It's all gone quiet over here, and it's too early to start the Ipswich talk. I've been trying to think of a debating issue that might get everyone going and wondered whether the following might be worth discussing. Basically, some residents of Newcastle are moaning via the Ronnie and Century etc because the City Council is having a host of events for Paddy's Day but is ignoring Saint Cuthbert's Day three later despite the latter being Patron Saint of Northumbria.

Is this a point that winds anyone up?

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Answers

The whole idea of ENGLAND celebrating an IRISH holiday bugs the f*ck out of me. It's only because of the drinks that are associated with it. If it wasn't for Guiness and Murphy's being advertised everywhere no one would even know it's St. Paddy's day. Why doesn't a brewery get behind St. Georges day, so all of us ENGLISH people can go out and celebrate our day. I can't stand all of the pricks that I see who are ENGLISH and SCOTTISH supposidly celebrating this day.

I know this reads like I'm a biggott, but honestly I'm not.

Oh to answer your question, Dougal, yes it does wind me up. ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

They do green beer over here on St Patty's Day. Tastes just as vile as ever tho it makes p!$$!ng a whole lot more interesting next day.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Oi Mick...over here a mo! Me and you have got to drink some beer together :-)

I said the same thing on a thread very similar to this one about 3 years ago...got called racist, bigot and all sorts!!

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

What with Chicago having one of the largest populations of Irish immigrants outside Ireland iteself, it tends to be like a national effin holiday. Just to say that everything goes green, the anti english sentiment comes out and people who are normally agreeable become suddenly disagreeable. I try and avoid coming into too much contact with the irish popluation on this weekned. Many a time have been personally blamed for the potato famine of 1841.

Of course I could do better than to wear my George cross t-shirt all day. Another thing that really gets me is that the majority of americans a) don't even know where Ireland is b) have no idea who or what St patrick was c) think that because they had a relative that spoke to an irishman back in the forties they are now irish by default.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Why should you have to be Irish to celebrate a party? All my family is Irish but I was UK born and bred. So do I not get to go to either a George's day or Patrick's day? Or do I get to go to both? Patrick was Welsh anyway, and I don't think St George was English.

As for St Cuthbert's Day...well, why not. Do we all get to drink broon ale?

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

No on St Cuthbert's day you have to drink mead, which probably explains why it's not really caught on!

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Bobby...yer probably correct about St George not being English but that's not the point. The point is that the whole country (Radio stations...TV stations..pubs and clubs etc) goes nuts about St Paddys day yet in some London boroughs a taxi driver could lose his job for displaying a St Georges cross in his cab.

The American thing in Chigaco and Boston and New York with the Irish as just pointed out is very true. They have little knowledge of why the Irish turned up in America anyway and there are more "Irish" people living in the States than there ever have been in .....err...Ireland :)

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Lindisfarne mead, Bobby.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

The Cuban bar here who sponsor my rugby team are having a big St Patrick day celebration on Sunday after our game. Of course, it's just another excuse to drink lots of beer!

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

All I'm saying is that I was born in the Newcastle General, my mam was from Blaydon and my dad was from High Spen, so I'm English through and through. I see no reason what so ever to lift my glass to Ireland. It doesn't matter if St Patrick was welsh, irish, or spanish, he's still the patron St. of Ireland. Same with St. George, doesn't matter where he came from he's the patron St. of England. Am I really only one of the few that is still proud to be from England? I do respect other peoples origins, countries, religions, etc.. but the crap that surrounds St. Patricks day is quite frankly absurd. Like I said earlier if it wasn't for the smugness of Guiness and Murphy's we wouldn't even be having this topic.

LR, as for having a beer together, only if you are buying, and please no stout!

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Ok...I'm buying. ....and I'll teach ya a few of our songs :)

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Spot on about the taxi, LR.

