Symptoms

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.

… and worse, the fossil assembly presented itself in the guise of a few measly ammonites and a worse for wear shark tooth… a true disappointment.

We left swiftly to go for ice-cream…

A lesson to be learnt perhaps to look for your geodes and trilobytes elsewhere…

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.

Now how much are the shares worth? Government can't be seen to be subsidising all those "idle rich" shareholders by supporting their risk-taking habit.

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.

Don't even mention the police to me!

I once thought the way the police and justice system now worked was this:

This is how it really works:

Incident happens

Police arrive, make an instant decision about what happened, collect the evidence that supports that conclusion, ignoring any other evidence.

Police submit evidence to CPS who look at the solicitor each person has, then sends the one who is most likely to have a charge against them to court, allowing all others to go free

case goes to court

Judge listens to the evidence, then disregards it all and decides what the hell he likes based on how he feels that day.

Innocent, Honest person goes to jail because they told the truth, under caution, and was convicted because they were the only ones stupid enough to admit to any part in it, therefore it must have all been their fault.

Police go to pub, celebrating their 'victory' and the extra points they have to show the government what a good job they are doing.

Its all ****** wrong, and i for one am sick of it. I think i'll move to France.

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.

I think Raisbecks was a different company they were based at Netherton I think. They used to have a Bedford OB running at one time, fantastic old bus.

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.

I remember Brian Yarrow delivering milk from a horse drawn cart. The horse was called Tonto he used to let us ride up our street on the back of the cart. Him and his mother had the little shop at the top of Beech Grove (surprisingly enough it was called Yarrows!) and the dairy was behind the shop. I think Brian is still delivering the milk but he has a fancy electric milk float now. Progress?

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.

Big Geordie - what are they proposing to fuel it with?

The End

The camping ground is still there, Wheres ridley terrace? i know there was a scout group opposite west end first school, but thats since been demolished and built on. was to the right of the cut to bishops meadow...

Memory playing up - Ridge, not Ridley, Terrace. Yes, it was right next to the cut into Bishops Meadow & opposite the Primary School (which I went to in the early 60's). So the Scouts place has been knocked down - I remember it as being a purpose-built venue, complete with a hall (plus stage - for gang shows) and gym stuff - wall-bars, ropes and rings, vaulting horses, etc. There was a tuck shop, office, training rooms, workshops where handcarts were made and where the Scouts could chop-up old pit-props into sticks. The stick-laden carts would be pulled by the Scouts around Bedlington so that the firewood could be sold door-to-door. Yes, I was one of the Scouts.

Willie Hall was the Scout Master - he lived in a detached house on Hartford Road (opposite South Riggs) - I heard a rumour (I met, by chance in the 80's, a Bedlington lad on the London Underground who told me) that there was a bit of scandal but I can't remember any details.

What, has old Willie Hall's troupe from Ridley Terrace gone? What about Humford Hollow camping ground?

Thank you for your kind thoughts. My wife will be getting a little suspicious about these young attractive females offering to hug an old curmudgeon (Quoting Denzel!) Like me!But thank you all, I have been surprised, and a little overcome by all of these unexpected good wishes.

As for visisting the UK. I would like nothing better than to see Bedlington again. But it is another of those ironies of life. No sooner do I find myself financially and professionally able to afford anything that I might want, than I am stricken with Deep Vein Thrombosis. (A serious blood clotting disease!) Whereupon, my doctors announce that because of the dangers of further clotting in long distance air travel, I am strictly forbidden from taking airline flights in excess of four hours. And Calgary to the UK can be up to 10 hours. So, for my sins, (Mostly of omission, I thinki)

I can never have the one thing I long for. One more time in Bedlington, walking down the woods, going in the Bank Top for a few beers, and meeting face to face with some of the great people whom I have met through this site.

" It ain't fair, but it is life!" so I will substitute words for personal experience. and get on with it.

I don't want to see anyone falling out over which forum we use most. I think that the present system of moderators is quite successful, and has greatly controlled the problems which were threatening the enjoyment of the entire website.

Congratulations to admin for making the changes, and to the volunteer moderators who have put the benefit of all site members ahead of their personal interests. A good and valuable job. Thank you all!

Regards, Joe

Joe - what about getting the train down to New York, liner over Atlantic, train up to Newcastle? What a great trip that would be!

Joe - Brian Cross is right to say that you've many friends here; I always look forward to seeing if you've posted. When the old site closed down I felt disappointed at (this may sound daft) losing a friend. When I discovered the new site, and your presence on it, I was glad.

Best wishes.

Forget the ‘flim-flam’ about alternatives being the answer; noddling donkeys floating off-shore, wind turbines preventing the sheep from kipping, solar panels for the middle-class, heated water from the bowels of the earth. They’re never going to be the answer to our insatiable craving for convenient energy.

We’re all standing on the future – 300 years worth of coal. I’m not talking about thousands of toiling pitmen hacking aways in 2’6” seams or gangs of sweating stokers chucking shovel loads into open furnaces and million of tons of filth being spued into the atmosphere. Clean coal technology is the way to go! Sure, all the ‘green’ stuff can make a contribution but it can only be a junior partner in this endeavour.

Our perception of coal-fired plant has been affected by what they have traditionally pumped out into the environment but the technology now exists to deal with mercury emissions, NOx and SO2 emissions, particulates and ash disposal. The big one for the public however is CO2 and the greenhouse effect; again the technology is being developed to allow coal plants to operate with very low CO2 emissions by, for example, using gas separation filtering. There’s even been a ton of work done on co-combustion by mixing pulverised coal with wood, paper waste, plastic waste, sewage sludge, agro-industrial waste, etc.

I say build clean-coal power stations – the Ruskies can’t turn off the gas tap to freeze us in the Winter, the terrorists won’t be able to do 9/11s into nuclear power plants to poison us all,. Coal is the most abundant, safe, secure and economically viable form of energy we have!

Of course, the concerned middle-class can still go down to B&Q to buy their roof-mounted wind generators and solar panels, deluding themselves that they’re doing their best to ‘save the planet’ – but hey, where was this equipment made? Probably China – a place soon to overtake the Yankies as the World’s biggest polluter.

Any form of physical abuse is wrong. If a parent has to resort to wacking then they have failed in their relationship with their kids. Mutual respect is the key to any successful relationship. If a child respects (and loves) its parents it is less likely to transgress, just as a parent who has invested the time to explain (not lecture, order or harangue) is unlikely to be disappointed. Many of those who've posted here have correctly identified 'respect' as being the foundation of good behaviour.

Most of what we witness is based on 'copied behaviour'. This 'in-your-face' stuff, that seems so prevalent these days, can be traced back to what's been digested from TV. All these !*!@# soaps, where the characters shout, scream, display agressive behaviour of all types, encourage the young to emulate the unacceptable.

Ok, but what can be done about those who will not, even after the 'respect' experience, behave? Stocks in the Market Place I say.