Geordie Dropped in by Wyn Jackson

Went to have a chat with Ron and Wyn Jackson about their memories of Benwell for my local history research. Spent a brilliant couple of hours learning of Ron`s life as a professional boxer, army career, and the old mill they bought to set up a business. Wyn`s own grandfather was also a boxer. We looked at old photos of the 1945 victory tea party, coronation street party and had a good laugh at their comical stories.

Wyn has two books in publication, Geordie Dropped In and Geordie got Physical.

This photo shows Ron when he was young, he became Northumberland champion.

Christmas Market - Newcastle

Check out the Christmas Market at the top of Grey Street, there are food,wood carvings, crafts, scarves, fabulous mulled wine and stalls with wares from all over the world.

Tight Knickers

Watched a great programme, think it was called Now that`s what I call 1983. Remember those horrible Cabbage Patch Dolls? Old footage showed the pandemonium that ensued when a delivery hit a store and there wasn`t enough to go around. Parents were fisting eachother in at the checkouts. One American mother shouted

"What are we supposed to say "You`ve been good but Santa ran short?"

Then a shot of another customer running out of the shop with about 7 boxes under her arms. Other toys which our two lads owned were He Man, we sold them all for next to nowt at a boot sale, they`d be worth something now, but you can`t hold onto old crap forever in the hope of making money, the house is like shitsville some days, so I don`t want to make it any worse. There were some hilarious clips, Total Eclipse of the Heart was a good song, but the video showing a crowd of choir boys with glowing eyes made me laugh, then one of them launched through the air towards the camera, great stuff. Tony Hadley was on, brilliant voice.

Went into town to meet D at B`s cafe Laboca. B and I were discussing our recent experiences with biopsies, and how we both had the all clear. It was freezing outside, and we saw D approaching with her collar up around her neck, B said
"And speaking of dead things!!!"

I showed them the recent Xmas card and letter from someone I used to work with years ago, the letter was photocopied, so she must send her news to everyone. B read it and said

"I hate those kinds of people, you`ve got one, they`ve got two, you`ve got 2 they`ve got 10, you`ve got a garden, they`ve got a park, but only it`s not theirs, it`s inherited." ..........Go for it boy!!!

As he read on he commented"

"Oh, this is sooooo boring, she talks so much shite, her knickers must be too tight, so its all coming out of her mouth, she got into her girdle 18 years go and she`s still wearing it forty years later."

The bible basher was out in force in Northumberland Street, he had a huge flag that he was waving in one hand and his book in the other

"Jesus saves...Is Jesus a man...Is he God.....or is he just a historical figure?"

I didn`t wait to find out

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bearpark/sets/72157608785587442/

Willy shaped Fish and Chips

We both had a pig of a day on Friday and decided that the diet would go out of the window, we NEEDED fish and chips. To make ourselves feel better, we would have half each. When I opened the box, there staring back at me was this willy shaped fish, had the staff in the shop played a joke on us or did a piece of fish drop off in the hot fat, we`ll never know. But, it gave us a good laugh. Later in the evening I suddenly thought that I could have staged it so that D opened the box on video and I could have sent it to Harry Hill, ah well £250 smackeroonies down the drain, we`d already eaten it. I must admit that when it came to cutting it in half, I did feel a bit like that Bobbit woman, but I was hungry so tried not to think about it. D ate the balls and I ate the willy, metaphorically of course.

Sandi Toksvig gave a brilliant talk at the university she spoke about how women and girls were portrayed in a negative wimpering way in stories such as Cinderella and Rapunzel, waiting around for men to rescue them and give them a life. She`s definitely worth seeing.

Next up was my spot at Northern Stage as a guest with Monkfish Productions, excellent acts and bands, had a great time. But, did rattle through my sections and didn`t give people a chance to finish applauding, so they missed some of the first lines as I moved on too quickly, but it`s logged for next time I`m anywhere else.

The old school reunion was great, met up again with lots of old pals and I have telephone numbers of those willing to give interviews and allow me to scan their photos for Benwell Remembered. There was a buffet and a raffle, someone had a loud haler to announce the winners, but everyone was so busy gassing that we didn`t hear, also me and D missed the buffet, nowt left by the time we got around to picking something up, I did get a mini sausage roll, but at least it looked like a sausage roll!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chico singing to Geordie`s Lost his Liggy

Chico biting the door

Chico adding sound effects from his bell

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Geordie`s Lost his Liggy