Canny lass

Here's another one instead: A cardiologist died, and was given an elaborate funeral. A huge heart, covered in flowers, stood behind the casket during the service. Following the eulogy, the heart opened, and the casket rolled inside. The beautiful heart then closed, sealing the doctor inside, forever. At that point, one of the mourners burst into laughter. When all eyes stared at him, he said, "I'm sorry. I was just thinking of my own funeral...I'm a gynecologist." The proctologist fainted !!

Sorry! I had to delete it as the photographs did not appear.

Well, it certainly brightened my day!

Fantastic show of initiative!

Do you also have moose, Vic? We have elk, deer, fox and wild boar on a Daily basis, though I haven't seen a boar since we put up the Electric fencing last year. The elk just step over it and the deer leap over without any problem. Lynx I've only seen twice in 30 years but they are enormously shy and not easy to spot. We know they are there because we see their tracks in the Winter. Wolves are beginning to increase in number and the odd one has been seen here. A couple of years ago a bear was spotted by a few neighbours. However, bears are not native to this area. He was successfully captured a few weeks later and returned to a forest further North.

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink Maggie!

Keep them coming guys! I Think you had something good on Tuesday Maggie, when you wrote about "history and heritage". How about: Bedlington, where history, heritage and a hearty welcome await you!

The wee pup is a wee kitten, HPW, but I can understand you not being able to see the difference. He couldn't have been 24 hours old when I found him as the umbilical chord was still bleeding. That Picture was taken just a couple of hours after. Here he is today.

Oh dear! I who have a meeting in Camden Town tomorrow afternoon! Surely it won't be windy there? I mean, they wouldn't want wind blowing on themselves would they?

What year would that have been Millbank?

ha ha! Miss Severs wouldn't have done a bad job either! Actually, I can't remember who was headmistress when I started at the village school. Miss Short was class teacher. Miss Severs started there a couple of years later as headmistress, followed by Miss Gair but before that ...? Any ideas?

The sad thing about Benefits Street is that people here actually Think that it's representative of the whole of Britain. It's a case of a minority group but people don't seem to understand that. It's the same in Spain. Sitting on a bus last year I eaves dropped on a conversation between two Spanish 'senores' in our age. They hadn't a good Word to say about the British. The British come to Spain, they said, let their dogs make a mess all over the Place, run illegal businesses putting honest, hard working Spaniards out of a job, theft and hooliganism have soared since the urban developments were taken over by the British (pushing up house prices so that Spaniards can't afford to buy) and not to mention the amount of alcoholics roaming the streets, begging on street corners and causing queues in Casualty departments in holiday resorts.

Depends on what's meant by "exotic". There are 5 million of us British ex-pats, (thats immigrants living in another patriot's country) according to the UN who keep track of such things. Imagine if we all got sent home! The British Isles would collapse under the weight. Songs of separation sounds good. I'll keep an Eye out for it. Water of Tyne brings back memories of Miss Severs - shudder!

In what way do they make it very clear that they expect a totally free ride on the European economy? Which are the "Other nationalities" you refer to here? No, on second thoughts, don't bother to answer. Just now Sweden is being 'entertained' (I use the Word loosely) by a British TV series called Benefits Street. Being British, I get a lot of questions about the authenticity of that which is portrayed in the programme. The programme follows the Daily lives of people on a street on Teesside (would you Believe it!) and ALL are living on benefits. Now, I'm still not sure how to recognise a Muslim by his/her appearance but everybody on this street drinks alcohol which leads me to suspect that none of them are of that persuasion. Didn't see anybody in a burka or with their hair covered either but I did see a lot of salon constructed false Nails, H&M clothing and expensive bikes. And, it was so Lovely to hear that deep inrooted Teesside dialect from ALL of the residents. Should these few people represent the whole of the UK population? I Think that the question of UK immigration policy, or indeed European immigration policy, is an interesting one, worthy of serious debate. There are certainly many good reasons for the UK, and the rest of Europé to take a critical look at the present situation with regard to immigration, capacity and finance being just two of them. However, religion, clothing and 'outbreeding' do not have any place in a serious debate of this subject. Therefore I give you the last Word. Over and out.

Same from me, Brian but make mine a half!

"For the first time in years you don't get your supermarket trolley snatched and pushed for you" "Pushed for you"? are they trying to steal it or trying to be helpfull? "Some nice guys amongst them anyone would trust, but many who already have a chip on their shoulder too". A bit like any other nationality then?

Actually, Sweden has had several acts of terrorism both on the streets of Stockholm and in Malmö. However, the acts of right wing extremists far outweigh them - both in number and degree of damage and personal injury. Google Anton Lundin Pettersson (21 years old, Swedish, never been near a mosque)! Google arson in Sweden (mainly temporary accomodation for refugee CHILDREN)! There have been so many cases of arson that local residents have been able to turn off their central heating.The press here seem to have their hands full reporting on these incidents and SD's (Sweden Democrats) fuelling of hatred towards immigrants. As for Alexandra Mezher's tragic Death: It happened less than 35 km from here. What the Swedish newspapers are saying and what the British newspspers are saying that the Swedish Newspspers are saying, appears to diverge in many areas. Even here, on local radio, they are saying, as recently as this morning, that there are as yet very few details released

7 495 this morning! Only a few more required.

Oh dear, Oh dear! 7 487 signatures in 5 months. Just needs Another 92 513 and it's in the bag! Never mind, there are 5 weeks left to get them.

Quote: "The total number of offences recorded by Cleveland Police has jumped by more than a fifth". Thats a Little more than 20% in TOTAL. Quote: "The force said the increase was due to improved crime recording". Quote: "The rise in crime comes after a steep drop in officer numbers ... over the past five years". Quote: " Largely, the rise in statistics for some crime categories, such as violent crime, is because of national and local efforts to improve the accuracy (of) crime recording" Quote: "Largely, the rise in statistics for some crime categories, such as violent crime, is because of national and local efforts to improve the accuracy (of) crime recording". Quote: "The introduction of offences such as malicious Communications, which includes harassment on social media, also has impacted on overall figures". Quote: "The increase in sex crimes continues a trend seen in recent years. This has in part been attributed to the so-called "Yewtree effect", whereby a greater number of victims have come forward to report historical sexual offences to the police in the Wake of high-profile cases of alleged offending by celebrities such as the late TV presenter Jimmy Savile". Quote: "Like many areas in the country we have seen an increase in reporting, including historical cases". Nope! I didn't see the Word 'immigrant' mentioned anywhere in the article. Improved crime recording, introduction of harrassment on social media as a crime and reporting of historical offences - coupled with a reduction of police Resources, would appear to be the cause of the rise in reporting. And do bear in mind that they are talking about reported cases not proven cases.

What won't we do for our four-legged friends, Vic!

On a happier note, these are my 'babies'. They cost me a fortune in crushed oats, sunflower seeds and carrots.They've learned to 'headbut' the bird feeder causing the seeds to gush out onto the ground and wait at the kitchen door for carrots. Not completely tame yet - they won't let me touch them but I can stand among them.

Unfortunately this is not 'unusual'. Found, along with his 4 dead Brothers and sisters, in a cardboard box by the side of the road on a freezing Cold day. Like Porcy, he's hand reared and 5 years on he's living a Life of luxury.

Very nice photo! I remember it well. Can you remember it being demolished after 'Ganny' Watson's son fell down the shaft and died? I have vague recollections of the talk that Went round about him having been 'nibbled by rats'. I was terrified of the lonnen (which we Always called Choppington Lonnen) a good while after. Must have been shortly after this photo was taken.