Vic Patterson

Aye, Simple times with simple pleasures! Beatle drives, Whist drives even house decorating was a family event, wallpapering, edging the rolls, battering then hanging it etc, edging the rolls was as bad as holding the hanks of wool when mom wound it it balls! I can see the throw away mentality when it comes to technology, but even then it could cascade down to less fortunate, less fortunate! who is that, we used to surplus work computers to schools and other institutions etc but not any longer, they NEED the latest and best! "Retire your Ride†was a good program here, I got $3,000 for a car I was going to haul to the graveyard! You never see recycled furniture! you can't, it's made in such away you can't maintain or fix, try and find real furniture with a real wood frame with joints, nuts and bolts and screws, there nearly all staples into box wood (which does have a place in todays society) Precious metals and other things should be recycled from electronics, but not by sending to third world counties and killing them off! Some towns here have one Sunday a month when you haul useful stuff to the curb and people cruise around and you take anything you can use, then you put back anything not taken! cheap recycling!

Making clippie mats or proggy mats was a good recycling program! Old clothing cut into strips, stretching the hessian and family sitting gossiping or just listening to the records or radio!

Is there a way for members to do a search of the membership list that narrows the list down to active members, using parameters such as those who have either posted or visited in the past 3, 6 or 12 months? The present list is very large and is mostly of non active even deceased members!

Hi Maggie, Just wondering what the reference to breaking glass is? Sounds like there isn't a recycling program in your area and glass bottles are just collected and broken to be recycled! What about plastic milk bottles, beer can, beer bottles, pop cans, drinking boxes etc are they not recycled? What about paper, cardboard, fluorescent tubes, battery's, appliances and tin cans etc are they recycled or just dumped?

A true VIP Malcolm! good choice.

It would appear Bernicia is a rather large development company and may not be aware of the situation (but as a development company they should be!) the newspaper publicity will have reached them and I'm sure they are considering alternative plans! This is an ideal opportunity to improve their PR and keep a little girl happy. Now, if only "that†local radio had been able to stay on the air they could have made sure Bernicia were informed!

British Forces Broadcasting was it the World (wide) Service "Two Way Family Favourite's" Played requests from servicemen overseas, we had a couple. Pete Murray on radio Luxemburg. Dan Dare "Journey into Space" with the Mighty Meccon!

All of the above and Family favourites on wireless at noon

Diferent soot smell standing on the railway bridge as the trail went under! Gagging on the smell when passing "Fishy Harper's†wet fish shop at the top of Blyth market, but round the corner was the great smell of the pork pie shop!

Almost at epidemic proportions!

I'm sure a "good" employer wouldn't but are you suggesting bad employers don't! You ask, are we supposed to believe it happens regularly? I personally haven't heard of an unfair dismissal since 1962 when I witnessed it!(the employer gaining a contract extension due to contrived strike) is it a common occurrence where you live? I also believe totally incompetent employees are grossly over protected! which penalises the employer!

I have to agree there Canny lass, nothing infuriates me more than the media news deliberately giving a very narrow one sided perspective in order to sell papers.

What I see is the miners paid the price for "the unions†becoming too strong and and dictating to the government what policies they would allow! far from the original mandate of unions to look after the workers working conditions. My union at the time ETU was run by communists, it became EETU then EETUPTU gobbling up smaller groups to give them voting power at the TUC!

I realise the discussion is more about the miners strike for which I have very little knowledge, only that from the media.... I saw both Thatcher and the miners vilified! but I do find it interesting the views of both sides, I don't think anyone was on the fence for this dispute!

An employer has a absolute right to decide who works for them, When an employee is hired and both parties have signed a contract that both have to follow, the employee follows that contract to the letter, then the employee is terminated, is that not unfair? does the employer have the right to ignore a contract?

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