Canny lass

Hello Martyn and welcome to the forum! I was born 1947 in Howard Row but the family was moved shortly after - also to Hartford Road - when those houses were to be demolished. We returned to the colliery houses prior to my starting school in 1951when a house in Third Street, across the road from Plessey Street, became vacant. About the name Plessey Street, there’s not much more that I can say than that which I said earlier -Nov 19 2016 in the topic ‘Plessey Row, Netherton’. The houses were built around 1905 and comprised 4 rows of houses built around 3 ‘thoroughfares’ - or ‘streets’. The rows were then named First-, Second-, and Third Street BUT Second Street comprised two rows of houses which shared one ‘thoroughfare’. It was these thoroughfares that gave the address of the various dwellings, rather than the dwellings themselves. For identification purposes, the rows of houses appear to have been given, at least officially, the names: 1st Second Street and 2nd Second Street. However, there appears to have been a great deal of confusion even among the residents. I’ll post some evidence of this shortly. During my lifetime in Netherton that shared thoroughfare was never surfaced with concrete as were the other two to the east and west – First- and Third Street. It remained an area of rough ground with quite a lot of weeds. As it was flanked by the front doors (the 'posh' entrance you could say) of Second Street’s two parts, it was hardly ever used for other than funerals when coffins were taken out through the windows of the front room because a coffin leaving by either the front- or the back door was physically impossible. All services to Second Street dwellings: coal delivery, bakers-, butchers- fishmonger’s vans etc. went via the back yards of the properties facing First- and Third Street which were used for access. I sometimes wondered if that rough area had at some time been a small garden area. First and Third Street had large gardens outside their front doors - much larger than would have been possible for the two parts of Second Street. From at least 1951 (my earliest recollection of Netherton) Second Street residents had no garden but had access to an allotment on the site of what used to be the gardens of the former South Row to the east of First Street. This row must have been demolished prior to the building of the 1905 housing. There are plenty of photos of the four rows of housing in the gallery – Historic Bedlington/Netherton-Nedderton Old Photos OR Netherton-Nedderton Old Photos 2.

It's Friday already! 1. Which instrument is used to measure the strength of earthquakes? 2. In which country is the source of the Amazon? 3. What name is given to the cultivation of plants without soil? 4. What was the Christian name of the Mr. Marks who set up penny bazaars with Thomas Spencer in 1887? 5. Which stretch of water separates Denmark from Sweden? 6. Which two cartoon characters were used by the Ministry of Food during WW2 to promote the benefits of vegetables? 7. Who had a Top Ten hit with Jo le Taxi? 8. Who chose Ottawa to be the capital of Canada? 9. The volume of what shape is equal to a third of the area of its base multiplied by its height? 10. Androphobia is the fear of who or what? 11. How many years of marriage are celebrated in a china wedding anniversary? 12. Which former Prime Minister was created Earl of Stockton in 1984? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. A bumblebee can fly at speeds of up to 11 km per hour. Answers on Thursday next week.

Great pity. John D. Tindal does have living relatives in both England and America.

Should that read 'last rites'?

Answers to last week's quiz: 1. 1983 2. Whooping Cough 3. Julio Iglesias 4. Kingfisher 5. Roscoe 6. Colorado 7. Ordinal 8. Judy Garland 9. Battle of the Nile, also known as Battle of Aboukir Bay 10. 1997 11. Zinc 12. Juniper New quiz tomorrow.

I thought you wouldn't! Now, store that piece of info safely away, cos you never know when I (or anybody else for that matter) might ask you about it. Knowledge is never a heavy burden to bear.

Thanks Eggy! I see from the other photo that it's not exactly the 'tray' I thought it was. The last time I saw anything like that - chalice, bottle and case (I'm assuming it's a set) - it was being used to administer the last rights in a hospital. It's called a Last Rights Box. The bottle contains holy water. Come to think of it, the IHS could stand for Jesus but I think the one I saw had IHC.

