Jammy

1. Nelson Mandela’s son, Makgatho, died in 2005 from which illness?                                   Cancer or Aids                             

2. USA’s most popular postage stamp was produced in 1993 and 120 million were sold. What was the picture on the stamp?                                                                                                                                      A Buffalo

3. Which dinosaur had the smallest brain in relation to the size of its body?                         The one with the big club at the end of its tail.

4. In which city can you find the famous street ‘La Rambla’?                                                    San Paulo, Brazil

5. According to The Animals, where was The House of the Rising Sun?                                  New Orleans

6. What term do we use to describe the disintegration of a nuclear reactor?                           Melt down

7. What do we call a female ferret?                                                                                               Jill 

8. In which group of islands is Iona situated?                                                                               Inner Hebrides

9. What shape is the body of a balalaika?                                                                                    Half lemon shape

10. ½ ÷ ½ = ?                                                                                                                                    1

11. Who sailed around the world on The Endeavour?                                                                   Captain Cook

12. On which horse did Willie Carson win the 1989 Derby?                                                          Nishwan

If you are eligible(at least 6 months since your 2nd jab) you should arrange a visit. I've just checked the Covid app run by Dr Zoe and my area, Northumberland, has 7,110 active cases. That is up 1,756 from last week.

Friends of mine, 77yrs and 80yrs, were at Guidepost scouts hut on sunday morning with an appointment time for their booster. The queue was down the street and they got their jabs 1hr after their allotted time. It was a shambles. I'm not surprised when it's walk in no appointment required. What is the point of making an appointment?  

The 3 areas of Bedlington have a total of 72 active cases and Sleekburn has 18. The cases are increasing. I'm not surprised, very few people are wearing a face mask or using the supplied gel in shops.

The virus is going to run amok this winter.

On 06/08/2021 at 21:10, Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) said:

@Jammy - you'll have to cut through from Melrose Court and check out how much spare land there is where the old railway sidings used to be.

If they used that space the residents of Melrose Terrace won't be happy 

  The railway sidings were still there but last week a couple of railway workers from Leeds arrived with a JCB type vehicle complete a with digger bucket on the front. They said they were there to take the lines up in the sidings. They didn't know why.

  Opposite the old railway platform on the other side of the railway lines a compulsory purchase on the bottom part of the residents gardens has been made. That is most likely to provide space to build a platform.

  I was told a while ago that the rail side extension on the old Cruddis/Boots chemist was purchased and would be knocked down to provide access to the new platform.

 There is also a footway to be built over the railway line to be used when the gates are closed. Unfortunately we wont be able to play in the smoke and steam as we used to do all those years ago. However, we should be able to play in the diesel smoke!  

1. What would you be doing if you practiced ‘banting’?                                                   Keeping chickens

2. What is the motto of the Special Air Service?                                                               Who Dares Wins

3. What colour is the Circle Line on a map of the London underground?                        Blue

4. Who won his first Oscar for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?                                  Jack Nicholson

5. What is the name for a dislike of foreigners?

6. Which Australian motor-racing driver was World Champion in 1959, 1960 and 1966?  Jack Brabham

7. Which American car manufacturer produces the Firebird?                                             Pontiac

8. Whose biography did Clifford Irving fake?

9. What is the maximum number on a Richter scale?                                                          10

10. What was Dexy’s Midnight Runners first hit?                                                                    Come on Eileen

11. The skyline of which Italian city has been dominated since 1488 by a cathedral dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi?

12. Which plant can grow up to three feet in 24 hours?                                                      Bamboo or a plant that grows a flower spike quickly once in 10yrs.

I'm on Plusnet which uses the EE network. I live in Bedlington and haven't noticed any problem with my mobile signal.

3 hours ago, Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) said:

An estimate, via Google Street View, 100 public car parking spaces over 3 sites.

 There will be problems when the new station opens. The small car park near Tasty Bite is often full so luck is needed to obtain a space. The car park behind the Dress Doctor is always close to being full and the car park on the old Railway Tavern site may be reduced if part of it is or has been selected to build a platform. These car parks are already used by local traffic so not much spare capacity. The new station will attract traffic from further away. I foresee cars parked along Melrose and Jubilee Terrace, along the road to St Johns and Bridge Terrace and Stakeford lane. The parked vehicles will cause problems so yellow lines will appear, then where do they park?

