philmayfield

I see his letter of apology is available on line for all of us to read. I wonder how long before it appears on eBay. It must be worth a few quid!

We were connected to a monitoring centre that informed the fire brigade. Every Friday at 4 p.m we had to open a valve which caused the pressure to fall, trip a microswitch and send a signal. We then had to phone to see if they had received the message. Sprinkler systems back then seemed to be made by Mather and Platt of Manchester who regularly made maintenance visits. In sensitive areas such as our electricity sub station the breaking of a head would obviously not emit water over the transformer and switchgear but caused a remote head to reduce the pressure and send a signal.

We also had to insure for water damage caused by a sprinkler going off!

Sprinklers are initially expensive but pay for themselves over the years in savings on insurance. I ran a plastics factory and printing works where flammable solvents were in use. In the case I referred to one of the lads spilt some solvent on the floor of the store and tried to clear up the spillage by mistakenly setting fire to it. He was a black guy but had turned white after he was dragged out! The sprinklers turned on and the fire was out before the brigade arrived. They do give you peace of mind.

I suppose it all depends on getting direct access to the root of the fire. I presume the Fire Service Training College have all the latest scientific evidence on the best ways of extinguishing a fire and that specific protocols are applied in the particular circumstances. Our factory had a sprinkler system which sprayed water from overhead and I’ve seen it in effective action in a flammable solvent store. The fire officer told me he had never been to a severe fire in a sprinkler protected building.

I’ve never done anything as drastic as that but they do just seem to go on and on.

I was told to reboot daily back in the 70’s and have always done so. It can sort out the RAM apparently. It’s recommended that older versions of Widows are rebooted daily. I’ve generally avoided Microsoft and highly rate Apple Mac being the first customer in Nottingham to buy one from the local agents. Macs have never given me problems and are much more reliable and user friendly than Windows.

Yes, it was originally a Lace Centre when it was opposite the castle.

There was also an excellent restaurant upstairs where I had the pleasure of dining. That must have been in the early 60’s.

No problem downloading here. I wouldn’t read the Guardian obviously but the crossword is free. I have the Times as well.

It was a big hole to fill with smaller shops but that’s what House of Frazer is basically. Pleased to see it rescued for the sake of the employees although I’ve never shopped there other than the cafe. John Lewis is streets ahead but I still prefer to drive down to Downtown/Boundary Mills at Grantham.

A former member. I hope you weren’t expelled for being too clever!

That sounds perfectly plausible. We mustn’t be influenced by the oddballs who want to read something mystical into natural phenomena.

Thanks for the support Jill. I’m not a weirdo, just a rational person that believes that there is a scientific, non religious explanation for everything. I do realise that there are people who suffer from mental delusions and that it is an illness which ultimately has an explanation.

We have actually seen a UFO. Self, wife and two children. Some 25 years ago whilst driving along a road in the Trent Valley. An enormous saucer shaped object with windows at about 500 feet. We are perfectly rational people and not given to hysteria. We stopped and observed it for about 5 minutes until it disappeared. I’m perfectly willing to accept it was a phenomenum caused by moonlight and clouds over a disused gravel pond. We didn’t discuss it with others because we would not have been believed. I don’t believe in spiritualism or similar phenomena. It was just a complete mystery which I’m

OSX

Never expected a spelling mistake from you Jill.

I went to school in Bulwell with boys from Hucknall, Eastwood, Awsworth, Kimberley, Stapleford and Arnold. Because I came from Woodthorpe and spoke proppa I had the mickey taken! Made me Nottinghamshire polyglotic though!

Even before immigration you would hear little recognisable English in Mansfield!

I could leave it to go completely wild but it flops over and gets matted. I think taking a crop of hay each year makes for better land management. I can use a scythe but it would take weeks to cut and probably kill me in the process!

Yes, they’re mainly townies in our village now. Most of the true rustics are very old and are a dying breed. We’re just a commuter village now with very few agricultural workers. Some people even commute from Newark to London daily. People have gardeners and cleaning ladies, floodlit houses and electric gates. I’m glad that we’ve still got a few acres to live the rural idyll but I doubt I can physically manage the upkeep for much longer. A nice man with a big John Deere came to cut the hedges last week. That’s one job I can’t do but I think we’re going to have to turn our wildlife meadow into

You’ve probably picked up the Lincolnshire/Fenland brogue. It’s quite similar round here in the indigenous agricultural communities. Can’t understand a bloody word they say! It’s all oo’s and arr’s. I unconsciously adjust my speaking to the people I’m with. I suppose that can be deemed to be condescending but I think you’ve got to be at ease with people and don’t come over as a pompous bastard (which has been said!)

I’m sure you never needed to Margie. Arno Vale was in Woodthorpe, we all talked posh there.

Whan that Aprille with his shoures shoote? Really - in Mansfield Market - c’m on!

There wasn’t. He was just a parody!