Millvina Dean

188
HAPPY NEW YEAR

In this blogposting...
*In Memoriam
*RSPCA
*Words of the Year
*AGM XII
*The Year’s Worst Jargon
*2010
*The Birds
Now, read on, Macduff...

This posting is by way of saying Goodbye to 2009. It was a funny old year, what with one thing and another, but all in all I think we’re probably well rid of it.

I’ve scanned the dozens of emails, cuttings and notes that are scattered all over the place here and have realised that there’s quite a lot of truckshunting ground I didn’t get round to covering last year. So I reckon I should start 2010 by tying up a few loose ends left over from 2009.

Here goes....

IN MEMORIAM
It’s not just the year we are saying Goodbye to. Although, in several of last year’s postings, we remembered to bid farewell to many of the people who passed out of the world during the last twelve months, I have discovered, amongst my clippings, that three people of note left us uncommemorated in this blog. Well, two people and an animal, actually. So let’s start with...

MILLVINA DEAN
...(pictured above) who was the last survivor of the Titanic disaster on 14 April 1912. She was rescued from the wreckage aged only three months and, for the rest of her life, shunned the publicity her unusual status gave her. She died, aged 97, on 31 May last year,

JENNIFER JONES
One of those names absolutely everybody knew way back in the 40s and 50s but which, nowadays, usually only garners a quizzical ‘Who?’.

As a kid, I can easily - and very pleasantly - remember how startlingly pretty she was in the two of her films I can recall watching: Gone To Earth, a first-class melodramatic weepie of the highest order (from 1950) and The Song of Bernadette (from 1944), the romanticised Hollywood version of the legend of St Bernadette of Lourdes. She won that year’s Best Actress Oscar for her performance.

I actually bought the DVD of The Song of Bernadette quite recently. It’s one of those films that lodged itself in my impressionable - not to say fey - young mind, like I Remember Mama (Irene Dunne’s best performance ever) (Who?), the Ealing comedies, Fred and Ginger or A Man For All Seasons.

KIKI
...was a giant tortoise that arrived in the Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes in Paris from the Seychelles in 1923. He was by far the oldest and largest of the five giant tortoises kept there and weighed 250kg. Indeed, he had to be moved around using a forklift. (What on earth can the French be for ‘forklift’?)

Kiki was 146 years old when he died in early December. Even so, he was by no means the oldest of his kind. Harriet the turtle was reported to be 175 years old when she died in 2006 in Australia and Tu’i Malila, a tortoise who died in Tonga in 1965, was 188 years old. Just imagine it.

RSPCA
To cheer up the festive gloom just before Christmas, the RSPCA issued a press release giving details of some of the calls it had received over the year. Together, they prove that the British are unquestionably and irredeemably bonkers...

A woman called the advice and cruelty hotline to ask how to remove a spider from her sink...
A hotel owner called to complain about ducks quacking...
A cat-lover wanted to know why her new pet wasn’t purring...
A driver rang in to report a slow-moving tortoise on the hard shoulder of the M6 - which turned out to be a deflated football.

See what I mean? Awesome.

WORDS OF THE YEAR
The Oxford English Dictionary has given details of the new words which it intends to add to its mighty tome. It does this every year round about now, having trawled more than 2bn words during 2009 in newspapers, magazines, online and on-air. How many of these would you have known?

Snollygosters...shrewd, unprincipled people
Jeggings...a ‘portmanteau’ word combining ‘jeans’ and ‘leggings’
Tweetup...a meeting organised through Twitter
Simples...anything easy to achieve (from the ‘compare the meerkats’ tv advert)
Unfriend...to delete a friend from Facebook; this is the most-used new addition to the OED this year, although, in Britain, it vies with ‘unfriend’ for popularity
Staycation...taking your holidays at home; a proposal to ‘anglicise’ this to holistay failed
Hatinator...a cross between a hat and a ‘fascinator’
Hohum...a New Zealand word for someone who prefers to observe rather than take action.

Good or what!

AGM XII
It’s your turn to decide when and where the January AGM should take place. I’ve read all of the permutations in the Comments box to posting 187 and all it gave me was a headache. Keep Commenting or email me here.

And remember...a splendid time is guaranteed for all. Even if nobody turns up.

2010
For the last decade I have been boring anyone who would listen to tears with my campaign to change the way we refer to this century’s years. Why ‘two thousand and...’ rather than ‘twenty oh...’? On the model of ‘nineteen oh four’, why not ‘twenty oh four’?

I thought no-one was listening. But - eureka! The BBC has finally sanctioned the use of ‘twenty ten’ rather than ‘two thousand and ten’. Unbelievably, none of the credit for this advance in the use of English has, as yet, been sent in my direction. Watch this space.

THE BIRDS
You are probably as pig-sick of the weather as I am. Snow, ice, slush, rain, sleet, idle winds. But please remember that, however cheesed-off we are, the birds are much worse off than us. Please don’t forget the toll this weather takes on the birds that grace our countryside, towns and gardens. Feed them! The RSPB website gives advice on what’s good and what’s not.

Please don’t forget.

AND FINALLY...
...this is Simon Hoggart’s suggestion for the very worst official jargon of 2009. It’s from a White Paper called Smarter Government.

‘We will align the different sector-specific performance management frameworks across key local agencies, thereby increasing the focus on indicators relating to joint outcomes.’

I do not believe, for a single moment, that anybody, anywhere, knows what that means.

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

99 comments:

Sid said...

I wonder who decided that 'The Battle of Hastings' would be described as having taken place in Ten Sixtysix. Perhaps an ancestor of yours Ian.

Val said...

Sorry I've not even logged in to bring Season's Greetings being so busy with the celebrating and comings and goings these last few weeks. I've only just had time to pop in and quickly read everything but should have more time to loiter around these parts soon.

I heard that R4 discussion on using twenty ten and thought of you Ian. We had a long family discussion on the subject after that. We went back over various ways of saying different years over the centuries. Sometimes it seems to take the decade to end before you can decide how to refer to it - not too sure about the Noughties??

On a similar theme I've always hated the way people say twenty pee instead of twenty pence!! I remember when new money came in and they introduced pee to differentiate between the old pence and new pee but it was only meant to be temporary! It doesn't save any time saying pence instead of pee and we don't have old pence any more so why do people still drive me mad by calling them pee!!

Not heard of the holistay, or the Hohum - love that word.

I nearly called the RSPB tonight to find out what was in our garden. I spent an hour watching a bird poking it's beak through the snow for food. And what a beak! It looked something like a sandpiper, maybe a snipe, going by the RSPB website. About 10-12" long body with a beak maybe 4" long. Sadly my digital camera couldn't cope with the snow and darkness - my ancient SLR would've been fine if I'd had any film! Modern technology eh?

Ian Robinson said...

Val...I soooo agree with you about 20 pee. Irritates the daylights out of me. I still say 'tuppence' for 2p and 'sixpence' for 6p. Thought I was just being perverse!
Sorry - can't help you with that bird. Sid might know, though - spending all that time in his allotment!!!

Maureen said...

I'd decided that it was 2010, thinking of 1066 and Space:1999 that sci fi tv programme from the 70s, then I remembered 2001: A Space Odyssey, so where do we go from there? I'm sticking with twenty ten just because it's easier!
Has anyone been watching Great British Rail Journeys on BBC 2 every night? They were in Manchester last night and York and Skipton tonight with lots of history info. It's presented by Michael Portillo, but you can't have everything! Available on iplayer for 30 days if anyone is interested.

Sid said...

Ta Maureen, I'll have a look. The new Tornado steam train often whizzes by at the bottom of our allotments. I only see the steam and a bit of 'clean' smoke, the sound of it takes me back a bit I can tell you.

Vivienne said...

That's interesting about the Tornado Steam Train Sid. I hadn't heard of it.

Hildie said...

Eee, Ian, I thought that was your Aunty Mill!
I heard a lot of debating going on - on T.V. - about the twenty ten business and, like Val, I remembered Ian advocating this terminology years ago on the radio .... so ...yes, pet, you were the first to think of it!
I had a lovely surprise today
.... I had a phone call from Ada!
You will be glad to know that she is keeping well and keeping in touch with the blog via her daughter. Ada made a suggestion for a venue for the next AGM. How do you fancy The Centre for Life?
I haven't been there before ... and Ada says they have a good coffee lounge (not to mention other stuff of interest)! It sounds like a good idea. Put your hand up if you'd like to go.

Vivienne said...

Happy New Year Hildie!

Sounds good to me. We may even see Julia Hankin if we are lucky!

Ian Robinson said...

Yep - the Centre For Life gets my vote, too.

Ryan Cross said...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.... am I too late for this party?

Well said regarding feeding the garden birds Ian... they love peanuts, raisins, fresh water and any number of scraps.

Well, the start of the year finds me snowed in for the last 3 days. I don't mind, work is over rated... and what's better for driving away the post-Christmas blues, than an unexpected holiday in our winter wonderland!! Don't shed a tear for me, I have plentiful supplies of food and booze... I am sure I'll get by.

