beady

Haven't had time to read all the contributions above but now the dust has settled - the time this job has taken to start - at design stage in particular - and the massive problems it has caused to commuters, locals, expense incurred in time and money for thousands of folks - I really feel there should be a full independent inquiry into this whole sordid mess! I'm not been cynical but can anyone say whether the completion of the Ring-Road and the physically starting of this job have any connection? Are seperate contractors involved or did the same group just move camp when it suited 'em? To have a formal re-opening and talking about it being a few weeks early - don't know how they've got the neck. Wonder how long Ecclesall Road/ Parkway/Chesterfield Road etc etc would have been closed?

As I understand it the car manufacturers in this country aren't asking for a bail-out as such - at least not yet - just asking the Government to 'lean' on banks we have all bailed out to start loaning out our cash again to keep the manufacturers' cash flow going through the hard times / credit crunch for the next year or so? Short time working etc may keep 'em afloat? The American car magnates are asking for a bail out though as you say. I think they will get it if they get a rationalisation package which is acceptable. They helped their case when they first turned up in a private jet! I suppose our Government is mindful that if domestic manufacturers go to the wall the unemployment costs will be astronomical bearing in mind the thousands of employees and perhaps more importantly probably as many if not more supplying the bits which build cars / transport etc etc. Also just think if and when we get out of this mire and Toyota etc have moved out - I reckon they wouldn't readily come back? They took some convincing to come over here with our wage costs compared to other places they could have set up camp in. All sorts of favours were given 'em enticing them to come. Just my thoughts but it's very difficult to think of car plants being a special case - but when we see the light at the end of the tunnel, I reckon we'd miss a domestic car industry (even foreign owned) a lot more than Woolies as sad as that is. Running up to Christmas as well - it's all very frustrating when this lot could and should have been foreseen by Government and the first bail-out happened for the main culprits who acted so recklessly! What the FSA have been doing - or not doing just beggars belief. Sadly we have a complete shower in charge and chickens are coming home to roost (or is that turkeys)?

'96/97 I think with 125k on the clock - although driven carefully at least for the last 3 or 4 years - no rough ground at speed stuff! A bit disconcerting if it's a problem on various models - heard of the odd old fashioned leaf springs having the odd leaf crack or even reverse under overload but haven't heard of a coil going without warning before - maybe just lucky? Just what happens at speed????- or perhaps we don't want to go there?

Just heard of a case of a front coil spring breaking in two - bits of it 'shredded' the front off-side tyre and bits of the actual spring just dropped to the floor! Anyone heard of this happening before - is it the really cold weather making the metal brittle / metal fatique / wear and tear? Luckily the car was just being moved off a drive - beggars belief had it been on the M1!!!! Anyone had a similar problem and is still around to comment?

Visiting my daughter the other day - she was googling for some info for me and the power just went off. I checked the mains plug fuse, wiring through to the laptop and found nothing untoward. The connection of the plug into the back of the machine was quite loose though. She told me the battery lost the will to live and recharge some time ago and hasn't run off the battery for some months - only the mains. Anyone any ideas what might be the prob? Is it a regular thing? Any advice would be welcomed - thanks.

We were receiving goods - no way after our experience would we use the firm if we were sending stuff off! As I said whilever the company supplying us are using the same courier we won't buy from them - they know that and I just go elsewhere. Going back to the complaints to the courier - I thought at the time the lack of interest, poor customer relations, blaise attitude etc - the problems don't begin and end with the dishonest folks in the firm. I really felt sorry for the guy who had to deliver to the door and make excuses for his colleagues - he was at the sharp end! Difficult decision whether to sign for stuff as well - you are signing to accept an open package not knowing its all there - or going without urgently needed stuff!

Anyone bought a drier recently - looked at the vented and condensor types and am going for the latter although a bit more expensive. No information in the blurb though how often you need to empty the reservoir? Presume everytime it's used as well as cleaning the filter? Any comments on good makes and places who do good deals? Delivery would be required - no car. Thanks:help:

I'll be very careful but totally truthful! We received a parcel recently delivered 3 days later than promised by the on-line company we bought from. It was the second time such a parcel had been rumaged through - presumably to see what was worth lifting - the embarassed guy at the door said the rain had damaged it! Complaints to the red van company were a complete waste of time - the lady seemed well versed as though my problem was just another she had to listen to - they referred me to the supplier - did that and got no further other than an apology - they're still using the same delivery company and I'm not buying from 'em anymore - simple as that. There are some bad apples out there who need weeding out and quickly before all trust is gone. Try and do as little on-line shopping now 'cos of the couriers' security problems.

