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Age Group:

41-50

Gender:

Female

Residence:

Tyneside - Gateshead

Education:

Left school at 14

Occupation:

Housewife (previously Paper Mill Worker)

 decten1tlsg26

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(unclear)

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right okay

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T L S G five nine

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right thanks very much eh (pause) well could you tell us first of all where you were born please you were born in Gateshead

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yes

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whereabouts

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I was I was born in eh a place called eh Barney Close (interruption) Barns Close you know

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oh aye yes yes where the flats are

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where the flats are built there now and eh my mother of course she was eh a Hardy you know she was from a a great family of eh pipe ehm makers you know

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oh yes

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the clay pipes

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for like in pipe working for instance

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yes her father eh was eh the boss

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aye

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and her brother had a pipe shop you know

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yeah yeah

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it's a well named eh make Hardy you know well known and she was the last of twelve of course she's dead now and eh well that's the Hardys that's my mother you see

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yes yes

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but eh I left there when I was seven year old Barns Close

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I see yes where did you go from there

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then I went down to the Old Fold

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oh aye yes was that onto the estate like (unclear)

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on the bypass do you know

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aye yes

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on the Felling bypass uh-huh

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it was into a council house was it

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oh yes uh-huh

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and then eh

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and then of course I was married eh I was in with my mother eight year you know (interruption) and then I got this was my first home (pause) you know

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uh-huh oh I see yes you came here (interruption) and this was your first

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yes uh-huh so

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mm what eh what did you think about those various places you know as places to live in which did you like living in best

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uh-huh well eh (pause) well you know I liked the Old Fold

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yeah

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you know because I mean my mother and my sisters was all there course you know when your mother goes (interruption) your family's kind of broke up

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aye yes separates yes

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uh-huh yes but eh my mind goes back you know to what my mother the things she used to tell us you know because she had a hard life

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yes

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used to take washing in you know

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aye

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and the place was never tidy she was nice and clean you know she had one of these big old fashioned fireplaces blacklead

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aye

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and the big fender you could see your face in it you know

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yes

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the big roaring fire and the kettle on the hob you know

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yes aye sounds good that

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and eh course you don't see that now everything's so modern

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that's right yeah (interruption) yeah changed a lot

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you know easy and when I think what my mother used to do and I'm done in five minutes you know

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(laughter) yeah

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it takes her all the week you could be on three hours on her fireplace alone

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aye

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and then you had to shake the mat you know (laughter)

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aye

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but now it's all hoovering

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that's right

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uh-huh them are all modernized now but eh I I I wish that my mother had been here today she was the one you know

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aye

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she could tell you things all about Gateshead years and years ago uh-huh

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aye yes I see yes what do you think about uh this area to live in you know is it is it fairly nice up here

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well the only yes it's all right you know but the only thing I have against is the the kiddies

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aye

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you know they will play football on the grass verge you see now they've started to put these trees in and I keep looking for a mind it's coming on now but it is flat you can see it's bent over

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aye

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and ehm that's the only thing I've got against the bairns playing football of course we've had one or two windows eh not broke but the ball has hit the window you know

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aye

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and I want these big windows put in but my husband said well is it worth it you know

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aye they probably would just get broke

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he says now you want big windows in he says now he says a little window's all right a pane you could get it (pause) repaired now a big one (pause)

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yes aye

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uh-huh but eh apart from that it's eh all right mm-hm

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yes do you know would you say that you know most of the people sort of round about here (interruption) a fairly friendly sort of place

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oh I know everybody

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aye

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yes you see I was the first one in this street

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were you

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yes uh-huh

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was that when these were built

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yes these houses were well you know we all kind of came in within a fortnight of each other all around (interruption) here you see

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yes

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but over there the houses weren't finished

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aye yes

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so therefore I was ehm there was no path made

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mm-hm yes when when was that when were these built

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eh well you see it'll be about eh nineteen fifty

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mm-hm

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my eh youngest son he was eh five in the October that was nineteen fifty

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mm-hm

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I remember that because he

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aye

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he was five in the November we shifted in October and he had to wait till January before he started the new school because Fell Dyke school had hadn't opened you know

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uh-huh yes

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and he had to wait then and eh course my son one was five and the other one was eh eight

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yes

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and now my oldest son's twenty four and the other one'll be twenty one this year so that's eh

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where do they live do they still live in Gateshead

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oh yes they're still at home uh-huh

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oh they're still at home

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yes but the older son's getting married a month's time

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oh I see

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so eh and I've still got the younger one

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yeah yeah (interruption) eh

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but eh but he's car mad the young one so

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yes

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but he says he'll not leave he'll not leave me (laughter) they all say that don't they

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(laughter) aye

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but ehm

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would you say that eh would you say you were fairly attached to Gateshead itself as a place to live you know what I mean

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oh

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you you wouldn't go to live in Newcastle for instance

