Jill Bayles

Thanks you ...I knew that there would be at least one female who would know where I'm coming from...its bloody hard and I'm worn to a frazzle with it all and I work full-time and overtime at weekends...I have to rely on his after-school club which is open at weekends...you see God is good sometimes...no matter that childcare costs a bloomin fortune ...well I suppose that's what happens when you have kids late in life and your marriage breaks down...but at least I was lucky to have my independence until my lad was born in 2000 and up until then I was out the length and breadth of this country wherever and whenever I liked...well apart from an enforced break in the 90s when I was studying for my degree part-time and working full-time...its not only my social life that went kapput but also my legal career...gave it all up to stabilise my lad after the marriage went kapput and his dad wouldn't do his bit...not to worry though cos I've just found myself a new job...a better one all round...more dosh for less hours and better terms and conditions...so its not all doom and gloom you see

For me becoming a single parent in my forties with a son who has special needs and with no support network kinda put the kibosh on my social life...up until then I was out more times than the gas...niters soul nights and weekenders. Could party on down with the best of em and often was the last one standing. Can't even remember the last time I did a niter...probably Stoke in 2006. It was hard having to stay in at first but then I got out of practise and the longer I went without going out the less I relished the prospect of long drives to socialise. I get out the odd time but prefer to do a soul night as I always drive then get back to my mates for a drink and relax before bed and I need my sleep as my lad is full of beans and on the go all the time and quite frankly I'd rather spend time with him as he is my absolute priority and being tired around him is neither good nor fair on him. Even if I was able to go to niters I'm not that sure that I would cos I've done my time on the scene and now its time to take a back seat. It doesn't mean that I've gone off my soul...still love it with a passion and that will never change. Its just that I no longer wish to do niters...I've not got the time, the energy, the opportunity or the inclination.

I'm a female and I can't multi-task

huh huh

Well well well...you learn summat new every day...I didn't know that Bruce was a Cyberman...until today...heard all about them tho as they are legendary

I was never in a reliant robin...never no way no how...but that Jossy fella...now he was trouble with a capital T...or was that Kev

Will you stop speaking in riddles woman What about Bart...she went out with Belgrano yes...is that what you mean? Or do you mean that Bart was at Peterborough...I remember she went there once when I did...and she had feckin chicken pox...or measles or summat such like...and I went off it cos I said she should be at home not spreading the lurgy about...you did have a battered head...but not in the same way as hers was battered hun...and I had a battered head too when you were around cos it has a tendency to rub off but I wouldn't have changed any of it cos we had the bestest of times

Putting it nicely that God aye General Belgrano...can't remember who came up with that belter Was I on that Peterborough trip? Memory a bit hazy but I think I was...might have been a different time...hey I remember once Whitehead came round to mine...I was outside trying to fix my car...he said "Don't worry I'll have it fixed in no time" I said "do you know what to do like" he said "well yes that's what I do...I'm a mechanic in the Navy"...took his coat off and rolled his sleeves up then looked under the bonnet...didn't have a bleedin clue...t'was written all over his face...glazed look in his eyes...stood there for what seemed forever...eventually to stop the embarrassment I said "It's the radiator mate" then he said "Ah well I'm not very good with them" Think I stuck some Radweld in it eventually until I could get a new one in...hey mate if I write a book I'll include a couple of chapters on him alone...priceless

well all I can say to that is that I've not got a clue where it was...I must have been too young...I was only 13 years old then...but I know that name Les Medcalf and I also know his wife

Some folks are still in a timewarp though...

Lordie...no I don't...rather sad really as I'm a Darlingtonian born and bred...don't even know where the square 1 was...anyone?

ah...chicken in a basket...just saw the word "chicken" after the word "jill" and thought the word "chicken" was being used in the context of an affectionate term for me I never went to the Beehive...God knows why...must have had other fish to fry mate I couldn't go to Jinxy's 40th at Catterick Bridge as Terry went

I don't remember owt at the back of the Court Arcade...that one must have passed me by...seem to remember being up at Nestfield Club on Albert Hill with Bartle on weekday nights at soul do's and getting hammered on Carlsberg Specials...maybe one-off or even just a dream...there was Mowden Rugby Club but don't think I ever went...well maybe once or twice...and McMullen Road Rugby Club...think I went there once or twice...and I'm sure there was an odd thing at the Beehive...I'm connecting that with Stuie Pinder...may be wrong mind...and I'm sure I met Spyk at Skerne Park Youthie...think he was DJ'ing I remember Thursday soul nights at the Durlia and Monday soul nights at Lucinda's. Oh and Wrighty's do's at the JUC. I also went to the soul nights at the Springfield but not at Harrowgate Hill...didn't Al Kent used to DJ there, and maybe also Pete Feitch? And of course the legendary Haughton Institute All Dayers...happy days. And of course Aycliffe Meth but I never went there...Sunday nights were always bad for me...school Monday and could never escape from me ma's clutches for long enough to get there and back...til I got it off to a fine art to make Wigan every Satdee neet that is

