Europe

My hubby Gerald is a Geordie and proud of it! After living in The Netherlands for the past 33 years he still enjoys returning to Gateshead for holidays.

Born in 1952, he grew up in Macadam Street, Bensham, later moving to Low Fell. At 16 he went to work at Saltwell Park Nursery and he followed various evening courses at Durham University. His local was The Old Vic at Low Fell.

Word perfect

We met in 1972 in Benidorm. He was there with friends and I was abroad for the first time with my friend. We met in the swimming pool, started talking and the rest is like a fairytale story!

Fish and chips at North Shields is a must

After meeting in Spain we were pen pals for a while and visited each other now and again. Then in 1974 he decided to seek adventure and came to live in Holland where he got himself a job as a gardener.

Gerald picked up the Dutch language really quickly. My mum could speak a bit of English but my dad didn't speak any, so that was hilarious sometimes.

In 1981 he started work at the Dutch Post Office (nowadays TNT) in the main sorting office in Rotterdam and he is still there.

This year we celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary. At home we always speak English although Gerald's Dutch is perfect. The only downside is that I speak English with a Geordie accent which sounds quite funny but is not good for my work in the office!

Fish and chips

What does Gerald misses most about the North East? His family, a pint of Newcastle Brown Ale, HP sauce, going to St. James´ Park to see NUFC play and believe it or not a proper cup of tea!

During our visits to the North East we always go for a fish and chips meal at North Shields Fish Quay.

We also go to a big supermarket to buy the things we want to take back home - so whenever people see a little red Corsa with a Dutch number plate, which is nearly sinking through the axles, it is us with a filled up car and over-stacked roof rack full of goodies.

I know you have to be born a Geordie and cannot become one, but if that was possible I wouldn't score badly. I can say things like a "davvena wha yi're taaking aboot" and can sing Blaydon Races and Cushy Butterfield.

We're already counting down the days to our next visit!