WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[LizG]

Beautiful.

[Bruff]

This article.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle ... mas-carols

I well remember this tradition during my time living in Sheffield, especially when I was living in Grenoside as it was very popular in Oughtibridge, the next town/suburb to ‘Grenner’ down the splendidly-named Jawbone Hill. I know the pub in the article well: once played an early-season cricket match up at Lodge Moor and its started snowing.

Richard Broughton

[Cathy]

Australia has woken up to news that the Martin Place seige is now over. It was awful going to bed last night knowing that ambulances were lining nearby streets around the seige, just waiting. Sadly 2 hostages are dead, 4 hostages and 1 police officer are injured. We've been told that the injured have been released from Hospital. To know that the hostages will never be the same again, their lives have been changed forever through no fault of their own is very sad. Lot's of info coming out now about the lone gunman (now dead), but ofcourse our thoughts are with the dead and injured Australians and their families. The whole thing has been awful to watch and try to follow, very very sad.

[Stanley]

Kids scrubbed up at weddings.... Wonderful! They always look angelic.
Bruff, my old stamping grounds, I delivered a lot of cattle in the Huddersfield/Sheffield area. My dad frequented the flapping meetings (illegal horse racing) at pubs on the moors like the Flouch and I have an idea I have heard him talk about the Sportsman.
Sydney.... one man with a twisted view of 'religion' and all that trouble....
My personal focus is on a cottage in Derbyshire, with any luck daughter Janet is safely ensconced!
There was a piece on Today on R4 about the increased demand for ambulance services. They said that this wasn't just a seasonal thin g, it has been noted all year. There was a discussion as to what might be causing it and various things were mentioned, pressure on GP services, failure of the NHS help lines, but nobody mentioned what I think might be a factor. Crumblies like me grew up having to rely on our own resources, I've never gone as far as my mate Paul but if he got a bad cut he had a needle and cotton in his toolbox and sewed it up himself! Could it be that nowadays people expect instant attention and help no matter how minor the problem and so just call an ambulance?

[Thomo]

"Sydney.... one man with a twisted view of 'religion' and all that trouble". I have no sympathy with the perpetrator at all, but it is hard to imagine the impact on the descent people of that faith. I do have a great deal of sympathy for the families of the two victims, and indeed the rest of the people of that great country. Hot on the heels of this horrific crime came the news this morning that 20+ had been killed in Peshawar in Pakistan. Mostly students trying to gain knowledge, by midday the toll had risen to 84, it is now at over 120, and the battle is ongoing. Again a twisted view of religion is the cause of this carnage. The fight against they who's ideals belong in the 17th century is much criticised, yet however unpalatable must continue, for the good of all.

[Tizer]

...pressure on GP services...

And the pressure is not only from the increased numbers of people wanting treatment but from the universities which limit the number of people entering university to study for medical degrees.

[Stanley]

And the worse conditions in A&E get, the fewer doctors who volunteer to specialise in it.

[Bruff]

Might be one for the ‘Good TV’ thread, but I have been watching the BBC4 comedy/drama ‘Puppy Love’ and I caught up with last week’s episode last night (I think it’s quite a light hoot, but took time to watch it as it was filmed in Hoylake/West Kirby/Thurstaston – quite an advert for the scenery here).

Last night one of the protagonists’ was a bit tired and emotional as her husband had ‘run off’ with a, quote: ‘cycling buddy called Dennis from Barnoldswick’. I can’t ever recall ‘Barnoldswick’ being name checked in a drama, though a few have been filmed hereabouts.

Richard Broughton

[Thomo]

Hilda Baker often used "A French maid from Barlick" in her sitcom about Pledges Pickles" with Jimmy Jewel. Also Barnoldswick was referred to several times by Patricia Routledge in the series "Hetty Wainthrop".

[Tripps]

Not today but last night on TV I watched Hetty Wainthropp Investigates and she found the man she was looking for in Barnoldswick

As pointed out by Mr Gearce nearly three years ago. I think most of the episodes are on Youtube.

[Stanley]

Daughter Janet visits today. Have not vacuumed but I put a clean shirt on yesterday.....
America talking to Cuba. About time too!

[PanBiker]

My choice of festive golden oldie played on Radio 2 this morning, my suggestion of Frosty the Snowman by Red Foley read out by Moira Stewart no less

[Big Kev]

My choice of festive golden oldie played on Radio 2 this morning, my suggestion of Frosty the Snowman by Red Foley read out by Moira Stewart no less

Excellent. We had Patrick Keilty read one out back in May, drinking Mexican beer to celebrate Cinquo de Mayo. We got some stick for that from him

[Tizer]

Cathy mentioned a sinkhole appearing recently in Oz, so here's a good old British one for her!
`Giant 'sinkhole' appears in Upper Basildon front garden'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-30518983
Apparently this one should be called a `crown hole' because it's caused by man-made tunnels rather than naturally formed. That distinction is probably of little interest to the poor folk living in the house.

[Cathy]

Gosh, I wonder who will pay for that, John Lewis or previous 'tradesmen' ?

[Tizer]

I guess the brick company will be long gone and it'll be down to a decision from whoever underwrites the John Lewis insurance policies. It's good the kids weren't playing on that timber frame!

[Stanley]

Aren't insurance companies great! You pay them for an umbrella and as soon as it rains they want it back.....

[Stanley]

The article in the BET showing the lads getting the High Street Award. Somehow they managed to get a picture without Moonface horning in on the action. Well done lads! (Did you get someone to divert him?)

[David Whipp]

He wasn't wearing a 'Visit Barnoldswick' tee-shirt...

(An email received on the eve of the awards laid down 'smart business' as the dress code for the event; me and Richard decided that our branded tops would be smart enough. Everyone else was in suits... and commenting how effective our branding was, including the government minister.

Seven days later I put the same VB top on; I'm at County Hall for back to back meetings of the full council. During a break, I'm upbraided by a Conservative county councillor saying how terrible it is that I'm not wearing a proper shirt...)

[Stanley]

Splendid... You are quite right!
What has grabbed me since I got up this morning is an acute pain in my left forearm. I must have trapped a nerve or something and I haven't a clue how I did it. Getting my Crombie on for the late walk was bad but when I got back it was even worse getting it off. You would have laughed at the pantomime. I have rubbed it with embrocation that I made myself, it contains all the good things so now I stink like the inside of a 19th century vet's bag! It came on suddenly and will probably go just as fast.

[Big Kev]

I've commented on this post before Stanley this morning . Another hour and a half and I shall be going to bed.

[Stanley]

Wimp! I shan't go to bed until noon....
Arm not right yet but far better this morning, I can just about lift it to blow my nose! I reckon it was carrying the Hoover upstairs after doing what Janet failed to do.... My arm was twisted backwards... Not nice but I avoided pain killers and anti inflammatory pills. She's coming to see me this morning, I shall castigate her....
What grabbed me is the series of Xmas messages being exchanged by the US and North Korea.....

[Cathy]

Stanley get yourself another vacuum cleaner and keep it upstairs. Hope your arm is all better.

[Stanley]

That is probably very good advice Cathy... But I can't afford it. I shall have to be very careful.... Arm is not fully recovered yet but so much better.... Just think, if I'd rung for the ambulance I would probably have been diagnosed with dementia by now.....
Visit by Janet and Bob. Lovely to see her.... She will be up here again before she goes back in mid-January.

[Tripps]

Possible solution?

From Thomo Dec 13th

" If any of you need a vac in a hurry, you are welcome to either of the other two for a small donation to our cats welfare fund."