Some good stuff on here! Having taken all the helpful (and others' comments) on board - am plumping for the n's! It's that in the Websters' - some Americans' groups' dictionaries' cotributors' comments! Like I'd already said - lots hangin' on it - if the PhD dips will come back to haunt you! Thanks again - what a brill web-site and folks!

Sorry didn't realise a 'tandem' thread was in train! Perhaps wouldn't have started this one if I'd known. Thanks for all the comments - still not sure if a definitive answer has been given yet but will have a good read in the morning. Thanks again.

Any shining English grammar stars out there? Long time since I was taught about where to put the ' when plural / belonging to him/her etc etc - but if you Google "childrens centres", there's the apostrophe between the n and s! Now if I remember the rules correctly with children and centres both being plural - should the ' follow the s as in childrens' or come between the n and s???? Is this example just an odd one out with its own rule? Would love a definitive answer from someone. There's more hanging on the answer than you can ever guess!

I vaguely recall a younger bloke knocking about the surgery but don't remember his name - I presume that would have been Dr. Taylor? Lucky for you he called by the sound of it!

Can only say BLIMEY! He did us proud but perhaps we were on borrowed time when kids? He'd be about 60 when we were seeing him. Hope you didn't have too rough a time but it sounds dodgy to me and the professional help you should have received was lacking to say the least!

Remember a Dr. Labib Botros who had his surgery at the bottom of Shiregreen Lane. I understand he was Egyptian and one of the kindest and proficient blokes I knew. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Anyone else remember him - that'd be back in the 50's and he was getting on then!

Had a look at the prices for the day at NCP on a Sunday - the one by the Crucible - only 24 hour 1 in Sheffield? Will be there about 10 - 12 hours - they want about 12 quid + - wondering whether it's the bus for us although that's going to be over 10 quid - at least I know the car's safe while I'm away and will save on juice and hassle driving!

Thanks willman - will give it a try - presume it's open 24/7?

Thanks - have tried the webpage and they make a filter for the motor - surprised with the age! The site gives local suppliers as well so will give the nearest a ring. As I mentioned earlier will also be looking for the cause of the problem - certainly not the usual dust/muck you would expect clogging the filter - more an 'oily/sticky' black residue.Hope I can get to the bottom of it - motor running fine otherwise touch wood. Thanks again:thumbsup:

Thanks for the comments - have taken 'em on board and will be looking at breather filters etc and ensuring they're clear / renew 'em if necessary. Will also check whether a 'washable' filter is made for the model? Will also look for other possible causes. The normal filter type used are a 'fabric' type not paper hence I presume the cost? In the meantime will still run with a filter in as I thought I should to be honest. Thanks again - folks on here are so helpful! One interesting thing is the motor has never had a problem with the stringent MOT emissions check although I've always cleaned / renewed the air filter on all cars I've owned a couple of weeks before the test when doing preparation work / checks for it - just to be on the safe side.

Anyone any advice / comment to make about running a 1.3 petrol, 1991 motor without an air filter. Having to change it / clean it every 1 / 2 K - keeps getting clogged up and making the car run rich. They're not cheap - about £12 a time. Been advised by someone who knows, just to run without one altogether and no problems will occur? Does anyone else do this- might be ok but am a great believer that if it's fitted it must be a necessity? Any comments would be welcomed.

Interesting the building's original use was as explained above. That perhaps explains the 'odd' layout inside for a purpose built school and beautiful ballustaded stairway the last time I was in there? Wonder if most of the fixtures and fittings have been taken out on conversion? Would be sad. Certainly lasted well if the building was erected over 160 years ago! Realised the construction wasn't 'Board School' hence the word 'similar' and the reference to building materials used was to give Pete some idea what the building looked like and perhaps something to Google - be interested to know if there's anything similar in Suffolk?

Anyone help? Need to get to Heartshead / Campo Lane early morning by car. Seem to recall NCP car parks at both ends of the road although I'm going back a bit. Are both still there and are they open 7 days / 24 hours?? Also any advice about route to the spot with the recent changes to roads - travelling from Hillsborough along Penistone Rd - can you still go along to Corporation St top by the Fire Service Museum, turn right at the roundabout and left up Townhead Street - left again into Campo Lane? Not done it for years and certainly not since the new inner ring road extension opened. Any help would be welcomed.

