Smokey Joe's - Gone

It looks like this second-hand shop has now closed.  As I was passing this Pilgrim Street shop, the other day, I noticed that the sign had gone and it was being emptied.  Now the shutters are down and all evidence that the shop existed has now gone.  I never ever went in there, but its a bit sad to see it go.

Grey's Monument: Life just wants to be

I'm always surprised at how nature manages to assert itself in the urban environment, insinuating itself into nooks and crannies of man-made structures; life sprouting forth from the most inhospitable of places.

At lunchtime, I spotted foliage all around the base plinth on the column of Greys Monument in Newcastle, and it reminded me of this passage from Bill Bryson: 

“It is easy to overlook this thought that life just is. As humans we are inclined to feel that life must have a point. We have plans and aspirations and desires. We want to take constant advantage of the intoxicating existence we've been endowed with. But what's life to a lichen? Yet its impulse to exist, to be , is every bit as strong as ours-arguably even stronger. If I were told that I had to spend decades being a furry growth on a rock in the woods, I believe I would lose the will to go on. Lichens don't. Like virtually all living things, they will suffer any hardship, endure any insult, for a moment's additions existence. Life, in short just wants to be.” 
― Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything

Kathryn Tickell plaque at the Sage - Local Heroes

Oxford, Tiffanys, Studio, Ritzy, Ikon, Liquid etc Demolition started

They've started to rip the corrugated iron roof off to reveal . . . another corrogated roof.  The demolition of the former nightclub on New Bridge Street has begin in earnest.  

http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/the-oxford-tiffanys-studio-ritzy-ikon.html.
http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/end-of-era-for-newcastle-city-night-spot.html

On Saturday, the wall at the northern end of the building was breached, with the demolition proceeding from north to south towards the entrance portico and John Dobson House.

Of course, they won't be knocking down the front entrance and the listed John Dobson House next door.

Jeavons Music Store - Percy Street

Jeavons was on Percy Street!  The shop I remember is the one with the piano-keys shop facia (as above) rather than when the shop was located next door (see below).
http://novumcastellum.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/jeavons-music-store.html

Jeavons music store

On a recent trip to Holy Island, I spotted this record on the gramophone in the "Ship Room" of Lindisfarne castle.  Now, I can remember Jeavons, but not when it had stores on Pudding Chare and Clayton Street.  I think the shop was on Percy Street next to the entrance of Handiside Arcade, but i'm not sure. Can anyone help?