Vacation

I recently supported a Kickstarter to recreate Thunderbirds episodes, and today had the chance to visit the crew at work (and even to get involved a little!) – we headed to the Slough Trading Estate to see them; given fabulous access, we watched them filming scenes for the first of three new episodes that will be created:

 

Later in the day, I was given the privilege of triggering a pyrotechnic effect set up by Malcolm Smith of Supreme Fireworks:

 

I also had the chance to operate a puppet – it’s even possible that my “performance” might be in the first new episode!

 

A wonderful day!

 

We chose yesterday to go for a walk beside Hadrian’s Wall and headed to Cawfields which offered a nice loop walk – with an impressive quarry site at the parking:

Hadrian’s Wall is just as impressive here as it is at the more famous locations (like Housesteads) and there’s clear ruins of a milecastle, too. Unfortunately, but not unexpected, the weather changed to windy and rain headed towards us – we got wet and cold, but we did also enjoy a nice rainbow!

We spent today walking around Newcastle, starting with a walk along the Quayside and beside the bridges – Newcastle has many bridges (this great website details them); favorites include this view of the swing bridge and Tyne bridge, and another view with the high level bridge in the distance:

 

We also toured the “New Castle” from which Newcastle is named – this building is the “even newer” castle keep built in the 1100s (and the 1080 “New Castle” itself replaced older fortifications going back to at least Roman times!) From the top of the New Castle keep, great views of the river and city: