Leaderboard

The ancient valley's, shrouded in mist. Decades had passed since the ghost's had shown. Gliding on, they slowly appeared, the water's tryst. Now Rainbow's live here, so not alone. The ghost's emerge as stone and fence, Homes and sheep, long gone. Breeze drift us towards remembrance. But there will be no song. The City's needs for endless water. Valley's gone? Not for ever. Ladybower may lose it's daughter. For Mother Nature has no tether. You can tell that it is the first poem I have ever written. Managed t

I was a smoker from being around 14 till around 45. By that age I was quite a heavy smoker. I tried many times over the years to stop smoking and failed many more times, always leaving me a bit more down hearted. Someone once said to me 'Never give up giving up'. Sound advice, Immediately giving me hope. One day it worked, I have never forgotten those words and I pass them on to anyone who decides to stop smoking.

Thank you Carni, it certainly wasn't my intention of spinning a sob story or look for pity. I just felt that I was sharing an experience of earlier days and how we coped. It was a privilege to have the boys as long as we did. If we learned anything it was humility. Thank you all for kind words, Barrie and Tina.

Advanced Nostalgian, goodness makes me feel quite important. Thanks everyone for the encouragement. Seemed strange tonight doing my Friday night shop and not getting cigarettes. Saved some money as well, less than half what I normally shell out so will concentrate on that as I want a table and chairs for my kitchen (Ikea here I come). Did treat the boys to a toy each though, lots of running around squeaking (the dogs not me).

Took me about four attempts, what spurred me on was a couple of hours TV show around 1974, hosted by a lung surgeon, I think it was on the BEEB. Caused quite a commotion back then, the tobacco companies shouted foul!! Tobacco products went unsold by over 75% the following morning. Annual sales dropped by around 50% that year. Seemed to work better than anything for many people!! Out of the fellers I used to ride to work with, only one went back to smoking, last I heard, he'd passed on over 20 years back with lung cancer. Me??? Still tobacco free after 44 years.

It is the kindness of people such as yourselves that have helped us through the years. It makes you realise it's not bad world after all. Fly2, I see from your description that you have an interest in steam engines. Me too,and I live only a couple of miles from the Bluebell railway, my missus reckons I'm never happy unless I'm covered in grease and smell of oily smoke. Back on the subject of our sons, one of the saddest drags was handing back Andrew's wheelchair. For ages it was painful looking at the vacant space where it used to stand. Still, we have many wonderful memories. On one occa

I too have just read your post Beekay, Along with the others I was sorry to read of the loss of your two boys and the heartache you and Tina have had. You have all your NS friends now always willing to share your lives experiences happy and sad.when ever you feel like sharing. I have learnt over the years they are a good bunch on here when you have the need to talk. Best wishes and hope you enjoy being part of NS.

I've often wondered what it might be like just to put a few possessions in a bag and start walking. This pales into insignificance compared to those who walk through whole countries, or continents, but I did similar when I as younger, though that was more about hitch hiking. You certainly see much more on foot than from any vehicle. When I was hitch hiking through England and France around 1967 with my mate John, we made a point of always asking where it was safe to bed down. Somewhere secure, but also where we wouldn't be seen as a nuisance. Once we were invited to sleep in a Rugby C

Could be Ben's personal motto: For the benefit of all! Slightly different from Loppy's...Pro bonio omnium.

Hey Jill. Count me in if you want to visit the Berridge. It's 65 years since I left. Not a star pupil but won the school colours, played cricket for school and was a prefect (cos I was a big lad).

Like it! My brother has a photo somewhere that our dad took of our mum outside the pub in Derwent village, with the tandem they used on their honeymoon.

Combine the two - tell us your name when you appear at the next meet-up.

I was told that playing Snooker was a sign of a miss spent youth. When I met the master he worked at "Plessey" Beeston and in the Plessey social club were snooker tables, at the time women were not allowed to play snooker (can't think why just male ego I suppose) but give Plessey their do women could play on there tables, so I learnt to play snooker and enjoyed it from the grand old age of 17. Still like to get a game when I can.

