The Electronic Firefly

Follow me!!!

2007-06-01T18:39:00.000+01:00

I have moved!!

Follow me by clicking here !!!

The good Deed

2007-05-31T12:33:00.000+01:00

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

2007-05-30T08:48:00.000+01:00

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 . . .

2007-05-25T08:47:00.000+01:00

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

2007-05-07T09:38:00.000+01:00

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

2007-05-04T08:01:00.000+01:00

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

2007-05-02T14:10:00.000+01:00

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

2007-04-22T07:54:00.000+01:00

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

2007-04-19T14:24:00.000+01:00

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

2007-04-16T09:55:00.001+01:00

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!

Dunwich? Where the Hell is that??

2007-04-13T13:10:00.000+01:00

We are back from our visit to Beccles in Suffolk and had a very nice and relaxing time indeed.
Hayseed Dixie was great fun to watch and listen to as usual but I think one of our gang took the preparation for the gig juuuuust a little too far.

Nice one, Andy!!

The weather was kind as well, which always helps - especially when (as we did) you are undertaking a five mile round-trip through the beautiful Suffolk countryside.
We parked our car at Dunwich on the Suffolk coast, walked along the beach, past a bird sanctuary, along marsh land, into the obligatory pub, through the forest and over the heath back to the car.
Here are some pictures:

The Gang on the beach

Not a man-made thing in sight

Old ruin which doubled up as gun shelter in the war

Grasses taken from the ground to the sky

This pub used to be a smugglers meeting place. Keith and I each managed to smuggle 2 pints of beer out in our bellies.

Jan (left) showing Daniel where she is going to bury me in a shallow grave if I don't stop drinking beer at lunchtimes.

Daniel (very small left) looking for places to bury Jan if she doesn't stop talking nonsense.

Dunwich heath

Back in the kitchen I noticed this sign, drawn by little Rachel.
Couldn't resist blogging it!

So, friends, remember!!! Don't sneeze on the food!!
Have a good weekend!

The long Weekend

2007-04-10T19:53:00.000+01:00

Hello friends,
I trust you had a good Easter break and maybe even managed to give Jesus a "thank you" for all He has done for you and me on the cross.
We had a nice Sunday morning service here at the local church and then decided to take our dog Jamie and ourselves for a walk.

Jamie is a Soft-Coated-Wheaten-Terrier

Tomorrow Jan and I are off to Suffolk (South-East) to visit Keith & Theresa and to take in the musical delights of Hayseed Dixie once more.
For this reason blogging will commence again the comming weekend.
Keep well and bless you all.

Fun Monday #12 - Embarrassing Clothes

2007-04-09T11:08:00.000+01:00

The challenge this week was set by Amy (see "A Family Story") to find something in your closet you are keeping for some ungodly reason (the sweatshirt with all the holes, the jeans your kids used as a drawing table with markers, the shirt with the stain you only hope no one notices) take a picture of it and tell us why you are keeping it and how it got that way.

In my case this means showing you some of my T-shirts . . . and don't even ask me what made me think at the time that these were juuuust the thing to wear!

Cringe-Shirt #1

"Hakuna Matata"??? Yeah, I know it means "Don't worry" but wearing a T-shirt like this, you should worry!!

Cringe-Shirt #2

Now, the Hamsters is the name of a really good Rock 'n Blues Band and they never fail to bring the house down. I still like wearing this when I go to their concerts but that is about the only time you get away with it!

Cringe-Shirt #3

Unbelievably I wore this T-shirt on my 50th birthday in Italy. So on top of being totally un-cool by being part of a holiday tour group I had to stand out wearing this! I just hope the Italians didn't speak much English!

Cringe-Shirt #4

Another great Blues guitarist - Walter Trout from America. Sad thing is . . I still like this T-shirt! What's wrong with me??

There are other embarrassing clothes but enough for today!!

I'm walking on Sunshine!

2007-04-07T11:13:00.000+01:00

Easter weekend is here and for once the weather is utterly brilliant.
Yesterday our friends Garry and Christine joined Jan and me in a 6 mile walk through the beautiful countryside.
To be able to spend a few hours with good friends just strolling through God's own garden is truly amazing and makes you grateful to be alive.
Here are some pictures for you:

Walk along the canal . .

Mind the swan . .

Observe the heron . .

Mind your head . .

Nice redwood trees . .

Don't step on the frog . .

(No comment)

Curious cows . .

Singel file marching . .

The locks . .

Time for lunch and a beer . .

(No need for that!!)

Canal boats . .

The girls are slowing down

I do love springtime!