 If a journey to Newcastle via train costs more than a bus then vehicles won't be a problem as the trains will hardly be used. For example: - who will travel by car to Bedlington Station from Stakeford(especially having to travel over those ridiculous humps in the road) when good a bus service is already available and the total journey time will be greater by train. This will also apply to Bedlington(top end) travellers.

 Initially the train will attract curiosity but I think the interest will soon subside and will struggle to break even. Local people may use it but it's all about journey cost. It may come down to how many workers at the battery factory use it.

 If bus passes can be used there will be quite a few older passengers but they are not what the train company wants as they don't generate much income.

@Cannylass thanks for providing some great quiz questions in the weekly quiz. Definitely appreciated by the group. 

Perhaps in the darker days of winter you will find time to put some more quizzes together even if not weekly.

On behalf of the group a huge THANK YOU. 

1.         What are the six accepted colours of the Bedlington Terrier breed?  Brown, Grey, silver, blue, tan, liver.

2.         There can be no doubt that a Bedlington Terrier exists. What about a Bedlington Whippet – fact or fiction?

              Fact.

3.         When did Bedlington railway station open?                                                                              1855

4.         What was the motto of Bedlington Grammar School?                                             Ever upwards.

5.         Which of the following buildings is/are Grade II listed?:  Trotter Memorial Drinking Fountain, The Old Vicarage,  Netherton Blue House Farmhouse.      The Old Vicarage,  Netherton Blue House Farmhouse.

6.         The parish of St. Bede, Bedlington, was established in 1876 under the care of which religious order ?

             The Benedictines

7.         West Bedlington Town Council is a relatively young council. In which year was it created?                2016

8.         Name the two police officer victims of the Sun Inn murders 15 April 1913?

9.         What was the name of the somnambulist who, on St Valentine’s Day 1669, climbed a buttress of St Cuthbert’s
            Church and fell to his death when  woken by a passer by?

10.      Who invented the malleable iron rails for which Bedlington Iron Works became renowned?:  Michael Longridge,      George Stephenson, John Birkenshaw.                                                                                           John Birkenshaw

11.      Name the parents of Sir Daniel Gooch?

12.      East Sleekburn and West Sleekburn are recorded as early as 1183 in the Boldon Book. True or false?   False

13.      Bomarsund Coal Mine, which opened in 1905, was part of Bedlington Colliery. True or false?            True

14.      Bedlington was previously part of the County Palatine of Durham, belonging to the Bishop of Durham, When did Bedlington become part of Northumberland?                        1778

15.      The first ever recorded use of a Penny Black postage stamp was on a letter sent to Bedlington. To whom and at what address in Bedlington was the letter addressed?

16.      Where in Bedlingtonshire can you see the Peter Burke’s sculpture “Janus” (the god of new beginnings) which symbolizes the changing face of Wansbeck?

         West from the Furnace bank car park along the black path 100yds into the Free woods.

17.      Bedlington Golf Club opened in 1972. Who designed the course?                     Nick Faldo

18.      Excluding its tributary, the River Pont, how long is the River Blyth from source to mouth along the river bank?                    26 miles.

19.      Which of the following services is NOT the responsibility of West Bedlington Town Council?: Bus Shelters, Children’s play areas, Waste and recycling.                                                             Waste and recycling.

