Symptoms

I wrote here on Friday 31st October - "Now Max Clifford representing the Granddaughter ... it all smells like a publicity stunt to me. You can just image Brand, whilst busy 'diddling' (his expression, not mine!) with The Granddaughter hatching a plan for her future career. Just watch ... glamour shots in the tabs, invitation to join one of those awful reality shows, celebrity stardom. You couldn't make it up." Well guess what? Celebrity stardom on Channel 5 tonight, preceded by her press statement via that Channel: Andrew Sachs's granddaughter Georgina Baillie has called for Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross to be reinstated. "The 23-year-old said Radio 2 DJ Brand's resignation and Ross's three month suspension without pay was "out of proportion". Baillie, who performs with her dance troupe the Satanic Sluts, has also told how she wants to pursue a career as an actress and model. She told broadcaster Five in her first TV interview: "I was really angry when I said I wanted them both to be fired, but I think the suspension was good enough. So I'm feeling a bit gutted really about the whole thing. "I think it's way out of proportion what's happened, and I don't hate either of them, I don't at all. I think they're really talented comedians and I think a world without Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand would be a very sad, dull place. "You know I think Russell needs to learn a few lessons about respecting women, definitely, and maybe Jonathan Ross could maybe think before he speaks in the future. I don't have any harder feeling than that." She added: "I want to keep performing with my dance troupe. And all these modelling offers have come through which is quite interesting. I thought about doing modelling a few years ago but was told I was a bit too chunky for that, but now all of a sudden I'm not, so that's great." To quote the great Ethel Merman ... "There's no business like show business".

Yeh, numerous versions of the transcript are available online, but beware of which one you read and believe. The one that caused all the fuss includes stuff that was never transmitted, the bits that the producers 'left on the cutting-room floor'. This 'spun' version was disseminated by that Pantomime Villain of 'Fleet Street', the Mail. Ah, wouldn't Dr Goebbels be proud of them. Also, pinch your nose when viewing the 'live' footage of the show which is available on You Tube and others; again this shows the pre-cut stuff. Why no prosecution? Not enough evidence perhaps! Could be that no offense was committed! No complaint by Sachs to the cops. Is anybody to get the ball rolling over Jeremy Clarkson's observation, on Top Gear last night, that truck drivers murder prostitutes, and his use of the word pikie. Maybe we should start a list here of comedy shows that should be attacked for being offensive to Middle England - we could called it the Burning of the Books. Oh dear, that sounds familiar as well, has a bit of a 1930's ring to it. I'll start the list: Hancock's Half Hour - mocking the NHS Blood Transfusion Service That Was The Week That Was - cruelty to Politicians and being unfair to fraudsters Monty Python's Flying Circus - being inaccessable to 'The Great Unwashed' but hilarious to the Educated Classes, causing the DG of the Beeb sleepless nights, spawning a generation of great comic actors and their subsequent output Not The Nine O'clock News - jokes about thick coppers Porridge - mocking the gay inmate, mocking figures in authority The Office - for simply being very UNFUNNY, a waste of electricity, and allowing Gervais to continue to perpetrate a 'comedy' con on the Nation Little Britain - funny first episode but then became a 'one trick pony' - variation (if we're lucky) of the same stuff every week

Spot on Mr Darn, balanced and well argued, as usual. Dave's remark, "Getting a massive wedge ..." (whilst technically accurate) confirms my view that it's Ross's renumeration that's driving this purge, not his behaviour. This whole saga reminds me of what went on here a couple of years ago. The comfortable backwater that was this Forum, with it's easy opinions, folksy reminiscences, old (not offensive) jokes and the occasional quiz, was 'contaminated' by the toxic views of a couple of posters. What resulted was a call to ban the perpetrators but wiser counsel prevailed; my own suggestion for a 'cesspit' section of the Forum (now branded Chat Central) was taken-up. Anybody entering it is warned of the potential for shocking content. So no censorship or bans - excellent!!! Where this comparison breaks down slightly is that complaints were made about Radio 2's version of Chat Central (the graveyard shift that was Brand's show) ... people knew what they were letting themselves in for by tuning-in, so how could anybody be shocked? All comedy attacks, by definition there must always be a victim. Every joke told sneers at something; fat folk, gays, Jews, Blacks, mackem scum, 'retards', the French, the Germans, etc., etc. It's a device to make us feel superior (better) than others. Trouble is that usually the most offensive jokes are the funniest.