I've just thought, is there a large contingent of Irish in the toon these days? I know there's the irish bar near the gallowgate, but that's always been full of geordies the couple of times I've been in there.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Anybody, anywhere asks me where I am from (and it happens at least once a day) "England" is the response. None of this Britain, Uk crap. The number of Irish bars open in chicago is immense and all of 'em are full or so it seems. Dunno why the majority of Americans have such a hard on for the irish and are on such a downer about the oppresive,cruel English.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Have you noticed that in Hollywood blockbusters...if there's to be a villian he's an Englishman. Robin Hood (and yes I know the Gaffer of Nottingham was English anyway...but Robin was deffo no Yank)...Shrek.....Star Wars....Braveheart. I'll bet ya Jaws came from the aquarium at Weston-super-mare too.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

yep noticed that too. Diehard III. Ghandi (full of the tyranny of England),Zulu,rob roy. The list is endless of films where England, or English people are portrayed as villans. I feel so typecast.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

It pisses me off massively. I am boycotting my local on Saturday as it is having a st Patricks eve party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean what the f**K has Whickham got to do with Ireland?

And if one person says "top of the morning" to me on sat/sun I swear I'll yark them!

Btw,do breweries know when st. Georges' day is?

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

I have no problem with St Paddy's day, it's just an exuse for a drink. What really bugs me is the cod Oirishness that's around at the moment. All these Oirish theme pubs. Everytown is full of them; Fibber McGee's, Finnigan's Wake, The Kneecapper and the Balaclava. They're all over the place. This get my goat much more than a day that provides people with permission to drink too much stoat.

Also, St Paddy's day is, in the UK at least, apolitical. St George and all things around him has been teking aver by right wing bigots. Given who marches behind the Cross of St George and the politics associated with this regalia I see nothing wrong wioth banning taxi drivers from displaying the flag. Few taxi drivers afterall are known for their inclusive political views.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Going thro customs in North Carolin aI was asked where I'd come from. "Scotland" I replied. "We had one of your politicians thro last week, a guy from the SNP I think, that's just like the IRA I suppose".

I agreed with him.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Some interesting views.

The first flag to which I swear allegiance is the Northumbrian flag, followed by the Union Jack. For some reason (don't ask me to justify it) I want the nation to remain united (although the Irish can have their bit back) and so I dislike displays of the George Cross or the Saltire which seem a bit divisive to me. Especially the saltires on cars driving all over England. I suspect that cars sporting the George would get their windows smashed in some parts of Scotland.

Can't get wound up about any of it mind. I do take Syme's point about being blamed personally for the potato famine! We've all come across that kind of attitude.

Geordieland should have a St Joe day, to be held annually on the anniversary of the Fairs Cup victory. :-)

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Thing is St Patrick's day has always been a bigger party outside Ireland where traditionally it is considered a religious holiday. Americans will use any excuse to have a party or parade. Hallmark makes their money off thinking up new 'holidays' so people will feel the need to buy cards. I suspect St. Patrick's day only became so big around the world because it's become a convenient excuse to get pissed, and few bar owners or booze shops are going to turn down the opportunity to make tons of money. So a vicious circle ensues to the point that even Dublin has fallen to the commercial aspect. It's not the place to be this time of year if you're looking for anything resembling 'Ireland'. You can't move for Americans in the place.

Agree about many Americans being clueless about Ireland, but then again they are often just as clueless about America. They equate waving a flag with instant expertise, but are often hard pressed to find Ireland(any other country, or even their own state!) on a map.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Well I'm a member of the Tyneside Irish Centre - but only cos it's close to SJP and the beers cheap! I have no links with Ireland whatsoever, all my family are Scottish!

I won't be celebrating St Pats day though - let the Irish have their national day. It's just sad that the english feel like they have to jump on the bandwagon. It's like people down South supporting Man U, when they have no link to the place or team.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Agree 100% on all comments condemning this mockery of a celebration, at least we don't get the anti-Brit stuff in London that the poor sods living in the States have to put up with.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Good analagy Lynda - never would have thought of it that way!

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

I won't harp on (pardon the pun), but it wasn't long ago since my parents found a plentitude of signs on the doors of B&Bs "No blacks, no Irish". Being Irish is fashionable now, and is an easily marketable commodity. Scotland had the same sort of thing in Victorian times.

