hiya,
Lister St was nearly always tobacco stalk for the ciggie factory at Darlington usually managed a dodgy out of that one.
thanks harry long retired.
Why Harry, did you not smoke. 
or was it a dirty dusty job, I got no where near it myself, but got alot of yeast from marmite at Burton.
hiya,
Yes i gave the tabs a bit of wellie in those days, but there was no freebies or even cut price cigs available on site in Darlington but the workers would slip you the odd one which you had to smoke in the unloading bay, tight sods.
thanks harry long retired.
When I used to deliver at sweet firms or biscuit, the kids used to love it Harry, when I got goodies back.
hiya,
Well finished another shift driving my missus about for nothing, she’ll have to manage on her own tomorrow i’m back on child minding/school run duties, i don’t know how i find time to breath, people try to convince me kids keep you young “namely my daughter and son-in-law” but they seem to put years on me, i think i’ll resurrect the hgv licence and go back driving, at least i would get days off and paid when on duty.
thanks harry long retired.
Hi Harry,
Sounds as if you are much busier than when you were lorry driving,bet you are learning those grandkids far more tricks than the school teachers can . Sounds as if we are in for more snow and ice,its been it bit more than we have seen in recent years.
Cheers Dave.
Do you know what is happening to you Harry, they are all ganging up on you, just to keep you occupied, so you do not have too much lesiure time, and spend less time in your local charity " LADBROKES". 
hiya,
Dave away from lorry driving for this post, had a walk up our main street which in days of horse and carts was the old A1 but now the whole street is commercial properties don’t think there is one dwelling at street level, my gripe is, not one shopkeeper or publican had cleared the snow from in front of their properties and walking was nigh impossible without slipping and sliding about my little grandaughter she’s only 4 would have been on the floor several times had she not been holding my hand, surely the propietors could have enough pride to clear a path into their premises and surely it would be better for business, maybe something to do with H&S not allowed to use a shovel in case one gets calloused hands or a splinter in their finger, or are they just bone idle. Moan completed.
thanks harry long retired
Harry, I always clear the path in front of my bungalow, but due to this sueing culture, it has been said, you are not responsable if you leave it, but you are if you clear it, and someone slips, my answer is if you clear it correctly, it will not happen, I am sure in my childhood, it was a council law, that each shop & householder was responable for keeping their pavement clear!
Hi Harry & Norm,
You have the answer Health & Safety,the shopkeepers won’t touch the pavements because of someone slipping and sueing them. My Uncle owns a shop in Knighton,as did my Brother-in-law,they would gladly clear the pavement,but the risk of being clobbered for compensation for someone claiming to have hurt themselves slipping was to great. Harry I take your point,some of them are to lazy to do it,if they could.
Cheers Dave.
hiya,
Sign of the times Dave, but even in good weather the shopkeepers don’t even sweep the pavement, all they are interested in is getting people through the door, i’m not much of a shopper but the shopkeepers don’t make their premises appear customer friendly and i’m a person who could gladly pay not to have to go shopping, OK so i’m a miserable old git, but i do remember when shops welcomed you and even a chair for the elderly “me” to have a little sit down while being served or waiting, shoe shops yes but once or twice a year and that’s only if the soles of my feet are in contact with the pavement. Frenchy HELP,i’m starting to ramble.
thanks harry long retired.
Hi Harry,
Quite right about the shopkeepers,they couldn’t care less,then wonder why they are loosing trade,same with garages,years ago they would fill your tank with fuel if you bought a car,now they can’t be bothered to discuss a deal. I’m in the same boat as you when it comes to rambling,I get on my soapbox about all sorts of things,better book a big boat,and all go and join Frenchy. I expect you have more snow,we have had more.
Cheers Dave
Talking about the NFC (ex BRS) shares, there were quite a few drivers who were reputed to be millionaires after ten years or so, or at least quite wealthy from buying a few thousand at the start. i knew half a dozen that worked for Tankfreight and I bought a few myself so I knew how much could have been made if you had the bottle to pour any savings in
The strange thing was that very few, if any gave up driving, most gave to grandkids or the like, or took the benefit when, or if they got to retirement
I guess that driving, or the drivers life was in the blood back in the day !!
Hi,
At the time the unions advised drivers not to get involved but when I learned that higher ups had re-morgaged their houses to buy shares I took a gamble with some savings I had. In 8 years I had payed for my house, some I know made big amounts but it was really the general publics assets that were sold off.
Sorry I had no bottle, no spare cash, and no shares, no I am no millionaire. 
hiya,
I too was just a red and rust slave never got chance to invest, i was always too late for the bus, but unlike old Norm i was always pink lint.
thanks harry long retired.
Still I have my pension off the company, £2 per year for the rest of my life, from Norwich union, so life cannot be all bad.
hiya,
Norm that red and rust pension, i hope is being invested in the cruise fund just in case you never get the lottery, i wait in anticipation of being able to pack my suitcase, but at the Princely sum of £2 a year i reckon i’ll be cruising skywards before there’s enough in the kitty, and then i’ll be travelling light and won’t need to phone in for a backload.
thanks harry long retired.
Hi Harry & Norm,
You could invest your two quid in one of those plastic sledges,find a slope and cruise down that.
Cheers Dave.
hiya,
Dave old Norm would have to bring the sled up North to find any decent banks to slide down Northampton is a bit flat, i live at the top of a cracker only problem a bit of big stuff travels up and down it, but that should’nt be a problem for two former ex red and rust big wheel men.
thanks harry long retired.