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FEEDBACK
I guess the most obvious form of feedback to the blog is via the comment option at the bottom. Just click the word and Bob’s yer uncle, Fanny’s yer aunt.

Some people, though, choose to use email, either because they are congenitally daft and can’t figure out how to leave a comment at the blog itself or - and I admit that this is much more likely - because they’d rather whatever it is they want to say is ‘heard’ only by me, for one reason or another. For the purposes of this posting, I have checked with the relevant truckshunters to ensure that they don’t mind my giving their comments the oxygen of publicity, to use Thatcher’s inglorious phrase.

So first up, a very big thankyou to everyone who’s been emailing over the past few weeks, either on my personal email address or on the truckshunter address which is always tagged on to the end of each posting. I’ve had some fascinating stuff, of which this posting features a very small amount. Thanks to you all.

1 BIRDS
In a recent posting I mentioned the ‘dawn chorus’ of birdsong in some connexion or other. As a result, truckshunter Dave Court - of whom more later - sent me an erudite and knowledgeable email on the subject. His literary style is so articulate and easy on the brain - surely the best literary style of all - that his email is worth quoting almost in its entirety...

The dawn chorus of birdsong peaks at this time of year because most of the migrant birds have arrived by now. As the last traces of Winter and Spring bow out and Summer makes itself known, male songbirds sing to attract a mate and protect their territory. You have to be up with the lark to hear it, of course. At about 0400, the roll-call begins - often in this order: blackbird (pictured above), robin, wren, tawny owl, warblers (including blackcaps and chiffchaffs), song thrush and blue tit. There’s also a dusk chorus, but as it tends to be less windy early in the morning, the clarion call to love and war is sweetest at dawn. As soon as it’s light enough for birds to look for food - about 0430 - the chorus ends.

Isn’t that lovely?

Interestingly, one of the few things I know about Dave is that he is not an ex-Nightshift listener. He happened on the truckshunter blog via the internet just a few weeks ago and has now read back through every posting - all 147 of them. I don’t know anything else about him - not even where he lives - but I’m astonished and gratified at his devotion!

Another emailer, known to me only as Ellen, also got in touch about my reference to birds. She drew my attention to the recent RSPB bird census which makes sobering and even frightening reading. According to the RSPB, bird numbers in the UK are plummeting and Ellen asks ‘Where have they all gone?’

The humble starling’s population has fallen by 62% in only 20 years; the grey partridge’s by 87% - yes eighty-seven percent. Lapwing numbers are down by 56%; remember that this was once one of our commonest and most striking birds. The glorious skylark, too, is suffering badly - numbers are down by 51%. Kestrels, too, seem to have decided to leave us to our own devices - their numbers have fallen by 35%.

But Ellen reckons that the two most worrying and thought-provoking statistics concern the once common yellowhammer, whose population has dropped by an amazing 54%, and the cuckoo, which - unbelievably - has now been placed on the endangered list.

While I was staying with my friend Sue near Hereford recently, it was wonderful - almost blissful - to lie abed and listen to what must be one of the most characteristic and unmistakable bird calls in the whole of creation; the pure, two-note musicality of a cuckoo in a nearby wood. I loved it; and Ellen's email has filled me with dread that we may actually lose this deeply pastoral and primaeval sound of wildlife forever.

If anyone has the bare-faced gall to suggest that this unfolding disaster has nothing to do with us, they should be clapped in irons and deposited in the most fetid oubliette currently available; I believe there’s a suitable one at Chillingham Castle.

What are we doing wrong? Can we set matters right for the birds? And, as Ellen asks - where on Earth have they all gone?

2 SGTRANE BTU TURE
A truckshunter called Judith sent me this...

Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can raed tihs. Cna yuo? Fi yuo cna, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid! Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are; the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

BREAKFAST WITH THE STARS
Lawrence and I will be mustered for breakfast at about 0800 this upcoming Wednesday 3 June at Margaret’s Cafe near the mini-roundabout where Two Ball Lonnen meets the West Road in Newcastle. Care to join us?

CONTACT ME
Post comments on this blog or email me: truckshunters@googlemail.com

102 comments:

Kev said...

Of course it is a grave concern regarding the decline in the number of birds, but even more so in the number of bees and other pollinating insects.
I had considered keeping a hive in the garden but realistically wouldn't be able to manage it properly. I do however have a small group of bumble bees (a different species altogether) that have made a nest in the house foundations.
Do you know that it was 'proven' that bumble bees couldn't possibly fly due to their size and weight in relation to their wing size. It's crazy thinking like this that has got us into the mess we're in today.
And finally,
A doctor, a civil engineer, and a computer scientist were arguing about what was the oldest profession in the world.

The doctor remarked, "Well, in the Bible, it says that God created Eve from a rib taken out of Adam. This clearly required surgery, and so I can rightly claim that mine is the oldest profession in the world."

The civil engineer interrupted, and said, "But even earlier in the book of Genesis, it states that God created the order of the heavens and the earth from out of the chaos. This was the first and certainly the most spectacular application of civil engineering. Therefore, fair doctor, you are wrong: mine is the oldest profession in the world."

