Wednesday, 2 December 2009

ITR - Dick Clark 80th Birthday - Mr. American Bandstand - ITR-WCT-Jeanie Black LA USA

From:

Jeanie Black - ITR West Coast Team California USA

WoW!!! Am I On the Friend List Or Just the Forward List?! Dunno!!!

Greetings, Again!!!

I so enjoyed meeting all of you yesterday in Honour of DICK CLARK & 'AMERICAN BANDSTAND' at the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

Thanks To All Of You for the years of Entertainment & the joy watching all of you on AMERICAN BANDSTAND with DICK CLARK!!!

It Was 'DICK CLARK DAY' Officially Monday here in Hollywood on the 'Walk Of Fame' ~ Sunset & Vine Streets in Celebration of Dick Clark's 80th BIRTHDAY at a 'STAR ReDedication Ceremony' held at Dick's own 'Star'.

So-o-o many loving friends, family & local dignitaries wishing Dick a Beautiful 80th Birthday.

Thanks to Kathleen ITR - Spokecane, Washington & Leila ITR - Toronto, Canada for assisting me in getting the 'Word' out originally.

This is what InTouchRadio (ITR) is all about - networking our world together as One not just Locally but Globally!

Here are my photos built into the Blog by Michael ITR-UK hope you enjoy them.

More to follow soon.

PEACE
Love To All Of You Out There In TV/Radio Land.

Jeanie Black ^_^
ITR - WCT - LA - USA

HAPPY

80th

BIRTHDAY

DICK CLARK!!!

Mr. American Bandstand

11/30/2009

Dick Clark, is affectionately known as "America's Oldest Teenager," and celebrated his 80th birthday on November 30th.

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

(Debbi McKay Won a Contest in 1975 Which Awarded Her a Trip. Upon Her Return, She Was Asked To Appear On AMERICAN BANDSTAND In Las Vegas With DICK CLARK At the Old Thunderbird Through 1978!!!)

In 2005, Clark returned to his Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking' Eve special after missing the 2004 broadcast, due to a minor stroke which forced him to skip his first broadcast in 32 years.

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

Clark will once again be back in Times Square this year, along with co-host Ryan Seacrest, to ring in 2010. Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve airs on December 31st at on ABC. Check your local listings for stations and times.

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

(Left On the Sidewalk Holding the American Bandstand Jacket Is Bunny Gibson,

Former Dancer On the Broadcast. To the Right Of the Group Photo Is Hal Landeau, Former Dancer & President Of the American Bandstand Alumni. Bunny Will Have To Identify the Other Two Dancers)

Barry Manilow, one of Clark's many longtime friends and supporters, was proud of Clark's quick return to the airwaves following his stroke: "When one of those things hit, they stop you, and he's a real trooper. He's a real trooper. He'd much rather be up there producing this thing than sitting there and I think he was a real trooper."

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

Clark has played a significant role in helping shape the way America listens to and sees music. Clark was born in Mount Vernon, New York and started his career at age 17 working in radio. By 1952, he was on the air, hosting the Caravan Of Music, a local radio show in Philadelphia. At the time, the station's television affiliate had a teenage dance show called Bandstand, and in 1956, at the age of 26, Dick Clark took over as permanent host of the show.

With Clark's magnetic personality and love of music, the show became the highest rated program in its time slot in the Philadelphia area. These ratings led to the show being picked up by the ABC television network, who distributed it nationally in August 1957 as American Bandstand. The show became wildly popular with teenagers, who finally had an outlet to dance to the newest music and see some of the biggest acts perform live on the show.

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

(Bunny Gibson, Tom Dante, & Mrs. Dick Clark ~ Vine & Sunset In Hollywood, California ~ 30th November, 2009)

Over the course of the show's 30 years, artists who performed on American Bandstand included Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, the Beach Boys, Chubby Checker, Dion & the Belmonts, Buddy Holly, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, the Monkees, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson Five, the Doors, Donna Summer, Hall & Oates, John Cougar Mellencamp, Madonna, and literally hundreds of others.

