- Mick's Page -

Next Time I'll be...............

2012-01-07T11:41:00.000Z

- Next Time I'll be the Photographer -

No need for a write up the photographs says it all

One very lucky Ranger

[Source unknown]

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R.U. 45-yrs and Older

2012-01-06T11:21:00.002Z

- The Slippery Slope -

Oh!!! my goodness is it nearly forty years ago I started to deteriorate, apparently so according to this report shown here - [source BBC-web page].

I have to admit it is somewhat true in some respects, not all of it mind you.   I’m finding that my learning ability and memory has declined down as the years have flown by.   What is so damn annoying is that I spend 1-day learning a ‘new thing’ - [computer program example] and during that day practice, practice opening and using it, when I think I’ve finally cracked it I have great pleasure and happiness knowing that my resolve is complete not to let a piece of electronic equipment beat me.

What is so damn frustrating is that next morning have mostly forgotten how to use it, not all of it mind you but a large portion of it.   Back to the user manual and then follow the instructions again.   Once again practice, practice and more practice until it becomes second nature and then I don’t have to think it comes purely automatic and repetitive.

Names and dates are my worst memory loss, I’ve always have problems remembering dates and names, names especially, occasionally this has caused some embarrassment but have managed to fluff my way through until it finally clicks.

45-year of age, the slippery slop begins so those of you who are bordering on 45 or perhaps older you have something to look forward too [Ha,Ha]

Given with age various functions do deteriorate, thats true, I know I can no longer do the following, 10-miles in 2-hours fully kitted out with 65-lbs on my back, run a mile in 9-minutes, carry a fully kitted out soldier in the fireman's carry 1-hundred yards in xx-minutes. jump 6-foot ditches, scale a 9-foot wall, swing on ropes, clamber through water ducts but hey!!! who wants to do that when you’re getting older or have got old.

Not to worry, in my time I’ve eaten to excess, I’ve smoked since the age of 15-years - [pipe] and have had my fair share of alcohol although I don’t drink now.   My Doctor is now pleased with me having lost 2-stone in weight in 6-months, reduced blood pressure to a level which he [the Doctor didn’t believe at first and took two more tests to confirm] said was very good.   My blood test a couple of months ago showed that I’m no longer a type 2 diabetic although this has always been a bone of contention for me, me not believing I was a type 2 in the first place.

I’m 80-per cent happy with my health 100-per cent happy with my little lot - luck or lucky no way for I don’t believe in ‘luck’, what I process and what I have has been achieved through shear determination and attitude.   I believe in going for ‘it‘, if I can’t afford it I save, an event or situation once I’ve set my sights on it then go for it 100-per cent and not be put off by obstacles.

Note: The path of Tia Chi is the way to go
My Way, my Life, my Thing.

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Returning Absentee

2012-01-05T13:35:00.001Z

- Returning Absentee -

Hi all visitors.

Where the hell have I been for the last six weeks or so, well!, you may well ask?.   I’m not going to bore you with all the mundane events that happened suffice to say some of them for me quite serious but with time and careful thought and planning I feel I weathered them reasonable well.

Over this period of time I became ‘Brain Dead’ - OK what brain???, these events took an enormous amount of my ‘Go with the flow’ attitude and not to be so aggressive, but, when you are dealing idiots and fools my patiences and endurance is sorely tested.

The Christmas period was a great help mainly due to me retiring to my castle, draw bridge up and portcullis down - [Yes there was a holly wreath on the draw bridge] a period of respite, a period or recovery for me to get my act together and resolve, dare I say stressful events.    All the various Companies, Departments having closed down for Christmas weren’t bothering me with their e-mails and letters too much nevertheless with January they are still there and now flooding me with demands for a reply.

Some of these events require me to make decisions which may be for a short term solution or hopefully will resolve them permanently, time will tell!!!.   January will see me burning the midnight oil researching and having in-depth thinking about the best solutions

What astonished me was that when I at long last opened my e-mail box the one I keep for spurious and junk mail to find over 500-plus e-mails. all trying to either sell me something or wanting me to subscribe to some fictitious program or asking me for personnel details.   Most of these junk e-mails want me to purchase a manly figure improve pill or device why on earth they should think this is beyond me anyway my Doctor prescribe those remedial pills should the need arise [excuse the pun].

LOOK FORWARD.

New blog design.
New theme.
More News.
Fun with laughing photographs and articles.

Looking forward to the New Year of 2012 and I wish everyone health wealth and happiness.

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Honor in being a Warrior

2012-01-05T10:03:00.000Z

- Honor in being a Warrior -
[This is truly amazing]

Look carefully at the B-17 and note how shot up it is - one engine dead, tail, horizontal stabilizer and nose shot up. It was ready to fall out of the sky. (This is a painting done by an artist from the description of both pilots many years later.) Then realize that there is a German ME-109 fighter flying next to it. Now read the story below. I think you'll be surprised...

Charlie Brown was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at Kimbolton , England . His B-17 was called 'Ye Old Pub' and was in a terrible state, having been hit by flak and fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.

After flying the B-17 over an enemy airfield, a German pilot named Franz Steigler was ordered to take off and shoot down the B-17. When he got near the B-17, he could not believe his eyes. In his words, he 'had never seen a plane in such a bad state'.. The tail and rear section was severely damaged, and the tail gunner wounded. The top gunner was all over the top of the fuselage. The nose was smashed and there were holes everywhere. Despite having ammunition, Franz flew to the side of the B-17 and looked at Charlie Brown, the pilot. Brown was scared and struggling to control his damaged and blood-stained plane.

Aware that they had no idea where they were going, Franz waved at Charlie to turn 180 degrees. Franz escorted and guided the stricken plane to, and slightly over, the North Sea towards England .. He then saluted Charlie Brown and turned away, back to Europe ..

When Franz landed he told the CO that the plane had been shot down over the sea, and never told the truth to anybody. Charlie Brown and the remains of his crew told all at their briefing, but were ordered never to talk about it.

More than 40 years later, Charlie Brown wanted to find the Luftwaffe pilot who saved the crew. After years of research, Franz was found. He had never talked about the incident, not even at post-war reunions.
They met in the USA at a 379th Bomber Group reunion, together with 25 people who were alive - all because Franz never fired his guns that day.

(L-R) German Ace Franz Stigler, artist Ernie Boyett, and B-17 pilot Charlie Brown.

When asked why he didn't shoot them down, Stigler later said, "I didn't have the heart to finish those brave men. I flew beside them for a long time. They were trying desperately to get home and I was going to let them do that. I could not have shot at them. It would have been the same as shooting at a man in a parachute." [Both men died in 2008.]

This is a true story..

This was back in the days when there was honor in being a warrior. They proudly wore uniforms, and they didn't hide behind women and children, nor did they plant bombs amidst innocent crowds.

How times have changed........
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Me being Me.

2011-12-20T11:13:00.000Z

- What Ever Happened To....... -

What a last four/five weeks I’ve had, five weeks of not knowing what else is around the corner I’m beginning to question my resolve since August of ‘Going with flow and not being so aggressive’ to the Authorities and those hell bent on making my existence unpleasant and believe me there are a few other then ’Name and Shame’ will remain nameless. For the life of me I can not understand why ‘people‘ have to be so deliberately offensive, so un helpful, obnoxious, consciously and intentionally damn right rude I feel sure they are trying to provoke me to retaliating in their fashion, provoke me they will not for I remember my go with the flow and adopt a superior attitude and just smuggle smile at them.

No way am I going to list all those niggling little events and I suppose nothing really to complain about but they have to be righted but dear oh! dear they are so time consuming and so darn frustrating.   Most of them are caused by ‘others’ not doing their jobs correctly or lacking interest and knowledge.   Most of my ‘shopping‘ [?] is done on line and whats so galling is when you have crossed all the ‘T’s‘ and dotted the ‘I’s” ‘they get it wrong and this leads to endless e-mails and some phone calls to sort out the events they have caused.    It would help if you ‘spoke‘ to the same person each time, call centers are by far the worst especially if when the person can barely talk and understand English.   I thought at first it was my fault, me with my accent or the common slang words I am accustomed in using but no, talking to others who use the internet and have shopped on line they too say the same.

Coming up to the Christmas period a period of time I thought was the time for ‘Good Will to all’ Yeah right ? well for me it seems as if you have to have very sharp elbows, tunnel vision and go for it doesn’t matter who gets in the way,   Good manners - gone, politeness - gone.   This is just me with thoughts on good manners, evan before this festival period few and far between, the words ‘Thank You’, ‘Please’, ‘The cheery smile and nod of the head’ what few there were before have now completely gone.   Bah!!!! I simply refuse to join in this attitude and [OK I know this is me saying this] will still cary on with my [?] being good mannered.

A ‘Jackist’ I am not and never will be.

Sour grapes, my rant, possibly!!, feeling better now - yes.

Christmas for me, my choice and my way withdraw into my castle, drawbridge up, portcullis down, front doorbell and telephone disconnected Normal service what ever normal service is will be resumed 2nd January.   My only communication for this period will be Skype, e-mail or other forms of computer language.

To all visitors I hope you all have a very good and joyful Christmas time.

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Going Green - Yeah !!..........

2011-11-24T07:17:00.001Z

[Back in my childhood days and early youth I was a weedy boy, all skin and bones caused mainly by the shortages we suffered from the ‘War Years’, this all changed when I received the ‘King’s Shilling' and then I never looked back turning into a hunky, handsome, polite, good mannered. muscular man - [thats my opinion and I’m sticking by it]. The following certainly holds good. Environmental Friendly we were through necessity.]

- THE GREEN THING -

In the queue at the Supermarket the other day, the young check girl told me that I should bring my own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

I immediately apologized to her and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The check out girl said, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."

She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.   Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But we didn't have the green thing back in my day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go a couple of miles

But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in my day.

Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 240 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But she was right we didn't have the green thing back in my day.

Back then, we had one very small B & W TV-set or a radio, in the house -- not a TV-set in every room.   And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of Wales!

In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.   When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.

We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mums into a 24-hour taxi service.

We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances and we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest chip shop.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Yeah, right!!!!

The above has been slightly modified - Source unknown
------ooo000ooo------

Intelligence At Its Best

2011-11-23T15:50:00.001Z

- Intelligence At Its Best -

[Apologies to the overseas visitors who may not understand the humor]

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE (BBC2)
Jeremy Paxman: What is another name for 'cherrypickers' and 'cheesemongers'?
Contestant: Homosexuals.
Jeremy Paxman: No. They're regiments in the British Army who will be very upset with you.

BEG, BORROW OR STEAL (BBC2)
Jamie Theakston:   Where do you think Cambridge University is?
Contestant:   Geography isn't my strong point.
Jamie Theakston:   There's a clue in the title.
Contestant:    Leicester.

BBC NORFOLK
Stewart White:   Who had a worldwide hit with What A Wonderful World?
Contestant:   I don't know
Stewart White:   I'll give you some clues: what do you call the part between your hand and your elbow?
Contestant:   Arm
Stewart White:   Correct and if you're not weak, you're...?
Contestant:   Strong.
Stewart White:   Correct - and what was Lord Mountbatten's first name?
Contestant:   Louis
Stewart White:   Well, there we are then. So who had a worldwide hit with the song What A Wonderful World?
Contestant:   Frank Sinatra?

LATE SHOW (BBC MIDLANDS)
Alex Trelinski:   What is the capital of Italy?
Contestant:   France.
Trelinski:   France is another country...try again.
Contestant:   Oh, um, Benidorm.
Trelinski:   Wrong, sorry, let's try another question. In which country is the Parthenon?
Contestant:   Sorry, I don't know.
Trelinski:   Just guess a country then..
Contestant:   Paris.

THE WEAKEST LINK (BBC2)
Anne Robinson:   Oscar Wilde, Adolf Hitler and Jeffrey Archer have all written books about their experiences in what: - Prison, or the Conservative Party?
Contestant:   The Conservative Party.

BEACON RADIO (WOLVERHAMPTON)
DJ Mark:   For 10, what is the nationality of the Pope?
Ruth from Rowley Regis:   I think I know that one. Is it Jewish?

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE
Bamber Gascoyne:   What was Gandhi's first name?
Contestant:   Goosey?

GWR FM (Bristol)
Presenter:   What happened in Dallas on November 22, 1963?
Contestant:   I don't know, I wasn't watching it then.

PHIL WOOD SHOW (BBC RADIO ???MANCHESTER)
Phil:   What's 11 squared?
Contestant:   I don't know.
Phil:   I'll give you a clue. It's two ones with a two in the middle.
Contestant:   Is it five?

RICHARD AND JUDY
Richard:   Which American actor is married to Nicole Kidman?
Contestant:   Forrest Gump.

RICHARD AND JUDY
Richard:   On which street did Sherlock Holmes live?
Contestant:   Er...
Richard:   He makes bread.
Contestant:   Er...
Richard:   He makes cakes.
Contestant:   Kipling Street?

LINCS FM PHONE-IN
Presenter:   Which is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world?
Contestant:   Barcelona.
Presenter:   I was really after the name of a country.
Contestant:   I'm sorry, I don't know the names of any countries in Spain.

NATIONAL LOTTERY (BBC1)
Question:   What is the world's largest continent?
Contestant:   The Pacific.

ROCK FM (PRESTON)
Presenter:   Name a film starring Bob Hoskins that is also the name of a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
Contestant:   Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

THE BIGGEST GAME IN TOWN (ITV)
Steve Le Fevre:   What was signed, to bring World War I to an end in 1918?
Contestant:   Magna Carta?

