Symptoms

Weren't there pit coppers who would chase you off pit property? I have a clear memory of these gadgies going after us when ever we went tobogganing (on balata belt* mats) down the heaps or when we were trying to nick stuff from the pit yard. Snow sliding in Winter, dry sliding rest of the year. * for our younger viewers, balata belting was the rubber/fabric stuff they made the underground conveyor belts with. Lengths of it often appeared mixed in the slag on the heaps and we'd cut off suitable bits with our trusty knives (most lads carried knives back then).

Thanks for the clarification Mal. I did read the mission statement on my first visit, but, but, but .... often these have to be 'taken with a pinch of salt'. I'm glad that it's honest. Ditto with merc's post above. Back in the day* there was quite a bit of 'organised' stuff for us kids to do: popular and well-attended youth clubs attached (and run) by the schools, cubs/scouts/guides, lots of activities nearby (Humford Baths, for example). I'm sure other 'old timers' here could add to the list. Oh, and our parents would be content to let us stay-out all day doing our shit ... now they're petrified of lurking kiddie fiddlers. *Pre-Thatcher evisceration terror.

Yeh Brett, Openzone ... that's the beast.

Blimey Willy, there a name from the past ... Blodwyn Pig. When I went to Uni in London in 69 the bands playing at our Freshers Ball were, Blodwyn Pig, Timebox, and Free (in that order). What a lineup! I've posted here before about the remarkable college music scene in London in the late 60s and early 70s.

Mal, I've just had a look, via your link above, at Leading Light; looks to be a worthwhile venture. Just a quick question: I noticed that some of the Trustees had links to the Catholic school/church. Is the Charity a Catholic one, or is it an ecumenical one, or is it secular?

Yep, Maggs. Invented by the toffs to rot the plebs' teeth so all they could eat would be pottage. A good way of keeping the 'great unwashed' off the local Squire's land and preventing poaching of bunnies and Bambie's Mum. So, "Even 'Black Bullets" are political.

GGG wrote: " ... even as a EU citizen you are only allowed to stay for 6 months without a residents permit ... " Does that apply to those from the Irish Republic who've been in Blighty for decades, or are there 'special' arrangements for Irish nationals?

Wasn't there a sweetie factory in Blyth in the 60s? I have a clear memory of the air being thick with the smell of the things being made.

The ooze is now leaking out from the Reckless ukipper ... they're going to "send them all back".

Anyway, Philae found 'little green men' up there. She probed with her digit and discovered organic molecules on the surface. So we now know all about the Origins of Ukip, a primeval organism slithering around on a barren rock whilst hurtling through the Cosmos. Many of us have always thought that there was, 'something not of this World' about Nigel ... the swivelling bugeyes, the prehensile lips and the barbed tongue.

I think it might have been that old guy, Aristotle, who said that "everything is political." I wouldn't want some grubby corner here earmarked specifically for politics or for introducing political spin on other folk's topics. It keeps it lively, it aggravates some, offends others.

I see that the neo-Nazi Britain First Party are cosying up to the ukippers in Rochester.

I wrote: ".... in our current climate of spite, bile, jealousy, envy and zenophobia ..." I rest my case! I suppose the Rosetta Missions could be described as a metaphor for what's happenning in Europe. Launched with a feeling of hope and expectation, delivered much enlightenment, but then a dark, cold shadow befell our heroic experiment. Perhaps in the future, when the chilly vail disappears and a new bright light shines on our endeavours, will we see our venture succeed.

What a warm glow the Rosetta Mission has given me with the little Philae lander touching down on that distant comet; it reminded me very much of the cutting edge endeavours of the Ruski and Yankee space programmes back in the 60s. Euro co-operation at its finest. Conceived over ten years ago in a 'time of plenty and partnership' I doubt such ambitions would now be allowed to flourish in our current climate of spite, bile, jealousy, envy and zenophobia (and that's just the Daily Mail Hate).

Just stop it now! Julien Blanc would feel at home in this thread!

Mal wrote: "I was told the water people monitor something there?" It wasn't one of these, was it? http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Water_monitor

I have been on stage, Maggs - cleaning-up after the pantomime horse! Boom, boom!

I didn't really don't know what to think about this advert. Yep, beautifully created and poignant but it left me a little unsure about the reason for it's production. Perhaps Sainsbury's will be donating tons of money to the British Legion and if that's the case, fine. However, the reality was that after Jim gave Otto his bar of chocko they started trying to kill each other. In my view, WW1 maybe not the most appropriate source material for a supermarket advert. At least I didn't see Sainsbury's name on the chockybar label.

GGG, I suspect that you might be right about David Mileeeeeeband's long-term intentions, the guy is just as 'slippy' as his former boss Warcrim Blair. So the future looks bright with the prospect of a confident clone of Blair regaling a gullible population.

Rejoice ukippers ... Nigel has said today he'd support, in a coaltion, a lame-duck Milleeeeband minority Government. Vote ukip, get Labour. Has a certain ring about it!

Yep, a real tough Northern character actor who always seemed authentic to me and was always watchable. Not like most of the weak-kneed, yellow-bellied soft Southern actors and worse still, those plastic celebs from the NE who try to ape them ... (you know who they are: the CBS, Nobson Green & Ferry The Dirty Old Man).

So, Bedlingtonshire is North of the River Blyth?

Hang on a minute GGG, Adam's not the only 'right thinking individual' here. Wise Old Sym is the Daddy.

Yep, just about everybody is going to get stiffed after the GE, well, maybe not the rich.

So it was GGG's older brother, GGGG.