Jorga wrote "can`t agree here, we are paying licence money to Ross he is an idiot who thinks he can do and say what he wants lets have some decency please, as for the idea of the Mail being a Nazi paper, my grandad always said their were plenty of Nazis in Bedlington, " gifted Radio Controller" who are you trying to kid." I'm quite happy that Jorga, as a licence fee payer, doesn't agree with me, another licence payer, about the worth of Ross to The Beeb. However, what can't be denied is the popularity* of the bloke, and what a 'shot in the arm' he gave to that moribund getto that was Radio 2; it wasn't long ago that all you got there was Jimmy Young, Wogan and a load more stiffs (the same has-beens wheeled out this week to put their spiteful boots in). Yeh, maybe Ross "is an idiot who thinks he can do and say what he wants ", but loads of us like that stuff. I do, however accept that abusing Manuel was a step too far and 'consequences' should have followed - measured consequences! But please, not the un-holy sight of Littlejohn and his ilk behaving like latterday Witchfinder Generals hunting down comics for burning at the stake of fake public indignation. I'm sure the Mail reflected a large degree of popular appeal here in the 30's, the decade of Mosley's Blackshirts and rampant Anti-Semitism (including the popular move to keep those fleeing Nazi persecution out). Interesting how an organ of the Boss Class was avidly devoured by those being kept in their places (usually the Dole Queue) and how they usually absorbed the poison that suggested it was all the immigrants' (read Jews') fault. Lesley Douglas was a "gifted Radio Controller" if one of those can be described as (and I do) having rescued Radio 2 from a diet of 1950's drivel and disappearing audience figures*. It is now the most popular* radio station in the land. I think what really is driving this hysteria is Ross's wages packet 'cos just about every adverse comment/article/blog/posting usually ends up mentioning it ... well maybe fair comment (it is an outrageous amount of dosh), but he was offered £15 million from a rival broadcaster at the time but stuck with Auntie. I reckon this demonstrated the 'worth' of the job at the time. Finally, why is it we don't see the Mail and the Sun waging a relentless vendetta against the Bankers, vile footballers, and other unworthies? Why don't they doorstep the boss of Barclays or those tw#ts Terry & Ferdinand with the same enthusiasm? Orders from above maybe ... "just following orders" - now where have I heard that before? *popularity measured using the agreed industry standard for listener/viewer figures

Shame on the weak kneed, yellow-bellied craven bosses at the Beeb who are clearly running scared of the hysteria whipped-up by that vile Nazi supporting rag, The Mail; the same paper, whose Ward Price supported Hitler in the 30's and thought the idea of the Concentration Camps had some merit. The Mail, in it's recent Editorial, even accused Brand of making a joke about the Holocaust, when what he had done was to remind us of that paper's Nazi tradition. So we can describe recent events as the Mail's Revenge, stirring-up the ‘beige brigades’ who normally lust after the chair lifts advertised it’s Classified Section, to complain in their thousands to the Beeb. This blitzkrieg, driven by the Mail’s fake outrage should be seen for what it is! The two naughty boys apologised, Andrew Sachs accepted these with grace, the Beeb should have then drawn a line under the episode then. Instead, we have the gifted Radio 2 Controller sacrificed, one talent permanently exiled and the other 'flogged around the fleet' for 3 months. All we now have to look forward to is a diet of anaemic, safe tosh dished-up as cutting edge by scared comics; they'll always be 'looking over their shoulders'. Watch out Franky Boyle ... you'll be next for that old Queen's !*!@# skit. Leave the comics alone! - otherwise prepare for wall-to-wall Wogan. Now Max Clifford representing the Granddaughter ... it all smells like a publicity stunt to me. You can just image Brand, whilst busy 'diddling' (his expression, not mine!) with The Granddaughter hatching a plan for her future career. Just watch ... glamour shots in the tabs, invitation to join one of those awful reality shows, celebrity stardom. You couldn't make it up.

I was looking at Google's satellite views of Bedlington to check-up on old haunts and noticed the reservoir behind the Red Lion being dug out. What's the story ... land clearance or just some maintenance work by the local water company. I know the picture is likely to be at least more than a couple of years old. It's strange to see our old play areas, eg. The Cut behind the Riggs/Council Offices being built over with houses, nothing left to show where Costains operated, the baths down at Humford, the pit-heaps ... all gone. Still it's nice to see 20 Acres hasn't been built over (yet!!!). I suppose sentiment has no place before the march of progress.

