Does Sunderland sit in the shadow of Newcastle?

Having lived in the North East for some time a strange phenomenon happens whenever you meet a certain type of person. This person looks down on the rest of the North East like they are the poor relation. They feel superior and act as though the rest of the world want to be one of their select bunch. What has made them like this?

• Is it the fact that they have achieved great things in their life?
• Does it stem from owning riches beyond the imagination of others?
• Have they been chosen by a higher power to be 'better' than everyone else?

No. The people that I refer to are people from Newcastle. They feel that the accident of being born in or near the city suddenly elevates them above the rest of the people that live in this part of the country, and probably the rest of the world too. You can feel it when you walk through the city. You can hear it in conversation. You know it from the way they support their football team. They feel that being part of the city of Newcastle makes them something that everyone else aspires to.

Now I like Newcastle. The city is a great place to spend time, do some shopping and get some amazing food and drink. It has some museums that deserve greater exposure, nightlife that is lively and entertaining to a point and a history that is something to be proud of. But not for one second do I, nor anyone else I know, want to be a Geordie.

There is a city just down the road that has as much history and things to do as Newcastle but doesn't quite get the same exposure. Sunderland has a city centre that could do with a little investment, but it has a great deal that Newcastle cannot offer. The museums stand up to its neighbour and the fact that you can visit the beach from Sunderland is a bonus that the bigger city cannot compete with.

Sunderland is seen as the poor neighbour, and looks like to stands in the shadow of Newcastle but that isn't necessarily the case. House prices may be higher in Newcastle, but Sunderland has the draw of jobs with the Nissan factory on it's doorstep. If only for another couple of weeks, Sunderland can boast a football team in a higher league. Take the small wins while you can.

Nationally, there is a lot more awareness and exposure for Newcastle than there is for Sunderland. People think about stag parties and hen do's, they think about Newcastle races and some sightseeing in the city. It has an airport, the rest of the North East is constantly told. It is a growing city that has managed its image well and developed into a destination. Maybe Sunderland is on the same path. As I said earlier, the city centre needs a lot of attention. It looks drab and doesn't attract the higher end shops that would allow it compete with the city up the road.

I think that there is a lot to do in both cities, but the way that Newcastle has grown sees it attract more investment and attention at the moment. Who knows what the future will bring?

The beautiful Durham Dales are a vision in green!

At any time of the year the Durham Dales are spectacular and beautiful. Whether it is the snow of winter or the shades of brown in autumn, they are a beautiful sight. But my favourite time of the year in the Durham Dales is spring, with the green colours-

These photos were taken just outside the lovely village of Middleton-in-Teesdale which is a great place to visit and stop for a nice cup of tea. Check them out http://www.middletonplus.org.uk/

The Durham Dales are a must for any visitor to the North East of England so put it on your list.

Redcar is a nice day out when visiting the North East of England

Visit Redcar

Redcar is a nice place to go when the sun is shining in the Spring or Summer. Although it consists of a town centre that really has seen better days, there is still something to be had here for the visitor to Redcar. As you would expect from a seaside town there is an excellent choice when it comes to Redcar fish and chip shops or Redcar ice cream parlours. Add in the expected fast food choices and the ever-growing presence of Costa and you will never be stuck for a cuppa, a snack or a meal when in town.

Amusement Arcades

Again, as you would expect from the seaside town that Redcar is, you can find amusement arcades and the like along the coastal road opposite the seafront. These places have changed remarkably since my childhood as games consoles can now match anything that an arcade machine can produce. But you can Still have fun to a degree and while away some time with the children.

Redcar Beach

The beach itself is where a lot of Redcar's beauty lies. It is an unbroken stretch of (almost) golden sand that is a great place to walk the dog, play with the kids or just relax. You can walk for miles and just enjoy what the views can provide. I'm not one who has strong views against wind farms, which Redcar has out at sea. It doesn't detract from the beauty for me.

Redcar Vertical Pier

Nor does the much maligned vertical pier at the seafront. It isn't fantastically designed but it is unique and adds to the interest level. It contains a nice cafe at the bottom, several workshops they contain arty shops and there is a great view from the top balcony of the sea and over to Middlesbrough across all the heavy industry.

