May your Christmas be everything you want it to be!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Michelin Magic
People may think he's got his head up his arse but you have to hand it to Heston Blumenthal, his ideas are amazing before you even get to marvel at the accomplishment of them.
His Christmas Dinner involved a sorbet that was on fire but didn't burn.
Marj had better pull out all the stops!
His Christmas Dinner involved a sorbet that was on fire but didn't burn.
Marj had better pull out all the stops!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Comeback
So Led Zep have done whatever it is that they do. My brother was a big fan, they did nothing for me.
On the radio this morning the commentator was mentioning that Jimmy Page didn't make any reference to them going on a world tour.
I hope they don't. If they did I think it would be unfair on those who went to see them last night who applied for tickets on the grounds that this was the one and only chance to see them play again. I also think it would be selling out rather and it's not something I would expect them to do. In this age of bands reforming at the drop of a very large cheque I hope they have some integrity.
Assuming they don't, the only person I would feel a bit sorry for is John Bonhams son who took his place on the drums. I guess it might be nice for him to tour with his dads old group.
On the radio this morning the commentator was mentioning that Jimmy Page didn't make any reference to them going on a world tour.
I hope they don't. If they did I think it would be unfair on those who went to see them last night who applied for tickets on the grounds that this was the one and only chance to see them play again. I also think it would be selling out rather and it's not something I would expect them to do. In this age of bands reforming at the drop of a very large cheque I hope they have some integrity.
Assuming they don't, the only person I would feel a bit sorry for is John Bonhams son who took his place on the drums. I guess it might be nice for him to tour with his dads old group.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Scum
An open letter to the bastards that burgled us last night.
Oi scum.
Bring Marj's car back. But bring it back whilst I'm here. I won't say anything negative to you. But I am likely to kick your fucking head in!
When we find out who you are, and there will be ways and means, because you're a bit of a stupid c*nt and you left a dna trace behind, and I have a friend in the police who will happily pass on your details, you will be meeting me, or an agent of my intention.
Please don't feel threatened as it's not a threat. It's a promise!
Oi scum.
Bring Marj's car back. But bring it back whilst I'm here. I won't say anything negative to you. But I am likely to kick your fucking head in!
When we find out who you are, and there will be ways and means, because you're a bit of a stupid c*nt and you left a dna trace behind, and I have a friend in the police who will happily pass on your details, you will be meeting me, or an agent of my intention.
Please don't feel threatened as it's not a threat. It's a promise!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Je suis off to France
I'm off to France for the weekend for a bit of Christmas shopping both of the presents and the booze variety.
Ta Ta.
Ta Ta.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Calling Graybo!..... Calling Graybo!
Monsieur Graybo, should you find yourself in Kingston, Surrey, at any time, there is a new branch of Montezuma.
I should hate you to go hungry and miss it. :)
I should hate you to go hungry and miss it. :)
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Where is my muse?
Following on from last years storming success as the boss of the shepherds in last years carol service at M's church I am attempting to write a small section for the three kings, although only two appear and it's bit of a Waiting for God(ot) scenario. At the moment we have gold, frankinsence and a shortage of decent script ideas.
Do you have any good Three Kings jokes?
I have no problem with gold, Frankinsence and plagiarism!
Do you have any good Three Kings jokes?
I have no problem with gold, Frankinsence and plagiarism!
I know my rights!
Not sure who the guy was on the radio yesterday, but whilst discussing education came up with a very relevant quote.
The problem these days is that school kids all know their rights but don't understand that to have those rights they also have responsibilities.
[Sound of teenagers fainting all over Britain]
The problem these days is that school kids all know their rights but don't understand that to have those rights they also have responsibilities.
[Sound of teenagers fainting all over Britain]
Sitting Tenants
At friends on Sunday we were chatting and they mentioned that their neighbours were having trouble moving as their 20-odd year old layabout son refused to give them permission to sell.
What? We thought. Was he on the deeds? No. Had he been left a share of the property via inheritance? No.
It was explained that now, if you have children still at home with you who have attained the age of majority that in the eyes of the law they are sitting tennts and thus have rights to remain in the property if you sell.
Very interesting, we thought, but rare it should come up.
Until yesterday evening that is. M had a financial adviser around to re-negotiate the mortgage and when he found out her 20 year-old daughter still lives with her mentioned that she will have to sign a disclaimer to say that she will not attempt to stay in the property should it be sold by her mother.
Bloody Hell. How on earth have we got to this situation?
What? We thought. Was he on the deeds? No. Had he been left a share of the property via inheritance? No.
It was explained that now, if you have children still at home with you who have attained the age of majority that in the eyes of the law they are sitting tennts and thus have rights to remain in the property if you sell.
Very interesting, we thought, but rare it should come up.
Until yesterday evening that is. M had a financial adviser around to re-negotiate the mortgage and when he found out her 20 year-old daughter still lives with her mentioned that she will have to sign a disclaimer to say that she will not attempt to stay in the property should it be sold by her mother.
Bloody Hell. How on earth have we got to this situation?
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
1984 - Big Brother IS watching you.
This morning I received a parking ticket.
Actually, that's not correct.
This morning I had a letter telling me that 13 days ago my car was parked in a place where loading and parking were subject to restrictions during certain hours.
I couldn't have been given a ticket, not because I wasn't there, but because there was no warden there. I was spotted by a remote CCTV camera.
A camera which is obviously trained on monitoring the public during the day. Watching you walk down the road. Watching your kids go to school. Noting you drop that piece of litter. Monitoring you chat innocently enough to the girl from the office opposite. Watching your wife answer the door in her nightie.
There are also three boards on this section of road asking for witnesses to various road accidents and assaults. Of course, they failed to notice them.
Was that a clock I just heard striking thirteen?
Actually, that's not correct.
This morning I had a letter telling me that 13 days ago my car was parked in a place where loading and parking were subject to restrictions during certain hours.
I couldn't have been given a ticket, not because I wasn't there, but because there was no warden there. I was spotted by a remote CCTV camera.
A camera which is obviously trained on monitoring the public during the day. Watching you walk down the road. Watching your kids go to school. Noting you drop that piece of litter. Monitoring you chat innocently enough to the girl from the office opposite. Watching your wife answer the door in her nightie.
There are also three boards on this section of road asking for witnesses to various road accidents and assaults. Of course, they failed to notice them.
Was that a clock I just heard striking thirteen?
Thursday, November 08, 2007
All Aboard.
Spent today testing the new Eurotunnel terminus at St Pancras.
As you would expect it is very modern, glass everywhere, and other than the roof doesn't blend in with the architecture of the hotel to the front on Euston Road. The new bit incorporates many old iron pillars which don't seem out of place until you look at them and then it lust looks a bit strange though not unpleasant. Nice wooden floor arrangement in departure and arrival halls.
I would say it is better than the terminal at Waterloo, more open, more space but that might change when there are more people about. They handled two full trains of passengers at the same time without more than a few seconds delay.
The "journey" involved going to Stratford concrete works International, just 7 minutes away. Not an overly inspiring station at platform level. Maybe it looks better above ground.
Anyway, that's a free return ticket for my troubles so I'll get to visit again for real some time in the next 12 months.