One good thing regarding preserved steam railways, is that it gives the younger generations a rare chance to see how things were over fifty years ago. I appreciate that they are a sanitised version of the original, but at least kids can see what can be achieved just with fire, water and a lot of elbow grease. I was at the Great Central at Rothley some years ago, and an old chap was berating the fact that kids kept getting in the way when he wanted to photograph an engine . One of the volunteer station staff told him that they were the future, and without them, preserved lines would event

Thats brilliant cliff ton,, often regretted not having a list of them............just glancing down it i only counted 12 i'd not worked at. Already invoking more memories of them days,, which i will be relating.............lol

You'd need the likes of Stephen Hawking to work that one out, Trogg, and he'd probably need to take his shoes and socks off to achieve it!

CT I wonder in how many branches our resident charmer has broken the hearts of members of staff, not forgetting the customers as well.

In the old telephone directories for the early 1960s, I didn't realise just how many Marsden's there were.

That is very sad, Beekay. Why these things happen is a mystery and it seems so cruel. I'm sure you'd be snapped up as adoptive grandad as you sound very jolly, cheerful and kind. There are many children who, unfortunately, don't have people with those qualities in their lives.

Thank you Margie and Lizzie for your kind words, they are much appreciated. It seems such a long while ago but there's never a day goes by when we don't think of them. They were both disabled but Tina and I never regretted a minute with them. Not going to be morose or boring but it's nice to be able to talk about them. The only downer is at this time of year we feel it most that we will never be grandparents. I think I'll advertise for a ' adopt a grandad' or something. Once again thanks for caring. B.

Ey up, Chulla! You've got competition!

D'you ride tandem?

Lizzie, Beekay and myself have been messaging each other about Holme Pierrepoint, but thanks for thinking of me.

What sort of "work" do they do? It would be nice to see dogs working the vineyards here, instead of the farmers keeping them for guard dogs . Or even truffles .

Beekay, when Katyjay reads your post about Holme Pierrepont you may discover you knew her husband at the time, I know he worked there too. My husband grew up down your way, in Horley, and used to go and watch the trains on the Bluebell line. His sister lives in Balcombe which is pretty close too I believe.

Keep going SG with the stopping smoking and congratulations on becoming an Advanced Nottstalgian, soon you might tell us your first name?

Have one made up and superglue it to the wall.

There may well be a blue plaque with your name inscribed thereon. I’ve just checked - you can buy them on eBay.

Next year, it will be 50 years since I left Berridge. Half a century. I've been thinking of contacting the school to ask whether, as an ex pupil, I would be permitted to go and have a look round. I last visited during the centenary celebrations in 1984 and there will have been many changes since then. In the new year, I'll contact Berridge to find out whether a trip down memory lane is possible.

My friend Bill Brazier drives on the Bluebell Line as well as Great Central. Have you come across him?

I understand you can now get a train from London via East Grinstead straight onto the Bluebell line. B.

Apparentley he was English. Maybe we will find out today if he found somewhere.

Bagged this on the Tetragrammaton label. pure '68.

So sorry to read about the loss of your boys - losing a child must be the worst thing ever - and to lose two children .... I have no words. Your boys must have been born in the same years as our eldest children who are now 49 and 51. Thank you for sharing about your family x

She is very understanding , she says I am not completely useless but for what use I am I might as well be. I thought she was complimenting me.

This evening taking my daughter to work at one point a person was walking from a side road into the road we were on. We looked at each other and laughed. It was such a strange sight. At first we thought it was a woman as the trousers were well above the ankles and the amount of bags being carried didn't make sense. He turned round and we realized it was a man. A bit later my daughter rang me reminding me of him. A friend of hers bumped into him and asked her if she knew of anywhere safe were he could sleep as he didn't want to kip down anywhere and be arrested or harmed. Apparently he h

All the best SG. I'm sure you are doing the right thing by giving up the ciggies. I also believe that going cold turkey is the best way - we finally gave up about 1980 by doing it this way. We'd half heartedly tried to give up previously by 'cutting down' but I found I was just clock watching all the time to see if it was time to have another! I finally just told myself that if it was bad for you, then why should I keep doing this to my body. I decided I was a human with a brain capable of making decisions and keeping to those decisions. It was surprisingly easy when I made that final d