Jill Sparrow

You'd be a good stand in for Yul Brunner, our Ben. Look good in those oriental outfits. Show your legs off a bit!

Good news indeed, Michael and Chulla will be relieved at not having to share his Tibetan Tipple with other Nottstalgians just yet!

I was intrigued by your post, Centaur, but saddened by its ending. As you will know if you have read previous posts, I inherited a large amount of documents and photographs connected with the Fryar family. John William Fryar was a former manager of the Barber Walker Colliery and resident of the house you speak of.

The moggies keep us young, Catfan!

Not yet, NBL. Not yet. You're not sloping off to Chulla's Tibetan Tipple Emporium!

My uncle George of Garden Street would term it "A real Bobbydazzler" . Anyone who was obese was referred to as "a boiling bit!"

Indeed! Fine performances from everyone except Christie as Marian. Couldn't act her way out of a paper bag!

One of my favourite films, The Go Between, was filmed in Norwich, including the aforementioned hotel. Julie Christie, whom I expect Ben has wowed at some time...and the very personable Alan Bates.

I think she should probably go to Specsavers, Malcolm!

I went to Boots' on Saturday to collect my thyroxine. The pharmacist was not the usual one and she asked me if I had a medical exemption card (thyroxine users don't need to pay for prescriptions). I told her I had one but no longer needed to use it. When she asked why not, I advised her to look at my date of birth. "Oh, you're 60!" she gasped. "I would never have thought so!" Now that's the kind of senior moment I don't mind at all!

Dolly blue bags were also recommended for bee stings. Most households had blue bags for washing and, presumably, the alkaline nature of the dolly bag counteracts the bee venom. Never tried it but lots did.

I used to go to a salon on Long Row in the late 70s. It was accessed from an entrance next to the West End Arcade. Quite a big place and good stylists. Can't remember what it was called. Around 1976, I had my hair permed at Hair by Tony on Pelham Street. The stylist said she didn't think it was a good idea but I insisted. Wish I'd listened. It looked awful and I just had to wait for it to grow out!

You've probably served em in Marsden's, or wherever!

I believe she was married to a professional cricketer, Ben!

The author was only a teenager when she wrote A Taste of Honey! It is a brilliant film which I have on DVD. Dora Bryan is unequalled as Helen, Jo's irrepressible mother, yet manages to convey the tragic life she's had. Bryan, I feel, was a greatly underrated actress. Her face is able to tell a story without the need for dialogue.

I read The Little Grey Rabbit books before I started school. I've always loved them and still have a collection of most of the titles. Another book I really loved was When Marnie Was There.

Years ago, I worked with a girl who lived in Grantham with her husband. They had a dog named Daisy and a cat. Silly enough to leave a joint of meat wrapped in foil on the kitchen worktop one Saturday evening, having invited friends over for Sunday lunch, they discovered the wreckage the following morning. The cat had jumped onto the worktop and pushed the joint to the edge,where Daisy took over and pulled it onto the floor. Both then stuffed themselves silly. Come lunchtime, when everyone was sitting down to beans on toast, both Daisy and the cat chose to throw up all

Cats are good at helping themselves...to anything they fancy!

You're right, Brew, but as Shakespeare said, "All things that live must die." All my cats have been strays and rescues. All the moggies down at cat rescue were either feral or dumped. To care for them and experience the truly unconditional affection they give in return is beyond price. We are all mortal and among the happiness there must be grief but there is the comfort of knowing you've made life better for a fellow creature...and they for you.

I know a family who have an Akita. Beautiful looking dog but whenever the owner walks him, he always warns people not to touch Moomin, as the dog is called. They also have 3 Norwegian Forest Cats. Guess who rules the roost in that house...and it's not the dog!

I know exactly what you mean, Loppy. Increasingly, I feel like an alien on this planet. Thank goodness for the moggies!

No contest. Animals win, paws down, every time!

Well said, Woody!

They were a favourite with me when I was at The Manning. I always took sandwiches because the dinners looked disgusting. Mum usually included a fruit pie as well! Not seen them for years.

Massive cerebral haemorrhage, Loppy. GG was, by all accounts, a bit of a hypochondriac who took all sorts of pills for what were, possibly, imagined ailments. His blood pressure, however, was not under control and was the cause of the stroke that took him on his way.