I don't suppose you could ask Lewis Barker, who posted the photo of the tray, where it was found? In Bedlington? If so where?

I must have missed your album as i can't remember seeing those pages before. That's my bedtime reading sorted out for tonight! That Chronicle of events is very interesting, not only for the Tindal information. First. I can see that Netherton 'store' - the co-op - was established in Jan 1903 which fills another gap in my knowledge of Netherton. Second, I see that in August 1894 a "Mr R Studdy" was appointed General Secretary of the bedlington Branch. That's the father of Louis William Studdy, who i mentioned above as living in Jesmond with his aunt and uncle, Isabella and James Tindal. P.S. I've just found the entry in the register of deaths for John Davison Tindal. His death was registered in the third quarter (July/August/September) of 1947 which fits in rather nicely with the date on the tray.

This is a mystery ! See Maggie’s topic, started 26 July 2013 “Bedlington Equitable Industrial Cooperative Society”. I think that the John Davison Tindal (Secretary) named in the list of officers of the society is the same person. Note the name is spelled Tindal, rather than Tindall – as inscribed on the tray. The Tindal’s (one L) seem to have been a relatively well-to-do family in Bedlington - the type of family who could present such a tray. The 1881 census records the parents of John D Tindal living on Front Street, Bedlington. His father, James - born in Nottingham, is a tailor by trade and his mother Isabella (born about 1855 in Bedlington) has the same profession. They have, as well as John 4 years old and born in Bedlington, a daughter aged 5 years (Lizzie?) and another, Maria, aged one year. Hoever, they don’t appear to have always lived there. James and Isabella get a mention in in the North East War Memorial project in relation to Louis William Studdy, whose family are living in Ridge Terrace, Bedlington while he, Louis William, is resident at” 4 Fairfield road, Jesmond - with his uncle James Tindal, a tailor’s cutter and his wife Isabella, born 1855 in Bedlington”. By the time the 1911 census was completed, John D Tindal, was 24 years old and, like his father, a tailor by trade. He was then living in the last house on Burdon Terrace, nearest West End, and married to 29 year old Dora A.G Tindall, a Greengrocery shopkeeper. John D Tindal died 1947 aged 70 years (therefore, born about 1877). It may have been trough his tailoring that he was connected with the Cooperative Society. I can’t help wondering where the Church of Christ was/is situated in Bedlington and if the tray was found in the same building or somewhere else. Could it have been wrongly inscribed by the engraver and therefore never presented to the Church of Christ? Otherwise, it surely still belongs to the church? 1947 wasn’t so long ago.

They are really lovely animals!

I had no problem seeing that video Vic. Lovely! Has Percy opened the lid himself or do you leave it open for him?

Here's this week's brain-teasers. I have to admit that only knew the answers to four questions. No points for guessing that nr. 12 was one of them! 1. In which year was the wearing of front seat belts made compulsory in England? 2. Pertussis is the medical name for which infectious disease? 3. Which Spanish singer was a goalkeeper with Real Madrid before a car crash ended his career? 4. Which bird was once known as the Halcyon? 5. What was the first name of the silent film star Fatty Arbuckle? 6. In which American state is The Garden of the Gods? 7. If one, two and three are Cardinal what are First, Second and Third? 8. By what name did Frances Glumm become better known? 9. At which battle of 1798 did the boy stand on the burning deck? 10. In which year was Hong Kong handed back to China? 11. Which metal provides an outer protective layer when iron is galvanised? 12. The berries of which evergreen tree are used to flavour gin? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. Pigeons in Venice were once fed grain mixed with contraceptives to stop them breeding. Answers on Thursday next week.

Tried to upload a video but I didn't succeed. However you can see the simple design of my "restaurant" in the photos. They learn very quickly to open the lid

You can encourage squirrels to come to your garden with a simple feeding box which, while they can be purchasedeasily are also very simple to make yourself. Hundreds of designs and building instructions on Internet. They like peanuts (natural, not salted) and sunflower seeds. I also buy loads of hazelnuts in their shells after Xmas when they are being spld off cheaply. Squirrels will travel quite a long way from their tree/nest for a good "restaurant" and they will entertain you for hours at very little cost to yourself.

