This is fast becoming the most popular thread on the TN site 
Cheers Dennis.
Auchterader cafe used to be a favourite stopover of mine when up the country, good dinner and a big pot of steaming strong tea on the table to wash it down.
Havenāt been over the border for years, is the cafe still there?
Bewick:
This is fast becoming the most popular thread on the TN site
Now then dennis , i donāt think the management class recognise the importance of the workers tea breaks . When weād been pushed and harassed all day we needed a relaxing brew . we couldnāt just snap our fingers at the secretary . lol . dave
Hi there Dig ,you old pom you,just because you have not got gas or electric yet,down under ,you have to pay for it you know,it never came free with your old Ā£10 ticket. that was the catch, you thought it was all free, for a tenner,at lest the missus has a pair of mairgolds [gloves],not good for washing up though.good for digging the dunnie ā¦but the bread looks good and i bet the tea has a nice smokiness flavor .
you old boys know how to live well down under thats for sureā¦just going to plug the kettle up now for a brew,that is electric,dont worry you will get it someday soon , [once yove paid your ticket back] no its not lighting.it comes from wires that s all i know about it ,and you can not see it,[eletric] so when the ju-ju man says do not touch ,just be wareie enjoy the mossies and the flies lolā¦
peggydeckboy:
Hi there Dig ,you old pom you,just because you have not got gas or electric yet,down under ,you have to pay for it you know,it never came free with your old Ā£10 ticket. that was the catch, you thought it was all free, for a tenner,at lest the missus has a pair of mairgolds [gloves],not good for washing up though.good for digging the dunnie ā¦but the bread looks good and i bet the tea has a nice smokiness flavor .you old boys know how to live well down under thats for sureā¦just going to plug the kettle up now for a brew,that is electric,dont worry you will get it someday soon , [once yove paid your ticket back] no its not lighting.it comes from wires that s all i know about it ,and you can not see it,[eletric] so when the ju-ju man says do not touch ,just be wareie enjoy the mossies and the flies lolā¦
Now then PDB I sense some jealously in your comments I suppose that derives from us not having any gas and leaky bills to pay or would it be as your sitting twiddling your what sits in a gridlock traffic jam for a few hours each day you canāt hop out the cab and light a fire and make a brew of course then again I forgot you blokes carry the cooker and kitchen sink in the cab but I donāt think your allowed to have a snack or a culpa while on the clock you have to pull into a parking area which you have to pay for lthe price of that probably payed for us to get here 4 or 5 times] while you are filling the cab full of cooking smells are well never mind its probably raining I shall think of you next time I.m having a road side brew sitting in the shade even if the fire is a bit smoky . [keeps the mozzies and flys away]. LOL
Keep safe DIG
DIG you got the wrong end of the stick with PDB as he is retired and can make a brew any time he likes, of course he seems to be having more than his fair share of holidays at the moment but fair play he has done his bit.
Now most of us who drove trucks, waggons or lorries (different names depended which part of the country) you came from finding a good place for a bit of scran was important and on the subject of tea this was always welcome. Most drivers on the road had an early start and for me it was no exception, always liked to be at the delivery point when they arrived for work, then you are on your way home or to the reload early in the day.
Always took something to scoff if time was pushed and ate on the move, most of us did that in the past but nothing better when you have done four hours, got your load tipped than to find a place to serve up a plate as in my picture, always liked a breakfast then I could go all day with little to munch and I bet I was not alone, cheers Buzzer.
PS. You can post a pic or two of trucks if you have any DIG.
Buzzer:
DIG you got the wrong end of the stick with PDB as he is retired and can make a brew any time he likes, of course he seems to be having more than his fair share of holidays at the moment but fair play he has done his bit.
Now most of us who drove trucks, waggons or lorries (different names depended which part of the country) you came from finding a good place for a bit of scran was important and on the subject of tea this was always welcome. Most drivers on the road had an early start and for me it was no exception, always liked to be at the delivery point when they arrived for work, then you are on your way home or to the reload early in the day.
Always took something to scoff if time was pushed and ate on the move, most of us did that in the past but nothing better when you have done four hours, got your load tipped than to find a place to serve up a plate as in my picture, always liked a breakfast then I could go all day with little to munch and I bet I was not alone, cheers Buzzer.PS. You can post a pic or two of trucks if you have any DIG.
Hi Buzzer I was just having a bit of fun with PDB banter as its called [sledging] it helps here to be able to respond as the Aussies donāt back off much especially when it comes to cricket and where thats concerned I.m still a pom and believe you its cost me in the past lol.
I have a good mate who I worked with at United Carriers for a short time in the 60s before heading this way and we Skype a bit to remaniss and the one thing I am adamant about is I could not do the job you blokes do in the traffic and conditions you experience on a day to day basis plus the rules and regs that are the bane of the truck driver both here and your end.My hat is doffed to you all .
