Tony U

Dave Both longsword and rapper, to a much lesser extent, have short mummers plays associated with them as part of the performance I think the Tommy and Betty characters are relict leftovers from this association, rather than the traditional view that they are fertility symbols. You are probably correct as to why rapper adopted a lot of the 6/8 jig tunes associated with the dance; but some of the older dances, such as the Winlaton dance are danced in 9/8 time whilst this is normally associated with slip jigs many traditional Northumbrian songs, The Blanchland Races for example are played in this time. As for the Rappers themselves; who knows, I have asked old pitmen this question and even the ones who worked with the ponies are agreed they are a dancing instrument and nothing to do with scraping horses. My theory (and this is just a theory), is this: The oldest set of rappers are those of Winlaton White Star and are reputed to be over one hundred and fifty years old and Winlaton at that time was a smithing not a pit town. These swords where developed from some surplus sprung steel left over from another purpose. As sprung steel pre-Bessemer, was an expensive product, it is likely that only smiths would have access to scrap. The smiths may have improved on or evolved a different sword to the existing longsword by adding a second handle (this something longsword dancers often desire as it improves grip in more energetic moves). This second handle on the Winlaton swords is fixed not swivelling as in a modern rapper sword, which may indicate a link to the earlier long sword patterns rigidity. So you are pretty close with worn down Bread Knives. Tony

A couple of problems with your theory Dave, there were few enclosures in NE England in the 18th Century most of the land was enclosed long before that and when industialisation first took place in the north, the industrial workers in the pits and iron works were hugely better off than their rural counterparts so did not need to demand money with menaces; and as you know Rapper Dance is an industrial not a rural tradition. Tony

Cory Tommy and Betty are two roles in rapper sword dance that represent the father and mother of the dancers. The Tommy and Betty often introduce the dance to the audience and seek to engage the audience. As with so many traditional dances in England and Europe, these characters are integral to the tradition, and their role was documented in all of the earliest published descriptions of the Northumbrian dance – descriptions which pre-date the introduction of the flexible rapper sword which so fundamentally changed the dance. In early accounts of the sword dance in the Tyne Valley, the Tommy character was generally called "The Captain", and the Betty character called "Bessy". There were often additional characters, such as a doctor, who took part in a short play before the dance, similar to a Mummers play. The Tommy was either dressed up formally, with waistcoat, tailcoat and top hat, or in a grotesque garb of animal hides; occasionally, the Tommy was dressed in women's clothing, like the Betty. Much is made of their role and clothing in the context of pagan fertility rituals; it is certainly probable that the characters and play are older than the sword dance itself, which would appear to have been appended to the older play tradition found all over England. In the modern dance, the Tommy introduces the dancers, usually with a traditional calling-on song, and then provides a running commentary and/or jokes to entertain the audience. The Tommy and Betty characters often join in with the rapper figures. Tony Tommy for Bishop Gundulf's Sword

Davy Ah the sadly defunct Winlaton White Star Rapper; two of Sue's great uncles are performing with that side (she comes from Rapper Royalty don't you know). Their rapper swords are in Winlaton West End Club if anyone ever wants to view them. If you want to view rapper danced in a less stately fashion just Google Newcastle Kingsmen +YouTube, they are pretty good. We Longsword dancers call the star a Lock and it is usually a six pointer Star of David style though it is still pretty efficient at ritual decapitation. Tony http://bishopgundulfs.moonfruit.com/#

Dave It's a start but once again rapper and Longsword appears to be missing out; strange that because Rachel and Becky's dad is a practitioner of the dark arts with Greatham Sword. Looks like the hankie flingers win out again. Tony

Well they can not blame the fans for this one, Chris Hughton was greatly admired by the St James faithful and most of us Geordies are deeply shocked by the fat one's decision; I wonder if he will be in the directors box on Saturday?