JAMES O'BRIEN SHOW (LBC)
James O'Brien:   How many kings of England have been called Henry?
Contestant:   Er, well, I know there was a Henry the Eighth. ER..ER..Three?

CHRIS SEARLE SHOW (BBC RADIO BRISTOL)
Chris Searle:   In which European country is Mount Etna?
Caller:   Japan.
Chris Searle:   I did say which European country, so in case you didn't hear that, I can let you try again.
Caller:   Er...Mexico?

PAUL WAPPAT (BBC RADIO NEWCASTLE)
Paul Wappat:   How long did the 6 Day War between Egypt and Israel last?
Contestant (long pause):   Fourteen days.

DARYL DENHAM'S DRIVETIME (VIRGIN RADIO)
Daryl Denham:   In which country would you spend shekels?
Contestant:   Holland?
Daryl Denham:   Try the next letter of the alphabet.
Contestant:   Iceland? Ireland?
Daryl Denham: (helpfully)   It's a bad line. Did you say Israel?
Contestant:   No.

PHIL WOOD SHOW (BBC GMR)
Phil Wood:   What 'K' could be described as the Islamic Bible?
Contestant:   Er...
Phil Wood:   It's got two syllables..Kor..
Contestant:   Blimey?
Phil Wood:   Ha ha ha ha, no. The past participle of run...
Contestant:   (Silence)
Phil Wood:   OK, try it another way. Today I run, yesterday I...
Contestant:   Walked?

THE VAULT
Melanie Sykes:   What is the name given to the condition where the sufferer can fall asleep at any time?
Contestant:   Nostalgia.

LUNCHTIME SHOW (BRMB)
Presenter:   What religion was Guy Fawkes?
Contestant:   Jewish.
Presenter:   That's close enough.

STEVE WRIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON (BBC RADIO 2)
Wright:   Johnny Weissmuller died on this day. Which jungle-swinging character clad only in a loin cloth did he play?
Contestant:   Jesus.

[This makes me feel intellegent]

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Forced Absence

2011-11-21T13:25:00.001Z

- Forced Absence -

Anyone noticed my absence from blogging now for over a month, yeah!!!! I’ll bet you haven’t although I’ve had a few e-mails express some little concern over the reason why, questions like, health wise, my situation, gone mental, gone over the wall for a stretch at Her Majesties Pleasure - [I should be so lucky, room and board, all the modern conveniences and three meals a day] , fed up with it all, being upset having received some really disturbing news, well !!!!!! [exclamation] none of the above, some of them might have had a little bearing on the reason why but since my declared persona of going with the flow more and not being so aggressive to the ‘authorities’ most events now go over my head with me saying ‘let it go’.

Right then - Are you sitting on the edge of the chair waiting with baited breath ready for the explanation for the reason, [once again] yeah !!!!. well !!!, would you believe my lovely, super duper, great, my fantastic lightning fast Apple iMac computer decided to go pear shape, not so the electronic side but the mechanics of the optical drive, just wouldn’t eject the disk I’d put in although it was trying to eject every fifteen seconds all the time the computer was switched on - got the idea? My first thoughts were to get the Birmingham screwdriver and chisel out but decided against that, nothing for it but contact the local Apple Store [three miles away] and ‘Book It In’, no trouble in arranging an appointment for the Genius Bar to sus out the problem my concern was how to get the computer there, I tried the Bus but the driver was adamant it was to big to get on his bus even when after I pointed out it wasn’t any bigger then some of the pushchair buggies the young mums used, answer, no.

Ordered up a taxi - no problem straight up to the mail trolled the boxed up computer to the store and setting it up on the counter/bar and telling the technician a disk was stuck in the drive and wouldn’t come out, ‘he‘ look at and after ten minutes or so said you’ve got a disk stuck in the drive - I bit my lip and remembered go with the flow, I asked for a new drive to be fitted told it would five days for them to effect the repair and replace the drive. OK on that no problem. Five days came and went I waited another two days then phoned, response ‘Aha!!! we’ve replaced your new drive but unfortunately in doing so we broke a component‘ [My thoughts un repeatable] ‘OK then how much longer to repair it’ was told another five days or a week. They phoned to say my computer had been repaired and I could collect it anytime, my lovely daughter number 2 was available and with her very tiny car picked it up with it just managed to stored away on the back seat.

Set the computer up, yep everything OK except a few of the important programs were missing, had to find the original disks and reinstall them and then copied the files and folders details from the external back up drives.

139-outstanding emails almost all them require answering, strict prioritizing here, so if you’re reading this and expect an e-mail reply they’re coming.

During this waiting period for my computer to be repaired I haven’t been idle but theres only so many times you can vacuum the carpets, dust, wash the windows. cloths to the launderette, degrease the oven [ugh] iron, all pots and pans wire woolled and polished, would you believe write letters [my hand writing skill is still there, just about], going out and shopping instead of using the internet, thats an eye opener just how rude and unhelpful the serving assistants have become.

Thats just about it for now, but I have plans for a new layout for my blog page with new articles to come, Oh yes one more thing I’m out on Wednesday to purchase a Apple Mac 17-inch laptop.

------ooo000ooo------

Fridays Think On No 13.

2011-10-21T08:32:00.000+01:00

- Fridays Think On No 13 -

A woman is like a tea bag- you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.
Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.
Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

Ponder This...........

------ooo000ooo------

Get This Idea.

2011-10-20T23:48:00.000+01:00

- Airport Security -

You’ve got to love this perfect solution, what a bloody good idea!

The Israelis are developing an airport security device that eliminates the privacy concerns that come with full-body scanners. It's an armored booth you step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on your person.

Israel sees this as a win-win situation for everyone, with none of this crap about racial profiling. It will also eliminate the costs of long and expensive trials, imagine you're in an airport terminal and you hear a muffled explosion. Shortly thereafter, an announcement: "Attention to all standby passengers, we now have a seat available on flight 670 to London. Shalom!"

BRILLIANT!!

------ooo000ooo------

Master Card - [Visa].

2011-10-20T16:10:00.000+01:00

- Notice - 'A' Video -
The Banned Master Card Video

After my negotiating a little bit of business last week it now appears that I shall be absent for a little while perhaps returning next week sometime, a little job [paid] which I will enjoy doing or though I don’t really have the cameras I used to have however if I’m very careful and use my [ahem!.ahem he, he], great knowledge and a brace of Canon SLR’s and lens I will be able to do a great job.

I have for some time now been struggling with my self, should I? or shouldn’t I, should I? or shouldn’t I post a Master Card You Tube video. I remember posting this video way back in 2008 and at that time I didn’t have the Police Obscene Squad come around beating my front door down so why not post it again?

I’ve installed the video on my xxx-rated tag but please remember and think do I really want to see an over the top risque video bordering on being a pornographic video - you have been warned,

------ooo000ooo------

New Entries

2011-10-18T11:20:00.001+01:00

- New Entries -

New entry on my STRICTLY COME DANCING.
New entry on my FACTUM.

------ooo000ooo------

Unusual Photographs!!

2011-10-17T07:39:00.002+01:00

- Unusual Photographs!! -

Following on with my period of being silly, funny photographs and events here is another selection of photographs to laugh or smile at.

Wow!!! - 'Thats a Whoper'!!

Has to be seen to be beleived

A Bevvy of Mudlarks

You Up for another one?

I promise I wont look - Liar

So thats what it looks like - Different than mine

That was a good breakfast

Prevention is better than cure

Words fail me!!!

My 'X' wife - [Sorry C******e only joking]

Wow !! What a position?

Beach 'Peeping Tom' gets his just desserts

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Cat Talk

2011-10-15T07:01:00.001+01:00

- Cat's Eye View-

Its true, Cats do land on their feet.

------ooo000ooo------

Fridays Think On No 12

2011-10-14T08:40:00.000+01:00

- Fridays Think On No 12 -

Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.

When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth.

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.
A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

Ponder on this. .........

------ooo000ooo------

Happier Men - Yes?

2011-10-14T07:51:00.000+01:00

- WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED -

  Men Are Just Happier People

Your last name stays put.

The garage is all yours.

Wedding plans take care of themselves.

Chocolate is just another snack.

You can never be pregnant.

Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal.

You never have to drive to another petrol station restroom because this one is just too icky.

You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.

Same work, more pay.

Wrinkles add character.

People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.

New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.

One mood all the time.  Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

You know stuff about tanks and engines.

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

You can open all your own jars.

You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

Your underwear is £10.00 for a three-pack from M & S. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.

You never have strap problems in public.

You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.

Everything on your face stays its original colour.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

You only have to shave your face and neck.  You can play with toys all your life.

One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one colour for all seasons.

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.

You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.

You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier

------ooo000ooo------

Did you know?. ......

2011-10-13T07:49:00.000+01:00

- Medical distinction between Guts and Balls -
There is a medical distinction between Guts and Balls. We've all heard
About people having Guts or Balls. But do you really know the
Difference between them?

In an effort to keep you informed, here are the definitions:

GUTS
Is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being met by
your wife with a broom, and having the Guts to ask:

'Are you still cleaning or are you flying somewhere?'

BALLS
Is coming home late after a night out with the guys, smelling of

perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the

butt and having the Balls to say: 'You're next, Chubby.'

I hope this clears up any confusion on the definitions.

Medically, speaking there is No difference in the outcome.

Both result in death.

------ooo000ooo------

Poor Penniless Girl

2011-10-12T08:03:00.002+01:00

- Poor Penniless Girl -

[In my Dreams - I should be so lucky!!!. .... ]

This poor girl couldn’t afford more cloths so I offered her £50.00p and got my face slapped

didn't wash that side of my face for days.

[I can wish can't I?]

------ooo000ooo------

Computer Language

2011-10-11T09:28:00.001+01:00

- LIFE BEFORE THE COMPUTER -

Memory was something that you lost with age.
An application was for employment.
A program was for a TV show.
A cursor used profanity.
A keyboard was a piano.
A virus was the flue.
A CD was a bank account.
A hard drive was a long trip on the road.
A mouse pad was where a mouse lived.
And if you had a 3½-inch floppy...... you hoped that nobody found out.

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Women Driving Awards

2011-10-11T06:56:00.000+01:00

- WOMAN DRIVING AWARDS 2010/2011 -

‘MICK’S WHEELS'

WOMAN DRIVING AWARDS

The following photographs have been selected for this seasons WOMEN DRIVING AWARDS
The winners in reverse numerical order.

In 10th place:

9th place goes to:

8th place goes to:

In 7th place:

In 6th place:

5th place goes to:

In 4th place:

- ☆ Bronze Medal Winner ☆ -

- ☆☆ Silver Medal ☆☆ -

- [Note the helmet is being worn backwards] -

☆☆☆☆☆☆ - Gold Medal - ☆☆☆☆☆☆
‘MICK’S WHEELS WOMAN DRIVING AWARDS’ 2010/11

Question is “ How on earth did she manage to do THAT !!!???”

One blog HUG to the most original answer

Micks Note: OK I know they have been posted before but they are worth another airing.

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Worth a Giggle

2011-10-10T12:36:00.000+01:00

- Giggle or Smile -

Is this true?. .......

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A Women Scorned is. ......

2011-10-10T09:15:00.001+01:00

How to tell when a woment is pissed off

[The photographs says it all]

- My favourite -

REMEMBER - Hell hath no fury like a women scorned

No Kidding. ..........

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Paralytic Drunk

2011-10-10T07:58:00.000+01:00

- Paralytic Drunks -

Photographs of paralytic ‘drunks’ - [One brain cell idiots] has to be seen to be believed supposedly having a good time - Yeah !!!! well I can think of many other ways to spend my money and time.

If you suffer any degree of disgust and throw your hands up in horror with what goes on when people are out ‘On the Town’ then don’t go to the ‘Tab‘ - xxx-rate, remember you have been warned.

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The Evil Drink

2011-10-08T09:18:00.001+01:00

- What Drink Will Do to You -

This post is what drink will do to dogs and cats, I do have have another post possibly I might just post on Monday but I'm having to 'Tone' it down as it contains some very naughty and explicit photographs.

Enjoy the photographs however they are on the smallish size but thats the size I received them.

What number of? will do to you. ........

6-beers

2 glasses of wine

2 bottles of - shared

3 Margaritas

3 Kamikazes

7 Rum and Cokes

1 Large purple haze

3 Martinis

1 Bottle of Tequila

Animal lovers you have to chuckle or smile at least.

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Fridays Think On No 11

2011-10-07T07:27:00.000+01:00

- Fridays Think on N0 11 -

Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it

To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness.

A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.

PONDER ON THIS. ......

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Graffiti or Art

2011-10-06T14:09:00.001+01:00

- Graffiti or Art - You Judge -

[Street art, spray-painting, inscriptions, drawings; defacement, vandalism]

Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property. Graffiti is any type of public markings that may appear in the forms of simple written words to elaborate wall paintings. Graffiti has existed since ancient times, with examples dating back to Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.

In modern times, paint, particularly spray paint, and marker pens have become the most commonly used graffiti materials. In most countries, marking or painting property without the property owner's consent is considered defacement and vandalism, which is a punishable crime. Graffiti may also express underlying social and political political messages and a whole genre of artistic expression is based upon spray paint graffiti styles. [Thank you Wikipedia].

So Grafffiti was known way back in Ancient Greece in the Roman Empire period, Wow !!!!!, I didn’t know that so it goes to show they had the one brain cell idiots way back then as well, must be running parallel with the oldest profession in the world for the longest users.