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well no now there's my husband he's a Londoner now he want he wants me he could go there tomorrow down the south

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aye

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but no my heart's here

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but you won't move

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yes you see my sisters live in Gateshead you see I have one lives in Springwell

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aye

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and the other one in in Park Road where I first eh when I first down down Old Fold and eh (pause) I've got another older sister lives in Chester Moor you know County Durham

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aye

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and the other one lives in the Midlands but ehm course we'll see her during the wedding you see

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that's right yes

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but eh no I

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you've got plenty connections here in fact yes

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uh-huh I don't think I could settle anywhere else

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yes

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no because I know I do know everybody you know

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yes

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if I you know if I go down the street you can not I can't pass a soul for I know them

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yes

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uh-huh and I find the majority of the people round here are the same you know

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yes grand grand

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uh-huh I think it's nice when they're like that we don't go in each other's house you know

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no

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I've got a the eh a good neighbour next door now if it when it's like this and we're at the back anytime hanging clothes out and we have a little bit eh chin wag but apart from that eh (unclear) in the winter we hardly see anybody at all in the winter

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aye

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but in the summer you really eh (interruption) uh-huh uh-huh

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yes you can go outside and talk like that aye

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uh-huh well as they say the (pause) sun brings all the flowers out so (laughter) uh-huh

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that's right aye yes

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but eh

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eh whereabouts were your parents born were they born in Gateshead as well

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oh yes eh Oakwell Gate uh-huh

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mm-hm both both your parents were born

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yes

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and they lived in Gateshead all their lives

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all all their lives uh-huh yes

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and eh what was eh your father's occupation

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well he was out of work for many many years

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aye

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because he had a stomach trouble

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oh

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I remember my mother used to say she nursed him forty four year with eh stomach trouble but he was a boiler maker you know by trade

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aye by trade like uh-huh

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uh-huh yes and of course my mother worked you know when she was at school her father used to keep her off you know

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aye

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eh course she used to get wrong but eh to do this eh little job for pipe eh pipe making

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aye

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for two pence ha'penny you know

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yes

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uh-huh she used to do a man's work she used to tell us uh-huh

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aye eh could you tell us please which age group you come into on that card if you could just say the letter

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D

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ta and eh well the on what basis you occupy this house it's presumably C is it

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yes uh-huh C uh-huh

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yes ta

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mm-hm I've got the wrong glasses on you know these are my eh I've got eh reading glasses

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eh do you work yourself at the (interruption) moment do you do any

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no

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no no (interruption) just just your housework aye

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no never worked since I was married mm-hm

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yes do you think it's eh do you think it's the best idea for a you know for a married woman not to work

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well I think if it's necessary you know if it's eh compulsory you know but as I say I've got a husband and two sons and I'm all right I'm not eh

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there's no need for you to work

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no no

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eh could you tell us what uh what jobs you have done in your life you know what did you do when you first left school

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well my first job was in the paper mills at Pemberton's you know I was fourteen

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oh aye whereabouts was that

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that's at Mirk Lane

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ah yes

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the bottom of eh old Gateshead you know

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aye is it still there

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oh yes uh-huh yes oh it's eh it's one of the oldest eh factories in Gateshead that mm-hm

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yes

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it's at the corner of the high level bridge down the you can see all the bridges from where I used to work you could see the high level bridge the swing bridge and you know

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yes

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because we were working in front of these old these big windows and uh-huh mm-hm the paper bag place (unclear) course they make paper there

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they make the paper themselves do they

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oh yes they start from making paper and you know

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uh-huh what do they start from wood and that

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well it's like pulp you know it's eh (pause) well it's all paper you know there's no waste

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yes

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if there's eh any eh mistakes in paper bags it's all pushed back

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just all go back

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yes it's all put in this big pulp and it's made into reels and they make carrier bags and paper ba oh it's interesting really mm-hm

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yes I used to work in a cardboard box factory and we used to do something similar

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oh yes well there's still a place you know eh Kelly's that used to be a cardboard eh in fact it still there

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yes

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Kelly's uh-huh but that was my first job

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yes mm

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at Pembertons and then eh when I was nineteen I g I started when I was fourteen when I was nineteen eh during the war I joined the NAAFI you know

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oh aye uh-huh yes

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but I was no further than Gosforth Park

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aye (laughter) yes

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you see and of course that's where I met my husband

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I see yes aye

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uh-huh

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mm-hm (pause) and then (interruption) did he

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and then and I just I came out he went overseas of course you know

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yes yes

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I was engaged about three year

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aye

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and then eh I came out the NAAFI I was only about a couple of year I think course you can do that it wasn't like the the forces you know

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no

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but ehm I came out and I went straight back to Pemberton's

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yeah yes

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you see and then I was there when I got married

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aye and then your husband came up here in fact when you were (interruption) (unclear)