The reason the other parts of the British Isles have celebrated their patron saints is because it gave a sense of nationality when their country was being basically shat on by the English / Westminster. The English confirmed their identity by crapping on other people and calling it the Empire. Now it's gone and England is just another country playing 3rd fiddle to USA. So, with a sense of anomie and hankering for the golden era of feeling good about being English comes along a lot of self-doubt, guilt over the past and an embarassment because the BNP/NF scum hijacked the union flag.

If the English (of which I count myself to be one) want to have a party for St George, then fine, go for it. Just because the neighbours are having a good time doesn't mean they should stop for you. FFS just start a party! St Patrick's day is not just for the Irish, just like Notting Hill Carnival isn't just for afro-Carribeans. Get over it and get drinking.

I think part of the problem with St George's Day is because there's nothing obviously associated with it i.e. Patrick's has Guinness, David has leeks, Andrew has whiskey (probably). So what would England have? These days, probably a big chicken tikka masala and pints of pissy weak lager :-)

On another note, the Irish kit pubs annoy me a little bit. Bare floors, old bike and a few tin Guinness adverts on the walls and you're back in Kerry. Ironically, 'traditional' pubs in Dublin are being squeezed out by the big super-pubs (like the Quayside). There's a limited number of licenses granted and pubs simply can't cope with the competition without becoming bigger. Remember that when you're on yer next stag do on the Liffy :-)

ok, I did harp on...sue me ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

My employer recently sent out an "ethnic diversity" questionnaire to all of its employees. The obvious question was worded in such a mealy mouthed way that I was genuinely puzzled at first at my own reacyion. I think it asked something like "to which group or people do you feel you most belong?" or some such.

After a some thought, I went with my initial reaction, which was "Geordie". Followed by "oh all right then, I suppose you mean white".

However, I'm still uncomfortable with the idea that I should feel some sort of allegiance to a "white race". I mean, would my red and black armband with fetching bent cross design be sent by return of post? Nor would either "British" (what's that anyway) or "English" (my grannie would rotate in her Dunfermline grave) seem much more attractive. Wish I'd stuck with just "Geordie" now.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Ok, I've calmed down a bit now, that I'm at home instead of at work. I won't go back on what I've said, but just to quantify what I was trying to get at. I've no problems what so ever with anyone who's Irish, and if they want to get drunk on horrible black bitter tasting drinks, celebrating St. Patricks day, then good luck to them. But why it has to be turned into an all singing all dancing event which stretches across the entire British Isles is beyond my comprehension. You don't need to use St. Patricks day as a reason to go out on the piss. As it happens I'm using it as a reason to stop in on saturday night. The God forsaken hole that is other wise know as Loughborough, in the east midlands, is where I've been living for the past 5 years and on Saturday night the pubs will be full of students who are using it as an excuse to get drunk (probably on a pint of your cheapest mista). I didn't realise how much this wound me up until now. Humpf. :-|

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

One of the big differences between St Pat's and St George's, St Andrew's and St David's day is to with religion. The latter three are all from Protestant countries, which, with their Calvinist/Presbyterian roots, have, in the past, frowned on linking celebrations and drinking with religious events. Hence, in Scotland, Hogmanay was much more celebrated than Xmas, and whiskey drinking is associated with Burns night rather than St Andrew’s. In parts of Scotland, Good Friday is not a public holiday. In England, May Day was always the main celebration for drinking rather than Easter or Whit.

The Catholic Irish, unlike the Protestant British, do not share this fear of linking religion with celebration. There is no fear of using God as an excuse for a piss-up. Hence there has been a long tradition of a public holiday in Ireland on St Pat’s Day. All that the rest of Britain has done is import it. A few breweries have caught up with the idea and promote so as to sell more ale. Who cares.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

The Irish can be @rsed to celebrate their patron Saint; the English can't. Full stop.

BTW, I lived in New York State for eight years, working in the Big Apple for four of those years - I never once had any anti-Brit sh*t thrown at me. Mind you I didn't go looking for it either.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Trying to insinuate that I go looking for it clarky? Because I don't, but then again though I am not going to stand by and let some drunken twat insult me because I am english. I was only joking about the George cross t-shirt.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

.....erh, em, well no, actually I wasn't syme.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Sorry if i jumped the gun clarky, no offense mate. I would say that the vast majority of irish in chicago are good natured/educated people, although there are pockets of them that are anti-english. Unfortunatly I've had a few run in's with those types, so I tend to watch my I's R's and A's

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

I don't want to sound like a preacher syme, but I genuinely believe it is uncumbent on all of us to consciously avoid pandering to religious bigotry in any way we possibly can.

