Two visits to the beachside amphitheatre June 2013

My late May and early June review of recent films and of TV gets put back another week after enjoying another three days of sunshine, the River and the coast. On Thursday June 6^th 2013 I failed to dress warmly for my first visit to the sea coast amphitheatre thus restricting my length of stay. It was my first walk along the sea coast this year although I have been down to the sea front in the car for mini walks before the car parking charges were reintroduced for the season.

I was not the only person who regretted not having a thicker coat as the temperature dropped despite the sun remain out until late and there was a flood of those dressed for the promenade and beach making their way home back along Ocean Road on foot/

There were also six merchant vessels laying off the Tyne entrance well away from the dangerous rocks close to the shores. As I returned home one of the ships, looking the largest, was being escorted into the river mouth by one of the four tugs still available compared to the twenty or so who traded until the 1970’s. Now the four are owned by an international company which provides most of the tugs looking after shipping in most fo the Worlds great River ports. They are equipped with the latest communications, radar and weather technology and their HQ is a short distance from that of the River Police, both on the South Tyneside side of the river, and where the latter also acts as a training centre, while further along on the other side of the hill is the Life boat training centre and also the centre used by the South Tyneside College marine school.

The sand dunes and large swaths of sand looked in pristine condition as did the new pathways and walling. The Marsden Rattler, twin train carriages Italian restaurant is still too expensive for every day eating for my pocket but the adjacent Restaurant pub compares with the nearest Wetherspoons in terms of special offers such as 2 for 1 which excludes me and Curry night which is a possibility as I have decided that I should eat our more at least once a week when at home.

There were a few camping vehicles and caravans in the park adjacent to the official site now given over fully to large attractive looking holidays home, too many in too close proximity for my lacking but bring more weekenders to the town.

As is my custom I walked up and along the walkway which overlooks the beach and the amphitheatre and water feature. The surface of the walkway has been redone with attractive all weather bench seating enabling panoramic view towards the Priory and castle ruins on Tynemouth hill across the entrance of the Tyne, six parked merchant ships, the great sands and then down the coast to Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough. Beneath me, keeping out of the cold and firm breeze, about a dozen keep fit men and women were being put through their paces and this year for the first time the local authority had invested in an all weather canopy above the playing stage located close to the amphitheatre but would also enable the show to continue if it rained with the audience sheltering under the walkway.

There were about two hundred people sitting in the amphitheatre or at the tables and chair around Minchella’s enlarged tea house and ice cream parlour with a steady queue at the take away service window. There were about half a dozen aging bikers who have made the location there own throughout the year.

The first act was a young female guitarist with a strong local accent Courtney Dixon aged 15-16 who reached the final of the North East and Scotland Open Mike competition where she also entered when she was 13 years of age. I did not feel the open air acoustics benefited her voice. There is a video from the competition on You Tube. I cannot remember if the next solo singer was Dean James or Paul Liddell who followed Courtney’s half hourish set. I had found a cold stone sat in a more sheltered spot but the music was not sufficiently compelling for me to stay.

On the way back I had a better look at the new paved area outside the new swimming and general Leisure centre which looks as if it will be completed soon and was scheduled to be ready before the end of Spring. The project is to be called Haven Point and will also include yet another Amphitheatre making three along the Coast and River. As previously mentioned although there is ane expensive recreation of the original bandstand in South Bents Park, it is not used until August with concerts during June and July on Sunday’s at the seacoast Amphitheatre.

On Saturday there is a three hour show covering local talent aged 15 to 19 years who will be competing to perform on the main stage at an all day event managed by the Customs House of August 4^th when I am in London watch Durham at Lords at the new as yet not completed amphitheatre. Young adults were invited to send their tracks to the organisers of the Bernicia Festival. Bernicia standing for the ancient Saxon Kingdom which covered Northumberland and Durham, Berwick and Lothian region of Scotland.

The organisers selected three of the most talented youngsters to perform on the Saturday evening. Although the weather looked good I wondered about the turn out because of the clash with the final of Britain’s Got Talent and which led to the Voice to switch its latest episode to last night. I decided to set the recorder and go and see for myself but this time taking the car to the bottom of the hill with a variety of clothing for outside wear.