The computer scientist leaned back in her chair, smiled, and then said confidently, "Ah, but who do you think created the chaos?" ..

Take care

Ian Robinson said...

Yes Kev I used to talk about 'a world without bees' on The Nightshift. And I think the world still hasn't got its collective eye on that particular ball yet. Very worrying.
Loved the joke.
You free for a coffee one day next week?

Maureen said...

Hi Kev, nice to hear from you again and some other new 'posters'
I thought that you might be interested to know that a new programme has been introduced to bring some short-haired bumble bees back from New Zealand!...

Conservation partnership launches rescue mission for short-haired bumblebee.
A new project to re-introduce the short-haired bumblebee to England is announced today (Monday 1 June 2009) by Natural England, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT), RSPB and Hymettus.
The short-haired bumblebee became extinct in England in 2000, but for over a century a small number of the original English population has clung on in New Zealand, having been transported there in the late nineteenth to pollinate crops of red clover. The bees were shipped aboard the first refrigerated lamb boats, and established small populations the south island of New Zealand, but there they remain unprotected and under threat.
It's nice to hear that people are trying to do something about isn't it?
More Info on:
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/news/2009/010609.aspx
PS I was at the Durham Botanic Gardens today and can thoroughly recommend it for a 'shunt!'

Kev said...

Hi Maureen
There was a programme on TV over the weekend that contained an article on bumble bees. Apparently, in the late 1940's, there were 27 different species of bumble bee, falling into two main types - the short tongued and the long tongued. Each type had its own range of flowers, depending on the size of the flower head.
Changes in land management have 'decimated' (yes, I know the definition of the word, but it fits) the range of flowering plants, leading to a massive decline in bee population.
Ian, I think that perhaps I have found my high horse!
Take care, all.

Ian Robinson said...

With you all the way, Kev. Apparently, 3 out of every 4 mouthfuls of food we eat depend on bees. I'm genuinely frightened of the consequences if we don't manage to avoid what seems to me to be an impending catastrophe. There's an age-old folk tradition of 'respect the bees, keep an eye on them and take notice of what they may be trying to tell you'.

Hildie said...

Tra la la .. good morning everyone, I'm a bit happier today ... I was heading for the dentist's chair this time yesterday morning! It's an expensive hobby I have!
I also think I have discovered a design fault in we mortals ...
how come we don't have a third set of teeth appearing somewhere around the age of 50? I'd have appreciated that!

Hi there, Kev, it is good to hear from you - and I liked the joke too.
Hi Dave, I loved your little piece about the dawn chorus ... as Ian said ... it was SO eloquently written.
Hi Maureen, hope you are well. They won't try to fly back to New Zealand , those short-haired bumble bees, will they?! Hope not!
I liked the sound of your day out at The Botanic Gardens. It would be a good venue for a 'shunt', you're right.
Going back to the dentist's chair, as is my wont, I couldn't help but think, yesterday, about a Nightshift Newsreel item that I once sent in to Ian. It was about Brandy Fanning, aged 31, of Syracuse ..Dr George Trusty was performing emergency dental work on her ... when a bit of a mishap occurred.The accident happened as Trusty was drilling to break up a molar, prior to extracting it. As he worked, he was performing rhythmical steps and movements to the song, "Car Wash", which was playing on the radio. At some point there was a terrible mis-step and the inch-long drill- bit that he was using punctured Brandy's sinus cavity.
I know we truckshunters shouldn't have found that funny, but we did!
Hi Sid and Vivienne and Lawrence and Meg and Margaret and Nev and Gerry and Charles and Marion and Ellie and Audrey and Ellen and Judith and Inga .... hope I haven't missed anyone out ... just felt like giving you all a wave!!

Hildie said...

Sid, it's just me again .... I forgot to tell you I did a day's supply teaching on Tuesday ... I was doing Design Technology with 6 and 7 year olds ... we had to design seed packets!
Now you would have been good at that!
We had to cut out and glue the packet first of all, then put a picture of a flower or fruit or veg on the front, and on the back we had to put growing instructions about watering and sunshine and where to plant our seeds.
I just wish you could see their lovely seed packets, they made an excellent job of it and really enjoyed the task!

Kev said...

As Monty Python used to say '..and now for something completely different'
I came across a list of phobias of which the following are some of the strangest - if you suffer from any of these I apologise in advance. Being phobic is not a laughing matter but these do make you what triggered the phobia in the first place. (The comments in brackets are mine)
• Arithmophobia- Fear of numbers (So that’s the problem with some of my students)
• Barophobia- Fear of gravity
• Cathisophobia- Fear of sitting
• Cibophobia- Fear of food ( Not me! Pass the biscuits)
• Clinophobia- Fear of going to bed
• Dextrophobia- Fear of objects at the right side of the body
• Levophobia- Fear of objects to the left side of the body
• Geliophobia- Fear of laughter (Ho! Ho! Ho!)
• Geniophobia- Fear of chins (???)
• Genuphobia- Fear of knees (??????????????????????)
• Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia- Fear of long words (What? You must be joking)
• Kainophobia- Fear of anything new
• Kathisophobia- Fear of sitting down
• Lachanophobia- Fear of vegetables
• Linonophobia- Fear of string
• Panophobia- Fear of everything (Now that MUST make life hard)
• Peladophobia- Fear of bald people
• Phronemophobia- Fear of thinking
• Pogonophobia- Fear of beards (Well that’s certainly not Ian or myself!)
• Sophophobia- Fear of learning (see Arithmophobia)
• Stasibasiphobia- Fear of walking
• Trichopathophobia- Fear of hair

Ian, yes I'm free for coffee. How about Wednesday or Thursday next week?

