As one of my friends said, 'Long may he rest in peace. It must be pure chaos where ever he is now.'
Showing posts with label U.K.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.K.. Show all posts
Thursday, 27 February 2020
Spike Milligan
So, today is the anniversary of the death of the greatest comedian ever to grace these shores with his presence. Let us celebrate him with a quote from 'Puckoon', one of the funniest books ever written..........."Well, he thought, you can fool some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time, which is just long enough to be President of the United States"
As one of my friends said, 'Long may he rest in peace. It must be pure chaos where ever he is now.'
As one of my friends said, 'Long may he rest in peace. It must be pure chaos where ever he is now.'
Saturday, 26 January 2013
So.... this is 2013.....
It hasn't started too well. The CBF1000 has developed an electrical fault and won't start, and the little Hornet is feeling very neglected because I haven't ridden it so far this year.
However, what have I got planned so far?
Well, first thing up will be the Annual MayDay extravaganza at Hastings. Now that's a day I really love. If the weather's good, there'll be 20,000+ bikes there - a chance to see what everyone has been working on over the long, cold, Winter months. We always go with two of our best friends, and inevitably end up going for a meal at the Woolpack, in the middle of Romney Marsh.
Don't want to be too late getting home this year though, because the very next day, I leave on the Hornet for Derbyshire for a few days. I've booked myself into a nice pub in a tiny village well out of the way, and hopefully the weather will be nice enough to do some serious exploring of the High Peaks and the moors.
June will see the two of us heading North. We're having a few days in the Lake District - with a diversion for me to Samye Ling for a bit of soul cleansing, and then on to Harrogate for a few days playing in the Dales, and on the North Yorks Moors.
July? We're off for an extra long weekend in Cornwall. We'll be staying in Bodmin, as it's more or less central, and will give us access to the whole of Cornwall.
Both of those trips will be done on the CBF1000, with him on the XRunner.
Then, end of August, I will make my annual pilgrimage to North Wales, staying, as always, with Chris at her pub in Knucklas. Another one for the Hornet. I really can't get enough of the Welsh roads and scenery. Just never tire of being there. And, of course, one of Sue's delicious curries will be partaken of.
Then, September, first the Ace Caff Brighton Bash, and then the Steelers finally come to Wembley! At long last I'll get to see the team I've supported for nearly 30 years, in the flesh. And I've got a new team top to wear, courtesy of Rene and Brooke, my Christmas present from them. This will be followed by another trip to Wembley in October for the 49ers match - that's Brooke's team.
Interspersed with these trips, will be Hornet's Nest events - which I really must try to get to this year. Throw in one or two bead fairs and the such, and you can see I'm going to be really busy this year.
Talking of Ren and Brookie, it doesn't seem possible they've been married almost a year! I envy them the trip they're doing for their anniversary. They're flying out to Vienna, then back packing up through Salzburg, Bratislava and other places, to Berlin and flying home from there.
I say I envy them, but of course, I would if I could do it by bike. There's no way I'd walk that kind of distance!
I wish you well with whatever plans you have for this year. Here's hoping we finally get some decent weather.
However, what have I got planned so far?
Well, first thing up will be the Annual MayDay extravaganza at Hastings. Now that's a day I really love. If the weather's good, there'll be 20,000+ bikes there - a chance to see what everyone has been working on over the long, cold, Winter months. We always go with two of our best friends, and inevitably end up going for a meal at the Woolpack, in the middle of Romney Marsh.
Don't want to be too late getting home this year though, because the very next day, I leave on the Hornet for Derbyshire for a few days. I've booked myself into a nice pub in a tiny village well out of the way, and hopefully the weather will be nice enough to do some serious exploring of the High Peaks and the moors.
June will see the two of us heading North. We're having a few days in the Lake District - with a diversion for me to Samye Ling for a bit of soul cleansing, and then on to Harrogate for a few days playing in the Dales, and on the North Yorks Moors.
July? We're off for an extra long weekend in Cornwall. We'll be staying in Bodmin, as it's more or less central, and will give us access to the whole of Cornwall.
Both of those trips will be done on the CBF1000, with him on the XRunner.
