Canny lass

Answers to last week's quiz: Sir Gary Sobers December 31 Sea of Marmara The Brontes Neil Young Los Angeles McCoy Air Force Base (the airport’s former name ) Apricot Millie Jackson Owl is the only character in the Winnie the Pooh books who actually lives in Hundred Acre Wood. Winnie the Pooh, and all his friends, live in the imaginary land surrounding Hundred Acre Wood. Italy Wat Tyler New quiz tomorrow.

Rosco, am I right in thinking that you don’t consider tattoo parlours useful either? Add them to the 20 hairdressers/barbers/nail bars and beauty salons in and around the main street and that’s 23 successful small businesses giving life to the street or, to put it another way, that’s 23 (at least) employment opportunities. OK, they may not be the type of business you or I have any use for but clearly other people do. To judge the need for a business by the number of customers at any one time of day when you happen to be passing by seems a little unfair. Irrespective of the fact that there is only one customer when you happen to pass by the barbers, there may be countless at those times when you are not around. There are many businesses that have quiet and busy periods both throughout the day, the week or even the year – pubs, hairdressers and cat hotels, to name but one of each, where evenings, Friday/Saturday and summer holidays, in that order, are when income is generated. They must be doing something right if they are surviving despite the quiet periods. Correct me if I’m misunderstanding you but I am starting to get the feeling that some of your disgruntlement is because you feel that these businesses are being approved/supported/favoured by the local authority at the cost of erecting a leisure centre? Let me ask two questions – to anybody who can answer them: How many of those 23 business premises are rented from the local authority? Would a leisure centre fit into any of those premises? If the answer to the first is anywhere between 1 and 23 then those businesses are making a contribution to the coffers of the local authority – which could help to provide the longed for leisure centre rather than preventing its coming into being. If the answer to the second is no, then the small businesses are not utilising any space that could be put to use for such a leisure centre. On a lighter note: Sorry to hear the pub isn’t being built anymore but with 8-9 drinking establishments in and around the main street perhaps it’s already reached saturation point? A conundrum: Every resident in Bedlington (give or take the odd one or two who for medical reasons or otherwise doesn’t have hair, and those like Eggy who manage their own hair growth) requires the services of a hairdresser/barber from childhood through to old age. Every person in Bedlington does not require the services of a public house because it is illegal for any child younger than 16 years to drink alcohol in licensed premises (unless accompanied by an adult). With no accompanying adult the age is raised to 18 years. That’s quite a big chunk of the population who are excluded. I haven’t counted but I strongly suspect that there are at least as many licensed premises as hairdressers/barbers in Bedlington yet the former has fewer potential clients. Can anybody explain how this is possible?

I understand how you feel, Rosco. I’ve felt the same way about the number of tatoo parlours in some towns – Bedlington included. However, as long as these businesses are successfull and paying there way, we can´t say that saturation point has been reached. First when one of them goes out of business due to insufficient customers, can we say that saturation point has been reached – and then only if the remaining businesses cannot accomodate those customers because they are already working at full capacity. Saturation point for the onlooker, who is sick of the sight of them and longing for something else to take their place, is more easily reached but that’s another matter. Certainly, it would be nice if there was more variation on the street but until there are enough enterprising individuals with new ideas willing to chance the investment, AND sufficient customers who want their services, then isn’t it better with six hairdressers rather than six boarded up shop fronts?

No comment!

I am failing to see how establishing a successful business on the main street is dependent on there being a leisure centre. People who go to leisure centres go there for just that purpose – leisure. In all those which I’ve visited I have been able to buy everything I need for the purpose: leisure wear, hygiene products and bath towels (should I have forgotten to take mine along with me) as well as food and refreshments should I need/want them. I’ve even visited a hairdresser in one of them. So, as I see it, these facilities within the leisure centre (if they keep their prices down) may even kill some business that already exists on the street. Perhaps it’s being suggested that a leisure centre would attract footfall from other towns? Which towns? Morpeth? Already got one! Ashington? Already got one! Blyth? Already got one! They may visit one or two times, just to see what it’s like, but unless Bedlington’s liesure centre has some unique, gigantic, ’can’t be lived without’ magnet of a special attraction they’ll soon realise that they can have the same experience, without travel time and costs, on their own doorstep. Most of the arguments I’ve read in previous topics related to wanting a leisure centre in Bedlington have revolved around just that question – the need to avoid travel. Eggy, as long as Bedlington’s high street has its business premises occupied and in use – with whatever – then I would say it IS thriving. If it wasn’t it would look like the Nottingham street in the photo above. As Vic points out, ’business’ doesn’t need to be a shop. For me, and I suspect many others, where I do my weekly shopping is not just a question of its cheaper prices that makes me choose a supermarket. It’s also the time and the effort that would be involved should i choose to shop in small specialized grocery shops. I could never go back to my mother’s way of shopping; 2-3 times a week (morning or afternoon only and no Sunday opening), carrying increasingly heavy shopping bags from one shop to another, waiting in a queue in EVERY shop then waiting for the item to be wrapped (no pre-packed veg.) then lugging them all the way home in time for the kids coming home from school. A half day’s work at best. No thank you! Much better with once a week, one stop - preferably on the way home from work (or the leisure centre when I’m out and about anyway), shopping trolley instead of heavy bags (no carrying), one queue at the checkout then trolley to the car park. An hour and a half at the very most. It would be interesting to hear just what would be considered ’useful’ and at the same time able to be accomodated in any of the small business premises on Bedlington’s high street, should they become vacant.

