pilgrim

I spent a little while on a seal cull boat crewed by a lot of very large Viking types (don't ask!! and it wasn't anything you need to know or rant about) but breakfast was a bowl of herring and a big bowl of salt - pick up a herring dip in salt and swallow - might seem a bit bizarre, but I never had a cold!!! -although they did bake the most tremendous bread everyday - sort of oval and bloomer like but man-sized. I showed them the joys of a bacon sandwich using a whole loaf each of that same bread but with the addition of about a pound of thick sliced gammon each and became a friend for life!! Mackerel is best taken fresh from the sea - gutted head and nothing else down and filled with tarragon and anything else that comes to hand a squeeze of lemon wrap in foil and oven for ten mins. You cant freeze mackerel!!! I stayed in the depths of the very rural sowf for a while and a couple of old gypsies lived on the land - made their own cider which was magic and caught eels in sacks of straw with chicken offal and then smoked them - it wasn't what I would call 'must have' but was not bad for eels !! Interesting though about different folks eating -- we leased a property to a Polish family for a while and got invited to Christmas dinner with them and the family - it was carp - actually it was tremendous and its worth checking the Polish food in the shops (although they did have some homemade vodka to go with sent over from home!!!)

thinks ....a definite 'non story' .. or do I smell a conspiracy to boost the BBC ?? Clarkson's mother stuffed Paddington Bear, his great granddad invented the Kilner jar, his wife's father got a VC, all things that should be brought into disrepute these days!!! and to make matters worse .... is there anything in the fact that Cowpen Crem went on fire and now Morton Hall in Edinburgh...both major centres disabled that serve the north east and will cause endless heartache to all relatives who have suffered a loss. Can we blame the BBC for that as a distraction ??? I suspect a greater plan probably related to the election...... (oops forgot to add --and the spurious reasons we should LEGALLY have to pay a licence fee??) (the voices made me type that)

I think Wansbeck changed the draconian company a while back - but no excuse - I was back and forward everyday for many weeks after mum had a stroke -- (160 mile round tripe each day) and racked up many 100's of pounds in charges) and it only adds to the stress of visitors -- although on a different note -- how dare NHS charge employees to park? now that is a workplace issue

basically I think its cos furry things are more interesting than ukip lol

a sad loss - he has provided much enjoyment over many years

ah but they al turn up on your doorstep unannounced come the lead up to elections

Vic - nice pics - where was that? We had that in the old house and it was magic., but I do have issues with the present thing about Lynx - they are obligatory carnivore predators and the excuse given is that they will cull deer? - noo they will take the easy option and take sheep and lambs as is the nature of things. The landscape and countryside is not 'natural' and hasn't been since those Italian chappies landed so how can anyone justify re introducing a thing the size of a boxer dog that cant be controlled. The badger thing is a different issue and is down to an excuse for many years of bad animal husbandry - as is the avian flu (Jeyes fluid has stopped that for many years so one suspects the management of those that have it) -and then again there is the idea of introducing wolves back into the UK?? How many of us would be happy for our children to go into woodland if that happened - its the same with wild boar -- big horrific nasty things that are really dangerous, and yet we have the dangerous dogs act and various other legislation but none applies to these nor to foxes. I feel that the rural areas are becoming a sort of 'Jurassic Park' for those that have a self centred motivation and the OOO AHHH visitors

<-- is recalling going down to the pub at Mitford in me yoof and they had a minah bird and the challenge was to teach it to swear...

oo challenging yellow lines -- I can see myself with the old epee or sabre out in full swashbuckler mode saying ' have at thee foul yellow line, I will split thee from knave to chops' --and then get the close fitting waistcoat and injections.... but a very valid point.. what consultation process in this world of 'open' ( ) government is gone though before the lines are splashed down??