As you would expect it is very modern, glass everywhere, and other than the roof doesn't blend in with the architecture of the hotel to the front on Euston Road. The new bit incorporates many old iron pillars which don't seem out of place until you look at them and then it lust looks a bit strange though not unpleasant. Nice wooden floor arrangement in departure and arrival halls.
I would say it is better than the terminal at Waterloo, more open, more space but that might change when there are more people about. They handled two full trains of passengers at the same time without more than a few seconds delay.
The "journey" involved going to Stratford
Anyway, that's a free return ticket for my troubles so I'll get to visit again for real some time in the next 12 months.
Friday, November 02, 2007
The Special One
No, not Jose.
At Marjs school there is a young child, male, who has started nursery. His parents waited a long time to have him. Indeed, so special is he to them that his name, translated into English from his home tongue means "special one". A fact they remind him of continually. He is 3 years old.
On Tuesday he slapped a teacher round the face. Not an accidental slap due to flailing arms during a temper tantrum but a deliberate strike beacuase he didn't want to do what he had been asked to do.
At the end of the day the headmistress caught his mother and explained what had happened and that they needed to do something about it. Apart from re-iterating that he is "special", the mantra she uses at the beginning of every conversation, as she explained;
"When he does that to us, (his parents), we ask him not to."
Oh well, thats okay then. Hardly going to have a discipline problem with him then in years to come.
But then of course, he is special.
At Marjs school there is a young child, male, who has started nursery. His parents waited a long time to have him. Indeed, so special is he to them that his name, translated into English from his home tongue means "special one". A fact they remind him of continually. He is 3 years old.
On Tuesday he slapped a teacher round the face. Not an accidental slap due to flailing arms during a temper tantrum but a deliberate strike beacuase he didn't want to do what he had been asked to do.
At the end of the day the headmistress caught his mother and explained what had happened and that they needed to do something about it. Apart from re-iterating that he is "special", the mantra she uses at the beginning of every conversation, as she explained;
"When he does that to us, (his parents), we ask him not to."
Oh well, thats okay then. Hardly going to have a discipline problem with him then in years to come.
But then of course, he is special.
Ed Ed Ed
Time for todays education rant.
Dear Labout Government,
You, along with your predecessors from the 60s/70s have tinkered with the education system and it isn't working. Stop It!
No sooner do teachers learn this weeks major policy change than you decide to change it and bring in this years initiative. What with literacy hour, guided reading, catch up reading, Phonics, and a new system of learning which is being introduced as "the answer" there is no consistency and certainly no improvement.
All we hear about is how much better the education system is and you point to how many people come out of school with A grade A Levels. You can dumb the exams down and massage the figures all you like but when Universities, (the real ones that is, not the Fred Bloggs University of Little Clogmorton), have to spend the first term running literacy courses to get the standard of reading up to that required to study degrees, then there's been a major f*ck up somewhere along the way.
Right, I'm off to lie down in a darkened room before my head explodes.
Dear Labout Government,
You, along with your predecessors from the 60s/70s have tinkered with the education system and it isn't working. Stop It!
No sooner do teachers learn this weeks major policy change than you decide to change it and bring in this years initiative. What with literacy hour, guided reading, catch up reading, Phonics, and a new system of learning which is being introduced as "the answer" there is no consistency and certainly no improvement.
All we hear about is how much better the education system is and you point to how many people come out of school with A grade A Levels. You can dumb the exams down and massage the figures all you like but when Universities, (the real ones that is, not the Fred Bloggs University of Little Clogmorton), have to spend the first term running literacy courses to get the standard of reading up to that required to study degrees, then there's been a major f*ck up somewhere along the way.
Right, I'm off to lie down in a darkened room before my head explodes.
Looking down on you.
One thing I was able to do yesterday whilst flying back from Edinburgh, apart from travelling Business Class for the first time, was fly the best part of the length of England. From around Newcastle down there was very little cloud so I was able to see Britain from the air.
At cruising height of 35000ft towns were just like islands of light. Enough detail to make out areas but not individual roads, other than major ones.
By the time we were down to 24000ft towns became luminous cobwebs. Filigree roads of light surrounding a central hub of more condensced glow.
Below 12000ft and you are looking at a luminous AtoZ of roads.
I saw a number of football and other sports stadia but couldn't tell you what they were for love nor money. It would actually have been useful to have a map of Britain to see if I could work our what towns/cities I was looking down at.
As always, I managed to sit on the "wrong" side of the plane. As we passed over Manchester I was looking to the East but wondered if those across the aisle could see Blackpool and if that would look obvious.
On the way up I did the "Boys with Toys" thing asnd took 5 minute reading from my GPS with location, height, speed and bearing. If you're lucky I will plot it out and share it with you later for your generalboredom edification.
I will be flying back up there again in the next few weeks so I'll try to take my camera and hope for a clear night.
At cruising height of 35000ft towns were just like islands of light. Enough detail to make out areas but not individual roads, other than major ones.
By the time we were down to 24000ft towns became luminous cobwebs. Filigree roads of light surrounding a central hub of more condensced glow.
Below 12000ft and you are looking at a luminous AtoZ of roads.
I saw a number of football and other sports stadia but couldn't tell you what they were for love nor money. It would actually have been useful to have a map of Britain to see if I could work our what towns/cities I was looking down at.
As always, I managed to sit on the "wrong" side of the plane. As we passed over Manchester I was looking to the East but wondered if those across the aisle could see Blackpool and if that would look obvious.
On the way up I did the "Boys with Toys" thing asnd took 5 minute reading from my GPS with location, height, speed and bearing. If you're lucky I will plot it out and share it with you later for your general
I will be flying back up there again in the next few weeks so I'll try to take my camera and hope for a clear night.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Success at last.
I managed all the journeys last week but for Edinburgh. That has been postponed until tomorrow. As I'm doing it as a day trip I shall be flying. By pure coincidence, tomorrow I celebrate the fact it is exactly one third of a century since I started life as a working man. (The term "working" obviously being used in the loosest of possible terms). It will also be the first time I have ever flown to see a client. Somehow, flying on business at great expense seems the mark of success, although I suspect if I did it every week it would be a complete pain. If only some of the teachers at my grammar school wrere there to see it I should greet them with a sneer and point out maybe I'm just that bit more successful than they thought I would ever be.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
No time to lose..
Not only am I off to Blackpool for 4 days but I've also got to fit in a trip to Suffolk, Edinburgh and possibly Oxford in the next seven days.
The Silver Jubilee
This coming weekend I'm off to Blackpool. JC , who I go with, is celebrating his 25th annual visit. No doubt much beer will be drunk, as will I. And ic a severe case of "taking coals to Newcastle", Marj is coming as well. That should curtail my normal shennannigans!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Joke #36290
What are the New Zealand Rugby Team doing to help global warming?
Giving the Aussies a lift home on their plane.
Giving the Aussies a lift home on their plane.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
To infinity and beyond...
Diamond Geezer has written a piece celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sputnik and how exciting the space race was back then.
Back in the sixties as a child everything seemed possible, even the most ludicrous of suggestions. By now we should be just popping protein pills rather than eating food and I'm still waiting for my personal flying saucer!
So, okay, reality hasn't exactly measured up to the dream but it served a purpose. We were all forward thinking. Our horizons expanded way beyond Earths limitations. Many scientists today probably got inspired by the possibilities of our future and certainly as kids the whole thing was exciting and who on earth didn't want to be an astronaut, assuming there were no train driving jobs left?