On Tuesday I had an appointment to meet up with a business colleague down town, a nice lunch, we did our business shook hands on the deal. On my way back to the bus stop and seeing I had half an hour to spare I ventured off down the road just off from the City Center which is renown for the ‘Graffiti paintings’. Wow !!!!! [see under photographs] if thats Graffiti then give me more. What is pleasing for me is that it cheers up a dreadful dull street mostly buildings which were [I believe !!] hastily erected after Hitler flattened the City Center during the war, as in those days most buildings erected were prefabricated concrete slabs and blocks. Would you believe 56-years ago. Over their life span I suppose they have served many purposes and helped a few business most of them are now empty and some are boarding on being derelict - not used any more. - [I hope the City Planners have planned to knock them all down and build something more suitable and fitting for my City Center The ‘City of Culture’.]

[Clck on photograps to see full frame]

Note: Converging verticals, sorry couldn’t be helped. To be truthful I did climb halfway up a couple of lamp posts to get up as high as possible, you try hanging on with one arm wrapped around and legs crossed as well although I did have another photographer take a photograph of me up the lamp post it didn’t help when she told me to smile. Please note no paint drops or splashes on the ground, if it was me painting my lounge theres always more paint on the floor then on the walls or ceiling

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Hallelujah Chorus - Another Way

2011-10-04T07:48:00.000+01:00

- The Hallelujah Chorus -
Here we go then - A chuckle for the day.
It's a group of high school studentsplaying silent monks and "singing" the Hallelujah Chorus.
[ The person that came up with this is brilliant]

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Women Driver Clamped

2011-10-04T00:21:00.000+01:00

- Never Clamp A Women Driver -
No words necessary

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Feast Your Eyes On This.

2011-10-02T10:34:00.000+01:00

[Note: This is in Lieu of my promised Monday's posting. Monday away working to earn a few more pennies.]

- RICE FIELDS OF JAPAN - AMAZING  -

[Looks ordinary enough...... but watch as  the rice grows!!!!!! ]

Stunning crop art have sprung up across rice fields in Japan, but this is no alien creation.  The designs have been cleverly PLANTED!   Farmers creating the huge displays use no ink or dye. Instead, different colour rice plants have been precisely and strategically arranged and grown in the paddy fields.   As summer progresses and the plants shoot up, the detailed artwork begins to emerge.

Another example of creative planting

A Sengoku warrior on horseback has been created from hundreds of thousands of rice plants. The colours are created by using different varieties of rice plants, whose leaves grow in certain colours. This photo was taken in Inakadate , Japan ....

Napoleon on horseback can be seen from the skies. This was created by precision planting  and months of planning by villagers and farmers located in Inkadate , Japan ...

Fictional warrior Naoe Kanetsugu and his wife, Osen, whose lives are featured on the television series 'Tenchijin' appear in fields in the town of Yonezawa in the Yamagata prefecture of Japan ....

This year, various artwork has popped up in other rice-farming areas of Japan , including designs of deer dancers. Smaller works of 'crop-art' can be seen in other rice-farming areas of Japan such as this image of Doraemon and deer dancers   
The farmers create the murals by planting little purple and yellow-leafed Kodaimai rice along with their local green-leafed Tsugaru, a Roman variety, to create the coloured patterns in the time between planting and harvesting in September.  The murals in Inakadate cover 15,000 square meters of paddy fields.

Differant rice plants growing.

From ground level, the designs are invisible, and viewers have to climb the mock castle tower of the village office to get a glimpse of the work.

Closer to the image, the careful placement of the thousands of rice plants in the paddy fields can be seen.   Rice-paddy art was started there in 1993 as a local revitalization project, an idea that grew from meetings of the village committees.

The different varieties of rice plants grow alongside each other to create the masterpieces.   In the first nine years, the village office workers and local farmers grew a simple design of Mount Iwaki every year. But their ideas grew more complicated and attracted more attention.

In 2005, agreements between landowners allowed the creation of enormous rice paddy art. A year later, organizers used computers to precisely plot the planting of four differently colored rice varieties that bring the images to life!

TRULY WORKS OF ART!

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A True Doggy Story?

2011-10-01T10:33:00.000+01:00

- A True Story -

I was having a drink with my American friend over from Wyoming on a two months holiday last week down in one of the traditional English Pubs, original low oak beam ceiling, old stable floor rock hune slabs, after a while he became rather partial to the Somerset 'Scumpy' [Rough cider] and during the course of conversation the subject got around to one of my favorite subjects, 'Working Dogs'.

This is the story he told me, him being an American I believe him !?!?!? ......

"A guy is driving around the back woods of Montana and he sees a sign in front of a broken down shanty-style house: 'Talking Dog For Sale ' He rings the bell and the owner appears and tells him the dog is in the backyard.

The guy goes into the backyard and sees a nice looking Labrador retriever lying there.

'You talk?' he asks.

'Yep,' the Lab replies.

After the guy recovers from the shock of hearing a dog talk, he says 'So, what's your story?'

The Lab looks up and says, 'Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young.. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA'.

'In no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping.'

'I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running... But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security, wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals.''I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired.'

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

'Ten dollars,' the guy says.

'Ten dollars? This dog is amazing! Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?'

'Because he's a liar. He's never been out of the yard'"..............

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Next posting Monday 3rd October 2011.

Friday’s Think On No 10

2011-09-30T10:10:00.000+01:00

- Friday’s Think On No 10 -

Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough.
I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

PONDER on this. .......

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Ear Infection

2011-09-27T08:04:00.001+01:00

- Ear Infection   -

[This is true!]

They always ask at the doctor's reception why you are there, and you have to answer in front of others what's wrong and sometimes it is embarrassing.  

There's nothing worse than a Doctor's Receptionist who insists you tell her what is wrong with you in a room full of other patients. I know most of us have experienced this, and I love the way this old guy handled it.  

A 75-year-old man walked into a crowded waiting room and approached the desk. The Receptionist said, 'Yes sir, what are you seeing the Doctor for today?' 'There's something wrong with my dick', he replied.  

The receptionist became irritated and said, 'You shouldn't come into a crowded waiting room and say things like that. '

  'Why not, you asked me what was wrong and I told you,' he said.

 
The Receptionist replied; 'Now you've caused embarrassment in this room full of people. You should have said there is something wrong with your ear or something and discussed the problem further with the Doctor in private.

'  The man replied, 'You shouldn't ask people questions in a roomful of strangers if the answer could embarrass anyone. The man walked out, waited several minutes, and then re entered.  

The Receptionist smiled smugly and asked, 'Yes??'  '

There's something wrong with my ear,' he stated. The Receptionist nodded approvingly and smiled, knowing he had taken her advice. 'And what is wrong with your ear, Sir?

'  'I can't piss out of it,' he replied.  The waiting room erupted in laughter.  

Mess with seniors and you're going to lose!

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Fishing or Reading

2011-09-26T08:26:00.000+01:00

- Fishing or Reading -

[OK I know this has been posted before on various blog postings but its worth another airing.]

One morning, the husband returns the boat to their lakeside cottage after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap.   

Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, puts her feet up, and begins to read her book. The peace and solitude are magnificent.  

Along comes a Fish and Game Warden in his boat.  He pulls up alongside the woman and says,

"Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, 'Isn't that obvious?')

  "You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.

  "I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading.'  '

"Yes, but I see you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

  "If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.

  "But I haven't even touched you," says the Game Warden.  "That's true, but you have all the equipment for all I know you could start at any moment."

  "Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL

 Never argue with a woman who reads [ehem !!!! or knits].

It's likely she can also think.   

If you reading this, you know you're intelligent!

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Try 10 a Day.

2011-09-24T08:16:00.000+01:00

- 10 Tips for Smiling -

Stay out of trouble

Aim for greater heights.

Stay focused on your job.

Exercise to maintain good health.

Practice team work.

Rely on your trusted partner to watch your back.

Take your time trusting others.

Save for rainy days

Rest and relax.

Always take time to smile.

Realize that nothing is impossible

This should make you smile

Next blog posting: Monday 25th September 2011

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Friday’s Think On 9

2011-09-23T08:22:00.000+01:00

- Friday’s Think On 9 -

The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough even for one man’s greed.
Its best not to define yourself from what you do but what you are.
Knowledge not shared is lost.

PONDER on this. ......

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Bran Flakes -Healthy Eating

2011-09-23T07:22:00.000+01:00

- Bran Flakes - Who needs them -

The couple were 85 years old and had been married for sixty years. Though they were far from rich, they managed to get by because they watched their pennies
.

Though not young, they were both in very good health, largely due to the wife's insistence on healthy foods and exercise for the last decade. One day, their good health didn't help when they went on a rare vacation and their plane crashed sending them off to Heaven. They reached the pearly gates, and St.. Peter escorted them inside. He took them to a beautiful mansion, furnished in gold and fine silks with a fully stocked kitchen and a waterfall in the master bath. A maid could be seen hanging their favourite clothes in the closet. They gasped in astonishment when he said, 'Welcome to Heaven. This will be your home now.'

The old man asked Peter how much all this was going to cost. 'Why, nothing,' Peter replied, 'remember, this is your reward in Heaven..' The old man looked out the window and right there he saw a championship golf course, finer and more beautiful than any ever built on Earth.. 'What are the greens fees?,' grumbled the old man. This is heaven,' St. Peter replied. 'You can play for free, every day.

Next they went to the clubhouse and saw the lavish buffet lunch, with every imaginable cuisine laid out before them, from seafood to steaks to exotic deserts, free flowing beverages. 'Don't even ask,' said St. Peter to the man. This is Heaven, it is all free for you to enjoy.' The old man looked around and glanced nervously at his wife. 'Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol foods and the decaffeinated tea?,' he asked. That's the best part,' St. Peter replied. 'You can eat and drink as much as you like of whatever you like and you will never get fat or sick. This is Heaven!'

The old man pushed, 'No gym to work out at?' 'Not unless you want to,' was the answer.
'No testing my sugar or blood pressure or....' 'Never again. All you do here is enjoy yourself.'

The old man glared at his wife and said, 'You and your f***ing Bran Flakes. We could have been here ten years ago!'

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P.S - I've now given up having Bran Flakes - Anyone for golf followed by a slap up Chinese meal?!?!?! -

News Flash - Just In. .....

2011-09-22T10:55:00.000+01:00

- NEWS FLASH. ........ Just In -

Dog rescued from river.

News flash - Dog rescued from river. Theres no need for the written word the photographs say it all, a great story with out a word being said, apart from the dialogue after the last photograph.

Report from a very grateful dog owner.

"A german tourist jumped into the freezing water and saved my precious little dog", upon getting back on the bridge, he checked my little dog and told me. “Zee dog is OK he vill be very fine”.

Due to his selfless heroic act I asked “Are you a Vet?”
He replied, “Vet? I’m f*****g soaked!”

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Bear Counting

2011-09-22T08:11:00.000+01:00

- Bear Counting -

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Eating Out

2011-09-21T09:40:00.000+01:00

- Two Dogs Dining in Busy Restaurant -

Do you agree? these two ‘Dogs’ have better manners and eating habits than some humans you see in restaurants.

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2 plus 2 plus 2.

2011-09-20T11:12:00.000+01:00

- Little Jonny and 6 Cats -

Teacher: If I gave you 2 cats and another 2 cats and another 2, how many will you have?
Johnny: Seven, Sir.
Teacher: No, listen carefully. If I gave you 2 cats, and another 2 cats and another 2, how many will you have?
Johnny: Seven
Teacher: Let me put it to you differently. If I gave you 2 apples, and another 2 apples and another 2, how many will you have?
Johnny: Six.
Teacher: Good. Now if I gave you 2 cats, and another 2 cats and another 2, how many will you have?
Johnny: Seven!!!
A very angry Teacher: Where do you get seven from?!?!?
Very angry Johnny: Because I've already got a f******g cat at home !!!

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Laughing Dog

2011-09-20T09:29:00.000+01:00

- Laughing Dog -
Guaranteed to make you laugh.

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Asso Asso Yogoshi

2011-09-19T13:01:00.001+01:00

- Max Boyce -

The reason for the ‘Box’ entry is to carry a couple of music tunes which I think will make you smile, but first a little back ground on the performer, Max Boyce, well known in Wales and very popular a number of years age he seldom performs now but when he does he packs them out. He is fiercely proud of being Welsh and is a great ambassador for the welsh people and his love of rugby is something to be hold.

Maxwell Boyce MBE (born 27 September 1945) is a Welsh comedian, singer and former coal miner. He rose to fame during the mid-1970s with an act that combined musical comedy with his passion for rugby union and his origins in the mining communities of South Wales. Having sold more than two million albums in a career spanning four decades, and playing to full houses all around the world, Boyce is one of the most successful and enduring entertainers in Welsh history.

The two songs ‘Asso Asso Yogoshi’ and ‘I Gave My Love A Debenture’

It helps if you understand a few Rugby terms and the Welsh accent also the occasional words in Welsh.

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Photographic Posing Technics

2011-09-19T11:01:00.000+01:00

- Photographic Posing Technics -

A short post about my side bar slide show for posing technics. On the back burner a series of posts about the way I took my photographs that earned me a bob or two. Photographs heavily vignetted and soft focused.

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The Plan Went Right.

2011-09-17T12:50:00.000+01:00

- Yippeeeee !!!! I cracked it -

I love it when a plan goes right, notice now that my blog pages are now one continuos line of posts.

Took a bit of time - time I can now afford and a great deal of ‘Mr Spook’s logic’ and all my knowledge of html, but now done and dusted, however I got it right by only sacrificing one post.

Yippeeeeee !!!!

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A New Direction

2011-09-16T12:47:00.002+01:00

- A Look Forward to a new direction -

For the next few weeks my blog with a new header I will be posting ‘Fun’ and ‘Up for laugh’ posts together with some serious stuff as well - [Some posts will contain some risque language].

