I am feeling rather pleased with myself -
because my flint finds are now on the PAS!

..and my family wanted to use them as ballast for cement!!

Ron - at least you get paid if it appears on YBF!

Aye, Jenni. But as with all money, gone in a 'flash'

Ron.

Reported in this week's local press. Two amateur Archaeologist, whilst digging in the mud at Monk's Ferry, Birkenhead. Have unearthed part of a 14th century boat in excellent condition, having been preserved in the mud.
It is believed that it could be part of an original ferry boat.
The Ferry Charter, was granted to the Monk's at Birkenhead Priory,by Edward 1st when he visited Birkenhead in 1277 and gave them the rights to operate the ferry to Liverpool without opposition or hinderance. Regardless of strong musical suggestions, the ferries have always belonged to Birkenhead and not Liverpool.

Ron.

Ann, congratulations on your finds, but can you elaborate some more? Incidentally, pardon my ignorance, but what is PAS?

Ron.

I am in France, and today, I received excellent news. Since the French doctor's placed me on their drugs some weeks ago, niether of the lung tumours that I have been diagnosed with, have grown i,ooo of an inch!. They are both dorment.
At todays meeting, I was informed that providing that I continue with the appropriate drugs, there is no reason that I shall not see one, two or maybe more years of life on earth.
What a contrast to England where they told me not to make plans for Christmas!.
For anyone not in this position, it is hard to describe. However, imagine being on 'Death Row' and being informed that you could now return home, that the death sentence has been lifted!.
There is also more good news. Thirty years ago, I bought some French property and invested in a French business. Because of this(Don't ask me how, because I don't understand) It appears that I am regarded as a 70% French resident.
In view of this, I have only to pay a peppercorn token payment towards drugs, not the exhorbitant amount. Which, though I am not a poor man, would eventually cripple me, on top of which, it would be against my principles to spend what I consider my families money like that.

Ron.

Fantastic news all round Ron. So pleased for you and your family.

Ron - that is excellent news! I'm absolutely delighted for you and your family.

Great news Ron, I tried to answer you this morning - but for some reason I was persona non grata and could not get accepted!

PAS -Portable Antiquities Scheme and I found some 'lithic implements', or I should say partial lithic implements i.e. an Upper Palaeolithic Blade Tip, a mesolithic bladelet fragment, a bronze age neolithic flake and some miscellaneous flakes.

The thing is I am more interested in the pottery but I have to wait for the young lady to finish her course! But people seem very pleased with the flints and I have instrucyions to look for more when the crops are harvested.

My family still refer to these historic artefacts as 'mum's old stones'!!

So nice to hear some good news cheers us all up.

Ann - it's nothing personal, it's just that with the new forum opening hours you can't post before 8am (which happens to be when I'm most likely to be browsing here and I can't be bothered to come back during opening hours ).

What on earth is a "bladelet fragment"? Sounds like a chip to me!

I forgot about time jenni...! Took the day off and went to the sea yesterday -it was gorgeous, the Island (Wight) looked almost touchable, lots of children crabbing, masses of sails and everyone happy for a change.

Anyway - bladelet - your guess is as good as mine, looks like a flake of flint but with signs of being worked. 'They' were pleased with it and I have a recognition chart to work from.
I just pick up anything that is an interesting shape, has marks on or looks as if it has been knapped.

My last german Shepherd was a whizz at finding bits but this one is too young and busy chasing rabbits or deer.

Ron - That is wonderful news all round. What a relief for you and your family!

Thanks for keeping us posted.

Thank you all for your kind wishes on my behalf. I can assure you, they are appreciated.
I have been enjoying a relaxing week on the Welsh coast outside Prestatyn. Good weather and magnificent scenery. Ahead – the Welsh mountains. Astern- the sea and ships. Couldn’t ask for better. Then at night- A good book.