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that's right and we've lived here ever since

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yes

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uh-huh

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what does he do your husband what's your husband's job

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well eh he's working on the British railways just now

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yes

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uh-huh well he's been there fifteen year mm-hm mm-hm

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mm-hm

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yes

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eh (pause) how old how old were you when you left school

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fourteen

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fourteen

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mm-hm

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do you think eh do you think you were glad to leave school

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well ehm (pause) well of course at at them times it was you had to leave school at fourteen

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yes

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I mean it's all changed now they leave when they're sixteen don't they

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aye

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or uh-huh but eh as I say my father never worked so it was just a little bit extra isn't it

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so you had to eh

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uh-huh uh-huh of course I never got any pocket money you know I had to just give it to my mother

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aye

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you see things were hard they say good old days but at the same time they were hard days you know uh-huh yes (unclear)

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did you en did you enjoy school when you were there

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oh yes uh-huh yes I liked school uh-huh I wasn't a great scholar you know

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no but you liked it

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yes uh-huh I was never late that was one thing I can say uh-huh I was al and we used to walk to school we never got the bus

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mm-hm yes

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I just I used to go to Sunderland Road school you know

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yes

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but ehm

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eh would you say you know looking back on your education would you say that it had been very important to you in your life you know since you left school

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oh yes

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yes you think so

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yes mm-hm mm-hm

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in what way just for your own you know for you own knowledge and that

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oh yes uh-huh I mean ehm well I I had done the best I could at school that's eh uh-huh

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yeah yeah

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uh-huh

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eh and do you think about you know children these days do you think you would advise children nowadays to stay on at school if you know

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yes (interruption) I think I would

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after fifteen if they're (interruption)

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yes I think I would (interruption) mm-hm uh-huh well eh as jobs are hard to get now

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if they could aye

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you know

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yes

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I know my sister's girl she's eh well she's leaving school like this time but eh I mean she's sixteen (pause) see

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yes

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but she didn't want to leave school (interruption) you see

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no

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but now I think she's eh she's done her year you know say I'll keep on till I'm sixteen

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aye

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uh-huh

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mm mm mm do you think eh do you think schools have changed very much since you went you know

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well I know one thing ehm we daresn't talk at school you know

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aye

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but now when I see the way the school children now talk to their teachers you know

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aye oh yeah

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uh uh but eh I used to love my teachers uh-huh yes

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do you think the do you think the (pause) children were better behaved when you went to school than they are now

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oh definitely oh yes

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mm

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mm-hm

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mm

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yes I'm sure

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eh

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I don't think we da we dare say half what the children say now

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yes

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uh-huh I mean you've just got to listen to them you know I mean there's a school here it's a Catholic school of course but I go to the corner shop and eh y y you get your eyes opened

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mm-hm

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uh-huh

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yes (pause) eh (pause) ehm whereabouts whereabouts were you living when you were you know when you were young yourself and you were sort of under twelve were you living in ah you were living in the Old Fold (interruption) weren't you

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oh yes I yes uh-huh yes

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do you think eh was that eh a good place to live you know from your point of view as a child then would you say you enjoyed your childhood there

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oh yes I did uh-huh I really did because eh you know the Tyne eh (pause) you know the Tyne banks used to run along by the (interruption) shore

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oh aye uh-huh

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and I I was just telling my son just the other day I says you could walk nearly to South Shields you know right along them banks all the way

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oh yes

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and we used to walk for miles and miles

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did you

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I used to love it and we used to sit on the riverbank and watch the ships

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mm-hm

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go over the Tyne you know (interruption) uh-huh mm-hm

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aye can you remember ehm you know any of the games you used to play or things did you play any good street games ever

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oh (pause) it the bairns now they don't know the games what we used to play

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yes

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nothing you know eh there were only you know broken eh ehm china you know and if you had a a piece of boody we used to call them boodys you know ehm if we had a piece of boody with a piece of gold on

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aye

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we thought that that was great you know

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yes

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uh-huh and eh we used to play eh davvers you know

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oh aye

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with the put the numbers on the

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oh aye the bays

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uh-huh and eh what was that other game we used to play eh we used to jump on their backs you know

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oh aye

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I've forgetten at (interruption) the time but eh

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mult multikitty

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mult that's it uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh but now you don't see anything like that mm-hm

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yes

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and we used to have ehm I remember when I lived in eh Barns Close eh I went to eh Saint Mary's school as well you know

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yes

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uh-huh course all that's closed down now and eh

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I didn't even know there was a Saint Mary's school

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oh yes uh-huh that's in ehm (pause) I don't uh (pause) in fact the soldiers took it over during the war

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aye

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it's what you called a national school and I think the Redifusion I think took it over as well you know

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aye

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oh that was a big school that but eh you see when I first started school I went to eh Saint Mary's little infants school you know