Take care everyone

Vivienne said...

Hi Folks!

Sorry I haven't been blogging much since the last AGM, but in keeping with the theme of this posting, I've been looking after 'my birds'.

When I first moved to Winlaton in the mid 1990s, I was disappointed at the lack of birds living in and around my gardens (front & back). However, there were several cats living nearby, which may have had something to do with the low numbers of birds. Over the years the numbers of birds have increased, as I've made my gardens bird friendly.

Since I retired almost two years ago, I've spent more and more time bird watching from my kitchen window, and have taken part in the RSPB survey both last year and this. Last year I only had bread to attract the birds, but this year I'd had peanuts and suet balls out all winter, so had built up flock of regulars.

About six weeks ago I was delighted to open my curtains to see three baby sparrows and two baby blackbirds sitting around my bird bath taking turns drinking. As I watched both the blackbirds, in turn, went into the water and had a bath. The baby sparrows watched with interest, then tried to do likewise, something their parents never did! The baby sparrows hovered above the water splashing their wings in the water below. It was a delight to see. All the babies seemed to be enjoying each other's company and their freedom.

On a daily basis the baby numbers increased. The first baby starling appeared a week later. Three days later there were about eight, then twelve, then twenty two. At this point I realised that all the parents were bringing their young into my garden for food. The poor parents were being chased around the garden by their offsprings for food. I dashed out with some bread, which disappeared in minutes. I went out to buy more bird food, and returned to find thirty-five baby starlings. At the last count there are fifty baby starlings! The blackbirds are still feeding young, so there are more to come (three to date).

I like to think I'm doing my bit to help to save the bird population, but keeping them fed and watered (I've had to buy to extra bird baths) and helping the adult blackbirds to chase away the magpies and jackdaws, has kept me very busy over the past month.

Sid said...

Morning everyone, for the last few years I've kept about 25 sq yds of my allotment free of cultivation so that wildlife can use it as they see fit. I am missing a couple of Robins this year, no idea where they have gone.
Perhaps Murphy and Dora may call in to see the birds Vivienne. The photos would be looked forward to...

Murphy and Dora said...

Hello Sid,

Thank you for your very kind invitation. Dora and I would love to visit your birds and your allotment. Vivienne thinks she's choked up your inbox with her Tanfield Railway photos. Sorry!

Luv Murphy xx and Dora xx

Sid said...

Vivienne I haven't many birds this year, I thought you might take some pics of yours, and post them on M&D's.

Hildie said...

Wey, we should have all gone to the
Blaydon Races ... shouldn't we?

Hildie said...

Kev, their maths was truly atrocious on Radio Newcastle this morning .... I'm glad you texted in ...... I was just on the verge of doing it myself when Charlie read out your message.

Kev said...

What's this all about?
Whatever it was, it wasn't me

Hildie said...

Sorry, Kev, there was a text on the morning show from someone named Kev, who was described as a mathematician .... he just pointed out the error of their ways .... I made the assumption that the text had come from you, many apologies.

Sid said...

Hildie, I have been on the other side of some txt's that are read out. One female presenter read out a txt from me, which had no resemblance to what I actually said. I find that outrageous. She even added that I was enjoying the show. What a nerve.

Hildie said...

Eee, Sid, I wonder who she was!
I used to be fascinated whenever I was near enough to the Blue Bus to see how it all worked .... at Newbiggin and at Castleside I saw Steve hand the text messages to Ian all on a print-out! I was quite tickled by that!

Maureen said...

That happened to me too Sid, and the lady in question actually rang me and tried to persuade me to talk to her on air. I didn't text her anymore!

mim said...

Hi all, I am in Salzburg in Austria having a great time . I used to text into Newcastle too and was amazed how they altered what I wrote!!
Love Margaret x

Hildie said...

Hi mim ..... it's hard to keep track of you! I hope you are having the best time over there!
Will you be in Tynemouth next weekend by any chance?! x

Hildie said...

Have had a look on the TWITTER website a couple of times and can't figure out how to get going on there ... so I thought I'd come and have a bit of a twitter on Truckshunters. I'm off down the road to my local school any minute now, I have half a day's supply work .... but .... when the Head rang me yesterday to ask me to go in he said, "Actually, I think you'll have a nice afternoon because a Brazilian drummer is coming in to perform. You will just be in the classroom doing an activity for an hour and then you'll have to take the class down to the hall at 2p.m. to see the drummer." So ..... away I go!
Hope Ian's okay,
he's gone very quiet!

mim said...