20.      Bedlington is twinned with which German town?                        Schautsmule

21.      According to an old song: Hartley Pans for sailors, Bedlington for ……………?

22.      1836, Michael Longridge opened his own locomotive works at Bedlington. His first locomotive was built for the Stanhope and Tyne Railway. What was this locomotive called?                                 Longridge 1

1.         What would you expect to find in a pluvial region?                                          In the sky

2.         Where is Rupert Bear’s home town?                                                                  Longwood                                                   

3.         What is the surname of boxing brothers Leon and Michael?                            Sphinx

4.         From which country does the wine Johannisberger come?                              South Africa

5.         A nectarine is a cross between a peach and which other fruit?                         Plum   

6.         In what year did Salman Rushdie go into hiding?                                                 1989

7.         There are two Cleopatra’s Needles. One is in London, where is the other?        New York

8.         Who sang the theme song to the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me?                Carly Simon

9.         Who in literature was haunted by the ghost of Banquo?

10.      Into which sea or ocean does the Mekong river flow?                                           China Sea

11.      Which European prime minister was assassinated in February 1986?                   A Swede

12.      What were The Kinks dedicated followers of in 1966?                                            Fashion

13 hours ago, lilbill15 said:

Wow, @Jammy! 🌟x Thank you very much for such detailed information, and thanks +++ for putting yourself out to collect all the facts, I’m very impressed and grateful x. I wouldn’t have known where to start!? You’ve mentioned you changed from O2 to Plusnet- is that something you’d advise me to do? I’m also clueless about networks, is EE better than O2, or maybe I’d be better using the same network for iPhone and iPad? Sorry for asking more daft questions but, at best, I understand very little of the contraptions that I try to use. I’d appreciate your advice, best regards, Roseanne x

Roseanne, this is what I use, sim wise. My iPad has a pay as you go O2 sim. The iPad rarely leaves my house so is ideal for me. My iPhone now has a Plusnet sim costing £6 a month on a 30 day rolling contract. The iPhone used to have an O2 sim installed costing around £20 per month on a 12 month contract. I use Plusnet for my broadband. I'm saving quite a few pounds per year with the iPhone. O2 used to drop phone calls when making them from home and often showed no service. With Plusnet(EE) I have a 2 bar stronger signal and have never had a call dropped or lost signal.

 Without knowing how much your O2 sim costs per month I will guess changing to Plusnet sims will save you money. You will use less data now your iPad is working. Should you decide to change you will find lower down on the Plusnet details page a box to type a number in. Type into the box the correct number supplied(by Plusnet) and you will retain your mobile number(takes a few hours from inserting the new sim into your mobile for your old number to be active).

 Should you go with Plusnet and find you don't have sufficient data you can easily upgrade to a higher data amount. 

 As I said previously type to someone at Plusnet to ensure their sim will work in your iPad.

 If you have any questions let me know. 

19 hours ago, lilbill15 said:

Thank you very much @Jammy, I do have Plusnet broadband so all seems to be well, plus O2 is my mobile network =all bases covered? Does this mean I can only use the iPad at home, or is it as mobile as the phone? Or, is this when a SIM might be needed?  Sorry for the dopey questions 😵‍💫xx

 You will need a sim with data if you want to use the iPad away from home. You could swap your O2 sim into your iPad if its the correct size. If it works you won't be able to receive or make phone calls. Because you have Plusnet broadband you will get a better deal on a sim, ie: more data for the normal sim price. I've had a quick look at the Plusnet site for sim only deals.

 This is what I've found: - 4GB - £6, 12GB - £8, 20GB - £20 - £10 on a 30 day rolling contract plus on any deal you will get an extra 2GB because you are a Plusnet broadband customer. You can use your iPad at home to access the site and speak(type) to someone to ask about the suitability of their sims for an iPad. I'm sure the sim will be ok. Also, you may find a Plusnet sim will be cheaper than your O2 sim and you can keep your existing number. I changed to Plusnet from O2 for my iPhone. Plusnet use the EE network. 

Sorry, I should have typed 20GB - £10. OOPS

If you have broadband you don't need a sim. Go to settings then Wifi and fill in the required details to log into your router. 

 If you don't have broadband then you will need a sim with plenty data per month. You could use a pay as you go sim with some data on it to see how much data you use each month then setup a monthly contract with the required data amount you think you will use. A monthly contract will prove cheaper than pay as you go.

 I had a Vodaphone sim in my iPad which caused me all sorts of problems. I changed to O2 and it worked perfectly. Plusnet do some canny deals on sim only and are cheaper than O2. Best to look around and perhaps ask if the chosen sim will work in your iPad.

