New Castle with Mark Pegs

Meeting Mark Pegs / Decision to go to New Castle

It was around 4 o'clock, when I have seen him in front of the Edinburgh station, Scotland. When I was waiting in front of the station, one British guy spoke to me with smile. He was Mark Pegs from New Castle. He had been selling a memorial cap in the New Year's Eve and Day festival and was waiting in front of the station for a train to go back. He gave me that cap for free, looking at my head filled with snows falling down.

Both of us are waiting for the train heading to south. And the station was planned to open at 4 o'clock. However, because of the holiday diagram, the station has been reported to open at 9 o'clock by a station officer. We were quite disappointed, because we have expected to get in and warm up ourselves in the station. It was less then zero degree centigrade outside, and our body has been completely cooled down. So, we decided to wait in an Internet cafe as he recommended.

While I was talking with him, I decided to go to New Castle, because of his recommendation and promise that is a free introduction service of the city. Until 8 o'clock in the morning, we have had a chat a little bit and sleep, because we did not sleep in the previous night. The clerk in the Internet cafe alerted us and told us that we needed to pay an accommodation fee if we did sleep.

At around half passed 8, we have taken a bullet train to go to New Castle together. We had little to talk with, because we are too sleepy to do so. We had a little bit of sleep in the train, waiting the train arriving at the New Castle Station. In New Castle, he has shown me some place in the city center, promising me to do something better in the next day. That day, he drove me to the place where I can get accommodation and promise to see each other for a big fun next day.

Down ton Hotel

View the Sceneries by Clicking Links below Downton 1 2

After arriving at the accommodation places, I was at a loss finding out nice and cheap accommodation for two nights. I was very sleepy, so I really want to make it quickly. However, because of the date, January 1, most of the accommodations there are filled with people who intend to spend a New Year's break with their families. I have found one, which looks like gorgeous, but its cost really is. I had no intention to put up with two nights paying 40 pounds each night. There was indeed no accommodation and I was completely at a loss.

Finally, I found one B&B, called Down ton Hotel. The name sounds quite funky, but it was. It was actually closed; some construction workers are repairing the floors and water pipes. The place was filled with noises, which makes me feel that this place is quite funky. What is funky is not only that. I have met one special funky owner, an old man, appeared from behind a counter singing a hilarious song.

I have talked about the low budget plan and asked if it is possible for me to put up with this accommodation for 20 pounds per day. He answered without thinking deeply and said, "All right!" But even so, I was a little bit worried about the situation, because the owner has kept drunk, singing permanently. I was worrying about the situation that he forgot the contract I made today.

He showed me lots of rooms he can offer me for two nights. On the way, one construction worker, breaking the floor with a drill, greets me with a smile. The owner opened the door, but it did not open smoothly and was about to break down. When he introduced me the third room, the door got broken. But he was singing a funky song, smiling.

Among the ones he recommended, I chose one single room. He handed a key for that and said, "I'll see you tomorrow morning!" He finally left the place, with the volume of his song turned down to none.

Here, I have slept 15 hours and a half. This was the biggest sleep I have taken in my whole life. This is because I did not sleep in the previous night. The waking up moment is made by one lovely phone call from the funky owner. He said, "Breakfast is ready. Can I see you in 10 minutes?" And I answered, "Yes." Later I have found the magic in his words, which I would tell you later.

I rang a bell in the front to call him. 30 seconds later, the funky owner has appeared whistling with his own mouth. I greeted him and he looked quite happy as usual. He got rid of the dishes and glasses that he used for eating breakfast and asked me to sit at the table. It seems that he himself is going to prepare the breakfast for me.

His breakfast service was an utmost fun. He said, "There are cereal, milk and orange juice here. Help yourself!" He pointed at the direction where those foods are located. But later I have found out that there was no spoon, knife or even a glass to eat and drink with. He said, "I'll see you in 10 minutes." He entered the kitchen and started his business. 10 minutes later, he came back with a glass with his hand. After that, he started to put down spoon, knife and folk. I could finally eat the cereal and drink the orange juice he has shown me at the first place. Then he said, "I'll see you in 2 minutes." Next time I have seen him is 10 minutes later than that. He brought a main dish. The menu was English breakfast; sausage, bacon, boiled tomato and sunny side up. I was wondering about the tomato first. In fact, I couldn't recognize that it was tomato, which looked like ketchup, because it has been boiled too much. What's a funny gratuity is that the entire menu was extremely low (no) salted.

After eating the healthy English breakfast, I had a little bit of chat about my plan in my stay in New Castle. He is quite a nice guy, very gentle to even people like me. He left his neat comment and said, "I'll see you�c later." He seemed to think that where he could see me next time but could not come up with any ideas. He started to sing again, "You know I am so happy�c hmm�c" After he left the breakfast table, I said to myself, "What a guy he is�c!"

Telephone Call to Mark

In this city, most of the telephone box was destroyed by a certain irrational action. The glasses of the telephone box had been broken down by kicks or blow with some stick. Not only the glasses, but also the telephone machine inside, was destroyed. I could not use any of the telephone that exists outside some construction.

What is funny is that the telephone box was suffering from a senile memory loss. After I put 20p to make a phone call and cancelled, he paid me back 50p. I have tried again and again. Sometimes, the telephone cannot give me back anything. But he can give me back even 1 pounds. As a result, I have earned some money from this strange telephone gamble. This was very funny and worth being written.

At around 12 o'clock, I had successfully made a phone call to Mark from a phone in the Safeway, supermarket. He was asleep, but he told me to pick me up at the Down ton Hotel soon.

New Castle Tour with Mark

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