The sad death of Sir Bobby Robson was that rare thing in newspapers: a happening momentous enough to literally hold the presses.

We first got an inkling of what had happened early on but had to hold back on publication until we were 100% sure. From there people had to work at breakneck speed to get the story in the Evening Chronicle.

What made it unusual was that Sir Bobby was a person who most journos in this office - normally a bunch of sourfaced, hard-bitten soaks - had genuinely affection for, some as personal friends, some merely as fans.

Friday morning saw the tragic news break that Sir Bobby Robson had passed away at the age of 76.

I was hugely concerned to read recently of the threatened closure of the Cooperage and the Egypt Cottage. Not because I'm a regular, or even occasional patron, of either establishment; but because, if they go, Tyne Bridge Morris will have to create dances in their memory ...

Yes, I am being sarcastic with that title. Although anything less than six would be an improvement in the eyes of some after Saturday's humiliating defeat.

The word that birders use for a trip out to sea to watch birds. That's right many of us regularly pay money to get on a fishing boat and go a few miles out into the North Sea to throw fish back into the water hoping to attract some of the rarer seabirds that can occur in the North Sea at this time of the year.
I remember reading about these not long after I first started birding and being excited enough at the possibilities that I went off and organised a number of trips out of Blyth that were very successful in terms of the range of birds seen and some great sightings of Cetaceans - whales & dolphins -
Since then these trips have become a regular part of the birding scene in the North East with professionally organised trips departing regularly from the end of July into September.

Last Thursday was Tyne Bridge Morris' last practice until September, although there may be a couple of 'drinking practices' in the interim. We have no more dance-outs booked until the North Shields Victorian Christmas Market; and with people going away to festivals and on holidays it's getting hard to know who's available to practice. So it's far simpler to have a break ...

Sunday Night saw another unforgettable night at St. James' Park. Thankfully, this had nothing to do with Newcastle United but it was a time for the world to stand up and applaud one of the region's most popular sons, Sir Bobby Robson.

A few weeks ago I received an email from a lady who had recently moved up from Kent, where she and her son had been involved in morris dancing. The lad wanted to carry on playing the fiddle with a morris team. Could they come along to Tyne Bridge's practice? They were both, of course, more than welcome and have come to almost every practice since. Kentishlad made his debut with the band when we danced out recently at the Cumberland Arms.

Banjoman, Squeezeboxboy and Little Miss Fiddle have all been most encouraging of the Kentishlad's playing. I fear, however, that the rest of the band are determined to lead him astray. At least as far as headgear is concerned ...

This may sound very cynical and perhaps a bit far fetched, but I am seriously starting to think that Mike Ashley is doing everything within his powers to make sure that Newcastle United falls, keeps falling and falls again.

How many men have now uttered the same phrase? My husband decided to speak the immortal words after a sneeze and a sniffle the other night....