Canny lass

Jojo, there's nothing silly or daft about the geordie twang - or North Eastern dialect, as it's called in linguistic parlance. I was also born at Netherton and grew up with it. I've had to modify it on my travels in order to be understood, as no country teaches it as a second language. Only the Queens English (received pronunciation, RP, to give it its full handle) is good enough för for that purpose. This does not imply that RP is better or more superior in any way. It is simply because it is the accepted standard worldwide thus aiding communication the world over. Imagine a meeting of the European parliament where every country chooses to use one of its many dialects instead of its standard version! It's standard English and a gigantic, well oiled machinery of simultaneous interpretators and translators that make it possible for any communication to take place. It's difficult but it would be impossible if everybody spoke in dialects. As I said earlier, dialects are not taught in schools. On the contrary, I'm old enough to remember 'articulation' lessons in school, during the 50's, when moves were afoot nationally to eradicate some dialects, usually working class dialects and Geordie was top of the list! However, it held it's ground and achieved almost cult status in the late 80's, turning up on TV, radio and even in films where it started to be used by characters with social, educational or professional standing rather than by portrayed thugs and layabouts. Gliff, gully and cheble I remember well but no longer use, and the first words my husband (not British) learned from me were "by hinny this cheble's claggy" - picked up over a pint in a pub probably known to most people here. Claggy and clarty are, however, two words that have stayed with me even after 30 odd years living abroad. Even the occasional 'mebbies' instead of 'maybe' has been known to escape my lips. Dialects are being diluted because we move about much more freely than we've ever done. We aid communication in one of three ways: we modify our own dialect, we adopt the dialect of the other speakers or we revert to Queen's English as best we can - at risk of being accused of 'tring to be posh' or of 'putting on airs and graces'. So words and phrases are disappearing. There are a few stalwarts, including this site's very own HPW (High pit Wilma) who carry on the tradition - if you want to read some of his wonderful posts. Sadly, in reality, the dialects have no written form. We all write our own version which makes the content available to very few people - that's to say, those who are familiar with the spoken version. Even more sad is that within a half century or so, all information in the texts will be lost as only a handful of academics specializing in the North Eastern dialect will be able to read them. Gaan canny!

On your marks, get set, GO! 1. What is the more common name for the clavicle? 2. With which sport do you associate Michael Jordan? 3. Who was the last Saxon king of England? 4. Which English playwright was murdered by his lover , Kenneth Halliwell, in 1967? 5. What nationality was the composer Edvard Grieg? 6. Where in London would you see the White Tower? 7. Which sorceress turned Odysseus’ men into swine? 8. What is the Celtic name for ‘river’? 9. Who said “We live over the shop”? 10. Which Berkshire school did Prince Charles attend? 11. In which TV series did Jimmy Nail play a Geordie detective? 12. Pomeroy, Von Schneider, Winterbottom and Sir Toby,were the dinner guests. Who was the hostess? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. Napoleon tried to kill himself but because the poison he took was old it had lost its potency and gave him hiccups instead. Answers on Thursday.

Fair point, Vic! The 'country' was, as you say, USA. The city was Los Angeles. Bonus point awarded.

With Christmas fast approaching your thoughts may already be turning to what to buy for the young lady in your life. Shopping can be a nightmare, especially if you are thinking of buying clothing of a ‘more personal nature’. Here’s some handy information on bras which may be of help: Bras come in 4 types: Catholic – supports the masses Salvation Army – lifts the fallen Presbyterian – keeps them staunch and upright Baptist – makes mountains out of molehills Then there’s the lettering system for the cup size! But, we women have a simple way of remembering it: A – Almost boobs B – Barely there C –Can’t complain D –Dang! DD – Double dang! E – Enormous F – Fake G – Get a reduction for Heaven’s sake! H – Help me; I’m falling over (sometimes simply labeled as ‘The over-shoulder, boulder holder) Happy shopping

Answers to last week's quiz: 1. George Harrison 2. Cake 3. Los Angeles 4. Bricklayer 5. Amstel 6. Micron 7. Jean Castex 8. Tea 9. Dr Doolittle 10. Tower Bridge 11. Eddie Waring 12. A dress New quiz tomorrow!