Is it a Bird? Is it a plane??

2007-04-03T12:09:00.000+01:00

No, it is just The Electronic Firefly signing on to say that all is well.
When I left work a month ago I was under the impression that I would have plenty of time to blog every day but image my shock when exactly the opposite happened.
I really do not know how I had time to work!!
We have been visited by an Estonian family -Estonia is on the Baltic Sea opposite Finland and to the left of Russia - just in case you wondered.
They were nice people and they stayed in our house for a couple of nights. Since I was off work I took them to see a bit of the area around where we live.
We visited the Cotswold's, Blenheim Palace and Oxford amongst others.
Here are some pictures for you:

The village green in the village of Evenley

Narrow-boats at Clifton

Town square at Stow-on-the-Wold

Bourton-on-the-Water

Old house in Oxford

Blenheim Palace

The Estonian visitors in Bicester

Now that is what I call a Whisky!! OMG!!

Apart from the Estonian visiting us I have done lots of little D.I.Y. jobs around the house,
such as:

Putting up mirrors

Putting up shelves

Painting the Summerhouse

So there you have it! I am still alive and doing fine!
Thanks for all your comments and I will try and blog more often!
Blessings!
Me.

Confusion in the Heavens

2007-03-20T08:21:00.000Z

It's springtime - no wait - autumn - no, it's . . winter - oh, I give up!!

Yes, the weather here in good old England has gone bonkers! After nice warm days with plenty of sunshine and daffodils sprouting forth everywhere we suddenly wake up to snow, hail, temperatures struggling to climb and strong winds (and that even without a night on the beers and a vindaloo!).
We don't think it's funny, as we have visitors coming today from Estonia and it would have been nice to show them the sights in a warmer climate.
Our neighbours are also not laughing, having received an extra entrance to their garden without asking for it, courtesy of a tree snapping off in the wind!

There are always people walking their dogs down there and we can only thank the Lord that nobody got hurt or killed!
Talking about the Lord . . . could we please have some warmer weather?!?!
Thanks!!

The Boys are back in town!

2007-03-16T11:20:00.000Z

Yesterday was the Annual General Meeting of our little Share Club which we lovingly called "The Leesons" after Nick Leeson who single handed brought down Barings Bank, England's oldest Investment Bank.

The Annual General Meeting usually takes place in London and follows the familiar pattern of "meeting in a pub for a drink - and another one - and another one - and . . well you get the picture . . . followed by a meal (usually Indian) and maybe some more drinks".

Alas, even though everybody had plenty of notice, most members of the Leeson’s gang showed themselves to be utter nappy-wearing slackers, making excuses and crying like girls as to why they couldn't possibly turn up.
For those who did show up, I think that we showed them up good and proper, having a good laugh, eat, drink and still do the club justice by actually coming up with the business stuff!

I can't believe how full I was after all that liquid and food and at the end of the evening my belly and I clambered into a taxi to get the train from Euston.
The taxi driver, who strangely resembled the love-child of Al-Fayed, the Harrods Superstore owner and Mike Tyson, the boxer (if that could work!), managed to hurtle me along Marylebone Road and Euston road in his shiny Mercedes, taking the under-path near Euston with such high speed that I turned around to see how close the Paparazzi were so I could yell “I am not Lady Di!!” at them before we would crash into some pillar in a "deja moo (haven't I seen this bullsh*t before)" sequence of events.
When we finally came to stop at Euston Station the driver asked me for £12!!! "Twelve Pounds??? Well, you'd better drive on then, since we are still some way off Milton-Keynes, which is where £12 should f*cking take me!!!"
Three things however convinced me to pay him after all:

I was about 30 pounds over my ideal fighting weight

He was morphing more into Mike Tyson rather than Al-Fayed

He did get me to the station in such short time that if I would stop arguing now, I might just make the earlier train

I got myself a ticket from the automatic ticket machine with the slogan:
"In a hurry?? Try me!" written on it.
I was in a hurry and I was going to try it! After pressing various imaginary keys on the touch screen (my long I.T. education finally paying dividend) and swiping my credit card it did produce my ticket in no time!

My Virgin Train (you know, like the one that crashed off the rains in the Lake District) was waiting, ready to depart and I no sooner had hopped on, that we were on the move.

The temperature inside the train was nicely adjusted to the (always feeling cold) female passengers at a constant 1 Million Degrees Celsius but all the guys were sweating like bomb disposal experts with hiccups!!
The air was soon heavy with the smell of what can only be described as "old Sumo wrestler's jog straps", which is not what you want when you feel utterly bloated anyway.

