Canny lass

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.

What am I listening to right now? My heart going like the clappers while trying to find the connection in Keith's quiz!!

I share your sentiments Adam! What a singer. I used to love his shows on TV.

Done!

Have they all played themselves in a film?

Well I for one never would have got the answer! Not even with the help of Orson Wells!

Will you also be "revealing all" at the same time Keith or can I watch the news on TV then?

Actors?

Roll on Sunday night!!!!!

But then it wouldn't be a cure. It would be a preventative measure.

What did I tell you - lots of water and no pain killers!! Thanks Micky. Someone once told me that a raw egg swallowed whole (without the shell) would do the trick, if you could get it past your lips. Must be the British version of the Mongolian Mary.

Might be a bit difficult for me Brett.

This is not looking good! Am I the only one here who has ever had a hangover? Come on you guys, the festive season will soon be upon us and we could be saving many people from a day of untold misery. Get your hangover cures up here!!

Good old fashioned water, lots of it (preferably before you go to bed) and avoid pain killers like the plague! If you're needing this advice then your liver's already got enough poison to take care of without you adding pain killers.

Anybody know when the pit rows were built?

Don't know about security guards Keith but at Netherton we had a 'colliery polis', nothing to do with the men in blue brigade but on the payroll at the colliery. I'm not sure if it was a full time job or if he worked as a miner as well. The one I remember from the 50's was called Geordie Collis. He was a giant of a man and we kids were terrified of him. He was everywhere in the colliery, not just around the pit itself but around the houses and school as well, seeing that we kids didn't get up to mischief on colliery property. It wasn't hard for him to find offenders. We lived in a colliery and everything around us was owned by the colliery! I can distinctly remember him coming to the school one day and giving all the assembled children ( 2 classes of 5-8 year olds) a stern warning about destroying lupins in the school garden.