We should judiciously avoid becoming unwitting participants, adversaries or even an audience for those of any persuasion seeking to use the celebration of St. Paddy's Day by the Irish, or those with Irish ancestry, as an vehicle for playing out their historic prejudices or spreading their evil bile.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

I agree wholeheartadley clarkster, Me dad has an irish heritage and me mam a scottish one. Me? I am all English. I just object to it being shoved in my face, by uneducated idiots. I hear that bellamy is still two weeks away from being considered, is that true?

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

..there seem to be a lot of conflicting messages about Bellend's progress syme, and as usual bog all communication from SJP.

I suspect they would like to get him into the team for the Arsenal game - I only hope they don't push him before he's ready.

His injury is a really awkward one - as we found with AS - and bringing him back before he's 100% could prove disastrous.

I'm really hoping they play YKD up front v Ipswich and that it works, as that would reduce the perceived need to rush CB back.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

This has turned into an interesting discussion.

My mother is a Northern Irish Catholic and I was raised in the Catholic faith and went to a school called St Patrick's (Consett has a huge Catholic population of Irish descent). St Patrick's Day was a Holy Day of Obligation, which went a day off school after mass and I'm afraid the main symbolism was larging it over the bairns in the County and Protestant schools who had to go to school that day. However, I can still recall all of the words of "Hail Glorious St Patrick" and couldn't tell you more than three words of "Jerusalem" (something that used to drive my dad apesh*t). The thing, to me, about St Paddy's is that it seems about as much about St Patrick as Christmas is about the birth of Christ nowdays: it's another opportunity for a p*ss-up, which is why so many English have espoused it so enthusiastically. Nowt wrong with that, really, and no problem with the City Council organising events.

There is a sea change and people are coming out of their inertia about St George's Day, possibly because of devolution in Scotland and Wales, and many English would now like a celebration of St George's Day. I can't see anything wrong with this.

As for St Cuthbert, one of the great figures of early Christianity, and, along with St Bede, a wonderful part of North Eastern religious and cultural heritage. It's a shame, really, that the body charged with promoting our wonderful region, don't see fit to promote the occasion of St Cuthbert's Day. And, I'd have to say, that unless copious amounts of alcohol were involved, there'd probably be interest only from tourists.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Mick G - you do indeed come across as a bigot !

Signed A. Prick (who will happily be out on Sunday having beers with his Irish girlfriend and mates - and I'll make sure I raise a glass to all you miserable tw@ts with inferiority complexes, who clearly still see merits in racial segragation).

Isn't it just lovely when a debate like this shows people in their true colours?

Howay Lanky Red mate - your beef is obviously with the knobheeds who try to ban cabbies from displaying their St.George's crosses, not with the celebration of Paddy's Day? Nowt wrong with a bit of genuine pride is there?

Ferfuxsakes - can you scrooges honestly not see past the huge marketing hype that basically drives the whole Paddy's Day thing around the world? Beware, it's either your lack of intelligence or your prejudice that's showing.

You want a drink on St.George's Day? Then get on and organise it, as the sound of your whingeing is truly pathetic.

( I hope that was discreet and polite enough for this site? ;O))

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

On your high horse a bit there LT.....fuck the IRA....

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Ever bless and defend the sweet land of our birth,
Where the shamrock still blooms as when thou wert on earth,
And our hearts shall yet burn, wherever we roam,
For God and St. Patrick, and our native home


-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

I'm no bigot, apart from an irrational loathing of all things red and white, I just don't get it when 12 million English people go out on the lash to celebrate their Irishness.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

One thing that just occurred to me is that people get upset that the English don't celebrate St George's Day. In fact, being a Protestant country, technically we shouldn't really celebrate a Saint's Day because worshipping saints and the Virgin Mary is considered sinful (ie. it's worshipping graven images) by the Protestant faith while it is a key part of Catholicism. Maybe not celebrating St George's Day was a reflection of the established faith in England: not inertia or anything else.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Well, LT, I guess you didn't read any of my posts fully, as you would have spotted that I said I had no problem with any Irish people wanting to celebrate this day.