So our generation was inspired to look outwards to a magical future full of exciting technologies and strange planets. What does the youth have today? Where is the forward thjinking to come from. If the media and doom sayers are to be believed, thanks to global warming, it must be destruction. Would a new era of space travel inspire them as it did us? Probably not. Would they find the possibility of finding a little green man on mars as exciting as the strange synthetic worlds they can inhabit on their computers?
Okay, I'm 50 now, but in the words of a theme tune back then,
I wish I was a spaceman
The fastest guy alive,
I'd fly around the universe,
in Fireball XL5
And I still would.
Back in the sixties as a child everything seemed possible, even the most ludicrous of suggestions. By now we should be just popping protein pills rather than eating food and I'm still waiting for my personal flying saucer!
So, okay, reality hasn't exactly measured up to the dream but it served a purpose. We were all forward thinking. Our horizons expanded way beyond Earths limitations. Many scientists today probably got inspired by the possibilities of our future and certainly as kids the whole thing was exciting and who on earth didn't want to be an astronaut, assuming there were no train driving jobs left?
So our generation was inspired to look outwards to a magical future full of exciting technologies and strange planets. What does the youth have today? Where is the forward thjinking to come from. If the media and doom sayers are to be believed, thanks to global warming, it must be destruction. Would a new era of space travel inspire them as it did us? Probably not. Would they find the possibility of finding a little green man on mars as exciting as the strange synthetic worlds they can inhabit on their computers?
Okay, I'm 50 now, but in the words of a theme tune back then,
I wish I was a spaceman
The fastest guy alive,
I'd fly around the universe,
in Fireball XL5
And I still would.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Not got a leg to stand on..
All I can see is there will be a meeting of these two parties where there will be one chasing the other hitting him over the head with the wooden leg.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
And todays major disaster is.....
Just as M and me decide things are stressful enough, her youngest daughter, 20, drops another bombshell. Can't talk much about it here but words and phrases such as "ex-boyfriend, pregnant, morning after pill, I still love him" are relevant.
The lifestyle of a hermit seems strangely appealing, although if the previous post is anything to go by, there's no point in M rushing off to a convent for a quiet life.
The lifestyle of a hermit seems strangely appealing, although if the previous post is anything to go by, there's no point in M rushing off to a convent for a quiet life.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Opera-tion L'Elisir
West London Opera go back into rehearsal tonight for next years production of L'Elisir D'Amore by Donizetti. Now that Pavarotti has shuffled off this mortal coil I have now been promoted by one place in the ranking of tenors. Only another couple of million places to go and I'll be at Covent Garden!
Wonderkids
Well, I must just mention one educationy bit.
This morning on the radio Ed Balls was talking about how exams haven't been dumbed down
When I took my French O'Level oral exam I went in knowing nothing about what would be discussed except it would be in French. Now, for GCSE French oral pupils are given a list of questions they could be asked and the answers to those questions for them to learn.
Exactly how does that equate to standards being the same.
Please insert the 1000 other examples you can probably come up with that prove the same point.
This morning on the radio Ed Balls was talking about how exams haven't been dumbed down
When I took my French O'Level oral exam I went in knowing nothing about what would be discussed except it would be in French. Now, for GCSE French oral pupils are given a list of questions they could be asked and the answers to those questions for them to learn.
Exactly how does that equate to standards being the same.
Please insert the 1000 other examples you can probably come up with that prove the same point.
One on One Action
So on Monday we get one on one tutoring for all pupils. Tuesday brings us the right for every pregnant woman to have her own dedicated midwife. What betting that we also have our own policeman/woman during the law and order debate.
Still there'll be no more unemployment due to the fact we'll all have to have half a dozen jobs to cover these grand ideas.
I daren't even start on the education proposals. My brain would explode and the internet would be clogged up for months to come.
Still there'll be no more unemployment due to the fact we'll all have to have half a dozen jobs to cover these grand ideas.
I daren't even start on the education proposals. My brain would explode and the internet would be clogged up for months to come.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Beautiful Bird
Driving past Heathrow yesterday on the A30 a wondrous sight appeared. Sitting by the hangars was a Concorde. Gleaming in the sun it cheered even a miserable bugger like me.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Open House
It's London Open House weekend this coming weekend. If you're in the capital or environs it's your chance to get into some buildings that are normally closed to the public.
I must get off my backside this year and visit the famed Neasden Mandir.
I must get off my backside this year and visit the famed Neasden Mandir.
That's okay then.
It might just be me but I would have thought that Ellie Lawrenson deserves a little more justice.
But no, if you leave your 5 year old daughter with her convicted drug using grandmother, who then proceeds to drink two bottles of wine and smoke ten spliffs, and who then allows a dog on the dangerous breeds list which has previously bitten people into the house, then should by any chance your small child be savaged to death, then nobody will be guilty of anything.
Thank god we crack down on speeding motorists otherwise I'd hate to think what the country would become.
But no, if you leave your 5 year old daughter with her convicted drug using grandmother, who then proceeds to drink two bottles of wine and smoke ten spliffs, and who then allows a dog on the dangerous breeds list which has previously bitten people into the house, then should by any chance your small child be savaged to death, then nobody will be guilty of anything.
Thank god we crack down on speeding motorists otherwise I'd hate to think what the country would become.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
I have been to the land of the Phillistines......
....and returned, unscathed.
Well, not the Phillistines but the French.
As always, France was better than I expected, although in the south the public toilets in general leave something to be desired. Otherthan that, food, drink and weather were great.
Whilst I'm unscathed, during my week I heard from my brother who has managed to get himself run over by a coach in Central London and is now suffering from two multiply broken legs! Ouch!
This happened on Sunday 19th and yesterday they sent him home. This despite the fact that he can only manage about 5 steps on crutches before he falls over. Still, no point in him malingering when there are important government statistics to protect!!!! I'm off to see him tomorrow and must try to curb my natural tendency to make way too many "leg" jokes in his presence. He may have got my brains but I got his sense of humour.
Expect a rant regarding the stupidity of hospitals discharging people early in the next day or so.
Well, not the Phillistines but the French.
As always, France was better than I expected, although in the south the public toilets in general leave something to be desired. Otherthan that, food, drink and weather were great.
Whilst I'm unscathed, during my week I heard from my brother who has managed to get himself run over by a coach in Central London and is now suffering from two multiply broken legs! Ouch!
This happened on Sunday 19th and yesterday they sent him home. This despite the fact that he can only manage about 5 steps on crutches before he falls over. Still, no point in him malingering when there are important government statistics to protect!!!! I'm off to see him tomorrow and must try to curb my natural tendency to make way too many "leg" jokes in his presence. He may have got my brains but I got his sense of humour.
Expect a rant regarding the stupidity of hospitals discharging people early in the next day or so.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Kennamatic is out of the office
I shall update my last post at some point, but basically, things are a little more relaxed. They will however be even more relaxed from tomorrow cos I'm off to France on holiday for a week.
Hurrah!
Hurrah!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Missing in Action.
Hello. I haven't been around much lately. Here's why, written mainly for my benefit to look back on later, but for your reading as well should you wish.