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

(Tom LeBonge & Mrs. Dick Clark, Pat Clark, Their Son & Dancers & Musicians From AMERICAN BANDSTAND)

In 1964, American Bandstand moved to Los Angeles, where it would remain until 1989 when the show was canceled. It was in Los Angeles that Clark established Dick Clark Productions, which over the years has produced everything from music shows, including the American Music Awards, to sitcoms and game shows like the $10,000 Pyramid.

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

(David Sommerville of the DIAMONDS Recalling How Most Musical Careers Were Launched On AMERICAN BANDSTAND Because "DICK CLARK Gave People A CHANCE"...He Didn't Go Through Attorneys & Agents; If You Were Good & He Saw That Potential, You Got To Appear On AMERICAN BANDSTAND!!!)

In 1993, Clark was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer.

American Bandstand became one of television's longest running music series, and the first network series devoted exclusively to rock-and-roll music. A few years ago, Clark explained how much the music scene has improved since the 1950s: "Oh, music is a heck of a lot better these days than it ever was because there's so much choice. In the old days, we got what was delivered to us and the one radio station played everything. Now you can tune to a specific format and get exactly what you want when you want it."

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

(

(Everyone Is Happy Celebrating DICK CLARK DAY Officially In Hollywood Today ~ DICK CLARK's 80th BIRTHDAY Today ~ 30th November, 2009)

Over the course of the show's 30 years, with the earlier years broadcast from Philadelphia, some of the local artists who guested dozens of times included Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Chubby Checker, and Fabian.

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

(City Councilman For Hollywood, Tom LeBonge With Dick Clark's Wife Announcing Officially That Dick Clark's 80th Birthday Is DICK CLARK DAY In L.A. (30th November, 2009) At Dick's Star ReDedication On Vine At Sunset On the Hollywood Walk Of FAME)

Chubby Checker says the importance of Dick Clark and American Bandstand should never be overlooked or underestimated: "I went on Bandstand in Philadelphia and sang 'The Twist,' and the world changed that very moment, never to be the same again. American Bandstand is your first MTV, your American Bandstand is your first VH1, your American Bandstand is everything that dancing has become. I always say that Dick Clark's success is Chubby Checker's success. Why is that? Because history took place right on Bandstand and then dancing changed forever, and it never went back to where it was."

Bobby Rydell says that Dick Clark had an uncanny knack of being able to pick his hit singles: "Before 'Kissin' Time' came out, Bernie Lowe, the owner of the company would take dubs of my first three recordings and Dick would listen to them and he would say, 'No, it's not in the grooves.' And finally Bernie Lowe brought the dub down of kissin' Time' and Dick played the record and Dick said, 'This is a hit.' And then the record came out, Dick started playing it, y'know, on his TV show -- on Bandstand -- and the response to that it immediate!"

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

(Bunny Gibson, Pat Clark, Mrs. Dick Clark, Tom Dante, David Sommerville, Tom LeBonge, Maria Gonzales, Hal Landau, DebbiMcKay Diaz, & Other Dancers, Council Associates & Musicians)

Fabian remembered that auditioning for the host of American Bandstand was a somewhat intimidating experience: "Dick was a, and still is, a very interesting guy. He wouldn't let just anybody on his show, you know, so you had to go for an interview with him first. And he had to hear the record and he played it right in front of you (laughs) and then you would get the OK or you wouldn't get the OK. And I was so young, I didn't know what all that meant, but I do now, and he was very excited and I guess there was something about me that he liked."

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

(Don't They Look FABULOUS?! Louie Novoa, Lisette St. Claire ~ "Disco Liz" ~ Debbi McKay (Diaz), & Somebody Please Tell Me the Name Of the Beautiful Lady On the Right!!!)

Some time ago, Clark said that he's proud to have been part of so many people's New Year's memories: "I've always felt very honored to be connected with people's New Years because in all honesty, it's like being invited to somebody's Bar Mitzvah or wedding -- it's a very experience.

