Merlin

Well well well after all the hype and the great anticipation to the Grand opening of the Red Lion, Wetherspoons show how much it knows or cares about Bedlington. Who? Have they invited to open it, is it our home grown personality 'Tommy The Egg Man' No! Is it a sporting great in the vane of Alan Shearer? No! Is it the 'Big Cat' from the golf course? No! Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttts the one, the only The Great Mr Ian Lavery (MP)

MP in this case stands for MUPPET. Wetherspoons have committed a "Pomme de terre" (Del boy classic) here this bloke doesn't even know where Bedlington is! It's not even open yet and they've already lost 10 potential customers. Well done to your advertising and PR exec's Wetherspoons, fantastic, bye

Some good points there but to be honest I can't see them working, sorry.

A more radical plan would be to ban all parents cars from school premises and make the whole area around these schools Residents parking only. There are adequate car parks up from Netto which entails a short walk to all these schools!

Monsta you seem to be a bit stuck with this extinct 2500 yrs business, according to reports there seem to be thousands still living in the wild. So this means...now let me think.....ahhh....yes they are not extinct :lol:

What like Monsta getting a round in!!!

You think seeing a Lynx is rare :lol:

He's asked if there's any overtime going :dribble:

As an ex miner I wish these lads the best of luck for the future, and if they go back down the mine, then they have more guts than me, because I'm damn sure I wouldn't be going back down, if that had been me!

do these words not ring a bell "You're probably more likely to see a lynx!" implying there is a larger population of lynx in the uk than scottish wild cats!

number of scottish wild cats 400+

number of lynx a possible 2 - 3 escapees!

You will probably find it is less than 400

Today less than 400 Scottish wildcats remain in the wild and the extinction of Britain's last large mammal predator could come within the next five years.

No angry tabby or feral the wildcat is a genuine wild species of cat; it was here long before we were and long before the domestic cat had even evolved. Infamously the only wild animal to be completely untameable, even when captive reared, Scottish wildcats may look a little like your pet cat but these are incredibly tough super-predators, sometimes called the Tiger of the Highlands.

Sadly, our wildcat is critically endangered with less than 400 individuals remaining in the wild and barely a handful in the captive breeding population.

Operative words 'May look a little like your pet cat'

As such, not a big cat! Wrong colour, wrong size! And doesn't answer to "Here kitty kitty" So this rules out what was reportedly seen on the golf course as a Scottish wild cat! These cats are also super secretive, even in their home habitat they are rarely seen.

There is one point to come out of this discussion. We are all agreed that something out of the ordinary WAS seen on Bedlington Golf Course!

Hold the Uk Lynx Lovers convention, of course.

It could also be invited to turn on the Xmas lights

Instead of British Big Cat Society it could be Bedlington Big Cat Society, still BBC.s Somehow I don't think the golf club or farmers would be very happy with a load of wild life enthusiasts trampling over their course, and surrounding fields.

Anyway another two golfers have come forward to say they saw a big cat on the course, this time in the park area!

Mercury that sounds interesting and much appreciated.Thankyou. I'll pm you a bit later cheers. Merlin

Next new stupid venture to the entrance to Bennies, a Toucan crossing under the guise of the new cycle way YOOHOO There's one next to West End school already, has this jobsworth trying to justify his/her cooooncil job not been told, or had a look for themselves. This will only make the traffic 1000 times worse and the entry/exit to Ridge Terrace virtually impossible at school times. And you can guarantee that these lights will work against each other Come on NCC get a !*!@# grip

Monsta, I think you will find that wild animals in Africa are more common than on the golf course as ,you see, they live there it is their natural habitat, or did that basic fact elude your rather tunnel vision You will find that we are on about animals that have been imported or bred in captivity, that have either escaped or have been released into our countryside. Sunk in yet

And by the way

Summer 1991 - Northern Lynx (Felis Lynx) shot near Beccles, Suffolk, after it killed about 15 sheep over a two-week period. After spending a short time in the farmers freezer it was sold on to a local game dealer - who then had it stuffed and sold it to a local collector - who apparently now has it on display in his house. The BBCS learnt about this previous unreported story last year and have unearthed the only pictures of it to exist.

