Maggie/915

I always wondered where the odd piece of material came from for my patchwork cushions circa 1972!

It is in the Journal too. Fame at last. Bring in the tourists. Mind today they will be slip sliding away because it is raining and the site is 'born slippy'

Epsom Racecourse now has a plaque in memory of Emily. It has been erected at the place where she suffered her fatal injuries. It seems the ceremony was attended by a large number of Emily's relations who came from all over the World. The plaque says ' her lifelong dedication to women's suffrage and the contribution she made to the lives of British women, past and present, is remembered' Lauren Caisley unveiled the plaque.

The Morpeth Herald today tells us that Northumberlandia is now going forward for a National Award against schemes in Weymouth, Birmingham, Snowdonia, and Singapore! The winner is to be announced in July. Lets hope our very own lady wins. The largest human landform in the World.

Martin Stephenson has a very relevant track called 'left us to burn' about Maggie Thatcher. I wonder if anyone can flag it up. I have failed sorry. He is a Mackem apologies to some of you.

Born 1946 I am older than you Orloff! I remember sharing the cost of records with my dad and the boyfriend. I think the cost was 6/3 pence. May have been 3/9 pence! So long ago. I feel sorry for the Spotify Generation, buying the odd record or two or more was brilliant. Going to a concert was almost as cheap or expensive as the records. I remember hearing 'With the Beatles' for the first time. Friends got together. No downloads.

I am older than most of you but I can remember the odd trendy place to visit 60s onward. Ok I am sick of politics! Right how about the Club A Gogo. Marcus Price obviously not for me. Friends who lived near Brian Ferry or were at the party Lindisfarne sing about! Then there are bus journeys to the smoke and the Kensington High Street Market! The start of the Virgin Brand! Habitat at Bromley. Scary journeys through London to home via Hyde Park Corner etc. Becoming a flag waving Geordie. Trendy or not!

Moral outrage or the odd fact does not constitute an argument. Like everyone Margaret Thatcher had her good points however she upset an awful lot of people. Personal viewpoints of people in our community are historical records for the future. Well done to everyone who has been brave enough to post and subject themselves to the one line put down or the moral outrage.

We respect others viewpoints even if we disagree in principle. Sometimes we act hastily. A well argued opinion is valued. Bob Dylan sang 'You are right from your side and I am right from mine. It's just one to many mornings and a thousand miles behind.

Excellent post Cyril.

The Guardian today is worth a look. King Ironsides by Posy Simmonds an exclusive 16 page Grantham fairy tale. Also Thatcher's Britain: the reckoning Number of Miners in England and Wales 1980 230,000 1990 57,000 2004 6,000

Golden Globe Awards! Red Carpet stuff.

That is exactly what Mark Steel said yesterday in the I newspaper! No one wanted to tell any story, it was as if his audience collectively passed a motion that said ' I think you'd best move on to another subject'. One woman later told him how hard life had been. But she said they had been lucky, two close friends had commuted suicide after the steelworks closed. People prefer to forget.

After a week of hero worship in the media, I am left wondering seriously about silence! When something is unfair do we use humour or anger and then is silence a stage beyond. I put this topic in the History section because that is where I think it should go! However on the basis that History is written by the victor, is that what we have now. Anyone who disagrees is made to feel bad because ' we should never speak ill of the dead' Bedlington has a unique position, our mines were closed before others. The 84 struggle and seeing life change has affected us all. My memory is of a government saying it made sense to make miners redundant because we did not need the coal. Then they opened opencast mines. We all know people who never worked again and claimed whatever they needed to. Ok they could have got on their bikes but that is not easy without help. In seeing that there are always two sides to any argument, I have very very mixed feelings. Where did society learn to mistrust? Who gains! For a mining community your life depended on your Marra! One person cannot be blamed. The life we remember was one where most of your neighbours would help!

The next generation historians. Well done Malcolm and others. The filming looks fun and I think I even recognise a Ridge Terrace wall! Take care when filming the road.

Maybe this idea could be used in Bedlington. Sadly there are not that many shops left.

I would buy a copy of your book Orloff. People voted the conservatives into power, and your views on The Blair government are relevant. Does Power corrupt? Another point to discuss. Keith you have some amazing life experiences. Maggie Thatcher in death as in life has the power to divide us all.

Sadly it is the I today! Pity would have enjoyed the Guardian, but have not read Sat yet!. No time, three little horrors to look after. Going to see the Pitmen Painters with them tonight. Maggie Thatcher quote 'I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end' Tony Benn has some good thoughts. Have not seen or heard Billy Bragg yet.

Enjoyed listening to your interview with Paul Mann. It is very long!

These are great examples of our shared humour. Sometimes they get us into trouble. Basically no offence intended.

On Twitter Kathryn Tickell has an article that is a personal viewpoint on Margaret Thatcher and her policies, I have tried and failed to post it on here. Tim Chipping is the author The NE jokers have said that Thatcher was only in Hell for a few hours and already she had closed down three furnaces. Once again humour used in a way that could inflame controversy but if you lost out during her reign you may find it helps

The vicarage is a lovely old house.

In the House of Commons our MPs disagree and then go and have a drink together. Perhaps we should do the same. Slogans like 'Coal not Dole' add simplicity to the argument. Questions like 'Did she start a class war' would divide us all. Strong government with a dark side! An MP once said to me the solution is always difficult, you clean up the river for the fish and the factory closes and people are out of a job. So what is the answer? Some people are just waiting to be offended, they read the news and see clearly what is wrong, but what is the answer. As I said at the start this Lady created a Marmite effect. Love, hate, respect! The question of humour occurs on almost every forum of this site. There is a lot that could offend but we all accept the sincerely held viewpoints of others.

The issues are important and serious. I agree with her being afforded every respect but she did upset an awful lot of people. People often use humour to help them when they feel helpless. In politics everyone is under the microscope, sadly all to often they fail to live up to a high ideal. Contrast our industrial base with Germany. I would welcome comments about her that are positive, I am sure lots of people have lots to say. That is our democracy

Beat you by five minutes Symptoms. Just as we'll we all have a sense of humour!