We haven't seen ours out yet. New recommendations for over 70's last week is that they should now follow the same recommendations as everybody else. This is not because the situation is now safer for us to leave our homes but because the number of over 70's seeking help for depression has risen alarmingly. Also new for us is that local authorities may now make their own rules. Several counties (including mine) have now ruled that people should stay at home. Back to the drawingboard it is for us then. Now in day 230 0f isolation.

You're more than welcome! We don't stand on ceremony so there's no need to get dressed up for the occasion. Slippers on, is recommended though - as is pint in hand - and, as nobody can see you, you can even lounge around in your 'loincloth', laundered or otherwise.

Well..., to be fair, it's like Eggy said "man admits when he is wrong" and that 'man' had clearly realized that that he'd not included sufficient grey cells in his design.

Bedlingtonians are fantastic!

I think that's correct. Bank Cottage seems to have a long history. I think its location is shown better on this map from 1860: It can be easily seen that the building matches the photo, standing at right angles to the road and the terraced houses beyond it. I don't know much about it but I can see from the 1911 census that it was small as it then housed two families - one in 3 rooms and the other in 2 rooms.

Well .... I didn't hear any apologies when he decided that only women should give birth.

Are we sitting comfortably? Then let's begin .... 1. Which former pop-star owned the company that made The Life of Brian and had a one line part in a crowd scene? 2. What can be upside down, ginger or Dundee? 3. Which country hosted the summer Olympics in 1932? 4. What occupation is involved with stretchers and headers? 5. On which river does Amsterdam stand? 6. What is the millionth of a metre called? 7. Who is the prime minister of France? 8. What sort of drink is pekoe? 9. Who had a pet chimp called Chee Chee? 10. Which Bridge on the River Thames has a central portion that can be raised to allow ships into London? 11. Which sports commentator talked of an ‘up and under’ and an ‘early bath’? 12. What is a dirndl? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. The first advert on Radio Luxembourg was for a laxative. Answers on Thursday as usual.

Why did God create Eve? He created Adam, stood back, serveyed his work, scratched his head and said: I'm sure I can do better than this!

Answers to last week's quiz: 1. Hard-Black 2. Nation shall speak peace unto nation 3. Ireland 4. 1903 5. Barbarossa 6. 70 7. The Mantle 8. Mole 9. Sandringham 10. Cabbage 11. Gregor Mendel 12. A poached egg New quiz tomorrow!

Here we go ..... 1. What does the symbol HB stand for on a pencil? 2. What is the motto of the BBC? 3. England’s best ever win at football was 13-0. Who were they playing? 4. In which year were cars first required to be registered? 5. In WW2, what was the codename given by Hitler to the German invasion of Russia? 6. How many years are celebrated with a platinum anniversary? 7. What is the layer of rock immediately under the crust of the Earth called? 8. Which animal lives in a ‘citadel’? 9. What is the name of the Queen’s residence in Norfolk? 10. Brassica Oleracea is better known as what? 11. Who discovered the basic laws of genetics while analysing peas in a monastery garden? 12. What does a Buck Rarebit have that a Welsh Rarebit does not? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. Japanese women wear padded underwear to make their bottoms appear more rounded. ... and you never know just when you might need that morsel of knowledge!