The cops and their toys ... is it 'value for money'? When you watch those cop shows on the telly with choppers (and loads of cop cars) chasing villains, usually joy-riders, it's always a let-down when the narrator at the end of the show tells us that the villains have been let off with a caution, or something that smacks as a let off.

Caption reads: Mr Ashley's representative discusses team tactics with the new Manager whilst Dennis Wise looks on.

Tesco'll be up-for-it! I'm sure any excuse to subsidise their 'offshore' tax schemes (to avoid paying millions & millions in UK Corporation Tax) will be grabbed by their fat-cat bosses and owning family.

Elsewhere??? Maybe in lots of Bedlington garden features or in Grandad's sock drawer? Those of a certain age will remember the 1000's of fossils unearthed from Costain's open-cast site in the 60's - the Town was awash with them.

An excellent result over that little grubby town at the !*!@# -end of the Metro line; a place where low level radioactive waste was dropped down the Monkwearmouth colliery shaft before they build that plastic and tin shack over the pithead.

Update reported in The Guardian this morning under the headline ... Quote: New eco-towns to make it hard going for cars with 15mph limit Half of all households in eco-towns will have to live without a car and those that have one will find their speed limited to 15mph, according to standards for the wave of new towns unveiled yesterday. In a series of anti-car measures announced by Hazel Blears, the secretary of state for communities, large parts of the towns of up to 20,000 homes each will be car-free. Homes will instead be built no farther than 400 metres from a bus or tram stop, and car-sharing schemes will replace car ownership. The measures came in the most detailed guidance yet to what will qualify as an eco-town. Gordon Brown announced plans for 10 such towns last summer in response to the housing shortage. Criteria aimed at achieving community cohesion include a skateboard park in every development, areas set aside for Gypsies and Travellers and "arrival workers" to help the first residents meet their neighbours and find community facilities. By capturing rainwater and reusing waste water, eco-towns will also have to be "water-neutral", which means there should be no overall increase in water demand as a result of the development. "A rigorous selection process has meant only the very best proposals have made it through," said Caroline Flint, the minister for housing and planning. "It's critical we get it right and I make no apologies for setting the bar as high as possible." Other proposed initiatives include staff in every eco-town to offer residents and businesses personalised travel planning to adapt to the largely car-free environment. The German town of Freiberg, home of Europe's largest car-free development, is cited as a good example. In Freiberg, bike lanes, light rail and buses have replaced cars and anyone who owns a car has to pay £12,500 for the parking space as well as a monthly management fee. Developers will also have to make room for allotments. "Giving people the opportunity to grow their own vegetables and plant fruit trees will ... turn passive consumers into active producers," the guidance states." End quote ..................................................... Advisors in the town to personalise travel planning - that conversation might go something like ... "walk down to the bus stop and check-up the timetable fixed to the shelter. Oh, you have - it's been what, vandalised? Sorry I can't help you then, I live in Ashington and drive here to work, haven't been on a bus for 20 years. Yeh, we've got our own reserved parking spaces in front of the office".

Good summary Charlie. I wonder if the existing workforce will get their existing Conditions of Employment safeguarded beyond the Tupe limit, or will they get stiffed like 1000's of others before them. Of course the new Company, in the shape of their hired mouthpieces, will bleat-on about how they'll value the workforce, whilst working-out ways to cut costs (sackings, hiring agency folk with no employment protection, etc.) Then we'll see a 'get rich quick' management buy-out resulting in lots of lovely loot for the few. A bit like NR really - a Mutual, owned by the members who voted to 'cash-in', then it went t*ts-up. A pound-to-a-pinch-of !*!@# the majority of the tenants won't see any improvements. So it looks like the 'in-house' corporate promotional video was pretty near the mark - "outdated TV camera".

"outdated TV camera" could mean 'in-house' corporate promotional video. Or the sign is a sponsor's (we've got roundabouts on roads sponsored by local firms here). Or it could be a variation on that old trick of 'no film in the camera' dodge to tap-up women.

Joe, his memory will live on through those that knew and loved him. I'd like to join the others here in offering my condolences for your loss.