But when I woke up this morning at 10 o'clock, had myself a toast and coffee and a short walk in the sunshine, all of yesterday's things are just good memories.

2007-03-11T18:55:00.000Z

Beccy at Peppermint Tea has thrown down the gauntlet for this week's Fun Monday!
The challenge is to (and I quote):

"post a recipe that would inspire her to get into the kitchen to chop, cut, grate, boil, steam, roast, chill, freeze and eat, eat, eat."

Well, Beccy, get ready to feast your eyes, lick your fingers and drool all over the place!
And just for you . . . all my recipes are dead easy and quick to make, yet tasty, tasty, tasty!!
Here goes:

Starter - Roasted Asparagus with Feta

(3-4 servings - 30 minutes incl. prep time)

2 lbs fresh crisp asparagus
1/4 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lemons, zest of
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
salt (to taste)
fresh ground black pepper (to taste)
1-2 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
3-4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
1 lemon (juice of, no seeds)

Preheat oven to 400F.
Heat olive oil, minced garlic, lemon zest, oregano, and red pepper flakes in a small pan over low heat until garlic becomes golden and oil becomes fragrant; remove from heat and allow to cool.
Cut off a quarter of the thick end of the asparagus and discard ends.
Toss asparagus pieces with infused olive oil and place in a single layer on a baking sheet (one with a side edge).
Season asparagus with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle asparagus with crumbled feta cheese.
Roast at 400F for 15 minutes or until cooked to your liking.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley and squeeze the lemons over the asparagus, being careful to catch the seeds.
Serve hot.

Main Course - Sour Cream Chicken Casserole

(4 servings - 50 min incl. prep time)

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, boiled and cubed (I cheat and buy 'already cooked' chicken)
1 cup sour cream
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of chicken soup (mushroom can be substituted)
25 Ritz or TUC crackers
1/2 cup butter, melted
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Boil chicken breast until tender; drain and cube. (unless you bought 'already cooked' chicken)
Spread evenly over the bottom of a square casserole dish.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Mix sour cream and chicken soup in a separate bowl.
Spread the sour cream and soup mixture over the chicken in the casserole dish.
Crush the Ritz or TUC crackers and spread over top of the casserole.
Spoon melted butter on top over all.
Bake in a 350 degree oven until top is golden brown, approximately 20-30 minutes.

Baileys Yoghurt-Cream Dessert

(4 servings - 10 min prep time)

3/4 cup Greek yogurt
3/4 cup double cream (heavy cream)
3/8 cup Bailey's Irish Cream
1/2 ounce icing sugar
4 meringue nests
1/2 ounce grated chocolate (or a Flake chocolate bar, crumbled)
1/2 ounce cocoa powder (optional)

Whip the cream until very stiff.
Stir the Baileys into the yoghurt with the icing sugar (powdered sugar or confectioners' sugar), then fold in the whipped cream. Refrigerate until it's time to serve.
When ready to serve, put one meringue mest into each dessert dish, spoon in as much of the Baileys yoghurt-cream as seems prudent, sprinkle with chocolate, then dust with cocoa powder (using a sieve for neat, even coverage).
You will probably have more of the filling than you need, depending on the size of your meringue nests - but better too much than too little!

So, folks, what do you think of these??

Wroom, wroom!!

2007-03-10T19:16:00.000Z

Today we went with son no.2 to pick up his new car.
Just couldn't resist to snap a picture and blog it!

The first Week away from the Pet Shop!

2007-03-08T08:36:00.000Z

Yes, it has been exactly 1 week since the pet shop told me that there weren't going to be any further deliveries of hay and that I needed to go elsewhere to graze!
So they captured the pet wasp from the shop window, handed it to me as a leaving present and like the proverbial dragon - pooff! - I was gone!
Luckily some kind and considerate person (me) spread the news that I am very fond of the Scottish National Brew and those pet shop boys 'n girls I call my friends came up trumps by slipping me the odd bottle!

So . . do I miss the pet shop? Am I yearning to see the dogs, talk to the goats, run after the ferrets, listen to the parrots, sweep up the crap from the cats??
Strangely the answer is "No!"
Oh, I know . . gone are the advantages of working at the pet shop, such as the overwhelming feeling of superiority, the appreciation by the animals for the care you provide and the great sense of achievement you get as they lick your hand and waggle their little tails in gratitude for feeding (their egos) them!
(Sarcastic mode OFF)

Since leaving the pet shop I have had various enquiries from job agencies and even went to a little interview with one of them who think they have just the job for me!
It all sounds good but "Hold your horses!!" I don't even know whether that is the type of job I really want to do. I am still in the middle of sorting all my private stuff out, doing all those odd jobs around the house and enjoying the clean fresh air, which anyone who ever worked at a pet shop will appreciate!

