Something came to mind today about coal mining and my past history working underground.

I recalled a lad, David ********, I wont mention his surname as it's not called for. He was at the time in the late 80's the talk of the pit. This lad had actually signed on at two pits at the same time. He used to work days at Silverwood, where I worked and then dash out of the pit to do his next shift at Maltby.

He was only caught out by an eagle eyed person at the pensions office at Doncaster, as obviously he had the same NI number.
Hats off to him at the time for holding two jobs down but, he was only a conveyor attendant. This involved watching coal safely leave a district and out to the pit bottom to be transported out of the mine.

Once challenged, he was asked to choose a pit and he chose Maltby. It was afterall his safeguard to health and safety and working too many hours a day. This by the way went on for 2 years .

Second point, a Miner's tale:

A Miner stood at the golden gate,
His head was bent and low,
He meekly asked the man of fate
the way that he should go.
'What have you done?' St Peter said,
'To gain admission here'
'I merely mined coal' he said
'For many many a year'
St Peter opened wide the gate
and softly tolled the bell.
'Come in and choose your harp' he said.
'You've had your share of hell'