mercuryg

Indeed, it's a common ruse, also used in online search engines (deliberate inclusion of commonly mis-spelt words in text and so on). Photoshoot, eh? They're gonna make him a star.....

The cornflake one is an oldie but goodie. I was thinking of you the other day, Canny Lass; for some strange reason myself and a friend spent Sunday afternoon in the pub (no that's not the strange bit) googling and learning old Norse insults. We now have a list of a couple of dozen, and randomly chuck them at each other during conversation. My favourite translates as: Your mother wears Roman soldier shoes.

Malcolm, when I first saw it I got my phone out to messages and admonish you!

Thank you! That would have been at the end of the terrace, where there are some bungalows now. I note that Cornwell Crescent is misnamed, too!

",Bishop of Durham owned Northumberland,did he not?" Always great to read all this stuff! I'm not sure the Bishops owned Northumberland but as we all know Bedlingtonshire was, until relatively recently, an exclave of Durham. I find the idea of 'secret' tunnels intriguing. HPW, for my information, where was Hollymount Hall? I should know, as I used to live on Hollymount Terrace!

Canny Lass, I hope you realise you are fuelling Malcolm's posts on Facebook? I'm not sure whether this makes you an accessory. anyway, what does a pirate pay to have his ears pierced? A buccaneer!

Excellent stuff Reedy!

You believe that all out war with the loss of many, many lives was the only solution to a fracas over an eternally disputed island group? Seriously? as for the exchange rate, I like it as it is, I just like to keep reminding you how wrong you were when you said it had recovered, because it's clear being wrong really, really annoys you.

It soon recovered, unlike the pound!

"Interesting comment on the Falklands. You believe we should have done nothing when they were invaded?" It is an interesting comment, and an interesting subject. I don't for one minute believe there was a suggestion that we should have 'done nothing', merely that going all out and killing lots of people was perhaps not the only option. Unless, that is, war is your chosen default in such a situation? The sinking of the Belgrano was, of course, an utter disgrace, and completely unnecessary. Perhaps the situation could have been otherwise resolved. All in all, a very said chain of events.

The title of this topic is what the barman said when an Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman walked into the bar. I like this comment: "I see very little evidence that there are right wing influences at school. " Thank goodness for that. I see very little political influence at all at the school my nieces attend, and that's how it should remain. I was a bit pissed off when the seven year old began switching all the lights off because she said it was killing the polar bears though.

"I like the "tend"! I suspect that the people "who's company I enjoy" defer to you for the sake of peace an quiet, and keep their thoughts to themselves. Only a suspicion! " On the contrary; there are, in fact, several members on here who know me face to face, and I'm sure they will tell you I'm among the most easy going, personable and approachable people around, with no hidden agenda, no desire to shove my views down people's throats without giving them an option, and an accepting and friendly attitude that comes with wishing to enjoy life. I suggest, in all honesty, you could probably learn a thing or two from me. "And, you've ducked my other question about the eight points of the compass here too." Because I'm not interested in it; I don't care for complexity when simple answers will suffice. The thing is you've repeatedly denied you even said this, but you did. "They are a mixture, but genuine refugees tend to want to go home at the earliest instant." In the case of the Syrians, go home to what? "The people you see - unless they've got in illegally - have been filtered by our immigration services who reject the majority of asylum applications." The people I see (or know) are not subject to asylum on the whole; they are typical of the many Eastern European immigrants who come here for work. Work, I might add, that isn't very glamorous; without the Poles, for example, the Lincolnshire turnip fields would not yield a decent crop, as the farmers can't get the local British healthy young men to stoop to pulling them out of the ground. Before you jump on me for stereotyping, I'm paraphrasing the words of farmers who live - and farm - around my sister's estate. I don't know what happens when the borders close miraculously after we invoke Article 50 (which a surprising number of people seem to believe will happen, to both instances) but I like my turnips.

I don't tend to have bar room arguments; the people who's company I enjoy don't get on my nerves! July 20th, you wrtote: "If there is more than a handful of genuine refugees - as you seem to believe - then why are they practically all young males?" Yes, I do believe there are more than a handful. "I did not say that the illegal immigrants I see are Syrians." Good, now we're getting somewhere. So, what is your take on the Syrians, fleeing the war zone (you accept it is a war zone?) Are they refugees, or economic migrants? You see, I thought the above comment - the one from July 20th - referred not to African illegal immigrants, whom you now talk about, but to Muslims seeking refuge (or not). I, too, have plenty of experience of immigrants (both legal and otherwise) thanks to my regular visits to the area around Boston, in Lincolnshire; the town itself has a strong Eastern European community, and I'm not sure all the women are prostitutes. Mind you, I do know how to tell an illegal immigrant: he will wear a long coat which, when opened, reveals not only a selection of fake Rolexes, but ducks poached from the local village pond, and perhaps the odd fish. Plus, he will speak in a dodgy accent, and be generally unclean. Either that or they work in the fields and drive taxis.

No, you said there were only a handful of refugees; I'll dig out the quote when I can be bothered. And now all immigrant females are prostitutes! Oh, no, you didn't say that; you said they were the only ones you've seen. And the Syrians are not fleeing a war zone?

No, but not bothering when you can't be bothered does.

