The Journal's Graeme Whitfield takes you behind the headlines in his newsroom blog »
Environment campaigner Anna Heywood writes on ethical living »
Malcolm Clarke on life as a professional pool player »
Brenda Boyd - the life and times of a morris dancer »
David Brennan from the website Enjoying Photography writes about how to take good photos »
Emily Sillar, from the Comfort Food Company on North-East food »
Write Said Fred - view from the pram with six-month-old Fred Telfer »
Rebecca Young finds fashion on a budget »
Local GP John Mackay writes about the NHS »
Mark Robertson of the Northumber-
Tom Dodds on transport matters »December 2007 Archives
Book early to avoid disappointment
Posted by Brenda Boyd on December 1, 2007 4:49 PM
Few of Tyne Bridge Morris have got next year’s diary or calendar yet - but I’m already receiving enquiries about bookings for next summer.
We’ve already had to turn down one invitation to a weekend of dance on the grounds of distance (sorry Oyster Morris of Canterbury)…
Other dates being considered so far are:-
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HOW DO YOU START A BLOG?
Posted by David Brennan on December 3, 2007 3:59 PM
Well the title is probably about right. How do you start a blog?
It’s something I’ve asked loads of people and not one single answer was the same, so a month after I was invited to do this, I’m still none the wiser, so I think I’ll just type away and see what comes together.
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Anorak, moi?
Posted by on December 4, 2007 7:49 PM
Some of you, probably those of a similar vintage may have seen an excellent book by the 'Guardian' correspondent Harry Pearson - ''Achtung Schweinehund; a journey through the author's love afffair with model soldiers.
Well, I can identify with that and the only thing wrong with the book was that I didn't think of the idea first and, being a Tory, it takes a lot to persuade me to read anything from someone who writes for the 'Guardian'.
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D-Day For Tour Looming
Posted by Malcolm Clarke on December 7, 2007 9:53 AM
The final date for the decision on who gets the 96 places on the new professional tour is made on or around the 17th December.
The tour are no longer taking anymore applications so players now have to sit tight and wait.
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Not so Bashful
Posted by Brenda Boyd on December 7, 2007 4:32 PM
The hall Tyne Bridge Morris practice in is also used by Heaton Community Centre’s playgroup (amongst other people). So there is soft play, equipment and various large toys around the room.
Last night we noticed a row of large cuddly toy type dolls sitting on one of the radiator covers. They looked vaguely familiar, and on closer inspection turned out to be the Seven Dwarfs.
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Canon or Nikon?
Posted by David Brennan on December 10, 2007 6:32 AM
It’s one of the first things I get asked quite a bit when people find out I’m interested in photography. What type of camera do you use?
My answer is usually something like “Why, does it make a difference?” Let me explain.
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Thanks Hatton!
Posted by Malcolm Clarke on December 10, 2007 9:46 AM
I have started to get up really early and set off towards Darlington for a practise session at the Rileys club in the town centre.
It is open 24 hours a day and therefore my decision to put in three early hours of playing before heading back and still finding myself in the middle of the morning worked well last week, you still feel like you have the day ahead of you!
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Email from big brother
Posted by Brenda Boyd on December 10, 2007 10:59 AM
The other day I mentioned to my big brother that I needed to lift our potato crop in the back garden. Today I received this reply.
(By way of explanation. He was born, almost 65 years ago, in Princess Mary’s Maternity Hospital and spent his first five years on Tyneside before our Dad’s and his own RAF career took him all over the place. He finally settled in the Land of our Fathers – but our Mother’s Geordie roots still show from time to time.)
Hence this email
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December seasonal food
Posted by Anna Heywood on December 11, 2007 4:36 PM
It's difficult not to mention turkeys at this time of year.
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Anoraksm foreva!
Posted by on December 11, 2007 8:17 PM
Continuing my earlier theme and, to be fair, I'm entitled - I've got thirty years worth of experience to 'share' (the correct modern idiom I think). We share everything these days, Aids, CJD, your personal banking details, so why not historical re-enactment, got to be more fun than HMRC and David Abrahams.
I was, earlier in the day, a crystal clear winter's morning, in full fifteenth century fig, doing a photo shoot for English Heritage near Wooler; the air was needle sharp and North Northumberland provided that particular intimacy which comes with a still, clear mid-winter's day.
The bats had been a problem apparently, and everyone has to be nice to bats; I'd offered to bring a shotgun along and save all the fuss but you can't do that anymore, bats have rights, lucky devils.
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No I'm not Mary Poppins
Posted by Anna Heywood on December 12, 2007 12:07 PM
Do I send Christmas cards?
It’s a question I get asked a lot, perhaps in some way to check how ‘eco’ I really am.
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Un-photogenic Britain?
Posted by David Brennan on December 15, 2007 5:42 PM
According to some recent research done by Canon, the vast majority of Brits believe they’re un-photogenic.
Over half of us (52%) are insecure about our stomachs, and hold them in whenever a camera appears, while a third of us take action to hide double chins being seen in photos.
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Name the Year
Posted by Brenda Boyd on December 19, 2007 9:15 PM
The Name the Year picture puzzle in the Journal on Monday (17 December) induced a flood of texts and emails from me to various friends who are or were or are or were linked to the Kingsmen Sword Dancers. It may have produced an increase in sales of at least 2 copies.
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The 'Other' Home Guard
Posted by on December 20, 2007 1:16 PM
In 1940 Britain faced what was arguably the greatest threat in her history since the last greatest threat, Napoleon, or perhaps the Armada? Hitler was probably more potent than either. He had gobbled up Norway, Denmark, now Holland, Belgium and France. The British Expeditionary Force ("BEF") had managed to escape from the continent by the miracle of Dunkirk, a miracle that rather neatly obfuscated the fact of a shattering military defeat and the collapse of France.
At that point Britain, defeated, isolated, un-prepared and singularly unready, stood alone. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact appeared to have assured a convenient Nazi/Communist entente and a German attack on Russia seemed the remotest of possiblities. The USA, with its own strong pro-Nazi lobby, stood aloof.
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Too late for ethical christmas shopping?
Posted by Anna Heywood on December 23, 2007 1:17 PM
Is it too late to get ethical Christmas gifts that don’t look so ‘ethical’?
Dear Anna,
One day to go till Christmas and I fear that I may have left it too late to get any decent ethical Christmas gifts.
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A few tips to improve your photography
Posted by David Brennan on December 31, 2007 11:45 PM
I thought this time I’d post a brief article on how to improve yourself as a photographer, nothing technical mind you, just general stuff. Hope you find it useful.
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