Have I stumbled on the last Yorkshire born Treacle Miner? Is he an off cumden and a treacle johnny come lately? You will have to judge for yourself by reading more on All Things Treacle. At least he has contributed the Pudsey treacle mine history that starts;
‘Pudsey Treacle goes back into time immemorial; back into the distant ages when the earth had just evolved from the swirling mists of archaic originations, aye before Genesis…..’
‘Cistercian monks at the nearby Kirkstall Abbey believed that there was a tributary of treacle from the main source at Pudsey running through the abbey’ and those monks stuck to their guns as was their habit.

More Treacle Mine History

Most treacle mines date back to the 17th century according to an entry in an old leather account book

In the summer of 1939 clouds were gathering over Europe but the people of Wymsey were preoccupied with a more parochial looming disaster – the closure of the Wymsey Treacle Mine. Treacle had been mined in Wymsey long before the Romans occupied Watchester (Cystcentum) in AD66.

In 2010 times are hard for the Treacle People. The once great treacle mines of Pudsey Yorkshire are running dry and the treacle industry is in trouble. TV documentary on Channel 4

Fiction is Stranger Than Truth

Due to dangerous working conditions Treacle Miners formed the National Union of Treaclers or Nuts for health and safety reasons. The first successful result was to insist on the wearing of wigs to protect heads. These were obviously called Syrups.

Moles in America eat lots of laxative sugar cane. After feasting they leave behind a terrible stench and that is what is called Moleasses.

Treacle Spongebob Squarepants is a real TV personality from Pudsey whilst his erstwhile cousin Spongebob Squarepants is a fictional character. (Sorry to disappoint you fans of the latter)

Knot garden creating a series of small rooms by using a low hedge.

Knotted wrack, Ascophyllum nodosum at low tide on the south-east side of Loch Eriboll.
With thanks to shandchem creative commons license on flickr

Knot hole in a not whole piece of wood.

A loose knot or a slip knot, not much use for tying up this boat

A flight of knots not taking to the air also called Seixoeira or calidris canutus. 
With thanks to jwerde creative commons license on flickr

When not traveling on water speed is not measured in knots but by plane or ship knots count as speed. Sailors used to make their speed measurement with a knotted rope

Knotweed from Japan but now burrowing deep into British soil if give half a chance. Root it out if you can! It is strong enough to break through concrete and not what you want in your garden.

In a branch of mathematics there is Knot theory but not for those with Dyscalculia. See Warwick University Knot theory for more elucidation.

Not Joke

Arnside Knott is the lowest Marilyn, a hill with over 150 m of topographic prominence. A Marilyn is a low knott or hillock, not a Munroe.

If you want to play guitar in the Aire valley then call in to this shop at Greengates just up the road from the river itself.
However, if like me you have settled for the Air Guitar then I can sell you one for around £25.

Looking for a fireplace?

Go to Blazes

(more…)

‘Yorkshire born and bred’  

words and music and wisdom by Steve Saville©

Many a sergeant major has bawled ‘Get Your haircut you ‘orrible little man’ as they did in the Carry on Sergeant films. Modern day recruits and city gents now have a far wider choice of  methods of ‘grooming’ their hair and ‘improving’ their appearance..

DIY hair has moved on from the traditional pudding basin. Some of the results may not be all that different however. Still for less than £30 you can buy a modern trimmer to do your own (Pudding basin not included.) This should appeal to cost consious Yorkshire folk as it will save paying money to have someone trim your hair for you. It also encourages a more regular trim as it costs nowt after the the trimmer is bought .

Barbers

The old standby, the traditional barbers is still a firm favourite. How many still have copies of Picture Post or Punch on display? Not many they are too posh but Titbits then that’s a whole different issue.

Short back and sides, a bit of a trim or a square neck were and still may be the top injunctions to the traditional barber. Anything else drives the barber up the pole.

Grooming Salon

A new kid on the block is the ‘Salon’.
This is the more upmarket and therefore expensive male version of the ladies hairdresser. The Refinery is London’s one-stop Grooming Emporium for men offering barbering, skincare and spa treatments in exclusive luxury retreats.

Who would want to colour their hair?
More to the point would you want to colour your hair this weird shade of green (or is that just advertising blurb)? Oh the mighty Mekon might.

Tweezerman Essential kits should sell on the name only.

Knock Knock
Who’s there?
Avon calling – your doorbell is broke!
If you are not broke  then Avon sell a Mens grooming Kit via amazon It includes a Hair Trimmer for Nose, Ears, Eyebrows and Beard and costs about £12.50. All those hairy parts other trimmers can’t reach.

Yorkshire Grooming Tips

• Use fluff out of your navel and finger nail dirt to sow your lettuce.
• Wash your neck every 29th of February
• Spuds in your socks can be attractive to the opposite sex
• Neither spit or snot should be green, nor spread over your face.
• Baldness like insanity is hereditary, you get it from your kids

Sources
Barbers Pole ae1106 creative commons license
Men’s hair color by mag3737 creative commons license