The One beside Pinocchio’s

Pinocchio’s, a lovely Italian restaurant here in the ‘Toon’, was the very first place in England that Ryan and I ate at.  It truly is a sweet spot!  It is sooo funny to reflect back now, and remember this outing.  I can remember how we thought it was extremely cheap, so cheap that we thought that they had messed up our bill.  I remember now, that we paid around 15 quid for 2 meals, which included alcoholic beverages.  We kept thinking, as we sat there staring at the bill, there is no way! They must’ve not included our starter?  They had to have forgotten something!  This is far too cheap of a bill.

I also remember tipping our server, because that is just what you are supposed to do, right?!

While Ryan and I marveled at this sweet little bistro, we decided that we loved Pinocchio’s and would bring friends and family here when they visited.

Great plan!  Or so we thought...

Our love for Pinocchio’s has never faded, and every time we felt hunger pains and were in the ‘toon’ we would march on over to Pinocchio’s to eat a 3 course meal, for £6.95.  Well it hasn’t been that easy, every time we have walked up to the light blue door, Pinocchio’s has been closed!

We have brought Amy, Stumpy, Kristina, Daniel, and Anne all to Pinocchio’s light blue door, and every time we have been faced with a closed sign!

Anyway, why all this nonsense?  You see, Ryan has left Geordie life today.  He is, as I blog, on a train to Manchester to fly back to the mother land!  He is heading back to sort out a new job and school for next year.

Today, we took the coach into the ‘toon’ to run some errands, and for Ryan to have his last round about the city center.  We also decided to have our last dinner together.  It was only fit to, of course, head to Pinocchio’s.  It is where it all began, and it sure would be nice to end it off on a similar note.  GUESS WHAT HAPPENED...  It was closed!!!!

All the times, we have ventured out to Pinocchio’s only to be saddened by the closed sign we have eaten at the place next to Pinocchio’s.  The place next to Pinocchio’s is an Italian restaurant as well, and it offers 3 course meals for the exact same price.  We have been to this place beside Pinocchio’s probably about 4 times, and each time has been because Pinocchio’s was closed.

After stuffing our bodies to an uncomfortable state, including coffee we trudged through the rain back to the coach station.  During our horrific walk (I have thrown out our umbrellas because both of them were absolute rubbish) therefore our walk left us drenched and angry.  What lightened the mood was Ryan saying,

“Ya know, I don’t even know the name of the place next to Pinocchio’s, have you ever noticed it?”

“Haha... I have not!” I replied...

All these times we went to this place and we don’t even know what it is called, what we do know... is that it’s next to Pinocchio’s.

So yes, it is true; my love of my life has boarded a train from platform 7 today at Central Station. With all of his belongings, minus a sock, which Anne found in the washer, and 3 shirts that were left hanging to dry in the spare bedroom (oops) Ryan is Canada bound.

As I annoyed Ryan on our travels to Central Station, saying things like “This is the last time you will be at 12 Craghall Dene, This is the last time you will walk to South Gosforth metro, this is the last time you will buy a metro ticket, this is the last time you will see the Tyne!”  We thought of our fond and not so fond memories here at Geordie land and we came up with this.

We took a risk, and met some fantastic people.  We learned more about the world, and about each other.  I also thanked him for taking this journey with me, because frankly it was for me.  I was the stubborn one who just had to teach the first year after my education degree, I was the one who wanted to take my career mobile, and he was, and continues to be, the one that allows me to think big!  Think past the glass ceilings and the clouds.  He never brings me back down even if my ideas are absolutely mad.

After reflecting on Geordie life, I look over and asked,

“So, what country next?”

I will just have to say, stay tuned to find out where we decide to venture out on our next journey together.