Well, I just received an email informing me that I got a PhD scolarship from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne - and I’ll be starting this January!
Woohoo! ** Jumps all around the place **
Apologies to the ones who don’t care, but this has been weighing on my mind for quite a while, and it’s a relief to let off steam…
I am from about 20 miles north of Newcastle and I did my degree at Newcastle. It is a great city and an excellent University - be sure to get out and explore as well. It is a great party city and very friendly!
Good luck with the PhD - what are you doing?
Thank you, ems. It is ** drumroll ** Computer Science.
I suppose the people that read my thread on wheter to buy a Sun workstation might have guessed it… 
Congradulations, you’ll be acting nice and civilised and northern in no time. Really, though, well done, Newcastle is a brilliant city to be in (better than Durham for a night out anyway, although we do have The Worst Nightclub In Europe ).
I also heard similar rumours about Newcastle as I heard about Durham, namely that there is a University and that the students are occasionally supposed to work:confused: what do you mean I have a dissertation to be working on? End of next term you say? Arse 
Dissertation you say? mmmmmmm I think I did one of those to get my Masters 
The Computer Science building (Claremont I think???) is near to Merz Court where I was. All the evils are housed in Merz Court - Chem Eng, Electrical & Electronic Eng and Maths.
Congratulations, and welcome to the real Capital of Culture 
Have a laugh, and read my Location field…
Altough I must say that, coming from Italy, any of the towns there could beat Liverpool with a metaphorical hand tied behind the back.
Hey, I’ve been there! I spent two weeks at South Shields, digging at the Roman fort there–sheesh, that was more than ten years ago.
Anyway, congratulations!
Hey, Bren, South Shields is my home town!
Lars, come on, admit it - you didn’t win European city of culture, you nicked it! Bloody scousers’ll pinch anything that’s not nailed down…
Congratulations, anyway. Newcastle’s a fantastic city with amazing architecture, culture and nightlife, not to mention very friendly locals! I’m heading that way in a couple of weeks for Christmas and I can’t wait. No matter how long I’ve lived down south, Newcastle will be always home. Hope you love it there too.
I can see your (old) house from here!
(North Shields)
It seemed like a very pleasant place. I enjoyed my brief stay there very much. Of course, most of it was spent mucking around in the dirt on top of a hill, but still.
As my old house was on the banks of the Tyne, right by the Customs House, you probably can!
If you like a pint I suggest The Magpie close to Newcastle Uniteds ground.
Great pub, and the food is excellent [watch out for flying barstools]
Nah, you don’t flying barstools at this time of year - they’ve all migrated south for the winter!
I have a question about where to live.
Is there some area that, for any reason, I should avoid when house-hunting?
spogga, thanks for the advice. I’ll be sure to pop in, and to practise ducking for barstools. Do they fly for some mystic reason? I sort of suspect the answer…
Avoid, unless you have a death wish, the West End (of Newcastle, obviously). An elderly lady got mugged there for her bag of chips last year and subsequently died :(. Also avoid Byker. Not because of the TV show, but because it’s pretty rough. I got mugged by a gang of marauding 12 year olds in Byker a few years ago. Jesmond and Gosforth are both very nice, and though they’re a bit more expensive, it’s worth it not to have anyone murdered in your front garden.
LARS: The barstools usually fly on a match day and can be seen in all their glory about 15 minutes before kick off time.
They generally fly from the Newcastle supporters with great speed and accuracy towards visiting fans [especially those from Sunderland or Middlesborough]
The distinctive calling and mating sound of said stools being " Haway the Lads".
Personally I should look for a home in Manchester if I were you, I could put you up for a small fee. Before you ask No I’m not gay and I get the double bed.
Thanks, Jennyrosity, that’s exactly the kind of info that I was looking for. I was lucky in Liverpool and ogt the advice of a friend, but I know noone in Newcasle. Any other caveats?
What about living outside Newcastle and going to the University by train or coach?
spogga, I see I guessed right… Thanks for the kind offer, but I have three computers, hundreds of books, loudish prog rock, and Italian cooking all around me. I suppose I’d be a nuisance. And I suppose I’d better hang around the University and settle in Newcastle.
Lars, if you want to live outside the city, you’re in luck - we have an excellent Metro system which runs to all the outlying areas, even Sunderland (but you don’t want to go there. Ever). It’s fast, efficient and there’s one every couple of minutes. I miss it so much now I live in Plymouth - “There’s only one bus an hour but why do you need to go anywhere anyway, I don’t know, you outsiders, coming down here with your fancy ways, wanting to go places, and anyway if you go out after nightfall the vampires’ll get you, you’re better off staying at home and having sex with your cousin, or possibly a nice sheep.” Ahem. Anyway, Gateshead’s a possibility, it’s just the other side of the river and I’m told it’s being revitalised.
Ignore what spogga said. Newcastle is vastly superior to Manchester in every way.
Oooh!! And Tynemouth and Whitley Bay are nice if you like the seaside :).