Then, end of August, I will make my annual pilgrimage to North Wales, staying, as always, with Chris at her pub in Knucklas. Another one for the Hornet. I really can't get enough of the Welsh roads and scenery. Just never tire of being there. And, of course, one of Sue's delicious curries will be partaken of.
Then, September, first the Ace Caff Brighton Bash, and then the Steelers finally come to Wembley! At long last I'll get to see the team I've supported for nearly 30 years, in the flesh. And I've got a new team top to wear, courtesy of Rene and Brooke, my Christmas present from them. This will be followed by another trip to Wembley in October for the 49ers match - that's Brooke's team.
Interspersed with these trips, will be Hornet's Nest events - which I really must try to get to this year. Throw in one or two bead fairs and the such, and you can see I'm going to be really busy this year.
Talking of Ren and Brookie, it doesn't seem possible they've been married almost a year! I envy them the trip they're doing for their anniversary. They're flying out to Vienna, then back packing up through Salzburg, Bratislava and other places, to Berlin and flying home from there.
I say I envy them, but of course, I would if I could do it by bike. There's no way I'd walk that kind of distance!
I wish you well with whatever plans you have for this year. Here's hoping we finally get some decent weather.
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
So, Ferry 'Cross The Mersey.............
Well, actually, not. I didn't take the ferry, but I have just come back from a few days in Liverpool.
Can't make up my mind whether I like Liverpool, or not. It has its' good and bad points.
Since we were last there. it has undergone some remarkable modernisation and regeneration. Unfortunately, this has left the main shopping area seeming no different from other cities and towns. I regret the loss of Lewis's department store. We went in there just before it closed its' doors, mostly because I wanted to see inside the wonderful Art Deco building that housed it, and it is sad to see such an old family-run firm gone.
However, the regeneration of the waterfront, particularly around the Albert Dock, is excellent. As well as the new Arena for events (what imaginative person thought up THAT name?), there's the new Museum of Liverpool. We thought we'd poke around in there for an hour or so, and ended up being in there for over 4 hours! We'd done the Museum of Slavery and the Maritime Museum last time we were in Liverpool, so didn't expect much more of interest to come from this new collection.
How wrong we were! It gives a fascinating insight into past ways of life in Liverpool's heyday, as well as feature areas dedicated to the cities' more famous sons and daughters. You can't escape the Beatles. From the Beatles Story at Albert Dock, to the Cavern Club in Matthews Street, they are everywhere. And rightly so. They are, after all, the most important group in the history of popular music. But, down by the docks, between Albert Dock and the new museum, is a statue of Billy Fury. Long one of my all-time favourite singers, he is much neglected in my opinion. It was good to see him featured in the Museum.
The other person featured, who gets an entire gallery all to herself currently, is the late Dame Beryl Bainbridge. Yes, I'd heard of her, but no, I was not over familiar with either her novels or her paintings. The gallery was quite an eye-opener. I can't say I liked all of her work, but one or two really made an impression on me, such as this - 'Boarding The Titanic' from the late 1990s.
Anyway, the upshot of this is, I've been researching Dame Beryl, and I now have a thirst to read some of her novels. Apparently she was runner-up for the Booker Prize 5 times! How has she slipped through my net?
Well, so, the trip wasn't an entire waste of time, from a cultural point of view.
Oh, and did I mention the plethora of SuperLambBananas? If you've never heard of them, or seen them, they are everywhere in Liverpool. There was only one, when we first went there, now.....oh dear..........
Can't make up my mind whether I like Liverpool, or not. It has its' good and bad points.
Since we were last there. it has undergone some remarkable modernisation and regeneration. Unfortunately, this has left the main shopping area seeming no different from other cities and towns. I regret the loss of Lewis's department store. We went in there just before it closed its' doors, mostly because I wanted to see inside the wonderful Art Deco building that housed it, and it is sad to see such an old family-run firm gone.
However, the regeneration of the waterfront, particularly around the Albert Dock, is excellent. As well as the new Arena for events (what imaginative person thought up THAT name?), there's the new Museum of Liverpool. We thought we'd poke around in there for an hour or so, and ended up being in there for over 4 hours! We'd done the Museum of Slavery and the Maritime Museum last time we were in Liverpool, so didn't expect much more of interest to come from this new collection.