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

(This Is the Majority Of the Gathering Representing 'AMERICAN BANDSTAND', Including DICK CLARK's Wife & Son, PAT CLARK & Musicians & Dancers Who Appeared On His Broadcast Throughout Its' History On Television!!! Others included: Louie Novoa, Lisette St. Claire, Linda Gonzales, Who Requested the ReDedication CeremonyMarking Dick Clark's 80th Birthday Today & Dick Clark Day Officially In L.A., Dave Sommerville of the DIAMONDS, Bunny Gibson, Ron Dante, Lead Singer of the ARCHIES & Debbie McKay (Diaz), With Hal Landau& City Councilman For Hollywood, Tom LeBonge!!!)

(American Bandstand dancer, Bunny Gibson, talks about Dick Clark, Philadelphia music & dancing on Bandstand. Including footage from the 50th celebration of American Bandstand's first national broadcast.)

Thanks to "One call to City Hall" go to Linda D. Gonzalez for making November 30th officially Dick Clark Day!!! There was a celebration today as a "star" for the legend was "re-planted" on Sunset and Vine in honor of his 80th birthday and his great contribution to bringing many now famous musical artists into the limelight.

Photo Jeanie Black ITR - WCT California USA

(This Is a Reproduced Photo Of the Gathering 2 Weeks Ago For Dick Clark's Party Commemorating His 80th Birthday ~ 30th November 2009)

InTouchRadio.net

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InTouchRadio.net

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Thursday, 19 November 2009

ITR - Cash Back Scams - Awareness Blog / JB ITR-WestCoastTeam California USA

Michael Dixon - Founder ITR UK & Global

Disclaimer:

As with all redistributed content sent into InTouchRadio.net (ITR) we cannot be held responsible for the content accuracy. We simply pass on as requested in Good Faith. No member of ITR Globally extends an opinion on behalf of ITR-UK or Global not matter what or where their sympathies lay.

Michael Dixon
Founder
InTouchRadio.net

Just in from America - via ITR- (West Coast Team) Hollywood California to ITR-UK for FWD & Distribution.

Be Aware at All Times your CC - Debit Card & Any Bank Cards that may accept Cash out.

Thank you V comment that Credit Cards generally don't offer Cash-Back, this may not apply in other countries.

If this Blog servers no other purpose than to make Us All Aware and not to Assume then this is sufficient enough for the following to be posted.

Michael
ITR-UK & Global

Please Get into the Habit

of

Checking Your Receipts

Before You Walk Out Of Any Store

OR

Before you Leave the Cash Register/Till

Especially with Holidays Coming Up

It happened at Wal-Mart (Supercenter Store #1279, 10411 N Freeway 45,
Houston, TX 77037 a month ago.

I bought a bunch of stuff, over $150, & I glanced at my receipt as the cashier was handing me the bags. I saw a cash-back of $40. I told her I didn't request a cash back & to delete it.

She said I'd have to take the $40 because she couldn't delete it.

I told her to call a supervisor.

Supervisor came & said I'd have to take it.

I said NO!

Taking the $40 would be a cash advance against my Discover (Card) & I wasn't paying interest on a cash advance!!!!!

If they couldn't delete it then they would have to delete the whole order. So the supervisor had the
cashier delete the whole order & re-scan everything!

The second time I looked at the electronic pad before I signed & a cash-back of $20 popped up.

At that point I told the cashier & she deleted it.

The total came out right.

The cashier agreed that the electronic pad must be defective.

Obviously the cashier knew the electronic pad was defective because she NEVER offered me the $40 at the beginning.

Can you imagine how many people went through before me & at the end of her shift how much money she pocketed?

Just to alert everyone.

My co worker went to Milford, DE Wal-Mart last week. She had her items rung up by the cashier. The cashier hurried her along and didn't give her a receipt.

She asked the cashier for a receipt and the cashier was annoyed and gave it to her.

My co worker didn't look at her receipt until later that night.

The receipt showed that she asked for $20 cash back!

SHE DID NOT ASK FOR CASH BACK!

My co-worker called Wal-Mart who investigated but could not see the cashier pocket the money. She then called her niece who works for the bank and her niece told her this. This is a new scam going on. The cashier will key in that you asked for cash back and then hand it to her friend who is the next person in line.

