Lowestoft Online - Alternative History (a Tongue in cheek look Local history)

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Topic: Alternative History (a Tongue in cheek look Local history) (Read 31389 times)

mary alger

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Re: Alternative History (a Tongue in cheek look Local history) « Reply #280 Posted: 27 April 2011 at 05:32 PM »

Quote from: Trigger on 25 April 2011 at 12:32 PM

And lunch is almost ready - so will codgitate a bit longer!

Some of you may have seen Trigger’s post from which the above quote was taken. I must admit that I, like you I daresay, was taken aback that, at long last, Trigger had owned up to ‘cogitating’. My gast was so flabbered that I decided to look deeper into the world of the cogitator.

My first step was to look at the magazines on the top shelf of my local newsagent. First, because I thought they may reveal a few clues to cogitating and second, because I quite like looking. They, unfortunately, were no help at all so I ploughed through umpteen dictionaries in search of the truth. All I could find was the definition below.

Definition of COGITATE
transitive verb
: to ponder or meditate on usually intently.

Somehow I couldn’t believe that was all there was to it, so I whipped out my trusty tome, entitled ’Lowestoft History, the Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing Like the Truth’. Sure enough there was an entry for cogitating and, would you believe it, Lowestoft was where it all began.

Apparently, in 1756 a crew of Lowestoft fishermen decided that they caught the best cod in Suffolk, a claim that the fisherman of Yarmouth weren’t prepared to put up with. It was decided to hold a cod tasting competition in which several local dignitaries from Newmarket judged who caught the best fish. The winners were to receive an engraved trophy proclaiming them champions. On the first day of April both sets of fishermen stood nervously watching as the judges slowly tasted the catches of both crews. After a great deal of time had passed one of the judges jumped up and announced loudly, ’Cod, it ain’t’. It appeared that the dastardly Yarmouth fishermen had used salmon instead of cod in the hope that they would win. They were instantly disqualified and the Lowestoft men proclaimed champions.

As the years went by and the story was told and retold, ‘Cod it ain’t’ slowly turned into cogitate and was forever associated with slow, ponderous judgement. These days cod tasting competitions are few and far between, but it’s a little known fact, lost in the years gone by, that people who think long and hard about things used to be known as ‘Old Codgers’.

The trophy was discovered a few years ago, covered in dust, in the storeroom of ‘The Golden Fish’ 16 Blackheath Rd, Lowestoft. If, Trigger, you would like to present yourself to the proprietor at some time in the future, he will gladly present you with free cod, chips and mushy peas for life. Not forgetting the trophy of course, thoroughly deserved as one of the few ‘Old Codgers’ remaining in Lowestoft.


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Sunny

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Re: Alternative History (a Tongue in cheek look Local history) « Reply #281 Posted: 27 April 2011 at 06:34 PM »

Hi David ,now that codger tale sounds truthful, but just one thing puzzles me ,how did the Yarmouth fishermen get away with doing salmon, cos its red or pink, and tastes different, but otherwise very feosible and interesting also, thanks.


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Meryl

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Re: Alternative History (a Tongue in cheek look Local history) « Reply #282 Posted: 27 April 2011 at 07:09 PM »

Sunny don't be hoodwinked by the story.!


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Sunny

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Re: Alternative History (a Tongue in cheek look Local history) « Reply #283 Posted: 27 April 2011 at 07:52 PM »

Thankyou Meryl I always get caught here. especially April 1st laugh


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Trigger

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Re: Alternative History (a Tongue in cheek look Local history) « Reply #284 Posted: 27 April 2011 at 08:21 PM »

Well, Oi be blowed - my fame is - loike manure - spreadin’ around a bit. I could never hev thort that sayin one a’ the things I was a’dewin’ when I was a’writin’ would corse some interest - Oi’ll hat’ta be careful what Oi a’say Oi bin a’dewin’ - otherwoise some people may get the wrong idea!

An’ Oi’m so glad to be reminded o‘ the owd “Cod Tarstin’ Competitions” - I remember I read a bit about them in the Jarnal a'fore the War - an’ dew you know what, bor? Oi’d quite forgotten about them. If Oi remember praply - them Cod Tarstin’ dews were tew be held every 100 years. Trouble was a’corse, by the toime the next wun was dew - everyone had forgotten about the larst one - so that’s whoy they died out!