1.         What is the correct collective name for a litter of piglets?                                                  A Farrow

2.         What is the final event in the decathlon?                                                                             1,500mtrs

3.         Of New Zealand’s two main islands which is the larger, North Island or South Island?    South Island

4.         In which city can you see the Obelisk of Luxor?

5.         What sort of instruments are timpani, table and boodhran?                                                Drums

6.         What was the name of the cook in the TV series Upstairs Downstairs?                             Mrs MacKay

7.         Who wrote the song A Whiter Shade of Pale?                                                                       Garry Brooker

8.         Who led the victorious armies at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314?                                 Robert the Bruce

9.         Before marrying Mark Antony, who was Cleopatra’s lover?                                                  Julius Caesar  

10.      In which sport are the terms ‘silly mid off’ and ‘extra cover’ used?                                        Cricket

11.      The sun’s heat is derived from the fusion of hydrogen and which other element?                Helium 

12.      What type of fruit is a Grenadier?                                                                                              Apple

 A thought I have is Bill married a lady from Blyth(I'm fairly sure) and I knew her as Penny and they may have lived on Princess Louise Road, Blyth. I'm telling you this in case you decide to search for Bills father via Bills wedding certificate. I'm not aware of any children from the marriage. Bill now lives in Thailand or one of the other far eastern countries but have no contact details. Scott and Neave still have a Plumbing and Heating shop in Blyth. Bill sold it to the existing employees so they may know if Bill had a middle name. I'm sure the lady who now owns it will know because she worked there before Bill left. If you get really lucky she may have an email address for him in the far east. If you do make contact tell him you got the information from apprentice Keith from Hendersons. 

Oldwulf.  I've lived in Bedlington all my life and only came across one Neave family. This is what I know which may or may not be of any use to you. 

 I was an apprentice plumber from 1964 to 1970. One of the qualified tradesman was a Bill(William?) Neave about 24yrs old in 1964 who lived at Stakeford from being young until he moved to Blyth and became one half of Scott and Neave. He was an only child. His parents lived in Stakeford Lane, Stakeford within 100yds of the Half Moon pub. I'm sure his father was from my area. 

 As I said this may not be of any use to your research because it is many years from the dates you mentioned. As you gradually move forward with your research it may prove useful. I remember Bills father was old, to me, so could have been in his 60's or even retired. I don't know his Christian name.

1.         Which Prussian statesman was known as The Iron Chancellor?                    Bismarck

2.         What is the membranous sack which surrounds the heart called?               Peri Cardus sac

3.         Which British Prime Minister said “A week is a long time in politics”?            Harold Wilson

4.         Into which river did the Pied Piper of Hamlin lead the rats?                           The Wesser  

5.         Which male vocalist of the 60s had number one hits with Yeh Yeh, Get Away and Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde?

                                                                                                             Georgie Fame and the blue flames

6.         In which London thoroughfare are the headquarters of the Horse Guards?        Whitehall

7.         In which sport are banderillas used?                                                                          Bullfighting 

8.         Which literary character’s main opponent was Von Stalhein?

9.         Which nutlike seeds are produced by the tree Prunus amygdalus?

10.      Where in the human body would you find the amygdala?                                         In the head

11.      Who won the 1997 Booker prize for the novel The God of Small Things?

12.      What do Americans call the game we know as draughts?                                         Checkers

1.         Which German General was known as the Desert Fox?                                Irwin Rommel

2.         Of which former Soviet republic is Riga the capital?                                     Latvia

3.         What was Mary Hopkins entry in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970?   Those were the days

4.         Which actor’s real name was William Pratt?                                                   Boris Karloff

5.         What sort of creature is a gerenuk?                                                                An antelope

6.         Which rat trained the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?                                    Roland 

7.         What did the American golfer Jack Nicklaus always carry in his pocket at tournaments?          Sweets

8.         Which British political party was founded on 1934?

9.         Which German physicist formed the quantum theory?

10.      Which rock guitarist was the first to be honoured with an English Heritage blue plaque?         Jimi Hendrix

11.      Who were Richard Branson’s co-pilots on his attempt to fly around the world in a balloon in December 1998?

12.      Who became a world snooker champion for a record-equalling sixth time in 1996?                 Stephen Hendry

 Yes former miners do receive free coal or most likely coke or its equivalent(nuggets). Ex miners who live out in the sticks are the only ones allowed to receive coal. In the towns it must be manufactured nuggets which are burned mainly on Parkray type inset fires/boilers which supply heat to a heating system as well as providing hot water to the taps. 

