keith lockey

Or Indeed... Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule - and both commonly succeed, and are right. - HL Mencken

Thought it was him. The trouble with politicians is that they all sound the same and make the same promises. I think there is a special farm where they breed them - like dolly the cloned sheep - then they pull out a number and it's the next one's turn. Talking of which - I don't want to get into a political argument here, but am I right in saying we have not had a properly elected government since Blair! No one voted Brown in, No one voted Cameron in - they both got in by default. So is Tony the last elected leader our fair isle has had?

Didn't some politician say that everybody would have a computer in their homes if he was elected?

Yeah Adam, I did my computer classes at the High School but I also believe they stopped them - though maybe have started them up again!!! But the Open Learning centre next to Bedlington station library does them If I am not wrong. I did my ECDL & Maintainance courses at Blyth college - NOW CLOSED!!!!! aargh!

It's annoying, isn't it. We have a system where everybody assumes everybody else has a computer and is computer literate. I put myself through evening classes and did a thirty weeks ECDL course just to keep savvy. At the end of the course they told me Windows Vista or 7 was out and some of my training was obsolete now. You just cannot keep up with computer technology

Binary code. (You're sending a secret message to the Anunaki on the planet Nibiru in prep for the 2012 invasion.) Only us nerdy ignoramusus (?) can't decipher it. (I was never any good at binary, Malcolm, unless Patrick Moore was going on about double stars and wotnots.)

ONE FOR YOU FISHERMEN (PS - Bad language used - for obvious reasons!!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5QMUCLqoY4

I just saw that one recently - but here's another.

I think my brother means the one that was at the bottom of the Furnace Bank. There was a small circular bandstand there. The attached photo shows you the area where it used to stand.

I remember Wards Photography shop but am I right in saying he had the contract for the local school photographs? Because I bet he would have a stockpile of old bedlington photos.

Ah yes, picnic day was never the same without the Lanarkshire Ladyboy Pipers or the Tayside Trannies. Give us a squirl girls. (Nice to see Moldens shop sign and I do remember Carrs - but the rest...!!!)

I remember a Rediffusion workshop where Tyred and Exhausted is. (Or on the green next to it). But as my Bro pointed out, there was a Rediffusion shop up near the post office. But the shops leading down from the Northumberland Arms towards the Monkey are a mystery to me. But then again I was just a young whippersnapper and if the shops didn't sell sweets or comics then I wouldn't have gone in them. (PS I've still got some issues of the Legion of Super Heroes.) Nerds live, okay!

What was Gallon's shop? To be honest Keith I recall next to nothing about these shops. Cheers.

You're a star, Foxy. Just what I am after to show my brother. Now he can't deny it. Cheers.

That's what i am saying, Canny Lass. I said they were either at the florists shop or the one next door. My bro is the one who says they were down Vulcan's Place. It's a running argument I am having with him. Cheers for confirming it.

My adled brain apologises to you, Foxy. That is so weird. I wasn't looking that far down and i didn't even recognise it. Humbled by a box brownie. Oh for a brain that works in conjunction with my tired eyes.

I wish we did have a time machine, bro - then I could leave you in the fifties or sixties where your adled brain belongs. Watch my lips - Feasters and Moldens were next to the florists - roughly where the solicitors is now. You can't even remember the corner shop - Binks - between the Whitley school and the Coffin Chapel. Oh for a photo of all these shops, please, someone.

Funny enough I cannot remember any of those shops in the photo. In fact the only building I recall in detail down Vulcan's Place was the old rediffusion shop where the garage is now. (Or thereabouts). PS - the car licence plate in the photo spells out my initials - KL - spooky.

Yeah, I remember the layout of the shops and I recall Feasters having glass counters. But I got the name of the shop wrong. They were very Olde fashioned. The men wore suits and ties and the women, if I recall, wore aprons! Am I right?

INTERESTING!

So was that Molden's? Please give me more!!!! I'm happy someone else remembers the shop!

You might be right, Pete. The little gray cells aren't working as good as they used to. But I do remember the clothes shop where the florists is now. (Beside the Northumberland Arms) If I'm not mistaken my mam used to buy our school trousers there.

Now that you mention those names they do ring a bell. (So where have I got Proudlocks from???) But were Feasters & Moldens connected? I vaguely remember going to the back of one shop and into the other. I may be wrong on that. But am I right in saying they stood where the florists is now?

HEADS UP EVERYONE. Me and my bro - who is on this Community site and is well known to be a penker short of a bag of muggies - are having an argument about PROUDLOCKS. I can remember a men & womens clothes shop where the florists is next to the Northumberland Arms. (Actually it might be the next shop along!!!) Anyway there were two doors - you took the left to the womens part - lingerie, hankies & doillies!!! - to the right was the gents department. But bro can't remember PROUDLOCKS as such, but he insists there was a clothes shop where WHOLLY GOODINGS used to be. Come on everybody, help us solve this location. Cheers.

Yeah, Alison Short was in my class now that you mention her. Cheers.