Hi Hildie, I am here on holiday with my husband and youngest son Tom and we picked up our third eldest son,Michael who is in Ulm at university and he is here with us.
It is hot and dry here and we are enjoying seeing Austria.
I have to go and see mum when I get back, she is in Lancashire and I have just had to sort out a care home for her which was not the nicest thing I have had to do. My step-dad Bill is still at home but not managing even with lots of extra help but refuses care as he will not sell his house. I think it will be a long hard slog sorting it all out.
Love Margaret x

Vivienne said...

Hi Mim,

I understand how difficult it is when parents reach the stage of needing additional help, and are unable to cope at home. My Mother had to go into residential care, when her home care package kept breaking down, and she was no longer able to let us know when the care failed to turn up.

It sounds as though you need a holiday. Have you run up the Salzburg hills like Julie Andrews, singing, 'The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music'? We did when I went there years ago with my parents and my younger sister!

mim said...

Hi Vivienne,
Yes I did need a break because without boring you all to bits the past month has been fraught to say the least and it's not over yet.My stepdad has 8 nieces and nephews who are technically next of kin but don't want to know and he is the most difficult person to deal with.I didn't run up the hills but we went to see the Mirabell gardens where lots of the film was shot.
Love Margaret x

Ellie said...

Oh dear! Have I missed the Tynemouth AGM? I was looking forward to that as its just down the road from where I live.
Like you, I have been looking after the birds. Masses of them and they are going through birdseed at a rate of knots. Still, they are worth it!

Vivienne said...

Hi Ellie,

I don't think we set a date for the next AGM. If we did and it was this weekend, then I've missed it too!

Mim, I hope you return from your holiday with renewed strength to cope with the difficulties which lie ahead. I hope too that your stepdad's family rally around, and give you the help you need.

I've just heard this week that a dear friend died earlier this year. We kept in touch via Christmas cards for over 30yrs. She told me she'd had a course of chemo in her card the Christmas before last. She didn't reply to my letters. I didn't have her phone number or even her postal code, so didn't know what to do when I failed to receive a card this Christmas. Unbeknown to me her Mother was still alive, and my card with my my letter and phone number were with some papers Liz had asked her mother to look after. I had a long chat with her mum and I'm going to visit her later this month. Liz and I had planned to meet up again following our retirement. Sadly that never happened.

Sid said...

Morning everyone, a provisional date of 20/21 of this month for the next AGM was suggested on blog number 146. Ian asked for suggestions.

I wonder where Ian has got himself to...surely not another fridge incident.

Maureen said...

Psst, I heard a whisper that Ian had gone touring in a camper van around parts of Europe. I can't reveal my source as I may have the wrong Ian. It has gone quiet though hasn't it?

Ellie said...

Evening, everyone ~ well I'm glad I haven't missed it. I thought it was to be in Tynemouth. Not far from where I live and as I'm the worst navigator ever, I should be able to find it!!
We'll have to wait until Himself is back again to confirm.
Strange, a dear lady I have known for many years died a week ago. It was her funeral today. No warning, no illness - just gone in a moment. Very sad and she was only in her early 50's. She was amazing and will be missed.
On to another subject: birds! This year some lovely white doves have joined the rest of the varied flock who feed in my back. I have no idea where they came from but seven or eight turn up every morning, afternoon and evening as regular as clockwork. They seem quite tame, and are a delight.
If there is any news about the AGM I would appreciate it. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone.

Sid said...

Well fancy that Maureen...Ian giving in to a sudden urge. Well done that man!.
My only wish is that he had use of a laptop and a wifi connection. But that might spoil the whole thing for him, so I'll just wait for his return.
If he isn't back by the beginning of the Amtrak Mooning Festival (July 11th 2009) then I'll start checking the website for photo's. lol.

Maureen said...

So sorry to hear about your friend Ellie, it must have been such a shock. Makes you think that you have to make the most of every day doesn't it?
Sid, you could be right about the Mooning festival, Ian was very interested in it wasn't he? Ooer Missus!

Hildie said...

Hi everyone! I was just wondering if Ian had popped in to read our vibrant and pithy comments .... or if he'd said anything about the Tynemouth AGM .... you know, words to the effect of 'be there or be square'.
I hope he is okay

p.s. Of all the ore dug in diamond mines, only one carat in every twenty three tons proves to be a diamond.

meg said...

Is there any news on the AGM at Tynemouth? I hope it's still going ahead as I really enjoyed the last one. I also hope Ian hasn't been arrested for practicing his mooning ahead of the festival in July lol

Hildie said...

hi meg
first of all I hope you are keeping well .... no news I'm afraid ..... possibly Ian has left the country (pure supposition) ... although he does for certain appear to have left the building! Let's just hope he is having fun ... maybe Project 60/60 has led him off at a tangent. I'll be plodding around Consett Middle Street shortly ... maybe I'll bump into you. We'll just have to keep watching this space for the next twenty four hours for news of the Tynemouth AGM.

Sid said...

I spy with my little eye..something beginning with B.

If you want a clue I can see it outside..... through my window.

Sid said...

Who said 'Bars'...

Maureen said...

It's not bl***y rain is it Sid? It's all that I can see out of mine!

Sid said...

You're too clever by half Maureen. Even my polytunnel isn't getting me to the allotment this afternoon. Some things are growing well, but the peas are a disaster. Can't get them to germinate let alone grow. I wonder how the big boys are doing..

