Ovalteeny

Eggy, I'm pretty sure the name of the Raa was Shiney Row, it's the only one where the Pit Head is directly up the Raa, with the coal houses & netties across the road from the houses. Check out the photo on this Community Web-Site/Gallery, via this link : Historic Bedlington The photo would have been shot from the Glebe Road end of the Raa.

Very good Malcolm, but my favourite by The Bonzos is "The Intro and The Outro" (i.e. Roy Rogers on Trigger) https://youtu.be/8DUEAG5eO6c

Peace & Loaf is supposed to good, according to what I read. How would you rate it Maggs?

This instrument might inspire lot's more people to DIY and send Fender & Gibson out of business.......check out this different version of Rollin 'n Tumblin' https://youtu.be/qnyDdNoLCm8

Malcolm, I can see where you're coming from. I saw the Notting Hillbillys when they toured (I think it was at Aylesbury Town Hall !!). Jason Isbell was in The Drive by Truckers, who are worth catching up with, but I love his 2013 album solo "Southeastern", which is more singer/songwriter/americana type of stuff. So I was pleasantly surprised to see this video with the latest incarnation of Lynard Skynard.

I didn't know that this boy was such a good guitarist, check out Jason Isbell guesting with the latest incarnation of Lynard Skynard...... https://youtu.be/xCImLkBJiFk

It doesn't take long…. Some years ago a small rural town in Spain twinned with a similar town in Greece. The mayor of the Greek town visited the Spanish town. When he saw the palatial mansion belonging to the Spanish mayor, he wondered aloud how on earth he could afford such a house. The Spaniard replied:'You see that bridge over there? The EU gave us a grant to construct a two-lane bridge, but by building a single lane bridge with traffic lights at either end, I could build this place.' The following year the Spaniard visited the Greek town. He was simply amazed at the Greek mayor's house: gold taps, marble floors, diamond doorknobs, it was marvellous. When he asked how he'd raised the money to build this incredible house, the Greek mayor said:'You see that bridge over there?' The Spaniard replied: 'No.'

By the way Smudge & Foxy, do either of you know who the guitarist was/is in the green suit, acting as MD in this video. I believe he could be G.E. Smith, who was Dylans lead guitarist for several years, but I saw him first with Hall & Oates at the Oxford Apollo in 1982/83 and he impressed me with his playing then. Can either of you confirm my guess?

Smudge & Foxy, I came across it via Steve Croppers Facebook Page. When I saw it I thought wow, I wasn't even aware that such a concert had occurred. By the way, a couple of years ago I went to The Playhouse in Alnwick to see John Steele's Animals with special guest - Steve Cropper. So there we are in Alnwick, a couple of hundred locals turning up to see a couple of guys who had been in The Animals (plus a couple of able Dep's), then at the start of the second half of the show they bring out The Colonel. It was spine tingling, fascinating, as he took a few minutes before each number to explain how he wrote each song with Otis Redding or Eddie Floyd et al. It is in my Top 10 gigs of all time. Privileged and grateful.

HPW, I love reading (& deciphering) what you contribute on this site. It is fascinating. You should get someone to sit with you with a digital recorder, while you ramble on. Then, that person (a trusted writer) could go away and structure your life story; even in pitmatic. I'd buy your book, nee bother.

Try this one for starters, https://youtu.be/VbPa31KOZg0

working ok just now on Safari, Rington's Van came into view, just turned left at the Northumberland Arms and toward the camera.

Here's another classic, covered from a different angle :- https://youtu.be/6EPwRdVg5Ug

Check out this video which was shot at Celtic Connections in Glasgow, earlier this year :-- "Dance you Hippy Dance" happy times https://youtu.be/XtE05cN_u-Q

Welcome Vagabond, if you reveal the name of the DIY Shop then I,m sure you'll get lot's of stories and anecdotes from the lads & lasses on this forum.

At the National Art Gallery in London , a husband and wife were staring at a portrait that had them completely confused. The painting depicted three black men totally naked, sitting on a bench. Two of the figures had black penises, but the one in the middle had a pink penis. The curator of the gallery realized that they were having trouble interpreting the painting and offered his personal assessment. He went on for over half an hour explaining how it depicted the sexual emasculation of African Americans in a predominately white, patriarchal society. 'In fact', he pointed out, 'some serious critics believe that the pink penis also reflects the cultural and sociological oppression experienced by gay men in contemporary society'. After the curator left, a Northumbrian approached the couple and said, 'Would you like to know what the painting is really about?' 'Now why would you claim to be more of an expert than the curator of the gallery, asked the couple? 'Because I am the artist, that painted the picture,' he replied. 'In fact, there are no African Americans depicted at all. They're just three Bedlington coal miners from the Dr. Pit. The guy in the middle went home for lunch.'

A sad, sad loss and one of the true greats in any style of music. My favourite BB King song is Hummingbird, check out this live performance from the Letterman Show in 1983. https://youtu.be/OuMn2s3DZ5Q

works okay for me, on Safari

ELECTION WARNING One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door. Later, a policeman comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The policeman was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door. Then a Member of Parliament came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill , the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Member of Parliament was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut. And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

I keep telling my Mackem acquaintances that The Toon will be relegated along with the "Lucky Black Cats" just so we can let them have another 6 points next season. Although, mathematically & realistically, it's looking like only one of us can go down, so let's continue to pray that it's them and not us.

Brett, well spotted, a very reasonable synopsis of the whole, sad situation. When my son was 3 years old (he's 27 now) he pleaded with me for a Black & White shirt in August 1991, I warned him that it had to be for life, that he couldn't ever change his club, that it would be a lifetime of disappointment and misery with maybe a few "up's" but many, many "downs". I bought us both a shirt on that day. He still supports The Toon, but currently seems more interested in Bury getting promoted!!!!

WELCOME Millbank

Agreed

Good luck with making the noise, the morn.

Wilma, I've had a look at your Flickr site. Very impressive photos. Please keep up the contributions flowing on here, they are not just entertaining but educational. Both my Grandad's were miners and many of my Uncles but my Dad chose to stay clear of the Pit and become a Butcher/Slaughterman (Slaatterman), so I never really got to hear, first hand what life was like for a pitman.