margo

I wonder how many of you there are that were raised in the old rows by doctor pit? I know they have all been torn down last time i visited i could barely find my way from the top end to where they would have been the changes amazed me but i guess that is what time and technolgy do they just keep moving forward

I was wondering if anyone had a recipe for Tea Cakes. Good one Monsta on the Stotie recipe, I'll have ti try that one soon.

TEA CAKES 1LB PLAIN FLOUR 1 EGG 1/2OZ YEAST 1 1/2 GILLS WARM MILK 1 TSP SALT 1 1/2 OZ SULTANANS OR CURRANTS 2 OZ BUTTER 1 TSP CASTOR SUGAR

DISSOLVE FAT IN WARM MILK AND ADD THE EGG, CREAM SUGAR AND YEAST AND STIR IN THE MILK. PLACE FLOUR AND SALT IN WARM BASIN MAKE A STIFF BATTER WITH THE DISSOLVED YEAST APRINKLE THE TOP WITH A LITTLE FLOUR, COVER THE CLOTH AND ALLOW TO STAND IN A WARM PLACE FOR 1 HOUR. KNEAD IN 2 OZS. SUGAR AND CURRANTS OR SULTANAS. TURN ONTO A FLOURED BOARD AND DIVIDE INTO EQUAL PIECES. ROLL INTO ROUNDS AND PLACE ON A GREASED TIN SET TO RISE 15 MINS. BAKE IN A QUICK OVEN FOR ABOUR 20 MINS. WHEN THE CAKES ARE BAKED RUB WITH BUTTER TO GLAZE.

Throughout my life I've been somewhat frowned upon for having what is nown as a Bedlington twang. You say certain words that only 'us lot' would know, but maybe someone from Durham or Alnwick maybe wouldn't. Does this language still exist? For the best part it's all mainly pit-talk, our reletives who had been down the mines would come back to the hoos n tahk owa fast n divin't gan doon that lonnin, cos it's thick 'o clarts n yiv got scyull the morn - so divin't give the teacha's a gliff.

Perfect English of course, but move away from the area and BONG... ne bugga naz what the hell ya on aboot n just scratch tha heeds n wunda.

There is talk of this [last century] way of talking is dying out and the bedlington/ pit village type of twang is now dilluted. Which IMHO, is a shame.