Sid said...

Happy New Year Ryan, welcome to Truckshunters.....and the party.

Hildie said...

Hi Ryan ..... I'm chuffed to bits you've turned up on here!!
Did you get the message I sent you on Facebook? Enjoy your unexpected holiday, pet!!
Funnily enough, I have had a phone call to tell me that school is closed tomorrow .... so I've got an unexpected day off too!!
You will write on here again won't you? as I already have told you .... we often wonder about you!

Maureen said...

Welcome Ryan, are you the Ryan of the Snow Angel that Ian posted yonks(!) ago and didn't you move to Hampshire? If so you'll find a few comments about you throughout the blog. If not, well you are very welcome anyway! and Hildie Marples has been at it again has she?

Maureen said...

I've just realised that I left you all hanging in suspenders for the Chocolate Quiz. So for any one who is remotely interested here are the answers:
CRYPTIC CHOCOLATES
1. Leo not allowed in
Lion Bar
2. Star system
Galaxy
3. Island race
Maltesers
4. Clothe tom
Kit Kat
5. Eastern pleasure
Turkish Delight
6. Grind ecstacy
Crunchie
7. Quietly spoken
Whisper
8. Wood lash
Walnut Whip
9. Slight wave
Ripple
10. 24 carat DJ
Terry"s All Gold

Sid said...

Could you imagine us chaps in suspenders.....behave yourself Maureen.

Ian Robinson said...

Happy New Year, Ryan. Good to know you're still shunting trucks once in a while.

Anonymous said...

Good Morning to you all
Came on to wish Hildie a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Hope you have a good one best wishes Adax

Maureen said...

And a Happy Birthday from me too Hildie, you'll remember this one! Hope that your birthday plans aren't disrupted with this weather. Stay warm everyone!

Ian Robinson said...

From me too, Hildie. Have a very happy birthday - and plenty more of them, too. Love ya.

Sid said...

Happy Birthday Hildie.x

Hildie said...

HELLO !!
And thank you all SO much for your birthday greetings .... you will understand, just how delighted I really am, when I tell you that there has been no postman around Dipton since Tuesday! So no birthday cards came through the letter box today .... I did have a card (from our Maureen) on Tuesday and Liam left a card on the mantlepiece for me this morning, before he left for work
.... and that's it folks ... the rest are at the post office sorting office I assume. Kelly (she has just been on the phone) is disappointed that her card didn't get to me. So there you go, you guys, your greetings were most welcome .... and thanks also to Lawrence who left me a birthday message on Facebook, and thanks also to the lovely Paul who read out a birthday message (on Smooth Radio) that was sent in by Maureen on behalf of you all.
I had a huge bunch of flowers left by Liam this morning with his card .... AND a Paolo Nutini cd ....
"Sunny Side Up"!
I don't want to go on about how much snow we have here - but it IS a lot - so much so that it has caused me to cancel a birthday night out with the girls tonight.
BUT, you know, in the scheme of things, it could be worse ...
worse things happen at sea!!!
Thanks again x x x

Hildie said...

And, wow, you'll never guess what?
Michael Poulter has even left me a birthday message on Facebook!!
You see, I'm lucky really!

Maureen said...

Fancy that Hildie! Michael Poulter, have you realised how famous you are becoming? I bet that there are very few people in the Radio Newcastle area who haven't heard of Hildie from Dipton! Brilliant, I'm very pleased for you. We should have asked Paul to play Mister Postman for you shouldn't we? There are a few famous birthdays today aren't there? including David Bowie and Elvis, you're in good company.

Maureen said...

Have you heard that story Radio Newcastle about handing out 'street blankets' to scantily- clad clubbers who are freezing while waiting for taxis? I reckon it serves them right if they go out without their balaclavas and mufflers...

Vivienne said...

Hi Hildie,

A belated Happy Birthday to you!
I didn't know you were experiencing difficulties with your post, otherwise I would have tried to hand deliver your card. So far our postman is still able to work, in spite of the deep snow on our estate. Our bins haven't been emptied this week, and I think the buses aren't attempting our estate either. To date, with a bit of shoveling, I've managed to get my car out each day, although our street is really bad. I couldn't get up the steep street through Winlaton Mill, which I use as a short-cut, and had to drive on to Rowlands Gill and up Thornley Lane.

I'm off to a family birthday party at Wynyard this afternoon, so wish me luck. Perhaps a few prayers may be helpful too!