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mm

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well that's in eh Mulgrave Terrace where the baths is

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uh-huh yes

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that's where I first started school

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aye

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when I was five you see and then I went to Saint Mary's school that was the bigger school from the infants to the of course they took all ages then and when they left that school they used to send you to Windmill Hill school

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mm-hm

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you know

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yes yes (unclear)

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so eh but eh (pause) I this big street I tell you it used to be Carrick Street

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aye

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it's all down now it's all d you know the flats are there now

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yes yes

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and eh we used to have eh great big ropes skippy ropes you know

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aye

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and they all used to used about nine or twelve used to skip

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twelve at a time yeah

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uh-huh I mean there was no traffic nothing like that you know then mm-hm

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no aye

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uh-huh but now the traffic eh wey you've just got to have your eyes open now haven't you

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uh-huh (unclear)

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uh-huh uh-huh mm-hm even these estates you know you'd be surprised the cars that comes around

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uh-huh yes

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uh-huh I mean eh (pause) the roads are are there's too much grass verge you know uh-huh

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narrow aren't they very narrow

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yes too narrow uh-huh uh-huh yes

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eh can you remember ehm what you used to call a game where one of the kids had to chase the others to try to touch them what did you call that

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eh

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and then if he touched a one

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and then you had to

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then he had to chase the rest of them

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oh (pause) I do I do (interruption) remember it

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did you used

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uh-huh

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I used to call it (interruption) tuggy

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wasn't that tuggy

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aye yes

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yes tuggy uh-huh yes

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and eh what did you used to say about the one who had to chase the others what what did you

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eh I used to say eh you're on things like that yes

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you'd say he's on

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uh-huh you're on or it's your turn or something like that uh-huh

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and eh what did you used to say when you wanted to call a halt in a game you know if you wanted to eh stop and tie your shoelace or something and you wanted to stop the game did you used to cross your fingers and say anything

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ehm (pause) oh (pause) I can not think at the minute like but eh

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something like skinchers or

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skinchers that's it aye (laughter) skinchers (laughter) yes you forget you know but you remember as you keep on talking uh-huh because it's years since eh (pause) it's all (interruption) come back you know

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you had to say skinchers yes

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skinchers uh-huh

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what did you used to call eh the things that boys flick along the ground

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marbles

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aye did you have any other word for them

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ehm oh dear me eh (pause) oh (pause) d I do know it's on the e tongue my tongue end ehm (pause) oh

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allies

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was that the name allies

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I don't know or liggies

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d eh liggies that's it liggies

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what I used to call them anyway

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oh yes I used to do that you know

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did you

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now my mother she used to she thought she was a champion she used to tell me (interruption) oh she thought she was a champion uh-huh aye

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(laughter) aye liggies eh champion

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uh-huh my mother says she always played with the boys

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aye

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aye mm-hm

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I was never very good at it me you know

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oh yes I remember that

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mm-hm

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I've seen one or two of the bairns playing that mind

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uh-huh that's right yes

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the marbles uh-huh you used to have three holes you know

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yes yes complicated sort of rules it used to have

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yes uh-huh put three holes in the ground

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you get into one of the holes before you could shoot for each aye

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yes uh-huh and then (unclear) to the middle one and then to the end one uh-huh (laughter)

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that's right aye eh (pause) still sort of on the lines of what words you use for things ehm could you tell us please just what you call each of the rooms in this house you know what your normal word is for each room

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well well I will say kitchen for this (interruption) living room

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this is the kitchen yes

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I always say that the kitchen

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aye

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and then eh for the kitchenette

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uh-huh

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I say scullery

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uh-huh

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you see

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aye

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uh-huh uh-huh

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and eh what about what you're in as soon as you come through the front door

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the passage

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aye uh-huh

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but now it's a hall isn't it (interruption) they say the hall now uh-huh

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that's right yes some people call it a hall aye

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aye

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and ehm you know to get out of like an old fashioned back door you have to lift the

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the latch

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what do you call that

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the latch

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yes eh and what do you call eh you know if you've got a coal fire what do you call the thing you stand in front of it to get it going

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the bleezer (laughter)

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aye and eh what do you call cleaning the plates and things after a meal

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well I just say tidy up

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I mean actually putting them into the sink and

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just put them in the sink and get the (interruption) washes up

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wash wash up yeah

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uh-huh I just say washing up (laughter)

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(unclear) yes eh (pause) eh (pause) could you tell us please just eh how you like to spend your spare time you know what sort of things you like to do in the evenings and that

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well I just like to sit and watch the television because that's what my husband likes

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aye

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mm-hm and I like a game of cards you know

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oh yes

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not for money you know

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aye

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but I'm good at playing cards

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what kind of games like whist and that

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oh no I you know I've never been one but I'm sure if anybody learned me I would eh I would win them

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uh-huh

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because eh I mean I just pick games up as eh like rummy

