As I've mentioned before I worked at Metroland between 1997 and 2000 - it was my first ever job!

I started off working in the arcade for a few weeks before moving onto the rides.

Bit of retro Internet tonight. Does anyone remember...

...when we downloaded music like this?


...having to connect like this?


...or having to do this everytime someone wanted to use the phone?


...or when one of the greatest chat protocols, involved this?


...or failing that, you could look here?


...and before Firefox and Chrome, your alternative to IE was this?

(16 Feb 2015, 8:30 pm)aureolin wrote Bit of retro Internet tonight. Does anyone remember...

...when we downloaded music like this?


...having to connect like this?


...or having to do this everytime someone wanted to use the phone?


...or when one of the greatest chat protocols, involved this?


...or failing that, you could look here?


...and before Firefox and Chrome, your alternative to IE was this?

Bloody hell yes...

I remember all that, used to get my music from winMX and Napster, and 56k dial-up, when connecting used to make a noise like an old tape deck computer(commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC64)...Also back then, I would set a film away to download and I would be lucky if it took 3 days to get, now I can get them in less than 10 minutes

When it came to Browsers was there 2 versions of Netscape...Netscape Navigator and Netscape Communicator

My favourite chatroom back then was Amandas Table, mostly populated by people from St Helens and The Wrekin...

MSN Messenger and ICQ was my life back in those days...

Back then I was also heavily involved in Wrestling E-Fed Roleplay sites, some good friendships came out of that period, good people I wish I still talked to today, I used to be part of a group who used the Metro Radio Message Board, we had regular meets at The Pitz 5-A-Side Centre at the Teams to play Metro DJs Team

I miss days like that lol

While on the whole nostalgia thing, anybody who was anybody had a Nokia 3210 or 3310/3330 Mobile, only game you could play was Snake and you there was a ringtone creator on there to create ringtones whose instructions could be found online, though there were only 2 slots free to create a ringtone.

I remember thinking I was the mutts nuts when I got a Nokia 3510, I was the first of my group of friends to have a phone with Polyphonic Ringtones

When heading to Lanchester on the X31 on Saturday with Dan, we passed the industrial estate where the Krazy Kingdom is located. So many memories of birthday parties, primary school treats, spare Saturday afternoons....

(30 Mar 2015, 1:58 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote When heading to Lanchester on the X31 on Saturday with Dan, we passed the industrial estate where the Krazy Kingdom is located. So many memories of birthday parties, primary school treats, spare Saturday afternoons....

Is that where someone crapped their pants? Was it you who mentioned that? 

(30 Mar 2015, 2:09 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Is that where someone crapped their pants? Was it you who mentioned that? 

Indeed they did. On the big slide.

Bringing up what I touched upon in Quality Contracts...

The wooden seat on the Jolly Bus!!

I was also a cool kid as I had the Moto Edge (I think?!) and it was a flip phone. Oh god I was a cool kid. As cool as a kettle!

(30 Mar 2015, 2:16 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Indeed they did. On the big slide.

Hahaha...I remember you mentioning that, sounds like he had a big slide in his underpants and down the back of his legs, how old was the kid at the time, can't be as bad as me in Tenerife, crapped myself when I had real bad diarrohea(sic?)

(30 Mar 2015, 2:56 pm)MrFozz wrote Hahaha...I remember you mentioning that, sounds like he had a big slide in his underpants and down the back of his legs, how old was the kid at the time, can't be as bad as me in Tenerife, crapped myself when I had real bad diarrohea(sic?)

Around 9, it was in Year 4. Very few people witnessed it, the rest of the class were just enjoying the other things on offer.

Before you had 'Krazy Kingdom', you had the Dickens play area in Washington. A big play area located at the far end of a DIY store. Who would have thought?

(30 Mar 2015, 2:58 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Around 9, it was in Year 4. Very few people witnessed it, the rest of the class were just enjoying the other things on offer.

How did manage to keep it on the down low, he must have stunk to high heaven, not much could mask the smell of a turd lmfao...

