Vic Patterson

I would think the savings from healthcare services would more than offset the loss of tobacco tax revenue! BTW the inmates still have their Playstations and X-Boxes along with their TV's and stereos etc.

Vic

In Canadian prisons there is no smoking inside of any buildings, that is until April 1st 2008 when there will be no smoking at all for staff or offenders!

Vic

I work in a Federal Penitentiary but can't speak for the prisons in the U.K. but we all have the same smoking issues, our Provincial prisons (2 years less a day) went 100% smoke free without all of the expected riots.

Our Federal prisons (2 years and over) are now smoke free inside the buildings this protects staff and inmates from second-hand smoke, but there are many side issues particularly religious rights!

Another problem is tobacco is an inmates main form of currency, a bail of tobacco is their Dollar, Pound or Euro!!!

Vic

I find lots of "very rare" model T parts but you have to be extremely careful and know your prices.

Nice to hear from you Joe, great attitude, I thought you had given up on this web site! the moderators are getting the upper hand and its a nice place to visit, I for one am looking forward to your valuable input and comments, hang in there.

Vic

Maybe everyone is out taking pictures to put on the gallery! especially STATION LAD, great pictures

What is the purpose of this project? I'd guess it to enhance the area for two reasons, one simply preserve a truly beautiful historic treasure and secondly to improve the financial / commercial district for the businesses! therefore it should be a split between the council and the Chamber of Commerce (or your equivalent, and not necessarily an equal split!)

My second thought is what are the young people of the town doing for themselves? what do they want! why wouldn't they get involved and have part of the development directed towards youth? I'm sure you have youth centres, clubs and groups (even schools) that can get together and with help from adults make some productive suggestions! in my opinion if they don't work for it they will never appreciate it!

Vic

Well said Miss Vic, you're doing a great job, please keep it up.

Vic

Can we look forward to some pictures in the Galleries?

Vic

Happy birthday Mr P.N.

Vic

As this is a site for Bedlington I presumed the content of the gallery would have to be of local interest (the Bedlington area) which means exiles who use this site would not usually be able to post or contribute in the gallery! and therefore couldn't be a Contributor, if that isn't the case then what is expected content of the gallery?

The "New look" is coming along great, I like the idea of the random pictures of Bedlington but was wondering what does others see as the picture / view that represents Bedlington to them?

The main reason that many of the people who register and do not post is because of a few immature people who constantly attack, belittle or are just downright rude!

I believe most visitors to the site wish to discuss Bedlington, its people, past and present and the world affairs in general, at present I certainly would not recommend to my children, grand children or G, Grand children visit this site, which is their mom's birthplace, and where I lived for several years.

I like to look at the gallery and read some of the normal posts but there are the few who choose to make it more like a porn site, I'll keep visiting and appreciate the good side of the site.

Vic

Happy birthday Joe.

Shovelled snow!

I agree with you Joe, but it would be a pity to lower the standards of the army for the likes of him, if the likes of Wayne would only stop believing what they read about themselves and look at their actual behaviour and performance they could become great performers!

I think that a few years in the Army would work wonders for Wayne Rooney and too many others like him.

This is a kid with a certain amount of talent, but who has not lived enough to aquire modesty, self control, or perspective.

His overweening ego, will destroy any chance he may have of being admired for his achievements. Rather,

he is a spolied, arrogant foulmouth, who clearly believes the propaganda of his hangers on.

He rose fast, but he will plummet even faster, if he is left to own self destuctive devices.

Pity, he could have been so much more than he prefers to be!

Joe Rooney

We haven't been back to Bedlington for a few years, where is this shop located?

Vic

Best wishes

Merry Christmas Joe and to all of the readers at home or abroad.

Vic

0.568261 litres

We certainly have had our share of snow already, 5-6ft and its -35c, tyres are square and oil like molasses.

Vic

Thanks for passing that on Joe, I often heard the stories of these raids from my parents, bombs on Blyth railway station etc, I was born at the end of that war ('44) and I never realized how close I was to it all. BTW who is going to win the Labour day game? Vic

I see that we have the same tastes in calendars, even if we don't agree on hockey teams.

Regards, Joe

But Joe there isn't a lot of choice of hockey teams right now!

I have been trying to post some REAL pictures but they just won't go.

Has anyone got any photo's of Humford woods that they would be willing to share, in particular photo's of the stepping stones taken from below the park?

Are there are any budding digital photographers who wouldn't mind taking a quick snap sometime

They are for personal use only, and any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I have a few other home pictures if you need them, but the stepping stones are almost submerged!

Baseball is not the most popular sport in Canada. Their are only two professional teams here, in Toronto and Montreal. I would imagine that Hockey, Canadian football, and Winter sports have more followers.

Recently I read an article that school age kids are more likely to play soccer in the Summer, and skating activities in Winter, than any of the other American sports such as baseball, softball, basketball. This is not surprising considering the high proportion of immigrant kids, both first and second generation that we now have.

Personally I prefer Soccer and Hockey.

As for the big truck shows. They would appeal to the destructive tendencies of the "Redneck". And of course, they are more typically American. ( If it moves shoot it, if you can't, then run it down!

Regards, Joe

Oilers v Flames in 5 minutes!!!!

Ahoyhoy, Joe.

Has the World Baseball Classic been getting much coverage in Canada? I notice their/your brave boys beat the USA the other day. Quite an upset, what? I think they have since been knocked out, which is a bit of a shame.

Also, can you explain what the "mercy rule" is?

No we didn't get much coverage of the series until we beat the US, then media were quite exited, Mexico put and end to the coverage.

The mercy rule say games will be stopped after five innings when a team is ahead by 15 or more runs and after seven innings when a team is ahead by at least 10 runs, this is usually for armature sports.