Marske

At the southern end of Redcar you will find the nice village of Marske which has some nice shops and cafes - the type that are missing in Redcar itself.

Give it a go on your trip to North East England.

North East England embraces spice, and will love Mannys Sauces

North East England has its ups and downs in terms of food. We go from the High Street masses of Greggs to several Michelin-starred restaurants. But one thing that I have experienced in the North East that I perhaps didn't expect was an addiction to spice. For a part of the country that hasn't experienced the same amount of immigration as London or The Midlands but the people here have embraced food from all over the world.

The people of the North East and its surrounds have taken spicy food to their heart, from Chinatown in Newcastle to Bradford winning curry capital 5 years in a row-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-34586019

And if spicy food is something that you are interested in then you need look no further than Mannys Sauces. They have a variety of options for the discerning customer and were set up by Manny. Here is his story-

“As any other person in the world, I had a huge dream - to open the first Piri-Piri Chicken Restaurant in the world, and then spread this dream to every corner of the planet. It wouldn’t be easy to achieve, but neither was it impossible. I had the will, the courage, the faith and family support to make it come true. Early in 1985, I sold my home to open the first piri-piri chicken restaurant outside of Mozambique. CHICKENLAND was the chosen name and Johannesburg, South Africa was the birth place of my dream! After a short while, I was making, bottling and selling a range of 5 different Piri-Piri Sauces and Marinades. After a slow start, the business was a stunning success! The name quickly spread across the city and everyone was talking about this new food place that was taking the food industry by storm.

The business success was proven! The next step was expansion to other parts of the city, country and abroad, and many people tried to get financially involved. Expansion included a need for capital and people, and so in 1987, I sold some of my business shares to two young men: one of Portuguese origin and the other, a South African of Jewish origin. Shortly after they joined, the business name was changed to NANDOS. Chickenland was a nice name, but according to marketing experts at the time, it was felt that the business should be backed by a personal name before the expansion took place. Between MANNYS and NANDOS, I was out-voted two to one, and the latter name was chosen. Despite a few initial problems, the expansion started taking off and now more than ever, the success was tremendous!

A few years later, the rug was pulled out from under my feet and I was forced to leave my business. I lost my dream; one of the best things in my life after my family. After this happened, I opened a few other restaurants including Chickenland in Portugal, but these weren’t my dream. It was a way to make a living, but it wasn’t my passion. It took me a long time to recover from what happened, but I was determined and pushed through until another dream emerged; to make the best sauces and speciality food products in the world! MANNYS SAUCES is now my new dream! Once again I can see this new dream taking shape and growing strong all the way to the TOP! The passion is back and I again have the will, the faith, the support of my family, and the support of so many loyal customers that know and appreciate the high quality products that we make. I am forever grateful to my family and my customers for their support and the divine forces for showing me the way.

Manny x”

There are three of Mannys Sauces that I’d recommend for those with more discerning tastebuds-

The Original Piri-Piri Sauce

This is the classic - and you don't mess with a classic! It's a taste that has to be tried to be believed. It mixes the heat of the chilli with the depth of flavour that you require from a sauce or marinade. In fact, Manny guarantees that it is the tastiest Piri-Piri in the land. Try it and you won’t be disappointed.

Curry Sauce

Make the most delicious and healthy curry in your own home, without any hard work or effort! Whether you use beef, lamb, chicken, fish or seafood, add this sauce to create the most delicious and flavoursome curry.

Meat Marinade

Excellent marinade created to marinate any meat, but can also be used with fish or seafood. Make the best BBQs, roasts, or stews. The contents of a 250ml bottle will marinate 3kg of meat.

And don't forget the selection of cured meats. One of these is presunt, a very tasy and popular Portuguese-style parma ham and is great for any occasion.

The North East hasn’t seen anything quite like it before. Try the whole collection, they are delicious. Mannys Sauces can be contacted in various ways, which is befitting modern business. If you want to contact them, follow them or just find out more then you can try-

www.twitter.com/Mannyssauces

www.facebook.com/Mannyssauces

www.youtube.com/channel/UCPvHPFfaz5yJRTtlv_ViDPQ

www.mannyssauces.com