As Jamie and I were doing our morning walk in beautiful sunshine we both seemed to sense that life is good and springtime is coming! Time to open your cage and breathe deep!

To all my friends at the pet shop I just need to say:
"I miss you and watch out for the harmless looking scorpion in the corner cage. It stings without warning!"
Time for breakfast and a decent cup of coffee!

Behold!!! The Cake!!

2007-03-02T18:05:00.000Z

As promised, here is a picture of the cake!
Not as you all suspected a chocolate cake but a yummy lemon & cranberry cheesecake - far less calories!!
Alas, it is confession time!!
My daughter made this cake all by herself so I just cannot claim any credit!
It is very nice though and I think it is calling me over right now!!
"VNM . . come and eat me"
I must follow the call!!
See you soon!

Are you working hard???

2007-03-01T11:00:00.000Z

Today is the first day of my redundancy and like you I am at home working hard.

It was hard saying goodbye to some of the lovely people in the office, some of whom I have known for 20 years but when you have to go - you have to go!
Knowing my liking for Single Malt Whisky I was presented with some very fine specimen of the amber liquid and have already started on one of the bottles last night! It's all my wife's fault! She wanted one, too (Whisky that is!!).
I'm off to the kitchen now to bake some sort of cake (pictures might follow!)
So, cheerio for now!

Is this the Way to Amarillo??

2007-02-27T08:39:00.000Z

After a very, very nice man stole my Sat Nav system last December by smashing my side window and showering the inside of my car with glass, I decided that I would make do with the good old trusted maps from now on.
Alas, she who must be obeyed (my wife) had other ideas and insisted that a new Sat Nav would help daughter No.2 (who is new to driving) find her way around these blessed Isles!
So here in all its beauty is the new device.

In other news:
An 84 year-old woman has been killed and eight other people seriously hurt in a train crash in Cumbria, northern England. The investigation is concentrating on a set of points the 1715 GMT London to Glasgow train passed over just before derailing.

The boss of Network Rail has apologised unreservedly after it became apparent that nuts & bolts were missing and shoddy workmanship was to blame for this incident!

Well, that makes it all fair and square then!!
The fact that the same thing has happened before in London at Potters Bar in 2002 with the loss of 7 lives is neither here nor there I guess.
After that accident in 2002 an investigation made recommendations so that 'this sort of thing would never happen again!'
Yeah, right!! That worked!!

Perdita Kark, whose father Austen died at Potters Bar, told the BBC's World Tonight programme that "it would appear a very, very similar thing has happened in Cumbria".
"Obviously no lesson has been learnt by anybody at all," she added.
"It's just a disgrace and it makes me feel sick."
The (RAIB) report also found evidence that the last scheduled visual inspection of the track on February 18 by the company responsible for the track, Network Rail (NR), did not take place.
Rail safety expert Peter Rayner said the Cumbria derailment looked like a re-run of the 2002 crash.

So, next time you think of using a metal tube to propel yourself to your destination at 95 mph, you better make sure it isn't in this country!
So, . . .what's next??
Oh, I know!!!
Pay rises all round!!

Fun Monday #6

2007-02-26T09:28:00.000Z

This Monday it is "My Blogging Environment", this can mean any number of things, such as which group of bloggers you hang out with, what weekly events you participate in (like this), what the general tone of the discussions are (no comment), even what platform you use, or in my case, "what does your desk look like?"
Well, here is mine:

Yes, I know . . it looks veeeery tidy!! This is not always the case!

Time for a Survey

2007-02-23T09:27:00.000Z

The Fly is conducting a survey just for sh*ts & giggles:
So do partake via comments!
Thanks

Survey:

Do you have (or are you prepared to have) SKYPE installed (it's free!)
Do you have a Webcam at home?
Would you be prepared to share your SKYPE name with blog friends and speak to them on Skype? (This could be emailed to them so the SKYPE name would not be seen publically on your blog)
Would you talk to them via Webcam?
If you wouldn't do point 3 and/or point 4 above, what are your reservations or reasons?

I start the ball rolling by saying that I do have SKYPE and a Webcam and would be happy to do either/both.

Over to you!

P.S.:

I am selling a real naff wonderful item on Ebay, so scoot over there via this link below and get your hands on a great item (all for charity!!)

Click here!!!

As stupid as a Box of Hair!