 For many years the free fuel allowance could be swapped for a one off cash payment. A lot took this option and installed gas central heating. Because ex miners living in the sticks don't have mains gas they were allowed to burn coal. I don't know what they will do now although because coal cannot be bought by the public it is possible that these ex miners may still receive their coal/nugget allowance. If this is the case a few thousand extra trees will have to be planted to keep the carbon neutral balance!

1.         Of which instrument was the sackbut a forerunner?                                                                   Trombone

2.         Which Riviera fishing village was an independent republic from the 15^th to the 17^th century?

3.         What are young grouse or partridge called?                                                                                  Cheepers

4.         Who invented the steam turbine in 1884?                                                                                       Parson

5.         What is your philtrum?                                                                                                                       Funny bone

6.         Arch, whorl and loops are all part of what?                                                                                       Fingerprints

7.         Which fruit was discovered by Christopher Columbus in Guadeloupe in 1493?                             The pineapple

8.         Which spice is made from the outer covering of the nutmeg?                                                         Maise

9.         What did goalkeeper Gordon Banks reputedly put on his hands to improve his grip?                   Chewing gum 

10.      What are auctioned at Tattersalls?                                                                                                       Horses

11.      What record was a chart-topping hit for Showaddywaddy in 1975?

12.      What is the smallest independent state in the world?                                                                         The Vatican 

@Jammy - but was the Grey Lady 👤 a physio?

 A good question that I cannot answer. I don't think any of the female physio's were old enough unless they could change their appearance for daytime use!

 Residents could leave the hall every evening after tea but had to be back by 9.30. Our choice for brown hydration was Guide Post club on a thursday evening. It was easy to get to using the United bus outside the hall to the doors of the club for opening time at 6.00 with the reverse journey reaching the hall at 9.25 for lights out at 10 if I remember correctly. Everyone went home on a friday after tea.

 I was in Hartford Hall in 1972 but wasn't a pitman.

Joyce Miller, a physio, was married to a German at one time and was called Muller but changed her name but not sure if it was by deed poll.

Jimmy Luke was there and head physio.

Mrs Mack (Jill?) from Gosforth, I believe, was also there as a physio.

Ollie lived in the gate house and now lives in Newbiggin, so I understand. He was an ex military training instructor and was like a greyhound in training. A very, very fit physio.

There was a dark haired lass who lived in the garage/shop on Shields Road so not far away. Also a physio. I used to go to the shop on a bike when I was shop laddie in advanced legs to seek the bacon sarnies, etc., for the morning break. It was exercise also for the 2 cartilages, one from each knee at the same time I had removed by Mr. Dineto in Ashington hospital and spent 11 days on ward 4 which was Thelma Keelysides ward. I was like a penguin when I first went in.

 I remember the first morning at the Hall. I was dropped off by my father and hobbled into the main doors. A lot were using sticks and as they entered Jimmy Luke took them away. They were like fish out of water.  I couldn't help laughing.  

 There was a groundsman who played a lot of squash or badminton for the county or perhaps at a higher level. I remember seeing him at the Stn coop later last year. He was living in Bower Grange at the time. The name that comes to mind is Dom but I may be wrong. He had a thick black tash.

 There were stories of the grey lady when I was a resident for 8 weeks with weekend breaks at home. I don't believe in ghosts and never had any 'moments' while in bed or at any other time. Some residents did believe the stories. Some went day release after the compulsory 1 week stay for assessment. 