I'm afraid i was, Vic! it's all part and parcel of having a winter birthday. The OH had it worse: I was "taken out" for lunch though - to this hunting tower where something "warming" was waiting to be enjoyed. Sauna and roll in the snow (which I missed last year) were enjoyed on my return followed by "something warming" as is the tradition. However, it was a bit different to the usual, Plenty of phone calls but didn't see a soul all day.

Not guilty! It's a matter of self preservation to get the flames quenched as quickly as possible when you are my age and living in a house that's both made of wood and surrounded by wood.

Answers to last week's quiz: 1. Jealousy 2. Dorset 3. Lizard 4. Bedrich Smetana 5. St. Gabriel 6. Lace 7. Theodore Roosevelt (1906) 8. Tommy Farr 9. Friday 10. Finding the Holy Grail 11. Rock (Not the Blackpool type) 12. Alan Mullery New quiz tomorrow.

16 Don't Leave Me This Way (Thelma Houston) 17 Never Can Say Goodbye (cos i've got one foot in both camps) (Gloria Gaynor)

I didn't! Does it work the other way around as well? Should I poke it in the eye will a tail pop out?

The first quiz of 2021: 1. What is often referred to as ‘the green-eyed monster’? 2. In which English county is the Isle of Purbeck? 3. Iguanas belong to which reptile family? 4. Who composed the opera The Bartered Bride? 5. Who is the patron saint of messengers? 6. What was the town of Mechelen in Belgium once famous for? 7. Who was the first US President to be awarded the Nobel Peace prize? 8. Which British boxer lost to Joe Louis on points in 1937 when fighting for the World Heavyweight Title? 9. On which day of the week is a child who is said to be “loving and giving” born? 10. What did Sir Lancelot’s adultery prevent him from doing? (Keep it clean)! 11. What is Gneiss a type of? 12. Which footballer was the first player to be sent off playing for England? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. There are more chickens than people in England. Answers on Thursday next week.

That's a very good question, Jammy! Makes you think twice about snakes and stick insects as well.

Canny Lass has told you the answers to all of these questions and here they are - complete with dates. I think the grading has to be 'Must pay more attention' 1. Mince Pies and Christmas Pudding (17 JUL 2020) 2. Reuters (19 JUN 2020) 3. 13 (21 AUG 2020) 4. America (07 AUG 2020) 5. 4’ 6” (22 MAY 2020) 6. Polar Bear (24 APR 2020) 7. They spit at each other (10 APR 2020) 8. A canon (11 SEP 2020) 9. Chewing gum (17 OCT 2020) 10. Redheads (13 NOV 2020) 11. German (01 MAY 2020) 12. Albania (09 OCT 2020) 13. 1631 (15 MAY 2020) 14. English. He never learned more than a few words. (24 JUL 2020) 15. False. It was Brandy. (12 JUN 2020) 16. Adolf Hitler (12 JUL 2020) 17. Mirrors (04 SEP 2020) 18. More than 17 miles (29 May 2020) 19. Ohio (20 NOV 2020) 20. Hiccups (06 NOV 2020) Normal service will be resumed with a new quiz tomorrow. I'm assuming that you want one as you are now in lockdown again and it's not much better here. We are continuing with our quiz night and your welcome to tag along here if it keeps you out of mischief for a few minutes.

Loving the two feet of snow! Definitely going to attempt a pair in the garden.

I thought we might start the New Year with a summary of the old one: Trump Death Covid Covid Trump Covid Trump Covid Covid More Covid Chrsitm …, Nope, Covid New Yea …, Nope, Brexit Don’t expect any New Year resolutions from me. I intend being the same awkward, cantankerous, irritating, sarcastic delight you’ve all come to know and love! Wishing you all a 2021 filled with good health, love and happiness. PS. Happy Birthday for tomorrow 3G