I met a lad years ago on my way to Skegness Butlins, his nickname was Skidmark or Skid for short because his name was Mark Brown, (Skid)Mark Brown, so the nickname came from that and Brown Mark

(30 Mar 2015, 3:06 pm)MrFozz wrote How did manage to keep it on the down low, he must have stunk to high heaven, not much could mask the smell of a turd lmfao...

I met a lad years ago on my way to Skegness Butlins, his nickname was Skidmark or Skid for short because his name was Mark Brown, (Skid)Mark Brown, so the nickname came from that and Brown Mark

Went into the toilets smelling like a thousand rotting corpses...came out smelling like talcum powder.

(30 Mar 2015, 3:09 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Went into the toilets smelling like a thousand rotting corpses...came out smelling like talcum powder.

As fresh as a babies arse lmao

(30 Mar 2015, 3:04 pm)aureolin wrote Before you had 'Krazy Kingdom', you had the Dickens play area in Washington. A big play area located at the far end of a DIY store. Who would have thought?

Porcupine Park (what is now the Gold Medal), was the place to be man.
Then Retail World arrived and practically every store there had a play area of some sort.

Dickens set the bar like.
http://youtu.be/rPga8aUVG8Y

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/history-no...-1-7284833

Lots of memories from those photos. I remember it from it's later years as Pzazz; getting in as a 16yr old back in 2002. £10 in on a Friday or Saturday night, including all your drink!

Anyone else used to frequent here or any other clubs of the past?

(30 May 2015, 6:09 pm)aureolin wrote http://www.sunderlandecho.com/history-no...-1-7284833

Lots of memories from those photos. I remember it from it's later years as Pzazz; getting in as a 16yr old back in 2002. £10 in on a Friday or Saturday night, including all your drink!

Anyone else used to frequent here or any other clubs of the past?

I got barred for life from Pzazz in 2001

In Sunderland I much preferred Privilege and Beach/Blu Bambu what is now The Cooper Rose(I think)...

For me no night out was not complete if I did not goto Idols and Flares(Now Reflex)

(30 May 2015, 6:53 pm)MrFozz wrote I got barred for life from Pzazz in 2001

In Sunderland I much preferred Privilege and Beach/Blu Bambu what is now The Cooper Rose(I think)...

For me no night out was not complete if I did not goto Idols and Flares(Now Reflex)

Did you not end up on Pub Watch for that? It would have had you barred from most of the town.

Beach was a quality club when it was still Beach, as it had a proper chillout room upstairs towards the front of the club. The balcony area overlooking the dancefloor was class too, as it didn't half shake! 

I didn't bother with Flares all that much, but there were some good bars around Sunderland around the same time. Innfusion had not long opened for a start, and then you had the likes of Berlins, Jazz (now demolished), Chase, and Luma. You also had proper dives like Bar 36 mind...  

(30 May 2015, 6:56 pm)aureolin wrote Did you not end up on Pub Watch for that? It would have had you barred from most of the town.

Beach was a quality club when it was still Beach, as it had a proper chillout room upstairs towards the front of the club. The balcony area overlooking the dancefloor was class too, as it didn't half shake! 

I didn't bother with Flares all that much, but there were some good bars around Sunderland around the same time. Innfusion had not long opened for a start, and then you had the likes of Berlins, Jazz (now demolished), Chase, and Luma. You also had proper dives like Bar 36 mind...  

No, not that I remember, even though I got lifted and charged with Drunk and Disorderly, Pub Watch was never mentioned, the door staff, police and magistrates accepted my behaviour was out of character and that I was not usually an aggressive drunk, it was actually round the same time people noticed my problems with mental health really started to show

Since then I have probably only turned out in Sunderland at an average once a year, I pretty much cut my drinking down in 2003

(30 May 2015, 6:09 pm)aureolin wrote http://www.sunderlandecho.com/history-no...-1-7284833

Lots of memories from those photos. I remember it from it's later years as Pzazz; getting in as a 16yr old back in 2002. £10 in on a Friday or Saturday night, including all your drink!

Anyone else used to frequent here or any other clubs of the past?

A few years head start, but Chambers was the place to be around 97/98/99.
They had Danny Rampling, Judge Jules, Dave Pearce, Ingrid (off Metro), Brandon Block all putting on sets.