Hildie said...

D'you mean 'Bird's Eye', Sid?!!! Couldn't follow your thinking just then for a minute! Eee, you're funny ... should we have a game of Dominoes after "I Spy"? Or....... I could read you all the nice story I read to the children at school yesterday.

Sid said...

Should we gather in 'the snug'. A favourite place of Ena Sharples if I remember correctly.
I remember my first ever bottle of Vaux beer, at the tender age of 17. It was awful....and lasted all night, well 9 o'clock anyway.

Hildie said...

Are you ready for the story then? Are you all sitting comfortably? It's called "THE FISH WHO COULD WISH" by John Bush and Korky Paul..
In the deep blue sea,
In the deep of the blue,
Swam a fish who could wish, And each wish would come true.
Oh the fun that he had!
Oh the things he would do!
Just wishing away
In the deep water blue.
He wished for a castle.
He wished for a car.
He wished for a horse
And a spanish guitar.
Once, when he wished
he could go out and ski,
It snowed for a week
under the sea!
He wished he could fly
And, to his delight,
Flew twice round the world
In exactly one night!
If sharks came a-hunting
For a nice fishy treat,
He'd quickly just wish
He was too small to eat.
And, to teach sharks a lesson,
Do you know what he'd wish?
That he was a shark
And the shark was a fish!
He'd wish himself square,
Or round as a biscuit,
Triangular, oval ....
Name it, he wished it.
He wished for fine suits
And handsome silk ties,
Butthe one thing he never wished
Was to be wise ....
One day, just for fun,
That silly old fish
Wished the silliest, silliest
Wish he could wish.
That silly old fish
Wished he could be
Just like all the other
Fish in the sea.
But wishing was something
Other fish could not do.
So that was his very last
wish that came true.

Maureen said...

Fancy! and I was just kidding. My bedding plants have settled in nicely thanks to the rain but I'd be quite happy if it stopped now. Sid, you promise that you haven't been doing your famous rain dance again?
Bottled beer, I remember one of my first forays into a pub with a boy. I didn't know what to ask for and he bought me a barley wine. Yuck! horrible. Still don't like lager, beer type of drinks.

Maureen said...

Lovely Hildie, that's great. I bet the kids really enjoyed it. A bit of a cautionary tale too!
Sorry that I pushed in before you there!

Sid said...

Hildie that was lovely, took me back to a lovely teacher called Miss Finlay. Wherever she is, I hope she knows I still think of her.

Hildie said...

Morning Ellie, Meg, Vivienne and anyone else who is waiting for news of the Tynemouth AGM .... I don't know if you checked in last night but Maureen, Sid and I kept a blogwatch to see if Ian posted any news of it .... but we now think that it mustn't be happening.
My wish is this .... that he has headed for Wimbledon with someone mesmerisingly handsome!

Sid said...

Ian had better show up soon. So far he's been touring Europe in a camper van, I've had him mooning in the USA and now Hildie thinks he's off to Wimbledon with a handsome chap.
Other ideas would be greatly accepted, please, Gilly Marples, we need you to help us.
Miss, have you got Ian in detention...would an apple and a hold of me frog help to get him set free...

Vivienne said...

Hi Folks!

I hope you Dads are enjoying your special day today?

Now I've a suggestion re our next AGM. How about us fixing a date and time, and maybe Ian will join us if he's available. Ian told us that he often goes to Tynemouth Station, so we may be lucky enough to see him there. What about Sunday 5th July at 11am by the Station steps? Any other ideas?

Ellie, I'm very sorry to hear about your friend. It must have been an awful shock. I would enjoy meeting up with you, even if Ian can't make it.

Hildie, I enjoyed your story too. Maybe we should write a tale of our own entitled, 'Ian's Mysterious Wanderings' as we've already come up with some great suggestions for places Ian's visiting!

Sid said...

Thanks for the mention on Kathy Seckers show today Vivienne, I was up to my neck in tomato plants when I heard it, twas just what I needed, a timely pick me up.
Your idea of a meet on the 5th July is a good one. I will do my best to be there.
If Ian has gone abroad he may be tracing the steps of the 19th century British Colonial soldiers...He might be being held by the Fuzzy Wuzzies....and that's not funny.

Hildie said...

He could be back in Dorset for the nettle eating competition.

Sid said...

If they run short of nettles Hildie I can let them have some...free of charge.

Hildie said...

Or Ian could be on the road to
Hundy Mundy .... that old haunt of yours, Sid!!

Maureen said...

Sorry I didn't hear the mention on Kathy Seckers show Vivienne, but it was a nice though I can just imagine Sid humming along as he supported his trusses. Tomatoes, Sid, behave!
Good idea to arrange another venue as I'm sure that people were disappointed about the previous arrangement. I'll check and let you know if I can get there.
Now can we all sing together please? "Where have you gone Mr Robinson ...."

Hildie said...

Hi everyone, how are you all?
It's proper truckshunter agm weather this, n'est ce pas?!
I hope you are all enjoying it! I'm actually calling in sick on behalf of Sid .... not that he's sick ... but he has sent a message to say he might be off a few days .... he is at his caravan and the wi-fi has gone down.
I sent Lawrence a text message before the weekend and didn't get a reply from him ...... that's very worrying ...... he ALWAYS answers !!!