I hope you had a lovely birthday Hildie, and you can enjoy another when all your cards arrive! (I heard on Radio Newcastle that your school was closed, so thought that was a good birthday present for you!) The Head won't close my sister's school at Ouston. She went by bus on Thursday, as her little car couldn't cope with the banks around Fencehouses and Lumley. She had major problems getting there, and was so cold when she arrived at school she couldn't stop weeping, poor soul!

Lots of love,

Vivienne xxx

Hildie said...

Hi Vivienne! It sounds like you are up against it with all the snow
as we are here in Dipton .... all I can tell you is that it's very deep and causing a miriad of problems. I'm afraid we haven't sighted a postman yet either!! I don't think we are likely to for a while yet ..... they are going to end up with a massive backlog at the sorting office.
Looking back on my birthday , I did actually have a nice day . When Liam arrived home fro work he asked me how my day had been ... and I kind of curled down my lips and told him that the postman didn't arrive. He said, "Ah, mam , come here let me give you a hug." A few minutes later , as I was taking his tea out of the oven I was telling him that I had had a half a dozen phone calls from this person and that person, and that I had had lots of Happy Birthday mentions both on Truckshunters and Facebook, and birthday mentions on the radio ... and that Kathy (my deputy head) had called and taken me out for a coffee and a peach melba .....
and he stood, with his hands on his hip, saying ... "Well, mam, I don't feel so sorry for you now!"
AND .... it even got better after that ....... I 'd been invited round to Chris's house in the evening and, when I got there, there wasn't just Chris ..... a couple of other friends were there - Ann and Trish - SO
there were cards and presents and a glass of red wine and a really nice supper waiting for me!

Keep warm Truckshunters!

Sid said...

I'm glad it turned out so well in the end Hildie.

Vivienne said...

Hi Hildie,

I'm so glad you enjoyed your birthday after all, and you've still got your cards to come from the sorting office. I never got to the family party today, as it was called off. I was rather relieved but felt sorry for birthday boy, Cameron. His 9th birthday was actually on 6th, but all his celebrations were today. He and his friends went bowling today, and some of his neighbours were invited tonight. So he will have enjoyed his day. We'll be having a family get-together at a later date.

Vivienne said...

Hi Sid,

I'm wondering about those party dogs of yours. Who do they belong to, as I'm sure they are not your's? Perhaps Santa brought them?

Ryan Cross - Alton said...

Morning All,

Yes, this is the same Ryan who took the pic of the Angel in the snow... thanks for messaging me on Facebook Hildie, I needed a nudge in the right direction.

Well, what a wonderful snow week off work... actually, what a wonderful snow week!! I managed to squeeze 3 days out of it. I don't think I have taken so many pics, as I have this past week. The light is so unusual in snow, and I love the way the sound is muffled, so there's a strange silence with snow-fall.

I am still in Alton in Hampshire for the time being, but always with aspirations to move back to Newcastle, my adopted home town.

Maureen said...

It's lovely to hear from you again Ryan. You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard something from you on R.Newcastle and wondered how you were. Welcome back. I also emailed Paddy the other night after hearing something from Chris and JoJo in New Zealand as we haven't heard from them lately, and Mietek? are you ok over there? I'll bet you are laughing at our whingeing about the amount of snow that we have here...

Sid said...

I haven't a clue as to whom the party dogs belong to Vivienne. I just came across the photo, and thought the boxer dog looked a bit like me as I came back from the allotment in all this snow.

Vivienne said...

Hi Sid,

That must have been some trek home Sid, judging by the boxer!

Hildie said...

But ... Ryan .... where really do you come from?
Vivienne .... thank you for the birthday wishes .... I may not have had any cards through my letterbox .... but I was a very lucky girl ... I had phone calls, texts and messages ...
AND ... no less than THREE birthday mentions on the radio!
Furthermore .... I've still got the postman to look forward to!
You know the little profile pictures at the right hand side of everyone's posting? Well, I don't get them anymore - you have all disappeared. Oh, Eleanor Webber (Ellie) sent me a happy birthday message on facebook and so too did Neville. Sure I told you I heard from Loz. Any mention of birthdays .... and there seems to be a gathering of the truckshunter troops! Awesome really!

Vivienne said...

Hi Hildie,

Now you come to mention it I used to have to click on something when I opened the Comments' Box in order to view the profile photos. Perhaps that was before I bought my recent laptop, or maybe it was prior to me getting Broadband. Check when you open the Comments' Box to see if you are given the option to view profile pics.