Alas, some sad news. Last night Granada TV broke into their programmes to announce the untimely death of Tony Wilson, aged 57. He was a presenter and broadcaster for both themselves and the BBC in the North West. A very popular man who was creative in many ways including jobs.
His early demise was unnecessary. He was denied drugs by the Government controlled ‘NICE’ committee on the basic of cost.
Yesterday in ‘Ross-On-Sea ‘ on the Welch coast was a similar story. A mother of two children who is suffering from Cancer, has been denied the drug required to extend her life on the basic of ‘cost’£12,000 PA which is just about the cost of the average MP,s expenses and allowances for two months.

On the summing up of the two above reports, dig this one;-
A Government report out this week, proudly states that 1 billion pounds has been spent over the past five years treating AIS patients who have arrived here from the third world. It states that the average cost is £15,000 per patient per annum, Somewhat higher than the $12,000 required for the Welsh mother of two with Cancer.

Lastly, a Jamaican gentleman, who arrived here in 1948 on ‘The Windrush’ has worked all his life in the NHS until retirement. During which time he has paid his taxes,, his Stamp money, his rates and his rent, has had his heart operation postponed for the sixth time because his place was taken by an Egyptian . who arrived recently and took his place.

I have some Archaeological news, but will have to include it next time because I feel so damned angry at the injustice of the above reports.

Ron.

Ron - you probably think we're ignoring you but unfortunately I tend to visit this forum only outside its opening hours so I can't post!

My own father was told that he would have to pay for his triple-bypass privately or he'd probably be dead before he reached the top of the queue. Since he was over 70, he was not considered a priority. This was despite having been working and paying his dues since he was 14 and having served (and been shot and permanently disabled for his efforts) during WWII, so I know how frustrated you feel. It took a large proportion of his remaining savings - he'd had to give up his BUPA at retirement because the costs at his age were phenomenal.

Personally, I have major concerns about the priorities of the NHS when it is considered that a woman who can't get pregnant because her lover is also a woman is suffering from a "medical condition" which qualifies for free treatment, whilst others with life threatening conditions are forced to go private or, like yourself, go abroad. I would have absolutely no objections to all types of health issues being covered if the money and facilities were freely available, but the fact is there are limits, and priorities need to be established. To me, "life preserving" must take priority over "life improving".

quote:

Originally posted by RonW:

Lastly, a Jamaican gentleman, who arrived here in 1948 on ‘The Windrush’ has worked all his life in the NHS until retirement. During which time he has paid his taxes,, his Stamp money, his rates and his rent, has had his heart operation postponed for the sixth time because his place was taken by an Egyptian . who arrived recently and took his place.

I have some Archaeological news, but will have to include it next time because I feel so damned angry at the injustice of the above reports.

Ron.

Truth is, that Egyptian wouldn't have got his treatment free if he had flown in especially, he would have paid a considerable amount of money, so it all boils down to budgets...

Guardian Science has a piece today on two studies showing that red and blue foods are cancer fighters.

I also recommend Charlotte Haigh, The Top 100 Immunity Boosters as a popular guide which can currently be picked up very cheaply in remainder shops.

Except I think I ought to give up my smoking, drinking, sunbathing, smog-inhaling activities before I worry about such niceties as eating selected foods!

quote:

Guardian Science has a piece today on two studies showing that red and blue foods are cancer fighters.

Does this mean that Deadly Nightshade, Cuckoo Pint, Yew berries have suddenly become non toxic?

There are so many people ignorant of flora and fauna moving into the countryside these days that I cannot help but think it a little dangerous advice.

Two years ago at a local coffee morning I found monkshood on sale as a garden plant! Yes, very beautiful and I have some in my garden, but no where was there a notice saying that this is the most deadly plant in the English countryside - not called Wolf's Bane without reason.

Am busy teaching my three year old grandaughter and my Thai daughter-in-law to be what constitutes herbal benefits and what constitutes death!

quote:

Originally posted by Ann W.:
There are so many people ignorant of flora and fauna moving into the countryside these days

There was a complaint last year in our local paper from a family about their nice new house being surrounded by rape fields, to which one of their children was allergic. "Shouldn't be allowed to grow that near residential areas as so many people have an allergice reaction to is" (paraphrasing, since it was some months ago! ).

