Canny lass

These are driving me bonkers!!!!!

Nancy Matt Damon - mother Frank Sinatra - daughter Sarah Miles - was in a film with Nancy Travis. (Bit of a long shot!)

Sorry Boss! read the question wrong!

He says: it depends what the problem is . If it's the shorts gliding downwards because of the weight of the water then a bit of good old fashioned, British knicker elastic should do the trick. If it's the ramp structure then he'll need a bit more time to think about it.

Thoroughly Modern Millie - Julie Andrews? (3rd photo from left)

My old man sends a great big thank you for these pics! When I met him he worked for a company called Navire,who had a base in Blyth, and he visited Blyth quite regularly. The pics reminded him of his early days in the shipyards in Gothenburg and he said he could smell the steel! He is, or was, a design engineer - not so much in ships themselves but in the equipment used for handling passengers and cargo. If you've ever taken your car on a ferry there's a good chance that he designed the ramps and hoistable decks. He was also responsible for the system of stacking containers on ferries

I'm amazed to learn that Clive was only 40! Good make-up indeed and the acting ought to get an award! Thanks for the Telegraph link Threegee.That's a real insight into the life of Arnold Ridley. I had no idea.

I take it we'll be waiting a while for the next quiz then - if your off to the islands with the hoochie coochie girls that is? Will you be back for Christmas?

He really was a star! I loved Dad's Army. Those characters complemented each other perfectly. Cive's catch-phrase "they don't like it up'em, the fuzzy wuzzies" caught on everywhere. How old was he? I think he was a good age way back then.

Yes folks, I'm back1 (at last). I've not been able to access the site for a few weeks but somebody's worked a miracle. My word you have been busy. There's an awful lot to catch up on.

Seems like the girls, and the odd bloke I know, are getting in on the act as well. What I want to know is why men get to grow a bit of extra hair when its cold and we poor women ..... http://www.fanuary.com/

Thank you guys!! There's plenty there to get my teeth into and from the quick perusal I've just done, there seem to be some really good sites for such information. Myself, I haven't been able to find much on the Internet so I'm really grateful for the help.

or James Bond?

I can remember the schoolboard man as well Keith but as far as I know he just came to the school, looked at the register and knocked on doors. I'm more interested in this more intense activity which Keith (the otherin) describes above " phonecall, e-mail , letter, summons, fine, then if you still don't get them to school, Jail." At some point in time a decision must have been made to take these measures, probably at government level, and if that's the case the method is likely to have been evaluated at some time - unless it's very recent. It's this evaluation I'm interested in. Is the system working? Anybody know if the amount of truancy has been reduced?

Any idea how long the truant officer has had this type of roll Keith? Is it something relatively new? Have there been any reports (government, newspapers, TV etc.) on how successfull the system is or otherwise. Anybody know what the children think about this system?

Thanks for the response. I totally agree with you both, Keith and Malcolm. Academic achievement isn't everything. They seem to have an odd idea here about reporting the amount of absence in school reports. It's not allowed here but there is a growing contingencyof people who are pressing the government for this to be allowed. The reason it's not allowed is because it's seen as "a form of punishment for the child" - yes, those are the very words being used! - and not as a means of informing parents who may be unaware of the situation. I myself can see several positive aspects to recording absence. Firstly it gives a background against which to judge a child' achievements. If a child does really badly at school It may be because they have been absent for half the term because of illness and that should be taken into account. Equally a child can do extremely well despite having been absent for half the term because of ill health and that shouldn't be overlooked either. Secondly, I think it's a good thing for prospective employers to know how the attendance rate has been. Thirdly, I think it's good for the child to have some concrete figures so that he/she is made aware of the size of the problem. I'm interested in knowing what effects this system of fines in Britain is having - if any. Can anybody point me in the direction of any articles, information etc. on this?

I want one! I want one! Where can I buy one? A man who gets up at 7 am and gets on with preparing a meal without being bullied into it - now that's an innovation.

Well I'll be ....! I was nearly there this time. Really! I got the shaved heads bit for all but Persis Khambatta. Didn't know who she was. Mind you, I hate being in the sea so I'm pleased I didn't win this one.

There's a great debate going on here about how to reduce the very high truancy rate in schools. This evening, on the 9 o' clock news, I heard that parents in Britain are being fined (32,000 last year) if their children play truant. Can anybody throw any light on the subject? First and foremost, is it true? If so how long has this been going on and is it having any effect - positive or negative? I'd also like to know if the number of days of absence is still documented on school reports in Britain, as it was when I was a child. How about the school leaving report - can prospective employers see in the amount of absence in the child's leaving report? I'm greatful for any information as to how truancy is being dealt with in Britain.

Where was it?

Have you never heard us chapesses referring to "the wedding furniture"?

Believe that if you like.

I was just about to say that!

Congrats on the new job Keith. Hope it goes well.

Well I can only speak for the chapesses amongst us but YES, YES, YES!!!!! These are so infuriating but great fun at the same time. I'm black and blue all over due to kicking myself about the last solution.