Jill Sparrow

I played the piano by ear from the age of 3. If I heard a piece of music, I would go and play it. As I grew older, I was sent for piano lessons and told that I must not play by ear any longer and must read the music. I more or less lost the ability, although I found it fairly easy to memorise the music and play without it. My maternal grandfather and his sisters all played by ear, although my mother had been taught to read music. I think it possibly runs in families.

I sympathise, SG and others. Blood tests are a minefield and very much depend on the skill of the person doing them. I much prefer to have mine done at the hospital blood room as that is all they do all day and the operatives can do it without pain. On one occasion, at the GP, there was a medical student and the phlebotomist asked if he could do my test. I know they have to learn but I refused. Like nonna, my veins tend to hide and I couldn't face the thought of someone inexperienced poking around and possibly making a hash of it. Now that my TSH is stable, I only need to be teste

Hope you flashed your new toothypegs at her!

I don't think the 20 children helped!

Don't get me wrong: I am no advocate of violence in any form. However, if someone invades my personal space without my permission and is intending actions of which I don't approve, I am going to protect myself and use any means to do so. In my view, everyone has that right. If it results in injury to the perpetrator, hard cheese. Might make them think twice next time.

That's fair enough, provided the males concerned are prepared to accept being kicked in the testicles or having a sharp object thrust in them as part of the fun. The thing is, they don't! Tough. If you can't take it, don't dish it out.

True, Ben. Sadly, some people of both genders don't know when they've crossed the line. They don't even know the line exists! I've been accused, in my time, of being anti male. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I get on better with men than women due to the absence of bitchiness in men. What I won't tolerate is being regarded as a piece of meat in the butcher's window and, during my working life, I've met many males who think it's acceptable. I've never hesitated to impress upon them that it isn't.

To a large extent, the baby has been thrown out with the bath water, as it were. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of friendly banter or an affectionate gesture...an arm around the shoulders or even a hug, in the workplace. It's a question of intention. The worst incident occurred when I was around 19 and was cornered one day in my office by a chap in his 60s. He had always been pleasant and his behaviour on this particular day was very out of character. I was alone in the room but had I screamed or shouted, others would have heard me and arrived to inve

I agree that the current wave of hysteria regarding sexual harassment of women in the workplace is nauseating...and I'm a feminist! Although I have never worked in a factory, I know people who have and the tales they tell of predatory behaviour by females are horrendous. I've been on the receiving end of unwanted attentions from male colleagues from the day I entered the workplace. You either deal with it or leave. What's so difficult about that?

Sixty females in one room alone? You do realise that Ben is now a sobbing heap on the floor, don't you? Even Marsden's can't hold a candle to that!

Yes, we could learn a lot from that. The drug companies have a lot to answer for.

True global appeal, our Ben! If we could clone him, we'd all be millionaires!

If only the medics would listen to thyroid sufferers! I will certainly do some research!

I think Ben missed his vocation. He might have enjoyed Gerard's.

Know anything that will sort out an underfunctioning thyroid?

My BP has always been on the low side, as was my mother's. They do say that stroking a pet cat or dog lowers BP. Not this morning though. Raffles jumped on my breakfast tray and upset a full cup of black coffee all over the bed! You wouldn't believe a small amount of liquid could spread so far!

She would probably have enjoyed playing football with you, Ben. She was that sort of woman.

Any connection with Caudwell's Mill in Rowsley?

Five years before my time, you lot, but shows the quad corridors had been covered over by glass. Looks like a mixture of sixth formers and probably fifth formers wearing summer uniforms. As to our Ben, Pickleface would have made mincemeat of the likes of him! I can safely say that she was one woman he would not have been able to charm! If he had any sense, he wouldn't have tried!

Just come back from the V. E. T after taking one of my moggies for her annual immunization. There were two very young beagle puppies waiting to see the nurse for their first lot of vaccinations. They were gorgeous but caused more noise and mayhem than a cartload of monkeys! Made me think about Loppy! The place was in uproar. Also met a lady with a gorgeous tabby male cat. It is one of four who come into her garden and this morning it was limping so she borrowed a cat carrier and brought him in. He's unneutered and allowed to roam around getting into fights. Irresponsible owners, i

That's me with Christmas presents, Trogg!

I do that every year, CT! Not much you can teach this old moggie about thrift!

Welcome, Roy. Many years ago, 1977ish, I worked with a lady whose husband was some kind of manager with Fine Fare. Possibly an area manager. His name was Clive Broome.

Here's another one...libidinous

My father was an avid Billy Bunter fan. He had collected Magnet and Gem papers from childhood, buying them from Walter Hayes' shop in Beeston. On his 80th birthday, I gave him some Greyfriars annuals I bought at auction. Never seen anyone so pleased! Not pc now, of course...Ram Jam Singh, etc.