MY attempts to find inner peace rarely go beyond the uncorking of a bottle of Rioja, but a mate of mine has been trying to persuade me to try a bit of transcendental meditation.

The practice involves the use of a mantra – a phrase which you repeat with your eyes closed until you stop thinking about the troubles of the world. It’s a seductive idea, uttering some meaningless words until you slip into a serene state of dumb acceptance.

Let’s try it together by using the mantra ‘Northern Powerhouse.’ Just repeat that phrase after every bit of depressing information and see if things start to look a bit brighter.

Here goes:

Official figures released last week showed that the unemployment rate is higher in the North-East than in any other part of the UK. Northern Powerhouse.

The region’s jobless number rose by 7,000 to 103,000 between April and June, meaning the North-East has an unemployment rate of 8.1 per cent - 5.6 per cent is the national average. Northern Powerhouse, Northern Powerhouse.

In Hartlepool and Middlesbrough the jobless rate is almost five times higher than in George Osborne's constituency. Northern Powerhouse.

There are 1.16 million people in the North-East who are in work (and relax) but this number is 18,000 lower than it was three months ago. (Breath in, breath out).

Many of the trains that run on the East Coast Main Line are more than 40 years old. Northern Powerhouse.

The region’s main roads are unfit to support a 21st century economy. I've no figures to support that claim, but I drive on them every day. (Imagine you're a feather being blown by a gentle breeze).

Last week's A level results showed the North-East had the highest overall pass rate in the country, but the cost of tuition fees means fewer of our students plan to move on to university than anywhere else in the UK. Northern Powerhouse.

Over the academic year apprenticeship numbers have fallen across the country, including up here in the North-East. Northern Powerhouse.

There are 40,000 people aged 16 to 24 who are unemployed in the North-East, a rate of 20.4 per cent. Northern Powerhouse.

The government is tackling this scourge of youth idleness by warning jobless young people will be made to attend “boot camps” in return for benefits as part of a new Conservative drive to bring a “no excuses” culture to youth employment. Northern Powerhouse.

Average wages in the North-East fell over the past year, despite rising in most other parts of the UK. Northern Powerhouse.

Average wages in the North-East continue to be lower than in any other region of England, Scotland or Wales. Northern Powerhouse.

Annual Passenger numbers at Durham Tees Valley Airport have fallen 800,000 over the past 10 years. Northern Pow...

The discount supermarkets have some great deals at the moment on oak-aged rioja.

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