JoyfulGrrl

Hey people, it's not bizarre, it's a wedding! It's the family next door to me - the celebrations have been going on for about a week but it looks like today is the climax - loads of cars with ribbons etc left the house about an hour ago. The drumming is part of it too. So it's not kids robbing fireworks, it's people celebrating.

D2J - you're right, I should clarify! I'm angry at First for another increase in bus fares. I honestly think of getting the bus into town (as opposed to walking) as a luxury now. I didn't know what was going on when I was walking home but there seemed to be plenty of cars but a total dearth of buses. So I thought there was something up with the buses. Seems like, not. Seems like it was just heavy traffic. But it seems co-incidental that it happened just as the fares increased and I wondered if it was actually a co-ordinated protest, and an effective one at that, as I was definitely walking home wishing ill on all First executives!! JfG x

RANT!! I too walked home, Collegiate Crescent to Meersbrook, after witnessing the huge queues at bus stops and thinking, something's amiss . . . . in the time it took me to walk back (40-odd minutes) not one bus passed me by. I often do this walk anyway, as buses at that time are a nightmare, it saves money and there's no direct route. What makes me angry is that this week, as I'm working for five days instead of my usual two, I got a bus pass that, at £15, I can ill afford. So I'd already paid. And i STILL had to walk! On the very first weekday that the bus fare rises applied! I don't think this is a co-incidence . . . any more info on whether this was co-ordinated as a protest? And what can I do to register my outrage with First Mainline? Hope you're warm and cosy now if you had to struggle tonight JfG x

Another vote for the Sloan practice! I've been with them for 8 years and they've been fantastic. Reception staff who are actually nice and friendly!!! It is hard sometimes to see Drs Marion, Barbara or Linda (the Sloans) but they are worth it, and the people I see when I can't get Marion or Barbara (my own choices) are usually great too - ie they treat you like a human being, explain things and give you time if you need it. Their complaints procedure is transparent, and last time I was there they were doing a patient survey with opportunity for feedback on doctors, other staff and environment. Hurray for good staff! I work for the NHS and know how easy it is to get crap treatment. *my fourpenn'orth* JfG PS - i don't work for the Sloan practice though! PPS - i'm not related to them either!!! Just like to praise when it's due.

Yay! Hello Kristian! Long time no speak - I've been a bit quiet and you, presumably, have been overloaded by mod responsibilities . . . I might buy you a drink back for being a love! This venue sounds bloody great, oh, it's about time . . . .now I just hope loads of women go. Off to sign up . . . see you all there! JfG xx

OOOH, YAY!!! Full time LGB as well! Their ethos sounds fab - I hope they deliver on it. We SO need something new that isn't spit 'n' sawdust, in a dodgy part of town and playing sh*te music . . . I demand the right to dance somewhere stylish!! Who's going to the opening night then?! JfG x

OK, I don't know what I'll be wearing but I've got peroxide blonde hair and brown glasses so hopefully we'll spot each other!! I'm writing a speech for my best friend's wedding (needs to be done today, eek) and it's taking ages . . . so, I won't be able to get there till later on. Got there last week at 9 and we'd missed the start of the quiz! So, I'll try to get there for 8.30 ish. Do we need to make an announcement for this elsewhere on the forum? Who else is up for a Meersbrook Meet tonight? JfG x

I'll be there tonight!! Will check out other threads and see you later . . . Regarding the lads on Rushdale, I go running around the area and dread going past that bit as they always heckle . . . I always give them a good stare as I go by and they've never actually done anything worse but it still makes me fume. Lucy25 - there seems to be an almost palpable divide in Meersbrook between the top end (Cliffefield, Brook Rd, Meersbrook Park Road etc) and the bottom end (Rushdale, Valley etc) in terms of young people hanging out. I think they just can't be arsed to climb the hill! But even down the bottom there's not much going on really, and the actual residents are as fab and friendly as this post would have you believe. Don't let it put you off. See you later!! JfG x