On getting outside of the car the air felt warm and there were sunbathers in the North Bents Park although it was just on six o’ clock and those going in both directions along Ocean Road were lightly dressed so putting on a heavy coat seemed out of place so I continued with the same light jacket as on Thursday but as soon as I reached the roadside promenade I realised the wind was just as strong as before an decided against moving closer to the sands along the beach promenade.

I had a light evening meal of a small quiche and some cherries beforehand and wafting odour of the fish of fish and Chips from the roadside kiosks and the Ocean Restaurant was a powerful reminder that I had consumed little. Every outside table was occupied at the Sundial and there were six row of caravans and motor homes in the park adjacent to the official holiday home park and I had also noted that South bents park was full of families enjoying the children’s play parks, the train, the boating or just lazing on the grass. The fun fair was also doing good business including the giant swinging arm.

Although ti was well after six when I reached the amphitheatre it looked as the first act was just setting up the instruments with the amplifier and I judged he audience t be less than on Friday. I made my way along to the Sandancer, a pub restaurant I have visited many items usual around six in the evenings when the cross channel ferry could be view from one fo he beach side restaurants, This was then the restaurant was part fo a chain and where vouchers reducing the bill by £5 for two were frequently available.

This is now an individually owned facility aiming at the well dressed young with music evenings and with price a little above average with a two course Sunday mean £8.95. I had intended to continue to walk along the beach promenade to the Trow Rocks but tis would have meant cross sand without doubling back to the car park so I change tak and went back to the amphitheatre where the first act did not appeal and as suspected the temperature was lowering so I set on a quickly agreed plan B. This included calling in att eh first Kiosk for 1 £1.70 carton of fatty chips with batty which I then eat in the car which after travelling the short distance back to the temporary summer car park across the road from the amphitheatre. The second was more to my likely will summer sounding instrumentation so I stayed for half an hour before going back to view the Britain’s Got Talent final,

It was looking over towards Tynemouth Priory on Thursday evening that the idea of making the walk along the River bank to the north Tyneside Fish quay for lunch one fine day soon was planted. That fine day came sooner than anticipated when the urge to go out once more in the sunshine was strong on Friday morning and I decided to make the trip taking a near empty rucksack to purchase some needed items from Morrisons on the way back. I did take my mini pocket radio and enjoyed both classical and radio one 1 along the way. Radio One was enjoying some national publicity because the Queen was visiting the broadcast studio as part of opening the new BBC London HQ centre yesterday, on her own as Prince Philip had entered a private hospital for surgery on his abdomen after various tests and was scheduled to stay in the hospital for two weeks. The band, “The Script” were invited to the live studio to play a number and be introduced to the head of State and later the morning presenter gushed her excitement during an interview with the lead singer before the group played a couple of their favourite hits in a move designed to make Royalty more accessible and connected with the young.

I took the Ferry which arrived on the North bank in time for the just before half past buses. I had debated going to visit the Pitman Painters gallery at Ashington, but I had missed the connection just before the hour. I took the 10.27 number 19 bus for the short journey to North Shields metro station before the vehicle went on to the Northumberland park metro station where I assume it did a turn around. I had to wait only few minutes for the equally short train ride to Tynemouth where I decided not to take the stairway over the line and go out from the arrival platform just to see where it led. The walk paralleled that from the other platform exit, along to the famous private school one side with attractive terraced villas on the other the other side of the junction with the road to the castle and priory and the main road from North Shields where I could have arrived by bus

The coaster goes from Gateshead and Newcastle to Tynemouth and on to Whitley Bay via North Shields. There is also a service which commencing in Newcastle goes on to Blyth (306 308) and the 357 ends at Tynemouth from Newcastle and of course there is the one buss direct from the ferry, the 333 but which goes to the Coast Road to the North East of the town and involves a longer walk longer walk. I did debate this possibility back at the ferry bus terminal but the driver of the 19 came first while that of the 333 was having a smoke, but given the number of us waiting for the 19, the 333 set off just seconds beforehand.

Along the main street to the castle and priory there were not as many enjoying coffee at outside tables as I have witnessed on past visits. On reaching the ruins of the Castle I took the road down to the river side passing the route to the north pier on my left and the two free car parks on the right and noting three caseloads of tourists, all from the same company admiring the view back along the river and across to South Shields. I wondered where they were from and where they were going.