Good luck!

Lots of love,

Vivienne xxx

Maureen said...

Hildie, it's probably an issue that google know about. When there are more than 6 postings the profile pictures aren't shown. I mentioned it a while ago. They reckon that they are working on it!

Maureen said...

Another thought is that has it happened since Ian changed the template? I've noticed that it doesn't show 'newer posting' and 'older posting' on this one.

Unknown said...

Hi

I keep looking at that beautiful photo of Millvina Dean - what an amazing face she has and framed by the rusting porthole. She has wonderful smile and her face looks so serene and also filled with a lifetime of experiences that she has 'sailed through'.

Best wishes to Truckshunters and hope we all see the last of the snow.

Alison

Hildie said...

OH, I DO WISH IT WAS TIME TO GO TO BIRKHEAHS AGAIN! Do yo remember when we got sunburnt there that lovely April day? It was a case of out with the candles early this morning ... I've just spent a day without electicity ....
a lorry, on black ice, hit an electricity pole at the bottom of my road before 7 o'clock ... and set the scene for my day. At about the same time,out my front window, a bus hit some parked cars ....
the kids for Greencroft Comprehensive School didn't have a bus to take them there .. so they were sliding and skating on the black ice outside my window ... the road was closed, the police came, the council van came (with a bag of grit) ..... and then, much later, with a gritting lorry ....
and eventually - after 3 o'clock
.... NEDL came and there was light! Hope you Truckshunters are faring better than we Diptonians!!

Sid said...

Hildie if it hadn't been for the black ice I would have collected you so you could come to the Metro Centre with us.
Glad you are now seeing the light....as one headmaster said after he'd given me six of the best for poor class work.

Val said...

Have found out that bird in our garden last week was a woodcock. Asked a friend who knows about these things. Another pointed out an article in the Sun today about the risk of losing common garden birds in the icy conditions and the unusual birds that have been seen in gardens in their search for food. It was a gift for their headline writers - 'Tits out and woodcock in as rare birds flock to gardens in big freeze' [if we had emoticons on here I'd be rolling eyes now] Trying to upload a very brief video of the bird onto my Youtube but it's taking forever so I can't show it in action.

Hildie, I can't imagine a day without electricity in this weather! Hope you have a gas fire or some way of keeping warm, not to mention boiling a kettle! Hard to believe how different weather conditions can be within one region. Snow/ice almost gone in our street tonight. Been wearing heavy walking boots every day this year. But if it's no better tomorrow night they'll be my dancing shoes of choice at the Arena to see Mamma Mia!!

Heard Ryan in Alton mentioned on Radio N/cle this morning - another day unable to get to work due to the snow.
Hope it all goes very soon and we can all get back to 'normal'.

Vivienne said...

Hi Folks!

I was delighted to find my cul-de-sac had been cleared from snow when I returned home last night. Although the pavements are still covered with compacted snow and ice, it was a treat to drive to my house without slithering all over the road, and getting stuck in slush and snow.

I'm sorry to learn about your electricity failure Hildie. I hope you were able to keep warm.

Hildie said...

Hi Vivienne .... and THANK YOU for my lovely birthday card ....
it did eventually make it to Dipton, thanks! It arrived on Thursday ... not alone , I might add. I received cards each day that went by, this week ... it all served to make my birthday last that little bit longer!!
Hi Val, it's so true what you said about the birds ... they have certainly been having a difficult time in this icy weather. People have been ringing up the RSPB to find out what the new birds are, in their gardens, and your Woodcock is amongst the species that have been leaving the snow covered countryside to seek food.
I think Ryan has been enjoying his days off work because of the snow!

Be back soon with news of the next Truckshunter AGM .... I've had official confirmation ... straight from the top!

Hildie said...

AGM XII will be held at
THE CENTRE FOR LIFE on
SATURDAY 23RD JANUARY
at 11AM


Hope to see you there
(in the coffee lounge or
thereabouts!)

Hildie said...

p.s. A splendid time is guaranteed for all!
Ian, of course, will be there in person!

Sid said...

I'll try to get there Hildie, have soo much catching up to do in the allotment. Thank goodness the snow has gone. (maybe not in Dipton)

Hildie said...

* Humans have between 12,000 and 70,000 internal thoughts each day.
Some of mine , Sid, have been that maybe no one will have seen this notification about the AGM on Saturday ... it's so tucked away amongst the postings .... so maybe there's only you , me and Maureen will know about it.

* I was told this little factoid at a course I attended just before Christmas. I guess we Truckshunters will be in the 70,000bracket, what d'you reckon?!