Thanks, guys. I've turned it off but it's still there, freaking me out for no apparent reason ...! Will prob. phone network just to make sure, Strix, good advice. CGKsheff - but why won't they tell us what it means?!?!?!?! JfG x

Can anyone help me with this? I got a text message a few days ago that reads as >/pers in my inbox. When I press to read it, it goes straight to the "erased" icon i.e. no message. But it remains in my inbox as if it is an unread message. It's really irritating and I'm worried about it for some reason. Does anyone know what it is and how I can get rid of it? Thanks for your help!!! JfG

I was so obsessed with the Smiths in my youth that i spent much of one summer working out and writing down the lyrics for every single they'd ever released, then finding little pictures of the single covers from NME and sticking them in a special book. . . . . . . I think you can begin to imagine how much fun I was to hang out with as a teenager!!! Didn't have t'internet then, with its type-a-line-into-google-and-you've-got-the-whole-song-(including-the-line-you-could-never-quite-work-out-so-just-made-up-your-own-mumble-to-hide-the-fact)-right-there-in-front-of-you-with-no-work-on-your-part functions! No! You had to work for your lyrics, then! My favourite album is The Queen is Dead, too. Has to be. It has the best title, and in Frankly Mr Shankly, the best song. Ever. Except for Sheila take a Bow. And Panic. And Heavens Knows. . . .maybe Strangeways is the best . . . erm . . . JfG x

Didn't see your post in time Captain Scarlet, but I'd definitely be up for a Meersbrook meet and can think of no finer venue than the Sheaf, if the Heeley-ites don't object too much ... I bet we'd all meet up and go - oh, it's you, the person I always see out walking the dog/tending the allotment/painting stop the war signs (we've still got ours up...)/buying chick peas at In a Nutshell/smiling happily because we live in the best part of Sheffield!!! So, Meersbrook Mafia meet-up, anyone? Times? Dates? Possibly not wed nights if we want to (a) get a seat and (b) hear ourselves talking - unless we wanted to put in a crack team for the Hardest Pub Quiz in Sheffield, might not be a bad idea . . . what do you reckon? JfG x

Woo hoo! Meersbrook is fabulous and I've got proof! I've lived here for 8 years now. I have so many memories on different streets and in the park. But last year a deranged part of me thought it would be a good idea to move out to the Peak District with my then partner. Off we went. Within six months:- I hated my job I was lonely as hell I thought I was going mad My partner and I found out we were the least compatible people in the world . . . I ran away. I returned to S 8. Within weeks:- I'd written my best fiction ever! I'd auditioned for a band and got in! I had reconnected with all my friends work seemed quite manageable . . . Moral of the story: bad things happen when you leave S 8 That's it!! I'm here for life now. My kids will be raised going to the park! They will attend Meersbrook Bank! Meersbrook Meet - let's do it. We'll probably get there and all know each other anyway . . . JfG x PS - lol about the "Meersbrook woman" sterotype. I have lived with her!! I did invent a new collective noun when I'd been here a few years - "a Meersbrook of lesbians" - another bonus to living here (for me and the sisters, anyway...)

Whisper, you are a complete star!!! You have made our day, adn now we can return to work with clear heads and light hearts, never again to mutter "we've got a handful of songs to sing you ..." in annoying styl-ee throughout team meetings!!! Funny - remember the theme tune really clearly, but not the programme at all . . . was it sh*te?! AAArrrghhh - get it out of my head!!!!!!!!!!!! JfG (Fully restored to productivity!

OK, sad but true - we're all sitting at work singing this damn theme tune and not one of us can remember which programme it's from - can you put us out of our misery?!?! Have Googled it to no avail . . . "We've got a whole lot of songs to sing you Old songs and new songs and (la la la - memory fades here) Happiness - no more or less - Do doo do doo doo do doo do doo dooo dooooooo . . . " What the hell is it? It's driving us crazy!! And yes, we have got actual work to do - just somehow this seems more important right now . . . . Heeeeellllppppp!!!