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uh-huh

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I don't know whether you

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aye I know I used to play that

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uh-huh I'm good at that and seven card brag

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aye

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yes uh-huh and I play patience if I'm sitting on my own

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oh I see aye uh-huh

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you see and mind I nearly always get it out no cheating (laughter) no cheating uh uh and I like to fill the cross word puzzles in

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oh yes

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just for relaxing

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which ones do you do the Chronicle crossword

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I do the Daily Mirror

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aye

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well I do the easy one you know (laughter)

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aye (laughter)

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and then sometimes when I look on the other side eh oh I thought well I think I should have done that one you know

:

uh-huh

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because I never finish the crossword puzzle that's me I never finish it uh-huh uh-huh

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do you eh do you you watch television pretty often like do you

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oh yes uh-huh

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every night

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every night uh-huh

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and is it is it usually on all the time you know I mean sort of from six o'clock to (interruption) eleven

:

oh definitely uh-huh now with the tennis is on

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oh yes

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now I love tennis

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right so do I yes

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it's interesting ehm (pause) for Wimbledon you know

:

mm yes

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I love to see them uh-huh

:

aye aye yes I like tennis yes

:

yes uh-huh interesting (pause) course once you get to know the game that's how you like it you know uh-huh I mean I didn't know anything about tennis but you've got to sit and then you you learn

:

uh-huh

:

the same as cricket you know

:

aye

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it's eh I know it's a woman's world you know eh these eh (pause) the men's sports you'd be surprised how many housewives like eh these things (interruption) cricket tennis I say to my neighbour I'll say well so and so got through you know (interruption) uh-huh

:

aye uh-huh yes yeah uh-huh yes there's been some good matches on (interruption) hasn't there

:

oh great mm-hm yes I was sorry about eh Taylor getting beat you know (interruption) uh-huh uh-huh

:

aye yes took him to five sets like it was a exciting match

:

yes I like to see our own eh I don't know about you but I do uh-huh because it seems to be the same ones you know

:

oh yes

:

like Laver and Margaret Court you know they're always there at the finish aren't they

:

oh aye yes aye

:

you see uh-huh you like to see a change uh-huh

:

aye

:

but you see they must be great that's it course Laver is great

:

oh he certainly is

:

uh-huh yeah

:

eh (pause) these are just uh just a few questions about your opinions on some eh some things eh what do you think that parents should do when their children misbehave you know how should they treat them

:

well you see I've you see I've had no bother with my two sons that's the trouble you see and they've never once had ehm a smack (interruption) you know

:

yeah they've never needed to really

:

uh-huh you see it's how your own how you've brought your own family up I think

:

yes

:

and I've never eh (pause) I know the bairns these days there there is some little villains you know

:

yes

:

they don't take no for an answer you see

:

aye

:

but eh as I say we've never once eh lifted wor hands to my two sons (unclear)

:

(unclear) they were always well behaved

:

yes mm-hm uh-huh (pause) I mean that's the way I was brought up you know

:

yes you weren't brought up sort of very strictly

:

oh my mother was eh she was strict understand but we were never ones for asking for this and that but now the bairns they get what they want their mothers are just glad to give them it you know

:

yes

:

just for peace but that's not it (interruption) you see

:

mm

:

but ehm (pause) we daresn't ask our mother for a ha'penny because we knew we couldn't get it you see as I say times was hard but eh (pause) my sons have never wanted for anything you know I mean I've always kept them eh they've always getten something you know I mean they're not eh (pause) they've had as much as the next eh bairn you know but eh no I've had no bother a at least my neighbour can eh say that uh-huh

:

aye

:

they've never even once stepped in that woman's back garden

:

yes

:

uh-huh but eh (pause) as I say now the bairns'll just jump in your gardens and (pause) uh-huh

:

eh (pause) going on to something different and this is a a question you don't have to answer if you don't want because some people don't eh which way do you vote

:

well I always vote Labour

:

aye

:

now I don't know why you know but my mother and father always voted Labour

:

aye

:

and eh I've often heard my mother say it's a working man's vote you see

:

yes

:

and we're only ehm (pause) ordinary people and working class people and I think that's only

:

aye and you think it's proper to vote for that party yes

:

yes uh-huh now I've got a sister she's the other side you know

:

aye

:

mm-hm at least her husband's independent course he was a councillor you see and he got in (laughter) but that's down the Midlands

:

mm yes

:

uh-huh yes do you see that's eh I don't know why but that's just I always vote Labour uh-huh I don't understand the politics you know uh-huh

:

yes do you always eh do you always vote you know in every election like (interruption) do you vote government elections

:

every time every time mm-hm

:

yes

:

yes ever since I was able to vote mm-hm

:

yes eh (pause) well now if we could just eh go on to talk for a bit about what we are most interested in like that's the way you talk and that you know what you think about it