Sid said...

It could be more than that for me Hildie, especially if I'm at the allotment. By the time I walk from the greenhouse to the polytunnel I have to think what I was thinking about....and then I do something totally unrelated.
Just before Christmas I was all prepared for a walk home in the rain...and then spotted the car parked up 30 yds away! Oh deep joy.

Hildie said...

Thank heavens you spotted your car, Sid! Things could have gotten so much worse, had you not!
Just imagine .....

Hildie said...

Just a reminder about the Truckshunter AGM on Saturday folks .... everyone is welcome .... and remember,
Blue Peter Badge winners get in free!!!

Be brave .... venture into the unknown!
Hope to see you there - Truckshunters old and new!

Sid said...

You would be amazed at how many BP badges are for sale on Ebay. Is nothing sacred anymore...

Sid said...

I heard of a very strange song title from the 1942 era the other day.
'Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition'. American origin..of course.

Sid said...

Did anyone hear Gilly Hope this morning? Yesterday she took her children in the car to do the family shopping. When they came out they went for the bus home.
She had gone to bed last night and wondered where the car was. The penny slowly dropped, she had to get dressed and go and get it. She is a Truckshunter and a half, bless her.

Vivienne said...

Hi Sid,

Yes I heard Gilly, and was reminded of the time my mother left my sister in her pram outside the fish shop in Albert Road, Jarrow. She walked all the way home to Croft Terrace before realizing in horror what she'd done. Thankfully when she ran back to the shop my sister and her pram were still where she'd left them!

Hope to see you all tomorrow.

Maureen said...

Wouldn't it be nice if all of our 'absent' friends turned up today? Especially Miss Gilly Marples, I miss her. Still, that is one of the good things about AGMs...you never know who is going to turn up. Save me a seat please!

Ellie said...

2nd Attempt:
Today was an exceptional day for me. It was lovely meeting you all (well nearly all) and I had a wonderful time. Thank you all for being so kind. Special thanks to Hildie for keeping tracks on me for months and months and of course to the Laird and meeting you at last! I look forward to the next meeting very much indeed.

Vivienne said...

Hi everyone,

Thanks for a super time today. It was especially good to meet you Ellie, at long last, and very special too meeting Ian's lovely friend, Sue, and Radio Newcastle's fantastic Michael Poulter! I'm sorry you weren't able to make it today Ada, Gerry & Sid. I hope Gilly is ok Sid.

We are still eager to meet Val, Audrey, Alison, Margaret, Gilly, Leroy, Ryan and everyone else out there who reads the Blog. Meg, how are you? Please keep in touch.

I've posted some photos from today's AGM at Newcastle's Centre of Life on murphyanddorastravels.blogspot.com
please take a look.

Sid said...

An well known Internet weather forecaster is predicting that we will return to the very cold weather from next Wednesday. I know it's a long way off, and things change, but at least you've had a bit of warning if it happens.
Favourite number of the week 0.1 (percent).....

Maureen said...

Maybe if it's very cold Ian will be housebound and make a new posting...

Sid said...

Behave yourself Maureen...me rhubarbs starting to stir again. Cold isn't too bad, very cold isn't good news.
I'm going to set my tomato seeds away (sow them) on Monday. Wish me luck.

Sid said...

For those of us who 'do' the lottery and rarely win anything, this is for you.
Wednesday 27/1/10.....be pleased you didn't have 4 numbers, it paid £12.
5 numbers and you would have received £181. Now doesn't that make you feel better!

Maureen said...

You're right Sid...it would be disapppointing to win at that rate wouldn't it?
There's a bit of a kerfuffle (have we done the meaning of that?) over on the QI Blog over who invented matches,as Stephen Fry credited the Scots. Then someone said John Walker of Stockton, (remember Ian's blog?) then the Chinese, at the last look they were fighting over sulphur matches, safety matches and so it goes on.

Sid said...

How did we come to have a football 'match'. Where's Hildie when she's needed?

Sid said...

Just a thought.....

It would have been Millvina Dean's birthday come Tuesday the 2nd of February....

Leroy La Strange said...

Hi Dudes & Dudettes,

It's been a while........ A busy Christmas, a Very Poorly Wife and a bout of Tracheaitis plus work work work.. ... have made it pretty impossible to get a little spare time to post things......

So anyway I hope this posting finds you all well or reasonably well anyway..... and I send you all
my best wishes for the coming year,
Live Long and prosper Guys x

Leroy

Sid said...