Some folks on here are probably more knowledgable than me but I think my dad went to that school just before the War - he lived in the City centre at the time. I think it was known as Nether Edge Grammar School (or possibly Brincliffe Grammar) or perhaps both in its time? The school closed about 20 - 30 years ago to pupils and was designated the new Media Centre for the Sheffield Education Department - a real boon to all schools loaning out films, videos, software etc etc. The last I knew the buildings are still there - a 'traditional' build school building (2 storey, stone, slate pitched roof etc) similar to the old 'Board Schools' built in the 1880's, 90's still going strong in many 'older' areas of Sheffield. Examples include Hunter's Bar, Greystone, Manor Lodge etc etc. Hope this helps?

Went through most of the 3 schools in th 50's/early 60's. The Nursery Infants was located on the ground floor of the 2 storey block at the top of Bracken Road. Miss Lynch was the head then, Mrs Lee? in charge of the Nursery. The Juniors were housed in the single storey building lower down Bracken Road, Headteacher in the late 50's was a Mr Ron Raynor, deputy Mr Norman Coombs, other staff from memory - Mrs Betty Hill, Bernard Priest (later to become head as mentioned above). He started there about 1958/9? The secondary was located on the 1st floor above the Nursery Infants and had a relatively high number of pupils in hutted accommodation between the school playground and the old quarry / brickworks. Headteacher was Mr Harold Lamb, succeeded by Mr Smith. Teachers again from memory - Mr Broadhead, Mr Moss, Mr David, Fred Collins replaced as PE teacher by Mr. Naylor, Mr Watkin, Mr Burgin, Mr Lawton, Miss Fincham, Mr Heywood, Mr Martin, Mrs Mosely etc etc. The schools at that time I thought were very good, most were very good teachers, good discipline in a catchment area where there was a terrific mix. The enclosure was built around 1961/2 - a rectangle all weather play surface (compacted grit sand) enclosed by a 9 foot or so chainlink fence. A great boon to the sports department. The hutted accommodation were old Nissan huts housing the kitchen, art room, science lab, the HORSA huts (concrete block, pitched asbestos roofs/metal casement windows) housed music, woodwork and general classrooms. About 5 double blocks built right on the school boundary in a line overlooking the quarry. Playgrounds - the juniors had 2 - 1 to the side of the buiding adjacent to Wincobank Avenue, the other behind the building. Air-raid shelters (blast shelters really) surrounded the perimeter of the yards. The secondary school had 2 playgrounds - 1 to the rear (boys) and 1 between the 2 storey block and the junior school shared by the infants and senior girls. Play-shelters and external toilets were in both the latter yards - the juniors didn't have a playshelter. I was always led to believe the original 2 storey block was built to house (or was used) for 1st World War casualties. Loads more in my memory banks if anyone's interested or might have bored folks enough? Happy days back then:)

Seem to recall a family by that name which lived on Windmill Lane, Shiregreen I believe - had connections with St Hilda's Church, think the son was called Richard and the dad may have been involved at a relatively senior level in Brown Bayley steels - maybe Personel?

Hi again - there were about 5 HORSA huts in a line between the playgrounds and quarry - Concrete block walls, steel windows, pitched asbestos roofs - 2 classrooms in each with connecting toilets / storerooms. They catered for music, woodwork, standard classrooms etc. Above those bordering the girls' playground were 2 or 3 timber huts with pitched felt roofs - 1 an art room (steps up to the entrance), one was the kitchen and one kitted out as a science lab - benches, gas/water/sinks etc. That was Mr Lawton's domain - good teacher - showed how interesting science could be! One example as 11/12 year olds we each made our own thermometer - actually blowing glass with a capillary core to form the 'bulb' - used red dyed water of course rather than mercury!! Perhaps these old huts were domolished soon after I left to go to another school in July, 63? Re the Rose family - yep it's that family I remember but also remember some classmates I think lived on Heather Road - David Green rings a bell - was there also a kid called Grayson - lived opposite the top shop of the 2 on Heather Rd - was 1 called Taylors? The top one may have been run by a Scottish family - Mc .......?? Pretty sure I remember a Roe family as well though - there were Constables, Albert Charlesworth, Woods, Wilkinsons, Widdowsons etc etc. Hope some of these ex-pupils and others get in touch?