:

yes

:

eh firstly do you think that you ever change the way you speak according to you know the person you're talking to or the company you're in

:

mm-hm ehm yes sometimes uh-huh

:

in what sort of in what sort of situations

:

well I mean I'm not eh swanky (laughter) you know

:

aye

:

but if I think I can talk eh you know better y I'm a Geordie you understand

:

aye uh-huh

:

uh-huh but I'm I always let the odd word slip out you know

:

aye

:

I can't help it

:

yes

:

uh-huh

:

you mean you sometimes try to talk better (unclear)

:

uh-huh (unclear) not so you know uh-huh now there's my husband as I tell you he's a Londoner now if he stands talking to anybody at the door all you can hear him say is aye oh well you know it sounds terrible from a southerner you know

:

uh-huh (laughter)

:

but a Geordie it doesn't matter you see

:

aye

:

but he will say that word that's the only word aye but apart from that he's eh (pause) he's still a Londoner mm-hm mm-hm and he's been here twenty five year and he's still eh (pause) if anybody comes in they'll say oh what part of the south do you come from uh-huh yes

:

eh how would you say you were talking now are you talking pretty normally now like

:

just normal yes

:

this is the way you would talk to you know your neighbours and that

:

uh-huh mm-hm

:

ehm (pause) do you eh do you like to hear people talking in Tyneside accents you know do you like local accents

:

well eh do you know it's I think it sounds terrible

:

do you

:

mm-hm now I on the wireless I hadn't this is a new wire eh (pause) television I've been getting's got no eh sound you know no eh radio

:

yes

:

but th my last one you could get the Radio Newcastle

:

mm

:

now it used to take us from shops to shops and when I heard some of the women oh dear me I thought dear God you know

:

(laughter) uh-huh

:

you know it sounds te you know y I mean you can talk eh proper in a way but oh dear me if if you had heard some of them I'm sure they would if they had heard their self I'm sure

:

aye

:

they'd say never that's never me you know

:

yes I think everybody says (interruption) that though

:

now my son had a tape recorder the first tape recorder he had well I know I'm not much of a singer (laughter)

:

(laughter)

:

but one day I thought oh I'll have a try and I was singing now we had a budgie used to stand in that eh (pause) oh and the budgie was on at it all the time you know but eh (pause) and then he caught him one day talking but eh it didn't sound eh

:

it didn't sound like (interruption) him did it

:

no no

:

but eh you know do you think the way you talk is sort of all right you know I mean

:

not really

:

mm you even disapprove of that a bit do you

:

uh-huh uh-huh now you know when I'm down the south I thought to myself if could only meet a Geordie you know

:

oh aye yes

:

that's you see

:

aye

:

uh-huh that's the eh the way but you see that's why I don't like to I wouldn't go down there

:

aye

:

you see I'm sure I'll get a sore throat down there without uh-huh with not speaking uh-huh

:

yes

:

oh yes I I think if you're in your own eh (pause) mm-hm (unclear) I don't talk very much down there at all you know I mean I now his sister understands you know

:

do you usually yes

:

but there's a lot of Londoners don't they don't understand uh-huh

:

that's very interesting do you usually feel that ehm you you get on better with the people who talk like you you know if somebody talks like you do you think you'll get on better

:

oh I think so yes uh-huh mm-hm

:

mm (unclear)

:

but I mind I've heard some nice people talk you know uh-huh

:

mm

:

I mean it's no I mean eh it's no good talking any other is it

:

oh no

:

you know but I I mean I not ehm (pause) at least I hope I'm understa (pause) you know eh people can understand what I'm talking about

:

oh yes

:

but eh now I've got a a cousin's eh eh son my cousin's son and he's a folk singer you know

:

oh yes

:

I don't know whether you've heard of him Bob Davenport

:

oh yes yes I have (interruption) yes

:

do you

:

yes

:

well he's my cousin's son

:

oh I see I never knew that

:

uh-huh you see now he's a Geordie singer

:

oh aye he is

:

uh-huh now we always wanted my mother to sing some Geordie songs you know

:

aye

:

because eh she was a nice singer and she knew all these butter cushyfield and all these eh kind of songs now eh my eh now which way'll I say it my uncle's father's brother that's the way I can say it

:

(laughter)

:

was Geordie Ridley you know

:

oh yes gan and see Geordie Ridley's show uh-huh

:

uh-huh yes

:

in the Mechanics Hall in Blaydon

:

mm-hm uh-huh in fact I've got a photo I I I don't just suppose I can put my hands on it just now but eh my uncle was taken with the cup you know with the Newcastle

:

aye

:

course he died my uncle but eh that's the

:

so you're a a very Geordie family

:

uh-huh yes uh-huh uh-huh

:

you know ehm you know the way the newsreaders speak on television

:

yes

:

when they're reading the news out do you think ehm do you think that's a nice way to speak you know do you approve of that sort of (pause) voice