Glad you're okay Leroy, hope your wife continues to get better. Best wishes for 2010 to both of you.

Maureen said...

Welcome back Leroy, good to hear from you. Pity you missed the agm, maybe next time? May the force be with you.
Did anyone hear Michael Poulter 'on' this afternoon? I wish that he presented more daytime shows, he's very good. I resisted the temptation to email him as he seemed to be very busy! Nice one Michael!

Hildie said...

Hi Leroy .... I hope that both you and your wife have picked up since Christmas .... we've missed you on here!
Yes, I heard Michael .....
he is very good ..... I don't listen to that programme usually,
but I tuned in today because Michael was presenting it.
Last Monday, when I was in Newcastle, I went to a butcher's shop (Bowyers) where they sell cooked meats, sausage rolls, pies etc for people on the go. Well, I was going home so I thought I'd get some chicken for tea. Up on the price list it said
HALF CHICKEN £1.75 ....
so I thought that'll do for me. When I asked the lady for a half chicken, she moved along the counter and surveyed her wares then said, "I've got a whole one here that the legs have fell off.
You can have that for £2 if you like."
So I said, "Go on then!"

Now, truckshunters, what I want your opinion about is this ....
did I get a bargain or not?!!!
I'm still not sure!

Maureen said...

Hi Hildie, what I'd like to know is why did it's legs fall off? Had it been crossing the road and come to an untimely end? In that case it wasn't a bargain...

Sid said...

It's an MFI chicken Hildie. Doesn't matter what I buy there the legs always fall off.

Maureen said...

I've just been watching a new series about the Antiques Roadshow on BBC2 (6.30) looks like the start of a very entertaining series. Tomorrow shows the moments when things went wrong.

Maureen said...

This news item posted on MSN might be of interest to AGM attendees:
The Co-op said it was correcting an "error" which led to "ambient sausage rolls" going on sale after a group which campaigns against gobbledegook complained that the description took the linguistic biscuit.
The Plain English Campaign (PEC) said it had no idea what an "ambient sausage roll" was and had never seen food labelled in such a "bizarre" fashion.
Co-op officials said the label was an "administrative error".
"We've had quite a few people call to say they've seen these 'ambient sausage rolls' on sale at the Co-op," said a PEC spokeswoman.
"It's caused much amusement. I know 'it's all at the Co-op' but what on earth is an 'ambient sausage roll'?"
A Co-op spokeswoman said: "The use of the word 'ambient' on the label of this product was an administrative error - labels for in-store bakery items are printed in store and the word 'ambient' was incorrectly printed on the label.
"This is now being rectified but thank you for drawing this to our attention and apologies for any confusion this may have caused."
So now you know...

Leroy La Strange said...

Hildie,I reckon you got a bargain with the legless chicken.... not only did you get a bird to eat but you also got a conversation piece xx.

Did Bowers have a restaurant around the pink lane part of the town ? I seem to have a childhood memory of being dragged in there at one time by my parents, usually after a win on the horses by my dad.

ps

How lazy was the Scientist that gave the Fly it's name. if it had no wings would it have been called a walk ?

Leroy

Sid said...

We discussed it first though Maureen, sat outside the Sage. In retrospect it was all Hildie's fault, she brought them and thus started us all wondering. I even looked it up on the internet...
But they were exceedingly good sausage rolls.

Maureen said...

Leroy you are right about Bowers. I reminisced on a much earlier posting about being taken for a meal by a new boyfriend to Bowers for egg and chips, which were served on an oval stainless steel dish, very posh! It was the first building you reached as you crossed over from the Central station,on the triangle, with big windows so people could watch you eat. We thought that we were so cool!

Sid said...

Did Bowers then change to a Wimpy bar Maureen. I spent many a Friday evening in there with the motor bike parked outside. (so I could keep an eye on it).

Maureen said...

Yes, I think that you are right Sid. Wasn't there a Bowers in the Lane leading up to Farnons too? (I've just had a quick look on Google street maps, the one at Pink Lane is a Subway now and I think they've been rebuilt or it's not how I remember it!)

Maureen said...

At the risk of sounding like a grumpy old woman (which I am) does anyone else object to the tone of the traffic reports on Radio Newcastle lately? Being greeted with a 'Wotcha!' and being told that the trains, buses and ferries are ace isn't what I expect of the BBC, along with being told repeatedly that the traffic lights at Testos roundabout are on the blink again. Sorry, but not acceptable. Moan over...

Maureen said...

Almost forgot, Happy Birthday Millvina!