After a long fight we finally lost the flat. Having spent 5 days packing with only 8 hours sleep during those days we are now in a new flat which Linda hates with a vengence.
During those days and up to and including today I have seen little of Marj which is putting stress on that relationship.
I am extremely depressed. Probably even more so than when I first started blogging. It was my mates breakdown that caused that depression, not the blogging!
I can no longer look after Linda single handedly and will see my doctor to get some help though Linda is fighting tooth and nail against that idea. She also wants to move as fast as possible.
I need to have a quiet time but don't see how I can get it. There are days when Linda talked of suicide and I would have helped her. There are days when I have thought about it but I couldn't do that to my mum. I worry if the strain keeps building that I might find a way to "help" Linda commit suicide. I am hopeful of seeing my own doctor tomorrow and hope she can be of some help. though in reality I don't know what she can do. Mental Health care in West London is very poor.
I feel trapped, mainly by my emotions. The stark truth is there will probably have to be a choice.
1) Leave Linda and be with Marj so I can live a normal life but find some way to deal with the tremendous guilt I will feel as she has no family of friends to support her.
2) Lose Marj and stay with Linda. I will be left getting worse myself to the point where I probably will take some conclusive action to stop the emotional pain.
3) Try to juggle both as I have for the last two years but with the move that has become unrealistic and was probably so long term anyway.
If someone has a magic wand could they lend it to me please.
After a long fight we finally lost the flat. Having spent 5 days packing with only 8 hours sleep during those days we are now in a new flat which Linda hates with a vengence.
During those days and up to and including today I have seen little of Marj which is putting stress on that relationship.
I am extremely depressed. Probably even more so than when I first started blogging. It was my mates breakdown that caused that depression, not the blogging!
I can no longer look after Linda single handedly and will see my doctor to get some help though Linda is fighting tooth and nail against that idea. She also wants to move as fast as possible.
I need to have a quiet time but don't see how I can get it. There are days when Linda talked of suicide and I would have helped her. There are days when I have thought about it but I couldn't do that to my mum. I worry if the strain keeps building that I might find a way to "help" Linda commit suicide. I am hopeful of seeing my own doctor tomorrow and hope she can be of some help. though in reality I don't know what she can do. Mental Health care in West London is very poor.
I feel trapped, mainly by my emotions. The stark truth is there will probably have to be a choice.
1) Leave Linda and be with Marj so I can live a normal life but find some way to deal with the tremendous guilt I will feel as she has no family of friends to support her.
2) Lose Marj and stay with Linda. I will be left getting worse myself to the point where I probably will take some conclusive action to stop the emotional pain.
3) Try to juggle both as I have for the last two years but with the move that has become unrealistic and was probably so long term anyway.
If someone has a magic wand could they lend it to me please.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Talent, What Talent?
So, todays excuse of why Lewis Hamilton is winning is because the new tyres help him!
Yes, Mark Webber, the well known well down the field Australian Formula 1 driver has revealed how everyone but Lewis has been neld back because the make of tyre has changed. Well, isn't it lucky that Lewis Hamilton had never driven a formula 1 car before. He must have just got in on the first day of racing this year and with his complete lack of skill, training and practice has been swept to the top of the drivers championship, breaking various records on the way, by the new tyres.
That's of course when McLaren aren't giving him a much bigger hand than they give Alonso. According to Alonso.
From Lewis's point of view though this must be good news. If the opposition are scraping the barrel to explain his runaway success this year they must be worried.
Yes, Mark Webber, the well known well down the field Australian Formula 1 driver has revealed how everyone but Lewis has been neld back because the make of tyre has changed. Well, isn't it lucky that Lewis Hamilton had never driven a formula 1 car before. He must have just got in on the first day of racing this year and with his complete lack of skill, training and practice has been swept to the top of the drivers championship, breaking various records on the way, by the new tyres.
That's of course when McLaren aren't giving him a much bigger hand than they give Alonso. According to Alonso.
From Lewis's point of view though this must be good news. If the opposition are scraping the barrel to explain his runaway success this year they must be worried.
Twenty Twenty Vision
I got somewhat confused when lietening to a radio report this morning.
It went like this;
"The EWCB have extended Allan Donalds contract to coach Englands fast bowlers until the 2020 World Cup....."
Blimey, I though, that's some extention. It continued,
"in September"
Ah, that would be the Twenty20 World Cup then.
It went like this;
"The EWCB have extended Allan Donalds contract to coach Englands fast bowlers until the 2020 World Cup....."
Blimey, I though, that's some extention. It continued,
"in September"
Ah, that would be the Twenty20 World Cup then.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
We have a by-election coming up as our local MP has shuffled off to the great debating chamber in the sky. We are starting to get election literature through. Today, the Liberals show a previous election result that shows them as the only credible alternative to Labout and the Tories have a graphic which shows a previous result where they are the only serious opposition.
Sort it out guys. No-ones going to vote for parties who massage the message. That's why we have Labour.
Sort it out guys. No-ones going to vote for parties who massage the message. That's why we have Labour.
Some Young Beat Combo
I seem to be particularly obsessed with listening to Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. I must find out whether the rest of their stuff is as good as that.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Shutter Shuttle
I don't often get to travel very far with work. Most of my customers are within an hours drive, which in London means about 10 miles! But I've had two enquiries in the last 48 hours, one in Cardiff and the other in Edinburgh.
I'll probably drive to Cardiff but it's up in the air for the Edinburgh trip.
Gosh, International stardom!
I'll probably drive to Cardiff but it's up in the air for the Edinburgh trip.
Gosh, International stardom!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Pub Review
Yesterday I had a day in Brighton and decided to come back via some back roads. Needing refreshment we stopped at The Fox, in Small Dole near Henfield. It looks like it's been updated recently and has "kerbside appeal" as estate agents like to put it.
As I was driving it was soft drinks only, but they have a good supply. But it is the food which is to recommend it.
There is nothing out of the ordinary on the menu other perhaps than Gammon with Cheese and Mango so expect only standard pub fare. The delight comes in the size of the portions. I had gammon with egg and pineapple and it was about twice the size you normally get served. Marj had two pork loin steaks with new potatoes and 43 vegetables and was tender and another hearty portion. For dessert I couldn't miss my old favourite, Chocolate Fudge Cake with ice cream. Again, it was a double size to miost places with a thick layer of melting chocolate. Could have done with more ice cream but that was more to do with the size of the cake than a shortage of ice cream. Marj had the days special which was summer fruit pudding with cream.
Prices? The main courses cost us £6.95 each! A bargain. Puddings were £3.95 so pretty standard pricing but good value against portion size.
Will definitely be eating there again when I'm in the area.
As I was driving it was soft drinks only, but they have a good supply. But it is the food which is to recommend it.
There is nothing out of the ordinary on the menu other perhaps than Gammon with Cheese and Mango so expect only standard pub fare. The delight comes in the size of the portions. I had gammon with egg and pineapple and it was about twice the size you normally get served. Marj had two pork loin steaks with new potatoes and 43 vegetables and was tender and another hearty portion. For dessert I couldn't miss my old favourite, Chocolate Fudge Cake with ice cream. Again, it was a double size to miost places with a thick layer of melting chocolate. Could have done with more ice cream but that was more to do with the size of the cake than a shortage of ice cream. Marj had the days special which was summer fruit pudding with cream.