Sorry! wrong quote! I must get new specs!

I wasn't meaning that local councils should be playing big brother, Vic, more that they should be looking at the impact of the business on the infrastructure and amenities available: roads, traffic, parking facilities, schools, in the vicinity and so on. I think it's worth them looking at what type and where the new businesses are planned to see whether or not they fit in with existing town planning or if amendments needed to be made. Are there parking spaces? Will pedestrians cause problems? Will the business cause problems for pedestrians? Could there be traffic problems? Is the nature of the business suitable for the area? (here, you'd never be allowed to put an Ann Summers shop (are they still in existence) near a school and plans are even afoot to prevent sweets and energy drinks being sold near schools).

Twenty years ago I, and many women like me, enjoyed a day in the town, trailing around the shops looking for a bargain and despite the unavoidable sore feet and inevitable clock-watching (couldn’t afford to miss the 4 o’ clock bus home because the old man would be wanting his tea) this was, believe it or not, considered to be a relaxing day out! ”Go and enjoy yourself” my OH said, quite seriously, and I did! Now I, and many like me, think it’s much more relaxing to sit in a comfy sofa, lap-top on knee, G&T in hand and find my requirements without the sore feet and clock-watching. It also has the added benefits of non existent travel/parking costs, time saved and being able to shop when I want rather than when the shops are open. I certainly agree with you that local authorities need to adapt to new life styles and how to put disused buildings to use. However, I don’t know just how much of Bedlington Front Street, if any, is council owned. I do think they ought to be able to approve, or disapprove, new businesses even in private properties but then comes the dilemma: Should we allow another hairdresser etc. to open shop or should we say no and let the property stand empty. The latter doesn’t look too good in any town and the former gives an employment opportunity(even if it’s only for the owner) and keeps the street alive. If hairdressers etc are succeeding there must be a need for them.

Rosco, I hear what you're saying and I understand that you are disgruntled with what’s on offer in Bedlington but the very fact that there are so many surviving small businesses in just those categories (hairdressers, barbers, nail bars and beauty salons) is in fact proof that they are meeting the needs and requirements of the Bedlington populace and as such must be deemed as being useful. They would have gone bankrupt long ago if they were not. Clearly, this type of business isn’t anything that appeals to you – and, if I’m honest, three of them don’t appeal to me either – however, as Eggy and Pete very accurately outline above, shopping/selling patterns have moved with the times and services of many kinds are now only a text message away. Unless Bedlington high street has changed dramatically during the past few years the businesses which you are deeming to be of no use occupy small premises not suitable for the retailing giants. They are therefore reliant on small businesses for their use. Such premises also bring with them costs for rent, heating, lighting and water so it’s not surprising that many hairdressers, barbers, nailbars and beauty salons today choose to be ”a text message away” and go to the customer’s home instead of having the customer come to them. Shouldn’t we therefore be thankful that there are still people willing to occupy these small premises in Bedlington because without them – whatever their line of business – this is what Bedlington would look like today:

Only a matter of time! In the larger towns here, robots have already replaced bike messengers for delivering, ready to eat meals. They are also being tried out for delivering, groceries and packages. I can't agree with Rosco that hairdressers and barbers don't fall into the category 'useful' but I do agree that Bedlington women have no need for beauty parlours. They are just perfect as they are.