Please, please, please check your receipts right away when using credit or debit cards! This is NOT limited to Wal-Mart, although they are the largest retailer so they have the most incidents.

I am adding to this.

My husband and I were in Wal-Mart North Salisbury and paying with credit card when my husband went to sign the credit card signer he just happen to notice there was a $20 cash back added.

He told the cashier that he did not ask nor want cash back and she said this machine has been messing up and she cancelled it.

We really didn't think anything of it until we read this email.

I wonder how many people have been, or will be, "stung" by this one????

To make matters worse ...

THIS SCAM CAN BE DONE ANYWHERE, AT ANY RETAIL OR WHOLESALE LOCATION!!!

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Is Non-Profit-Making

Unfunded

&

Relies Solely on
Your Support

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Donations

Advertising
&
Sponsorship

If you donate – no matter how small it will help us survive and you will have done something positive to help us bring our world that little bit closer.

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www.intouchradio.net

If you wish to help as part of the InTouchRadio.net Family

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Tell
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Your
InTouchRadio.net
Team

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If you wish to join the ITR Global Network Team
Mail to studio@intouchradio.net

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Saturday, 18 July 2009

ITR - The Big Green Gathering Poster & ITR Notes - Michael Dixon ITR-UK & Global

Michael Dixon - Founder
InTouchRadio.net UK

The Big Green Gathering

2009

Looking forward to meeting you all there - come on over to Press and say hello.

Not one to miss - grab a ticket while you can.

Enjoy a great and green festival I'm sure you'll meet lots of old friends there - just like me...

Look out for Gabriel and Shrimp from FestivalImage.com you could be in one of his amazing photos.

See if you can spot the furry wizard with his camcorder simply known as Viziondanz from InfinitePossibility.org and Gungho Media - be part of his amazing video shoots.

You may just get the chance to see Virgilio Fino from UseYourEars.com the largest music website in the world - he's always checking out the bands and takes some great shots too.

Steve Benton from Parallel PR should be shuffling around keeping a low profile doing his brilliant PR stuff - what is PR sure he'll tell you if you can seek him out - he may be with Kerry and Immy

You see this is just a few of the media crew - just like one big family and that's the way I like it and the ethos of InTouchRadio.net continues as one big family there to help each other - so it might be for ITR (InTouchRadio.net) or Gungho or Infinite Possibility or Parallel PR or Festival Image - either way we'll be working together to help make The Big Green Gathering well Big and Green I guess.

I do hope you make it on top of the Mendips and that little bit closer to heaven.

Lots of Love
Michael x
ITR - UK & Global

InTouchRadio.net survives on Donations & Advertising

If you donate - no matter how small it will help us survive and you will have done something positive to help us bring our world that little bit closer.

You can donate online here
www.intouchradio.net

If you can help as part of the InTouchRadio.net Family

then contact me and let me know your ideas.

Tell
Your Friends

Your
InTouchRadio.net
Team

For World Distribution
If you wish to join the ITR Global Network Team
Mail to studio@intouchradio.net
If you have any News or Information that needs sharing Globally please contact Michael - blogs@intouchradio.net

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Sunday, 12 July 2009

ITR - Toronto Garbage Strike Update CBC News - Leila ITR-Canada

Leila - InTouchRadio.net - Toronto Canada

Toronto politicians optimistic garbage strike will end soon

Miller issues stern warning over dumping

Last Updated: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 | 12:13 PM ET Comments774 Recommend154

CBC News

Bags of garbage pile up outside one of Toronto's transfer stations. CUPE workers went on strike on Monday to back demands for a new contract. (Lorenda Reddekopp/CBC)As garbage continued to pile up in Toronto's streets amid widespread illegal dumping, the city's top politicians said Tuesday they were still optimistic they could soon reach an agreement with striking municipal workers.

Garbage bins across the city have been stuffed with trash. Most are now filled to overflowing.

Tuesday is usually the first day of regular garbage pickup in Toronto — and the city has asked residents to keep trash in their homes for at least a week before trying to dispose of it.

