mercuryg

Easy one Keith, Mike Nesmith of the Monkees (who's mother invented liquid paper, which is useless on a computer screen), who famously wore that stupid hat, looks like a Baboon, and is actually Christ the Redeemer.

"Racialist is one of these loony left substitute for thought labels." And what is a 'tribalist'? (joking) I'm not sure you're getting the point I'm making to some degree; UKIP has a following now primarily because it is outspoken about immigration. Believe it or not, few of the average Joe's on the street could care less about the EU, but they don't want 'them coming over here and taking our jobs'. UKIP has centred on this - cleverly so, and rightly so to a degree - but it fills the likes of myself, a sceptic if you like, with a distinct sense of unease. What is their true agenda? I've read, scoured, listened, and I fail to see a point of real focus. Don't get me wrong, in a general election tomorrow they would likely get my vote - see Keith's comment's for similar reasons - but they are too loosely formed for my ultimate interest.

"Unless you can get a business that can compete with Sky, Virgin etc." How people can afford such things is beyond me. I very much doubt a Toby would succeed, given the competition half a mile down the street. Something for kids is a great idea, but who pays for it?

"That's the UKIP position, plain and simple." I'm not sure that UKIP's position is plain and simple, which is why I'm wary of them. UKIP has taken the immigration problem as it's public standpoint, because it knows that there are pockets of the population who believe it to be the single biggest problem affecting the country (or who are simply inherently racist, to be frank). It's not. I agree with you about Labour and dishonest policies, but do you actually believe that UKIP would perform everything it says? I'm afraid I see them as just another party, saying what people want to hear, but have no confidence they can deliver.

I think you missed my point. I know of a number of people who have done this, without actually understanding the bit about donation, and what you are donating to. For the record, I haven't done it, and will not be donating, not because I'm a miserable old git, but because I already contribute to a chosen charity on a regular basis. I can't afford to join in with every charity chain letter that comes along. For those who have done it, good for you, and so on.

"Was old Enoch Powell scaremongering when he warned us about uncontrolled immigration and blood on the streets?" Well, in the context of the time, yes he was. He didn't actually KNOW that he predicted would happen; he was making some (very educated) assumptions. That he put it in such a way, including the much mis-quoted 'rivers of blood' quote, could be construed as scaremongering. As for Gaitskell, it's open to debate whether our membership has served more positives or more negatives during its course. I'm of the belief it's the latter camp, but I don' actually know enough, across the board, to be sure. While I'm pleased - and interested - to see Farage and UKIP rocking the boat, I remain unconvinced that they are not using the immigration bandwagon as a form of scaremongering, and comments such as this have alarm bells ringing for me: "There is no question that it's pushed wage inflation down; it's helped big companies and big corporations and big landowners to make bigger profits - no argument about that.†Great, is my response; then those big companies and big corporations will remain in this country, and keep jobs over here. They are not, after all, solely employing Bulgarians. BTW, this post is not meant to be inflammatory; I simply think that there are two sides to each coin.

Keith, this and the post about not being able to swim are just about my intended responses to this subject. As an aside, I find it interesting how these things spread thanks only (in the first instance) to the power of social media networking. However, without looking it up, how many of you can tell me what it's all about? And for those that do, how many of you had to actually look it up in the first place? For anyone who didn't know, it would seem to be about chucking cold water over each other.

"(the post office first!)" At least we still have one Vic! They are a rare commodity these days. "...and thats the type of thing we need to look at and possibly encourage Merc!" It was only half tongue-in-cheek Malcolm! I'm not one to trust online reviews (having been asked to write favourable reviews of hotels/restaurants/services that I have not actually been party to, for a surprisingly handsome payment - and refused, on the grounds of ethics) but experience in the online writing world has taught me to recognise those that are genuine. Usually, suffice to say, they are the negative ones. However, a look at TripAdvisor and Bistro62 has garnered just one review that was anything less than exceptional. I confess I have yet to try it (I did when it was Accolade, and very impressed I was) but whatever those people are doing, they are doing it with some considerable success. More than one reviewer described its as 'the best restaurant they have found in Northumberland...' which is no small achievement. Of course, I'm partial to a Wetherspoons steak (medium rare) which on Tuesday's is the bargain of the week.

One thing I forgot to say, and that I have noticed, is the interesting success of some of the restaurants in the town. Bistro 62, Ashianna's and the-one-where-the-Dun-Cow was who's name I've forgotten all get consistently excellent reviews and I've seen comments from people who have come from far and wide, especially to the former in that list. Perhaps promoting Bedlington as 'Northumberland;s Premier Place to Eat' sort of thing may have a positive effect!

All fair comment Malcolm; I remain of the belief that it is futile to attempt to attract people to the town for retail purposes. I had this argument many years ago, when the proposed Tesco massive development was first mooted, pointing out that people from Blyth were not going to drive past Asda to come to a Tesco superstore in Bedlington, and likewise Ashington, and so on. people like big 'out of town' superstores as they provide all the necessary in one go (I hate them and prefer to shop online!). In terms of commercial viability, Bedlington itself is dead apart from shops supplying necessary goods, or perhaps those offering a unique service. How all the beauty salons/hairdressers survive is beyond me.

What a pity the Church cannot, as was once the case, stay open all day, everyday, anyway. I usually visit Blyth Battery during these as its a very interesting place.

Foot fall is the number of people who pass through in commercial terms; Bedlington has a low foot fall not because of a lack of businesses, but because of very little passing traffic. Asda at Cowpen, for example, was always going to be a success thanks to its location - beside the Spine Road and Cowpen Road, both very busy roads. Nobody comes through Bedlington without needing to be here. This is why I have always maintained that the businesses needed in the town are those that cater for local people (local shops, for local people, there's nothing for you here....) in a way that has yet to be exploited. I don't, sadly, have the answer.