Reaching the esplanade the smell of sea weed on rocks greeted me. The smell took me back to the childhood recognition that a summer holiday away from home had commenced with this unmistakable badge of the seaside.

The views from this side of the river are gloriously spectacular and people pay thousands to experience abroad so I stopped at a couple of bench seats along the journey. The only dispiriting sight is the stern long block of flats above me, built to house seafarers each with a balcony view they were a commendable patronage in their day but now reminder everyone that this was an industrial and commercial river and not a tourist visitation.

As it was someway before noon when some of the restaurants offered their lunch time, daytime special I was able to view what all the establishments offered. Irvins Brasserie is the first the most pricey. I settled for Sambuca 2 one fo three owned by the same company at the other end after finding a yet another seat and admiring the view until noon. Cassia Sambuca and Sambucas are the other two adjacent but separate venues with the Cassia offering a three course £4.95 set meal with the two siblings £3.95. In between the two ends of the Quay area is the popular Martino restaurant with several pavement tables and which had the most diners drowsing in just before the hour sounded.

Oceans specialises in Fish and Chips with a separate Take away. They do offer a Pensioners special at £4.90 with the standard price a couple of pounds more. I did not check the take away prices although many were purchasing the boxed meal and eating from one of the riverside seats. There are several fish merchants, a continental foods store which also offered either a pheasant or a rabbit at under a fiver and one other eaterie as well as a couple of pubs, one by the fish dock and the other, the oldest in the town one with a maximum height of 5ft 8. There is also the Fish Quay Fair an indoor market with some 100 stalls open at weekends and possible midweek. I tend to look and not buy so just as well the venue was not open.

There were only two ladies in Sambuca 2 when I entered just afternoon and this enabled me to chose the only table with a full window view. I chose the potato skins starter although seeing the Minestrone soup offered another customer who arrived later this offered a more substantial portion. I also chose a penne carbonara- the egg cheese bacon dish with various pasta options and then coffee rather than ice cream have commenced with half a lager £1.50 so with £1 tip, the meal cost me £6.50. The decision to eat out rather than take a packed lunch came after a moment of rashness when before leaving I had purchased a £5 instant lottery ticked when getting my entry for the Euro lottery. I had then won £20 making net gain of £15.

Satisfied by the meal I walked leisurely back to the ferry landing arriving to watch it departing and therefore had half an hour to wait enjoying the view once more from one of the seats on the landing. I bought three £1 bags of cherries from the greengrocers under the Metro station and then at Morrisons, milk, a lettuce, some pate and margarine before reaching home. It had been a good morning which I wanted to make again.

Planning June 2013 in and around South Tyneside and Northumbria

June 3013 marks a new era of self discipline although I had intended to commence to writing the piece earlier on Saturday the first day of the month, the dawn brought rain and sea fret and depressed after the beautiful sunshine of Friday.

On Friday morning I was filled with a great urge to get out in the bright sky fresh air although I had no plan. Having renewed the Metro pass for another year and with the pass now combined with the National bus pass and still giving for free travel on the ferry this was the first decision and in doing so provided an opportunity to view the work on the grass land adjacent the ferry landing. Such was the surprise and seeing a tall wall built along the area between the landing and almost at the Customs’ House entertainment complex that it was only on return and visiting the South Tyneside site that I learned what is planned for what is now called Harton Quays. There is to be a sheltered parkland between the BT building and the boardwalk and adjacent to the new pathway but it will be open space towards the Customs House and at the other end adjacent to the ferry landing there is to be a new Amphitheatre, and which will feature Glastonbury June 28^th June 30 from 12 noon each day, although I suspect they will be pushed to get the work completed in time.

On return home I collected the April August edition of What’s on and then printed out the full list of activities in South Tyneside which are free to locals and visitors alike. I will cover the June options before the this writing ends.

On Friday morning the ferry approached the North Tyneside landing as the cross channel lorry ferry was arriving and for a couple of minutes appeared to be heading directly for the landing until it swung into the mid channel to continue to the docking area on the north bank of the river. Watching the lorry ferry arrive I nearly missed the connecting buses at the now completed bus half circle and terminus. Still waiting was the 333 service which makes the comparatively short journey along to the north bank to the Fish Quay and then up into North Shields and through the town ending at the Tynemouth Hotel which is on the North Sea Coast Road, a short walk along the cliff road passed the activity park to the Gibraltar Pub adjacent to which the traditional jazz/swing band stage is set for the annual Mouth of the Tyne festival across the road from the ruins of the Tynemouth Priory and castle.

