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The good Deed

An elderly lady from our church needed a lift to Brighton to see her daughter but could not afford the fare. Besides, she needed to take her wheelchair and various other items.
So I agreed to drive her down but thought we might as well make the most of it by taking along my mother-in-law as company for the old lady on the long drive and Victoria to keep me company.
It all worked out just splendidly and even the weather played along, praise the Lord.
Here are some snapshots:


Brighton Beach


Brighton Pier and blue sky


Me looking at the second pier which went up in flames


Hey!! This would make a good picture for framing!


As long as Victoria doesn't get in the way!


Let's explore the town


Choices, choices . . .


Time for coffee!


Or a beer in the Sussex pub?

All that can be said about Brighton is that the beach is full of stones, the traffic sheer madness, the town pretty boring and there are a gazillion other seaside resorts in Britain which beat Brighton hands down any time.
So the advice from this traveller is:
Don't be fooled by the nice pictures and unless you have to go there because you are doing a good deed . . . DON'T!!!

Zoom - zoom - zoom

Last weekend we zoomed up to the North of England to visit our friend Carol and whilst we were up there, we visited a small town called Richmond, a village called Gosmont and the seaside town of Whitby.
Here are some pictures:

Richmond


Carol and Jan in Richmond Market Square


Village scene


Richmond Castle (or is it Richmond Ruins?)


Looking up . . .


. . . and looking down!!


Posing??


Gosmont


Gosmont is one end of the North Yorkshire Steam Railway track


The 9:10 hours train pulling out of Gosmont station


I love steam trains. They just have that special character.


Makes you want to play with your model railway, huh??!!


Whitby


The Whale Bones at Whitby


Is the woman on the phone saying: "Yes, I've come to the end of land! Now what??"


Whitby parking attendant???


After the rain


View from the top


Whitby harbour

Next we will be zooming off South to Brighton!

Answer me this . . .

Greetings, friends,
One of my friends, an old colleague of mine still working at the unmentionable place for a few weeks yet has asked me what I was doing all day long now that I am not working and why I haven't updated the firefly for such a long time.

Well, Gary, here is your answer:

Since Jan, my better half, is still working to keep me in the luxury I've got accustomed to, I get up at about 7 a.m. and together with Victoria take the dog for a walk in the park.


Here we are at the back of the house just leaving

Once in the park we let the dog off the lead to have a good run around whilst we chat about loads of things and take some pictures.


Jamie on the loose


Victoria snapping flowers in the field

Once we get back home we have breakfast together and after putting some washing on I spend some time on the computer dealing with emails or playing with my new software, Adobe Photoshop Element, which does all manners of photo manipulation.

For example, you can turn this


into this


Then it is time to do some combination of these:
Hang some washing out, do some ironing, hoover the house, change the beds, wash the floors, clean the bathrooms, dust the furniture, . . . . .


So, as you can see, a house-man's job is never done!

By this time it is lunch-time and Victoria and I have an excursion into town or into Milton Keynes for some coffee and light snack as well as doing the food shopping or I meet with Garry for some pub lunch and a couple of beers.


Victoria and Olivia (a friend of hers we happened to meet) at M&S

By the time we get back home it is about 2 p.m. and time for a little snooze in front of the telly or some more Internet surfing.
Then the dog needs to be taken out again


We love our park with its little river


and its greenery and with weather like this, who wants to work??


By now the kitchen is waiting for me to prepare dinner for the gang and cook up a storm for the hungry hippos!


Roasted Asparagus with Feta Cheese and Chilli & Garlic infused Oil
The evening is for relaxation!

Well, Gary, there you have it! The answer to your question and as you can see I just haven't got time to work!!
As for not updating the blog more often . . . I must confess it is just laziness on my part!
Sorry, everybody!!

Jesus and His Followers at the Theme Park

Last Saturday about 25 young people from our church including 4 drivers set off early in the morning to have a fun day out at Alton Towers, Englands main Theme Park followed by a Christian Concert in the evening.
It was a great day and we met old friends from other churches in our area which we hadn't seen for some time.
Here are the pictures:


The Ripsaw ride


The Nemesis ride


The Oblivion ride


Don't look down?? Too late!! Aaaaaaaahhhhh!!!