Meg said...

I think Ian has gone to NASA as he's wanting to go to the moon. It could be one small step for Ian, one giant leap for truckshunters.

Hildie said...

Hi Meg hope we get a postcard from the moon soon .... do you remember when we were at Tanfield and we talked about truckshunters going to Durham Big Meeting? Well, I read today that it happens on Saturday 11th July. I had a Saurday in Durham the weekend before last. My daughter was here from Manchester . There was a lovely atmoshere there ... three of us went ... my sister, my daughter and myself .... on one street corner was a man making amazing things from balloons, on another was a man playing bagpipes, and on Elvet Bridge there were musicians playing guitars in the sunshine .... we ate our ice cream cornets as we looked on. We went to the in-door market - definitely worth a visit ... and we saw Ian's favourite statue!

Maureen said...

Hi I heard Paul say that he is going on holiday soon, maybe he's borrowing Ian's camper van?

Hildie said...

This was in today's Daily Telegraph
..... The PA announcer at Leicester railway station is brightening up passengers' journeys with his very own thought for the day. He gives passengers a short fact, pearl of wisdom or piece of nonsense once a day. On Tuesday, 23rd June, he reminded passengers that the Battle of Bannockburn in the Scottish Wars of Independence was fought this day in 1314.
The previous day he asked, "Why is there only one Monopolies Commission?" and last week he reminded passengers, "When in Rome, a street map of Cape Town isn't much use."
He began makingunusual announcements when he was telling passengers that the train was pulling into the station and reminding them not to leave behind any luggage or personal belongings.
"I suddenly decided to slip in, at the end of the announcement, the question, "Why don't sheep shrink in the rain?" I got some favourable comments and the next day I decided to do it again and it's really just built up from there.
"I do it because it's a harmless way of brightening up people's days and perhaps it puts a bit of personality to the voice behind the tannoy."
A spokesman for East Midlands Trains said, "We are getting a positive feedback from passengers and we hope he will carry on what he is doing."

ARE YOU TRUCKSHUNTERS THINKING WHAT I AM THINKING?

SURELY NOT .......

COULDN'T BE ......

COULD IT?!!!

mim said...

Hi all,

Well I was at the Maggie Bank last night where my son Dominic was drumming for Tom Mitchell and his band( billy Mitchells) son. I had told Ian and he said he would like to go --well I was there --where was he!!!
He missed a treat as they were brilliant and Ray Laidlaw and Pete Donegan also showed up!
Tom is playing at Tynemouth station again soon alone but I'm hoping Dominic will play again.

Love Margaret x

Maureen said...

Sounds like a good night at the Maggie, Margaret. I'm sure that Ian would have loved it. He must have forgotten. I wonder what is distracting him?
Hildie I like your quotes story and you are right, I know who it could be. How about putting a quote for the day on here? I'm sure that we all have our favourites. I'm thinking of "If you can't do what you want, do what you can" It helps when you have been frustrated by life's twists and turns. Anyone else?
I've just heard on the news that you can get pick and mix again from Woolworths online. I'll have to check that out. I've missed Woolies since they closed in Sunderland a few years ago. If you didn't know where to get something you always tried Woolworths didn't you? They still have C&A in Holland and I love to have a browse around there when we are visiting.

Hildie said...

Wow, Margaret it sounded a great night. I'm sorry we can't answer your question about where Ian is ... we just seem to have completely mislaid him.
Hi Maureen ... I like your idea of putting a thought for the day on here ... will have a think!

Kev said...

How about
"He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask is a fool forever"

Maureen said...

That's a good one Kev. I'll try to remember that. I heard a good mathematics one the other day and I thought, "Kev would like that one" I'll try to find it ...

Maureen said...

Found it!: We used to think that if we knew one, we knew two, because one and one are two. We are finding that we must learn a great deal more about 'and'.
Sir Arthur Eddington (1882 - 1944), The Harvest of a Quiet Eye (A. L. Mackay), 1977
What do you reckon Kev?

Sid said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vivienne said...

Hi Friends,

Sid, I'm glad you're back online again. I hope you're having a lovely time at your caravan.

I just wish to say how sad I feel at the news tonight of Michael Jackson's sudden death. Poor man, what a life he's had, and now to die at the age of only 50 years. His music will live on forever.

(What a week this has been - first my friend Liz then my distant cousin's daughter aged 24 who fainted, bumped her head and died immediately, Ellie's close friend, and now Michael)

Ian, where are you? I hope you're ok?

Kev said...

Very true, Maureen.
How about: In mathematics you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
Johann von Neumann (1903 - 1957) or another by Sir Arthur:
The mathematics is not there till we put it there.

Maureen said...

Yes very thought provoking Kev. We haven't had any of your puzzles for a while have we? and how about the bits and pieces we used to send in to the Hightshift everyone? Looks like Ian's gone awol again, maybe we should just keep ourselves amused?

Maureen said...

Of course I meant Nightshift, oops!

Maureen said...

I thought that I'd get the ball rolling with these:
You know it is time to reassess your relationship with
your computer when....

