Maggie/915

Spike and The Quireboys played as support for The Stones at Saint James' Park maybe 91/92 ish Yet another influence on life and music from the NE. Just saying!!! I think that is the current Teccy Speech

HPW the question I asked about the bike was from my old 'Rocker' of a husband. Bikes were an important part of his teenage and early twenties life in Lancashire. He thought the bike was a 500 Clubman Goldstar, later he thought not. Tank and seat not quite right! The 'cafe' part I am informed was something that maybe started on the North Circular Road London at the 'Ace' cafe.

Dear Tonyp Maybe just maybe you need to come home. Life in Greenwich and the South has coloured your perception of Blyth Bedlington and Ashington. Last time I walked through Greenwich Market I saw a mix of people. Congestion and low emission zones we do not need here. We can visit the coast without a lengthy journey. Night life is the same everywhere. Things can get very out of hand. Alcohol and petty crime are problems no one escapes. I have read of some terrible problems in London. The Riots, Stephen Lawrence, people and children expecting to be mugged on the underground or simply on their journey to and from work. One friend in Croydon was subject to an attempted mugging outside his home. Fortunately he is 6ft 8" and the mugger ended up with problems. We have friends who simply do not go out at night in London. Too much hassle. In the North we have freedom and people enjoy a good quality of life. Ask your son in Widdrington. Life in the South can be challenging. However keep telling people it is 'Grim 'up here. If that is how you feel. Remember we have it all and who wants to share. (Bank holidays and the back roads to beautiful countryside with no other cars.) What could possibly be better, certainly not life in the smoke and pollution of London. Visits to London are fine for a while but living there must be a challenge even for you Tonyp.

In the 90s we were listening to R Cajun and the Zydeco Bros. Only have a tape of their music but enjoyed seeing them live at a venue near the Railway in Derby. I think they were from that area. They sounded as if they should be from America.

Aye and you can meet and hear the lady (Dinah Iredale) in April at the History Society. An impressive individual who did most of the illustrations for her book.

Sorry Symptoms nearly forgot you. Surely you watched the programme the other night. If not it was on ITV eight o clock Monday night. Featured Dolphins near Beadnell , Cragside and even skinny dipping in Druridge Bay. He was also on local TV discussing the programme. Sting has put on another show in April at the Sage. I know you will be interested. Just to keep that sense of humour going strong!

Tonyp is there no night life in Greenwich, or London. I do not think we are so different.

Very happy memories of Maureen Shelley or was it Shelly She was friendly with my mother. When returning to Bedlington and sent shopping, I could never be too sure what I would be asked to discuss. It was a shame to see the business boarded up for so long. I think it is now a private house.

Public conveniences or lack of them. Maybe a topic to consider. All those visitors calling into Bedlington 'en route' to Woodhorn or our Iron Works may need a comfort stop. Where do we direct them? The pub. An excuse for toilet humour! My mother used to have a toilet stop when my kids lived in Ridge Terrace. Just an excuse to wake everyone up, open blinds curtains etc. I miss her but it is good to learn lessons from the older generation.

The Samphire Bay Company are worth checking out. Northumbrian Company with inspirational products.

Maybe we could do something along the lines of the 'Bondagers 'for MP's. After all they often employ their wives. Wonder where they are going on holiday. Have they been inspired by Robson Green. Maybe a 'dual carriageway' to Scotland is planned.

Don't laugh but if 'Brutalist' architecture is basically concrete. My guess is our old top club would qualify. I have not got any pictures of the old club . Maybe of interest to the odd person. Another history item for Bedlington. Also takes the mind away from politics! Roll on June 2015.

'Whatever people say I am that's what I'm not'. Saturday Night Sunday Morning or more recently The Artic Monkeys.

Ok foxy but I do not always look at the profile pages. Back of the class is fine by me. Lots more can be achieved. What are you saying about yourself foxy. Obviously 'hard working' What do you say mercuryg ?

Leaving or coming to live in the 'Shire'. I left the 'Shire' 47 years ago on Saturday. Lots of people remarked on my accent and asked 'where are you from?' Given my answer of 'about 15 miles North of Newcastle' , there was all to often the cry of :- 'you must be pleased to be living here now' It seems this attitude is no longer too prevalent. Tourist figures are 'up' and Robson Green is doing another set of programme on our beloved area. History can be about change . It seems our lives have seen huge changes . I did not leave the 'Shire' to take a ring to Mount Doom but it has made me very grateful to return. First to visit my parents , friends and family and now in retirement to live a simple life surrounded by people I feel comfortable and 'at home with'. Perhaps sharing our positive memories will help to bring us all together and stop the arguments about politics. Not that there is any problem with arguments but we need to remember the positive and forget the negative. My life led me to live in Cyprus during the years up to and after 'The Coup' taking place. Life in a divided Island was /is difficult to understand. Cypriots both Turkish and Greek lived happily together. One act changed all that and the problems still exist to this day. Let us celebrate our lives here or wherever we are now. Perhaps others would enjoy sharing their experiences of leaving . Equally maybe others would enjoy sharing experiences of staying living or coming to live in the 'Shire' during such times of change. One memory I have is sugar being in short supply ( late 70s or early 80s). My mother queued in the Market for the odd bag of sugar but then queued up again for another. The gossip was good and there was jam or chutney to make. I have used the term 'Shire' because it seems people are not always remembering the whole Bedlingtonshire History. Divided we should not be.

Very kind thought Tonyp. It may surprise you to find we can get any 'obscure veg or fruit' in and around Bedlington. Multi Cultural may not be quite the same as where you choose to live now.. However we are living , as we always did, with new and diverse ideas. Remember a lot of our ancestors found work in Bedlington and brought with them a very different life style. Change is happening outside capital cities. It always has and always will .

You young un you. Only '50' with many many years to come.

Good points High Pit Wilma. Years ago one Bishop of Durham questioned the Bible stories. It did not go down too well.

Peace and Respect then carry on with the argument, brilliant.. Keep calm and carry on. Simple .

Happy 'half way' birthday. What ever that means! Maybe Billy Fury and 'Half Way to Paradise' Don't work too hard.

February 23rd 2015 Mrs Freda Tompson is giving a talk on Admiral Collingwood. Usual time 7:30 Coffin Chapel See you there!

Bondagers. An interesting topic. It has come up because someone is researching their ancestors in rural Northumberland. If anyone wants more information then make the 27th April 2015 a date to remember 7:30 at The Coffin Chapel. Mrs Dinah Iredale who used to live in Bedlington and attend Saint Cuthbert's is to give a talk at the Bedlington History Society on the Bondagers. She has written a book on the subject.

Interesting Malcolm. Money for us ,maybe, or extra for other towns nearby.

What is the bike on your members picture HPW? This question may have already been answered.

Nearly forgot . Birdsong is one of my favourite books. The main character returns home and finds everyone moaning about the basics. Guess that is the message for me. War is suffering for the majority. The people not involved have no concept of that basic fact. This was sent to me recently