Off Topic Things that aren't worth a new thread ...

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Doubt anyone cares much but I've seen quite a bit of the tennis thanks to it being on at a convenient time and I've been impressed with Jo Konta as a pundit. Lots of enthusiasm and personality, I could see her doing a good job replacing Sue Barker. Better than Balding but it's not hard.

Hope Sabalenka wins, not a fan of Gauff. She's effective but it's mainly just because she runs a lot and doesn't give in. Admirable but not my kind of tennis.

Well Gauff won, Sabalenka basically lost her head and Gauff kept hers so it was only going to go one way. I think the last few women's finals I've watched have been less about who plays the best as which of them can avoid having a meltdown.

On that basis Gauff could clean up because she seems very stable and focused.
 
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Thunder like I've never heard before currently in NE38. It's been one continuous rumble for about 10 minutes now. Lashing down anarl.
Same in NE32, rain of biblical proportions. The road outside our door is flooded
 
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I'm not even from Sunderland but loved this ...

... I started hitching up from Mansfield around 1971 and recognise a fair few of these old pubs.

And I like the lad in the video.

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Djokovic v Medvedev shaping up nicely. I've missed quite a bit of it but the commentators seem to be suggesting that Novak is tiring and wanting shorter rallies. Don't tell me that time is finally catching up with him.

He'll probably still win like, I'm not a fan but he's a great champion. Medvedev is quality though so who knows.
 
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Djokovic v Medvedev shaping up nicely. I've missed quite a bit of it but the commentators seem to be suggesting that Novak is tiring and wanting shorter rallies. Don't tell me that time is finally catching up with him.

He'll probably still win like, I'm not a fan but he's a great champion. Medvedev is quality though so who knows.

Djokovic wins in straight sets, turns out he's actually fine and is laughing directly into the face of Father Time. Bit disappointed with Medvedev but Djokovic really is a hell of a player. Unbeatable.
 
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This is about tolerance, understanding and acceptance of disabilities . . . . and worth reading for most of us

This national poetry competition award winning poem by a 12 year old schoolgirl with autism brought a tear to my eye. As a teacher, I encountered more than a few pupils who were at various points along the spectrum - one in particular who could not cope at all in a classroom environment and needed his own teacher, and many who coped admirably in spite of facing the same difficulties as this young lass. As challenging as they sometimes were to teach, life for them was far more challenging - especially if their teachers had no experience in how to cater for them. The one thing that I always used to marvel at was how carefully and considerately their fellow pupils interacted with them, even when things were going badly wrong for them.

If I had my way, this poem would be compulsory reading/discussion in every university that offers teaching degrees.

I should hasten to add that the line "The perfumes, the coffee, the teacher's tea" never applied to me...


“Take a seat and sit with me
I want to talk about ASD
If you don't mind I'd like to explain
A little thing called autism and how it affects my brain
It can make me anxious, angry and afraid
But this stays in my head, on my face it's not displayed
I may seem heartless and question your meanings
But it takes me a little longer to process the feelings
Take a seat and sit with me I want to show you ASD
A girl sitting quietly is all you see
But inside my mind I am far from free
My thoughts collide, my senses take over
I become overwhelmed by the smallest sound
Clicking pens, ticking clocks
That boy's chair and the way it rocks
All different smells attacking me
The perfumes, the coffee, the teacher's tea
Take a seat and sit with me
But not too close, I have ASD
I try to be social, I try to fit in
I come across rude, I can never win
I am very literal and straight to the point
If you want the truth I won't disappoint
When my brain is overloaded I sometimes lash out
My control fades, I scream and shout
I get confused and it all spills out
Intense emotions all trapped inside
Finally have nowhere to hide
Take a seat and sit with me I want to tell you about ASD
Please understand I am not to blame I've just got an atypical brain
But it's not all doom and gloom
I'm often the sportiest girl in the room
I'm quirky, unique, kind and caring
I'm loyal, protective and always sharing
I'm obsessed with frogs and all things green
I'm the youngest trendsetter you've ever seen
Take a seat and sit with me
I am Ava, I am me
I'm not just my label of ASD.”
 
This is about tolerance, understanding and acceptance of disabilities . . . . and worth reading for most of us

This national poetry competition award winning poem by a 12 year old schoolgirl with autism brought a tear to my eye. As a teacher, I encountered more than a few pupils who were at various points along the spectrum - one in particular who could not cope at all in a classroom environment and needed his own teacher, and many who coped admirably in spite of facing the same difficulties as this young lass. As challenging as they sometimes were to teach, life for them was far more challenging - especially if their teachers had no experience in how to cater for them. The one thing that I always used to marvel at was how carefully and considerately their fellow pupils interacted with them, even when things were going badly wrong for them.

If I had my way, this poem would be compulsory reading/discussion in every university that offers teaching degrees.

I should hasten to add that the line "The perfumes, the coffee, the teacher's tea" never applied to me...


“Take a seat and sit with me
I want to talk about ASD
If you don't mind I'd like to explain
A little thing called autism and how it affects my brain
It can make me anxious, angry and afraid
But this stays in my head, on my face it's not displayed
I may seem heartless and question your meanings
But it takes me a little longer to process the feelings
Take a seat and sit with me I want to show you ASD
A girl sitting quietly is all you see
But inside my mind I am far from free
My thoughts collide, my senses take over
I become overwhelmed by the smallest sound
Clicking pens, ticking clocks
That boy's chair and the way it rocks
All different smells attacking me
The perfumes, the coffee, the teacher's tea
Take a seat and sit with me
But not too close, I have ASD
I try to be social, I try to fit in
I come across rude, I can never win
I am very literal and straight to the point
If you want the truth I won't disappoint
When my brain is overloaded I sometimes lash out
My control fades, I scream and shout
I get confused and it all spills out
Intense emotions all trapped inside
Finally have nowhere to hide
Take a seat and sit with me I want to tell you about ASD
Please understand I am not to blame I've just got an atypical brain
But it's not all doom and gloom
I'm often the sportiest girl in the room
I'm quirky, unique, kind and caring
I'm loyal, protective and always sharing
I'm obsessed with frogs and all things green
I'm the youngest trendsetter you've ever seen
Take a seat and sit with me
I am Ava, I am me
I'm not just my label of ASD.”
Thought provoking Gordon, thanks for posting <ok>
 
Watched bbc1 pre 10am which was the radio 5 phone in and a caller said he was an x plain clothes shop security guard who noticed a few years ago the number of people blazingly shoplifting had rocketed. 95% of them were black / asylum seekers and gave up no issues when confronted. The worst were the 5% White who were shoplifting to feed their drug addiction and became aggressive and confrontational when stopped.

Nicky Campbell quickly cut him off saying we don't want to discuss stereotypes live on the bbc.
 
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Thunder like I've never heard before currently in NE38. It's been one continuous rumble for about 10 minutes now. Lashing down anarl.

this could be the storm the bloke was on about in The Terminator... 39 years later.
 
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This forum must be one of the best, if not the best, on NOT606, and that's thanks to the good lads that contribute positively to it. There'll always be the odd one who wants to spoil things, but in the main we are a good, friendly group who look out for each other, despite disagreements from time to time.
One of our most respected contributors (and he is ours) is 68 today, he has a reputation for helping (a lot of) others without reward, and I expect him to continue to do so. He helps to keep our board fresh & lively, he's a really genuine bloke who loves S.A.F.C. and he deserves this little bit of recognition . . . .

Happy birthday, Smug :emoticon-0166-cake:

I hope that you have a jolly good-un <hug>