But some people wouldn't wait.

Garbage bins have been crammed full, and green garbage bags filled with trash are starting to pile up on the streets.

Mayor David Miller pleaded with the city's residents not to make the situation worse.

These members of Friends of Christie Pits Park in Toronto point out the garbage left uncollected from a weekend festival. They worry if it isn't cleaned up it might encourage others to dump their garbage in the park. (Jean Carter/CBC News)"It is becoming clear that there is a small group of people that are taking advantage of this strike to use Toronto as their personal dumping ground," he told reporters at a Tuesday news conference.

"This is not and should not be acceptable to any of us. I would ask people to be patient."

That the striking workers and the city are negotiating is "a good sign," said Miller.

But Mark Ferguson, president of CUPE Local 416, which represents outdoor workers, said Monday the two sides were still "miles apart" from a deal.

Those remarks didn't appear to dampen the spirits of city manager Joe Pennachetti, who also appeared at the news conference. Echoing comments he made Monday, Pennachetti said he's "optimistic" that a deal can soon be struck with workers.

He did not speculate on when the two sides might find common ground.

Additional garbage dropoff stations will be opened "shortly" if an agreement isn't reached soon, Pennachetti said. He did not specify when the city would open these new stations.

Residents can take their garbage to any of three transfer stations. But once they get there, some are finding it isn't easy to just dump their trash.

On Tuesday morning at the Ingram transfer station near Keele Street and Ingram Drive, in the city's west end, people were being told there's a three-bag limit.

Striking CUPE workers milling about at the entrance won't give any help, though some are directing people where to put their trash.

Some residents who were blocked from driving into the stations had to lug their refuse in on foot.

Those who left their bags at the gate were handed $380 tickets for illegal dumping.

Striking worker hit

Meanwhile, tensions between striking employees and one driver boiled over Tuesday afternoon. A worker picketing outside City Hall was hit by a motorist trying to enter the building's parking garage.

Const. Tony Vella told the Toronto Star the driver had been harassing the workers and "tried to push the man out of the way with his vehicle."

The man who was hit didn't need hospital treatment and the driver hasn't been charged.

The driver denied culpability in the incident, telling Citytv News that "nothing happened."

Businesses upset

Many Toronto business owners are upset that the job of trash collection is falling on their shoulders.

Tony Viera, who runs a fruit and vegetable store in Kensington Market, says the last garbage strike in 2002 was a major hassle.

"We had to take [the garbage] to a transfer station and we had to wait in line like four or five hours just to get rid of our garbage," he said.

Ha Chow, who also runs a store in the neighbourhood, says the growing piles of trash are a real nuisance.

"Smells," said Ha. "Too much garbage. Very dirty."

Striking City of Toronto workers picket at a garbage transfer station in Toronto on Monday. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)Ha says her business has private garbage collection, but that won't solve the problem for others in the neighbourhood.

It also appears that Torontonians should be prepared for some more disappointments.

Canada Day events threatened

The city's annual Pride Parade will go ahead this weekend, but deputy city manager Sue Cork said Monday that if the strike continues "all city-run Canada Day events" on July 1 will be cancelled.

Toronto tourism officials were hoping to attract more out-of-towners to the city's many festivals this summer, as well as keeping locals at home this year.

But with the threat of cancellations and garbage piling up, they now fear people may just opt to get out of town.

The strike has also closed 57 city-run child-care centres and several other city programs.

About 24,000 inside and outside workers — virtually the entire municipal civil service — walked off the job Monday, frustrated by six months of negotiations that they say have gone nowhere.

The issues standing in the way of a new contract include job security, seniority and a bitterly contested proposal by the city to scrap employees' ability to bank sick days and cash them out at retirement.