How wrong we were! It gives a fascinating insight into past ways of life in Liverpool's heyday, as well as feature areas dedicated to the cities' more famous sons and daughters. You can't escape the Beatles. From the Beatles Story at Albert Dock, to the Cavern Club in Matthews Street, they are everywhere. And rightly so. They are, after all, the most important group in the history of popular music. But, down by the docks, between Albert Dock and the new museum, is a statue of Billy Fury. Long one of my all-time favourite singers, he is much neglected in my opinion. It was good to see him featured in the Museum.
The other person featured, who gets an entire gallery all to herself currently, is the late Dame Beryl Bainbridge. Yes, I'd heard of her, but no, I was not over familiar with either her novels or her paintings. The gallery was quite an eye-opener. I can't say I liked all of her work, but one or two really made an impression on me, such as this - 'Boarding The Titanic' from the late 1990s.
Anyway, the upshot of this is, I've been researching Dame Beryl, and I now have a thirst to read some of her novels. Apparently she was runner-up for the Booker Prize 5 times! How has she slipped through my net?
Well, so, the trip wasn't an entire waste of time, from a cultural point of view.
Oh, and did I mention the plethora of SuperLambBananas? If you've never heard of them, or seen them, they are everywhere in Liverpool. There was only one, when we first went there, now.....oh dear..........
Sunday, 20 May 2012
What to do - or not - in Somerset
Well, the riding season is upon us once again, and I've just spent a very pleasant few days in Somerset, despite the weather.
This is what I learned:
1. DON'T pull onto the edge of a pub carpark to consult your map, or 15 minutes later, you'll STILL be throwing a stick for a very insistant collie dog
2. soft tyres + heavy rain + Porlock Hill is NOT fun
3. When your map says 'scenic route' it's pointless doing it in thick fog. Mind, the roadside banks were rather pretty
4. DON'T go down the 1 in 4 hill into Malmsmead when it's pissing it down unless you like going down hills sideways
5. cake + lake + friend = excellent afternoon
6. Don't let Buzzby chase swallows unless the cafe owners like birds flying round inside their tea rooms
7. When you're at a sleepy little harbour village, it's not the fact that those 6 ladies in very smart business suits are standing outside a bar swilling beer and smoking cigars that seems incongruous, it's the fact that they're all men.......
8. Only stand on top of Clifton Suspension Bridge in a strong wind if you like your hair getting all knotted up
9. When a guy on a 1400 Kwak blasts past you going up Cheddar Gorge, don't mutter 'prick' under your breath, as for sure, when you go round the next bend, you'll have to swerve to avoid him and his bike lying in the middle of the road. ('pillock' would be more apt)
Quite a learning curve, I think..........
This is what I learned:
1. DON'T pull onto the edge of a pub carpark to consult your map, or 15 minutes later, you'll STILL be throwing a stick for a very insistant collie dog
2. soft tyres + heavy rain + Porlock Hill is NOT fun
3. When your map says 'scenic route' it's pointless doing it in thick fog. Mind, the roadside banks were rather pretty
4. DON'T go down the 1 in 4 hill into Malmsmead when it's pissing it down unless you like going down hills sideways
5. cake + lake + friend = excellent afternoon
6. Don't let Buzzby chase swallows unless the cafe owners like birds flying round inside their tea rooms
7. When you're at a sleepy little harbour village, it's not the fact that those 6 ladies in very smart business suits are standing outside a bar swilling beer and smoking cigars that seems incongruous, it's the fact that they're all men.......
8. Only stand on top of Clifton Suspension Bridge in a strong wind if you like your hair getting all knotted up
9. When a guy on a 1400 Kwak blasts past you going up Cheddar Gorge, don't mutter 'prick' under your breath, as for sure, when you go round the next bend, you'll have to swerve to avoid him and his bike lying in the middle of the road. ('pillock' would be more apt)
Quite a learning curve, I think..........
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Immigration
Although I'm not prejudiced in any way, shape or form, I must admit this did make me chuckle a bit............well, OK, a lot.............
Now, as I said, I'm not prejudiced, but there are far too many immigrants coming to the UK.
It doesn't matter what nationality or religion they are, these overcrowded little islands just don't have room for them.
I know that a lot come here seeking ways to better themselves, and who can blame them? We moan and gripe when things get tough, but there's people out there a whole lot worse off than ourselves. And if you were in their position, wouldn't you try to make a better life for yourself and your family?
