banjo48

Sorry but I hate christmas, overated over commercialised the whole point of christmas has been lost. Just an excuse now for overeating and drinking in excess. Appologise if I offend. But for us the best thing about christmas is new years day when its all done and dusted.

Me too ! Never really been ripped off, I was pretty car savvy as cars were my hobby for years, we get ripped off pricewise here in oz for goods available elsewhere much cheaper, but the internet is good for purchase power. But thats about it.

My uncle used to take us fishing for chub in the Smyte, but I thought it was Aslockton but may be wrong, long time ago. Remember using large chunks of cheddar cheese that I used to eat while waiting for the bites, or luncheon meat.

Isn't it amazing how we were treated at these "clinics" and how our phobias develop ? I too had some awful experiences firstly at an old dentist in Beeston, a Mr Seedhouse, never forget, he came at me with the biggest syringe and needle I had ever seen ! then told me to listen for the "crack" as he pulled the offending tooth out while mum was holding me down ! I was 5 at the time. Then there was Parkes corner in Carlton, the next torture center for me ! I have poor teeth, mainly due to my fear and phobia of dentists ! I still have it and even though I should really go now, I cannot face it

Pretty much the same ground as Carni, used to spend alot of time at Stoke Bardolph, gulls eggs of the settling ponds, Stoke lock, Gedling woods, Colwick ponds and sluice gates, Trentside at the back of the sugar factory were all our haunts. Also spent a lot of time exploring Mapperley brickyard ponds and tunnels under Breckhill road.Also a pond up near the golf course, and finally the old railway tunnels from Gedling to Arnold and the pit slag heaps at Podder lane. Happy times indeed.

I dont like the old age aching bodies and ailments ! but love the freedom of retirement and we can now travel where ever whenever with no rush or ties (think I am a gypsy at heart :-)

I used to visit Shipsides a lot as I was into mini's in a big way, built a couple of "S's" up from two rightoff's, front end damage, so needed parts fairly regularly from there or my other supplier "Podders" scrapyard. I worked across the road as a Post Office Tech at the time, so could look over from our tea room and see the place easily.

I was never a "true" rocker albeit I had a flying jacket, had an older brother who was a real teddy boy and into motorbikes, I loved motorbikes and sometimes wore tight blue jeans ! I still have my love of two wheels though and currently run a BMW R1200GS (Long Way Round -bike) and a Vespa 300cc scooter !. I became a mod I suppose when I met my girlfriend as she didn't like motorbikes only scooters, and the circle of friends we were in at the time. I love ex army gear (and still do) so the parkas were up my street ! and very practical for the cold weather.

Loved Stuart MacBride at first but his last offering anoyed me, Michael Rowbotham has done some great stories, enjoyed his last one "Say Your sorry". Love Ian Rankin and his Rebus series. Love my ebook reader too ! got a Sony but just upgraded to the latest Kindle Paperwhite, best thing since sliced bread ! Tried going back to a paperback my SIL gave me, but it annoyed the hell out of me reading in bed (thats where I read the most).

I use MSE on my laptop but recently had some unwanted "toolbar" additions appear on my system, after a download, so I enquired with a friend who has been in the IT game for 10 years. He talked me through removing the garbage. He then recommended installing Avast Free, which will run happily alongside MSE with no issues. He also recommended Malwarebytes anti malware program and update and scan weekly. Avast picks up things that MSE has missed and MWB does a great cleanup. Was amazed at what was lurking on my machine ! all clean now, but it still picks up the odd "PUP" potential unwanted pro

A friend here in oz sent me this yesterday :- http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/10/laser-scanning-hundreds-of-artificial-caves-beneath-nottingham/ Very interesting reading and more memories of home. I actually did a fair bit of work in the Broad Marsh centre fitting a new phone system, and got to see lots of things not open to the general public including some of the caves.

