mercurydancer

Definitely Midland station.

Looking very hard at the photos, I dont think it could be a henge. its not perfectly circular, its not anywhere prominent where it could catch the light (Henges are to some extent involved with astronomy). It does look like its close to a small river or stream, which would make it more likely its an oxbow formation from a previous deviation in the stream.

I once went to an authentic Japanese restaurant. They gave me a small bowl of rice, then hit me with a stick until I built a bridge.

There is a very lovely bay (and village) in North Yorkshire called Robin Hood's Bay. I didnt know Robin of Loxley was into rum smuggling too.

Just a hint for home made Jacobs crackers, try Jewish Matzo mix. It is exactly the right consistency to make crackers, but you have to roll it very very thin.

ayupmeducks Beef suet doesnt come in a packet! Get it from a butcher. Even in California there must be someone who will do beef suet, as I know that its a staple ingredient in many German and Italian dishes. Jacobs Cream Crackers are sooooo middle class. it was TUC biscuits for us! I will start the mince pie mix off in a couple of weeks, if I can stay off the brandy long enough to make the mince! The cake will be made at the same time too.

I'm a nurse. When I am asked if I give blood, I say, "I dont give blood, I sweat it"

Thanks for all the posters. I think there is a genuine source of historical interest here, especially when pete mentions Gibson's "dark side" . Certainly the ground crews disliked him immensely, to the point of despising him. Gibson had many run ins with NCOs and seems to have been an insufferable snob. Probably his arrogance meant that he was extremely brave. It compares markedly with Leonard Cheshire, also a VC, but very modest indeed.

Rog The Mossie that he flew was not his "regular" plane as he took a Mosquito from I think Coningsby as his regular plane was unserviceable. The variant Gibson used was a Canadian pattern with the fuel switches in a different place to the regular version.

There is some speculation that Gibson was shot down by a British bomber rear gunner. There is some evidence but its unconvincing. Another theory is that it was a fuel error, in that Gibson couldn't transfer fuel from one tank to another fast enough and couldnt supply the engines with fuel. Also, at this date, 19 September 1944, there was a very major battle going off in another part of Holland that wasnt that far away - Operation Market Garden and the battle for Arnhem.

Firbeck, keep on with the Gibson thread. I find it fascinating as its not about the heroics its about the man.

Indeed the breakfast of the finest kind. I dont like bacon but the fried egg is another joy to add to that special breakfast.

Yes katyjay, blue buttons are the same thing. I adore mushrooms in any form even pickled! (Sounds revolting but pickled mushrooms are gorgeous!) Blue buttons are best fried, and my favourite is with a little fried bread too. Any other blewit recipe would be welcome. I can share my recipe for pickled mushrooms which if picked now would be ready for Christmas. I actually have two recipes for pickled mushrooms. One involves steeping the mushrooms in brine, mixing them with herbs and packing them in jars with some vinegar mixed with brine, and leaving in a dark place for a couple of months. Th

Thanks Meltonstilton, I spent a good hour touring that site. I'll go back for more tomorrow I am sure

teebee Just a few miles away from Blidworth, is Lower Bagthorpe. The Dixies Arms there let dogs in. Very friendly place it is too.

Now that summer is broken, its time to look forward to the joys of autumn. One of the best is blewits. I dont know why, but blewits are very difficult to get up here in the wild north. They should be growing everywhere but they arent. I cal recall buying blewits in Victoria market but have not seen them there in years. I fondly recall my father taking me to woods near Ollerton when I was much younger and finding lots of lovely blewits. Does anyone know where blewits can be found (OK I understand that it may be a secret) or bought? I'd love to taste them again.

For me, the funniest and most delicate must be the final scene from The Italian Job. Having a van full of gold balanced on a cliff edge and never knowing the outcome is a movie scene of genius.

We were so poor that when we were constipated our dad used to tell us ghost stories.

Thanks Firbeck. Anyone who earned the VC is a great man by any definition.

Going back to perhaps 1981 there was a very busy karate school in the Institute basement which had a huge floor to train in. I spent many happy and sweaty hours there.

Isnt it a bit black over Bill's mothers? I'll get my coat.

I recall very fondly the Emmett clock from my childhood. It was a delight to take my mrs to the viccy centre to see it before the restoration.

Indeed basfordlad. C of E is not only one of the richest, but also unscrupulous too. Up north here we have had some protests about C 0f E Estates flogging off land for redevelopment which was close to a Roman fort (On private land but now under heritage laws as its a national treasure) The C of E came out with the usual stuff but in essence they were going to sell off land so that a housing estate would surround the roman dig. They can't touch the dig but they can isolate it. I've known C of E estates stop access to places unless an exorbitant cost was paid for a simple access road only a f

I'm into my early 50s. Born in Nottingham, raised in Hyson Green. Joined the army at 18, and thus left Nottingham and never lived there again. I live in Co Durham now, interesting in its own right but it is not the exciting and cosmopolitan city Nottingham is. Stayed with my parents frequently and still love the city. I do return frequently. I adore the city and all that it has.

I dont know if this could ever be resurrected, but it formed my sense of humour since I was a child - Do Not Adjust Your Set. It led on to Python humour. I maintain a surreal and absurd sense of humour to this day. The Mrs doesnt understand at all. Michael Bentine's Potty Time deserves an honourable mention.