On the other side of the coin, there are those who come here (quite often illegally), because they perceive the UK as an easy touch.
Mind - there's indigenous folk who perceive the UK as an easy touch as well. ;)
Point is, we have 3.5 million unemployed. OK, so take out the 1m or so who prefer to live off the state, rather than earn their keep, there's still a shortage of work. I work in an industry that, over the past two years, has seen over 60% of all its' work outsourced to the growing eastern economies, particularly India. This has only served to worsen the economy back home.
I'm not stupid. I understand the logical choice of employers to do this, but it hasn't helped. And now, with a virtually open door policy that permits European residents to live and work where ever they choose, the poor old UK is bursting at the seams.
Our National Health Service (one of the 'institutions' that foreigners find so admirable) is stretched to the limit - to the point where it is often cheaper, and quicker for people to go abroad for treatment. And after the recent world financial market debacle, and the current cutbacks to pay off the UK debt mountain, things are not going to get better any time soon.
I've not got any answers, I'm no economist, but I do care, and I am worried. I'm getting to the end of my working career, and indeed, my '4 score years and ten'. But what will the future hold for my son? Or his children, should he ever find the right woman......................
From where I'm sitting, the future is not Orange, it's not even bright..........................
Now, as I said, I'm not prejudiced, but there are far too many immigrants coming to the UK.
It doesn't matter what nationality or religion they are, these overcrowded little islands just don't have room for them.
I know that a lot come here seeking ways to better themselves, and who can blame them? We moan and gripe when things get tough, but there's people out there a whole lot worse off than ourselves. And if you were in their position, wouldn't you try to make a better life for yourself and your family?
On the other side of the coin, there are those who come here (quite often illegally), because they perceive the UK as an easy touch.
Mind - there's indigenous folk who perceive the UK as an easy touch as well. ;)
Point is, we have 3.5 million unemployed. OK, so take out the 1m or so who prefer to live off the state, rather than earn their keep, there's still a shortage of work. I work in an industry that, over the past two years, has seen over 60% of all its' work outsourced to the growing eastern economies, particularly India. This has only served to worsen the economy back home.
I'm not stupid. I understand the logical choice of employers to do this, but it hasn't helped. And now, with a virtually open door policy that permits European residents to live and work where ever they choose, the poor old UK is bursting at the seams.
Our National Health Service (one of the 'institutions' that foreigners find so admirable) is stretched to the limit - to the point where it is often cheaper, and quicker for people to go abroad for treatment. And after the recent world financial market debacle, and the current cutbacks to pay off the UK debt mountain, things are not going to get better any time soon.
I've not got any answers, I'm no economist, but I do care, and I am worried. I'm getting to the end of my working career, and indeed, my '4 score years and ten'. But what will the future hold for my son? Or his children, should he ever find the right woman......................
From where I'm sitting, the future is not Orange, it's not even bright..........................
Thursday, 3 June 2010
My other blog
It was while I was writing the bit about Slapton Sands on this blog, that I realised that I've got literally hundreds of photos of places I've been, and loved, so I decided to set up another blog, to try and do justice to the beautiful country we call 'home'.
You'll find the link in the 'Links' section on this page. It's called 'My British Isles'.
You know, they keep on about people staying at home because of ash clouds, air fares, air miles, etc., but personally speaking, I'd be more than happy if everyone holidayed abroad, so that I've got the roads and the beautiful scenery to myself.
Trouble is, the British Tourist industry would soon go bust! Ah well, can't have it all ways, I suppose.
Anyway, if you like the UK, please take a look - you may find it a bit surprising. It's not just the places you'd expect to visit..........
But then, I'm seriously odd!
You'll find the link in the 'Links' section on this page. It's called 'My British Isles'.
You know, they keep on about people staying at home because of ash clouds, air fares, air miles, etc., but personally speaking, I'd be more than happy if everyone holidayed abroad, so that I've got the roads and the beautiful scenery to myself.
Trouble is, the British Tourist industry would soon go bust! Ah well, can't have it all ways, I suppose.
Anyway, if you like the UK, please take a look - you may find it a bit surprising. It's not just the places you'd expect to visit..........
But then, I'm seriously odd!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