The farmers' response? "I've been growing rape in that field for 20 years before those houses were built and before that family moved in and I'll be growing it for 20 years after they've moved out".

I've always been quite attracted to cuckoo pint, myself. Very appealing, tasty-looking berries...

I once heard a very interesting programme on wild flowers and their names and it was said that cuckoo pint had another old name of 'Priest's Pintle' named after a delicate piece of male anatomy. Whether a leg pull or not I have never quite found out!

With regard to townies -as a bellringer since I was 14 but now sadly retired due to recurring tennis elbow I see that people have bought houses next to churches and then complain about the bells. This is unfortunately not new. One such family complained to the vicar here that' the bells were actually rung on a Sunday'!

Well I never! Fancy that!

We moved out from London 41 years ago this month so I don't really see myself as a townie.

My aunt moved out 20 years later. She spent the first late summer in her new house complaining about her husband's pipe and finally banned him from smoking in the house because of the ash that kept mysteriously appearing on her windowsills.

She'd never heard of stubble-burning...

Somewhat late in life, but better late than never. I have realised what a charmed life health-wise I have enjoyed.
Whilst working in the many cess pits of the world, where my comrades have been dropping down with Malaria, Yellow fever, etc. I have remained completely unscathed and impervious to these many diseases. I have also been able to pursue my hobbies which are mainly water sports, with preference shown to swimming, boating and scuba diving.
Alas, it now appears as if my barometer has dropped into the bilges.
I have just spent the past 10 days in hospital suffering from Plural-Pneumonia.
It all happened suddenly. One day I was fine, 24 hours later I was in an ambulance semi-conscious. A rather ridiculous situation, especially being informed later that a further 24 hours delay would have been fatal!
Whilst a patient, I could not have received better treatment had I been a multi-millionaire. Which, alas, I am not. All the staff was magnificent. On top of which, the food was exellent, as agreed by everyone.

In my absence, much has been happening in Liverpool. The Mathew St music festival, celebrating the Beatles and others and which is absolutely free. Has, with two weeks to go, been cancelled because it does not conform to the European Health and Safety rules, notwithstanding the fact that Liverpool’s music festival has been running successfully for the past 50 years.
The people of Liverpool, who are 87% anti EU, have been parading with banners stating ‘Carry on-stuff the EU’ however, the council have decided to obey the Europeans directive and cancel the festival for this year. The city will lose around 32 million pounds.

On Thursday night, the biggest ever firework display Liverpool has ever seen was enacted to celebrate King John granting a charter making Liverpool a city 800 years ago. But the main celebrations commence on the 1st January, 20008 When Liverpool becomes the ‘City of Culture’ for the year.
Hundreds of festivities will take place, but my favourite will be the visit of ‘The Tall Ships’

Ron.

quote:

Alas, it now appears as if my barometer has dropped into the bilges.
I have just spent the past 10 days in hospital suffering from Plural-Pneumonia.
It all happened suddenly. One day I was fine, 24 hours later I was in an ambulance semi-conscious. A rather ridiculous situation, especially being informed later that a further 24 hours delay would have been fatal

It is very obvious Ron that you are meant to stay with us for some considerable time yet

How on earth can health and safety rules stop someting that has taken place for years?

Some time in the very near future people will take the law into their own hands. We have had 'people's everything else -now lets have 'people's rights' (to live with time honoured customs, to live without being in fear, or even simply to be allowed to live)

Glad to hear you're on the road to recovery Ron.

You might like to pick up a copy of the latest issue of Private Eye (Page 11) which suggests blaming health and safety issues for the cancellation of the festival is a smoke screen for what the Liverpool Daily Post described as the "sheer bungling incompetence" of the Culture Company.