I lived in Newcastle from the age of 12. I worked in the summer in joyland and some of the other places mentioned by other people in other letters. It's not the same working and growing up in Newcastle as it is as a guest. I know this because I earlier lived in Belfast and would come with my Mother, Granny and aunts as a day tripper and some times stay a few days. The days were long, warm. The sea was always cold but we accepted this as normal. I remember being dried off after coming out of the sea and it felt like I was being sand paper to death. I also remember the ponies on the beach, the dulace ( seaweed you can eat ) and the ice cream from the Broadway was the highlight of a great day.

Martin O' Hare - Now living in Copenhagen, Denmark