Vic Patterson

What to buy? my Dell desktop is about 12 years old, runs O.K. but freezes often, (especially checking the mail) and is running XP! My laptop a Toshiba Satellite 7 years old using Vista and just had a serious problem which I have resolved (for now) but need to get a replacement. What is recommended? All in one such as Apple iMac? a regular desktop? a Laptop? a combination using an iPad? is it worth looking at SSD? I do do have an external hard drive to save files but never used it to create a back up!

HPW I also built shortwave radios, (and had my first electrical shock)I listened to all the odd foreign stations, Marine Bands and learned Morse code, but never got good enough to take the licence, I started off building a crystal sets (using me Da's Blue Gillette blade instead of crystal) Over here I bought and built a "Heath kit†to listen to "Match of the day!†I joined 1110 ATC in Ashington, there we used an old army 19th set!

HPW, My first job as an electrical apprentice was on Jackson street flats in Gateshead, one of the Shadows lived near bye, would that be Hank? next job was in Elsmere Port (Vauxhall Motors) and one of the Beatles lived around the corner.

Aye, wor lass can mind them tins HPW! and she's coming alang canny, not 100% yet, but on the mend. says ta for the card!

Happy birthday! have a great day!

Happy birthday Micky, I hope your having a great day!

Congratulations Keith, I hope it works out well for you, both!

Having been involved with hiring for my Government department and several others many questions were not allowed, age, sex, and religion were a few, but reading resumes one could usually figure out most of the pertinent information. "name†"education†"hobbies†etc (but not always!) NONE of the questions you were asked Keith would have been permitted! "What can you bring to the department†we found was a great way to allow the candidate to express some of their better qualities that often were not allowed to be asked! inter personal skills, computer skills, previous employment skills, they may not be key parts of the job applied for but could be a great asset. I hope your interview went well Keith! I was once successful in a job interview as a tradesman and added to the waiting list, but during a casual conversation some of my previous experiences were mentioned (Surface Mine Rescue Instructor) I was offered a job immediately! (but I didn't take the job!)

Blaze away, is the tune I remember Canny lass! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HafJUfdwujY

So important we don't forget Brian, yet I believe in some countries they are trying to take it out of their history books. The more I see the numbers, dead and injured, from all sides, the more it needs to be remembered, for every casualty how many family members were affected? Pity the days are gone when the instigators rode out front instead of hiding behind some desk!

Happy birthday and a a successful egg hunt Brett.

I first heard "Ket†when living in Bedlington, referring to something being not nice, usually cheap. I thought Kecks were a more modern slang for pants or trousers! Lots of words appear to be very localised depending on the industry, Morpeth farming, Bedlington/ Ashington mining, Blyth port shipbuilding. A few years ago you could easily spot were a person was from by the words and accents they used. Because of travel and communications people are not isolated as they were and like a mixing pot becoming more "standard†or similar, regionally and nationally! In the "old†days there wasn't much need to understand the chep in the next village never mind a different region!

A lot of this is not Geordie but I loved the Geordie content!

Hi HPW, Yes we received your reply, Wor lass says Aah can be boss until she's aall mended! says thanks. No we never made it past the dam, it was a long day for us going to Humford baths, towel and cossie in hand, trekking up through Blyth, Newsham and the prop yard, then through the fields, over the style and across the highway, more fields then the steppy stones, as you can guess there were lots of distractions! My first dive into the pool was my first lesson about the difference in density of sea water verses the non salty river water and it's non buoyancy! Aah thowt aah was niver cummin up!

It's been a while HPW, I'll drop you a line soon. The things/ entertainment we got up too would fill a book! begging for five more minutes outside and a bag of chips, (gis i chip man) rhubarb and a twist of sugar, freezing fingers and snotty noses, there wasn't many overweight kids then, (more underweight I'd guess!) don't think the word "boredomâ€existed. If we allowed kids to do what we did how many agencies would you have after you? Family Services, Welfare, Health and Safety, Police, Fire, Life Boat etc. Life was good!

I have to agree with a lot of what you say HPW, 1976 at my first interview here in Grande Cache I presented myself dressed in my suit and tie (to the great amusement of the other workers) with my brown C.V. envelope with all of my experience, references etc, I passed it over to the interviewer who didn't open it but pushed it right back saying anyone can get bits of paper tell me what you can really do! Nine years later my next interview was with the Government and I had to rephrase their questions so they made sense before I could answer them! I was later involved with conducting many interviews, I always put myself in the candidates chair and remembered how it felt, trying to see them through the computer generated applications. At school I was a poor student and didn't learn much, I later learned as I went, self taught, electrical apprentice (with no schooling), later mechanics, refrigeration and every aspect of building maintenance. I believe (early) schooling isn't a lot about what your going to do in life but more about who you are or going to be! I don't think that reads very well (told you I was a poor student!) I sympathise with you regarding not getting excused P.T. but look around today and see what the lack of exercise does to our children! in the big picture I think they were right!

Hi Eggy, Maybe the Kino was a local name for the Plaza, I remember my mom and dad telling us about getting in for a jam jar,sitting on forms and the guy at the front playing the piano..... Looking up the Theatre Royal I see Stan Laurel worked and played there also Gracie Fields and Charley Chaplin.

Essoldo, Wallaw, Roxy, Theatre Royal and The Central were all cinema's in Blyth, there was another cinema at Newsham, I think it was the Kinno! The Theater Royal was used as a theater more than a cinema, Plays, pantomimes, even circuses, almost all of the famous actors and actresses played there, Else Tanner and Ena Sharples were two of the more modern era actresses. "Danny Long Legs†was the opening movie at the Roxy Cinema, must have been late 50's

Happy birthday Brian, Hope you have a good one.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes, I've just read it's also Pi day!

Hi Eggy, My only concern was not hearing about them, after reading of a few financial issues the club news and results seamed to dry up! I was getting used to hearing of the results live on Twitter! new signings and general going on's! I think it was Neil who used to be involved with the club! Pleased to see they are doing well. Thank's for the link.

That's the year before my Model T Touring!

Happy birthday Merc.

So what your saying Eggy is recycling is available but not very well publicized and not made easy!

Happy Australia day mate.