I also made the point, several times, that if it wasn't for the people at Guiness and Murphys exploiting this day for their own purposes, something which I think you would also admit, then the majority of English, Scottish and Welsh people probably wouldn't even know it was St. Patricks day. I know I didn't realise it was this Sunday, until I read this thread. Although perhaps that's because I'm a bigot. You said "You want a drink on St.George's Day? Then get on and organise it, as the sound of your whingeing is truly pathetic. " Who's whingeing? Just making a point that's all. Now, obviously I don't know you or know your heratage, but are you Irish yourself? If you aren't, ask youself this, would you be celebrating if it wasn't for your Irish girlfriend? If so, kudos, you have backup up your argument, if not then, oh dear your just like the rest of us. Anyway, let's turn this one on it's head, shall we? Let's all get a petition together for a brewery to start major St. Georges day celebrations. Ok, now that we have that backing, let's take the celebrations to Ireland. Let's decorate all of the pubs in the St. Georges cross, and sit and drink and drink and drink. How well do you think that would go down? Perhaps there is a hint of biggitory and prejudice going on here, but not from me, and I take offence at that remark. Why can't I come on here and say I don't give a shit about an Irish holiday, and I'm proud to be English. It seems these days that if you are willing to stand up and say you are proud to be an englishman and stand i nfront of the cross of St. George you are instantly a racist and a biggot. However if you stand up and say you are proud to be Scottish or Irish and denounce the British government then you are a patriot. I remember when I was a nipper and in the good old boy scouts. My town used to have a huge St. Georges day parade where all of the scouts, girl guides, sea and air cadets all turned out in force to march through the town to church, with various flags flying, the whole works. Sadly this no longer takes place.

What is they say never talk politics?

Mick - climbing down from his high horse and putting it in the cupboard.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Nah, politics gets to the route of things and gets a really decent pub argument going. I love it :-)

I guess the thing is when Irish celebrate their culture and heritage they can wear kilts, dance to ceilaghs, drink stout and talk horses, religion and politics. The Jocks wear kilts, dance around swords, drink whiskey, eat sheep innards and recite Rabbie Burns. The Welsh eat leeks, where hats with buckles on the front and sing with gusto. The English...have Morris Dancers. And warm beer. So get your bells on your legs and sticks out for the lads!

What day is St Cuth's? Got be mead, beard and Northumbrian pipes at the ready! Or do I not get to celebrate it because I'm from London?

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

I see no problem at all with people celebrating theyre roots , you cannot critisiae people for wanting to , My local the Monkey allways has a ST. Patircks day and gives away big stupid hats and guiness merchandise. Which is brewed in England BTW.

If we had a St. Georges day I would go out and celebrate cos it s an excuse like a christen ing or a wedding etc..

and If the Ditch Digging Bog Dwellers wann a do the saem after a hard days graft filling holes and digging tatties then im fine with that ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

....who said racial stereotypes are dead? ;o{)

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

I dunno...who? ;))

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

I live in Greece and they are even trying to promote St Paddy's day here! By they I mean of course the brewers of Murphys and Guinness. St. Patrick and the Irish are of absolutely no interest to the general populace of this orthodox country.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

OK, I'll answer my own question - Cuthbert's is on 20th March.

I've got my Reivers party gear and authentic Black Death make-up at the ready for Wednesday!

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

As one of the poor buggers who drink Guinness all the time, I object deeply to being made to wait half an hour to get served while 400 idiots try to get enough coupons for a teeshirt.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Well just in case you think we need any extra help tomorrow, here's a list of Saints whose day is March 16, so you can get your prayer wheels out.

Saint Julian of Antioch, Saint Abraham Kidunia, Saint Finnian Lobhar, Saint Eusebia, Saint Gregory Makar, and Saint Heribert.

Saint Eusebia - didn't he play for Benfica?

