 minutes at 6pm. She was peeping out of the jeweller shop braving the bitter wind. She warmed the whole street up with her cheery smile. Most of the town seemed have not got in the Christmas spirit. So much for late night shopping.Then it was off to CoGonis for another wonderful meal -. Buon Natale to Marco and his crew.

Views from Scarborough Southcliff

We are only 34 miles from the seaside so it takes less than 45 minutes. A nice drive out through pretty villages like Thornton le Dale and the market town of Helmsley. If the day is nice to get over there and take in the sea air. For the more hardy go for a paddle. For me I like to go to find mussels and whelks and other edible bits and pieces on the shoreline.I took these photos when I went to get an ice cream -see previous blog.The gardens are still looking very colourful They talk about Harrogate for its gardens - the autumn flower show is on at the moment. Harlow carr is another drawing point to Harrogate.I think Scarborough gives other towns a run for its money any day

Scarborough and Icecream

No trip to the seaside would be complete without an ice cream. Up on the South cliff you will always find the ice cream cart near the clock tower. Opposite there is the "Royal", the hospital, which is on the television programme. It is ideal to go up there to enjoy an ice cream. Easy for parking for those who cant walk very far. Lovely views over the bay. A steep hillside walk down to the Spa and along the beach to collect shells ,seaweed and mussels. Even a putting green if you fancy a game. This is away from the main drag of the "kiss me quick" hats,bingo and arcades which are on the south bay seafront near the harbour. This is the more refine Scarborough, were you can quietly take in the sea air and enjoy the finer things Scarborough has to offer. Of course if the sun is shining it makes for a more perfect day beside the seaside. You can see where the words came from of the song "Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside".The icing on the cake or should I say the flake in the ice cream - Lovely to see my cousin Gillian up there hard at work and she even played the ice cream jingle for me.

Oh I do like to be beside the Seaside....

There was no brass band playing but the sun was shining. This week we have been having a new water tank fitted.We are on spring water and had to comply with new EU regulations.We were not sure how long it would take I had to block a few days out in case we had mishaps. On Monday, the hottest day of the year as we expected had no water but by Tuesday it was back on in full flow. Susan and I went on the beach after we had eaten a wonderful supper at CoGonis - another post-. It was surprising how many youngsters were on the beach playing with footballs. Some had even braved the North Sea and were in the water. I thought it was big bubbles on the sand as the tide went out by it was in fact little jellyfish.Scarborough,Whitby,Filey with probably Sandsend being my favourite are have really good beaches and if the weather is right you cant wish for anything more. I had planned to get away for a few days but really there is no where better tha

n round here.Jack has been telling me that for ages and I tend to agree.