1. You wake up at 4 O'clock in the morning to go to the bathroom and
stop to check your email on the way back to bed.

2. You turn off your computer and get an awful empty feeling, as if
you just pulled the plug on a loved one.

3. You decide to stay in college for an additional year or two, just
for the free internet access.

4. You laugh at people with 28.8 modems.

5. You start using smileys :-) in your snail mail.

6. You find yourself typing "com" after every period when using a word
processor.com

7. You can't correspond with your mother because she doesn't have a
computer.

8. When your email box shows "no new messages" and you feel really
depressed.

9. You don't know the gender of your three closest friends because they
have nondescript screen name and you never bothered to ask.

10. You move into a new house and you decide to "Netscape" before you
landscape.

11. Your family always knows where you are.

12. In real life conversations, you don't laugh, you just say "LOL, LOL".

13. After reading this message, you immediately forward it to a friend!

Sid said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hildie said...

Wow ... yes ... I think we will all tick a few of those boxes!
With Ian in mind, I thought our Truckshunter thought for the Day could be
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" ..... however,
there's always -

"Well kens the mouse when the cat's out of the house."

Maureen said...

I haven't heard the mouse one before Hildie.
I think that I've found a possible location for the missing Mr Robinson. Today is the day that Willaston, near Nantwich, Cheshire hold their World Worm Charming Championships! Sounds like a fun event, here are some 'charming facts':
The Worm Charming event was first devised by Mr John Bailey who was the deputy headmaster of Willaston County Primary School, Nantwich, Cheshire from 1961 to 1983.

It was designed as a fund raising event incorporated into our School Fete in 1980.

The Rules were compiled by John Bailey in 1980 but over the years the size of plots has been increased from three yards square to three metres square to bring us in line with EEC requirements.

We have also increased the number of squares from 100 to 144 to accommodate additional competitors who compete on behalf of various charities.

The record was set in 1980 by Mr Tom Shufflebotham who raised 511 worms from a three yards square plot. This was verified by various independant witnesses from the press and is entered in the Guiness Book of Records.

Competitors compete for a trophy in the shape of a golden rampant worm which is awarded to the person charming the most worms from their plot in thirty minutes. The title is held for one year.

The competitor charming the heaviest worm holds the silver worm trophy for one year. The heaviest worm recorded weighed 6.6grams and was charmed by Mr J. Overstall in 1987.

Rules are available in over thirty different languages and the organisers are always interested in adding to this total.

Because of fierce local competition and all year round training by worm charming fanatics, the trophy had never left the village of Willaston until, in 1996, father and son team Phil and David Williams from Wiltshire won the competition with a total of 157 worms. Willaston managed to forgive the Willliams team, however, when it was revealed that they had lived in Willaston for a number of years prior to winning the title and were still Willastonians at heart.

There had not been a tie-break situation at the end of the allotted 30-minute Charming time until 2003 when Richard and Rodney Windsor (Plot 131) and Lea Clark and Robert Oltram (Plot 134) each raised 167 worms from the ground. A further five minutes Charm Off was held in accordance with Rule 17 after which Richard and Rodney Windsor were declared Champions having raised a further 14 worms, beating their rivals by just one worm.

The most succesful method used so far is that of hand vibrating a four tyne garden fork inserted approximately 15cms into the turf, now known locally in South Cheshire as 'twanging'.
Fancy that one Sid?

Sid said...

Well Maureen that's a strange one and no mistake. I had heard about these worm charming events but was unaware of the huge numbers of worms attracted.
I'm not sure how it started, but the idea that a worm cut in half goes on to become two worms isn't true. You end up with a dead worm.

Maureen said...

I was thinking how many nutters it attracted actually Sid. Were you listening to Simon Hoban and Simma this morning? They were dispelling Urban Myths and the half worm was amongst them. Apparently that band in the middle carries their reproductive organs ...ouch!

Sid said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maureen said...

Yes, they reckoned that it would stick to your ribs! Didn't our parents threaten us with some awful things? Like if you pulled faces your face would stay that way?

Hildie said...

Oh, and the carrots they made us eat ,,,




















so's we could see in the dark!

Sid said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hildie said...

That's right, Sid ... they were hardly tactful or gentle with their warnings
..... if we ran around with our hair wet we'd catch our death of cold!

Vivienne said...

Hi Folks,

My mother told me that if I bit my finger nails I would end up with potatos growing from my fingers. You can't imagine my terror when one day I had a septic finger, which looked like a small white potato was growing from the tip!

Vivienne said...

Hi again,

Sorry if you've seen the following already!


English Signs from Around the World......

In a Bangkok temple:
IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER A WOMAN, EVEN A FOREIGNER, IF DRESSED AS A MAN.

Cocktail lounge, Norway:
LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BAR.

Doctors office, Rome:
SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES.

Dry cleaners, Bangkok:
DROP YOUR TROUSERS HERE FOR THE BEST RESULTS.

In a Nairobi restaurant:
CUSTOMERS WHO FIND OUR WAITRESSES RUDE OUGHT TO SEE THE MANAGER.