Labels: InTouchRadio

ITR- North Yorkshire Trip Day #4 - Michael Dixon ITR-UK & GLOBAL

Michael Dixon - Founder ITR-UK & GLOBAL

NORTH YORKSHIRE
DAY #4
'Lord Stones Cafe'
(High Above Carlton-in-Cleveland)
'Yarm'
&
'Teeside Park'
Day #4 in North Yorkshire & Cleveland started somewhat differently than the other days in as much as a change in the weather - from the violent thunderstorms that radiated around the NE yesterday cooling the overheated weather pattern that had hung tight to the British Isles, we awoke to a cooler start with a freshness in the air and evidence of night rain still showing on the open window of Room 203 at the Bluebell.
After spinning through endless photos that I'd taken the day before and editing them to an up-loadable size I managed to get them and the blog up around 8.30am after rising at some ungodly hour knowing we had a daily schedule to complete with Carol's family.
‘The Lord Stones Café’
(Near Carlton-in-Cleveland)

Today was going to be with Carol's brother John, and we had arranged since arriving, to call in at a very unusual, very special and very hidden little cafe/restaurant known as the Lord Stones Café, which is apt considering its closeness to, what I'd call Heaven on the Moors.
Exterior View Lord Stones Cafe
Photo Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
Set in a dip it is protected from the strong winds although not the rain, which usually is passing brief showers. Just a few metres away is a beautiful area of open grassland and walking routes with walks going off and deep into the Moors or for those with such incline rock climbing and paragliding and many other physical activities. Often the army will be seen training up here due to its remoteness.
Interestingly John, Carol's brother, had never yet visited Lord Stones Café and yet he and his family only live a few miles away (but it was a regular for Carol's mother and late father) - that's how hidden it the Lord Stones Café can appear to be - but I would hasten to add - should you visit on a weekend in summer get there early as possible as it fills very quickly with locals and visitors, walkers - hikers - bikers and the a-likers - it is built out of the living local rock and sits on the edge of the escarpment where the North Yorkshire Moors fall in a rapid descent to meet the sea some distance away.
John W. Simpson & Staff Member owner Lord Stones Cafe
Photo Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
The owner is John W. Simpson who has been there for many years and who's age defies his looks, although I never quite managed to get John to divulge - just to say that he looks good and the daily working in such a remote location, I suspect, keeps him very fit.
The food is typical of Yorkshire hospitality - good, an amount to fill the biggest appetite, nicely prepared and served - Yorkshire people expect and they get and with a returnable reputation that has been built with those that have once tried often return it is easy to understand.
Interior Lord Stones Cafe
Photo Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
I am amazed at how John and his lovely ladies manage to keep the place so clean in such a tough environment. We arrived in heavy storm-like conditions and John was at the door welcoming us in while sweeping out the intruding water.
Interior Lord Stones Cafe
Photo Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
The inside of the Lord Stones Café is very much like entering a normal room but it is a room, as previously mentioned, carved from living rock, which may have been a cave further excavated to make the café with what appears to be stalactites coming down from the ceiling and fossils all around.
There are daily papers supplied to read and to my regret I forgot to take my free Motorcycle magazines I was going to take home for my friend Karl an avid motorcyclist of many years.
John W. Simpson owner Lord Stones Cafe
Photo Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
After a great and hearty breakfast I spoke to John who was telling me the story and issues with, I believe, local government and Ordinance Survey and how through European control has, in effect, wiped the Lord Stones off the original maps... more of this as John is going to send down Blogs regarding this matter.
What John told me was astonishing, but, not out of the bounds of plausibility given the current state of UK politics and the amount of under-hand covert movements that are denied common knowledge hidden in secret handshakes and who knows-who! Watch this space - a story that will interest many of you.
View from Lord Stones Cafe Road
Photo Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
The Lord Stones Café is one not to miss and please say that you heard this on theInTouchRadio.net blogs.
‘Yarm’
The weather cleared very quickly and we left on our journey to Yarm briefly stopping to take some distant photos showing the view from Lord Stones Café.
Yarm High Street - North Yorkshire
Photo Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
Winding our way down the steep narrow road back through Carlton-in-Cleveland, John guided us on a cross-country journey missing the main roads and taking us through some beautiful villages. I must add here that even the most isolated villages and roads are so neatly kept, clean with grass cut on the sides of roads - the rest of the UK could take note of this.