Yes, monkeys; the famous Hartlepool Hang'us the Monkey, who was elected to office on a platform of free bananas (which he never delivered). Clever is, in fact, saying nothing when there's nothing to say.

The fact is nobody else can be bothered; and from now on, neither can I.

No typo; I try my best not to do typos. I also don't support labour, which sort of screws your constant references in that area. Also, did you not understand the 'bananas' reference? Dear me! I thought all from the North East would get that one! Forgot to add, yes, I can be clever, when I want to be. It shines brightly sometimes.

No, I just can't be bothered; you'll go on believing that there are no refugees, that all muslims are terrorists, that Europe is about to splinter, that the UK can somehow become a successful economic power, and that the pound is recovering (still 76p) as long as the Guardian and Observer and whoever (let's face it, you must read the Mail, to believe all the refugees are young men) tells you, so there's no point. You talk about open minds; you'd do well to invest in one. I'm bored with you.

No, I can't be bothered.

52% of the electorate? You're good at spin, although not that good! You mean, of course, 52% of those who bothered to vote, which was about 70odd percent of the electorate, I believe. They voted for lies, didn't they? The vast majority couldn't give a monkeys chuff about the economic situation; they voted on immigration, the money for the NHS, and other lies, and you know that as much as I do. They voted for things they are not going to get. That's brilliant, isn't it? Bananas for all?

You said, quite clearly, there were no more than a handful of refugees. Yes? You did, didn't you? My role in the local bar is one of friendship, to all. As I've said, I couldn't care less about their religion, or race. Unlike, I fear, yourself. These days I scan read your posts, by the way, because they are long winded and boring. Brevity rules. Pound still over 76p.

"When we slipped out of the Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1992, it felt like the sky had fallen in, but 15 years of astonishing growth followed." I love this; of course it did, as when you're at the bottom, the only way is up. "Brexit was a vote to reaffirm British self-governance." No, it wasn't; it was a vote carried on the basis of lies, lies that those in the know knew were lies, yet failed to correct before the vote. Remember the famous 350million on the side of the bus? How many people voted leave because of that, when it never meant what it appeared to say? Here's a quick tip: a number of people I know voted leave because they believed, on the basis of that slogan, that the money was going to the NHS! They were furious afterwards, when they found out it wasn't, and never would be! How many voted on the grounds of immigration, when in fact nothing will change? I know of people who actually believe that a leave vote would see all the Eastern Europeans, here legally, sent home! I know of others who, for some strange reason, believe it would see Muslims deported! How stupid is that, yet they voted leave on those grounds. I know of many who, and there are likely a great number, voted leave because the Want Britain To Be Great Again, they Want Our Country Back, and so on, despite admitting they had absolutely no idea what the EU is, what it does or in some cases what it stands for; they just don't like Germans. Reaffirm self-governance? No, it was vote by misguided, lied-to people, who should not have been given the reins in the first place. Again, why are we using examples from the past to justify this? This is not 1992, and it's certainly not 1931, and it is even less certainly the mid 1850's when we repealed the Corn Laws. Let's see this economic recovery; bring it on. I'll not hold my breath.

"We'd be out on the streets to the last person showing our disgust and demonstrating solidarity with our hosts. " Seriously? Since when has this been a British trait? Are you actually from this country?

"3G :"If you have an open mind" If? Of course i have an open mind! That's why I see no problem with Muslims (by the way, love the get out clause - 'I have a problem with Islam' - is this the new 'some of my friends are muslims/black/gay?) - or persons of any religion or race. Each to their own, and as Canny Lass rightly points out, there are elements of Christianity that are equally worrying. I still don't understand, however, your blatant, and rather concerning, refusal to accept that people running from war-torn Syria are anything other than refugees. Why did they wait, I wonder, until their homes has been bombed to bits, before leaving? Surely, if - as you believe - they are a secret Muslim army, waiting to take over, they would have left before, before - that is - they had seen family members and loved ones killed, maimed, whatever by persons of their own religious persuasion? I mean, that would make more sense, if you look at it with your open mind, wouldn't it? Also, you come back to the 'they are pretty much all young males' line far too often'; I don't know which newspaper you read to get your misinformation, but a quick Google search (you're keen to have me use it, so here's one for you) tells you that this is simply not the case. What about all the kids, for example? Or are you classing them as 'young males' (you have to in order for your claim to stack up). To find an adult, one with obvious intelligence, trotting out the 'there are no refugees' line, is not amusing, it's worrying. As for your assertions about 'rational people'; what, exactly do you mean by that? I have a rational approach to life - why wouldn't I? I have plenty of experience in working with and meeting people of all persuasions, and don't look at one person in a different way to others, no matter their religion or race. They are people, something you might want to consider (after all, you're the one who, when referring to Muslims, ten to use "they"; I wonder why?). Further, I couldn't care how many times you have to assure me the pound is fine where it is; you should have thought about that before telling us it had recovered after Brexit, when anybody with a rational, open or whatever mind could take ten seconds and tell you how wrong you are. Just as you're wrong about their being 'a handful' of refugees. Pound Watch: 76 and a bit. Still not recovered, 3G still massively wrong and, I might add, businesses in the UK still not sure what the hell is going on.