Jill Sparrow

And all that wonderful red wine!! If my father had his way, we'd have emigrated to the Fremantle area in the mid 60s. He'd been there during the war and loved it. He wanted to go back but mum said nay. If things had been different, I could be a Sheila now with an Aussie accent. I love to hear Aussies speak. New Zealanders have an even more extreme version of the same accent. Accents fascinate me.

The parents of Lesley Ann Downey certainly thought so. It was from the fairground at Miles Platting near Ancoats that she was abducted in December 1964. It sounds such a nice place. Many years ago, when I worked for Browne Jacobson and Roose on Friar Lane, our road traffic offence clients were represented in court by a retired, fairly high ranking police officer. Lovely man. Everyone liked and respected him. In his earlier days, he had worked on the Moors Murders investigation. The only time I ever saw clouds cross his face was when that was mentioned. He cheerfully admitted that he would h

Medice, cura te ipsum... Physician, heal thyself....springs to mind. I have noticed, recently, people are wearing masks again.

I have five of the little beggars now. That's quite enough!

My eighteen year old tabby female has never in her entire life been to the loo in the garden. She won't dig dirt. Might soil her paws. She'll come in to use the tray and then go out again.

Salem's Lot. Stephen King novel. I think.

Too many irresponsible cat owners. Several entire toms visit my garden. They are lovely cats. Some wear collars, so they have homes. Others are the size of a barrel because they could have inspired the story of Six Dinner Sid! None has been neutered. This is why I have Jessie Belle and two kittens. She wasn't spayed and was homeless. Some people think it isn't necessary to neuter toms. Heaven knows why. Unneutered, they wander for miles, get into fights, road accidents, sustain injuries and sire kittens no one wants. One of these days, I'm going to start my own campaign of taking these toms

Were those the premises that became Camelot later in the 70s?

A gift for mum. You should be grateful. Don't eat it all at once!

It's a widespread problem. Houses have been built in places that older residents are well aware can flood in weather like that we've been having. Alright, it doesn't happen often and perhaps it hasn't occurred for many years but the danger is still there and constructing houses on such land is foolhardy. The River Amber here in Derbyshire has caused a lot of trouble recently, flooding the church in South Wingfield, recently built properties and rendering the church hall a write-off. The latter was rebuilt not all that long ago. The architect was informed by local residents that his plans wer

He appeared in an early episode of the original series of Star Trek, although you probably wouldn't recognise him.

Not with those lyrics, I should hope?

Personally, as a child, I never had to suffer the privations of an outside toilet but for those who view that little lean-to in the back yard with romantic nostalgia... a new take on an old favourite. Izal be seeing you In all the old, familiar privvies, Where the icy, gale force chivvies All night through. In that small enclave, Where spiders dangle from the chain. The cistern with its rusty bell, The rats that make you run like hell! Izal be seeing you: Those crafty bugs you're bound to meet. It's no use standing on the seat. The crabs

Is it an inflatable dinghy? By the look of the Trent, you might need it.

Pancreatic cancer is a real nightmare. It took one of my dear catty friends almost four years ago. Escape was a blessed relief for her. Awful illness. My mum would have been 98 this April and dad would have reached his 100th this coming November. Low to mid 80s seems the norm for both sides of the family. I think that's long enough for anyone.

During the winter of 1962/3 I caught measles. Had it quite severely and was delirious, hallucinating and also suffering copious nosebleeds. My bed was brought downstairs into the sitting room and the curtains were drawn, to protect my eyesight. Freezing temperatures froze the water main out in the road. Therefore, we had no water and neither did most of our neighbours, except for one kindly couple who supplied everyone else for as long as their taps kept running. My poor, frazzled mother had to cope with me being sick and her own father who lived with us and was also ill. She co

That winter occurred ten years before I was born but I recall my father telling me that people were also freezing at home because coal was scarce. Coal there was aplenty but it was all in wagons, waiting in sidings, due to frozen points which meant the wagons couldn't be moved. He recalled his father becoming exasperated as the family's coal supply ran out and no coal merchant in Beeston had any stocks until the wagons could be moved and unloaded. Happy days.

I just love cats, too, no one will be surprised to hear. Jessie Belle's two kittens are now four months old and due a trip to the V E T. Jessie has been spayed and, good mother though she has been, won't be having any further progeny. The ginger kitten, originally named Rumpole, has now been renamed Chivers as she's female. Pushkin has almost been renamed Moriarty, due to his astounding level of intelligence, apparently ability to enter rooms with closed doors and penchant for stealing things. The feline Napoleon of Crime. He's also very fond of cuddles.

Nowt wrong with Izal. It's all a tissue of lies!

It made a passable substitute where none was available.

I get no kick from champagne. Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all, So I thought I'd try Shipstone's brew... And then spent the night on the loo! Yes, Izal get a kick out of you. With apologies to whoever penned the original lyrics.

My parents met at The Victoria Ballroom in February 1947. Not long before my mother's 21st birthday. Dad had beautiful, dark, wavy hair and my mother asked him whether he'd had it permed! He was offended and that was almost the end of the relationship before it even started. I almost wasn't!

I'm beginning to see Young Trogg in a whole new light.

It's young Trogg having a Ben moment!

@philmayfielddo you remember a Stephen Barber at Henry Mellish? He was there from 1951 to 58, so a tad older than you. He's turned up on Nottinghamshire Lost School Friends. I've sent him a link to the Mellish thread, if he hasn't already found it.