My dad had a set of sweeps brushes and used to clean ours and a few neighbours when we lived in Lenton Abbey. Remember standing outside waiting for the brush to pop out the chimney. He used to go on the roofs to do some ! and I would stand and foot the ladder as he went up onto the crawl ladder with his brushes and a small pair of steps to reach the top of the pots ! Dont know how he did it as it was far from safe, and the health and safety of today would cringe at some of the situations he got into. We used to have a wood burner here in oz till about 10 years ago, when the powers at be d

We had our milk deliveries done by Weldons dairy, for many years, they were at the top of Carlton hill. I used to do a bit of training with a bloke cllaed Dave Newham, he was the last mechanic to work for them before they closed shop, his garage was on Mayfield road I think. Super fit bloke, he also did a bit of boxing too. I think he set up shop again as a one man enterprise further down Carlton road somewhere opposite Doug Fearns original place. All the milk carts were electric from memory, and they still seemed to get out there even in the worst snow conditions.

Used to be the winder person for my gran and great aunt when they made potted meat with the left over meat from Sunday lunch. I must have been around 5-6 but remember it well. I note the Chinese are now producing the exact machine as I saw some in a kitchen store recently. Wonder if they will survive as long as the originals.

Just before Hopewells moved to the premises, my dad worked there as a bricklayer doing the conversions, and I remember him saying something about working on the lift shaft as well as other alterations. I remember as he used to come home frozen and said he had been in the lift shaft with a gale blowing up it. Thomas Long was the main contractor who my dad worked for.

Saw one of Heston Blumenthol's cooking shows where he showed how to guarantee a perfect boiled egg. The egg(s) were brought just to the boil, then taken off the heat and a lid placed on the pan and left for 6 mins exactly, then served or cooled in cold water to prevent further cooking. We tried it and it works perfectly as the white is cooked but remains tender (if thats the right word) and the yolks are runny, just right for dipping the soldiers in ! This method could be used for the scotch eggs ala runny yolks. Tea last evening was pork belly, slow cooked on the bbq away from direct heat

Tray of lamb cutlets marinated in Moroccan seasoning, bbq'ed and served with a fresh green salad and Yogurt dips. (last nights tea) Mmmmmmm!

We used to fish for chub under the suspension bridge on the trent from the Meadows side, early sunday morning while there was mist on the water, large cubes of cheese for bait, or lob worms were the go. Used to get some real monsters there in the 60's. We also used to go up to the Fiskerton powerstation near Newark, it was Nottm piscatorial waters, but I went as a junior visitor with a mates dad who was a ticket holder. Good chub and roach waters too.

Knew Terry Bennet very well, think he used to live on Fraser Square Carlton, Worked with his dad for awhile at Gedling Coliery - Reg Bennet, who was my charghand at the time. Reg used to be on the Gedling Miners welfare committee on Mapperley tops so Terry used to do quite a few gigs there, met my good lady at one of the gigs at the welfare club so remember it well. My wife used to cut and blow dry Terry's hair at times as she was an apprentice hairdresser. Wife's older brother was good mates with Terry too. I remember an "eventful" trip up to the twisted wheel, Manchester with him, for

Sorry but cannot agree, just before we emigrated 25 years ago there was the devastating Dandenong range bushfires, East of Melbourne, cannot remember the name, black Friday or Monday or similar. There has been bushfires for eons in oz, as said the Abbo's have been using fire for years and years, its the greenies and bad fire management prevention, thats the problem. We are currently on the NSW/VIC border near the Murray river, earlier this year a tornado went through and wiped out a swarth of forest bordering the river for around 75 klm's, today I noticed the fall trees are still lying on t

Still have crisp sandwiches for a lunchtime snack occasionally. :-)

My wife has worked in retail for the last 30 years, working her way from checkout chick at our local Tesco in Carlton, and on to upper manegment before retirement two years ago, from one of the big two supermarkets here in Oz.. She actually likes the auto check outs ! she had so many years dealing with uncoperative irresponsible staff (her words), and rude irrate customers, while working. She is also pedantic about packing her items correctly (again in her words, some of the surely young kids today havent got a clue ! ) She always takes her own bags now too, one thing though I am not all

Tried the recipe for the mince and onions yetserday, think it was Carni that posted it. Very very tasty but I put too much liquid in it so next time will only put half in, thickened up ok with some cornflour though, had it with veggies and mash, enough left for today with maybe a plate of chips ! Only problem I picked the wrong day here in Vic. in oz to cook it, we had an early spring heatwave of 35c ! so the oven on for 3 hours in our RV was a bit much. Thank goodness for airconditioners.

Thats not working thats Volunteering ! :-)