Prices? The main courses cost us £6.95 each! A bargain. Puddings were £3.95 so pretty standard pricing but good value against portion size.
Will definitely be eating there again when I'm in the area.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Guily M'Lud
The Proceedings of The Old Bailey 1674-1834 are available online.
Rather a lot of people with my family surname manage to make an appearance!
Rather a lot of people with my family surname manage to make an appearance!
Hypocrisy Lives
It is impossible to avoid stroies of Big Brother even if you don't watch it. Therefore I know that Emily? was kicked out by the powers that be for using the "N" word. On monday evening as part of the Three Minute Wonder series there was a film shown of a coloured person which was littered throughout with the "N" word. Channel 4 neither chose to blank our the word and obviously decided that this should be an included film of the series.
So as far as channel 4 are concerned white people cannot use the word nigger but black people can. Emily was using it, I gather, in a context that young people would and not in a nasty agressive way. The coloured gut in the film was talking about how he taunted other black guys.
If I was Emily I would consider taking Channel 4 to court as they have effectively discriminated against her and stopped the chance of her winning whatever financial prize there is.
My answer as always is to be a litigious Kennamatic.
So as far as channel 4 are concerned white people cannot use the word nigger but black people can. Emily was using it, I gather, in a context that young people would and not in a nasty agressive way. The coloured gut in the film was talking about how he taunted other black guys.
If I was Emily I would consider taking Channel 4 to court as they have effectively discriminated against her and stopped the chance of her winning whatever financial prize there is.
My answer as always is to be a litigious Kennamatic.
Blackpool 25
My trip to Blackpool later this year is booked. I haven't been for a couple of years but couldn't miss this one as my mate JC, whom I go with, is celebrating his 25th annual visit.
Tremendous staying power. And quite a lot of beer money too.
Tremendous staying power. And quite a lot of beer money too.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Snobbishness
How do you decide whether you are a snob or not? Certainly nobody wishes to be thought one but can you ever tell whether you are.
Last weekend we went to a birthday party on Saturday for the mother of someone we know but we had not previously met the rest of them. They are workling class, would probably be described these days as chavs, swore every other word and we had few points of reference to hold conversations. I got on well with the lads that were there because we played pool and it gave us some commonality. I realised after the event, what I didn't like was the amount of swearing from the women. Now this was the first time we'd met, there was no shortage of alcohol. they did make us welcome.
On sunday we had lunch at a vicarage with a group of people who I don't know well, or in some cases not at all, but we talked throughout lunch as we had shared interests and were, I suppose of the same social grouping as ourselves.
Was I looking down on the Saturday group as they were "common, vulgar people" or just not in a situation that I could relate to.
If I was snobbish I surely wouldn't have gone into business with Kev who is "council house" through and through. I have also been in a similar situation the other way where I have been with people I felt uncomfortable with, not I suspect because they were richer than me, but because their lifestyle was dramatically different and again we had few points of commonality between us.
It seems only to come out in social situations as I have had customers from both ends of the social scale and I have never treated nor thought of my customers as anything differently to each other.
So, were my reactions snobbishness or was there just too much of a social divide and shared experience for me to feel emotionally part of their group?
Last weekend we went to a birthday party on Saturday for the mother of someone we know but we had not previously met the rest of them. They are workling class, would probably be described these days as chavs, swore every other word and we had few points of reference to hold conversations. I got on well with the lads that were there because we played pool and it gave us some commonality. I realised after the event, what I didn't like was the amount of swearing from the women. Now this was the first time we'd met, there was no shortage of alcohol. they did make us welcome.
On sunday we had lunch at a vicarage with a group of people who I don't know well, or in some cases not at all, but we talked throughout lunch as we had shared interests and were, I suppose of the same social grouping as ourselves.
Was I looking down on the Saturday group as they were "common, vulgar people" or just not in a situation that I could relate to.
If I was snobbish I surely wouldn't have gone into business with Kev who is "council house" through and through. I have also been in a similar situation the other way where I have been with people I felt uncomfortable with, not I suspect because they were richer than me, but because their lifestyle was dramatically different and again we had few points of commonality between us.
It seems only to come out in social situations as I have had customers from both ends of the social scale and I have never treated nor thought of my customers as anything differently to each other.
So, were my reactions snobbishness or was there just too much of a social divide and shared experience for me to feel emotionally part of their group?
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Things move on.
I am driving again, as of 00.01a.m. this morning my insurance was in place. As of yet I haven't been caught by a speed camera or stopped by the police.
Also, I sold my flat yesterday. This will mark me leaving Linda, though still in daily contact, and living with Marj, albeit temporarily until I get my own flat and then we'll flit between the two.
Next on the list will probably be "getting a proper job"!
Also, I sold my flat yesterday. This will mark me leaving Linda, though still in daily contact, and living with Marj, albeit temporarily until I get my own flat and then we'll flit between the two.
Next on the list will probably be "getting a proper job"!
Monday, June 04, 2007
The root of the problem.
Reading an interview given by Frank Lampard about the upcoming match in Estonia he says,
"Do we need to win? Who knows. Should we try to win, well, we've got to start putting a run of wins together at some point so we might as well start now."
Well that's very gracious of him and the rest of the team. But that shows exactly the way they think. They obviously decide they should try to win when it becomes necessary. Surely if you are going to play for your country you need to have an attitude that you are going to win or at least try your damned hardest to make sure you do, every match you play, regardless of the opposition.
England play with the three lions on their chest. Lions would not be Kings of the Jungle if they went around with the attitude that they needed to be frightening every now and then but they'd save themselvers until necessary. That wasn't the attitude that won the cup in 1966 and that attitude will make certain we will never win it again.
Crouch is expected to be recalled and one of his advantages is that just because he is playing against a less talented team and might be winning, you still have to keep going and put more goals past them.
According to our local bookies Englamnd are listed at 1/9 to win. If I could get 9/1 on Estonia to win it might be worth a little punt.
"Do we need to win? Who knows. Should we try to win, well, we've got to start putting a run of wins together at some point so we might as well start now."
Well that's very gracious of him and the rest of the team. But that shows exactly the way they think. They obviously decide they should try to win when it becomes necessary. Surely if you are going to play for your country you need to have an attitude that you are going to win or at least try your damned hardest to make sure you do, every match you play, regardless of the opposition.
England play with the three lions on their chest. Lions would not be Kings of the Jungle if they went around with the attitude that they needed to be frightening every now and then but they'd save themselvers until necessary. That wasn't the attitude that won the cup in 1966 and that attitude will make certain we will never win it again.
Crouch is expected to be recalled and one of his advantages is that just because he is playing against a less talented team and might be winning, you still have to keep going and put more goals past them.
According to our local bookies Englamnd are listed at 1/9 to win. If I could get 9/1 on Estonia to win it might be worth a little punt.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
MIssing You Already
The week after the opera is finished is always a flat time. I didn't sing for a good 30 years and now if I aren't singing every week I miss it. The shower is ringing with my dulcet tones at every opportunity!
Education, education, education.
I know it's 33 years since I left school and I think probably the only grammar schools left are fee paying but I still do not understand what is wrong in principal with them.
When I was 11 I took my 11 plus exam. Everyone in the borough did. Depending on how well you did you either went to a grammar school or a secondary modern school. Within those two classifications were higher or lower levels school.
