Christmas lights walk

Well what a lot of weather we're having!  Wouldn't venture onto Hadrian's Wall without a paddle these days.  But as I drove home in the gloom, an illuminated sign near Whitemare Pool informed me that the Christmas lights have been switched on over South Tyneside.  I decided a walk was in order to see how the ones in South Shields looked.

Fortunately, darkness sets in early now, so I could leave the house before 5pm and be home by 6pm.  In view of the weather just lately I was clad in waterproofs, thermal hat and gloves and walking boots and thick socks.  I did feel a tad overdressed walking past Chichester metro towards Laygate.  The trees at Chi have been wrapped in blue lights again and look fab.  By the time I got to the bottom of Crossgate it was chucking it down and the waterproofs seemed entirely sensible.  The floral ship on the roundabout now boasts twinkling sails and a carpet of twinkling blue lights form a sea on the grass around it.

On into the market square where the trees also sport blue lights.  The effect of them round the edge of the market is lovely, and looking down King Street I could see white lights festooned all the way.  It lent a festive air to King Street, and looking up at the lights above was like being under a starry sky.  At the junction with Ocean Road stood a huge Christmas tree with a canopy of lights around it topped by a star.

On down Ocean Road where illuminated trees and fanciful swirling decorations on the lamp posts make for a wonderful display.  I turned back up the hill and back along Beach Road to the Town Hall where the Queen Empress presides over twinkling snowflakes, trees and curtains of light down the side of the building.

And so back home, still unconvinced that Christmas is quite so close, but enlivened by the walk and the spectacle.

The ship at Crossgate roundabout

Shields Marketplace