Vic Patterson

I enjoy reading the very varied topics, I often feel like responding with my thoughts or opinions but I usually put it off until later, then I re-think it and don't post! (think twice, post once!) as I don't want to appear confrontational or argumentative! As I'm from B%$th I don't have a of Bedlington local knowledge to add, but certainly enjoy the input from others, keep on posting and others will follow, this Forum has certainly stabilized from a few years ago!

Nice shine on the boots, spurs on and his tunic buttons up the wrong way! or did they fasten that in those days?

Great to see it come home! and very thoughtful of the people to return it, I don't think it would be very difficult to back track it's journey from the fire!

Tarry Toot! Tar or pitch, used to seal leaky roofs etc, or the tar running down the side of the road (used to hold the chipping on the road) could be collected on the end of a stick or arrows! (used mom's best butter to get off hands knees) Monkey's blood, red raspberry flavour on your ice cream (if you didn't have a 99) Frogs spit! Frothy stuff that used to be on some plants, never found out why!

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

Wellesley Nautical School, Our mom worked there!

Keith, Sorry to hear about Vicky, yes it was Micky ("Leedsâ€) Hurst as we called him. We travelled and built Woolco stores! he was a bit of a character!!

A work buddy of mine married a Vicky Buckham of Bolam, in the early 70's

Ah! the good old days..... (pre Union) Almost reads like like clothing industry in India! and many other third word countries!

On the weekend I made a trip of about 1,200 km and it happened to be the annual "Highway clean up weekend†I travelled on both major highways and smaller country roads, (this being the the first weekend of spring without snow cover) There were hundreds of youngsters cleaning up the winter mess on the sides of the roads, there were thousands of orange bags (garbage, bin bags) sitting waiting for pick-up, tens of thousands of kilometers were cleared, some roads were close to towns others were 20-30 km out of town! vehicles slowed down, honked horns and every one gave a wave. Most of the kids were 4H club, others were just community groups. No payment just satisfaction! great to see the other youth that are not "bad kids of today†well done!

Happy birthday Micky, hope you have a great day!

Congratulations gentlemen, well done and good luck, I hope you make a difference!

I remember the small milk bottles (1/2 pint, gill!) at school, flicking the tops like flying saucers! we used to buy milk-discs at the Co-op, and leave a note in the empty's if you were going to be away, and yes the spuggies would peck the tops to get the cream! our O.J. came in flat bottles with screw on lids.

Happy birthday Brett. Hope you have a great day!

I wasn't around the NE when Maggie was doing her dastardly deeds (but I did see some of the striking miners when I travelled on the motorway coach to London) but having read some of the views of what happened I'm not sure what her objectives were! Yes the unions were getting too big and powerful which was not the intent of forming unions! Yes the coal mines were heavily subsidised but were producing a usable, saleable product, but to close the mines and pay the workers to stay home, collect benefits and pay no taxes and have no saleable product seems to be short sighted. Yes she broke the unions who went back to doing what they were supposed to do, looking after the working conditions, rights and benefits etc, (not run the country) I was a member of the EETUPTU when it was run by the communist party! (best wages ever!) Now you have half the country working to pay the other half not to work! Subsidizing work is a very debateable point! foreign countries see it as being unfair competition, locally it stimulates work and the economy.

Interesting! http://www.listenupnorth.com/writer-profiles/writing-competition

So true Malcolm, I would imagine the landlords get a tax break on unoccupied space, none if occupied! if they were to get a % tax break on the "footfalls†or based on some other criteria then they could allow such as Cyril to rent without him having too foot all of the landlords tax loss! sounds too simple a solution. We also have many empty premises because of high rents!

Your not alone with this complaint, it is happening everywhere, I believe it's a sign of the times! large box stores are much cheaper to shop at, easier parking, greater selection etc, It closes down the smaller businesses, who pay less taxes, employ less locals and so on. What is the answer? I don't know! but I do believe we have to adapt to the new situation, small towns are becoming more and more just residential and with very little commercial business. Councils will have to change their attitudes by setting different priorities! Unsightly garbage soon becomes unsanitary, unhealthy and dangerous! even the "grass cutting†(or lack of it) complaints last year soon become a hygiene concern! the empty building (Bedlington Station complaints) and their broken windows soon have vermin running around. Times are changing!

"Like"

Paul, I have several recipes for Pan Haggerty! and all are very similar all have sliced potatoes, onions, grated cheese, dripping or butter, salt and pepper. Layered into a pan, seasoning each layer with salt and pepper, the melted dripping is poured over everything, lid on, cook slowly for 40 minutes, brown under the grill before serving! we just called it sliced tetties!

My Granda used to ask for a vine to put his bet on "tanner each way on Piggott†not the horse!

Happy birthday Brian, hope your having a good one.

Slightly Off Topic! mickypotts, A few years ago my daughter was living in Presque Isle, Maine, when we were across visiting her we drove the bridge to PEI, what a great Province, we also toured around N.S., N.B., NYS, Pennsylvania etc

I was in a hotel in Edmonton Alberta getting ready to attend some Government meetings, thinking that pilot will be in trouble, as it was first thought it was some little Cessna! then watching the rest unfold while watching it on the security cameras at the meetings! Reality realy set in during a coffee break when I got a call from my daughter who was living way up north!

Thank you Adam, yes having a great day!