The Disparate & Thoroughly Un-United Counties & Countries of Great Britain, whereby Culture & Hist'ry are determined by factors both Geographical & Meteorological, though of course it is our ongoing fascination with this latter factor that truly Unites us as a Kingdom. Here in the North West, to quote Scott Walker, it's raining today. In a moment or two we'll be setting off across the Penile Boundary (sorry, WAV, but that's how I'll forever think of it!) to the North East where, no doubt, the sun will have his hat on.

Whilst in the North East we'll do The Toon (stock up on Stotty Cakes, plunder Spin, RPM & Steel Wheels, soak in the bloodier aspects of The Grainger Market, say hello to Isabella and her Pot of Basil in The Laing etc. etc.) visit family, head for the coast, dip the rock-pools of Saint Mary's Island, have a pint in The King's Arms at Seaton Sluice, and eventually wind up at Joe Crane's Come-All-Ye at The Cumberland Arms in Byker.

In the North-East they ask Where do you belong? Belonging is in the blood; we are are born belonging, and, in time, in belonging we'll all most surely die.