The Enterprise ride


The Spinball Whizzer ride


The Flume ride


Erik and Victoria on the Flume ride


Meeting up for lunch


Queueing for the rides


Some of the gang at the Runaway Mine Train ride


At the Christian Concert sponsored by Compassion UK


Slowly filling up


Ever seen 6000 people take their shoes off as the band sings:
"Take off your shoes, you're standing on holy ground!"?

Yup! I am grateful to be a Christian, saved by the grace of God!

Snap-happy in Lincoln

There are far too many pretty towns and villages here in Britain and Lincoln is just one more example of this.
I had some time on my hands when my wife needed to go to her company's Lincoln office, so I tagged along and took some shots:


Go up "Steep Hill" I was told. "It's well worth it!"


Half way up (here looking back) I sincerely hoped so!


More climbing needed but nice houses and little shops


A small chapel with spring flowers


Bailgate with its Tudor houses


Lincoln Cathedral shot from Minster Yard . .


. . and from Pottergate.


From the side it could almost pass as York Minster


Opposite the Cathedral is Lincoln Castle with its walls


There used to be a wall around the city as in York but now only fragments exist like this one here called Newport Arch


Inside the castle I felt the urge to climb up to where the flag was flying and to have a walk on the wall


This is the sight from the wall towards the Cathedrale


Walking on top of the wall now with the Tower on the right



Inside the Castle grounds you find the old jail and a copy of the Magna Carta


as well as this odd looking building which is the Lincoln Magistrates Office


As I was takeing the lst picture I heard some odd flapping and thought:
"DUCK!!!" . . . . and so it was!!


On my way down to the town centre now, just glancing back


Nearly down now and getting more commercial all the time


Lincoln has worked hard to transform the area around High Street and Waterside


This is Waterside Shopping Centre looking towards High Street


Walking towards Brayford Wharf along a small passage


Brayford Wharf with its many bars on the right


Did someone say "BARS"????


Staggering back via High Street


A final glance of the Cathedral and just in time to pick up my wife from work

If you ask me which city I preferred - York or Lincoln - I have to give York the edge, as it is flat and does not interfere with the walking after a few pints of beer!!

A Visit to York

Having lived in York for some 7 years I had the opportunity to revisit this beautiful city on a glorious, sunny day.
Here are the photos:


York Minster (Cathedrale) taken from the Wall around York


View onto the river Ouse from Lendal Bridge


The ruins of the old Abbey in York Gardens


The Minster taken from the front


The Minster from the side


Stonegate shopping street


View from the Mansion House towards Stonegate and the Minster


The Mansion House


Parliament Street - Time to relax


The Shambles - An original old street (see the large window ledge where meat was displayed for sale in centuries gone by)


Clifford's Tower - Once a prison


A house in Minster Yard where children play cricket


River Ouse from Ouse Bridge


Bootham Bar - Entrance to the city through one of its many gates (bars)

York is a wonderful city and well worth a visit. If you have never been there, then shame on you.
I fell in love with the city the moment I arrived there as a youngster (see my little book at
http://a-german-shepherd.blogspot.com/ )

The Stewkley Walk

Since the weather decided to remain good this weekend, Garry, Christine, Jan and I did another countryside walk - this time around the village of Stewkley in Buckinghamshire.
Here are the pictures:


There are 2 pubs in Stewkley. Start at "The Swan Inn".


Have a beer in the pub gardens


Set off past the chickens on the farm at the bottom of the lane


Mind the goose


Ensure you all wear dark glasses


Don't frighten the horses


Say 'Hello' to Shaun, the sheep!


Bridge the gaps


Admire the view over the rapeseed fields


Blend in with the countryside


Stay away from the horns


Single-file back into Stewkley


Stop at the second pub for another beer


Tiptoe past the Methodist church


Along some old houses


and some newer ones trying to look old


A converted and twice extended barn


Admire 'St Michael & All Angels' church


and a cottage of beauty!