By pure chance, I suspect, I ended up at Ealing Grammar and other friends at Walpole Grammar, the next tier down supposedly. We didn't have to pay. It was taken purely on your academic standings. We had pupils from all social classes. Those who weren't particularly good academically went to the secondary moderns where, apart from a good grounding in basic education they did more practical subjects than we did. The idea was that they would become "manual workers". In london this would have been engineers and the trades. The grammar school pupils were meant to go on to university, which I never made, and the secondary modern kids went on to technical college or apprenticeships.
Now of course it is the governments wish that everyone goes to university. So in London you can't get an electrician, plumber or builder for love nor money. That's not true, you can get them for money. Damn large amounts of it and after a long wait. This is why the Eastern Europe immigrant population is flooding in to fill the jobs which no-one here is being trained for.
Why can people not accept that some people are not going to be academically brilliant and it is better to give them a trade they will make money and a career of than making them do something that they are not suited for.
I have the manual dexterity of a retarded wombat but in retrospect, looking back at my life, maybe I would have been better learning how to use my hands and getting a trade than trying to get somewhere academically. On the other hand, I had the intelligence but inate laziness will always overcome that.
When I was 11 I took my 11 plus exam. Everyone in the borough did. Depending on how well you did you either went to a grammar school or a secondary modern school. Within those two classifications were higher or lower levels school.
By pure chance, I suspect, I ended up at Ealing Grammar and other friends at Walpole Grammar, the next tier down supposedly. We didn't have to pay. It was taken purely on your academic standings. We had pupils from all social classes. Those who weren't particularly good academically went to the secondary moderns where, apart from a good grounding in basic education they did more practical subjects than we did. The idea was that they would become "manual workers". In london this would have been engineers and the trades. The grammar school pupils were meant to go on to university, which I never made, and the secondary modern kids went on to technical college or apprenticeships.
Now of course it is the governments wish that everyone goes to university. So in London you can't get an electrician, plumber or builder for love nor money. That's not true, you can get them for money. Damn large amounts of it and after a long wait. This is why the Eastern Europe immigrant population is flooding in to fill the jobs which no-one here is being trained for.
Why can people not accept that some people are not going to be academically brilliant and it is better to give them a trade they will make money and a career of than making them do something that they are not suited for.
I have the manual dexterity of a retarded wombat but in retrospect, looking back at my life, maybe I would have been better learning how to use my hands and getting a trade than trying to get somewhere academically. On the other hand, I had the intelligence but inate laziness will always overcome that.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Manners Maketh Man
A local school, independent I think though I'm not certain, are in trouble with the local education authorities for "irregular" teaching practices.
In the last 25 years I have only been called sir by two school-aged boys and had a door opened for me to pass through before them. Both boys came from that school.
I suspect that it is not in the present educational remit for manners to be allowed, let alone taught. If they are guilty of turning out respectful, well-educated (as their results appear to suggest), pupils then more power to them however they are doing it.
Meanwhile, Marj yesterday had to deal with the class from hell, as she does every Thursday afternoon. Her deputy head came and told her she wasn't teaching properly despite the fact that at the begginging of the year she asked for help as she was struggling with them and every other teacher who has taken them has the same problem.
It is the last few weeks of term for year 6 at that school and they know it. So they don't do what they are told, not that they ever really did. And there's nothing Marj can do. The worst punishment is to lose their playtime but they don't care and of course the teacher also loses thiers whilst they have to look after them. No more standing in the corner with your hands on your head these days! Just asking whether they think they have made "a good choice" with their behaviour. So this lot will probably fail their SATS, the schools statistics will be poor, the teachers will all be in trouble, and the government will no doubt come up with another initiative as to how to make life better for the kids instead of how to make life better for the teachers. No wonder so many leave the profession.
In the last 25 years I have only been called sir by two school-aged boys and had a door opened for me to pass through before them. Both boys came from that school.
I suspect that it is not in the present educational remit for manners to be allowed, let alone taught. If they are guilty of turning out respectful, well-educated (as their results appear to suggest), pupils then more power to them however they are doing it.
Meanwhile, Marj yesterday had to deal with the class from hell, as she does every Thursday afternoon. Her deputy head came and told her she wasn't teaching properly despite the fact that at the begginging of the year she asked for help as she was struggling with them and every other teacher who has taken them has the same problem.
It is the last few weeks of term for year 6 at that school and they know it. So they don't do what they are told, not that they ever really did. And there's nothing Marj can do. The worst punishment is to lose their playtime but they don't care and of course the teacher also loses thiers whilst they have to look after them. No more standing in the corner with your hands on your head these days! Just asking whether they think they have made "a good choice" with their behaviour. So this lot will probably fail their SATS, the schools statistics will be poor, the teachers will all be in trouble, and the government will no doubt come up with another initiative as to how to make life better for the kids instead of how to make life better for the teachers. No wonder so many leave the profession.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Still Here
Haven't felt much like blogging lately although most days I'm flicking round other peoples sites.
Just had the most disastrous installation ever which I could have done without. Plenty of other negatives too but I can't be bothered with them.
On the plus side I am now entitled to drive once again having served my 12 month ban. Should have the insurance set up tomorrow and then I'm properly mobile again, much to my relief and also to Marj's who is looking forward to being chauffered at every opportunity.
Just had the most disastrous installation ever which I could have done without. Plenty of other negatives too but I can't be bothered with them.
On the plus side I am now entitled to drive once again having served my 12 month ban. Should have the insurance set up tomorrow and then I'm properly mobile again, much to my relief and also to Marj's who is looking forward to being chauffered at every opportunity.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Political Satire still lives.
I received this by email today. Just in case you haven't seen it yet.
A young man named Gordon bought a donkey from an old farmer for £100.00. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day, but when the farmer drove up he said, "Sorry son, but I have some bad news... the donkey is on my truck, but unfortunately he's dead.
Gordon replied, "Well then, just give me my money back."
The farmer said, "I can't do that, because I've spent it already.
Gordon said, "OK then, well just unload the donkey anyway.
The farmer asked, "What are you going to do with him?" Gordon answered, "I'm going to raffle him off."
To which the farmer exclaimed, "Surely you can't raffle off a dead donkey!"
But Gordon, with a wicked smile on his face said, "Of course I can, you watch me. I just won't bother to tell anybody that he's dead."
A month later the farmer met up with Gordon and asked, "What happened with that
dead donkey?"
Gordon said, "I raffled him off, sold 500 tickets at two pounds a piece, and made a huge, fat profit!!"
Totally amazed, the farmer asked, "Didn't anyone complain that you had stolen their money because you lied about the donkey being dead?"
To which Gordon replied, "The only guy who found out about the donkey being
dead was the raffle winner when he came to claim his prize. So I gave him
his £2 raffle ticket money back plus an extra £200, which as you know is double the going rate for a donkey, so he thought I was great guy!!
Gordon grew up and eventually became the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and no matter how many times he lied, or how much money he stole from the British voters, as long as he gave them back some of the stolen money, most of them, unfortunately, still thought he was a great guy.
The moral of this story is that, if you think Gordon is about to play fair and do something for the everyday people of the country for once in his miserable, lying life, think again my friend, because you'll be better off flogging a dead donkey!
