a penny in the foundations

Perhaps it's because many of my early experiences were in 'edge' places, the windswept margins that form the North Sea coast of England and Scotland, that I feel an immediate sense of affinity whenever I visit a new place along that margin. It has been described as the Naked Coast*, an apt image for so many places which feel unprotected, exposed to the harshest elements. These places often feel to be far from anywhere, sometimes a bit run down, the people seem to be carrying the battle scars of a long struggle to survive, physical and mental. Given that the landscape is often overlaid with vast holiday parks with their serried rows of white and pale green mobile homes all pointed towards the sea, I can only assume plenty of other people feel this same connection. Who needs long sandy Mediterranean beaches, drenched in sunshine and lined with sparkling white villas?  Just as the wide, freezing, grey waters of the North Sea begin to be funnelled into the even murkier, overcro...

 Just a few weeks ago Newcastle United languished at the foot of the Premier League table. This weekend after a startling run of form they rose to the giddy heights of mid table. The pattern of the 1971/72 season was much the same, rooted to the bottom of the First Division at the end of October, they finished the season in 11th place, largely thanks to new signing Malcolm Macdonald who scored 30 goals that season. The newcomer from London became a 'Toon' hero, going on to score 138 goals in his 5 seasons with he club. The Leazes End resounded to the chant 'Supermac, Superstar, how many goals have you scored so far?' (think Jesus Christ Superstar to get the tune!) Supermac also became the face of advertising campaigns by Leech Homes, the local builders who have already featured heavily in this blog. The copywriters certainly had some 'super' fun in developing the campaign. This advert from the 'Evening Chronicle', circa 1975 also sets out some of the key...