Canny lass

Any outburst of ecstasy thet may have been experienced on Friday didn't last long. It was cut off in it's prime by the untimely demise of the government at 10 am on Monday morning. Just what we needed in the midst of a pandemic that's causing havoc. Will try cracking open another bottle of 'celebratory' wine this evening and hope for the best.

You've got a goodun there!

Happy Birthday John. Have a really good day. I'm sure your missus will be spoiling you enormously. Where are you hiding yourself these days?

I don't know where that emoji came from. I typed B). However, I've managed to edit it now - just in time.

Thank you for that kind thought, Jammy, lilbill, Alan & Vic. I'm pleased it was appreciated. It certainly helped me put a bit of structure into my week during this topsy-turvy time we are living in. I'll certainly see what I can do for the winter months but you may not have to wait that long. The government (if we still have one after Monday) has already started to talk about tightening the restrictions - having just eased them a week ago. Needless to say my OH and myself are making the most of the heatwave and being able to see the family in reality rather than virtually - outdoors of course.. Today I have been shopping for dairy products,fruit and veg - the first time in 460 days! Who would have thought that squeezing an orange or picking through a box of potatoes could be so exciting!!! The down side was that they've managed to completely rearrange the shop in my absence so shopping took ages. Honestly, you can't turn your back for a minute!

Then it should give you something to do while in isolation and perhaps give even more knowledge about your home-town. If the time seems to be dragging on your own you can always look up one of the older quizes to help pass the time. Do take care, Do follow the recommendations and don't forget to wash your hands before and after handling the neighbours hedge-tr!immer. Hope the time flies by without incident.

Quiz time! Now that the recommendations for reducing the spread of Covid 19 have been relaxed, a little, we are planning to catch up on some quality time with the family - something we have missed a great deal these past 460 days. There's a new grandchild to get to know and wedding plans are afoot for an older grandson on return from his military posting in Mali. These occasions usually call for cake-making and dress-making. Therefpre this will be the last Friday night quiz. However, should the restrictions involve staying at home again in the future, you may well have to put up with the inconvenience again. You have astounded me with your knowledge of many things so this time let's see what you know about things nearer to home in this 'Bedlington Special: 1. What are the six accepted colours of the Bedlington Terrier breed? 2. There can be no doubt that a Bedlington Terrier exists. What about a Bedlington Whippet – fact or fiction? 3. When did Bedlington railway station open? 4. What was the motto of Bedlington Grammar School? 5. Which of the following buildings is/are Grade II listed?: Trotter Memorial Drinking Fountain, The Old Vicarage, Netherton Blue House Farmhouse 6. The parish of St. Bede, Bedlington, was established in 1876 under the care of which religious order ? 7. West Bedlington Town Council is a relatively young council. In which year was it created? 8. Name the two police officer victims of the Sun Inn murders 15 April 1913? 9. What was the name of the somnambulist who, on St Valentine’s Day 1669, climbed a buttress of St Cuthbert’s Church and fell to his death when woken by a passer by? 10. Who invented the malleable iron rails for which Bedlington Iron Works became renowned?: Michael Longridge, George Stephenson, John Birkenshaw 11. Name the parents of Sir Daniel Gooch? 12. East Sleekburn and West Sleekburn are recorded as early as 1183 in the Boldon Book. True or false? 13. Bomarsund Coal Mine, which opened in 1905, was part of Bedlington Colliery. True or false? 14. Bedlington was previously part of the County Palatine of Durham, belonging to the Bishop of Durham, When did Bedlington become part of Northumberland? 15. The first ever recorded use of a Penny Black postage stamp was on a letter sent to Bedlington. To whom and at what address in Bedlington was the letter addressed? 16. Where in Bedlingtonshire can you see the Peter Burke’s sculpture “Janus” (the god of new beginnings) which symbolizes the changing face of Wansbeck? 17. Bedlington Golf Club opened in 1972. Who designed the course? 18. Excluding its tributary, the River Pont, how long is the River Blyth from source to mouth along the river bank? 19. Which of the following services is NOT the responsibility of West Bedlington Town Council?: Bus Shelters, Children’s play areas, Waste and recycling 20. Bedlington is twinned with which German town? 21. According to an old song: Hartley Pans for sailors, Bedlington for ……………? 22. 1836, Michael Longridge opened his own locomotive works at Bedlington. His first locomotive was built for the Stanhope and Tyne Railway. What was this locomotive called? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. The French king Louis XIV hated washing so much that he only took three baths in his whole life. Answers on Thursday next week. PS. Tried to upload a photo of the statue Janus (question 16) without success.

Answers to last week's quiz: 1. Rain 2. Nutwood 3. Spinks 4. Germany 5. Plum 6. 1989 7. Central Park, New York 8. Carly Simon 9. Macbeth 10. South China Sea 11. Olaf Palme 12. Fashion New quiz tomorrow.

Excellent! Thanks Eggy!

Not that I'm aware of. A fletcher makes arrows. However, Fletcher is a common family name so probably the presumed butcher's/fishmonger's surname.

That's 'fighting talk' Malcolm. Go get em!!

Yes it probably was but this one was definitely in my time, 1957 Brown's Furniture Shop (Courtesy of Evan Martin, Bedlingtonshire Remembered (publ. 1999) The People's History Ltd. There's no doubt that it is number 90. The finials of the neighbouring shop, Fletcher's, are exact. So, the Meadow Dairy has, at some time, been Fletcher's which I'm assuming, because of all the white tiling, is a butchers or a fishmongers. It's not the best of reproductions but it's the best I can do.

In all fairness, I have to say that Malcolm seems to have a pretty good track record when it comes to doing the donkey work and getting things done.

Well, I know you didn't mention them but as I recall there wasn't anywhere else in Bedlington you could buy them - unless you had a penchant for the Co-op's navy blue fleecey variety. So, I felt I was safe in assuming such purchases were made at Moldens by your good self as well. Ninettes, however, doesn't ring any bells with me.

Feastens or Fewstwrs - what's the odd letter or two between friends? However, I, and @lilbill15 definitely bought our knickers in Moldens on the left of the 'arcade'.

Now Lawson and Thompson solicitor. I think Eggy may have named them in the wrong order. Should be Moldens to the left and Feasters to the right.