A young man named Gordon bought a donkey from an old farmer for £100.00. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day, but when the farmer drove up he said, "Sorry son, but I have some bad news... the donkey is on my truck, but unfortunately he's dead.
Gordon replied, "Well then, just give me my money back."
The farmer said, "I can't do that, because I've spent it already.
Gordon said, "OK then, well just unload the donkey anyway.
The farmer asked, "What are you going to do with him?" Gordon answered, "I'm going to raffle him off."
To which the farmer exclaimed, "Surely you can't raffle off a dead donkey!"
But Gordon, with a wicked smile on his face said, "Of course I can, you watch me. I just won't bother to tell anybody that he's dead."
A month later the farmer met up with Gordon and asked, "What happened with that
dead donkey?"
Gordon said, "I raffled him off, sold 500 tickets at two pounds a piece, and made a huge, fat profit!!"
Totally amazed, the farmer asked, "Didn't anyone complain that you had stolen their money because you lied about the donkey being dead?"
To which Gordon replied, "The only guy who found out about the donkey being
dead was the raffle winner when he came to claim his prize. So I gave him
his £2 raffle ticket money back plus an extra £200, which as you know is double the going rate for a donkey, so he thought I was great guy!!
Gordon grew up and eventually became the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and no matter how many times he lied, or how much money he stole from the British voters, as long as he gave them back some of the stolen money, most of them, unfortunately, still thought he was a great guy.
The moral of this story is that, if you think Gordon is about to play fair and do something for the everyday people of the country for once in his miserable, lying life, think again my friend, because you'll be better off flogging a dead donkey!
Following the Government
In the spirit of the present government who yesterday apologised to the Argentinians for us unnacceptably killing members of their armed forces who had invaded the Falkland Islands, and in the likelihood we will then apologise for allowing 15 of our armed forces who were in Iraqi waters to be taken to Tehran and filling up their television schedules, I too have an apology.
During the 1960s I had a toy that was made in China. Unfortunatly some 6 decades earlier, during the Boxer Rebellion, some Chinese people were killed by members of the British Forces. I have however decided to apologise for my own part in those terrible affairs even though I was not born for another 60 years and I know of nobody involved.
Oh, and I think I'm personally responsible for slavery as well, although that might be someone else.
During the 1960s I had a toy that was made in China. Unfortunatly some 6 decades earlier, during the Boxer Rebellion, some Chinese people were killed by members of the British Forces. I have however decided to apologise for my own part in those terrible affairs even though I was not born for another 60 years and I know of nobody involved.
Oh, and I think I'm personally responsible for slavery as well, although that might be someone else.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The worlds gone mad! And other words to that effect.
Why has this been allowed to clog up the courts? If it was the other way round and the garage owner sued her for trespass and thus criminal dmaage I'd have though that was the right way round.
Rant, rant, not like that in my day, etc.....
Why has this been allowed to clog up the courts? If it was the other way round and the garage owner sued her for trespass and thus criminal dmaage I'd have though that was the right way round.
Rant, rant, not like that in my day, etc.....
If I Were A Rich Man
Had the flat valued today. I was ready to be happy with anything around £200k as it needs modernising.
The agent has it at £230-235K and reckons a quick sale is guaranteed cos there just aren't enough flats in the area.
Flipping Heck!
The agent has it at £230-235K and reckons a quick sale is guaranteed cos there just aren't enough flats in the area.
Flipping Heck!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Having your cake and eating it.
Not long now until Marjs' 50th and it's time to get the birthday cake. I think I'm going for the top one on this page, but as she doesn't like white chocolate I'll go for the milk chocolate curls with the mint chocolate buttercream filling.
Then again, any of them would be nice!
Then again, any of them would be nice!
Exotic Isleworth
We have a well known colony of parakeets who live in the environs of Kew Gardens and along the banks of the Thames towards Richmond. Occasionally one will venture away from the river to where Marj lives, the best part of a mile away. Today however, four of them had made the trip.
They were going mad, squawking at the tops of their voices. They probably weren't too impressed with the drizzly weather. The local birds weren't too pleased with them and kept well out of the way. No doubt going on about foreigners coming over here taking our bloody branches, etc, etc.
They were going mad, squawking at the tops of their voices. They probably weren't too impressed with the drizzly weather. The local birds weren't too pleased with them and kept well out of the way. No doubt going on about foreigners coming over here taking our bloody branches, etc, etc.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Poacher Turned Gamekeeper
Linda needs loads of brand new plastic bags to pack things in so I said I'd go to Tescos and ask them nicely for an unopened box of carriers and explain why.
I trundled down to Tescos and explained the situation. A manager came down and explained that Tescos were trying to stop their customers using too many plastic bags as it was bad for the environment.
I explained I have at 6 large black plastic sacks and three large cartons of non-recyclable plastic packaging in my garage, the majority of which comes from Tescos and that Linda won't throw it away and it is not-re-cyclable. We actually throw nothing away. If it isn't in recyclable packaging we don't buy it and we therefore are pretty much 99% green in that respect.
It didn't of course persuade him to give me the bags, but I'm buggered if I'm going to be lectured on green issues by a lackey from a company who probably contribute more to the waste packaging mountain than any other company.
As an exercise, next time you are in a supermarket. stop near the entrance and see how much floorspace there is, then how many products there are, and subsequently how much packaging there must be in there at this very moment. Then realise that quite a lot of the stuff gets replaced on a daily or less that daily basis. And that's just one store of one supermarket. I'm not preaching from the recyclers bible, I really don't care if you recycle or not, but it does give you a damn good idea why we are running out of landfill.
I trundled down to Tescos and explained the situation. A manager came down and explained that Tescos were trying to stop their customers using too many plastic bags as it was bad for the environment.
I explained I have at 6 large black plastic sacks and three large cartons of non-recyclable plastic packaging in my garage, the majority of which comes from Tescos and that Linda won't throw it away and it is not-re-cyclable. We actually throw nothing away. If it isn't in recyclable packaging we don't buy it and we therefore are pretty much 99% green in that respect.
It didn't of course persuade him to give me the bags, but I'm buggered if I'm going to be lectured on green issues by a lackey from a company who probably contribute more to the waste packaging mountain than any other company.
As an exercise, next time you are in a supermarket. stop near the entrance and see how much floorspace there is, then how many products there are, and subsequently how much packaging there must be in there at this very moment. Then realise that quite a lot of the stuff gets replaced on a daily or less that daily basis. And that's just one store of one supermarket. I'm not preaching from the recyclers bible, I really don't care if you recycle or not, but it does give you a damn good idea why we are running out of landfill.
Rich Man, Poor Man
The other day I was in Central London and noyiced a restaurant that hd a strarter of Poor Mans Tuscan Bean Soup. This formed part of a menu that was £25 for 3 courses!
Okay, not outlandish, but it did make me laugh.
Okay, not outlandish, but it did make me laugh.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Catch Up
Noticeable once again by my absence,
Chaos reigns supreme. Eviction looms. Trying to get an obsessive compulsive to pack stuff is an uphill struggle. You and I might decide clothes, electrical items and other white goods are most important. Linda prefers packing all the empty packaging, from hand soap containers to empty vaseline tins. It adds to the stress somewhat.
Still, unless I do something to upset google at least I won't get evicted from this blog.