For starters heres’ a sample.

Have you ever wondered how a woman's brain works?
Well....it's finally explained here in one, easy-to-understand illustration

Every one of those little blue balls is a thought about something that needs to be done, a decision or a problem that needs to be solved.

A man has only 2 balls and they take up all his thoughts

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Free Time

2011-09-16T12:08:00.001+01:00

- Less work more free time -

Yeah - !!!!!! O K, I know its 3 weeks since my last post, for the smart arse’s it more like four, no excuses other than pressure and the amount of self imposed work.

I have often been accused of being too pedantic, being very meticulous bordering on being fussy and persnickety - I agree with that.   Self analysis, I’m excessively concerned with formalism and precision, for me if a job is worth doing its worth doing right and correctly, I’ve always believed in that ever since I can remember.

For sure its absolutely correct to say I will ‘Take On’ on anyone who I think is giving me a poor service, an in correct service or those who because of the high exalted position seem to think they can ride slip shod over me.    I will question, I will argue, I will always respond in kind.   Before I start to take ‘issue’ I will always do my ‘homework’, researching the rules and regulations so at least I know and have a little depth of knowledge to question and argue the various points that I think are incorrect or not right - OK, I’m not always right but I’m never wrong !!!!.

The researching generates a large amount of e-mail, Royal Mail post and telephone calls, Each week my e-mail ‘In box’ is usually huge, the poor old postman has a mountain of mail to deliver and the telephone answer machine has gone into overdrive they all need to be answered.    My ‘pending’ tray/folder with all the individual folders with downloaded scanned file copy from letters, e-mails and replies sent.   Some folders have scribed files of phone calls as well.

More often than not when I challenge a demanding letter that is so often peppered with alarming consequences and eventually receive a reply written in a gobbledegook language and contains conflicting statements of the rule and regulations which don’t address the initial issue at all.    If they weren’t so pathetic they would be laughable.

Right then !!!!! with all this shenanigan   and maneuvering with my time spent with all my self imposed work, I’ve realized the benefits do not justify the means, I might just, might just get a letter of apology or save myself 20 pounds or so but now I’ve reach the age when after a while with all this wheeling and dealing I go brain dead - [OK I know what brain???], I have now decided that its just not worthwhile, sooooo..... after I’ve gotten through the decreasing In tray, worked on the Pending tray, enough is enough - [should take a couple more weeks] - thats it then no more aggression, no more taking on and putting the world to right, I’m told by my [the few true real friends] friends and acquaintances to go with the flow more although if when I do I don’t think I’ll get that feeling of not letting the B*****ds grind me down or the one up to me satisfaction.   Aha !!!! well you can’t have everything can you?

My computer is open and running all the time of I’m awake [16/7], the only time its closed is when I’m sleeping.    Less computer time, less self imposed work equals more free time, now what am I going to do with all this new free time, let me list my options, perhaps not, I’ll leave that to unfold in future blog postings. ......

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Fridays Think On 8

2011-09-16T11:37:00.001+01:00

- Friday’s Think On 8 -

We don’t live in a world of reality, we live in a world of perceptions.
Its best not to define yourself from what you do but what you are.

PONDER - on this......

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Limitations Blog Posts

2011-08-19T10:59:00.000+01:00

My Blog - Limits

It would appear there is a limit to the ‘Space’ [?????] I’m allowed to use on blogger before only one post appears on the opening page - I have investigated the reasons why but not going to effect the necessary alterations to resolve this minor ‘problem’.

If you’re looking for a previous posting just click on ‘Older Posts’ or go to sidebar ‘Archive’.

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Friday’s Think On 7

2011-08-19T10:32:00.007+01:00

- Friday’s Think On 7 -

As a solid rock is not shaken by a strong gale, a wise person remains unaffected by praise or criticisms…...
People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within......

PONDER - on this......

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Returning Blogger

2011-08-18T10:26:00.001+01:00

- Returning Blogger -

Hi All.

Visitors may not be aware that Jayne on her blog ‘Meeeeee Blog' has started to blog again after an absence of two years, why not give her a visit and leave a comment. - Mick

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Fridays Think On

2011-08-12T12:00:00.002+01:00

Friday’s Think On - 6
The origin of this letter is unknown,
But it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.

Never look down on anybody, unless you're helping them up.
To realize the value of a sister/brother: Ask someone who doesn't have one.
To realize the value of ten years: Ask a newly divorced couple.
To realize the value of four years: Ask a graduate.
To realize the value of one year: Ask a student who has failed a final exam.
To realize the value of nine months: Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize the value of one month: Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

TIME -Think On...........

To realize the value of one-second: Ask a person who has survived an accident.
To realize the value of one minute: Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.
Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when, you can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member: LOSE ONE.
Remember.... Hold on tight to the ones you love!

PONDER - on this !!!...........

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This Modern Age.

2011-06-25T15:19:00.006+01:00

- This Modern Age -

I’ve titled this post ‘This Modern Age’ for one reason and for one reason only its getting increasing harder and more difficult for me to understand peoples attitude towards the more senior age group understanding todays technology and using electronic equipment.

I’m told now I’ve become old - true, I wasn’t brought up with the present day technologies so I’m not expected too understand or have the capabilities to use and let alone own tangible electronic devices and take every advantage for their facilities they offer.   Just because I’ve become old doesn’t mean I’ve gone do-dally or lost my marbles

Statistics show that 85-per cent of households [UK] now own a computer, most households [95-per cent] have most of the following: television, DVD-player, mobile phones and many other electronic devices.   Domestic appliances such as washing machines, dish washers, ovens, time and labour saving devices such as Kenwoods, coffee machines, bread making, microwave ovens all have in some form or other electronic controls which have to be programmed for use which we ALL use.

Along my life’s merry way I’ve meet many events which required me to study to gain the qualifications I wanted, OK, so some of them were required just for an entry on my records to show I had the necessary ticked boxes required for promotion.   Many of the qualifications I gained over 28-years were necessary for my employment but a lot were for my own use and enjoyment

I don’t consider myself to be a ‘Geeky‘ person but I can say and admit with all modesty that I can write simple computer programs all self taught, the more complicated ones I haven’t tried but I suppose if I set my mind to it and I had the time I could,   I can repair simple faults on most electronic and electrical items but as I no longer have the facilities of a workshop with all the necessary test equipment and specialist tools have to leave the more complicated ‘Jobs‘ to the professionals.

The Things I Can and Can’t do: [The Yin & Yang].

DIY, carpentry - [my favorite], plumbing, electrics. car mechanic, welder, brickie, flannel-mouth, [I have ‘A’-levels in that], Gofer, - [I’m an expert in that], telecommunication technician - [C & G certificated, I’m proud of that one].   All the above practiced at some time with a degree of professional standard.   I like to think I’m a good Dad and good Grandfather. I’m a good Christian.    OK then, thats what I could/can do. Self trumpet blowing - yes.    My bad things, husband - failed miserable, parachutist - failed, go-cart & racing car driver - failed, making friends - failed [I don’t make friends unless they’re worth it], ability to get on with people - failed [I always seem to upset and cause offense especially those in authority], Being a good lover and being passionate - failed - [I’m neither or so I’m told], hard as nails - failed [age precludes me now], car owner and driver - failed [some stupid bastard wrote off my little Ferrari and I can’t afford a replacement], affluent - failed [get real I’m an OAP], dress smartly - failed [cloths now come from charity shops]. cordon bleu cook - failed [I get by, I eat to live I don’t live to eat], give up smoking my pipe - failed although I’m pleased to say I gave up drinking [wine] since last August and have lost 2 & a half stone.

Gaining professional or education certificates doesn’t hold much credence for me, it only means some one has a good memory and can retain facts and figures.   I’ve had experience of ‘people‘ put in a position of authority over me only because they can waive a piece of paper/scroll to say they have studied at university/college or educational establishment for years, no practical skill or experience and when I complain they’re bloody useless I’m told I have to ‘Puppy Walk‘ and take them under my arm and guide them, I say which goes down like a ton of bricks, OK but give me the say pay as they’re getting, needless to say......... well you can imagine.

In my previous life I had a thesis to write for an education qualification, I choose the Russian Campaign 1943 to 1945 also another education qualification I was require to write down a list of all the Kings and Queens since the fifteen century.   From that date to this day, a matter of 59-years ago I have never had cause to use that learning, a shear waste of months of study, and yes I got credits for both.

One piece of paper I’m proud of, see below signed by none other than ‘a very young ‘The Queen’.

The Queens Warrant

Summing up ‘This Modern Age’ its only as Modern as you want to make it

-----ooo000ooo-----.

Internet Selling.

2011-06-25T11:18:00.000+01:00

- Internet Selling -

Once again pressure of computer ‘work’ has kept me away from blogging as I wanted to do. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you that one company with 230,000,000-customers or so they say caused me so much grief and frustration. With repeated telephone calls [costing me a bomb] goodness knows how many e-mails ‘they’ and yes I emphasize they finally admitted ‘they’ had and were making mistakes One e-mail I received from I suspect a supervisor stated that one of the agents had entered my account details incorrectly and ‘they’ had failed to cancel my old account which I had closed down in 2008 and this was conflicting with the account I was trying to open and use now.

All their agents I spoke to on the phone and all the e-mails I received from them were all very ‘nice‘ and helpful.

Both are now set up and running smoothly - [but for how long? I ask myself?]

I’ve been called many things in my life, most of them bad and evil although some have been good.   Never in my wildest dreams, never in a month of Sundays did I think I would ever be called a ‘Money Launderer‘ - [Well almost].

It goes something like this:
For the last six weeks I dipped my toe - [both feet really] into the ‘World of Selling‘ and ‘Transferring Money’ using the international companies we all see on the internet.   What was it that I so desperately wanted to sell and get rid of, well, all those dust covered boxes filled with redundant film cameras and equipment I had stored.   [Damn the digital age which took over from film cameras, reluctantly I have to admit and accept that the digital photographic age has come].    I listed all my film cameras and associated equipment and posted on the advertising web pages, surprise, surprise they sold, the money then started to ‘Roll In’.

I received a notice from the money transferring site saying that I had nearly reached the limit set by the EU-regulations for funds being received and being transferred to my bank account for this year - over this amount of money the limit laid down by the EU-regulations then I would be considered that I was money laundering. ‘A money Launder‘ .   Once this amount had been reached they would ‘hold’ my money until I sent them loads more of my personnel details.

From their web page I entered all the extra details they required ensuring I crossed all the ‘T’s’ and dotted the ‘I’s‘ - clicked on the send button, wait a couple of hours then phoned them, worked through 5-menus before arriving at the right department, spoke to an english speaker, asked if they had received my update, yes they had, OK then let me walk you through my answers, 15-minutes later both of us were satisfied all the answer were correct .   Wow-!!!! I have now satisfied them that I’m not a money launderer and they wouldn’t freeze my account.

The cost of the phone call well worth it I think that saved me further frustrating e-mails correcting their mis-calculation and entering my details incorrectly again.

Everything in the garden now smelling of roses.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Friday’s ‘Think On - 6

2011-06-17T12:15:00.001+01:00

- Friday’s ‘Think On - 6 -

Three for the price of one

An eye for an eye will make us both blind.
I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals - [Ho, Ho, Ho]
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another

-----ooo000ooo-----

My Local Launderette.

2011-06-17T11:46:00.001+01:00

- Launderette -

Many months ago my washing machine burnt out and the cost of repair was almost as much as purchasing a new one, I carefully work out the finances, purchase new machine or use the local launderette, findings, cheaper to use launderette

My local launderette is only about sixty or so metres away from where I live so thats no problem but I think the charge for using one of the machines is a little high so I am always on the look out for another launderette that is cheaper.

The other day when I was out and about on my travels I found this one, only one thing wrong I couldn’t get any of them to work, Aha!!!! well back to my local.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Marriage is a three-ring-circus

2011-06-14T08:57:00.003+01:00

- Marriage is a three-ring-circus -
I don’t know about you but in my case it could possibly be true !!!. .......

Engagement Ring
Wedding Ring
Suffering

[OK so I joke but it makes you think]
Remember, laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone - true. ....
-----ooo000ooo-----

Missing Child Alert

2011-06-10T10:50:00.007+01:00

--- MISSING CHILD ALERT ---

Have just received this from PCSO Sue Rowe, Honiton Police Station, Somerset.

It would appear that the missing child alert was a hoax, see comment 1 under.

I've check and found that it is a hoax

All detail removed by author.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Friday’s Think On - 5

2011-05-06T15:48:00.005+01:00

Friday’s Think On - 5

“Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. Be a student so long as you still have something to learn and this means all your life…”

-----ooo000ooo-----

Chinese Food Shopping

2011-05-01T09:53:00.006+01:00

- Re-supply Chinese -

This fortnightly home delivery of my Chinese food stuffs just enough to stock up on the other Chinese food items already in the food cupboard.

My Chinese Supermarket/retail/wholesaler is one of the best in the UK, good web site, easy to navigate and ordering on line is dead simple. I have found when I place an order before 1200-hrs I get next day delivery, good hey, to other places in the UK possible three days - [Now dispatches to Europe as well]. I marvel at how well packed the items are, I have never seen other parcels so well packed and believe me I do have quite a few parcels delivered, as yet never had any cause to complain.

My Chinese Supermarket Wai Yee Hong - Go here.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Friday’s ‘Think On - 5

2011-04-15T12:10:00.003+01:00

Friday’s ‘Think On - 5

Three for the price of one.

