Newcastle

They do have electricity up there, but the very expensive hotel wanted £10 a day for internet access. Anyway we were to busy to blog, being dragged around Newcastle from 9 in the morning until 10 at night by the inspirational leader of Newcastle Council, John Shipley, and his team of talented Councillors, especially Nick Cott, Gareth Kane, Gregg and young Harry and thanks also to the Officers. I'm occasionally accused of being a little parochial, and I admit, you'll never hear any criticism of Truro here, but what those guys are achieving up there is fantastic, and I'm more than a little jealous. But I've come back full of new ideas to try out down here, and I'll be sure to say that they're not all my own ideas, oh yes.

Late Friday night I went out with Cllr Anna Pascoe of Camborne, to check out the evening economy. Newcastle is the 8th most popular party destination in the world. And somewhere that fake tan counts as clothing. I thought I might be a little old, but there where ladies older than me wearing miniskirts. Everyone was really friendly and happy and the atmosphere was brilliant. What a place.