In reality, the shares are currently worthless, so all those sucked into Thatcher's 'Share Owning Democracy' myth will lose most of their investment. Of course, 'the idle rich' don't risk their loot in things like NR, they 'top slice' their commission before investing the residue of the poor punters' redundancy money; yes, the 'idle rich', and their sons & grandsons, tend to be the stockbrokers - thieving bastards the lot of them! Playing the Stock Market is the same as going to the bookies - how many of Paddy Powers clients expect all their wager back when they lose? The only ones I feel sorry for are the Staff of NR who are likely to lose their jobs

Double-page spread in The Observer today about plans for an 'Eco-town' at Cambois - about 5000 new dwellings. It appears that a number of these towns are planned for around the country, the Cambois proposal being one of the smallest. What's the local take on the scheme?

Same old story ... 'old money' robbing 'new money'. Banks & most 'City Institutions' were set-up, and are currently run in the main, by the old monied families. Proof, if needed, in the papers this morning. Some Northern Rock directors might be local folk but just look at the names: Ridley (the well-known family of coal owners), Fenwick (big shop in Town and 1 in London's exclusive Bond St), token Local Grammar Schoolboy (in charge now but will make a good fall-guy for the old money lot) - seen the size of his monster house. Fleece the wage earners, get the commission up-front, sod the consequences - a modern day moto for that old profession The Money Lenders. Crooks the lot of them!!!

I'm with Monsta on this one. Dog !*!@# is bio-degradeable - leave it where it drops and it'll be gone with the first rains and adding goodness to the ground. If it doesn't rain it'll bake (just like sun-dried tomatoes) into firm lumps that can be safely kicked out of the way. Just take a look around and what do you see everywhere - litter, tons and tons of it, dropped people. I say leave the dogs alone.

I think a variation to the above is needed: Incident happens Police MIGHT arrive if they can be arsed.... ... Found guilty Get 35 minutes Community Service. Let me tell you Mr O - Les Flics (En France) are a hundred times more officious than our Plod; I lived in Paris for 2 years and witnessed some appalling behaviour from them.

When you look at these old pictures, especially the ones of the colliery infrastructure, you get a measure of how important these places were; there are loads of resources to look at which give a true measure of how massive the coal mining industry was and how important it was to the lives of those who relied on it. In addition to the guys underground, it gave local work to local people - all types of trades (fitters, sparks, canteen work, suppliers, etc, etc). Elsewhere on this site people complain about the lack of 'community' in Bedlington - it's sad to realise that once the pits closed that sense 'community' was lost forever. A story repeated all over the coalfields - that evil tyrant Thatcher has a lot to answer for!!! There's some good websites relating to the pits, The Durham Mining Museum (www.dmm.org.uk) is full of data on our area.

If you're caught with an illegal firearm you might get sent down for 5 years, then out in 2 or 3; probably worth the risk in having the gun. What about a mandatory 20 years, with no parole - that might put a stop (or at least seriously reduce) the 'casual' carrying of guns? Obviously, a few well-publicised test cases might get the message out to these gangs not to carry guns - or else! If a gun is discharged - add 5 to the above. If somebody is injured - add another 5. Kill somebody - you never get out. The point needs to be made that if you have an illegal firearm then expect a spectacular prison term.

Quite right Pete - they had a garage on the sharp bend on Ridge Terrace (the old route) near Red House Farm. In the 60's we used to catch one of their coaches (we called it The Chariot 'cos it was so old) at the top of Front Street to get to school at the B/Station - the fare was 3d (the old threepenny bit).

The horrible white base spoils the effect. Was this structure already there? I can't remember the height of the tide at Newbiggin but maybe it would have looked better if the figures had been anchored on the foreshore (at ground level) with the sea lapping at their feet. Of course other beach users may have objected to this - a bit like those miserable folk on Merseyside who complained about Gormleys beach figures.

We used to get our milk from a guy with a horse-drawn cart - the name Tonto sounds familiar. The beast knew its round - walking to the appropriate house, stopping whilst the Milky got the order, then walking-on to the next house on command of a whistle. There used to an old woman down our street who owned a parrot whose cage was in the front window; this bird picked-up the sound of the Milky's whistle and on a couple of occasions called the horse on when the guy was at a front door. He had to chase after the horse to restore order. He asked the old girl to move the parrot.