Rivals or fellow sufferers?

A string of dull days; a faint bruising of the thick cloud cover by the unseen sun is enough to excite hope.

To complement my post on the Haymarket Metro Station's award of second place in a national competition to find Britian's worse buildings I add this. The grass is not always greener on the other side ...

Having paid a recent visit to John O'Groats the disappointment factor I can say is acute. The people however, are, like sufferers everywhere, cheerful and welcoming. Neighbouring Wick and Thurso are positively cosmopolitan and the Thurso Museum is a delight.

Serious competition? Swan (Lake) House

Second Prize

The promised photographs of the Metro at Haymarket which recently 'won' a second prize in a competition aimed at finding some of Britain's worst new buildings. I can only say I think it might have been worse still.

Here are some views of the surrounding buildings, including Newcastle University's new student services block which neatly removes the ill-fated Northern Stage Company theatre (onetime 'University Theatre'), from public view entirely.

The area is notable for three fine war memorials; the South African (Boer) War 1899-1902 on the tall column prominent in several photographs and those to the First and Second World Wars next to St Thomas' church.