The road that runs into Yarm is not an easy road coming down hill where two roads merge – depending on the time of day it can take a while to get through.
Once in the long and wide high street of Yarm you will notice parking on both sides of the road with neatly laid out parking – usually near full – so keep a watchful eye out on both sides for a space.
Yarm High Street - Showing Parking Zones
Photo Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
Once parked, Yarm like many of the North Yorkshire villages, operate on a free Disc Parking System whereby one must display the parking disc in the window with the arrival time and the usual permitted stay is 2 hours. This beats southern parking and we southerners could learn a lot with our over-charged wheel-clamped society that we have become.
In fact Yorkshire seems to have learned that when villages need business they need to be able to have free parking especially in these credit crunching times.
Yarm High Street Disc Parking
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
Yarm is similar to Northallerton and Stokesley – where Northallerton has Barker’s and Betty’s Tea Rooms Yarm has The House with imposing steps leading up from the high street by the main crossing with The House more in league with fashion with its own café.
The House - Yarm High Street
Photo Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
There are the usual shops lining each side of the road covering normal town needs from supermarket to chemist and all in between including a good watch shop, which I ventured into as I had a request for one of the Omega catalogues.
Passageway leading to Viaduct Yarm
Photo Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
At the other end of Yarm is a bridge which carries the railway lines and while I stood by one of the many passageways I saw a long goods train that seemed to go on forever till finally the last wagon clattered overhead on, I believe, a viaduct system.
Running adjacent to the high street is the River Tees – just follow one of the passages down to the river and it’s possible to catch a boat trip or walk along the riverbank and see the amazing architecture of the bridges. The river, it appears, often floods, as there are floodgates on the houses to stop floodwater entering. The river here winds its way down through Middlesbrough becoming a major waterway for ships before it enters the North Sea.
There are several little cafés in Yarm, with a light rain starting we opted for one we’d visited before – there was a new addition – a huge wall mounted flat screen TV which was showing the Prince of Wales at the ceremony for 7/7 in London, the outside rain and the inside ceremony briefly optimizing the emotions and holding our attention to other realities.
Coffee at €lliots - Yarm High Street
Photo Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
‘Coffee at €lliots’ I would recommend even if you are seated to the side seats rather than the luxurious leather settee and side chairs, it is small and often full and the girls dress up with a brightness for the occasion, one with her ‘flowers in her hair…’ giving a South American feel or taking us back to the halcyon days of San Francisco.
Yarm Clock - Town Hall
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
The town hall, like other towns of this size, seem to sit square in the middle of the high street and usually have some exhibition on depending the time of the season.
Lewis & Cooper - Yarm High Street
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
Lewis & Cooper is one shop not to miss, now re-located from a central position they have moved to the same side as ‘Coffee at €lliots’ further along. Here you can find an array of Yorkshire products through ranges of jams and honey and good-for-you snacks (try the Chile or Spiced Broad Beans) and do not miss their Christmas Puddings available year round (we should have purchased two – big mistake…).
‘Teeside Park’
Teeside Shopping Park
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
With time on our hands and Carol expressing that I would have liked to visit a T.K. Max if possible on our visit and knowing that it would have meant a choice of Middlesbrough town centre (could be difficult depending on time of day and busy’ness), Scarborough (miles away) or Teeside Park… there was no choice as Teeside Park was on the way home to John’s and it would only mean a brief detour over the river…
Teeside Park - Parking Cropped View
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
To say that driving into Teeside Park for the first time is easy is an under-statement. With roads merging and strangely shaped rising road bumps before traffic lights and so many lanes to get confused in I felt a slight (mmm) panic rising but with John’s help and dialogue from the back we found our way into a massive car park with all the major outlets running around the edge and I do mean massive, binoculars would have helped to see the retail outlets names on the other side…
TK Max - Teeside Park
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
Straight into a disappointing and huge air-craft hanger named T.K. Max I had hoped to find something but to be honest it was a complete let down with oversized and undersized and basic crap – let’s say that Torquay in Devon had more products than this huge whale in Teeside Park! (Forgive me those that visit this establishment – better you go too Middlesbrough or Scarborough than here…).