I have driven most of my years here with two or three trailers hanging on the bit at the front and had no problem with that and in the early days it was possible on some of the roads I travelled not to see another truck or car for a couple of days so the old brew up on the road was a part of life.[usually when the billy was boiled a couple of trucks would turn up]
I remember the transport cafes and meals which I visited on a regular basis over there and canāt recall a bad one the names escape me now but the roadhouses here are few and far between and since one of the multi nationals took over all the Shell outlets they closed all the kitchens and installed Bay Marees so a half hot 3 week old meat pie was all you got,I had no problem at going back to cooking my own after that and did it for the last 3 years before hanging up the turntable.
That plateful looks the part I shall show it to the cook and drop a hint or three lol.
I posted a few photos about 12months ago on DeanBs site on Australian trucks and road trains if your interested.
Keep safe cheers DIG
Buzzer:
DIG you got the wrong end of the stick with PDB as he is retired and can make a brew any time he likes, of course he seems to be having more than his fair share of holidays at the moment but fair play he has done his bit.
Now most of us who drove trucks, waggons or lorries (different names depended which part of the country) you came from finding a good place for a bit of scran was important and on the subject of tea this was always welcome. Most drivers on the road had an early start and for me it was no exception, always liked to be at the delivery point when they arrived for work, then you are on your way home or to the reload early in the day.
Always took something to scoff if time was pushed and ate on the move, most of us did that in the past but nothing better when you have done four hours, got your load tipped than to find a place to serve up a plate as in my picture, always liked a breakfast then I could go all day with little to munch and I bet I was not alone, cheers Buzzer.PS. You can post a pic or two of trucks if you have any DIG.
Buzzer , youāve really upset my day with that picture , I could kill for a plateful like that but the boss has banned me " youāve got a bad heart / your too fat already " . I have to admit sheās right but that doesnāt stop the yearning for the taste of a good breakfast . As you said it kept us going all day all we needed was a few brews after that .I reckon thatās why iām overweight and have a bad heart but cāest la vie . dave
Is this a private tea party or can anybody join in 
I have borrowed a tea bag and as Chrisās apprenticeship experiences reminded me of working in the garage I thought that I would share this with you.
It was my first day, I was 15 years old and I had been down to The Famous Army and Navy Stores to buy myself my first pair of overalls. Apart from a two foot turn up on each leg and the sleeves rolled over several times, it was the smallest size they had but I felt like a real mechanic. We started at 8 a.m. in what used to be an old cotton mill and after sweeping out the garage I was told to make the tea. No problems I thought, I know how to do that, so I filled the kettle up, stuck it on the gas ring and after washing all the mugs I looked around for the teapot but there wasnāt one. How can you make a decent cup of tea without a teapot, 
we had always used a teapot at home, in fact ours even had itās own knitted tea cosy. I asked Kevin, the other apprentice who had been there for a couple of years if he knew where the teapot was and he said you have to put a spoonful of tea leaves in each cup and just pour the water in. I waited until I thought that the water had boiled and poured it into the cups but something didnāt look right. The leaves just floated on the top and wouldnāt sink down. I tried pushing them down with the spoon but they just came back up again and so in the end I just scrapped most of them off the top, put the milk and sugar in and took Rick the boss his big mug of tea. I put it on the table next to where he was working and set off back to the body shop next door when I heard a yell of āHOY, COME BACK EREā. Oh, I thought he sounds in a bad mood, I wasnāt wrong. I walked back to where he was standing and he stood there pointing inside the cup asking āwhat the (z.b.) is thatā ? By this time even more tea leaves had appeared on the top, you couldnāt even see the milk by now. Before I could say itās because we havenāt got a teapot he had thrown the entire contents of the cup over my brand new overalls. 
That ones full of Crows he shouted, go and tell Kevin to show you how to make a (z.b.) ing proper cup of tea.
Kev had seen what was going on and had jumped into the pit so the boss couldnāt see him curled up laughing with his hand over his mouth. But I did learn that day that the water had to be boiling before you poured it onto the tea leaves if you wanted to make a good cuppa. 
At the last firm I worked for the elder of the two partners would make a brew if I was unfortunate enough to be back at the yard early while he was still āin residenceā there. A fithy old mug, tea like blooming varnish, and the same comment each time āif you donāt want sugar (I didnāt) then donāt stir itā as halfway down I would encounter a heap of sugar piled in the bottom! If he wasnāt looking it got chucked either into the pit or, after we moved to Wirksworth, swat outside onto the ground. Five years I worked for him but each brew was the same, the old lad has long gone now but I can still taste his āpoisonā 14 years after he made me redundant. It was worth doing another load just to avoid him haha.
Regarding that plateful of āmuckā that Buzzer posted, I canāt stand the sight of baked beans (they make me heave just looking at them!) and I have never eaten eggs or bacon, sausage I can take or leave but the toast doesnāt look too bad as long as it hasnāt a hard crust. 
Pete.
windrush:
Regarding that plateful of āmuckā that Buzzer posted, I canāt stand the sight of baked beans (they make me heave just looking at them!) and I have never eaten eggs or bacon, sausage I can take or leave but the toast doesnāt look too bad as long as it hasnāt a hard crust.Pete.
