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To all, Have a great Christmas and all the best for 2017

The joy of living in the country … 9 December We woke this morning to a wonderful carpet of crystal white, sparkling snow which covered every inch of the countryside. What a fantastic sight! Is there anything more beautiful! I shoveled snow for the first time in years (the council always takes care of that in town). I felt rejuvenated. I cleared both the drive and the verandah. In the afternoon, the snow plough came and blocked the drive with snow again so I had to get the shovel out again. What a wonderful life! 12 December The sun has come out and melted all our lovely snow. What a shame. My neighbour says not to worry, we’ll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow at Christmas would be dreadful! Bob says that by the end of February we’ll have so much snow that I won’t ever want to see snow again. I don’t think that’s possible. He’s joking I’m sure. Bob’s a nice man. I’m pleased he’s our neighbour. 14 December Snow, wonderful snow! Eight inches fell during the night and the temperature has fallen to -20 degrees. This type of cold makes everything sparkle. The wind is cold but you soon get warm clearing the drive and the verandah. This is the life! The snow plough came back this afternoon and buried everything in snow again. I hadn’t realized that I’d have to shovel so much snow but I’ll definitely be fit by the end of the winter! 15 December Another 10 inches fell during the night. Hubby sold his car and bought a 4x4 instead. He also bought winter tyres for my car and two extra snow shovels. Hubby wants to install a wood burner – in case of power cuts – but I think that’s stupid. We don’t live in Alaska for heaven’s sake! 16 December Snow storm this morning. I fell on the ice while I was putting salt on the drive. It doesn’t half hurt. The old man laughed until he cried – great fun, I don’t think! 17 December Temperature still way below minus. The roads are terrible. Too dangerous to drive anywhere. We had a power cut for 5 hours. What to do? Sat and stared at the other half and tried not to irritate him. We should have bought that wood burner but I’m not admitting that to him. I hate it when he’s right. I cannot believe that I’m freezing to death in my own sitting room! 20 December The electric’s back on, but another 12 inches of that bl*ody white sh1t fell during the night. MORE shoveling! It took all day! The snow plough came twice! I tried to get one of the neighbour’s kids to help but they were too busy – playing ice-hockey on the lake. I’m sure they were lying. I called the iron mongers to see if they had a snow-blower but they had run out. Maybe they’ll get a new delivery in March when the road’s open again. I’m sure they were lying. Bob says we have to clear the snow otherwise the council will come and do it and send me a big bill! I think Bob’s lying as well. 22 December Bob was right about the White Christmas. Another fifteen inches of the blasted stuff during the night and it’s so bl*ody cold that It’ll not melt before August! It took me 45 minutes to get dressed in all my layers this morning so that I could go out and clear away the snow and then I needed a pee! By the time I’d undressed, peed and dressed again I was so tired I couldn’t be bothered to shovel snow! I tried to get Bob to take over my driveway the rest of the winter. I mean, he has a snow blower. He says he doesn’t have time- I’m sure that b@stard is lying! 23 December Only 2½ inches of snow today and the temperature is only -1. Himself wanted me to put up some Christmas decorations this morning. Is she crackers or what? Why the H*ll didn’t he say so a month ago? He says that she DID say it a month ago but I think the b’ is lying! 24 December We woke to eight inches of snow. It’s already been packed as hard as stone by that bl*ody snow plough so I broke the snow shovel! I think I had a heart attack as well! If I get my hands on tha b@stard driver I’ll kill him. I just KNOW that the b’ psychopath waits round the corner till I’ve got my drive cleared, then he comes at 80 miles an hour and fills the drive again! The old man wanted us to sing a few Christmas carols this morning while we wrapped presents but I was too busy keeping an eye out for that 4king idiot of a driver. 25 December Merry Christmas to all that bl*ody snow!! We are snowed in!! The very thought of shoveling snow makes my blood boil! God how I hate SNOW!!! The snow plough stopped and asked how things were. I hit the b@stard over the head with the snow shovel … 26 December Still snowed in! Why on earth did I move here to this bl’ody hole? And, it was all HIS idea. He gets right on my nerves … 27 December Still snowed in. He is driving me nuts!! 29 December Another 24 inches during the night! Bob says I’ll have to get the snow off the roof otherwise the roof might cave in. 4king idiot! Does he think I’m stupid. Or what? 30 December The roof caved in! The driver of the snow plough has sued me for £80 000 just cos I hit him on the head with a shovel and the old man has gone back to his mother … 31 December Set fire to the whole blasted lot. No more shoveling snow for me!! 8 January I feel so good. I love these little pills they give me. Why am I locked in this room?

The residents group is still going strong. We have just had our 4th xmas party for the kids on Saturday and as usual they thoroughly enjoyed it. Because of the major renovations going on over the last couple of years ,hindered by the original builders going bust we've had to put a few things on hold. We've had financial help and support from, Bernicia, EBPC,Police and Crime commissioners Fund and Northumberland Police. We raise money mainly via a weekly bonus ball draw. We are looking to raise funds by other means from next year. A trip is being planned to South Lakes Zoo Park in late Spring / Early summer 2017. Hopefully we can do something for the older residents and get them away in the summer as well. Our bank account is in a healthy state as well. Maybe we should take up the offer of help to create a website (above GGG) if it is still available . We've managed with a facebook page up till now

Have a Go and ask Wilfred Pickles

As of today there is a new residents group in Bedlington. The Burnside Estate Residents Group was formed and will include the residents of Moorland Cottages and Thomas Holliday Homes. The constitution was presented to the meeting and adopted. The turn out could have been better, but those residents who were there contributed positively and enthusiastically. We are receiving support from Bernicia, East Bedlington Parish Council, Northumbria Police and Wansbeck CVS. The reputation that Burnside has had over the last decade or two has not been the best, to say the least. Things have improved significantly over the last 12 months or so and it is our intention to build on that and make it an estate that people wont be ashamed to admit to living on. There are many good people living on this estate and they have had to suffer the stigma of living on Burnside because of the way a certain few chose to lead their lives by disrepecting their neighbours and environment and, in doing so, tarring everyone on the estate with the same brush, things can only change for the better. BURNSIDE ESTATE RESIDENTS GROUP (neighbours pulling together) This post has been promoted to an article

Found it! Thanks Andy

If you're on a narrow screen it may have dropped into the "More" menu since the addition of the timeline

...getting back to basics, I swear that when I looked at the weather 30 seconds ago it said "Smoke" and there was a symbol to match. Was it really there or should I take more water with the whisky?

Get it in the Services Directory then, and yes we are a community resource and a Bedlington URL (and your very own FREE webspace) is there for the asking. You can also have your own forum on the board providing you provide your own moderation, and it can be as open or as closed as you wish. PM if you need any other help. P.S. Don't forget to post your meetings and other events on the calendar.

The closing bars of Strangers in the Night. More oobie than scooby I think! Give 'im the money, Mabel!