North East thread 6: Everyone's welcome!

[Someaddedsugar]

Just starting a new thread for anyone who wants to join!

Corned beef slices better when cold. I have a vague memory that this advice used to be on the tin? It took me years before I could open a tin of corned beef reliably without the prospect of having to go to A&E to staunch the blood (A&E never happened, but I'm afraid cutting myself accidentally was not a rare occurance)

Half marg, half lard here for pastry. I just can't get the ratio of corned beef to potato right. And boughten ones always have too much potato. Corned beef pies always appeared at the NE Working Men's Club buffets I've been to over the years, whether we were celebrating a birthday, or celebrating the life of someone at a funeral.

I’ve been told I make a mean CB pie.. went off it while preggo

yy to chill in the tin and tin opener a slot at the opposite end to the wee under thing comes out beautifully
definitely trim the fat and jelly off though

Will confess that I can't stand corned beef pie. 🤮

Not good news about the strikes. As always, GNE and Unite are telling a very different story

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/go-north-east-strike-live-27996170#ICID=Android_ChronicleNewsApp_AppShare

Just seen update on Facebook, I’m really upset. I feel so sorry for minimum wage workers. How are they going to afford taxi’s or even Uber.
Even the bus drivers getting £360 a week. Strike fund. Not certain on amount.
But I had sympathy for drivers but no more.

I hope they come to an agreement soon - the knock on effect to those that need buses to get to work and college, and to buy their food shopping etc will be huge as you've said!

I'm reliant on GNE buses to get to work and back, there isn't an Arriva alternative. I really hope they settle this soon as I can't afford taxis all the time! I'm gutted it's going to continue on. I'm trying to be supportive of the drivers but blooming heck it's getting really hard.

<Wracks brains>
Is there a car-sharing WhatsApp group or FB page that has sprung up because of this dispute?
Could we mobilise the Power of Mumsnet somehow?
The question is how to keep it safe and as anonymous as possible...
Just some ideas off the top of my head. I'll ponder a little, anyone got any thoughts? - this may take many cups of tea

I can imagine @Tallpaulwho! It's such a shame that the various companies don't cross over routes - I appreciate that would cause real competition issues but I really feel for you all who only have that bus company as an option. Where we used to live it was the same - no Arriva or other company buses. My colleague at work has a son who hasn't been able to get to New College as both her and her husband are at work out of the house and the son's only option is GNE so he's missed quite a few days so far.

I am a car owner near New College but don't do early mornings. Might be able to do run back to son's home, but can't commit to anything regular.
@Someaddedsugar roughly where does the son come from? And do your colleagues have any ideas?

Ah that's so kind @TheSummerySilveryPussycat - he's quite a trek though - I think it's Croxdale.

I think they're all trying to find car-sharing atm between friendship groups as some have passed their driving tests etc, and some parents possibly have a bit more flex.

It just seems to be causing chaos for many people but without an end in sight. And I do massively appreciate that the drivers all have a right to be paid fairly, but it doesn't feel like the passengers are being considered.

There's lots of arriva buses from Croxdale, @Someaddedsugar . Both the 6 and 7 pass through then the 64 and X12 head out to Fram plus some of arriva's other services extend to the college. In fact the 6 is one of them

I know on a couple of Facebook groups I’m on people are pulling together and giving lifts. But it’s on the person giving the lifts timetable, so lots of hanging about getting to work early etc.
We had other bus companies like I said earlier, but go north east took over.

I went to Newcastle today John Lewis to get the Quality Street tin refill. And the bus going was full and coming back was heaving.
Shops are going to have a dreadful Christmas, high street lost is online gain.

Possibly not there then @PickAChew. I could have sworn that's what she said but that wouldn't make sense if there are buses passing there! Definitely begins with a C and is that way on though as we've had many a conversation about the flooding at the Honest Lawyer in the past.

@PickAChew You and DS2 could be the fount of wisdom! For truly strange and intricate are the ways of buses in Co. Duham. Mostly because of the geography, as Durham's location dictates a hub-and-spoke model, and also the pesky Wear keeps getting in the way, and only has a few bridging points.

(Almost as bad/good as the London suburban rail system South of the Thames - there are millions of different ways of travelling from North Dulwich to Thornton Heath, which I knew when I were but a lass, travelling to school by train.)

I was in John Lewis, this morning @AlviarinAesSedai but for a much more mundane purchase of facecloths! Town and the buses were busy.

There's only the X21 passes the Honest Lawyer from GNE. Otherwise it's the 6 and 7 as now Crook depot is gone, it's very much Arrivaland, south of Durham. Carrville, maybe? That's served by the GNE 20/20A with no arriva alternative, though a fit young man could walk to Dragonville for a 64.

I'm very much an enabler for the bus bashing, as you can probably tell. It's how we spent our weekends, BC.

Edit: just noticed we're at 991 posts!

Good spot @PickAChew - I've set up a new thread - North East thread 7: the bus chat continues... www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4929763-north-east-thread-7-the-bus-chat-continues.

Definitely not Carrville. I wonder where they are! She definitely said there isn't a bus due to the strikes as she was quite angry that he'd missed so much college.

You are definitely an incredible source of knowledge @PickAChew!

I have enjoyed these threads massively for the knowledge of the region too!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4929763-north-east-thread-7-the-bus-chat-continues

Corrected link

Something has gone wrong with either the new thread, or the link, so I have reported your post at 21.50 @Someaddedsugar

I was going to suggest Consett or Craghead. But probably wrong area.

xpost with @PickAChew

Yeah, Consett has its own college and everyone there will be stuffed!

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