keith lockey

I was frying bacon on the dustbin lid this morning, Micky, Two of my camels died from heat exhaustion, the bedouin tribesmen at the bottom of my garden have moved further north and the solar panels on my roof have melted. Does that answer your question?

Brilliant, John, I remember her well. Going down those ladders was difficult and when I saw the bunks under the torpedos I freaked out. Did you get a look through the periscope? We did, it was awesome. But it was very cramped. If you suffered from claustraphobia you were in trouble. PS. I watched a programme on the Falklands War years ago and it said the Onyx landed Special Service troops on the islands in one clandestine battle. PPS. Blyth Harbour was a degauzing!!! base for submarines during the war.

Eggy, the three photos I posted are the 'bottom end' shops. Before demolition, during demolition and after demolition. The ones at the 'top' end are 'secure'. There is Dillon's (Old Straker's shop). Then the next two are ones that have been moved from the bottom shops - Hairdresser's, not sure what the next one is, then there's busy bees, a Tandoori Takeaway and a computer shop, but they are doing fine. It really is sad to see them go because there are so many memories there. Kelso garden residents might have a new view but for how long?

AND THEN THERE WAS NONE.

At school in the sixties / seventies, fighting talk was as follows... "A'll giv yi a gud yarkin'" "A'll howk yi ower that chebble and dad ya heed off that wall."

As BB would say...

My sincerest apologies, Barton, I was on about Bedlington and this, of course, is a Barrington topic. I was just being general in the putting in of coal for people. Hope you accept my error.

Eileen, I just saw Rob Buckham and he wants to pop over to see my school photos. But whilst we were talking he said that Dennis Cunningham works at the Lion Garage!!

We shovelled coal as well. There was a lorry that came round and had three or four flaps either side. The coal man would tilt the wagon and empty the coal onto the kerb, then you would have to shovel it into the coalhouse - sometimes using a wheelbarrow. The best time to make money was in the winter when the old folk didn't want to do it. I think we got thruppence or sixpence for doing it.

No need to apologise, Dog Lover, it's great to hear about so many different shops and things that happened down around the Oval. I was born in 1956 so I can only remember the shops from about the sixties upwards. There are shops being mentioned here that I never knew. It's sad to see the buildings pulled down but to be honest some of them have been empty for yonks.

A game me and my brother used to play on the buses was "Hit Signs". Everytime you saw a black H on the yellow background you had to punch one another. (Actually, what did those signs represent? Hydrant?)

Hi Eggy, got some good news for you, I've found four copies of Creeful of Coals. So if you want to have a look at them feel free to come over. Send me a PM if you like to arrange a date and time. Bring Wilf and you can put him under my Apple Blossom with the cats.

Sorry, Eggy, I might have mislead you about Creeful. It is still going but I believe Mike Kirkup died. So someone is running it in his place.

More than happy, Eggy, but we might have a problem - I can't find the blighters!!! I had the house refurbished last October and a lot of stuff went into storage - now I can't find things. But as soon as i do i will conatct you and you can pop over. The worst thing is I have lost something important that was among those magazines. Really annoying.

There are some marvellous insights into Australia's Newcastle in Robert Shore's THE FATAL SHORE. Well worth a read.

Believe it or not, Eggy, but those two in my gardens are cuttings from a neighbours bush/shrub!!! Mind you they grow real fast. If you know what you are doing, Eileen then it should be okay. I'll ask Kenny how he did it.

They've already arrived, Symptoms, look who is pretending to be me!!! I'm all a-quiver!! I better keep a tab on him.

No problem, Eileen, I'll PM you with my address and phone number, just give me a call. The bushes / shrubs will still be here, bring a machete and bee-proof hat, because the place is swarming with them - all you can hear is buzzing.

There's only one problem with that hypothesis, Eggy - MONEY! No money, no spendy. And bear in mind the building firms will put a tender in for the work and these sometimes come from Sunderland. (Sorry for swearing chaps.) Besides, I've heard some intriguing rumours lately concerning what they are going to do with the space. I shall keep you informed. Maybe that intrepid newshound Malcolm Robinson has heard something on the Bedlington grapevine. Watch this space!!

Eggy, I have several copies of Creeful of Coals - I had something published in one many moons ago, if I can find them you can take a look at them if you want. (Don't know if you live local!) But with regards to Mike Kirkup I believe he died. (Mike, if you are still alive my sincerest apologies!!!)

Yeah, bring Wilf, I'll use him for target practice. Here's one of me knocking my shaft.

OVAL SHOPS UPDATE There goes the neighbourhood.

I fancy myself as a Hudson, actually - NO NOT ROCK HUDSON! I could quite easily fit in with the toffs upstairs and the chambermaids downstairs, though I'd probably turn into lady Chatterley's lover. Now where's the Gentleman's relish. PS - I said it was Victorian - it is Edwardian, my time machine lost a decade or two when the clocks went forward.

That's me, Eggy, Keith of Locksley. All together now...Robin Hood Robin Hood riding through the glen...Where's my Lincoln green.