But fancy them Yarmo’ boys a’thinkin’ they could parss off a bit a’salmon for a bit a’cod - ‘speshully as salmon flesh is pink but - havin’ took a look at my own copy of that there book - ’Lowestoft History, the Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing Like the Truth’ - ‘n I was a’readin’ in there that when the first competition was held (in 1756, mark you) that them wily boys a’ Yarmie town were with everyone else in the room when the judges were a’startin’ their judgin’. They’d placed themselves around the room - each standing near where there was a candle - well the candles were in groups - each group were actually four candles. As them there judges were about to start their tarstin - them Yarmo boys blew out all the candles bar one in each group. This mean ‘course - that them judges couldn’t actually see the colour of the fish meat - and had tew go by taste alone. And that’s how the phrase “blind tasting” came into being - and that started in Lowestoft - jist loike cogitate! (Oi bet yew didn't know that!)

Well, I really got to get on - but afore Oi go Oid just better mention that much as Oi appreciate the kind offer of free cod, chips and mushy peas for life - Oi regret that Oi got to turn that down. Yer see - I don’t eat none o’ that fish malarkey - so that’d leave the chips and mushy peas. Now that would be orlright but - strictly a’tween you and me like - that there larst one act on me somethin’ chronic. And when Oi told my missus - Oi got a serious warnin’ from her (wel, she wagged her finger at me when she told me- so that must be serious) - and she say to me she say, that Oi’m not allowed no how to eat mushy peas indoors. So sadly, Oi got to turn down that kind offer from the owner of “The Golden Fish” in Blackheath Road - and yew know - that’s not like me to turn down somethin’ for nothin’.


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mary alger

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Re: Alternative History (a Tongue in cheek look Local history) « Reply #285 Posted: 28 April 2011 at 09:49 AM »

Quote from: Sunny on 27 April 2011 at 06:34 PM

Hello again Sunny, I think Trigger may have answered your question in his post.

Quote from: Trigger on 27 April 2011 at 08:21 PM

But fancy them Yarmo’ boys a’thinkin’ they could parss off a bit a’salmon for a bit a’cod - ‘speshully as salmon flesh is pink but - havin’ took a look at my own copy of that there book - ’Lowestoft History, the Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing Like the Truth’ - ‘n I was a’readin’ in there that when the first competition was held (in 1756, mark you) that them wily boys a’ Yarmie town were with everyone else in the room when the judges were a’startin’ their judgin’. They’d placed themselves around the room - each standing near where there was a candle - well the candles were in groups - each group were actually four candles. As them there judges were about to start their tarstin - them Yarmo boys blew out all the candles bar one in each group. This mean ‘course - that them judges couldn’t actually see the colour of the fish meat - and had tew go by taste alone. And that’s how the phrase “blind tasting” came into being - and that started in Lowestoft - jist loike cogitate! (Oi bet yew didn't know that!)


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mary alger

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Re: Alternative History (a Tongue in cheek look Local history) « Reply #286 Posted: 28 April 2011 at 10:08 AM »

Quote from: Trigger on 27 April 2011 at 08:21 PM

If you fancy a good cogitate, Trigger, then go ahead. Make sure there are no News of the World reporters about though, especially if you've been on the mushy peas. nono


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Sunny

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Re: Alternative History (a Tongue in cheek look Local history) « Reply #287 Posted: 28 April 2011 at 06:57 PM »

Yes I picked that up from Trigger`s post David, but I did enjoy the story anyway, but had a bit of friendly advice from Meryl as well. laugh

Hi Trigger just read your reply, and must say I admire your capacity to spell all those old words well, quite funny reading that, cos when I was a little one, I remember lots of the old boys in Lowestoft talking like that, and you wrote it perfectly, Do you not eat any fish at all ?


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Trigger

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Re: Alternative History (a Tongue in cheek look Local history) « Reply #288 Posted: 28 April 2011 at 07:26 PM »

Quote from: Sunny on 28 April 2011 at 06:57 PM

Do you not eat any fish at all ?

Nope - no fish, no shellfish narthin' like thart - revolting stuff- urghhh!

They say that eating fish is good for your brains . . . . so that explains a lot about about me then!


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Sunny

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Re: Alternative History (a Tongue in cheek look Local history) « Reply #289 Posted: 28 April 2011 at 10:50 PM »

Similar to me then Trigger, I do just eat a small piece of cod now and then ,but thats all, and I happen to think that you are pretty well -educated my man, and quite witty as well, so you dont have to eat any fish.


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