Canny lass

I also Think this could be West Lea. Paul Mann would know.

I Heard that as well, Pilgrim. "It was never about dismantling the coal industry, that was only a bi-Product, it was about dismantling the Power of the NUM. And as far as Scargill is concerned, it was never about miners jobs, it was about beating Thatcher". Well said, Willy.J. There you have it in a nut-Shell!

I can see where your coming from but it's more likely to be Celtic.

If my memory serves me well it wasn't only a piece of coal that was carried over the threshold by the first-foot. In Netherton it was coal, salt and a silver coin, representing Health wealth and happiness. These were often left outside the door by the home owner for the first-foot to pick up on the way in. I also remember the feverish activity of getting the first-foot arranged a few Days Before they were needed. Some were more popular than others and booked up well in advance. On no account could it be a woman. As Paul said, it should ideally be a bloke and preferably one who was tall dark and handsome. On that note, does anybody know when the tradition of first-footing started? I ask because I recently had occasion to research the Word 'handsome' and found that one of it's meanings, now obsolete, was 'easily handled'. Tall, dark and easily handled - now there's something to Think about!

I just haven't had time to get around to this thread Maggie. What with Christmas and poorly in-laws I've had my hands full (and not Always with a glass). Hope you're not thinking of invoking any of the above 'laws'. In Place names 'law' usually means 'hill', from the Anglo Saxon Word hlaw meaning a hill with a burial ground on top. Don't want you invoking any of those! I promise I'll get round to looking at Ad Gefrin as soon as I can. First guess is Celtic or Brittonic. Definitely not Latin.

Thank you for your good wishes. I have to admit it could have been better. We have been without Telephone and electricity since Sunday morning. Fortunately the bar relies on neither ( we have plenty of ice outside). Telephone back on now and electricity promised tomorrow.

Chaos with Internet here as well. One Company in particular being 'attacked' - as it's described on the news. Someone, somewhere is bombarding the Company with data and the system cannot cope. All sorts of strange things happening - and not just because of the sherry!! Don't worry about the upside down images. Just be thankful you're not getting underlinings, crossings out and capital letters floating about all over the Place.

These two are the right way up, Maggie. Somebody must be putting water in the sherry!

Because - either Maggie is posting these pics upside down OR I'm seeing them upside down. I'd like to know which.

Maggie, One of us has to get off the sherry!

Maggie, Have you been at the sherry already?

He did some fantastic covers! Truly an all time GREAT!

Very best wishes for a happy Christmas and New Year. Centre of the universe you say, Malcolm. I like that! I usually refer to it as the Mecca of the North but as of today it's the centre of the universe for me too.

Better late than never. Hope it was a good one!

Going down the garden to eat Worms. That brings back memories of the Girl Guides and and camp-fire sing songs with Miss Craigs!

I can remember that one, HPW. Salt, mustard, vinegar, pepper, carlin, palm, paste-egg day. Carlin, palm and paste-egg day I could understand, as they all had something to do with Easter, but I couldn't see any Connection to Easter among the others. Can anybody remember the skipping 'song' Jelly on a plate Jelly on a plate Wibble wobble, Wibble, wobble Jelly on a plate.

Sorry Brett. Here being Sweden, where we are extremely proud of these two Girls. Tipped to be as big as ABBA. Enjoy the performance.

You'll really enjoy their show! I've seen them twice here.

... and from me too! Hope it was 'rememberable'.

I've obviously had a very sheltered Life.

That's brilliant Maggie!!

Caution is to be highly recommended when considering overweight people for surgery. The risk of coronary thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and post-op complications increase by a staggering 75% for overweight people. Should it be banned? - No. Should they be advised to lose some weight Before surgery? - Yes. It's for their own safety. They shouldn't be banned from flying either but if they use 2 seats - which I've seen happen - then they should pay for 2 seats and not lift the arm rest and use half of the seat belonging to the next person, which I've previously suffered on a five hour flight. Something that annoys me even more is when I, at 58 kg wet through, am charged at the check-in desk for 2½ kilos overweight while the man in front of me in the queue weighed at least 140 kg. His luggage wasn't overweight so there was no extra charge for him.

Wonderful to hear from you again, Pete!!!

I like all the British Christmas carols! Usually have them blasting away in the kitchen when I do my Christmas baking.

My cat loves it! Hasn't managed to Catch any yet but he's having fun trying.