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Chateau Midden: Hexham Trip

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:05:24 +0000

It being half term, after I dropped Fester off at The Farm to do some fieldwork, I took the boys to Hexham for the rest of the morning until it was time to pick him up again. After getting parked we visited the Tourist Information and then headed towards the railway station.

I made it onto the zebra crossing but coming off the other side tripped on the kerb and went face first onto the asphalt pavement. I'm not sure why my hands didn't get out quick enough to stop me but they are entirely unmarked. My right knee is fairly grazed but the left side of my face is quite a picture. Fortunately neither nose nor teeth were broken so it looks worse than it is.

Date Discussion

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:20 +0000

Yesterday evening Tyne Bridge Morris practiced in preparation for our first dance out of the season at the Breast Cancer Care 5 Mile Challenge in Exhibition Park this Sunday. We ran through all the dances we thought we might be able to do, in the positions we are most likely to be doing them on Sunday. Afterwards we had a chat about what time we needed to meet, and where, and future bookings. As Bagman it's my responsibility to let people know about potential bookings and make a note of who can and can't come. So that at some point we can decide whether to accept a booking - or not.

"It's looks like it's just thee and me for dancing at dawn on May Day" I commented to Mrs Recorder....

Collecting for Marie Curie Cancer Care

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:36:37 +0000

As promised in my last blog Wednesday and Thursday morning found me collecting for Marie Curie Cancer Care. As soon as I'd seen the boys off to school, and Fester off on his annual water beetlers' dinner at the Royal Entomological Society in London, I went into town and presented myself at Brunswick Methodist Church.
I was given a tray of daffodils, a collecting tin, a daffodil yellow tabard and an, optional, daffodil yellow foam top hat. It was a chilly day so I opted for the hat and as a result looked like a particularly vibrant Diddy-man as I made my way up to the top of Northumberland Street ...

Marie Curie Cancer Care Collecting

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:12:32 +0000

Tomorrow and Thursday mornings will find me in Newcastle city centre collecting for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Here is the reason why ...

Chateau Midden: Teabag memories

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:17:26 +0000

My last blog brought back some childhood memories.

When I was a child teabags were considered a "nasty American habit" and were never seen in British (or at least Welsh) shops. They began to creep in during the late 1960s/early 1970s supported by huge advertising campaigns. Anyone remember "two thousand perforations in every bag let the flavour flood out"? These educational ads were required because most housewives knew that tealeaves have to float around and infuse in the boiling water to brew. People were also highly sceptical about the amount of tea in each bag so there were ads where the bag was cut open and the contents poured onto an overflowing teaspoon: "a generous spoonful of leaves in every bag."

Chateau Midden: Gone to pot

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:17:52 +0000

I prefer loose tea: not just because it is more environmentally friendly, but also because I find teabags too strong for one cup.. Last weekend, using my mother's old large pot, I made three cups of tea from one bag. Which means teabags are a great way of making people buy more tea than they actually need. As I also feel tea that is not brewed in a pot is an anathema I have my own little individual teapot, a caddy full of Glengettie ("Wales' favourite flavour") and a metal tea-strainer and bowl. So when I want just one cup that's all I make.

What did he mean?

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:25:56 +0000

Last Saturday some of us attended a ceilidh in memory of Alex West, a friend lost to cancer a few years ago. It was heartening to see so many young people there all eager to dance. Their eagerness far outweighed their expertise, especially after some drink had been taken, and the caller had his work cut out getting them in position and following instructions.
"Now I want couples facing couples in a big circle right around the floor. That's couple facing couple. Four of you. Big circle around the room one couple facing another.
The man has his lass on his right hand side. On his right hand. On his right.
Lasses you have your lad on your left hand.
Now then, if the man is on the inside of the circle you're a first couple, and if he's on the outside you're a second couple. If the man is on the inside ..."
Drummerman leant over and said with a mischievous grin
"Or if the man is on the inside?."
Before he could go any further I finished it with
"Then it isn't raining."
There was a second's silence, followed by a guffaw of laughter and a
"Well done Brenda - you found a clean alternative."