This year the North Tyneside Mouth of the Tyne Festival is on 13^th and 14^th July and ahs a more commercial look than previous years although the move towards booking pay up commenced last year, coinciding with the move of the Whitley bay Jazz festival until later in the year and the abandonment of Whitley Bay as the venue for the event. A comic is booked for the Playhouse o the Thursday with the Human League at the Priory on the Friday. James Morrison and the Lake Poets( band) are the Saturday night offering and on Sunday afternoon there is a more family orientated concerts at £12 adults and £6 children. Gone therefore is the free concert on Saturday afternoons with the only paying evening on the Sunday evening. There are to be street performances in the high street leading to the priory but as yet information is available including if the traditional jazz stage will continue. The Jazz weekend takes place 1st to 3^rd of November at a cost of £135 is exceptionally reasonable given the range fo talents and scope fo the music involved. There is usually a pre weekend concert at the Sage but this year a tribute to Artie Shaw, Billie Holiday and Bunny Berrigan is being held at the Customs House here in Shields and I will go an book my ticket during the coming week,

On Friday I decided to wait for 19 bus which take a shorter route to North Tyneside metro having decided to journey to Newcastle, a route I cannot remember previously taking. Work on the replacement North Tyneside Metro station has been completed after three years of work which disrupted services.

The number 19 bus continues on a long journey of ninety minutes to Ashington, the home of the Charlton brothers and also the gallery of the Pitmen painters by way of the Silver Link Trading Park ( a free way petrol and car saving way to get the Odeon Cinema) Seaton Delaval, Cramlington new town shopping centre and Bedlington. I later printed out the time table to work out a visit to the Gallery getting to the Ferry landing for the ferry after 9.30 hoping to make the 9.57 bus which arrives at the Ashington Bus Station 11.27, and the Gallery a 15 minute walk, return on the 15.30 or 16.30 buses. Knowing this I will attempt to fit on a suitable day in the coming weeks, possibly months.

North Tyneside station is ready for automated ticket barriers. The route into Newcastle is not attractive which backs and trees masking the housing mostly square semi detached boxes. At Monument I failed to take note of the way I exited. The sunshine and weekend seemed to have brought out more busking musicians in Northumberland Street than usual mainly local university students I suspected with two classical groups, a quartet and a pair one who looked the younger school age brother. There was a rock guitarist but the most noteworthy was a group of modern jazz players who position themselves at the entrance to the Eldon Square Shopping entrance, The group consisted of a drummer, trumpet, saxophone (female) trombone and one other instrument. I found a seat and listed to several numbers I return via Eldon Square noting the ongoing attempts to modernise and also that a few stores were closed with attractive hoardings and the same notice that a new exciting store would be opening shortly. Back at the Monument which has echoes of Piccadilly Circus there was a young female singer. The Monument Mall Shopping centre with the food court on the top floor is now fully closed looking a long way from completion but promising to become a new major shopping attraction.

I decided to return home the way I had come except that I could not work out where the line platform from St James to North Shields and Tynemouth looping in circular fashion to Whitley Bay and then inland back to Monument Platform 1 and onward to South Shields was located. I considered talking the quicker route half an hour to South Shields from Platform 1 until finding I would have wait 11 minutes. There had to be a way to North Shields. This was eventually discovered via stairs/lift at one end of platform 2. There was a good wait for the went bus back to the Ferry but which left soon after I arrived, this time the boat was packed with those wanting to come to South Shields beach for the day or to the down to earth South Shields Friday market rather than he more arty and up market version on Tynemouth Stations at weekends.

The problem for those coming into Shields who have not visited since the demolition of the buildings backing on to the riverside is that the direct walking across the road is closed and the nearest way into the town centre involves several stairs which is a problem for parents with wheelchairs and the elderly with sticks. I purchased a pound of small but dark cherries from the greengrocers under the metro station ( £2.70 £2.50 a pound with those on sale in Newcastle £3.60/£4) and a fresh vegetables pack from Morrisons for £1.19, after calling in at the Museum and Art Gallery for a copy of What’s on. It was well after 1 when I was home to fid a package from Northumberland Water contained a box marked Water Saving Kit and sub headed Bad habits cost the Earth. This comprises a Toilet Flush save estimated to reduce consumption by 12 litres a day, a timer for the shower, a basin tap water saver and a universal plug.

