Shipyard town.

Had to go back to my hometown of Wallsend today as I had to attend a mandatory Back to Work session at the Jobcentre.

If it wasn't for the mortgage insurance I wouldn't have bothered but there you go.

Anyway it was a bit of an eye opener, full of wallopers who were there, like me under sufferance, but with the exception that most of them don't ever want to work. The noise of the shell suits crinkling and shuffling was almost unbearable.

Still I have now learned that you need a CV to get a job these days. Thought I was going wrong somewhere.

This clock is at the top of the bank that leads to Swan Hunters ship yards.

I remember every Christmas Eve they would show on Look North the thousands of platers, welders, riveters etc. crushed against the yard gates waiting for the end of shift hooter to go off and then they would all sprint up the bank, straight into the nearest pub and that was them for a week.

Sadly those days have long gone and now what is on the site of the nearest pub is a bloody Jobcentre, prophetic really.