By 2002, I think Chambers had evolved into a strip club.

(30 May 2015, 7:33 pm)Andreos1 wrote A few years head start, but Chambers was the place to be around 97/98/99.
They had Danny Rampling, Judge Jules, Dave Pearce, Ingrid (off Metro), Brandon Block all putting on sets.

By 2002, I think Chambers had evolved into a strip club.

Was Chambers down the High Street near where the Cinema is now???

Who remembers Annabels, above Idols IIRC

Ku Klub used to be canny...

I always preferred Durham for a night out...

The Big Jug, Market Tavern, Coach and Eight, Fighting Cocks, Saddle Market, Club Elysium...Would go round most of those on a Night Out, Klute used to be canny, but it was a youth club, saying that I was part of the youth contingent as I was going to Klute from about 15/16

Used to drink in the Colpitts, really cheap beer about a pound a pint in 98/99, The Angel was good too, and spent a lot a time in The Salutation when I was at Fram New College...

Durham Bowling Alley used to be canny, I was indirectly involved in causing a ban on unaccompanied U-18's on Friday and Saturday's, me and my group of pals saw to that, yet we were very friendly with the Management and Security they wanted nothing to do with us on a weekend

As what i was saying before, I started calming down when I was 19 after the Pzazz incident, infact I have only ever misbehaved three times since then, doing good on that considering it has been 14 years since I was 19

(30 May 2015, 7:53 pm)MrFozz wrote Was Chambers down the High Street near where the Cinema is now???

Who remembers Annabels, above Idols IIRC

Ku Klub used to be canny...

I always preferred Durham for a night out...

The Big Jug, Market Tavern, Coach and Eight, Fighting Cocks, Saddle Market, Club Elysium...Would go round most of those on a Night Out, Klute used to be canny, but it was a youth club, saying that I was part of the youth contingent as I was going to Klute from about 15/16

Used to drink in the Colpitts, really cheap beer about a pound a pint in 98/99, The Angel was good too, and spent a lot a time in The Salutation when I was at Fram New College...

Durham Bowling Alley used to be canny, I was indirectly involved in causing a ban on unaccompanied U-18's on Friday and Saturday's, me and my group of pals saw to that, yet we were very friendly with the Management and Security they wanted nothing to do with us on a weekend

As what i was saying before, I started calming down when I was 19 after the Pzazz incident, infact I have only ever misbehaved three times since then, doing good on that considering it has been 14 years since I was 19

Up until 2002 when I bought a house in Durham, I had never had a night out there.
Had a few since like

Aye, Chambers was towards the pictures.
No idea what is there now.

(30 May 2015, 7:33 pm)Andreos1 wrote A few years head start, but Chambers was the place to be around 97/98/99.
They had Danny Rampling, Judge Jules, Dave Pearce, Ingrid (off Metro), Brandon Block all putting on sets.

By 2002, I think Chambers had evolved into a strip club.

I think it may have been later when Chambers became a strip club. I know it went through a period around the same time, where it was just opening for externally promoted events. I think there was a rave or two on in there?

Did you ever go to Annabel? I obviously caught the tail end of it the years I was able to drink round the town, but it was still a cracking little club. I was gutted to see that one go. It was a well talked about club, and for the right reasons.

I was never much of a drinker in my formative years. I think the last time I had any alcohol at all was Easter Sunday 2005 and, even then, it was due to a mistake made by the bar staff at The Vulcan in Winlaton (I asked for a pint of Coke and ended up with a pint of Fosters - I tried to give it away but to no avail). As someone who doesn't enjoy drinking, pubs and clubs have never held any real appeal. To be frank, pubs and clubs bore me rigid - I've always been a house-party type of person. So it should come as no surprise when I say I've never ever been on the drink in either Sunderland or Durham. To the best of my knowledge, I've only ever frequented bars located in Newcastle, Winlaton, Whickham, High Spen, Chopwell and Consett on the rare occasions I've been 'out of the piss'.

However, I did hold an affiliation card and used to go 'social clubbing' (albeit without any drinking involved on my part) during my latter teenage years. Social clubbing involves visiting as many clubs as you can during the day - having a drink, a game of pool and a quick game of darts in each venue.