I exercised well in the afternoon completing my time as Artman 102 for the coming months and noting the end of month position. I have continued to remain professional standard in ten pin bowling retaining a rating of over 1100 to 1140 having reached 1154 at one points with the principal new achievements getting to profession at three hole golf just with 1002 points. I continued to enjoy tennis with some great work outs and strong close single games but getting beyond 700 has proves a major challenge and closed at a high of 753. I have become more proficient at baseball winning most games but yet to break a rating of 750 and 700 with boxing bouts where I had to wins on points and also two drawn matches at baseball..

I have been very successful with the Sports disc training programme which requires three events in succession and which gives an fitness age rating with the minimum possible set at 20. That I have attained a low of 27 and achieved under 30 for month days is a reflection of my general increased skill and alertness on the tree events that were provided, returning tennis balls wand which includes three sets fo five balls at the net and also ten pun bowling with completing spares and then ten successive hits at baseball. To achieve the under 30 rating is necessary to only miss between 1 and 5 tennis ball returns, to make 15 ten pin bowling completions and make 5 to 6 baseballs hits.

Interestingly when I changed characters from Colin 101 to Colin on Saturday the fitness games have changed which included a multiple bowling challenge where it is essential to hit a red skittle for the number of other skittles to increase every time to over 100. For tennis there returning balls to a moving screen at the back of the court.

These two latter games are including in the individual game training features where three events are listed for each of the five sports and where by the end of he month I had achieve Bronze medal status (1) in returning up to 30 tennis balls (19) and (2) hitting the screen (8), in (3) achieving 7 out of ten hits at baseball (1123 metres) in Golf (4) hitting 10 greens with a lowest score of 11 and where 30 meters is added if you miss the green into the rough plus (5) hitting a target across water (295). In Boxing (6) I moved the punch bag to make 14 hits and then 15 with 14 achieving the bronze medal level. In ten pin bowling (7) I went to straight to Silver clearing 12 lanes and also cleared 476 skittles to make bronze thus achieving bronze and one silver in eight fo the 15 events. My aim is to achieve medals in ten events as some I am hopeless and am not at present prepared to spend the time in learning and practice I suspect required. The delight in ten pin bowling is that my clearing 17 lanes I achieved my first gold as Colin this month as well as a second bronze o golf hitting the green with an under 100 score, Returning balls in tennis a bronze with a score of only 13. I am breaking off the writing to commence my Monday morning session.

This proved to my best ever with almost a perfect Sports Training test getting my age down to 22, unlikely to be repeated and then getting my age at only 29 with the Fitness programme, two amazing top scores and then with the Sports Training individual games I achieved the goal of 10 bronze or better medals out of the 15 games plus the Gold, 11 in total and only the 3^rd day of the month. I will have to concentrate on the competitive games to try and reach professional level in three of the five sports. After an egg salad lunch I went for a walk purchases some cherries and raspberries, the milk needed and some salted peanuts as a reward. I intended continuing to the Customs House to book for the Jazz show at the end of October but as I was in the High Street I realised I had not brought the credit cards.

There was an interesting story on the Huffington post AOL involving the Prime Minister the details of which I will not mention in case the injunction mentioned would be breached by repetition although no name of the individuals have been included just that the outcome was a top level meeting at number 10. A different kind of story is that over 30 Conservative Members of Parliament are alleged to have sent a letter to the Chairman of the 1922 Backbench Committee saying they had no confidence in Cameron as their party leader and when the required number to trigger a no confidence vote is said to be only 46,

The big fuss over the weekend has involved a series stings of politicians, one in the Commons and three in the Lords. The first a Tory who has resigned his Party whip, and then a northern Ireland Lord plus two Labour men from the North, Lord Cunningham from Cumbria and the other a former police chief from County Durham. The issue is did they break the rule in relation to appearing to accept offer of payments from the posing media man. Existing Lobbying firms were not directly involved but this has raised the issue again. All four deny they have broken the rules. The political hot potato is also in the Lords where today and tomorrow, with the vote in the afternoon on the second reading of the Same sex Marriage legislation. A lose vote in favour of the legislation is anticipated.