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and gives you an opportunity to commit more.
In Paris they simply stared when I spoke to them in French; I never did succeed in making those idiots understand their language.
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Leave of Abscence

2011-04-10T13:24:00.004+01:00

- I haven't been AWOL -

Is it really six weeks since I last posted anything on my blog site?, yes I suppose it is!!! if the dates are correct.

OK then, its not as if I’ve been sitting here twiddling my thumbs with nothing to do or lost my enthusiasm for blogging nothing could be farther from the truth. I’m spending so much time on the computer I’ve become computer dead with my brain [what brain?] freezing up.

I knew March and the beginning of April would be busy, always is, what with the end of the year accounts to finalize, new agreements to initiate, endless arguments with the authorities with e-mail and telephone calls, working on this years financial anticipated expenditure, budgets to think about and plan - always with the inevitable reductions on the entertainments account which in truth is almost negligible now. Charity donations stopped, more planning and thoughts on ‘make do and mend’, reduction on food purchase and the intake and better menu planning, more economical use of electricity and heating, more efficient use of the phone, text and e-mail, and to use Skype more.

The large box labelled ‘Charity Shop’ has once again been raided and plundered for items which I can repair, sew up and renew worn parts with some dyed to refresh them. OK, cosmetically at my age I really don’t give a ‘fig‘ - !!!! what I look like for I know what I’m wearing is mine, washed, clean and yes ironed as well, I am dry and warm. [Small joke - the Army and Navy used clothing store is a good source of cheap used worn clothing but I’m feed up of walking down the road dressed as a Japanese General - He, He, Ha,Ha].

Cut out waste - what waste? I recycle the majority of my edible items even to the use of the outer cabbage and brussels sprout leaves.

I have given a lot of thought about ways I can increase my income, but, and yes there’s always a ‘but‘ at my age its impossible to find anything suitable that I’m still capable of doing.

Being on a fixed income, a State pension and a small private pension is not satisfactory or beneficial in anyway, pensions go up X-percent, cost of living up XY-percent. In the past years the interest on my saving have topped up my income but now that the percentage interest on savings is only 0.05-percent you don’t have to be Rocket Scientist to figure out income now doesn’t match compulsory expenditure, my savings over the last few years have been used to equate the difference but now my savings are almost depleted to zero. I am being forced to sell off body parts, lets see what have I got two of where I can sell one , legs, arms and two of the other part but that one is not for sale.

Going down the photographic avenue again, yes theres still a small area there for me to venture down but - [theres that ‘but‘ again] with everyone owning a digital camera/computer they now process their own and with a memory stick pop off to their local ‘Boot’s’ and on the machine obtain their prints, I say of course those results are not as good as mine, mine are enhanced, sharper, cropped and blemishes deleted with some of them framed also mine are much cheaper too.

Last week I looked at the eBay site for the first time in years, many years ago in truth I was put off buying and selling anything there as I heard some horrendous stories about how people had been duped out of their items and money. I think reading the terms and conditions now eBay has everything button up to prevent fraudulent transactions. I’ll give it a go to see if I can generate any extra income. I’ll try selling off my ‘old’ film cameras and equipment.

One forced big savings causing me to be sorrowful, sad, grief stricken is that my trusty companion my lovely little Red Ferrari has now departed and gone to that great crusher in the sky. See a post which is coming up in the near future with the tale of its demise.

Note: Next blog posting, new header theme ‘Fitness’.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Friday’s ‘Think On - 4

2011-03-04T10:19:00.000Z

Friday’s ‘Think On - 4

I don’t know what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Keeping Fit - Mind & Body.

2011-02-25T12:48:00.008Z

- T’ai Chi. Meditation & Exercise with some Stretch and Relax -
How do you keep yourself ‘Fit‘?

Fitness to me means fit in body, fitness in mind, fit emotionally fit mentally and fit in thoughts.

History:
I remember when I was in Malaya seeing groups - [Five to twenty strong] of local people [mostly Chinese] on the padangs simultaneously all in unison with one another performing some sort of ritual movements so gracefully.

Through the local soldiers I had attached to my troop I learnt it was T’ia Chi, some form of Martial Arts.

Through the local Chinese Officials I asked if it would be possible for me to join a teaching group and be taught the sequences for T’ia Chi, the answer came back NO as no outsiders were usually involved there again unsurprisingly I was a Brit soldier.

Speaking to one of my local attached Chinese soldier about Tia Chi he offered to teach me with 5 of my soldier guys the rudiments for Tia Chi He said he was a student and not a master or instructor nevertheless it would be an introduction and if we wanted too could from then onwards if we practice progress and achieve a higher level, as the saying goes ‘Since then I’ve never looked back’. OK over a period of time [thirty years] have practiced in ‘fits and f**ts’.

With the movements of Tia Chi you treat the whole body to a gentle and relaxing work out, no more sweating, puffing and panting just leaving you feeling cool, calm. refreshed and energized - [true.] The results is a passport to better health, fitness, peace of mind as your body and mind work in harmony.

Tia Chi is easy if you give it 100-per cent concentration and really focus on what you are doing. The rewards are well worth 15 to 30-minutes a day practicing - [My Tia Chi is the Short Yang Form in all 37 moves Yang style].

I will and have on ‘odd’ occasions carry out and perform certain stages of a Tia Chi exercise, Imagine I’m waiting in a shopping center or Mall for a meet up and passing the time will practice the travel movements from Tia Chi - [I need the practice as my balance because of age is not so good] - boy do I get some peculiar looks people thinking poor old bugger he’s gone ‘do dally‘ - I have a good laugh.

Stretch and Relax.
I think my blog post here says it all.

I always wondered what I looked liked and how graceful I was when I performed both Tia Chi and the Stretch and Relax routines - I made a video of myself - big mistake?, well no it showed my short comings and all the things I was doing wrong made me improve my technics and what I needed to become more proficient. - Another good laugh.

Meditation.
Yes there are sometimes I meditate, I can focus my mind for periods of time shutting off external pressures, helps with headaches, pain and also to become more focused to what I want or what direction I need to go, can be used as an aid to go to sleep at anytime.

My method to meditation is to sit on the floor, back perfectly straight [similar to the Lotus position in yoga], headphones on which cuts out any disturbing noises. The hardest thing for me is to clear the mind from any anxieties and thoughts. ‘Coming Too’ after a period of time I find I don’t have any problems left only solutions. Works for me.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Friday's Think On.

2011-02-25T09:35:00.001Z

Friday’s ‘Think On’ - 3

Its best not to define yourself from what you do but what you are.

Knowledge not shared is lost.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Why? a Teddy Bear

2011-02-23T14:30:00.009Z

- This post is about Teddy Bears -

I make no secret that I’m a nut case about Teddy Bears, I think in fact I know they’re not only for children but for grown ups as well. Yes I own a Teddy and he has been my trusted companion for many years although he doesn’t much look like a Teddy anymore having survived a full wash in a washing machine and sad to say he resembles a tortoise more now, nevertheless he is much loved and I still talk to him for he has given me advice on many occasions, he has helped me through situations some hairy ones, saved me from making a fool of myself more than once, he is MY trusted friend.

Have you every wonder why a bear should be called a Teddy? strange that !!!, I knew and have know for sometime just how the name cotton on.

With a little help from Wikipedia here is the answer:

The name Teddy Bear comes from former United States President Theodore Roosevelt, whose nickname was "Teddy". The name originated from an incident on a bear-hunting trip in Mississippi in November 1902, to which Roosevelt was invited by Mississippi Governor Andrew H. Longino. There were several other hunters competing, and most of them had already killed an animal. A suite of Roosevelt's attendants, led by Holt Collier,cornered, clubbed, and tied an American Black Bear to a willow tree after a long exhausting chase with hounds. They called Roosevelt to the site and suggested that he should shoot it. He refused to shoot the bear himself, deeming this unsportsmanlike, but instructed that the bear be killed to put it out of its misery and it became the topic of a political cartoon by Clifford Berryman in The Washington Post on November 16, 1902. While the initial cartoon of an adult black bear lassoed by a white handler and a disgusted Roosevelt had symbolic overtones, later issues of that and other Berryman cartoons made the bear smaller and cuter.

Morris Michtom saw the drawing of Roosevelt and the bear cub and was inspired to create a new toy. He created a little stuffed bear cub and put it in his shop window with a sign that read "Teddy's bear," after sending a bear to Roosevelt and receiving permission to use his name. The toys were an immediate success and Michtom founded the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co.

At the same time in Germany, the Steiff firm, unaware of Michtom's bear, produced a stuffed bear from Richard Steiff's designs. They exhibited the toy at the Leipzig Toy Fair in March 1903 and exported 3,000 to the United States.

- Britain's last surviving teddy bear factory -
What could be more British than a teddy bear?
[By Lucy Burton Business reporter, BBC News]

Childhood favourites, Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bear are as British as tea on the lawn or a rainy bank holiday.

Although teddies were invented in Germany and the US in 1902, it was the British who took the teddy bear to their hearts and opened bear making factories all over the country.

But by the end of the 20th Century, they could not compete with the cheap bears imported from China and most of them closed down.

Of all the 30 or so teddy factories that once existed in Britain, only one still remains. Nestled in the Shropshire countryside, Merrythought Ltd has been making bears since 1930. Occupying an old foundry on the banks of the Ironbridge gorge, the Merrythought factory looks like a relic of a by-gone age. Inside, a dozen or so ladies hand-stitch each teddy in much the same way as was done 100 years ago. The only real difference is the addition of a mechanised stuffing machine.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Think On - 2

2011-02-17T08:51:00.003Z

- Think On -
"If common sense is so common why is there so many people with out it??"
-----ooo000ooo-----

My Black Hole

2011-02-15T09:49:00.006Z

- The Black Hole -

[OK I know this has been posted before but worth another airing.]

My ‘Black Hole’ Experiment
I did try this at home
I copied a Black Hole onto my computer, printed it off, poster size.
IT WORKED FOR ME
[Caution advised if you try this, I nearly lost all my fingers on my right hand]

-----ooo000ooo-----

F1 Season.

2011-02-12T11:40:00.006Z

- F1 Racing -

I’m not a big fan of Formula 1-racing in fact I find most of it boring, however when I make the effort to watch it on TV I like the pre-build up to the start, watching the BBC’s interviewer trying to interview the drivers and celebrities on the start grind, the start and the race to the first corner. The Pit Stops - fantastic, the slick way those guys work to change the tires and re-fuel normally in about 8-seconds - [My local garage should take note].

Gone are the days of Nigel Mansell, Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Narain Karthikeyan and Jos Verstappen, not forgetting Jackie Stewart, Gerhard Berger and Alain Prost, James Hunt, Martin Brundle, Luciano Burti, Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna. and Jackie Stewart, of course, many many more. ............

Many years ago I was privy to be the official photographer for one of my local motoring racing stables and at racing circuits with my official photographer florescent jacket on which opened many doors to areas where no one other than officials were allowed to go.

My photograph of Ayrton Senna, had I’ve known then what a fantastic racing driver he would become I would have taken many more.

- Ayrton Senna - Formula 3 -

The usual commentators on BBC F1 program are now Martin Brundle, David Coulthard, Eddie Jordan but who can not forget the voice tone of Murray Walker and the funny hilarious comments he made

A battle is developing between them' I say developing, because it's not yet on.
And now, excuse me while I interrupt myself.
And that just shows you how important the car is in Formula One Racing.
Anything happens in Grand Prix racing, and it usually does.
Eight minutes past the hour here in Belgium - and presumably eight minutes past the hour everywhere in the world.
Either the car is stationary, or it's on the move.
Even in five years time, he will still be four years younger than Damon Hill.
He can't decide whether to leave his visor half open or half closed.
I don't make mistakes. I make prophecies which immediately turn out to be wrong.
I should imagine that the conditions in the cockpit are totally unimaginable.
I'm in my usual state up here in the commentary box: high tension, heart beating like a trip hammer, whatever that is.
I've no idea what Eddie Irvine's orders are, but he's following them superlatively well.
IF is a very long word in Formula One; in fact, IF is F1 spelled backwards.
Now he must not go the wrong way round the circuit, and unless he can spin himself stationary through 360 degrees I fail to see how he can avoid doing so.
Schumacher wouldn't have let him past voluntarily. Of course he did it voluntarily, but he had to do it.
I can't believe what's happening visually, in front of my eyes.
That's history. I say history because it happened in the past.
The lead car is unique, except for the one behind it which is identical.
There are seven winners of the Monaco Grand Prix on the starting line today, and four of them are Michael Schumacher.
There's nothing wrong with the car except that it's on fire.
This circuit is interesting because it has inclines and declines. Not just up, but down as well.
Well, now we have exactly the same situation as at the beginning of the race, only exactly opposite.
With half the race gone, there is half the race still to go.
You can cut the tension with a cricket stump. You might not think that's cricket, and it's not, it's motor racing.

- Formula Racing Racing Calendar - [2011] -

- McLaren unveil new F1 Car -

McLaren unveiled their new F1 car for the 2011 season, hoping to bring Lewis Hamiton and Jenson Button renewed gory.

Wow-!!!! some car. [Can I please drive it?]

-----ooo000ooo-----

Think On

2011-02-12T08:17:00.002Z

- Think On -
“It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and
remove all doubt.”

-----ooo000ooo-----

Women Drivers

2011-02-04T15:29:00.006Z

- Ugh - !!!! Women Drivers -

What is it with women drivers, why is it that all seem to make a bee line for little red Ferrari, my little car is not a honey pot, I have been told on more than one occasion that red cars are passion wagons, nothing could be furthest from the truth because with my little red Ferrari unfortunately nothing passionate has ever happen in the 12-years I’ve owned her from new, well nothing that I would admit to, I can only think they think they might just for change have a moment of shear joy for a moment or two in their so so sad lives.