(30 May 2015, 9:30 pm)aureolin wrote I think it may have been later when Chambers became a strip club. I know it went through a period around the same time, where it was just opening for externally promoted events. I think there was a rave or two on in there?

Did you ever go to Annabel? I obviously caught the tail end of it the years I was able to drink round the town, but it was still a cracking little club. I was gutted to see that one go. It was a well talked about club, and for the right reasons.

Newcastle is the town man .

Aye, Annabells was frequented.
I mainly went to Sunderland for the dj's at Chambers, but did go to the other places on the way or if there was a massive queue or one of us couldn't get in for whatever sackless reason the bouncer came up with.
Wasn't struck on Annabells to be honest.

(30 May 2015, 9:42 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I was never much of a drinker in my formative years. I think the last time I had any alcohol at all was Easter Sunday 2005 and, even then, it was due to a mistake made by the bar staff at The Vulcan in Winlaton (I asked for a pint of Coke and ended up with a pint of Fosters - I tried to give it away but to no avail). As someone who doesn't enjoy drinking, pubs and clubs have never held any real appeal. To be frank, pubs and clubs bore me rigid - I've always been a house-party type of person. So it should come as no surprise when I say I've never ever been on the drink in either Sunderland or Durham. To the best of my knowledge, I've only ever frequented bars located in Newcastle, Winlaton, Whickham, High Spen, Chopwell and Consett on the rare occasions I've been 'out of the piss'.

However, I did hold an affiliation card and used to go 'social clubbing' (albeit without any drinking involved on my part) during my latter teenage years. Social clubbing involves visiting as many clubs as you can during the day - having a drink, a game of pool and a quick game of darts in each venue.

Can't beat a night at the clurb.
Meat hampers, domino handicaps, a turn, cheap pool, cheap beer and darts.

(30 May 2015, 10:35 pm)Andreos1 wrote Newcastle is the town man .

Aye, Annabells was frequented.
I mainly went to Sunderland for the dj's at Chambers, but did go to the other places on the way or if there was a massive queue or one of us couldn't get in for whatever sackless reason the bouncer came up with.
Wasn't struck on Annabells to be honest.


Can't beat a night at the clurb.
Meat hampers, domino handicaps, a turn, cheap pool, cheap beer and darts.

I used to like a night out down the Big Club in Murton...

I can remember years back, a pint cost 97p and there was hell on when the price went to a Pound...

When I first started drinking in the Club, every seat seemed to be always taken, and I have been told a few times 'You can't sit there, that's old Billys Seat and has been since the dawn of time' and there was also the wonderful rule 'Under no circumstances must you interrupt a game of bingo' and would hacky looks if you won if you weren't a regular in the club

Now this is what you call a blast to the past! I bet it confused a few folk when a 194 and X94 pulled into Houghton together.

C656LJR and FTN708W by C522LJR, on Flickr

(11 Jul 2015, 10:02 pm)aureolin wrote Now this is what you call a blast to the past! I bet it confused a few folk when a 194 and X94 pulled into Houghton together.

C656LJR and FTN708W by C522LJR, on Flickr

That is definately a blast from the past...

Which way did the X94 go to Newcastle, was it the X1 we see and know today?

(11 Jul 2015, 10:02 pm)aureolin wrote Now this is what you call a blast to the past! I bet it confused a few folk when a 194 and X94 pulled into Houghton together.

C656LJR and FTN708W by C522LJR, on Flickr

I wonder how many residents of Houghton-le-Spring stuck their hands out? 

(11 Jul 2015, 10:02 pm)aureolin wrote Now this is what you call a blast to the past! I bet it confused a few folk when a 194 and X94 pulled into Houghton together.

C656LJR and FTN708W by C522LJR, on Flickr

The X94 daytime service was the outcome from the withdrawn service 195, the evening and sunday journeys went secured as a service 165 operated by Ok Travel. later on service 165 became less and less and finally withdrawn.

Remember when Brockley Whins was Boldon Colliery, and MeadowWell was Smith's Park?