the traffic warden in Blyth - many years ago -- I don't think he ever gave out a ticket - but what a nice bloke - the font of all knowledge and was such an asset as a local guide to anyone visiting and also a bridge to those who had issues and didn't want to talk directly to the police -- man should have had an MBE at least (i have deliberately not mentioned the name)

palance that is totally biased and uncalled for and obviously a falsification of the truth - I have studied that picturegraph thingy you attached to your post and can honestly say there is no where in the Shire that has a road that smooth and well surfaced !!

there is a decent RAF site on tinternet - I got some very relevant information from the about some spent casings I keep turning up on the Goswick ranges - they also had the Hartford and Cramlington sites in the wrong place (as in the Hartford camp and the airfield at Cramlington - I can still recall the sheds there and the airship shed at Nelson Village0

3g Malcolm and pete have gone all pervy now... def more fresh air and healthy outdoor pursuits required!!!

that would be summat like 'dualling' the A1 -- funny how plans were approved for the section at Mousen many many years ago but nowt was done . and now come an election all parties are in there -- ooo and what do we get -- a bit aside Morpeth (and that would be sometimes maybe never) -and I seem to think there was a bit from the county that was very biased about a bit aside Causey Park - its not gonna happen in my lifetime ....

not wanting to overwhelm the thread but had to add -- was out tonight doing charitable things - and saw a herd of wild deer - about 12 in number - that was in a field aside the A1 - now that made living in the wilds all worth it !!! (and we keep a freezer spare for bambi)

just to tek ya aaal back -- check the bbc news website for 80 year old cigarettes found in Brynmawr cinema .....

eeek I recall the mini -- with a bit of string to open the doors and sliding windows that always seemed to attract mould!! its a pity that the new ones have the same wheelbase as a land rover 90!!

closer to home - the air museum outside of Carlisle is worth a visit - real nice folk - they recently opened up for a private visit for some scouts from the region and they all got to clamber in the planes and had free run of the place -- magic moments for them!! - not RAF but navy -- lol been to look at a 15" naval shell tonight that was dug up - glad it didn't drop on my foot!!

..throwing a dafty in here -- about the same time or even earlier there was a 'free' (not the band !!) concert at Creswell in the dunes - I remember walking there as there was no other way to get to it and realising on arrival that I had forgot to bring the sleeping bag - oops (just as well I didn't forget the drink)

am probably thinking that a lot of folk have more alcohol in their blood than in a half bottle of stout!!

a pint for a pint - seems a fair swap to me !!!

at one time Guinness and stout were prescribed for pregnant women and those who had just given birth -- see how the NHS has gone down hill!!!

cos they saw the local management and thought - 'having nowt to do wi this!'

A lot of very salient points regarding rural life. With an aging population nationally, but even more so in the rural areas, because of lack of employment and escalating house prices. The gradual withdrawal of services doesn't help. The point about needing a car is very valid, but it's not just one you need for a family. I did notice that an EU (ooo swearing now! but almost back on thread) grant has been made of, I believe, 5p per litre in tax refund on duty on fuel,and although mostly in the Highlands the Bellingham area is going to get it as well. The price of fuel impacts heavily on rural life and of course at 17 year old there is an imperative to pass ones test and have transport or there is no social life (except parents taxi - and it cramps ones style somewhat having mum or dad waiting outside friends houses after a night out). Take into account the cost of passing a test these days then the price of a car, BUT then try and insure a 17 yr old and it becomes even more of a financial burden. We use mainly wood for fuel which is 'green' and available locally ( although it does require a few days with chainsaw and splitting maul) but also oil for heating and water heating, which is reasonable now but was hideously expensive last year, and dare I say it, coal, yes coal, is prohibitively expensive now as any rational form of fuel!!!! (pssst Maggie - we have a huge dog as well!!) We cope now - but I'm 60 this month - how long can I saw wood and keep on top of things?? We are turning the rural areas into a theme park for transient visitors through lack of investment and I see no way out of it.

??? have no idea how them X's got in there!!!