 Hartford Hall was a wonderful place to get fit and the crack was great. With 6.25hrs exercise a day and use of any of the equipment if fit enough to use it with physio's to make sure it was used correctly. The communal hot bath at the end of the day eased the aches and pains. I left fitter than I had ever been in my life. It's a shame it isn't there now for recovering people. Much better than 3 x 1hr exercise sessions at a hospital each week. 

 There was a pit strike at the time I was in so there were quite a few pitmen in with bett knees. They didn't want to leave because they would have very little or no money coming in but got injury(?) money because they were on the sick while there. Each week consultants would call to check their patients to see if they were fit enough to leave. I saw many wet towels slapping the bett knees to swell them up before seeing the relevant consultants in the hope they would get another week there. One day Ollie said everyone in advance legs is going for a run around the hall. On the home stretch Ollie said last person to finish buys me a pint. All that could, put on a spurt to the finish line which was being watched by the consultants from a window who made a list of all that were fit. There was a big clear out the next day!

Happy days.

1 minute ago, Canny lass said:

Thanks Jammy! We get loads of blackbirds here. I'll be watching them more closely under the bird table now (they never eat on the table, but only pick up the spill from others on the ground). I'll see what I can identify.

The hen Blackbirds in your photos are showing partial yellow beaks so perhaps your cock birds also have a yellow beak.

Keep your eyes peeled and let me know please. I'm interested and would like to know.

'I couldn't swear to it but I would say Blackbird - extract from Wikipedia = The adult male of the common blackbird (Turdus merula merula which is the nominate subspecies), which is found throughout most of Europe, is all black except for a yellow eye-ring and bill and has a rich, melodious song; the adult female and juvenile have mainly dark brown plumage. This species breeds in woods and gardens, building a neat, mud-lined, cup-shaped nest. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, berries, and fruits.

So that description doesn't fully match yours but my ageing eyes detect a 'yellow eye-ring' in two of your photos'

Wikipedia needs updating as regards Blackbirds. British Blackbirds normally have the yellow eye ring whereas mainland Europeen birds do not have the ring. A lot of blackbirds migrate to Britain and south in mainland Europe in the autumn and stay until spring. These birds can usually be picked out by the lack of the eye ring but not always. 1st year British birds do not have the eye ring until the following spring. British cock Blackbirds do not develop a yellow beak until their 1st spring and then retain it for life. Continental birds arrive in Britain with dark brown or black beaks. I don't know if they develop yellow beaks when they fly back to the area they hatched. They do not have yellow beaks when they migrate to Britain.

Canny Lass that is why the yellow eye ring cannot be seen on your photos. Blackbirds become territorial in the spring which explains why your birds were chasing each other.

 Blackbirds do not line their nests with mud. Only grass is used to form the nest bowl. The Song Thrush lines its nest with mud on top of a grass formed bowl. The eggs are laid directly onto that mud once it has partly dried out and is strong enough to support the hen bird. There is no soft lining.

 As an aside. Blackbird cocks have a loud song and will sit high up on a bush for hours singing. Their song is repetitive, a loop. A song thrush mixes up the notes so never sings in a pattern. I like listening to both.

Scribbleyjack eggs. The name scribbleyjack maybe a local name and I've known it since I understood words. It's easy to understand why its called a scribbleyjack by the patterns on the eggs.

  I found many nests when I was a youth, sadly there are not many to find now. When farming practices altered and the stubble was ploughed in and sown before winter the birds couldn't glean the stubbles over winter so starved. Many other birds suffered because of the autumn sowing including Linnets and Skylarks.

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2.         In which constellation is Rigel the brightest star?

3.         What was The Elephant Man’s real name ?

4.         Which adult male singing voice is lower than tenor and higher than bass?     Baritone

5.         How many players are there in a baseball team?                                                9

6.         Which pop group derived their name from an unemployment benefit form?    UB40

7.         What is the capital of Belize?

8.         Prince Charles is Duke of which English county?                                                 Cornwall

9.         What is the official language of Pakistan?                                                             Urdu

10.      What type of bird is a budgerigar?                                                                           Parrot

11.      In 1930 which country did Amy Johnson fly to from England?                               Australia                                

12.      Which type of wood did Noah use to build his Ark?                                                Olive