Vic Patterson

But you must like children's simplistic, non judgemental, unbiased, non prejudicial views! they can be humorous and eye opening. (probably because they don't see the consequences, just the situation) Your negotiating style may work in small industries where there is alternative employment. But I must say I don't think it would work with larger industry or government. Some! of my strike experiences... Strike one, Blyth Power station, early 1963, I was earning about 8-9 pence (1/3d) per hour, Electrician sacked for refusing to work in an unsafe area, one week strike then re-instate the electrician, the company is then given two days for every day lost, company now meets new deadline, (workers fell for it every time!) we apprentices were allowed to work during the strike! Strike two, early 70's, Alcan smelter, not sure of the reason for the strike (probably money) Communist run union created hostile environment, created violent picket lines that were manned ONLY by radical university students, NO Alcan workers in sight! Strike three, (almost) Government of Alberta, Province of Alberta trades and related workers (50-60,000) Union contract was expired for over two years, both parties agree to BINDING arbitration, Government give list of 10 arbitrators to pick from (that they appoint!) arbitrators find in favour of union, government reject and use second arbitrator, arbitrator again finds in union favour, government again reject! Government then legislate a roll back of wages 5% cancel statutory holiday, reduce vacations and some benefits! In those situations it was not bad communications but just not bargaining in good faith! your methods would not be effective and I would not leave my employment because of those situations. I have never worked in a job I did not like! (I can say that now, maybe not then!) I have worked in many extreme conditions, many extreme hours often for poor wages, but loved the camaraderie and challenges, even the money! I retired three years ago, but recently returned to assist the employer, employees and "clients†(and will possibly be out of pocket, pensions, taxes and benefits) While you were working in the nursing profession if a colleague (who has family to support) you knew was unfairly dismissed, and your union group were unable to negotiate a fair settlement and decided to strike for her re-instatement, would you support her or go look for another job?

The naivety of children may not always be unwise! I would again ask how would you negotiate with the other party when the other party is not being reasonable and have their own agenda? and are not talking with the intent to reach an agreement but to further some other cause!

I must respectfully disagree Canny Lass, having been on both sides of strikes and lock-outs I feel unless there is an AGREEABLE means of binding arbitration then the right to strike (withdraw ones services) or lock-out (close the gates) is a basic right! While working to support your family I don,t see anything childish in negotiating for safety, rights, benefits, working conditions even wages! How would you communicate / negotiate with an unreasonable employer / employee?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Canny Lass, hope your enjoying your special day!

While Googling 'Stagey Bank fair, I found references to these sayings our family used to use, Send you to the Knackers Yard, Let's have a gander, Money and Fair Words, How's your belly for spots? Waste not, want not, What does Horace say? I found Glakey and Hap (as in hap up the fire before gannen to bed)to be a Bedlington sayings while such as Barrie to be Ashington!

My mom used to say that!

Video! I got it on 9.5mm cine..... now let see, if I thread it on backwards.....

Mr Osgathorp married us September 5th 1962, thank you 4G for reminding me! (wor lass says it was the best day of my life!)

I got 2 b's

I'm right and your wrong! it's never that easy, politicians lie! Union leaders mislead! NEVER.... "The Country at large†were certainly no different from the miners who believed "what their parents told them to believe†"And, demonising a PM who was doing her very best for the Country at large puts you on completely the wrong side of history.†and when Julie Andrews plays the part I believe we will all be convinced your correct!

Blyth, Bedlington, Ashington , Newcastle and Morpeth all had very distinctive accents, I always thought it was because of their local industries, farming, mining, ship building and ports and the fact that there was a very little amount of travel in the OLD days. Travel, media and the economy has changed all that and the dialects and accents are all being diluted, is it better or worse? who knows but I see such as the u-tube videos are doing a great service preserving it for the future, I wonder if museums are archiving some of it!

Happy birthday Alison and GGG, hope you have a great day and 2014.

I'd suggest you get someone record you talking when your "haf cut taakin tu yu marras†then try recording the same thing talking to someone "doon the smoke or owa sea's†Even Bobby Thompson and Bobby Pattinson taaked posh to be understood.

So right Micky! I often get asked what language I was talking in when taakin tu me brutha!

I have to disagree with you Symptoms! Why would you move to another area that talks differently to you and not talk in a way that they can understand what you are saying! communication! All of the exiles that I know "ahll taak posh†but still have strong Geordie accents! (or accents of wherever they came from) We get a chuckle listening to such as Geordie John Herdman, Canada's ladies soccer coach. (Jump in linguist Canny Lass, I'm struggling here)

What has happened to the Bedlington Terriers (and Lord Bedlington!) I believe they had a few problems and re-organised the club, and were again quite successful. I used to enjoy Saturday mornings getting live Twitter game updates for Newcastle, Blyth and Bedlington.

Yes Keith I've been watching it, right now they are doing a space walk to make some repairs, at 17,500 mph! I used to like watching the shuttles getting closer and closer before linking up.We have very little or almost no light pollution here in GC. go a couple of miles out of town and there is none!This chart says you can see it again tonight. http://www.meteorwatch.org/uk-iss-passes-december-2013.html

Merry Christmas everyone.

Privatisation! I was just thinking about when in the 60's when it was decided to build Motorways instead of railways, what should the government be responsible for? During a war the rules will obviously change in the interest of the security of the country as in WWI and WWII, but under normal times what should be Nationalised or regulated/ controlled? the Military of course, The Health Care System? Natural resources? Utilities? the Transportation infrastructure? What should be regionally or locally controlled? Here in Alberta Utilities were heavily regulated and it worked well, until our Provincial Government decided "in our best interest†to deregulate much of the system, now our utilities (especially electricity) are very expensive, the bills are formed in two parts, consumption and transmission (and written is such a way no one can interpret them!) a case of Government control that was welcome!

Happy birthday Keith, hope it's a good one!

Happy birthday Eileen, hope your having a great day!

Happy birthday Keith. Hope it was a good one!

Huh! I can't even pronounce them!

Building houses is easy, but developing and increasing the infrastructure is a lot more difficult!

Do we know who switched the lights on? Who was it? Any pictures?