Answers to last week's quiz: 1. Ronnie Corbett 2. Oysters 3. Carbon 4. Greenland 5. Archers, outlaws 6. *HMS Coventry 7. Drosometer 8. ** Reliant 9. ***Shogun 10. China 11. Jim Kerr 12. Icelandic *Q6 HMS Coventry and HMS Sheffield are both frigates, and both were launched at Swan Hunter, Wallsend in 1986 – HMS Sheffield, March, 26 and HMS Coventry, a few weeks later April 08. However, the launch of HMS Sheffield was no secret. It was launched by Mrs. Susan Stanley, wife of the then Armed Forces Minister while HMS Coventry slipped quietly into the River Tyne without ceremony. **Q8 I can’t find anybody called Li who is 102 years old Sophie Avouris, April 2020 Arthur Seidman Feb 2019 (no longer 102) Madeleine Turpan 102 Sept 2014 (no longer 102) *** Q9 Shogun was the word I was looking for, a loan from Japanese clothed in the English alphabet. but the Japanese 将軍 (shogun) is also acceptable, being the shortened form of 征夷大将軍 (seiitaishogun) meaning Commander in Chief (of the expeditionary force against the barbarians). Naturally, I can accept even 軍事指導者 also meaning ‘military leader. New quiz tomorrow - without Japanese!

I thought I had posted! I've made a note to say I have and another to remind me to post the answers on Thursday. Don't know what's gone wrong but here it is again: 1. Which comedian, as a schoolboy, had a trial for Heart of Midlothian FC but wasn’t tall enough? 2. What type of creatures are “Whitstable natives”? 3. Fullerenes, discovered in 1985, were a new form of which element? 4. Which island, situated in the Arctic Ocean, is the largest in the world? 5. Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough and William of Cloudesley were all famous what? 6. Which frigate was launched secretly in 1986 in Wallsend to replace a ship lost in the Falklands? 7. What instrument is used to measure dew? 8. Which car manufacturer had the Kitten, Rebel and Sabre models? 9. Which Japanese word translates as ‘leader of the army’? 10. Which country was the first to use paper banknotes? 11. Who is the lead singer with Simple Minds? 12. Identify the language used in the following sentence: Dómarinn hefur alltaf rétt fyrrir sér. I’ll bet you didn’t know …. The Russian postal service will not deliver letters containing chewing gum. Bonus question: How do they know what’s in the envelope?

A lovely idea! Great initiative on your part, Malcolm.

If you can find an ajudicator that has Donald Trump's acceptance then I have no objections. Nominations, on a postage stamp, in the official nominations box please.

... I didn't specify an "artificial" tree either!

Answers to last week's quiz: 1. Double Bass 2. Darjeeling 3. Bill Haley and his Comets 4. Silver 5. Swimming 6. Nectarine 7. 300 8. Blue 9. Exodus 10. Ash 11. Aardvark 12. Robert Peel Question 10: Come on you guys! You may still believe in Santa Clause but a plastic Christmas tree isn't a REAL tree!! New quiz tomorrow!

... well, I hope I got it right!

Happy Birthday Eggy and thanks for all the work you do on our fantastic photo gallery. It's very much appreciated by this ex-pat!

Ready, steady, GO! 1. Which is the largest instrument in the string section of an orchestra? 2. Which tea is known as ‘the champagne of teas’? 3. Who had a hit single in 1955 with Rock Around the cCock? 4. Which metal is the best conductor of heat and electricity? 5. In which sport would you use a trudgen? 6. John Rivers and Lord Napier are types of what? 7. In a game of tenpin bowling, if a person starts by throwing 12 consecutive strikes, what would their score be? 8. What colour is a giraffe’s tongue? 9. In which book of the Bible are the Ten Commandments set out for the first time? 10. What tree can be green, black, white or blue? 11. What is the first animal listed in an English dictionary? 12. Who was the first Conservative prime minister? I’ll bet you didn’t know …. King Zog of Albania smoked more than 100 cigarettes a day. Answers on Thursday next week, as usual.

Answers to last week's quiz: 1. Callaghan 2. Hertfordshire 3. Carbon 4. Frog 5. Marmalade sandwiches 6. Sweden 7. Yachting 8. Red 9. Statue of Zeus 10. Norwich City 11. Nancy Astor 12. In the ear New quiz tomorrow!