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

...you're showing your age Pilgrim! ;o{)

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

I object deeply to being made to wait half an hour to get served while 400 idiots try to get enough coupons for a teeshirt.

I think you need your own Guinness t-shirt Softie, proudly proclaiming - "Where were you when it was sh*te?" or some such thing. :-)

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

An exchange overheard in my office just this morning between a Secretary and Regional Administrator, whose brother was on the radio singing Danny Boy nonstop for 3hrs to win $300 and tickets to Riverdance.
Secretary: "Aren't you part Irish?"
RA: "Nope"
Secretary: "Oh, I thought you went there once, so figured you were Irish."

Me: (bangs head on desk) :-)

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Well Dougal are you happy now??? Not quite the thread you expected is it? I think we should make it a point to not discuss any sensitive subjects on here anymore.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Bearing in mind that I was trying to raise some sympathy for poor old, forgotten St.Cuthbert, I'm quite surprised at how aeriated everyone has got. I was trying to resurrect the site as it's been dying on its feet this week and was expecting a bit of Northumberland nostalgia.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

PS. Syme, there is no real way of knowing what is s sensitive topic on here as the most surprising things occasionally end up with War of the Worlds...although certain topics such as action in Afghanistan and the Irish question have identified themselves as "best left well alone".

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Dougal.........what I was trying to put across (not very well) was that all subjects are sensitive, and we should never discuss anything on here ever again. The thing with message boards are that sometimes the meaning of a statement gets lost in the translation of the post, and then we have misunderstandings etc,etc.

I would just like to state for the record that I could give a monkeys who's do what to whom, when or how. As long as NUFC win something and soon, I'll be reasonably happy.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

As long as NUFC win something and soon, I'll be reasonably happy.

REASONABLY happy?????? Goodness me Syme, what would it take to get you delirious then? :-)

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

If you can tie St. Cuthbert to an excuse for a massive piss-up, it should be a winner. Seems most folks can agree on the drinking part, just not the excuse. ;-D

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Surely the little tif has indeed breathed a bit of life into the place? well done dougs....

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

I think half the people on here should celebrate St. Patricks , cos after what ive read youve all kissed the blarney stone.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Jonno, I try not to set my expectations too high. Trust me, I would be in a state of abject delerium if we won anything significant. Well done Dougs you certainly put the cat among the pigeons on this one, any plans for next weeks?

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

I don't go to church but I'll be buying the bairns easter eggs next Sunday. I could try telling them that purchasing a symbol of the ressurection when we live in a secular society is hypocritical but they'd probably divorce me.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Reminds me of The Mrs Merton Show and "let's have a heated debate!"

Next week on 'Dougal' we have the gay male couple who want to have sex changes and want to adopt a genetically adjusted baby...who will also be GAY!

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Syme marra, your Dad used to teach at St. Cuthbert's, and as for my first name ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

I've got the Metric Martyr planned for next week...

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Bud, my that is an oldie but goodie. Was that one of the old communicata threads. Guess what the old mans doing now?? He's sold his lot and moved to france, bought a six bedroom farm just north of the pyrannes(?) Aye, st Cuthberts. Do you remember a teaching collegue of his called Joe day? smoked liked a chimney, he did.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Syme, yeah, I remember him.

What's happened to Pete in Canada (he also went to St. Cuthbert's), I haven't seen him on here for yonks?

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

I drink Guinness. Most of my non-spanish friends in Barcelona are Irish. My local is an Irish bar. I am, as a Geordie, spared most of the anti-English bullshit (to my face anyway).

I will NOT be going out on Paddy's day. Why? Because normally fine, sensible, friendly Irishmen get abusively anti-English by 7 or 8 am and 12 + hours drinking and I, equally bad, feel the need to knock the f**kers out when they give me a hard time after taking my money all night.

It's just not worth it.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Last night (Friday), a few of my colleagues and I me mates and me went out for a few drinks. No sooner had we downed the first "pitcher" but the rest arived in hideous green color. Looked (almost) lke p!ss and tasted like it. We left (despite the good band which had just started) and found a bar full of tottie. Crackin' night. Thank you Paddy :)

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

...... so, d'ya pull owt decent Minny? Or even indecent come to that!

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002