On the main road to Mombassa, leaving Nairobi:
TAKE NOTICE: WHEN THIS SIGN IS UNDER WATER, THIS ROAD IS IMPASSABLE.

On a poster at Kencom:
ARE YOU AN ADULT THAT CANNOT READ? IF SO WE CAN HELP.

In a City restaurant:
OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND WEEKENDS.

In a cemetery:
PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING FLOWERS FROM ANY BUT THEIR OWN GRAVES.

Tokyo hotel's rules and regulations:
GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SMOKE OR DO OTHER DISGUSTING BEHAVIOURS IN BED.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:
OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE FOR.

In a Tokyo bar:
SPECIAL COCKTAILS FOR THE LADIES WITH NUTS.

Hotel, Yugoslavia:
THE FLATTENING OF UNDERWEAR WITH PLEASURE IS THE JOB OF THE CHAMBERMAID.

Hotel, Japan:
YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHAMBERMAID.

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery:
YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE CEMETERY WHERE FAMOUS RUSSIAN AND SOVIET COMPOSERS, ARTISTS AND WRITERS ARE BURIED DAILY EXCEPT THURSDAY.

A sign posted in Germany 's Black Forest:
IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN ON OUR BLACK FOREST CAMPING SITE THAT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT SEX, FOR INSTANCE, MEN AND WOMEN, LIVE TOGETHER IN ONE TENT UNLESS THEY ARE MARRIED WITH EACH OTHER FOR THIS PURPOSE.

Hotel, Zurich:
BECAUSE OF THE IMPROPRIETY OF ENTERTAINING GUESTS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX IN THE BEDROOM, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE LOBBY BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

Advertisement for donkey rides, Thailand:
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RIDE ON YOUR OWN ASS?

Airline ticket office, Copenhagen:
WE TAKE YOUR BAGS AND SEND THEM IN ALL DIRECTIONS.

A laundry in Rome:
LADIES, LEAVE YOUR CLOTHES HERE AND SPEND THE AFTERNOON HAVING A GOOD TIME.

Vivienne said...

Hi Margaret,

I forgot to say that I heard you with Sue this morning. You are really brave - not only guest on Radio Newcastle, but to talk about your illness so openly and honestly. I hope your experience gives encouragement and inspiration to others with cancer.

Love,

Vivienne xxx

Maureen said...

Sorry I didn't hear you Margaret. As Vivienne says well done!
Liked the jokes Vivienne, good to start the day with a smile.
Check your 20 pences everyone, apparently they've made a batch without a date on which could be worth about £50 each. I saw it first! ...

Kev said...

Hi Folks
Proofreading is a dying art, would you say?
Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
War Dims Hope for Peace
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

And, especially for Maureen,
What comes next in the series
1
11
21
1112
3112
211213
312213
?
It looks mathematical but it isn't. It simply depends upon what you see.

Take care

Maureen said...

Mmmm, I saw that yesterday and thought that I'd ponder for a while. Still haven't a clue. Anyone else? Loved the headlines, amazing the difference a bit of puntuation makes isn't it?

Maureen said...

1
11
21
1112
3112
211213
312213
212223
114213
31121314
41122314
31221324
21322314 (<-- The magic number)
Gotcha Kev!
OK I'll admit it, had to google it and still don't really understand. Something about self descriptive numbers?

Maureen said...

Just looked at it again Kev and I get it now, honestly!
How's everyone else? It seems quiet out there, am I missing something fascinating on telly? Do you think that Lawrence has gone awol with Ian? Just wondering, as all good truckshunters do ...

Maureen said...

By the way, I heard someone telling Jonathan Miles today that they had one of those 20 pence pieces. Selling on ebay for £400 apparently. Sid, did you have to take up ALL of the floorboards?

Sid said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maureen said...

Good point Sid, maybe that's a hint not to strive for perfection? My mother used to work in the post office and came across a sheet of stamps without perforations. The man she was serving offered to buy the whole sheet off her. Could have cost her job if she had.

Hildie said...

Hello, hello .... anybody about?
How are you all?
I sent Ian an email the other day
(1st July) to ask if he's okay ...
I'm rather concerned, that we haven't heard from him in a while, are you?
You know that little blackbird at the top of this posting? I've looked at him so often, I'm sure I'd recognise him in a crowd now!

Sid said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sid said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maureen said...

So that's what it was! I thought that you were being 'hip and trendy' with one of those text words that they all use. I was thinking of googling it ...pokipt. There's another one for your collection!

Sid said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mim said...

What has happened and where is everyone?

Margaret

Ellie said...

I'm still here and pop in now and again to catch up, but I'm starting to believe that Ian has given up ~ I hope not.

mim said...

Well something is wrong and I am worried. I hope everyone is ok,
Margaret x

Hildie said...

Hi Margaret and Ellie
All is well (I heard this from Lawrence) ... Ian is fine and is going to do a new blog-posting soon. He has been on holiday.
How are you two doing? x x

Ian Robinson said...

Headline from the 'East Kent Chronicle' sent in to 'The News Quiz': MISSING BABY FOUND IN SANDWICH.

Ellie said...

Hooray, Himself is back. Hello Hilde and everyone. I'll sleep well tonight (have been worrying)