A lynx was shot dead by R.U.C. marksman near the village of Fintona on the 18th of February 1996. The shooting followed days of reports of a 'young lion' in the area. The lynx, which was wearing a collar, was believed to have escaped from a private collection.

The body was suupposedly stuffed and placed in the R.U.C. museum.

A lynx was captured in London after a witness report of a leopard sat on a garden wall. The lynx was captured after being sedated by a vet with a dart and blow pipe. She was taken to London zoo and treated for a paw injury, she was given the name Lara there. (2001)

Monsta, Finding evidence for a Lynx (If it is one) could be very difficult as they have a territory in excess of 30 square miles. I can't wait for the snow this year, to see if I can find some prints. Already been up the golf course early mornings already, armed to the teeth, with me cam-corder and camera and my ferocious Terrier Oh! And a bluddy good pair of trainers

Things certainly are looking up for Bedlington. The future is bright, the future is Bedlington Terrier white

There's an interesting post by Pete in The Sports Club section well worth a read and could have some impact on discussion in here. Have a read and see what you think!

Bedlington becomes rich

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/9074705.stm

Quite the reporter there Pete. Well done

Sizsells, a lot of people see things and are afraid to say anything in case they are derided, accused of being barmy or simply stupid! Well let me tell you , the more I have looked into this subject, the more surprised I have been. The amount of sightings in Northumberland is quite astounding, from panthers, puma's and all other big cat varieties. Now I know that a fair percentage of these are made up,drink and substance related, but there are too many to discount as not being true.

What started off as a tale told to me by a mate has turned into, I think, a very interesting topic! Also a very worrying one. I am concerned at the lack-lustre response of the authorities, and the 'Naa, you are all mad to think they could survive in this country' attitude! What are they afraid of?

Reports in the press refer to big cat sightings in Northumberland as recent as March 2010. Most sightings are in the Hexham area. Closest reported sighting was Morpeth. Reports say there are more than 2 but no more than 12 big cats living wild in the Northumberland area!

The introduction of 'The Dangerous Animals Act' where people are required to obtain a licence, is to blame for the rise in sightings, as these people released their animals into the wild instead of applying for a licence or being refused a licence. A Lynx feeds on rabbits, hares and small birds, so they should be quite at home on the golf course as there are hundreds of rabbits and a good few hares, there are also a few 'Birdies' knocking about, I don't think they would be keen on the even fewer 'Eagles' that sometimes appear

Has anyone any information about Tesco and Milne Park car park, please

For a bit of info read the thread about 'Tesco car park.' on here.

Im bringing my Diana 27 Brian, just oiled the spring ready for the big day and I have dusted off my dear stalker hat.

My Diana 27 was made in 1967 for the Hy-Score company. It's a Hy-Score 807.

This the one Pete.

Brian :lol:

Mercury, When I started this topic I was a serious! If there are big cats roaming around we need to identify them to judge how dangerous they are to us poor dinner on legs humans. I don't claim to be any wildlife expert but, my general education tells me that they don't want a lot to do with us, and will run away long before you get near them, but can be mighty dangerous if they feel threatened!

I have heard of this black cat before over the burn, but this from some Choppington lads while exercising their lurchers and jack russel's early in the morning.

Merc it's not like me to be serious either, but I am enjoying the way this thread is going. Cheers

Brian sorry but you would be restricted in the choice of weapons you could use. The choice would be between a Driver or low calibre irons All depends which would offer you the greatest chance of a 'Slice' Oh! And falling that a bluddy good pair of trainers

Malcolm that picture must have been taken some years ago, looks like the cooncil were still in charge It's in fantastic condition now!

A Chinese friend of mine was telling me about seeing a really tall animal Sheetin on a zoo keepers head!

I said 'Giraffe'

He said 'Of course I did it was hirarious'

What a button to push Malcolm! We could get rid of every politician with a bit of pressure from our thumbs. Fantastic

I mean they really try to cut their carbon footprint, don't they :lol:

At least, or should I say at last, someone, somewhere used a bit of common. While the road surface was up they actually got the water board to do some repairs before they relaid the road! All we need now is for the gas board to come and dig it all up again :lol:

Sad very sad