indeed in somewhere as arctic as Newbury i expect them to keep coal in the bath and strangle kestrels, while watching rugby league.

the reason it was decided to make it a women only protest was that it kept it more peaceful and safer for the protesters...not because male protesters were a problem but the police at the time were. I'm a big fan of our modern police but the 80s ones were the biggest bunch of thugs around - who can forget the SPG - riot police with full body armour, no ID numbers, and massive batons that basically beat the hell out of any protestors in the 80s, smashing vehicles, putting tons of people in hospital with serious injuries etc etc. Often this occurred against completely unarmed peaceful protestors. The 80s were a very violent time here, with riots, protests, pickets, etc etc etc and the police who volunteered for that duty loved it! Google up some film from the period and you'll be horrified.

However, even the police of that time could see that beating up a group of 'women and children only' would be a bit of a PR boo-boo.

...and if you think I'm exaggerating a piece of film showing unarmed people being smashed over the head and carried away unconscious and bleeding was shown on TV recently. My non-English boyfriend was absolutely horrified - he couldn't believe that British police had ever behaved in that way.

When you're faced by an organisation that is backed by Libya and Russia you need to be robust. Between the Greenham idiots/idealists and the NUM Lions led by donkeys I'm afraid it had to be done.

Britain was close to a communist state in 1979, now it isn't. Those fights were worth fighting.

"keep coal in the bath"

The system being you cover yourself in goose fat and stitch yourself into your clothes in the winter, so no need for a bath.

The SPG not beating up women? Recall the battle of the Beanfield?

There's a problem here jim old chap. The country has run out of goose fat:

http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=1875032006

Personally I'd love to baste Nigella. Although I'd be a bit worried aboout having mental glimpses of her dad.

AestF: didn't you say you were a Civil Servant of some type - if so how do you have so much time to entertain us Fodorites (which we, or at least I love) - is it being paid for by hard-working taxpayers like flanner? Just curious. Slow day at the office here too.

Yeah I'm a civil serpent (local govt actually - but it's pretty much the same thing).

When I am busy I am very busy - when I am not i fanny around on the net.

I am not busy right now.

PB, you are dead on about Flanner and AeF being very entertaining posters ! 2 of my favourites on this board.
They have been responsible for many a loud chuckle at my desk when I should be puzzling over numbers.

Merry Christmas fellas, and looking forward to more laughs and smiles (and information PB) in the New Year.

M.

Our friends have a dog called YouDee (UD) which they say stands for 'Ugly Dog'

PalenqueBob - do you get Corrie Street on a local station in Ohio? Curious....I didn't think it was shown in the US.

Hey PalenqueBob - Do you want me to spoil it and tell you what happens in Coronation Steet once Mike Baldwin dies? :S-

And he's not the only one - I say, he's not the only one.

Windsor, Ontario, Canada is a mere 30 minute drive from my home. As a result of the close proximity, one of my "local", non-cable stations is a BBC station broadcast from the other (Canadian) side of the river. "Coronation Street" is available there if I care to watch it, which I don't, since I am generally a bookchick. I'm a bit ashamed to admit that semi-regularly I watch "House" starring Hugh Laurie, who speaks with a pretty decent American accent in the show. My reticience at admitting I watch "House" is due to the fact that it is broadcast on Fox!!

BC

An amazing series of digressions from the original request for a translation. I especially liked the descriptions of the protesters....

Oh yes I remember the battle of the beanfield alright, not that I was there. They were beating up the women too. Plus smashed in vehicle windows and showered children with glass. One journalist saw a baby's cot full of broken glass.

I agree that 'some of those battles' had to be fought. The unions were too powerful previously (IMO). But there are ways of doing things right and ways of doing things wrong. And as for many of the 'actions' they were completely unwarranted.

Sally: Like bookchick i live in northern Ohio by the lake and we get CBC broadcasts - some public tv stations in US do carry Corrie i believe but mine comes from Canada, where they are about nine months behind.

Mike Baldwin is still going bonkers. AR now tells me Mike dies, which i suspect will happen soon - i first thought he was going to jump off his high up balcony on his flat. No don't tell me of course but i have taken a look ahead at ITV's site and see that his old girlfriend Penny, his son and Mike's other son and others start scrapping over Underworld ownership.

I am not surprised to learn from Patrick that Fred, the Rovers' landlord and butcher dies...i saw i am not surprised to learn from Patrick that....

I'll be in London for a week in February and then will know all the new stuff.

Am betting that Tracy Barlow and Charlie the Builder don't last long!

Cheers!

Thanks for answering my nosy query, PalenqueBob - I have digital tv and if I miss it on Toronto time, I can watch early on Nfld time, Peterboro time, Manitoba, etc. right up to 10 pm in British Columbia. But I still read ahead on corrie.net so know what's happening in the UK.

And, to get back to the original question, Heinz 57 dog is an expression we use here - at least in my advanced age group.

that's www.corrie.net

Sally:

Yes 7pm each week night i'm plopped watching CBC for Corrie - my favorite TV show.

I also love Don Cherry's Coach's Corner!

And i often watch the 10pm CBC news.

Cheers!