Women who drive RV’s or those monster 4 x4’’s normally accompanied with two or three screaming children on the back seat are by far the worst and if they are towing a trailer I just haven’t words I could describe what I think [well not written here].

OK my little red Ferrari in actual fact is a Rover Metro 1400cc but because of all the TLC and perhaps with OTT care and attention, some major engine refinements, suitable tyres and much improved suspension even after 12-years of faithful reliable service still goes like muck of a red hot shovel, [I think that possibly she was built from Ferrari’s recycled parts.] Nothing is too much trouble from her, 0 to 60-mph in 7.75-seconds, thats pretty good, she loves speed I know as she wags her tail sometimes and there have been occasions when she has gone down the road side ways, joy for her but grey hair making for me.

Her twelve years life hasn’t been without some altercations with other cars, in her early life time when a RV - [woman driver] reversed into her taking off the front valance, the time she got rear ended by a RV - [woman driver] breaking the rear valance and left it hanging down, the nearside drivers door being creased and dented by a RV - [woman driver] opening her door and colliding with my car, the time when a RV [woman driver] parked along side of me opened her rear passenger door, removed a long metal object and proceeded to push it through my closed passenger door window, the RV [woman driver] opening the rear door of her RV which swung open scoring my paint work and dented the bonnet Given that you can expect some body work damage over a period of time, the joys of motoring but on a more serious note the time a RV - [woman driver] towing a boat trailer on a 50-mph dual carriage way cut me up, pulled into soon causing me to swerve to avoid a collision and mounted the pavement, resulting in two tyres ruined and the wheel rims fracturing - [more grey hairs].

What is it with women parking cars in available parking spaces, I’ve thought long and hard about this and have come to the conclusion it’s the way they are built. the women that is and not the cars.

One such example of a lady trying to park her car in an available parking space in a one way street down in Bristol City center. Car parking space down one side of the street only. I was following a lady driver down this street when she indicated left and it was pretty obvious she was going to reverse into parking space she had found. I stopped way back and watched her performance, her first attempt she mounted the pavement, three more attempts she had to stop otherwise she would have collided with the parked car in the space in front of the vacant one, she did manage once to get it in the space but was four foot from the kerb, I lost account for the number of times she tried and I admit I did admired her for not giving up and drive away. Traffic was building up behind me, how long I had been patiently sitting there watching her performance I don’t know but it was sometime, eventually I got out of my car, tapped on her drivers door window which she wound down and asked her if she would like me to park her car for her. I wasn’t being nasty or sarcastic I did feel honestly sorry for her, no doubt she could see, hear, detect in my mannerisms I wasn’t. She agreed and I then reversed her car into the space, she thanked me and with a nice little smile as well. I drove on.

The most recent altercation just a couple of weeks ago. I visited my local supermarket a rare occasion for I normally have home delivery but I had to pick up some pharmaceutical supplies which they wont deliver, so driving over and into their car park I find a suitable parking space quite easily, do my shopping. My return I find my nearside mirror smashed and hanging off and the rear valance scrapped. The bolts for securing the mirror to the car had been pulled through the housing but with a bit of DIY made an alloy plate and refitted the mirror casing or what was left of it. The plastic on the end of the mirror frame casing was in pieces on the ground. I picked up all the pieces and the mirror which thankfully hadn’t broken.

All last week spent time in making a mould for the casing and impact gluing the pieces back together, just one more to go.

Yeah - !!!! you guessed it an RV - [woman driver] or so I was told by other shoppers who witnessed her reversing into the vacant space and her performance only then realized that she couldn’t open her doors wide enough to get out then drove off and clipping my rear valance

Note all comments answered.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Think On

2011-01-29T18:27:00.002Z

- Think On -

"Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however
improbable must be the truth."

------ooo000ooo-----

My Photography

2011-01-29T09:27:00.009Z

- Working at Photography -

When I had my own photographic business working as a professional photographer together with going out and about working as a freelance it would be true to say I made a fair amount of money. OK, a lot of hard work, working day very long, eat and slept cameras and photographs eventually ending up with more work than I could possible handle. Its true to say that a satisfied customer is the best form of advertising. I didn’t need to advertise, [does that speak for its self or does that speak for its self]. My promise was if the customer wasn’t satisfied then I re do the job FOC - [Free of charge]. I only ever had to retake one which was my fault due to faulty chemistry at the developing stage.

When I open my business some of my work I did do, run of the mill wedding photography however I soon learnt [three months] that just wasn’t for me. I specialized in the very, very high class wedding photography some in color but mostly black and white normally about two or three times a year which would net the biggest profit margin. All developing and printing with some framing done in house. My main area for the business, specialized in all types of portraiture. I got on famously with all the lovely ladies, 12-months to 90-year olds, men portraits I tried to avoid, I just couldn’t manipulate/poise them, horse - yes, dogs - yes, cats - no way, you try and tell a cat to ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘wait’, they just wonder off showing their contempt.

I learnt my ‘trade’ being taught by some of the worlds top photographers, [name dropping, Lord Lichfield, not only a top notch photographer but a true gent as well]. I attended a lot of courses organized by Kodak. Fuji, Ilford, Durst and the courses of instruction by well known and established Studios. The one course I throughly enjoyed and wished I could have gone down that path was Fashion Photography, two three week instruction at the London College of Fashion. Fashion Photography, an impossible avenue to break into unless you initially had pots and pots of money which I most certainly didn’t have. Note whilst on this course who should come waltzing into the college but Sir Cliff Richards with a well known singing celebrity, Sir Cliff, what a terrific guy, there he was sitting with us in the canteen swapping yarns and tales nothing was to much trouble for him but o-dear the celebrity singer, what a bitch, threaten all manner of legal stuff if we even pointed a camera in her direction.

Two memorable commissions one being a lavish wedding where the father of the bride paid for everything, money no object he eventually ended up with ordering 6 - 20 x 16-inch canvas mounted framed pictures to be despatched by airmail to relations all round the world. I suggested that these pictures I should send them glassless thus cutting down on weight for the freight charges, instructed to send them with glass that alone cost a small fortune. Finally invited up to his office’s in London where he would settle his/my account. A very nice big cheque and a handsome tip/cheque for my private account.

I was invited to a business firm to take a bog type photograph of the MD - [Managing Director], a very nice guy, simple enough, one off B & W 12 x 16 metal framed print [reason - to be displayed in the corridor along with all the other photographs of previous MD’s]. Arrived an hour early set up the flash heads in his office, ‘he‘ arrived, I worked for ten minutes or so took all manner of shots from different angles - job done.

The MD’s PA - [Personnel Assistant] was an absolute ‘honey‘, she was so natural, elegant, beautiful, graceful, had all the right equipment in the right places, she just oozed femininity and had a mannerism of using her hands when she was talking to empathize what she was saying, [note: hands are the hardest thing to photograph without making them look like bananas hanging down] ‘she’ just naturally radiated that something, a perfect charisma, her personality and attractiveness so magnetic and above all she sure smelt good.

I asked her if I could take some photographs, “yes, no problem, how would you like me?”, [My thoughts, in a negligee] replied “just carry on working as though I wasn’t here”, bombed off a lot of shots of her sitting at her desk working, I then asked her to stand by the window looking out [natural light], beautiful. Finally I asked her if she would poise for a rather risky shot and explained to her what it was, “yes no problem”. Something that a female does so naturally when dressing. ......... Conclusion coming in part two.

- Now that's what I call a Camera -

- Canon EOS with 600-mm lens -

- Canon EOS with 70 - 200-mm lens -

- Canon EOS with 24 - 70-mm lens -

- Bronica SQAm and Bronica SQ -

- Mamaya RZ [Pro] 6 x 7 -

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Rock Climbing

2011-01-27T21:14:00.008Z

- Rock Climbing Photography -

I was once asked by the secretary of the local Mountaineering Rock Climbing Club to take photographs for some of its members on a training climb, no problems, I foolishly assumed they would just be the normal group type with some candid unaware type of photographs thrown in - wrooooong - !!!!!!!

I arrived at the correct location to see a group of young people all chatting, shouting and laughing away. Most of them beavering away fitting all the items of their climbing gear - straps and a large number of thingy me bobs hanging from their waists.

I introduced myself and managed to arranged them for the group photographs, no problem, a nice happy group of young people enjoying themselves.

I was informed by ‘Jenny’ the Club Secretary my ‘gear’ was over there by her car. My thoughts - ‘Did she honestly expected me to join and go climbing with them?’. I remember telling Jenny on the phone rather boastfully I had done training on escaping from a downed aeroplane parachuting out, abseiling as well but was not certificated. Jenny said “don’t worry we don’t expect you to climb you will be on a safety rope hauled up and down and then if you want abseil back down, don’t worry you will be perfectly safe”. Yeah - !!!!! really - !!!!!.

She helped me into my harness, straps around the waist, over the shoulder and in between the thighs, “What side do you dress” she asked, I thought about a witty answer like on the right side of the bed but answered on the left, all the straps on the harness were pulled tight and then I remembered when I had done my parachute and abseilling training my dangly bits were slightly bruised and damaged as a result. Ah well - !!!!!! in for a penny in for a pound.

I was attached to the rope with an extra safety rope attached to the harness, a couple of tugs on the safety rope hoisted up until I tugged again to stop. Ouch - !!!!!, tears in the eyes.

I don’t suffer with vertigo nor am I afraid of heights just lets say I don’t like heights and treat being up high with extreme caution and respect.

Story: Romantic four days in Paris - France - Eiffel tower, [324 metres (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building] for me that’s b*****y high - top platform/balcony, a worried me walked around taking photographs of the views, no real problems that was until I came to part of the floor which was just a glass panel, came to full stop, no way. My then lovely partner walked across total unconcerned the other side she turned and shouted “Come on scaredy cat you’re on a promise if you do”. Tippy toe at the speed of an Exocet missile crossed over and yes I got my promise, a French bar of chocolate - Aha well, you can’t win them all.

Photo from the top looking South [?].

Rock Climbing - [For more photographs go here].

Please note all photographs were slides and with a Slide and Film scanner have been uploaded to my computer however some have a small color cast and have lost their sharpness also note photographs were taken at the level of climber proving I was up there them.

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Craft Skills

2011-01-25T12:24:00.015Z

- Skills -

I’ve always marvel at the ‘skills’ some people have, its true to say skills are not taught but learnt.

I know and its true for me to say that todays younger human element sadly fail, they all seem to think they can go to school or university for years and years and then [age 16 to 22 or plus some] come ‘out’ a fully fledge crafts-person all armed with some credited diploma or a certificate awarded by an establishment to show they had successfully completed a course of study, really!!!!! but where is the skillfully technical and practical ability where is the experience - it doesn’t exist. Me with my twenty years plus experience being led and ordered about by a fresh spotty faced ‘kid’ straight out from school and after 16-weeks training to carry out and perform dangerous ‘jobs’ I would question this with my superiors and was told that would come with on the job training. - [Little rant over].

I’ve always been particularly interested in farm life as it was at the turn of the century, the Edwardian country life period, it was a life that had a hard existence and demanded a tremendous amount of individual strength. I suppose my interest stems from my early childhood days [1930’s] living on my Dads farm in Suffolk - [East England] and if memories serves me correct to say very old fashioned and at the stage of just beginning to get mechanized. [Note: The BBC has just screened on TV the most excellent Edwardian Farm program.]

A few years ago on a photographic expedition I visited the Arboretum and found a group of local ‘skills’ people practicing their Historic crafts - amazing.

[The Westonbirt National Arboretum [North Bristol] consists of more than 18,000 trees with 17 miles of walking trails. The trees provide seasonal splendor with fragrant cherry blossoms in the spring, rhododendron and azalea in bloom in May the Acers (Japanese maple) a riot of color in the autumn and the evergreens stately against pale winter skies.]

Judge for yourselves but please note all photographs were slides and with a Slide and Film scanner have been uploaded to my computer however some have a small color cast and have lost their sharpness.

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Olive Branch

2011-01-24T14:14:00.003Z

- Olive Branch -

To all my cyber acquaintances and cyber friends who, because of my ‘Downtime’ attitude during the year of 2010 no longer correspond.

Self analysis of being: crabby, ill-tempered, short-tempered, crotchety, tetchy, testy, waspish, prickly, touchy, irritable, irascible, crusty, cantankerous, curmudgeonly, bearish, surly, ill-natured, churlish, ill-humored, peevish, pettish, cross, fractious, disagreeable, snappish; informal grouchy, snappy, cranky, shirty, ornery. - Sorry all is forgiven.

I offer you my OLIVE BRANCH.

-----ooo000ooo-----

How do I eat Turkey?.

2011-01-24T13:25:00.002Z

- How do I eat Turkey? -

How do I eat Turkey?, how do I scrape egg off my face, how can I offer some sort of explanation why I’m back blogging again after my post on “My Blogs Demise” and said “Due to personnel circumstances I have decided to close down Mick’s Page Blog. No more entries will be made to it. After much soul searching, after much head scratching, after much thought on the scales of whether too or whether not too, the scales came down on the whether too, so be it - !!!”. - [Here].

Last year I had a number of ‘issues’ and ‘events’ resulting in me losing some of my bravado manly enthusiasm, spending time on my computer both of these coupled with a number of age related health events so enthusiasm, time and age is my excuse.

Reading the above paragraph, well it’s not strictly true, This year [2011] my enthusiasm has returned however time is is still the same old ‘problem‘. The old age health situations are still there, there’s no medicine or magic pill to obtain a remedial remedy for it other than accept it and deal with it the best you can.

