Canny lass

You almost had me going with that! It's not April 1st is it?

It's probably all over bar the shouting down under but happy birthday anyway. Hope you're enjoying it!

Thanks guys! I've never seen 'notification settings'. I've been dealing with it under 'manage followed content'. I've made a few changes so hopefully the problem is solved. If not can I come back on it?

Following again after that second post, despite having unfollowed after the first, and I suppose I'll be following again when I've posted this. Help!

Yep! I'm automatically following this as well. Anybody else having this problem?

The past month or so I seem to automatically follow any topic I participate in. This results in many notifications in my e-mail which I feel I could live without. I've tried changing my settings to 'no notifications' and I've tried 'unfollowing' without success (latest attempt 5 minutes ago so we'll see how it goes with this topic). Is it some new feature of the forum that we automatically follow a topic if we participate in the discussion?

The police actively encourage the reporting of all crime here, no matter how petty the offence may be.They are also honest and tell you that there's very little chance of the offender being caught if the crime is low priority - simple thefts etc. The reason is not enough police officers. The only way to get more resources is by showing the true amount of crime on their patch. If people don't report crimes - for whatever reason - the policing will remain at a very low level.

Happy birthday Vic. Another year, another ache but research has shown that those with the most birthdays live longest!

Indeed. Life in the country isn't all about shovelling snow!

Oh dear! I'd better start locking my front door! It hasn't been locked in over 30 years (true) and neither has my car!

Thanks Eggy! Never heard of those. I couldn't get my head round a missing doorbell and a bell that could still ring without it! As I said - I must be leading a sheltered life here. I must try to get out more.

I must be living a very sheltered life here. How on earth do you pinch a doorbell!

Got it!

Just for a second I read that as 'country' seat! You wouldn't believe the picture that flew into my head. I'm sure you'd give your all at county level as well. Some people are made like that.

What you've actually done is put 'the people of Bedlington' before your private life for two years. I hope it's been appreciated. However, I understand the need to take a break. Would a week-end off not do the trick?

I see what you mean, Foxy. I wonder why they bother to explain that one particular councillor "is not a member of the Services Committee" and thereby excusing his absence. Given his attendance rate at full council meetings, he doesn't appear to be a member of the full Council either. Any possible explanation would have been better placed under that table. In saying that I'm assuming that his absence isn't caused by some legit. reason such as ill health. In other matters, well done Malcolm and supporting cast. I think Bedlington has stepped upp to the spoon very nicely the past few years. It's starting to look really nice and while appearances are not the be all and end all of everything they do go an awful long way in helping to promote a place. Malcolm, why are you joining us 'commoners' again? You've only just got your mayor's hat nicely warmed up. Why discard it now?

Me too, Symptoms - not that I would ever dream of writing anything long!

Hi Joe and welcome to the forum. It's your grandfather I recognise in the last picture. My brother wasn't born until 1928 (died 1963) so your grandfather would be 15 years older. That would fit in with the picture i have in my head of a man who occasionally came to our house in Netherton sometime in the fifties. My brother also used th Howard Arms as a regular drinking place. Possibly they knew each other from the pub. Did your grandfather play darts at all?. It was a big passion of my brother - darts team perhaps?

That's happened to me a few times HPW (lost the post before getting it posted). If you start writing again in the reply box it (what you'd already written) usually comes back.

Yes please! You'll find my e-mail on my profile.

Good link, Eggy. Some good tips as well - a couple of places I've never heard of but worth looking into. Ill be giving the sand boarding a miss though

Thanks Eggy. There's so much info on the web - much of it conflicting - that it's hard to know what's what. I'm hoping to find somebody with 'real-life experience to have a natter with before I fork out a lot of money.

Ah, yes! but was he there in April - or is this your subtle way of telling me to take a woolly coat and a sou'wester?

Peru! Anybody been there? What to see (apart from Machu Picchu which is the main reason for going)? Food, drink, weather in April? All information, tips and advice appreciated.

More than compensated for by the pre-Brexit exchange rate!