For the records

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:23:55 +0000

Regular and long standing readers of this blog will know that I am the widow of Phil Ranson, local musician and librarian. He left a large eclectic collection of LPs and CDs, some of which were sold immediately after his funeral in 1992 for Cancer Research. A good four linear feet of albums came home though and have sat on the shelf ever since. Having found a home for Phil's dulcimer last summer I've been having another sort out. The other day I found some singles (45rpm and a 78) and took them down to Steel Wheels more in curiosity than expectation. Mr Steel Wheels found them quite interesting and gave me a fiver for two of them.
"If only he had some vinyl LPs as well" he sighed whistfully.
"Oh he did, I do" I said "Some four foot of them. Would you like to come and have a look?"
"Would I? Would Thursday afternoon be ok?"

Chateau Midden: Mind your head

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 21:40:33 +0000

A couple of days ago Fester came to Lidl with me. On my own I progress in a systematic and stately manner up and down the aisles picking up what I need when I see it. He has to rush across the cross aisles when ever anything catches his eye.
Today it was bananas ...

Chateau Midden: Aged Chatelaine?

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:23:02 +0000

This story contains references to what can be delicately described as the "lady-garden", so perhaps the more squeamish gentlemen and ladies amongst you may wish to read no further.

Yesterday I went to my GP for my regular coil check and whilst I was there mentioned a little niggling problem I was having "down below" which might be nothing but might need looking into.....

Come Dine With Me?!

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:16:38 +0000

Last week I received this interesting email via Tyne Bridge Morris' web site address for the Bagman

"Hello there
I hope you don't mind me contacting you but I came across this email address on the Tyne Bridge Morris website.
I am a producer/director working on Channel 4's popular cookery series Come Dine With Me and we are looking for people to take part in an upcoming episode that will be filmed in and around Newcastle. I don't know if you're familiar with the show but in it four people from the same local area who don't know each other beforehand compete to host the best dinner party with the winner walking away with ÃÂ£1000.

Elf Service

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 18:28:09 +0000

This afternoon Tyne Bridge Morris danced at the North Shields Victorian Christmas Market. As it was raining we were allowed to perform in the entrance to the Beacon Centre where there was a lovely big area of non-slip matting. This gives steps a muffled thud noise rather than a resounding clash - but rather that than getting wet or twisted ankles. It was also much pleasanter for the audience than standing outside and we helped entertain the queue for Santa's Grotto.

As we had plenty of dancers signed up for the booking I took the Dragon along so he could take part, add a bit of colour and frighten small children. The first dance was Piper's Ash, and as I wasn't in it, I took the Dragon behind Santa's Grotto to get him ready.
Small children should read no further or it will spoil the fun for them ....

Sad Day at Chateau Midden

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:47:57 +0000

The doorbell rang this morning and I opened the front door to find a lady in tears on my doorstep accompanied by Mrs Overtheroad.
"This lady thinks she's run over your cat" explained Mrs Overtheroad.
"Oh, I so sorry, I'm so sorry" wept the woman.

Dulcimer et decorum est*

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:10:42 +0000

My late husband Phil Ranson played the Appalachian dulcimer (amongst other instruments) and had three: one made by Stefan Sobellin the 1970s; another Stefan made around 1990; and a little one he'd made himself from a kit. When he died in 1992 the newest one went to a colleague of his, but the other two have stayed in our house as I didn't know who to pass them on to ....

ST SWITHIN'S DAY DANCE OUT

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:47:08 +0000

Tomorrow evening (15th July)
Tyne Bridge Morris,
Hexham Morrismen,
Hexhamshire Lasses and the Newcastle Kingsmen will be dancing outside the Cumberland Arms, Byker.

We've done this on a Thursday evening in July for the past few years. We normally practice on a Thursday night so it's simple to arrange. It's also nice to get out and perform with other dancers for the evening and to be sociable. The first one co-incided with Bastille Day, which was fun. The cognoscenti amongst you will realise that tomorrow is St Swithin's Day. If we bring on the rain we may be stuck with it for 40 days. So let's hope for fine weather.