Chaos reigns supreme. Eviction looms. Trying to get an obsessive compulsive to pack stuff is an uphill struggle. You and I might decide clothes, electrical items and other white goods are most important. Linda prefers packing all the empty packaging, from hand soap containers to empty vaseline tins. It adds to the stress somewhat.
Still, unless I do something to upset google at least I won't get evicted from this blog.
Friday, February 23, 2007
How Times Have Changed
Normally I am heading off for this trade fair. However, due to Marj's upcoming venture, tomorrow we travel to Harrogate to spend Sunday at
This one!!!!!
I wonder which will be the more enjoyable?
This one!!!!!
I wonder which will be the more enjoyable?
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Luxury
Can there be a feeling as great as going to bed when you are really tired? Finally getting to lie down and take the weight off. Stretching out and making yourself comfy.
Bliss.
Bliss.
It's an unfair cop.
Yesterday, whilst waiting for a bus, a car belonging to the local constabulary came winging it's way along Brentford High Street on an emergency call. A van managed to get in it's way. The police car wasn't going particularly fast because of the amount of traffic as it weaved in and out so it didn't have to brake hard. The police obviously didn't appreciate being held up as, having lost a few precious seconds they decided they had enough time to stop and shout at the van driver before speeding off.
To my knowledge, it isn't an offence to inadvertently block the progress of an emergency vehicle. Indeed, I think it is only convention and following advice in the highway code that we let them through anyway. Am I right, or did he break the law. Of course, if he didn't, the police in that car are guilty of road rage.
I wonder if it was the same coppers who going down Boston Manor Road last wek ended up at the back of a long queue of trafic waiting for lights at some roadworks to change. How lucky then that just as they got there they received an "emergency call" that required them to put on the old flashing lights and go straight ahead past everybody. I wonder if by some miraculous chance just as they got past, the emergency call was cancelled?
Cynical? Moi?
To my knowledge, it isn't an offence to inadvertently block the progress of an emergency vehicle. Indeed, I think it is only convention and following advice in the highway code that we let them through anyway. Am I right, or did he break the law. Of course, if he didn't, the police in that car are guilty of road rage.
I wonder if it was the same coppers who going down Boston Manor Road last wek ended up at the back of a long queue of trafic waiting for lights at some roadworks to change. How lucky then that just as they got there they received an "emergency call" that required them to put on the old flashing lights and go straight ahead past everybody. I wonder if by some miraculous chance just as they got past, the emergency call was cancelled?
Cynical? Moi?
Friday, January 26, 2007
Three months and counting
I can't remember the exact date but I'm about nine months in and just three months to go until my driving ban finishes give or take a day.
The only real headache has been that it takes so much longer to travel anywhere by public transport.
It has been much cheaper than driving though.
The only real headache has been that it takes so much longer to travel anywhere by public transport.
It has been much cheaper than driving though.
Tube vs Metro
During the trip to Paris we got about on the Metro.
On sunday we used 5 lines for as many journeys. Not once did we have to wait more than 3 minutes for a train. It meant that we were able to spend more time sight seeing knowing that we could predict our travelling time back to base with pretty good accuracy.
Has anybody using the tube in London ever managed to get 5 trains in a row with less than a three minute wait for each?
No, I thought not.
And it adds insult to injury that it costs a damn sight more to travel by tube than Metro.
On sunday we used 5 lines for as many journeys. Not once did we have to wait more than 3 minutes for a train. It meant that we were able to spend more time sight seeing knowing that we could predict our travelling time back to base with pretty good accuracy.
Has anybody using the tube in London ever managed to get 5 trains in a row with less than a three minute wait for each?
No, I thought not.
And it adds insult to injury that it costs a damn sight more to travel by tube than Metro.
A better class of bomber
If the 21/7 bombers were so proud to become martyrs had their bombs gone off why are they no longer proud to admit to the cause.
In the old days any self-respecting bomber would have used a trial for making political points rather than trying to get off.
In the old days any self-respecting bomber would have used a trial for making political points rather than trying to get off.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Paris Texas France
Next weekend a mate is having his 50th birthday trip to Paris. I'll be visiting Sacre Couer as I've never been inside it and we might go to Versailles on the Sunday, but if we have spare time does anyone have a tip for a little known place to visit that's a real gem?
Human Rights Violation
Following on from the story last week that two escaped prisoners could not be identified by picture as it might infringe their human rights we now have a story that a youth offender who tried to commit suicide but was cut down has won about £575,000 because his human rights were violated.
Something surely has to be done about this misuse of the Human Rights Act and it is a misuse. It seems to be interpreted by everyone and his dog as a violation of right the moment you aren't allowed to do whatever you want. The problem will come that if it is used for cases such as the above, it will become harder for real cases of violation to get heard quickly, and also to be taken seriously.
A couple of points though. Firstly, if that offender had been allowed to kill himself, i.e. not cut down when they found him, then surely it would have made euthanasia legal and set a precedent. Secondly, had he died, then his family could have sued the Prison Service for negligence. A rather dangegous precedent thus set, as it means if someone tries to commit suicide, whether they are successful or not, there will be a payout.
Something surely has to be done about this misuse of the Human Rights Act and it is a misuse. It seems to be interpreted by everyone and his dog as a violation of right the moment you aren't allowed to do whatever you want. The problem will come that if it is used for cases such as the above, it will become harder for real cases of violation to get heard quickly, and also to be taken seriously.
A couple of points though. Firstly, if that offender had been allowed to kill himself, i.e. not cut down when they found him, then surely it would have made euthanasia legal and set a precedent. Secondly, had he died, then his family could have sued the Prison Service for negligence. A rather dangegous precedent thus set, as it means if someone tries to commit suicide, whether they are successful or not, there will be a payout.
Monday, January 08, 2007
The Upper Class on The Upper Deck
One gets used to the chavs of London letting their offspring cavort around the bus, using it as there own personal playground and running and climbing over seats, passengers, stairwells, but now even the posh kids are at it.
On the 137 earlier today a woman with a particularly refined accent had her two kids with her, one of which was laying on the window ledge of the front upstairs window between the glass and the railing. They were discussing it's upcoming birthday party which would be attended, as best I remember, by Morgan, Charles, Samantha, Gregory but I don't think there were any Waynes or Chardonnays on the guest list. Just as well the bus didn't hit something as said child wouldn't be seeing it's birthday. The stupidity of some parents is amazing.
I nearly said something but suddenly remembered I'm a tradesman and hadn't been spoken to first. Luckily I still know my place!
On the 137 earlier today a woman with a particularly refined accent had her two kids with her, one of which was laying on the window ledge of the front upstairs window between the glass and the railing. They were discussing it's upcoming birthday party which would be attended, as best I remember, by Morgan, Charles, Samantha, Gregory but I don't think there were any Waynes or Chardonnays on the guest list. Just as well the bus didn't hit something as said child wouldn't be seeing it's birthday. The stupidity of some parents is amazing.
I nearly said something but suddenly remembered I'm a tradesman and hadn't been spoken to first. Luckily I still know my place!
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Hello 2007
So I'm back online you'll be pleased to hear. (cough). And probably even more pleased to hear that I don't have a list of New Year Resolutions. Except the one which is to throw out the bathroom scales which have developed a serious error of making me 4 lbs heavier than three weeks ago.
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