The pits in the past were terrible places to work but like almost everything else conditions have changed. Modern pits have improved in safety, health and production, (unless you live in China!) and are very little different to working in many other heavy mechanised industries. If pits were to be opened (or re-opened) properly while considering the miners and the environment they could provide a lot of needed employment directly and for support industries, I'm sure it is straight economics that closed them and keep them closed! The camaraderie of miners is second to non, when your life is constantly in each others hands it has to be strong! Posstubs, backlane washlines, proggy matts, wireless accumulators, outside netties, tetty picking, picking wiliks all great memories, but thats how I like it, memories!