It could be a first summer male, like this uniformly dark Hungarian bird of the T m. aterrimus sub species, which make it to the UK in cold winters:

I agree with that, but then again she has been dead for twenty years. Tony

Chubby It is catch and kill fish are charged at the rate mentioned by Leon after your first kilo. It's a nice water for beginners not too expensive and they can be confident of covering fish even if their casting is limited. I have been taking Sue along as it is an ideal water for her to learn how to fly fish. Tony

The bit that reads "the woman, from Chatham" and ""It ain't a nice road but you don't expect someone to nick your snowman."" says it all really.

Mr. H I use these people: http://www.optilabs.com/ They are reasonably cheap and do a great range of prescription polarised sunglasses for fishing; I have the Panther model but I am sure you will find somethig to suit. Tony

Sportsman Is this your pond you are referring to?

To paraphrase Andy Warhol: We will all be Tackle Consultants for fifteen minutes.

Dave re: "So it looks like we can't get to Paris in time to get tomorrow's plane" I believe the Eurostar is running, if you can get to Ashford that is. Good luck ,I hope you make it it is grim when your long planned trip is cancelled. Tony

I bought issue 2 and enjoyed it immensely, I will definitely be buying it again but I am not likely to take out a subscription. I suppose if you are interested in fishing abroad it will be of interest if you just plan to fish in the UK or your local venues then it is probably not for you. That said there were articles on Carp fishing, Rock fishing Charter fishing in the South West and Pollacking in Ireland.

Darn it!! it's out of stock on Amazon I was going to get Sue to buy me it for Christmas.

Chuby I am glad i am not the only one with that view on the New Zealand method I have tried it as well, but unlike you I did not catch on it so I reverted top the tried and tested droppers. The New Zealand set up of tying the dropper on to the bend of the hook above just is not right for me.

Leon That depends on all sorts of factors, normally when fishing traditional loch style you would aim to fish an attractor on the point (a mini lure or a wet such as a Butcher or Silver invicta etc.), a muted fly on the middle dropper and a bushy palmered fly on the top dropper. These days however virtually anything goes a team of buzzers as Sportsman points out or a booby on the point and a set of Diawl Bachs or buzzers fished washing line style experimentation being the name of the game. In Northern spate rivers it is traditional to fish a team of three spiders e.g. a Partridge and Silver on the point and Snipe and Purple and Partridge and Orange on the droppers, used to work fro me on the Coquet; today I would not be surprised if the use a couple of Diawl Bachs and a Czech nymph on the point. Then there is the issue of leader length I think we should met up and discuss this more fully in the Pub. Tony

Newt Are you back in Florida then? Tony

who the **** are N-Dubz, I thought it may have been some sort of fly dressing material????

Have a look at this if you want to hear a Geordie accent try these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB5hThZHNyE

Our paths have crossed they are a triumph of style over substance if you want to see Molly dancing then look at: http://www.mikelanng.com/7Champs/index.html Tony

An Oxymoron surely

The problem with Barbour jackets and I have owned a few is that they are not particularly warm and they get really stiff when cold. On the various AN fish-ins I've attended quite a few of us have the Pro-Logic Max 4 Thermo jacket, it's waterproof breathable and has a zip in quilted fleece so it is really warm, too warm at times. It falls within your £100 price range see here: http://www.tackle2u.com/prods/297.html The only problem all be it a minor one it is only available in camo.

Dave Extensive research has failed to find evidence that Magpies etc. are the reason for the declines in bird populations. House sparrows and starlings are both declining in number, even though their nests in holes and other cavities are safe from magpie predation, while chaffinches and greenfinches, which build open cup nests vulnerable to predation, are doing well. But that's in the UK the French are fond of scoffing some songbirds (well Ortolan Buntings) in any case there are probably other reasons for the decline. For example Spain has a huge raptor population compared to the UK and France and has a very healthy population of small songbirds as well, probably down to less intensive farming practices in much of the country; Though I would hazard a guess that there ae fewer songbirds in Murcia than in say extremadura due to the differecnces between the intensive farming that is carried out in the former.