And so what of the rest of the month. There are up to seven days more of cricket, with Warwickshire the visitors 12-15^th which could prove another crucial match in the championship bid if a draw/win takes place at Taunton against struggling Somerset. I write this as Sussex are holding out against Nottingham at Hove which will be the best possible result for Durham. Sussex will still go back to had the table with their bonus and draw points but it will leave four teams at the top including Durham having each played six games and three wins. Notts who will still have a game in hand will trail Durham with the draw by only seven points because of having gained maximum bonus points this keeping alive their ambitions. The match does ends in a draw. Warwickshire with one win from 6 and Somerset 0 from 7 , Surrey and Derbyshire none from 6 all look out of the running with now that Surrey have the Australian Ponting and Derbyshire Chanderpaul I anticipate they will make a rally, leaving Warwickshire and Somerset look good for relegation at present. Yorks play Notts and Middlesex Sussex on Wednesday with Surrey hosting Warwickshire,

Durham won against Lancs on Sunday in the 40 over competition which makes the games against Scotland on Father’s day and against Hampshire in the 2^nd crucial must win home games.

Openers Mustard and Stoneman had a brilliant start scoring at over 8 runs an over for the first when only two fielders are allowed outside the circle, Stoneman went for 85 and Mustard 65 and with Muchall 48 and Stokes 40 the team made 297 for 9. Some members and visitors appeared to have come only in shirts although many had taken the precaution of bringing a woolly and in my instance also a coat which was needed as sun went in and it became cold. I sat in the far corner beneath the new extension given the pitch was located close to the Member’s Pavilion.

The clouding over immediately help Graham Onions who dismissed four of the five opening batsmen in a single spell of 8 overs for 45 runs and at one point the game looked over with Lancs 80 for 5 and needing twice the run rate achieved at that point. It was unpleasant even with my coat so I came home to listen on the BBC Internet relay only to learn that the last two Lancs batsmen had staged an amazing rally with Ally hitting 5 sixes and four in his 59 with Parry not out 10 putting on 51 quick runs after Ali had also had a stand with Clark (72) so that the last two wickets added just under 100 runs, perhaps because the weather brightened as it was clear blue sky again on the Hill when I got back.

The result left Durham in second position in the table to Hampshire who have 1.25 more points and a game in hand, a lead they will still have even if Durham win their home game against Hampshire on the 22^nd June the last match before the break. Essex are at home to Surrey this afternoon in a floodlit game where a win will move the successfully team above Durham. I am going for Surrey as they will have played six games as Durham and with coming to Durham later in the year there is possibility of cancelling out the lead. Essex on the other hand would not only take a 1.25 point lead but still have a game in hand. Essex have made a massive 313 so Surrey have almost an impossible task, alas. However Surrey do now have Ponting.

The seventh day of cricket is on 28^th with the first 20 20 game of season against Lancs and I am tempted to go Scarborough for the 20 20 game on the Sunday the 30th. I have sent an email to the organiser of travel club for a place on the coach if available at £20 plus purchase of the ticket at gate.

As mentioned earlier I have obtained a copy of the Summer festival brochure from the Museum and Art gallery reception and which also contains the summer programme at the Customs House. It was from this brochure that I learned the plan to relay Glastonbury at the new Amphitheatre on the 28 to 30^th. I will miss the 30^th if I got to Scarborough.

I missed the first of the Saturday evening concerts at the sea front amphitheatre and the weather changed as the evening progressed. The concerts are held every Thursday and Saturday evenings in June. I also missed the first brass band concert on Sunday afternoon going to the cricket. These concerts are also held at the amphitheatre on Sundays 9. 16, 23^rd and also the 30^th. One year a Trad band played at the expensive to build bandstand in the park, although no similar event appears listed until August. The brass band continues on Sunday in July when the free concerts with professional groups are held.

If the weather is as good tomorrow as to-day I shall take the metro to Newcastle and go on one of River escapes trips ideally down river to the mouth of the Tyne, and then later up river, a journey I have not taken before. Depending on how I feel I may pop into the Baltic on the way back. I have also checked out what’s on at the Sage this summer and there is nothing that appeals although there is some jazz meal evenings, where a companion is appropriate. There are some lunch time free music session to be considered. I will leave July until later in the month.