A bit late, but we've been let out today, watching Cranes doing their mating dance - all 18 000 of them! No more restrictions so we've decided to make the most of it before they come back - which they almost certainly will. If you'd like to see our yearly invasion of Cranes it's also live streamed here: http://www.webbkameror.se/djurkameror/hornborgasjon/hornborgasjon_1_live.php (Choose 'Djurkameror' from the menu). The quiz: Which cricketer was the first to hit six sixes in an over? Jack had his second birthday yesterday and he’ll be 4 years old next year. What is the date of Jack’s birthday? Which sea lies between the Bosporus and the Dardanelles? Which literary family lived at Haworth in Yorkshire? Who recorded the albums After the Goldrush and Harvest? In which city did the summer Olympic Games of 1984 take place? Orlando International Airport has the location code ‘MCO’. What do these letters stand for? Alfred, Farmingdale and Pixy are all types of what? Who sang with Elton John on Act of War? Who lives in Hundred Acre Wood? In which country was Florence Nightingale born? Who led the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. The onion is the most widely used vegetable in the world. Answers on Thursday next week.

Phew!

No, no,no,no, no! A thousand times NO! It's got to be true!

Answers to last week's quiz: Zeus* (½ point to those who answered Uranus. See note below) 1944 M90 Sir Edwin Landseer Mildew A young hawk (especially one taken early from the nest for training) 3 minutes Guadalcanal Hinny Monopoly Dr Christiaan Barnard Somalia New quiz tomorrow. * I also answered Uranus but the correct answer is Zeus. Uranus is primarily known as the God of the heavens. However, he was also, but only for a very short while, the King of the Gods, and therefore ruler of the universe (including the earth). He was a nasty piece of work who refused to let any of his 18 children leave their mother’s womb (imagine that if you can!). His perpetually pregnant and long-suffering wife, Gaea, must have been well fed up with the situation. She plotted with one of the captive sons, Cronos, who castrated his father with a sickle while said father was attempting to excercise his conjugal rights, thus bringing about his downfall. However, it is Zeus, the son of the sickle wielding Cronos, who became, and remained, the Supreme Ruler of the Universe and therefore of the heavens and the earth. Amazingly, Zeus was the only child of Cronos who managed to escape being eaten by his father at birth and that because his mother handed a baby-sized stone, wrapped in swaddling clothes to the famished Cronos who duly ate it, presumably without unwrapping it. I understand that he later spewed the stone up and Zeus set it into a path near Parnassos (I may have walked on it during my travels)! You really couldn’t make this up, could you!

Never let it be said that this quiz is anything other than educational!

This week I'd like to know if you know: In Greek mythology who was God of the Heavens and Earth? In what year did the D-Day landings take place? Which motorway runs south from Perth to the Firth of Forth bridge? Which painter and sculptor was responsible for the lions in London’s Trafalgar Square? What is the general name for the fungus that forms a thin white coating on plants? Who or what is an eyas? In professional boxing, how long does each round last? Which is the largest of the Soloman Islands? What is the name for the sterile offspring of a female ass and a male horse? What board game was invented by Charles Darrow? Which surgeon performed the first human heart transplant? Mogadishu is the capital of which African country? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. Elton John played the piano on the Hollies record He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother. Answers on Thursday next week.

Brilliant! would that be Bedlington Station?

Answers to last week's quiz: Henry I King Creole Indian Ocean None Jimmy White Formic acid A type of worm Double vision August Anode Joe Cocker Mounties ... and yes, Eggy, Joe Cocker did have a hit with a little help from his friends in 1968, one year after the Beatles released the original version. Apologies from me for not noticing my typing error. New quiz tomorrow (hopefully without typing mistakes).

Thanks Eggy! I've heard of that one but never got round to using it yet.

Thanks Symptoms! I'll be having some fun with that site.

I'm not going to ask how you know that!

Pencils poised, here it is: Which King of England was the youngest son of William the Conqueror? Which Elvis film was based on the play A Stone for Danny Fisher? In which ocean are the Seychelles? How many kings of England have been called Philip? Which snooker player was runner-up in six World Championships in the 80s and 90s? Which acid is found in bee stings? What is a nematode? Diplopia is the medical term for which disorder? In which month does the grouse shooting season start in Britain? What is the correct term for a positive electrode? Who had ‘a little help from his friends’ in 1986? By what name are the RCMP more commonly known? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. George Simenon, the man who created the French detective Maigret, claimed to have slept with 10,000 women. My comment: That’s roughly one a day for 27 years or 3 a week for 64years! ……………………………………………………………………………………

Answers to last week's quiz: Ming the Merciless Beefeaters 15 Alcatraz Horses Percy India Argentinian Nitrogen Doric The Crown Jewels The midnight oil New quiz tomorrow.

My voice has been called a lot of things, Vic. I don't recall "lovely" being one of them!

Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday dear Vic Happy Birthday to you! (sung to the tune of 'happy Birthday to you')