I know and for sure its correct, when you’re young theres 60-minutes in the hour, 24-hours in the day, 7-days in the week and 52-weeks in the year but at my age only half of those durations seem to be true.

I know for when I think about an event, an occasion, birthdays dates and all the other memorable happenings and habitual celebration events they all seem to be like last week or last month at least but, checking my iCal I find they were months and months ago. Birthdays missed, promised e-mail replies, attending certain occasions, missed appointments, work outstanding so often thought about but never done, I frequently say to myself “I’ll do that tomorrow” together with all the other necessary ‘things’ I should be doing but never seem to find the time to do them when tomorrow arrives. Old age and being poorly sick may be the culprit

The year 2010 for me in all honesty wasn’t good and I’m glad, pleased, thankful that it’s in the past. I am not one for wishing my life away but those 365-days have been the worst days I have every experienced and wished that had never happened. I hope that this New Year of 2011 most of them wont be repeated to often. I know that for sure given with age you can expect some diminishing mental and physical performance but if you balance them with tolerance, understanding, patience, forgiveness and acceptance for them then you will certainly have a happier existence. I admit there were no surprises there for me I have and had prepared myself having and made suitable alternative arrangements for the anticipated arrival of them, [I like to think I’m a thinker and planner].

Meeting certain age related events/problem one at a time [possibly two related problems at any one time] I can deal with but when I had a whole host of them all bunched together which have been on going through out 2010 has taxed my determination “Don’t let the b*****d’s grind you down” attitude to the limit. Thankfully my ‘reserve‘ was well topped up and that has been used to beat those problems.

So, year 2010 I’ve already forgotten you. Welcome to 2011.

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Help Please Needed

2010-10-31T13:07:00.003Z

- Help Please for Teddy Bears -
This an entry for help please.

Firstly this not a resurrection of ‘Mick’s Page’ blog its just that I have exhausted all the other avenues and paths I’ve ventured down to find out about the interesting information I’m interest in and want to remember but can’t about a certain ‘Teddy Bear‘.

Background and History.

I was very mature man when I had my first Teddy Bear, in fact a soldier in the jungles of Malaya, came in a most welcome parcel from home by my then girl friend, whether she sent it as a joking ‘Mickey taking’ or whether it was sent with loving thoughts to keep us safe I never did find out. Much Urine taking and merriment from my soldier companions but very noticeable that when we were engaged on and went out on ‘Ops’ it was much talked too, our lucky mascot if you like. - [A previous post explains in details about it].

Many many years later on my Teddy in need of a wash and brush up and sad to say due to the stupidity of his keeper was bathed in a washing machine. The result, nice and clean and smelling nice and sweet now resembles more of a tortoises then a teddy bear nevertheless still much loved and cared for. I now released that his internal organs were never designed for the rigors for the twirling and tumbling for his bath. Stupid me.

Right then: My visit and entry to ‘Mick’sPage’.

I remember reading many years ago about a story where someone had a brilliant idea about sending a Teddy Bear off on a world tour.

A friend of theirs who was an airline pilot on internationals flight was asked to convey the Teddy Bear on their flights to various destination and documented in the attached ‘Passport‘ [A small note book] where they or the Teddy had been too. Over a period of time this Teddy was passed on to many other pilots and cabin crews with resulting entries written in many languages, he not only enjoyed sitting on the instrumental panel on the flight decks during the flights but was introduce to the passengers also was entertained on what ever it was that the crews did on their ‘stop overs’. Some of the comments and write ups in his passport for his adventures were astounding and made enjoyable reading.

Teddy Bears adventures truly amazing, it never ceases to surprise me how emanate professionals would engage in participating in something which many would consider frivolous and stupid nevertheless made me happy to think they entered into the spirit of it all took the trouble to write and document the Teddies travels and adventures.

After his 12 or 18-months travels he was returned to his owner.

Sadly it was never given much press or TV coverage.

I remember it well but not in the detail I would like too.

Can you remember or call it up if so can you let me know? Mick

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Blog Demise.

2010-08-30T09:24:00.004+01:00

- My Blogs Demise -

Hi All.
Due to personnel circumstances I have decided to close down Mick’s Page Blog. No more entries will be made to it. After much soul searching, after much head scratching, after much thought on the scales of whether too or whether not too, the scales came down on the whether too, so be it - !!!.

Mick’s Page will remain posted, not deleted. The reason why it will remain open is that if I chose to comment on my favorite blogs which I will still be reading I don’t have to post as anonymous.

I’ve been ‘blogging’ since 2004, in those days called a Web Journal, since then I’ve learnt a lot, met some truly amazing blog friends and some not so amazing ones, each and everyone I thank you for visiting.

I can say that for my blogging years I’ve had some wonderful experiences. Many of the blog postings I have read have made me laugh, many have made me think, some have made me question my life and be thankful for my little ‘lot‘ - !!!, quite a few of them have made me sorrowful and tearful stirring up many emotions, some have filled me with astonishment.

Some of my postings have lead me down the road of having to be argumentative, my blog entries, comments and replies I’ve tried and hopefully been kind and sympathetic. Some of my blog entries I’ve posted, memories from my memorabilia box some about my every day life experiences, some of my expectations, some of my many battles with the authorities, last but not least my Army experiences, all written from my heart and with true emotions.

Hey -!!! for me as all blog posting are in the public domain we all have that right to answer and speak as we find fit as long as they are not abusive. slanderous, intentionally hurtful or naming names and pointing the finger. So be it and long may it remain so, each to their own and I say if the cap fits then wear it - !!!!

So I say - Mudinda thu, Quichaqweda, Auf wiedersehen, Au revoir, Hoi San, Sayonara, Slán agaibh, Thii na wega, Malay, Adiós, Poyitu varugiren, Do svidanja, Nameste, Tot ziens and not forgetting American - Good Bye.

Farewell and Mick’s Post - RIP.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Scarlet Pimpernel Resurrected.

2010-08-27T13:07:00.005+01:00

"We seek him here, we seek him there,
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere.
Is he in heaven?--Is he in hell?
That deemed, elusive Pimpernel"

Editors note: for those ‘Frenchies’ read Those in a position of authority. The Scarlet Pimpernel will engage, publicise, repel, comment, advertise any wrong doings for anyone who seeks to exercise their corrupt authority for what ever reasons. Righting that which is so wrong. Coming soon a new blog - ‘Micks News Page and Information Blog’.

Visitors be aware.

The Scarlet Pimpernel has been recreated in the form of a modern personage who will endeavour to right that what is wrong and this Blog of mine, Mick’s Page or my new Mick’s News and Information blog will be guesting some of his exploits and observations.

Citizen Chauvelin, who now resides in his new Buffoon’s Bastille lair at Westminster who considers that he extremely intelligent with a cunning ability to manipulate those around him for his devised elaborate plans to brow beat, restrain, capture and then for all those who offend or has the effrontery to challenge his authority are sent off with the help of Citizen Robespierre and his henchmen to be incarcerate or despatched to Madam Guillotine to have their heads severed from their bodies and never to be heard of again.

Citizen Chauvelin and Citizen Robespierre and his henchmen are consider to be the chief adversaries for the Scarlet Pimpernel but any other self imposed petty official who suffer with a feeling of being superior because of their appointment will also be addressed.

A well known [local] member of the English society who is considered for being a some sort of raconteur with his wheeling and dealing, Sir Percy Blakeney lives on, I know for I often speak to him and seek his advice. I am often accused of being Sir Percy incognito but nothing could be father from the truth, it is said that Sir Percy is the 7th richest man in England were as I am most certainly the billionth richest person also Sir Percy is, or so I am told is a bit of a ‘Fop’ and a ‘Dandy‘. Where and when ever I venture out and about in my horseless carriage get treated like a tramp and accused of being a vagabond, OK on that but just because I dress like tramp doesn’t mean I am one - [my shoes are always shinny bright].

Sir Percy, it is said is a a top-notch swordsman possibly like me for I was taught in the rudimentary use of the Military Cutlass and achieved an above average certificate also like me can shoot the hind legs of a fly at 300-metres, he is also known to be a cunning strategist and with the help of his League of the Pimpernel’s close knit circle and band of devoted Englishmen who will implicitly follow his orders take on trying to put right all ‘evils’ that are present in to days life. My band of uniformed faithful followers were disbanded a number of years ago now but we all keep in touch and suffice to say a number of them have gone onto being prominent politicians, legal beavers, prominent businessmen and influential banking businessmen all easily recognisable by our handshake and a knowingly nod of the head. All for one, one for all - Yea - !!! OK I know ‘The Three Musketeers’.

Believe it or believe it not the Scarlet Pimpernel did you know is name of an English Rose [the sign of the Scarlet Pimpernel].

I am told that any posted articles whether they are factual, observations or just inane comments will be his and his alone. If you choose to challenge any of ‘his’ posts then feel free to do so but don’t be too dismayed at the answers you receive.

If any visitor would like to directly communicate with the Scarlet Pimpernel then do so by using > scarlet.pimpernel@blueyonder.co.uk <

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mick’s comment: OK given the above is a bit of silliness on my part, but, hey - !!!!!! it’s my blog. Tongue in the cheek nevertheless, for those of you who want to believe it so well and good, the inference is true but hopefully you can see the humour as it meant to be - Mick.

-----ooo000ooo-----

Enter for recent Update

2010-08-19T07:09:00.006+01:00

- Update -

Wow-!!! has it been nearly a month since I last posted an entry, sorry to those visitors who visited expecting a fresh and updated entry. Sorry. Let me assure you I have only one excuse if you can call it that and its one excuse I suspect that we all have from time to time been effected by and its time it self. [See under for my second entry, two entries in one day that is surely a record for me.]

Truthfully I can say this year of 2010 hasn’t been too kind for me so far, one negative event after another.

January and February were months of being poorly sick so much so I was half way up the apple and pears before the intervention of my Irish doctor with his pills and hypodermic syringe brought me back to ground zero. Doctor Paul I thank you although I do have a DNR on my medical records however you may have thought it wasn’t the time for me to de-part just yet.

March saw me back to be firing fit and ready too go although I now find some physical attributes may be lacking, like getting puffed after walking 100-meters, feeling sick if I bend down, no patients with those people who think the world owes them a living, the scrummagers, having to take a eye sight re test for stronger spectacle, acknowledging I’m a type two diabetic, slight loss in hearing, now have eczema - [A condition of the skin that produces a itchy area resulting from an over reactive immune system to bacteria in the atmosphere, not contagious]

April & May brought on the yearly battles with the authorities and how they and I interpret the ‘new‘ rules and regulations about how much money they think I should pay them or the amount of money working out from the ‘new‘ regulation I’m going to ‘donate’ to them.

Battling with the local authorities about their stupid enforceable notices how to act in the local community.

June, July and to date. My tangible items/pieces of equipment breaking down and having to be replaced. To start with my ten year old washing machine failed, I stripped it down and found the main board had burnt out, cost of a new board more than a new washing machine, that was knocked on the head I now use the local launderette. My Desktop power Apple Mac computer hard drive and other components burning out, died on me, replaced with the Apple Mac iMac 27-inch - [fantastic] with the new tracking pad.

Fridge freezer not working correctly, new motor replaced. Three rings on my cooker failed to operate, [12-months and one day now out of warranty] replaced. Minor irritations, burst mains water pipe - [flooding flat], kitchen sink becoming blocked three times, unable to use the WC for two days, having to use the local convenience, no water supply for two days, water board putting in a new mains supply to a new building and replacing ‘old‘ pipes, new neighbors being too noisy, the one brain cell local youths causing mayhem after dusk. The nuisance of the local boy racers who drive their [stolen] cars and motor bikes around less the silencers after dark, police envelopment - Zero - !!!! result in me falling foul with the local gendarme with a few choice words, definitely now persona non grata My mobile going all funny, would ring at all times night and day, no one there when I answered, problem solved by a brother of my local Sri Lanka Grocer owner down on holiday from london an expert in repairs to mobile phones repaired it for me for free. “Wanacome” - “Nangree” to all Sri Lankians.

OK given on my scales of bad things vis good things on my life it seems to balance out about just nicely.

I have three good and lovely siblings, two daughters and a son, all doing well, between them have given me seven fantastic and lovely grandchildren and yes, we keep in contact, whether by e-mail, texting and Skype video sessions and the occasional visit to them.

No 1-daughter is off to the Silver Spur Ranch, U S of A, Idaho for 8-day on their horse round up - [28th Aug]. She is an accomplished horse woman and should do well and enjoy her self, this is something she has always hankered to do but with family and work commitments hasn’t been able to find a time slot previously This year she has made a time slot knowing this is her last chance of doing so. My daughter No 1 good for you, go for it, enjoy.

No 2-daughter, just returned with family from a 16-day holiday in France, all indications are they had a Fab time. photographs promised but can’t publish without her permission.

My son. He’s quite an entrepreneur having or owing three self contained flats out for rent holding down a full time employment, married with two of my grandchildren. visited Disney land U S of A - Florida, swam with dolphins and now thinking about touring the US of A in a touring motor mobile vehicle - good luck son.

There you have it, on the scales of my life it seems to balance out quite nicely.

------ooo000ooo------

A Lazy Profile

2010-08-19T06:57:00.003+01:00

- A Lazy Profile -

I suppose it’s an age ‘thing’ but recently I’ve been trying to place myself into a ‘Category’ of who I am, what I’ve been and what I will be like in the future, have I been a bad person or have I been a good person, has my life been fruitful or have I wasted it on frivolous stupid wasteful events.

My initial thoughts about posting an article about my ‘Categories’ would be something easy to write about, how wrong could I have been.