John, by this time had sloped off to Curry’s looking for a home appliance and I opted to visit PC World knowing I had a Business account with them.
PC World - Teeside Park
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
I needed another large hard drive (sounds exotic doesn’t it…) but with large amounts of audio and video and photographic content that always has to be backed up (hence two of everything). I couldn’t believe the size of PC World – huge is an understatement, as all these outlets seemed to be huge. To stock these places must take enormous amounts of products – I was lost – dwarfed in a world of giants.
Interior - PC World - Teeside Park
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
I finally grabbed the closest member of staff and he led me to the PC World of Business and there I met a very friendly Debbi Oliver – who kindly checked out their stocks of 1 TB hard drives – unfortunately they could not price match my other Western Digital Studio’s, which I rely on – never mind I could have and now realize I should have opted for one of the other packages I was offered, I mean how much longer will be we using hard drives with the new breed of SSD’s coming in on a monthly basis (SSD – Solid State Drive – instant boot no waiting but hopelessly expensive in their post-pre new product development stage…).
Teeside Park - Parking (from centre of car park)
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
I now found myself out in the open world of space knowing I had to gain confidence and make a move to cross this great divide called a ‘car park’.
'Ello! Ello! Riot Squad...' Trainee Police Teeside Park
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
Luckily for me it was open-day for the local police force who were out in numbers – in fact so many I thought I was going to be arrested, charged, locked away – Russia would have felt safer – except – these were all trainees out from Middlesbrough University – and a nicer bunch of recruits you could ever meet.
We chatted about their future – the current state and of course, once they knew I was from Glastonbury – our famous Glastonbury Festival and how some of their friends had been there not only as paying visitors but some had been there on, it seems, duty. The talk was of Bruce Springstein – Tom Jones – Status Quo – Spinal Tap – Neil Young – Crosby-Stills & Nash (where was Young!) – and for many a disappointing Blur… I too felt something was lacking but then I got into Park Life very quickly – time was a Blurrrrr…. (sorry for that).
Teeside Park Patiently Waiting Visitors...
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
I made it half way when the phone rang – it was Carol – “where are you” – response – “looking straight at you …” the family had re-grouped outside of Maplins.
Maplins - Teeside Park
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
Trying to hold a techno like me from Maplins is like trying to take an ice-cream from a cone without the 99 chocolate flake…
I needed an express card to go into the MacBookPro so that I could either expand the USB 2 slots or add further Firewire or even a Sata inputs – they could not guarantee that theirexpress card would work with Mac OS X only a PC!
Come on Maplin get your act together the world is not only PC with the merging of personal computer identity and Intel – all things should now work with all things – ah ho...
And there in a corner of Maplin’s was John, trapped in the world of window shopping, he was eyeing up a huge Big Remote for Carol’s mum and asking me to photograph it – he seemed to think her eye sight was failing – I obeyed but could not bring myself to suggest this as I know I would be in serious trouble had I mentioned it – I kept quiet but had the picture ‘in-camera’ so to speak… lol.
Said - Remote Control for the Hard of Hearing! Oops!
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
Teeside Park – I don’t know how to summarize it to be honest – I’m sure there’s something there for everyone but I would rather visit some city centre than attempt to go there alone and getting out was just as fraught.
It is evident that Middlesbrough have gone to extraordinary lengths to build this out-of-town complex and it truly is massive - had it a central green it could be seen to be something from Greek or Egyptian history with its classical lines - it was late in the day and there were a number of cars and people but somehow it left me feeling as though this was empty - I guess Saturday or Sunday would be a very different matter.
Footpath - Teeside Park
Photo - Michael Dixon ©2009 ITR-UK
Still I'm left with my memories of our last visit to Middlesbrough Town Centre with all the new architecture blended with the old - somehow a visit there would leave me somewhat more fulfilled.
After dropping John at home we had one more visit - a late cup of coffee and a couple of purchases at the Stokesley Garden Centre 'Strikes' (see previous blogs) - day over and preparation to pack our things back at Room 203 in Bluebell Hotel...
End of Day #4 - a late decision to stay another day gives another smaller blog to follow.

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