Hocus Pocus in Focus

For a few months now we have a brand-new Focus (D.I.Y.-Supermarket) in our town and as I needed some sort of chain to hold our patio doors open with I decided to pay a visit!
After all . . . how difficult can it be?!!! Right??
I soon located the section with different type of chains. You know the one where you measure how many metres you want, use the conveniently positioned cutter and take it to the cash desk.
Well, that's what I did!
Here then is the conversation as I approach the woman at the till:

"Here you are - 3 metres of chain!"
"Right . . tying someone up today, are we?? (Snort, snort)"
"Yeah . . (smiling sweetly - face as if constipated)"
"I have no code for that! No wait!!! I can look it up in our picture catalogue!! (thumbs through pages with the speed of a stunned slug).
This looks a bit like it!" she says grabbing her scan gun and running it over the bar code next to the picture.
'Blip' goes the till showing a price of £3.59
"That's not right! This chain is only £2.99 per metre!"
(Looks again through the catalogue, thumbs past 'chains')"Naah, them are ropes now! See?!! (points at a picture of a rope)"
"Can't you just type in the price??"
"Naaahh, I need a code, see?!!"
"Well, don't look at me!! I don't have a code!"
(Picks up the microphone) "Jason to till 2 please - till 2 - Jason!!"
A minute later a tall, skinny, spotty young dude with a bad haircut arrives.
"Ah, Jason, we need a code for that chain" (points to the chain on the desk)
"That chain??!!" he replies, pointing at the same chain as if there was more than one anywhere within viewing distance.
"Yeah, that chain! Can you go and get us a code?"
Pimpleface picks up the chain and walks off with it, eventually returning with chain in one hand and cell phone in the other.
"I keyed the code into my phone!" he proudly announces. He presses a few buttons and then reads out: "5-2-3-4-4 6-3-6-1-1 7-7-4-9-8"
Every digit is repeated by the woman behind the till followed by a small 'blip' as she punches the key.



'Beeeeeeeeeeepp!!' goes the till.
"Naaaahh!! That code is not right!!" she announces, shaking her head in an 'I don't know what to do about this' manner.
The by now sizable queue of customers waiting to pay at the only till currently open starts to grumble and mutter no doubt wondering which of those two utter nerds to kill first.
A third assistant arrives! To open another till?? Nooooooo!!! To open the catalogue and scan various items until he finds something worth £2.99
He finally comes across it and says: "'ere! Use that one!"
She scans it and says: "That's £6.58, please!"
In my head I am thinking '£2.99 times 3 metres = £8.97!' and reply to her:
"£6.58??? How can that even be possible????"
"Oooohhh!! Silly me!!! I forgot to cancel the first incorrect price! Let me start again! (a customer at the back of the queue whines silently) Horrayyy!! Now I got it right!! That's £2.99, please!!"
I have lost the will to argue, fear the wrath of the menacing crowds and pay up, my Christian conscience only pricking me slightly for only having paid a third of the correct price.
Lord have mercy!!!

Fun Monday #13 - Inside the Actor's Studio

Today's Fun Monday challenge comes from Bethany at Ice Cream Mama
She writes:
I love the television show Inside the Actor’s Studio. As host, James Lipton interviews some of today’s most popular personalities (Tom Hanks, Dave Chappelle, Hugh Laurie, Queen Latifah, to name a few). The show has three parts. The first part consists of a one on one interview in front of a live audience (so much better than a dead one). The final part is a Q & A with audience members asking the questions.
The second part is my favorite and is also next week’s Fun Monday challenge.
James Lipton presents the audience with ten questions.
My challenge to you is to answer these questions.

Well, here are my answers to those questions:

What is your favorite word?
Food (I know . . how shallow . . but I just love food!

What is your least favorite word?
Hospital (I hate that place and anyone having to go there has my sympathy!

What turns you on (creatively, spiritually or emotionally)?
God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, passionate people, nature and music!

What turns you off?
Racism, mindless violence, selfishness, lack of common sense, lack of customer service and drugs!

What is your favorite curse word?
Smeghead

What sound or noise do you love?
Laughter, waves crashing onto the beach, music, steam locomotive noise

What sound or noise do you hate?
Kids screaming, moscitos buzzing in your ear, people arguing!

What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt?
Holiday Guide

What profession would you not like to attempt?
Butcher

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Because you accepted my son, Jesus Christ, I have accepted you! You are forgiven!