:

well now I'll tell you who I do like and it's Michael Neville Mike Neville

:

oh aye uh-huh

:

now I really do and George House they're my kind of they're my kind of newscasters you know

:

uh-huh yeah

:

uh-huh because they're they can talk nice

:

aye

:

and they can talk Geordie

:

yeah what about you know do you know eh Robert Dougal

:

oh yes

:

he's a aye do you think do you think he's very different from Mike Neville

:

oh much mm-hm mm-hm

:

yes what do you think more posh

:

yes definitely uh-huh

:

but you prefer Mike Neville

:

oh more homely

:

aye

:

uh-huh oh he's my kinda (pause) man him

:

(laughter)

:

in fact he makes me laugh you know

:

aye (laughter)

:

I always turn over Mike Neville

:

aye mm-hm

:

uh-huh uh-huh he in fact he doesn't have to he doesn't have to say anything that lad

:

aye

:

for me (laughter) uh-huh yeah

:

aye do you know anybody yourself who talks you know like the newsreaders do do you

:

well as I say my husband's a nice talker you know uh-huh

:

yes do you think he yes

:

but not ehm well he does he's I mean he's not a he's not a Cockney you know

:

aye yes he's aye

:

you see he's a Londoner uh-huh I mean he can go anywhere you know

:

yes does he sound the same as Robert Dougal

:

oh no no I wouldn't say that

:

no not quite the same as that no

:

but eh but as I say he's been up here twenty five year but he will say that word aye you see (laughter)

:

eh (pause) what eh what would you say about my accent from listening to it now you know what sort of accent do you think I've got

:

well eh (laughter) I know you're you're from the north

:

aye you would be able to tell that even if I hadn't told you

:

yes but eh you're eh (pause) a decent talker you know what I mean

:

aye

:

uh-huh

:

do you think I talk like you or

:

well I can ta I can talk to you I know that

:

aye

:

I mean I under (pause) uh-huh

:

yes (pause) eh

:

we'll say you're one of the posh talkers we'll say that eh

:

oh (unclear) (laughter)

:

you know what I mean

:

do you think so I mean

:

you're yes I'm uh-huh

:

but but recognisably Tyneside

:

oh yes definitely mm-hm yes

:

eh (pause) well ehm now I'm just going to read out this list of words and they're all sort of fairly local words you know I would just like to know for each one eh firstly if you're familiar with it and secondly if you use it right

:

uh-huh

:

eh aside for beside

:

aside

:

uh-huh do you say it's just aside the fire

:

just aside uh-huh

:

bairn little bairn

:

yes bairn I always say bairn (laughter)

:

bait

:

bait uh-huh

:

eh bonny

:

bonny

:

aye eh bray

:

bray

:

uh-huh

:

yes a smack you mean (laughter)

:

do y do you use it

:

yes

:

eh bullets

:

bullets well ehm I wouldn't say I use it now

:

no but you would when you were little

:

but then but I know (unclear) little yes sweets

:

clamming

:

hunger (laughter)

:

do you use that now do you say I'm clamming

:

sometimes yes uh-huh

:

coin

:

coin coin a corner I heard that the other day on the bus and I hadn't heard it for ages

:

oh aye yes

:

it was said by a kiddie you know (unclear) on the bus oh uh-huh coin a corner well oh it's funny isn't it

:

cree

:

cree

:

aye

:

pigeons pigeon cree aye

:

fettle

:

fettle uh-huh

:

gully

:

gully knife (laughter)

:

do you do you use that

:

no I don't but I know what uh-huh yes

:

howk

:

yes hoyk aye I know

:

to mean like to give somebody a good howking

:

ho hoyking uh-huh

:

hoyking

:

like a like a smack you know isn't it uh-huh

:

lowe

:

eh a lowe

:

uh-huh give us a lowe for a light or a flame you know

:

oh I've never heard no never heard that one

:

it is pretty rare like

:

is it uh-huh uh-huh

:

(unclear) mense be more to your mense to get some work done

:

aye uh-huh

:

do you use that

:

no I don't use it like

:

parky

:

yes

:

about your (interruption) food

:

because my son is parky yes

:

varnigh

:

varnigh oh I use that (laughter) varnigh yeah I use that

:

what about ehm knooled to be knooled

:

no I don't think so no

:

it means to be henpecked or kept down

:

oh no I don't use that no no I haven't got a henpecked husband (laughter) so maybe that's how I don't use it (laughter)

:

eh now eh more or less on the same lines I'm going to read out eh a list of sentences and for each one I would like to know eh whether it sounds okay to you you know whether it sounds like something you might say if the circumstances arose you know what I mean

:

yes

:

ehm eh (pause) were you wakened last night when I came in

:

aye uh-huh

:

I was still abed when you called this morning

:

uh-huh

:

he never gave us any

:

something like that uh-huh

:

do you not go there very often do you think you would say that

:

oh (pause) well (pause) no

:

you don't think so no ehm (pause) they're useless them

:

aye (laughter)

:

me and John went to the races on Saturday

:

no I no

:

eh

:

at least but I divn't go do you know uh-huh uh-huh

:

I might could manage it

:

aye (laughter)

:

he wouldn't could have worked even if you had asked him

:

uh-huh

:

it's ower big to get through there

:

uh-huh

:

you think you would you say that

:

I don't think so

:

no you would say it's too big you know my cousin that her husband died

:

yes

:

yeah ehm (pause) ehm (pause) eh (pause) with the wife being ill I had to stay in and look after her

:

uh-huh

:

I'm going to stay with the son for the holidays

:

well I

:

with the son

:

mind I say aye well it all depends doesn't it really of eh (pause) I haven't got to that stage yet you know you see I mean the he's just he's not married yet I don't know I think the

:

they go to the pictures of a Sunday

:

well I don't like but eh

:

would you say of a Sunday

:

oh I don't think so

:

on a Sunday would you say

:

oh you mean the the way I speak

:

yes

:

oh yes on a Sunday

:

you say on a Sunday

:

on a Sunday

:

here she had left her pram standing outside the shop

:

aye (laughter)

:

I think I think we're going to be soon for the pictures

:

uh-huh

:

would you mind stop talking

:

well I have said that before (laughter)

:

eh (pause) do you want a cup of tea making

:

often I say that (laughter)

:

you know him that used to work on the railways

:

oh I do know him (laughter)

:

he happened a nasty accident

:

aye I've heard that aye I've said that before uh-huh

:

I'll put the kettle on for to make some tea

:

uh-huh

:

I wanted for to talk to you about it

:

aye

:

when did it happen you

:

ah yes

:

I've got money belonging him

:

well I would say that

:

could you mind your head so as I can see out the back

:

yes I have said that (laughter)

:

I'm going to get some wool for our Pamela a jumper

:

uh-huh

:

it's all right for you you're used with it do you say used with it

:

yes (laughter)

:

we've been waiting of a bus

:

ee ah I say that every day

:

I think they're going to give him the job permanent

:

mm-hm

:

yes I don't bother much about the television and that

:

oh well I I mean I bother like but that's what I would say aye yes that's the way uh-huh (unclear)

:

there was all these bottles of beer what we had brought

:

mm-hm

:

yes many people were there there

:

yes

:

where did you get it at

:

yes

:

never mind I'll manage but

:

yes (laughter)

:

no the wonder I couldn't get it to work it's not plugged in no the wonder

:

no wonder yes I say that

:

you say no wonder

:

no wonder I say

:

eh (pause) me and George is going to the town today

:

yes

:

Jack didn't think much to the race

:

of the race

:

you wouldn't say that

:

no

:

all the caravan sites are good and I've stayed on them nearly all

:

yes uh-huh

:

they'd not seen it

:

no no I don't say that

:

you'd say they hadn't seen it

:

aye I've heard that eh talk that what you said

:

they'd not seen it

:

uh-huh they usually say that at ehm through Durham you know that's the way they talk uh-huh yes

:

that's interesting yes but you would normally say they hadn't seen it

:

I wouldn't say uh-huh I call that eh pit eh pit people

:

aye yes

:

they talk like that like eh (unclear) because I I've got a sister they talk like that you know they

:

I see yes

:

but I wouldn't ehm

:

it's far too long this

:

uh-huh yes

:

how's your wife and family then

:

uh-huh

:

Joe can't come tomorrow being as he's working late

:

yes

:

what is it he does for a living

:

yes

:

he wants his wages paid immediately

:

uh-huh

:

just light the fire on will you

:

yes

:

I'll clout yous both in a minute

:

uh-huh (laughter)

:

how much have they offered we

:

for petrol

:

aye

:

uh-huh

:

pass us one of them spanners

:

yes

:

I've broke a plate

:

uh-huh

:

I come this morning but you weren't in

:

yes

:

he done it all right

:

yes

:

I had forgetten to buy the onions

:

uh-huh often (laughter)

:

he give us a pound for doing it

:

yes

:

we had went to the coast for the day

:

yes

:

I seen Albert on Tuesday

:

yes

:

I'm not going to stand being tret like that

:

uh-huh

:

that's what happens when you be naughty

:

uh-huh

:

I'll probably see him a Saturday

:

yes

:

I doubt he'll have to stay in hospital for a long time

:

yes

:

you've letten him get away

:

uh-huh

:

my mother's keep coming in to see us

:

yes

:

we'll sharp get this done

:

mm-hm

:

he's as Tyneside as what I am

:

yes

:

you used to sweep the floor and us used to wash the dishes

:

yes (laughter) (unclear)