Vic Patterson

Hi Brian92, no I'm from Blyth my only connection to Bedlington is through my wife Doreen.

Is there plans to bring it back? An update would be nice...

Hello Brian, welcome to the forum, my wife Doreen's graddad Walter Dagless lived in the old hall, first door in the arch about that time. 

Upside down must be for the Saturday night crowd 

We will be watching quite a lot of the games as the time zone is closer to ours at last. We got off to a good start yesterday Canada ladies beat Brian’s Australian ladies soccer team! the coach is John Herdman from Consett.

There is a lot of negative press with the Zika virus and water conditions, I can't believe they are allowing the water sports to go on, disgusting!

Other than Curling and Ice hockey we don’t have a lot of top athletes, only “rivals” are the USA so we spread our loyalties over UK, Australia and Canada, Canada hope to be in the top 12 in medals.

35 minutes ago, HIGH PIT WILMA said:

Thanks Sym!

Each time I try that in word,it asks for my product key number,which I don't know how to find,then it tells me I have only 25 attempts at this....blaa blaa...!

Webbtrekker,that is a mighty fine likeness of the real thing,even doon ti thi rivets aroond the top of thi Glennie,and the switch on thi side of his caplamp,wat switches

atween ya spotleet,and ya taaky - leet!![a smaller powered bulb,more sociable when you were taaking ti ya Marra's at bait-times...you didn't blind them!]

Note the "Bean-can" [as we called it!],on his belt.

"Self-Rescuer" to be correct.

It was a life-saver in the event of a fire or explosion underground.

They were made by Draeger-Normalair,of which  the local factory is on the Bebside industrial estate,as you go up the slip-road ti the Bebside roundabout,on the left.

For those who are unfamiliar with this device,I will try and describe it and it's correct use....briefly,if I can!!!!!

Upon becoming aware of a fire or explosion on the OUTBYE side of you,i.e. with contaminated air being brought into where you were working,with a risk of breathing

CO..[Carbon Monoxide-"Afterdamp"],[which I just recently covered],you would quickly assess the risks with your nose!!

You wouldn't wait for an Official,such as the Deputy or Overman,to TELL  you to put your bean-can on,you would do it with no hesitation...seconds count when you are dealing with CO!!

BUT,you would NOT,I repeat NOT,REMOVE THE RESCUER FROM YOUR FACE,UNTIL AN OFFICIAL INSTRUCTED YOU THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DO SO!

When in use,the canister containing Carbon Granules,and other minerals,converts CO into "breatheable amounts" of CO2..[Carbon Dioxide],which is not poisonous

like CO,[Carbon Monoxide,]and so renders the atmosphere to a safe level for life to survive,providing the wearer can reach a supply of fresh air very quickly,as the rescuer only operates for about one hour,and becomes unbearably hot while being worn.

It is a natural reaction to want to remove the mask,due to the heat,and the difficulty in pulling bad smoky air through it,because you can hardly breathe when under a stressful situation,and trying to hurry when underground,travelling through deep water,slipping and sliding over rough stony wet ground,is very difficult....even in a good supply of cleanish air.[never mind in a situation like this!]

So that's why the rule was brought in,[under mining "Rules and Regulations"],about waiting to be instructed when to remove your mask.

The mask was removed from the canister by pulling up on a metal "safety " strap,which held the two halves of the canister together,with the mask safely packed inside.

If,somehow,this strap got broken off or damaged in any way,you had to report it to the lamp-cabin man,to ensure you had a fresh one for your next shift.

Think!!,if you carelessly forgot,and threw it back into it's docket,then put it back on next day...........then it is needed in an emergency.......you've had it mate!!

Chemical reaction takes place the minute it is exposed to the atmosphere,so if the canister is damaged ,or the strap gets broken off,it takes about an hour,then it is useless!

Mind,they were the most-cussed device ever used by any miners working in very low seams!![in safe environments!]

They got caught on every single obstruction there was ,while crawling down a coal-face...timber props,hydraulic hoses [of which there were hundreds!],electric cables.......big stones...where there had been a roof fall and it was very narrow,or low,to travel through.....you would hear your marra's cursing!!...bliddy bean-cans!!!

When worn on the face,they were similar to war-time gas masks,without the freaky eye-holes!!...a clip over your nose to prevent contaminated air reaching your lungs by that route,and a hard mouth-piece which you "bit" on with a rubber gasket enclosing your mouth and cheeks,to seal it also.

Then any air you breathed in,entered through the canister of Carbon Granules,and if I am not mistaken,[maybe I am!],the canister also had Aluminium Oxide

crystals..[or granules....whatever!]

Hope I have painted a decent enough picture of how the "Bean-can"..."Self-Rescuer" saved lives in the event of the aftermath of a fire or explosion.

Not only Miners had these devices,anybody who might be exposed to CO ,such as firemen etc,would have these along with the equipment they would normally

use.