But what about the one of the two Walter Mitty's together...Pete Whitehead and John Hurwood...they were probs havin a bullshit competition...wish I'd been there listenin in...bet it was funny as fook

Hi Harry...I'm not sure that I know you but I know plenty of peeps from York from back in the day so maybe... Great to hear about your forward planning...let me know where I can get tickets as I need to be organised for this one Its a good job I've just had my house decorated and spruced up...I can host an after-party if need be...but hopefully I'll get invited to one elsewhere Looking forward to this already....thanks ever so much, this has made my day

By Dave mate you were a bit slow on the uptake there mate I shall be there come hell or high water...the respite care is looming on the horizon...got a meeting on 22 October about that...with the potential foster carer...so my social life will be resuming shortly in earnest What's the betting we all end up at the same after-party? I hope so cos I've not partied with you two for ages and I need to make up for lost time...and I'll need to get a few practice runs in as well

Hi mate...well then, it will be your silver wedding anniversary in a couple of years time...it has been said to me several times in the past that if I added up ALL MY wedding anniversaries I still wouldn't hit 25 I too have fond memories of Bank Hall Miners...especially the Boxing Day All Dayers...never missed one after my first one until the last one I don't think...sometimes we used to stay over at Karen Sweenies and get absolutely hammered...my Crimbos were never quite the same after they stopped...I've still got some tapes of the modern stuff somewhere...taped on some contraption...would it have been my portable cassette player or had we advanced to ghetto blasters by that era? I can't for the life of me remember now. I'm going back to at least the mid-8os I reckon...think it was ghetto blasters by then...and I've still got one now ...techy I am not ...mind you I do now have a dongle for my pc and I knew I'd have one one day, just was never sure what one was

Agree just a money-making racket/gimmick that hopefully isn't likely to make much money...where these people get their ideas from I'll never know...and I thought my head was cabbaged ..oh and not forgetting that it's impossible to celebrate the 35th anniversary of a club that is no more and has not been for many a long year...let it go and move on ffs...it aint never rising from the ashes and I for one wouldn't want it to

Nice one mate By heck lad, you're not wrong when you say you've got a cushy number at work...I don't have time for such frivolities on a work day...would get the sack for using t'internet at work...regarded as gross misconduct and all that...you're dead lucky you

Nice to hear that, its about time we had soul a-la-niter back in the town. Mind you, the Town Centre is like Beirut of a weekend so you'll have to watch who you let in

Yep...piss poor performance...I felt a bit sorry for her to be honest...I had a lousy night too and she was the last straw...went even more downhill after that...was glad to get home on the Sunday

Ann Peebles...if my memory serves me correctly

Christ its Nick of Nick and Andrea...I remember you on that dancefloor...always gave it 110%...I remember that night when Phil was temporarily incapacitated but I don't think I knew about it til after he'd re-appeared and pulled himself round a bit...as for Yvonne and Jacqui well I was usually responsible for babysitting/childminding them Yeah Kim from Keighley but a different Kim who killed Phil's fish...yukked bleach in the tank if my memory serves me correctly...hell hath no fury like a woman scorned Do you remember Phil's catchphrase...."UP THERE AND OUT OF IT" complete with hand and arm movements ie UP THERE POINT HANDS AND ARMS UPWARDS OUT OF IT POINT HANDS AND ARMS SIDEWARDS...I'd forgotten all about it til Saturday when he sent me a text of it...I was bad laughin I was at a wedding last Friday with Kim and her fella Stuie Butcher...pair of nutters together but nice with it if you know what I mean It was nice to see them again as it's been too long since the last time. Hope to see you both out and about sometime

You've always associated Webby with topics...never seen him eat one of those ever...but I have seen him scoff many a toffee crisp and in later years proper food

Yes I will do...he's not texting me at the minute...sometimes he disappears and other times he's texting non-stop...think the flurry of texts coincides with lots of I'll text Webby so he knows you'll be there...oh and don't you be leading him astray that weekend as he's a reformed character...with good reason...I'll PM you about it so you know the score