Canny lass

You get a bonus Point from me for that!

Beautiful! Am I right in thinking you are using border lobelia instead of hanging lobelia in those baskets? It's very effective.

and I thought I had problems keeping the BBQ under Control!

Watch out for History Hollow! It's addictive. Welcome to the forum.

Really good initiative taking on somebody's part. Get them moving about at an early age, they'll reap the benefits later in Life. Pleased to see it's for Girls as well!

They look absolutely fabulous (Don Lynn's pasties) and the hanging baskets aren't bad either! Hats off to whoever planted them. wish I could get mine to look that good.

That sounds horrendous, Vic. 300 miles and still in the smoke! That's some fire. Take real good care of youselves.

Is this having a direct effect on you and the family Vic?

Isn't it just, Malcolm. I Think this style is perfect for Bedlington.

Hi Kevin. Welcome on board. I don't have a map but the street names were: First Street, Second Street, Plessey Street, Third Street - going from the Weslyan Chapel towards the school and Institute.

Here's your opportunity folks! Get cracking and fill in the questionnaire. 1) What is worrying you about where you live? Our shabby neighbours, Bedlington. 2) What are you enjoying about where you live? Feel free to choose anything that NCC has funded for Morpeth. 3) What one thing would make your Life better? A 'face-lift' for Bedlington.

Is this 'before and after', Foxy? I don't see any difference.

Maggie, don't take it seriously. I don't. I see it more as a bit of daft banter. There is no Point scoring going on - how can there be? I haven't even seen a hint of a discussion let alone an argument. I can't agree to differ with Tonyp because I'm in agreement with him. I've said so (see #13). People "should stick to what they know". Unfortunately they don't Always do that. But it is a democratic World we live in. I've totally lost track of what's been talked about here. It started off with a nice gesture by Brett, very quickly turned to my geography and phonology skills (I don't possess either) and then progressed to simple things being man's things, cognitive behaviour therapy, stones, sociology and intellectual Girls sticking together! I just don't see the Connection. It cannot be a serious dialogue. It must be daft banter. Correction: instead of psychology read linguistics. That was a mistake on my part. I was doing too many things at once - including listening to a debate on the radio about the need for more psychologists in primary care teams here in Scandinavia.

Wrong again! Never read psychology.

So it was that simple Tonyp! Then your definitely right about sticking to what we know. I'll stick to psychology and you stick to .... what was it called again? Ah., yes 'trivia' and I'll just leave the last Word to you.

How did you do then Tonyp?

I was on the 4th question Before I realised you could zoom in!

Sugar was served in a cup at our house, sometimes one cup between two Children.

Loved it! Still love anything made with rhubarb. Rhubarb crumble, rhubarb fool, rhubarb and ginger jam .....

I "earned a bronze pin".

I wouldn't know about phonology,Tonyp. Phonetics was more my thing as I was fascinated by the different mechanisms involved in sound production. However, syntax and lexical development, both from a historical perspective, are more my domain. I'll have a bash at smartypins and let you know how I get on.

Mark Knophler's mum as English teacher! That explains everything! Not surprised he gets his accents and dialects mixed up

Hertfordshire accent sounds like your mate? Then I have to change my opinion, Your mate,s not using a North East dialect. He'speaking Standard English with a Gosforth accent That's the same as "trying to speak posh and failing miserabley".

A fantastic story!! Thanks for sharing it.

Thanks Tonyp. It's not easy to write how a Word sounds is it? That's why linguists use the IPA system. Your mate's pronunciation is exactly what I thought it would be: hut-el with vowel reduction (shortening of the 'o' until it's almost inaudible) on the first syllable and primary stress (emphasizing the sound and making it sound just a Little longer than normal) on the second. You can tell your mate that you, every time you say hoe-tel, are using either: Standard English (if you pronounce hoe the way Her Magesty would) OR Standard English with a North East accent (if you pronounce hoe the way most people from Bedlington do - with a North East accent). He, on the other hand, is speaking a North East dialect with, presumably a Gosforth accent. Or he might just be trying to speak 'posh' and failing miserably.