103.4 Sun FM - Out and About

Join Mark Black as he goes out and about around Wearside, testing local facilities, checking out events and generally having fun!

Coast steering! I had never heard of this before and thought that'll be good, in a boat navigating
along the coast... not quite! It did in fact involve me in a wet suit, helmet and life jacket in the North
Sea. The general idea is that you walk along the coast, swim out to rocks and make your way through
caves and around the rocks. It is a little daunting to start with and I was convinced that I'd be freezing
BUT surprisingly it was fine. Once you get into it it is a lot of fun, unlike anything I've done before,
and you get to see parts of the sea that you would normally miss as well as be reminded of how
powerful the sea is.

FulWell Windmill

Fulwell Windmill started to appear on the Sunderland skyline in 1806 and became the familiar landmark we know today when it opened in 1808. 200 years on, the Mill is still the famous landmark it was and continues to be one of Sunderland’s most treasured heritage sites. The windmill is listed as a Grade II building due to its special architecture and provides a historic interest to the region.

Throughout the years, the mill had several owners including James Ryder, William Moody and John Moody who took over in 1924. At this time the sails were removed and a gas engine was installed to compete with other working flour mills in the region. The mill continued to produce animal feed for the next half century and the last miller retired in 1949, leading to the deterioration of the Mill.

In 1995 Sunderland City Council initiated a project to restore this important heritage asset and to make it accessible to as wide a range of people as possible. In 1998 enough funding became available to improve the area of land fronting the mill. The scheme included the provision of car parking, landscaping, improved access and repairs to retaining walls.

The project was completed and opened to the public in June 2001. A full time manager and curator were appointed and is supported by an enthusiastic group of volunteer staff, known as the Friends of Fulwell Windmill.

As you head up the A1018 on the left hand side there is a massive white Windmill...which I've missed most times that I've been up this road. Fulwell Windmill has been there for hundreds of years and will fill an afternoon with the kids. I wasn't sure what to expect when I got there, thought I might just be climbing lots of stairs to get to the top, and although there are lots of stairs to get up, there's lots on each floor. It is a working Mill and on a windy day the sails will go round themselves. You can see how the Miller would have made flour and Fred my guide had so much knowledge that I'm stuggling to remember it all! Also every Wednesday during the school holidays there are various crafts you can take part in.

Washington Old Hall

At the heart of historic Washington village this picturesque stone manor house and its gardens provide a tranquil oasis, reflecting gentry life following the turbulence of the English Civil War. The building incorporates parts of the original medieval home of George Washington's direct ancestors, and it is from here that the family took their surname of 'Washington'. Much-used and loved by local schools and community groups, including a hugely supportive Friends organisation, the Old Hall is also popular with couples wanting intimate wedding ceremonies and companies organising corporate events.

I've always thought of Washington Old Hall as the place that does weddings it's so much more. It's a place full of history and having Joe to show me around was excellent as he knew so much about the house and the Washington family. I was taken around the house and told how it would have been used, at one time being divided into lots of houses because of the lack of housing at the time. As well as the house there are extensive gardens which are regularly used by school groups to learn about nature as well as let them grow their own vegetables. They also have a hive of bees, which I was told were Italian bees, and so placid...I was a little dubious so kept my distance. They're always having events so check out our Goodtime Guide for updates.

The Stadium of Light

The Stadium of Light was opened with a showpiece game against Ajax in July 1997 and initially had a capacity of 42,000. With the subsequent North Stand extension and other ground improvements, the present-day capacity is 49,000.

The stadium stands on the banks of the River Wear, a vision of the future and a landmark for Wearside. The Stadium's design drew inspiration from Sunderland's proud industrial heritage in glass-making, shipbuilding and coal-mining. With its bowl-shaped lower deck and a second tier over the West and North stands, it provides the ultimate in spectator comfort.

The Stadium of Light was opened by HRH The Duke of York.

I've been in the Stadium of Light many times, but taking the tour made me realise it has much more
than just football going on. I was taken around the whole ground with the boxes, functions rooms,
players lounge and most importantly the dressing rooms. It was lovely to see that the home dressing
room was nicely decorated with everything the players needed, including an ice bath! In
the visitors dressing room it was acceptable but clearly thought had gone into it to make sure being
at home had its advantages! I did get to run up the tunnel with the music playing which is a bit
special, but it does bring it home that the chances of me playing Premiership football are very
unlikely now!

This summer the National Glass Centre has loads to keep the kids occupied including glass blowing which I tried, and loved. The objective was to make a bauble, which for my first attempt came out pretty good ( with a little help). I was amazed to see that to shape the glass I was using nothing more than some newspaper folded up with water splashed on it. Then blowing the glass was a little like trying to blow up a balloon that just didn't want to inflate. It is a real skill which I was never going to master in an afternoon, and it's so hot in there as well. All in all I loved it and am very proud of the bauble I made!

Like me you've probably passed signs for Washington Wetlands Centre on your way to work, but haven't been for years. I was invited down to see what they have on over the school holidays and was reminded how good it is. In the middle of such an urban area it is so peaceful and green! I remembered the Nene geese from when I was younger, and they are still there along with the Flamingoes and a whole host of other birds. I also found out some great facts about the birds as well: - The Hawaiian goose or nene (Branta sandvicensis) is the world's rarest goose - In Hawian 'Nene' means moaning woman (no comment!!) - Flamingoes get their pink colouring from the food that they eat. - Flamingos create volcano-shaped nests from bits of mud, small stones and feathers and lay just a single egg each year.

It's that time again when for two weeks of the year I become the biggest tennis fan... Wimbledon is here!! I thought I'd pull on the white shorts and try my hand at tennis. It's much trickier than it looks on the TV, the net seems to get in the way, and when I got it over the net you've got to keep it in the court. Graham was great at the tennis centre in Silksworth though and gave me some great tips that I hadn't even thought of, like how to hold the racket and adjusting my grip. I played for about an hour and was worn out, which made that long match over 9 hours even more impressive!