I ventured off into reading about the “Physiology of Life” on the many pages on the internet hoping that it would help me understand what and why I exist - big mistake. I found that the ‘Technical’ jargon and the many ‘big’ words used was far above my educational standard, some of them I couldn’t pronounce let alone know what they meant, the use of the dictionary came into it’s own, but even with the explanations I read became even more confused.

In my simplistic way resolved to being ME - What I believed to be right and wrong, its no good me trying to be something I’m not that would be completely false for I know and I have known for sometime I am a simple person trying to live life to the best of my ability.

I knew my route and I knew the destination where I wanted to end up. I started to drive down my life’s motorway signed posted ‘Category’, should have been easy and straight forward to do bearing in mind that my vehicle is still in good running order - [just about] with a satisfactory engine- [just about] and the chassis is still in good running order- [just about].

I eventually arrived at my what I thought was my final destination. A journey that in some way was an eye opener, the various avenues I ventured down brought it home to me, made me think, had I really done that and how could I have with hindsight and 20 20-vision been so stupid however on the other side I did on some occasions say, hey - !!! that was pretty good. I’ve always believed in, ‘extending the hand of friendship’. Truthfully I can say I’ve never intentionally greeted or associated with anyone with a clenched fist or with the sword in the hand, for me I find its better to be kind and sympathetic, give the benefit of the doubt, one thing I’ve always practiced is treat kind with kind, if you’re nice to me then I’m nice to you, attack me then you will surely get a more stronger and robust answer back from me, its true to say if you haven’t got anything nice to say about anyone then don’t say it, if by your actions you know you are going to cause hurt to someone then don’t say or do it, and yes I practice what I preach.

There’s no easy way to say this but it will come to all of us, age or getting old will come to all of us , like it or not, that’s true and the sooner you except that the better, however getting old does have it’s advantages - !!!!

There are three important ‘things’, ‘factors‘ that have and will always effect me, the way I think, or the way I go about my life, Religion, Sex and Politics. [On the side, be true and honest not only to yourself but to others as well.]

Religion.
My religious beliefs, I am a christian, there’s no doubt about that. Do I Bible punch, no I do not, do I believe in Matthew, Mark, Luke & John, [etc.] or any of the other chapters and verse, no I do not. [Reports show these to be inaccurate]. I believe in what I believe to be correct and NO before you think I have or was indoctrinated with some sort of fanatical singular ideals or with the military ideology nothing could be farther from the truth for I was taught to think for myself and deal with situations as and when they arose and for me to use my own christian judgment. I like to believe I am an honest sincere person, I like to think I’m charitable and forgiving, when I’m wrong I will admit it and learn by those mistakes.

My religious beliefs dictates not to pass by on the other side but get involved. Be a good Samaritan. I believe in experiencing life to the full to the best of my ability as we only pass this way only once.

I may have given you the impression ‘The sunshine shines out of my butt’ let me assure you it doesn’t, well it might just occasionally though - He, He.

SEX:
Sex, now there’s a horny subject - pun intended. Honestly, I don’t believe in sex for sex sake never have nor never will do although those people who indulge in sex for sex sake then good luck to them but for me I believe in a loving relation with a member of the opposite sex where there is a loving sharing physical relationship. - [Me now being a vintage model surprise, surprise there’s still plenty of ‘Rev’s‘ left in the engine] - Enough said.

POLITICS.
Each to their own.
This is not a platform me to state what my political views are whether I’m blue, red, or yellow - [green]. At one time I believed in what I was being ‘preached’ too by my so called betters - ????, I was young and naive then. So many promises, so many statements of facts and if my candidate, male or female got elected they would make the changes too. ...... Yeah - !!!! what a lot of ‘bull manure‘. I always thought if I voted for them and if they were elected they would represent me in the ‘Big House !’, how stupid could I have been, I’ve learnt they are there for their own means, [there way to easy screw the system, a way to print their own money, as many ‘perks‘ as they can get some fraudulently, above the law, parliamentary privileges etc.] Their party and then finally there for me. Think on ??? “Does your representative represent you ???. Wisdom and experience comes with age.

To any visitor, lets see a blog from you about where you have been or what you have done, your present situation and what you think your future holds for you, more or less a detailed profile picture. [Go on I dare you].

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Don’t Mess with us Oldies - !!!!.

2010-07-23T11:32:00.005+01:00

- Don’t mess with us oldies -

[Pruning through my old file files I came across the following, where it came from or the source who wrote it I have long since forgotten.]

A wealthy old Gentleman decides to go on a hunting safari in Africa, taking his faithful, elderly dog named Killer, along for the company.  

One day the old dog starts chasing rabbits and before long, discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a leopard heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch.

  The old dog thinks, "Oh, ho! I'm in deep doo-doo now!" Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the leopard is about to leap, the old dog exclaims loudly, "Boy, that was one delicious leopard! I wonder, if there are any more around here?"

  Hearing this, the young leopard halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees. "Whew!", says the leopard, "That was close! That old dog nearly had me!"  

Meanwhile, a monkey who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard. So, off he goes, but the old dog sees him heading after the leopard with great speed, and figures that something must be up.

  The monkey soon catches up with the leopard, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the leopard.   

The young leopard is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here, monkey, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine!

Now, the old dog sees the leopard coming with the monkey on his back and thinks, "What am I going to do now?", but instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old dog says... "Where's that damn monkey? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another leopard!

 Moral of this story...

Don't mess with the old dogs... age and skill will always overcome youth and treachery! BS and brilliance only come with age and experience.

If you don't send this to five "old" friends right away there will be five fewer people laughing in the world. Of course, I am in no way insinuating that any of you are old, some are just more "youthfully challenged."

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Cooking - Food Food.

2010-07-21T13:57:00.004+01:00

- Cooking for me is. ...... -

For me I find cooking very therapeutic I can easily got lost in my kitchen for hours on end and just cook, OK given most of my meals cosmetically never look like the recipe’s photographs but they sure taste delicious.

One thing you can never describe or experience when written down, the sense of smell. especially the good cooking ones. How often when walking past a shop who are specialists in coffee and smelt the smell of roasting and toasted coffee beans, or walking past a disgusting barrow late at night usually selling hot dogs with rolls and mushy onions, walking past a bakery, smelling the sweet smell of freshly baked bread or come to that a fish and chip shop or a Colonel Saunders Chicken take away, other occasions - usually around Christmas time a barrow selling hot roasted chestnuts more often than not burnt served in a wrapped newspaper cone, the hoo-ha of warming your hands, blowing on them shelling them hoping they are cool enough just so they don’t burn your mouth, lashing of salt helps. Oh -!!! the other lovely smells I have, to numerous to mention even to fresh BO and the lovely smell of fresh cut grass. OK then, enough about smells but no doubt you will know what I mean about ‘smells‘, The smells I smell often trigger off memories of events I’ve had or forgotten.

Another thing I enjoy and look forward too is waking up in the morning and finding in my Panasonic bread making machine programmed to finishing baking around 0700-hrs to a freshly baked loaf - still warm, lashings of butter and my home made marmalade - believe me you can’t beat that - !!!!.

I do specialize in my Chinese cooking/meals. I’ve done Italian and Mexican but they really aren’t my favorite and then when I need a change the good old English roast beef and Yorkshire puds or mid morning off down to my favorite cafe that sells 24-hour English breakfast’s eat as much as you wont.

It helps if you have a good set of cooking pots and kitchen knifes. Most of my cooking saucepans, woks, griddle frying pans have come from the charity shops, some battered and much used, so when I use them I often wonder about the previous owner and all the TLC they furnished on them to keep them shinny bright.

Cutting tools - Many years ago I bought a full set of professional knives, one of my better buys, they keep a good edge on the blade most of the time and only occasionally need to be re sharpened, no problems to re sharping them for a long time I’ve had a Chinese sharpening stone - [rough on one side and smooth on the other] bought in Hong Kong, all my knives are kept razor sharp, true to “say a sharp knife wont cut you only blunt ones do”.

I only have one regret, one wish I could have, I would like GAS, unfortunately not supplied to my flat, so I have to cook on a electric stove. I have stored a gas two ring camping stove, this is a back up for the occasion if I should ever have an electricity disruption, I would have a cooking capability and warmth. About twice a year I get it out and use it just to keep it in good order and cook on that for a day. I don’t say my meals taste better the cooking method is different.

One thing I wont cook or can’t cook is ‘Pastries’. I’ve stood next to a pastry chief we both had the same ingredients, we both ‘mixed’ exactly the same, rolled out, tray’ed 16 x 20-inch trays, side by side in an oven her’s came all lovely mine came out like a slab of concrete, cakes and sponges I’m not too bad on even down to the decorating of them.

Here’s a tip, one I’ve used on many occasions and it really works. Grease proof paper, home made icing bag with a fine point nozzle, cartoon characters from comics or story book pages. Patience and again patience and a steady hand.

System: Cut grease proof paper to a suitable size and spread out over the page of cartoon characters you want to copy [imagine tracing paper] anchor down the grease proof paper with weights [Cellatape if you like]. With your home made icing bag very carefully etch around your chosen cartoon character with melted chocolate ending up with a chocolate trace of the character you want. With icing sugar with the necessary coloring agents you can fill in the open spaces. Freeze until set and then slide off to the cake top. Note I’ve tried blown up balloons and sketched on them characters but not too successfully with that method, balloon bursts and I’ve been covered with chocolate and my kitchen walls are pebbled dashed with chocolate as well

The Rolls Royce is to make your cartoon characters out of marzipan and then decorate with chocolate or colored icing sugar. You are only limited to your imagination and patiences. Well worth the effect when you see the joy, astonishment on the kids faces also to some grown ups as well and they taste delicious as well .

I have a very good Chinese wholesaler who does home delivery - [Parcel Force] although he’s only about fives miles away from where I live home delivery is a God send for me and if I order before 1200-hrs I get next day delivery. A good web site, easy to order once you are registered and the way the items are packed in the box the best I have seen. Will delivery to all over the UK.

Wai Yee Hong - Go Here.

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A Blast from the Past.

2010-07-14T10:59:00.005+01:00

- A Blast from the Past -

The other day I visited my memorabilia box and fished out one of my journals, one of my journals I haven’t or delved into recently, no reason why not its just one of those things I haven’t done.

Journals name ‘East Africa’

History.

With my troop got posted to Gil Gil in Kenya, 80-k’s north of Nairobi.

We set up and communicated with the ‘World’, Australia. New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaya, Middle East countries and the UK, more often than not acting as a rebro station passing on the messages we received, working 24/7, no problems. [Messages sent to some Government department in London via Aden] after a period of time relocated at Kahawa Military Barracks, 10-k’s north of Nairobi.

We were a specialized communicating troop, our method of communicating using telegraph [morse code] only. Way, way before the instant communication technology method used today - [I am always amazed today that from the comfort of my flat on my computer I can Skype someone in Australia and not only speak to them but see them as well - fantastic].

During the time I spent in Africa I visit many countries on military duties, visiting my detachments who had been away and tasked with setting up a communicating net work for those who had the authority and knowledge that we were there - Less said about the better although if I did I wouldn’t be infringing the Official Secret’s Act, 30-years have long since past.

Everyone of the counties I visited was always fraught with an element of danger not only for personnel safety but the very large sums of currency [US-dollars] I carried and passed onto my detachments.

Some of the countries I visited:

Uganda
Tanganyika
Zanzibar
Northern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Nyasaland
Basutoland
Swaziland

[Now there’s some countries you might not have heard of for most of them got self government , independence and change their names].

South Africa, a country we were ordered not to venture into, hard not too, you would be driving down a track and see two oils drums one each side of the track painted ‘Border’-South Africa, I might add much shot up and peppered with bullet holes. We did, about 10-k’s in to the local town to buy the produce, then hot footed and got the hell out of there as fast as we could go.

Sad to say the following three countries were the worst, very un-friendly locals, hostile attitude and noway would we trust the local produce for fear of what they had done to them. Thankfully we only had detachments on very short periods of two to three weeks before we were returned. Living off army compo rations for that period of time made going to the toilet very difficult, the local fresh food supplement was definitely a no noway but we did live off the land occasionally shooting a few of the animals for fresh meat - delicious.

Algeria
Tunisia
Ethiopia

The currency we traded in was the US of A-dollar. Money talks especially the dollar.

Enough said.

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Cooking and Photography

2010-07-12T12:51:00.003+01:00

- Cooking & Photography -

I did say the new direction for my blog I would be posting about cooking [Chinese] and photography and not about me, me, me all the time, well OK I have put up one or two posts about cooking and related food subjects but as yet nothing on photography.

Very difficult for me to find as to what level for my ‘tips to improve your photography’’ to start off at?.

I wrote down twenty tips that I thought would help any new comer also would help some more experienced budding photographers as well. I gave my ‘list’ to a friend of mine a 1st year student at a college for further education on a media course and asked her to distribute to her course colleagues.

Amazing results.

I can’t or wont give you the comments, or some of the written replies I received back, one or two with artistic drawing on, those made me think this student should be on a Artistic Course instead of a Media Course. I must admit some were hilarious and gave me a chuckle or two, some I felt I should handle with rubber gloves on.

With my ‘new‘ blog direction to go down on, cooking and photography I thought would be moderately easy to write about. Cooking yes, photographic tips a big no.

Cooking at the moment, Chinese I think that’s going down reasonable well, pun intended but photography I’m finding is not so easy, difficulty at what level to pitch it-!!! - ???

My ‘list’ is on the back burner at the moment being hacked about, continually being revised with new ‘tip’s’ being added. I hope when I do post it you find it worth the time you have waited for it and that you find it useful.

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