There was a recent rumour that it was to become a Toby Carvery place, but I can't see it and maintain that Adam's fears will be founded.

Incidentally, this afternoon - weather permitting - sees the two Lancasters and the Vulcan flying in formation. Pity I'm a few hundred miles away.

I'm sitting next to the railway line right now, in a pub I should add, and think it an amazing lost opportunity. Can we reinstate choppington station?

Let's declare war on Ashington for a laugh.

"There is an Scotsman in Calgary trying to sell his Harrier, $1.3 million!" Shall we all club together? Would be the ideal way of getting from Choppington to the Lion.....

I was there. I have developed stealth technology.

"can almost feel the ground shaking!" What memories this brings back! In my younger days, when men were men and women were not men, I lived a very short distance from AVRO (then BAE) Woodford, the very place where both the Lancaster and Vulcan - as well as many other aircraft - were both first tested, and where many were built. The place was a hive of activity back then, with engines tested all the time, and XM603 - the only remaining Vulcan in anti-nuclear flash white paint - was kept and regularly taxied, although not flown (she is currently being cleaned up to act as the new gatekeeper for the Avro Heritage museum which will remain on site when the rest of the airfield, now sold, is redeveloped for housing. The noise when they fired up her engines (apparently the last remaining zero-hours examples belonged to her and were later transferred to XH558) was incredible, and could be heard from miles away. We frequently had Vulcans come in or servicing/upgrading - including those that were detailed to fly on the infamous Falklands raid - as well as Victors, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Harriers, Hawks and a variety of commercial aircraft, as well as the last project to occupy the factory, the Nimrod. The annual airshow was the local event of the year; it became known for offering a more unusual selection of aircraft than most other shows and, as such, was one for the enthusiast. Such was the importance of the show that it managed to secure the very first appearance, at a non-international and non-trade show, of perhaps the finest aeroplane of all - Concorde; I was there, six years old, in 1971 and remember the gridlocked traffic, the packed field and the utterly spellbinding approach and fly-past of that quite astonishing machine. What a day that was for a kid like me! Other favourites: one of the last years, watching two utterly mad Russian test pilots tail-sliding Sukhoi SU27's on a glorious summer day; a Harrier flying sideways down the crowd line, still incredible to watch even thirty years later; and, finally, 558 herself, in her younger days, performing a short, violent and earth-shaking take-off that had every car alarm in the place set off. Wonderful days. One final little anecdote before I sign off; one renowned test pilot was so impressed with its astonishing, fighter-like handling, that he barrel-rolled one over the Woodford factory to show off its ability. Onlookers were impressed, but those inside the place had to duck for cover as the shock wave shattered all the windows in the factory roof. ** One further infamous story: one year, the US Air Force agreed to send an F1-11, then a rare sight at UK shows. The time came, the announcer gave his spiel, we heard a faint sound but saw nothing. After a few minutes of radio silence it transpired that the pilot had mistaken Manchester International, Ringway, for Woodford, and gave the rather alarmed tower crew a nice display.

Of course, the dross element was something I was trying to communicate. Social media may be flavour of the month, but I think it important to understand it is here to stay. The frequency with which Google refines its search algorithms is alarming (and annoying to those of us who try to make a living by advising upon and providing SEO); wheres, just a few years back, it would have been sufficient to make sure your content contained keywords at between 1 to 4%, correctly positioned within x number of characters from the beginning and end of the paragraph, and so on, now there is a much greater element of quality required; Google likes to see 'relevant, original, and informative content' rather than that stuffed with keywords. The dross will sink; the quality stuff rise. I believe this is Google's aim (apart from full-on world domination, that is....' This post has been edited by Google Inc

Interesting points; commercially, social networking is a must for businesses. It's the modern equivalent of Word of Mouth and, when utilised correctly, is extremely powerful. (btw website, 'utilised' is spelt with an 's' in these shores!) I use Facebook as a method of communicating with friends and family far and wide, but businesses use it as a way of attracting custom. Of course, the main player in online business is the Search Engine; without searchable content websites remain three pages behind the rest. Given that 95% of online transactions begin with a search engine (and 95% of those with Google) it's easy to see how. Furthermore, Google loves Facebook links. I think there is an element of nostalgia, in the rose-tinted fashion. in the way the Internet is viewed by some. Of course, we have lost a lot of what was great in the 'good old days' thanks to the ubiquity of personal handheld and other communication devices, but we have also gained considerably. Where would this site be without the web?

Vic, the two Lancasters did fly with a Spitfire and Hurricane escort shortly after that video was taken. There is footage of it, and they are intending to perform as a four-ship flight at airshows over the coming month. Perhaps most anticipated is Vera and Thumper's appearance, at RAF Waddington next week I believe, with the legendary XH558, the last flying Vulcan. Three Avro bombers together! I would love to see that! Now for the pedantry: Adam, as for your fantasy flight (entirely achievable, by the way, although I'm not sure the BBMF would risk flying both of its Hurricane's together, they are very, very rare) you should be careful about the number of Merlin's involved; a good number of Spitfires were powered by the RR Griffon, not the Merlin! **Forgot to add, I can see Malcolm as the archetypal Spitfire pilot, moustache (yes, that is the correct spelling) at the ready, sitting in his mess hut with a tin mug of tea and his pipe, awaiting the call on the blower to 'scramble'. Tally ho chaps, let's bag us some Hun!

And....https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=efer_GCo-Ag Just....wow!

Over Coningsby yesterday, wish I could have been there!

Thank you threegee, I thought something along those lines but am not too well versed in this sort of thing. Incidentally, I think the message said you couldn't take 'any more' messages; is your in box full? Are you that popular?