If it was me Iād have said leave the eggs and the beans only one sausage and then replace it with ( a lot ) more bacon. 
Hard crust, windrush? I could hire you a set of teeth for an hour at very reasonable rates!
And youāll have to get yerself in gear if youāre going to join rigsby and I in that Full English that Danās going to treat us to. Iāll have your beans if you really donāt want them, though.
Retired Old ā ā ā ā :
Hard crust, windrush? I could hire you a set of teeth for an hour at very reasonable rates!
And youāll have to get yerself in gear if youāre going to join rigsby and I in that Full English that Danās going to treat us to. Iāll have your beans if you really donāt want them, though.
ROF,
Dan must be pushing boat out, Windrush,Rigsby,You and Myself for breakfast, that must be why he can only afford to tip 11 ton loads, saving up aināt he? or you have PMād everybody?
pete smith:
Retired Old ā ā ā ā :
Hard crust, windrush? I could hire you a set of teeth for an hour at very reasonable rates!
And youāll have to get yerself in gear if youāre going to join rigsby and I in that Full English that Danās going to treat us to. Iāll have your beans if you really donāt want them, though.ROF,
Dan must be pushing boat out, Windrush,Rigsby,You and Myself for breakfast, that must be why he can only afford to tip 11 ton loads, saving up aināt he? or you have PMād everybody?
Nowt wrong with my gnashers ROF, and I canāt manage anything more for brekkie than two weetabix. However when I was working I never bothered with breakfast at all. Out of bed around 4.30am, Mrs W made me a flask up while I was washing/dressing and then into the car and into the truck. A cheese sarnie and a biscuit around 10 am and that was it until I arrived home again and a hot meal was waiting after I phoned my ETA in!
Pete.
Well in the 50/60s Era I allways had a tea can with a cup as the lid, Ringtons leaf tea, And most places where I tipped or loaded usualy had a Burco Water Boiler so I could get a brew, The downside bit was that I had to use Cadburys Marvel Milk which wasnāt too bad, Of course fresh milk would have been better, Of course this was all that was going for us old or young wagon drivers at this time, But Im old and going bald and could do this thing all over again given the chance At 81 Im raring to gan but with with knowwhere to ā ā ā ā ā ā ā go , Regards Old Larry.
Speaking of Burco water boilers, Most ICI Plants had them I used to load quite often at Winnington Works Northwich in the 60s with Soda Ash Powder in hand ball heavy bags of course, So having a brew wasnāt a problem. Regards Larry.
Hi Larry, would that of been Brunner Mond at Winnington where they had that Tudor House next to the canal which became I.C.I. it would of been in the nineties when I used to tip and load there and I sometimes used to fill my flask up while I was waiting to get tipped.
Was your tea can/brew can one of those white enamelled ones with the wire handle, every bus driver and his conductor appeared to have one in the 50/60ās along with all the builders.
And what ever happened to Black and Greens tea, did anybody ever collect the labels to get the free gifts
Regards Steve.
yes Mushroom man ,the old enamalle tea pots,lid to drink out of,chipped on the sides i come from a village where the railway [LNER]employed 99%of the men when i grew up it was natural progression to work on the railway.[except me] untill later,all the men had a brew can,it was part of the uniform.no tea bags thenā¦Then after a long time in 1966 just before i drifted into driving,i got married and on my licence is occupation is PLATE-LAYERā¦
If you remember the little huts the train would pass, made of railway tar encrusted sleepers , black with the old chimney, along the track well,they were the plat layers huts it was called a LENGTH the amount of track you looked after,using a shovel all dayā¦ the first job of the day was light the fire and get a brew on. and it stopped on all day untill the fire went out,a big old black soot crusty kettle/tea pot.tinned milk .connie-onnieā¦or fussels thick cream,no wonder we could drink a lot of beer as our guts were incrusted with sludge from the pot ā¦
as for cooking in every hut was the biggest frying pan you could see, massive handle,never been washed ever.you would fry up for the 4 of you every day,using lard ,swimming in fat you would eat from the pan, no plates just great bread slices,you would have a small piece of bread we called a thumb bit,on top of your slice because no hand washing ,just to take the fat when you picked what you wanted from the pan, it used to get black and soaky ,that was the last bit you put in your mouthā¦no wonder im on GAVISCON NOW but the tea was the main event.
So when i got into to transport and would eat in the greasy spoons it was never no prob for me the more fat the better[now i take not fats at all. but like a good brewā¦and yes the Sh-- does/did splatter over the rail sleepersā¦
When years later i worked for BOWKERs out of BAMBER BRIDGE tea was a important part of LANKASHIRE daily routine as with most counties however they had a passion for it as not coming from that county my view did not count as far as they were concerned they made the best brew ever with the best WATERā¦ ,end of,until you went to the BOWKER depot at HULL [to ship out ]they also had the best water and made the best brew,and the rivalry between the two Waring [battle of the Roses] counties and drivers,if you have never seen it,you would not believe grown men would get agitated over water and TEA,some would not drink the others tea because it was made from water from not their countyā¦ time for a brewā¦its raining that is why im on here .pdb