Leroy La Strange said...

Thanks for that Maureen, I seem to remember a large Lava lamp in there too ........
I'm with you about the traffic reports on radio Newcastle.... much to my wife's annoyance I have this pretty hip faded rockers alter ego...... and even I don't care much for the way it is presented..... plus I don't even know where Testos roundabout is..... x

Sid said...

You're never old and grumpy Maureen, far from it. Like most of us you just have certain standards...like Margo in 'The Good Life'.
Now that's what I call a backhanded compliment.

On a more serious note though, I hadn't heard it. Could you imagine Ian chirping in with words like that during his shows. Me neither.

Sid said...

When I said 'I hadn't heard it', I was of course refering to the traffic and travel news. Doh...

Maureen said...

Thanks Sid, I'll accept it as a compliment! They were my thoughts exactly!

Hildie said...

Just some trivia for you about the Truckshunter's Blog .....
January 2008 was the most prolific month for Ian ..... 22 blogs .... believe it or not!!! And, The Sheffield blog of *February 15th 2008 had a grand total of 148 comments. It makes an enjoyable read .... should you have the time!!!

* Thanks to Maureen ... for helping me find the date of the infamous Sheffield blog.

Sid said...

Morning folks,
I've had a quick look at the weather forecasts for the next couple of weeks and it seems it will be chilly and windy. No snow (well that's good news if it's true) but the odd rain shower. Not bad for February eh?

Sid said...

The 'Sheffield Blog', how fitting that Gilly Marples had the last word on it. I hope you still visit us from time to time Gilly, and that your health has improved.

Hildie said...

Here, here Sid .....
if you are reading this Gilly
we often think of you and we send you our love.
Sid, some of my numbers came up on the lottery last night ...
3 12 20 and 31
do I just win £10?

Sid said...

As 31 was the bonus ball Hildie then I'm afraid it is just the £10. Better than nothing I suppose.

Hildie said...

I suspected that, Sid. Just £10
... and I had nearly all the numbers, didn't I?
Still .... it'll buy a round at the next AGM!!!
Going back to the report Maureen saw about ambient sausage rolls .... what on earth did the Co-op Spokeswoman mean by saying that the word 'ambient' was incorrectly printed on the label?
It's an apology that I don't understand.

I have recently been in touch with Mietek in Montreal, via facebook .
he is still reading our blog folks!

Sid said...

I was more than happy with our own conclusions regarding those sausage rolls, ambient or not. It was a poor apology...if one was needed.

Hildie have you worked out where we're going to next when we get to a 100 comments. It's such a clart when we get past a century on here.?

Hildie said...

Ooooo ...
now where shall we all meet up?
Didn't we arrange to meet at
The Highland Cow - when we had this trouble with the Sheffield posting?!
There's always The Christmas Donkey!

Maureen said...

That woman is really getting on my wick now! Do you think it's and endurance test set up by Ian to see how long we can put up with looking at her? One thing's certain, we'll all remember Millvina!
Can I add my best wishes to Gilly too if she ever looks in, we miss you loads Miss Marples.

Maureen said...

PS and Kev too, I hope that he's back with us soon.

Sid said...

Millvina is starting to morph into Harold Steptoe. Every time I view this page (and it's often) she grins even more, I expect her to shout 'arold!

Hildie said...

If you all pack your bags while I'm out at school tomorrow, would you leave a note on the mantlepiece to tell me where you've gone?!
Thanks,
Hildie. xxx

Maureen said...

You know that we wouldn't go far without you Hildie. I must admit though, a change of scenery would be welcome! And ha ha Sid, nice one!

Kev said...

A belated Happy New Year to one and all.
I'm so pleased to be back in circulation again after being 'on the sick' for over three months.
I started back at work at the college on Monday at 0900 and by 1100 had had enough.
Someone had kindly cleared my desk while I was away and, of course, I can't find a thing.
I'm deeply sorry that I can't make the AGMs but, if things go to plan, I'm meeting Ian next Friday so he will be able to pass on any news etc.
Will be in touch once I've cleared up all the backlog here

Maureen said...

Lovely to 'hear' from you Kev. Welcome back, I'm so pleased that you are on the mend too. There's a strict understanding in our house...we keep to our own desks, harmony reigns!

Vivienne said...

Hi Folks!

Well here we are at 100 comments!!! Ian, where are you? We need a new posting please.

Kev, we've all been thinking about you and wishing you a speedy recovery. We're glad you are back with us once more.

Gilly, we'd love to hear from you too. We miss you soooo much. xxx