Might I add that the bean-can was useless in any other gaseous atmosphere,such as H2S [Hydrogen Sulphide-"Stinkdamp"...deadly poisonous!],or CO2,[Carbon Dioxide......"Blackdamp"...not poisonous...but asphyxiating as I already explained earlier].

Well,time to pile a few zzzzzzzzz's  up again!

G'nite folks!

Potassium superoxide KO2, I used to check and service these for our underground mine rescue teams when I was with our Surface Mine Rescue team, after use during the turn around we would also check and service the Draeger SCBA so the underground teams could rest longer before going back underground, time can be vital in a situation.

I think they use compressed oxygen now, probably a lot cooler! Google time....

Our telephone service provider is thinking of getting rid of public telephones! as they say they are very rarely used, that got me thinking about public phones, I have never used one here in Canada (over 40 years) the last one I used was the one on the Coronation street set while on a visit back home at least 15- 20 years ago.

What a long way telephones have come, I remember going with my mom to the phone box to call my dad who was working in London, (United Bus Service) mom would crank the handle and it was my job to feed loads of those great big pennies into the phone and push the button if she got through, I remember the phone number started with SLOAN and had only 4 numbers.

A couple of years ago I bought a cell phone, supposedly for emergencies! I use it only for texting the kids and I have only made one phone call on it, I don’t subscribe to a plan so it doesn’t get used as a smart phone, our plans are very expensive though you wouldn’t think so when you see the youngsters running around looking for these Pokémon. Most people are not bothering with house phones, computers, GPS and wrist watches seems odd but makes sense I suppose.

Happy birthday Ovalteeny. Hope you have a great day.

24 minutes ago, John Fox (foxy) said:

.I've tried to upload numerous pics of the picnic without success, here are some that got through the net. I'll try again after posting this reply, if nothing follows I've failed and will have to call out the GGGGGGs again !

 

 

 

As usual Foxy, great pics, thanks.

28 minutes ago, Canny lass said:

This can be a very interesting topic and maybe a money-spinner for Bedlington if tunnels exist. Two years ago I was invited to a rather unusual birthday party which started with a tour of the tunnels under Gothenburg. It was fantastic (the tour - the party afterwards wasn't bad either). There is so much history underground. It's hard to imagine it when walking around the streets above. Tunnels had all sorts of uses! Here, they've been opened up by enthusiasts working voluntarily and made available to the public by charitable trust. I'd gladly give up a few weeks of my time every year to open up the tunnels of Bedlington.

And HPW could be a major (or should that be miner!) contributer. 

I enjoy the political and the religious banter that is posted, it certainly educates me in many things I didn't know or understand and I hope it continues, what bothers me and obviously others is the personal and rude comments! that I’m sure that the posters wouldn't make if you were all sitting together face to face! the content yes but rudeness I’m sure not.

I don’t live in Bedlington, I wasn’t brought up there and have very little to contribute but I often can, usually because my wife Doreen was born and bred there.

Just my opinion but suggest the rudeness and personal attacks be toned down and everyone will come back in and chat again.

The condesending arrogance of some of the posters is just too much for me, I,m sure it must deter many from posting. I visit often but prefere not to comment.

Hello Pauline, welcome.

I was very surprised to see it had taken place, without any fanfare, and with all of the communication available not well planed or advertised, so sad

And your point is?

Sprouts, Christmas! I eat them almost everyday, but no cross or additives...

1 hour ago, threegee said:

 

You don't believe in the work ethic then?  The other way of looking at the stay at homes is that they free up work for someone who needs it more.

Threegee, I don't understand your logic! I believe my work ethic is as good as anyone, anywhere, ever! And is better than most, why do you say I don't believe in work ethic? I'm not implying you work for less money than the job pays but saying they shouldn't get any assistance if work is available. Assistance should not be more than fair pay! That discourages working.

I believe If you cannot work then you should get assistance, if you can work you should IF you want the benefits such as pay and pension etc. 

I believe No one who can work and if work is available should stay at home and expect others to work to support them, naturally there are exceptions mom,s, I'll and incapable etc. 

24 minutes ago, Tonyp said:

how much would you work for?

Enough to feed the family, but if you give enough money without working why would you work? which means someone else has to work more to have you stay at home! 

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing" I like that saying, very appropriate for this part of the world.

Snow shoes in the morning, shorts in the afternoon and Mac and wellies in the evening.

Happy birthday Foxy, I hope you are having a great day!

Shoes, handbags BBQ, what a monster.

Happy birthday Adam.

Canny lass, my recollection is an hourly or daily paid worker! many workers were on some form of piece work. I’m sure HPW can elaborate.

2 hours ago, Bayardm said:

It's the sentiment that counts, which is never too late, thank you.

 

Oh! Then happy birthday Bayardm.   :-)

I tried to register but after giving my information it said I wasn't eligible, too long gone! (40 years this week) I'd be voting EXIT.