Canny lass

I didn't! Had to google it but not sorry I did. What a battle --- and even a bit of Swedish involvment!

We would be very happy to welcome you on board, Maggie! Of course, it's the taking part that's important (as Mr Hemming was so keen on reminding us!)so if you don't want to post your answers it's OK. Challenge the OH over a glass of wine or get the neighbours in for a bit of a natter. There is more than one way to skin this particular cat. The main thing is to get the grey cells out for an airing once a week. Enjoy it!

This week's quiz: What is the chemical symbol for Tungsten? What was the title of Cliff Richard’s 1968 Eurovision song? The shipworm is not a worm. What is it? During which war was the battle of Rourke’s/Rorke’s Drift? What sort of creature is a klang? Which is longer, a metre or a yard? On TV, what was the shared profession of Martin Platt, Charlie Fairhead and Gladys Emmanuel? Arachnophobia is the fear of what? In Morse Code which letter is represented by a single dot? Willie Carson won his first Derby on which horse? Which sea area is surrounded by Tyne, Forties, German Bight and Humber? In which English county is the market town of St Austell? Answers on Thursday next week, followed by a Hakkoween special on Friday.

I hadn't realized that they run in alphabetic order!

Hasn't yet popped up on QI?

Answers to last week's quiz: Tuberculosis Crete Rainfall Ray Wilson Arsenal In a shoe factory Hen The Sovereign Charlotte House of York Good Friday Caribou Well done! Quite a few there that I had to google. New quiz tomorrow and I'm preparing a Halloween special for next week.👻

Eggy, can you ever forgive me! I'm five days late for your birthday! I had planned to post when I posted the answers to last wek's quiz and I've just found the post-it note that should have reminded me. I can only blame old-age, cable-laying duties, lack of organisation in the office and possibly too much whisky. I can only wish you a very, very belated but very, very happy - - birthday and hope it was a good one.

Brrrrrrr Not att all envious! Haven't taken the shovel out of storage yet!

It's something peopledon't do often enough - cleaning feeders. Birds and squirrels alike need a clean feeding place and a clean feeder. Clean both at least once a fortnight and keep the animals healthy. It's the least we can do in return for the pleasure they give us.

Are you telling me that you're not learning anything here and that all my hard work is falling on stoney ground!! You must pay attention and work harder young man!

Time to give the old bumps of knowledge an airing: Which disease does the BCG vaccine protect us from? Which Greek island was the home to the Minoan civilisation? What does a pluviometer measure? Who replaced Phil Collins as lead singer of Genesis? Which football team won the English 1997-98 Premier league and F.A. Cup double? Where would you find breast buffers and bottom buffers at work? (keep it clean!) What is a female trout called? Who in Great Britain can never legally be a minor? Who was the eldest of the Bronte sisters? Which Royal house ruled in England from 1461 to 1485? On which day in April 1998 was the peace agreement signed in Northern Ireland? What do Americans call reindeer? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. Clark Gable is listed on his birth certificate as a girl. Answers on Thursday as usual.

We like it too but I think they are old programmes that are shown here. Here, the chair has just been taken over by Sandi Toksvig. I think she's every bit as good as Stephen Fry but OH thinks Fry was better.

Interesting to compare these two photos. As I said, I've no idea where I got this photo from. I can have had it for 20 years and it's labelled Feancis Pit. It's also how I remember it bur when I see bluebarbie's photo there are a few differences that I can't explain. The twophoos are clearly taken from different sides of the building: bluebarbies photo looking toward Bedlington and mine looking towards Netherton. On mine I can see a building to the left which I think is a part Bell's Ranch. However the pit building is asymmetric. The 'windows'/openings will surely have their explanation in the machinery of the era but I can't understand why two adjacent walls would be buttressed and not the other two. Maybe HPW can throw some light on the subject.

Answers to last week's quiz: Gypsy American Football Rhinoceros France Hangman Edinburgh The Sun The Taming of the Shrew The Knave of Hearts Stan Laurel Lake Bala (Welsh name: Llyn Tegid) Professor Plum ... and I've managed to get a quiz together for tomorrow, despite cable-laying duties.

I think that's where I got it from. Must make a note not to use anything from that programme!

I was having a clear out of unwanted files on my new lap-top and found this photo of the Francis pit. I have no idea where it came from so apologies to the photographer as I can't give you any credit. This is exactly how I remember it from the early 1950s. After the death of Mrs Watson's son, who fell to his death down the shaft, the building was demolished and the shaft covered with iron rails. Didn't stop us playing their as HPW describes above.

Thanks Eggy! I've had a play about with it and can now (following Andy's advice) successfully download an image to my downloads folder. From there it's then a simple matter to place it in a folder of my choice. I also had a bash at saving direct from the topic, rather than downloading, and I was able to 'save as' direct from the image by using a right click which produced the appropriate meny but I didn't need to save it in my downloads folder. I could choose my own folder immediately. Quite an achievement for me. I feel like the Brain of Britain. I'm sure Andy will be knocking on my door and offering me a job soon!

Time to trim the grey matter: Everything is coming up roses is from which musical? With which sport would you associate Joe Montana? Which animals collect together in a crash? Which was the first country to use number plates on road vehicles? What was the occupation of Jack Ketch? In which British city can you find Usher Hall? Which natural feature has been nicknamed The Lamp of Phoebus ? Which is the only Shakespeare play with an animal in the title? In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland who stole the tarts baked by the Queen of hearts? By which name is Arthur Jefferson better known? What is the largest lake in Wales? In the game of Cluedo what is the name of the professor? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. Lord Nelson suffered from sea-sickness all his life. Answers on Thursday next week.

Thanks Andy! I owe you a pint next time I'm in the shire.

I'm sad to say that I have to agree with you. We've only been a week without restrictions and people are going mad. The damp, cold autumn weather is a perfect breeding ground for any virus - that's why we get colds and flu in autumn/winter and not so much in spring/summer. We're not out of the covid woods yet so stay safe everybody.

Here's another question: I don't know if it's this new lap-top, the site or just lack of knowledge on my part but I'm having difficulties downloading photos from the gallery. All I'm able to do is take a screen dump and cut away everything but the photo. Very time-consuming. Any ideas, anybody?

... quite by accident - same way I found out that it satisfied a craving for something but didn't know just what it was i craved. Just happened to pass a coal scuttle one day and instinctively took a piece of coal and started chewing it. I got a lovely sense of calm and well being from it and realized that coal (or something in it) was what was missing. Later, when I had heartburn, I noticed that it disappeared when I was eating coal and continued to use it for that purpose too. As children my brother and I both loved it when we were near a steam-roller because then we could get our hands on lumps of a hard, but chewy, black, material which we called pitch. I've no idea if that's the right name but it's the stuff they melt and mix with gravel for road resurfacing. It could be chewed for ages without losing its taste. Strange things we did as kids.

Answers to last week's quiz: Dieting Who dares wins Yellow Jack Nicholson Xenophobia Jack Brabham Pontiac Howard Hughes There is no upper limit, though earthquakes of a magnitude of 10 cannot happen. Geno Florence Bamboo New quiz tomorrow.

Is that you in the photo, Vic? Eating coal? You should have seen me during my pregnancies! I lived in Doncaster and it was the only thing I asked for if anybody was visiting me from the North East. Couldn't beat it for heartburn.