2007-02-22T11:28:00.000Z

I saw this extract in the press which I just needed to kvetch (complain) about:

Britney Spears had her drastic haircut at Esther's Hair Studio in Tarzana, west of Los Angeles, on Friday, but was later seen wearing a blonde wig.
The salon has set up a website to auction the hair for more than $1m (£512,500).
A spokeswoman for the website said they had already received a number of bids.

What on earth is wrong with people??
Here we have Britney, a young woman who is a prime example for the fact that money does not buy you happiness and that it is difficult living your life under the constant scrutiny of the press and their readers/viewers and what is the sum total of our response??
Is it pity? Is it compassion? Do people include her in their prayers?
Naaaaaaah!!!
Let's sell her hair instead and make an obscene amount of money with it!!
Now, don't get me wrong - business being what it is, you need to make hay whilst the sun is shining and in this money-grabbing capitalistic society nobody should be surprised by the attempt of a hairdressing salon to boost their income!
What I have a real problem with is those people - ordinary people like you and me - actually validating this crazy stunt by parting with their hard-earned cash and buying . . . I can hardly get myself to write it . . . a box of hair!!

Apart from the fact that you could never be sure that the hair you've just bought is actually hair that came of Britney's head (can you tell the difference??) I just find it amazing that people see any value in having it!?!?!
It grows naturally on billions of people's head; it is no different to the hair on your head; it is not particularly nice to look at and I don't think it would score any kudos points with your friends, when you show it to them and tell them how much you've paid for it!!
If it does score points, then I would urgently suggest that you need to change your friends!!

So, let us re-cap:

Took advantage of the current lack of stability in a fellow human being (tick)

Was sucked into the frenzy of buying something worthless (tick)

Parted with a stack of cash that could have gone to - lets say - a charity (tick)

Supported a ruthless business who does not give a shit about Britney (tick)

Able to gloat to feeble-minded 'friends' about the latest valuable purchase (tick)

Next thing you know someone will come and tell me that this hair is Art or History or Celebrity Worship!

The Bible says: "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long must I stay with you and put up with you?" (Luke 9:41)

The Fly says: "Some people are really as stupid as a box of hair!"

This very nice man wishes Britney a speedy recovery and will remember her in his prayers!

Pancake Day

2007-02-21T10:24:00.000Z

Whether the country is under siege, the sun doesn't rise in the East or a nuclear reactor has just exploded . . there is just nothing that can stop the urge to make pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day).
The household of the very nice man is no exception to this rule and just to prove it, the electronic firefly will provide pictorial evidence of this:

Son No.1: "Right, folks! I've got the recipe book, I've got the mixing bowl, I've got the ingredients and this very fetching apron! Let battle commence!!"

Son No.1: "It says here . . borrow 4 eggs, mix them with flour, milk and water and get your mum to whisk it until her hands drop off!"

Son No.1: "Now leave the kitchen quickly and wait until pancakes appear on your plate!"

It is not very often that you have a perfect chance to embarrass your kids, so I urge you all to comment on Son No.1's girlie apron! He does read this blog!!

Smoke get in your Eyes

2007-02-19T09:51:00.000Z

From July onwards England is joining the many countries to ban smoking in public places and this includes Pubs, the very place where people go to have a drink, a smoke and a chat with friends.
Now don't get me wrong, I could care less either ways and I am not for or against smoking in pubs but this latest announcement really shows again the nonsense this government is dreaming up no doubt under the influence of alcohol:

Thousands of council staff are being trained to police the smoking ban in bars, restaurants and shops in England.
Ministers have given councils £29.5m to pay for staff, who will be able to give on-the-spot £50 fines to individuals and take court action against premises.
They will have the power to enter premises undercover, allowing them to sit among drinkers, and will even be able to photograph and film people. Smokers' groups and industry officials said the plans were a "waste of money".

So let me get this right . . . we do not have any money available to improve local playgrounds, parks, schools or facilities for the elderly but we do have almost 30 million pounds (that's about 60 million Dollars) stashed away for some pimple-faced snotty wanna-be-police do-gooders to sit in our pubs, drink our beer just waiting for some group of youngsters to light up due to the fact that they are half-cut (or totally drunk) and the fact that they really don't give a rat's arse about most things, least of all a smoking ban.
The government has already conceded that the first time they find someone breaking this important law, they are just going to warn them.

So how is this going to work???
Let's look at an example:

It is Friday night and a group of lads and their girlfriends (all in their twenties) is meeting at the Cock & Bull Pub in Slough where they do what they always do: Have some Beers, some Vodka Chasers and take the p*ss out of each other.
At 10:30 p.m. Hooknose Harry and Stinky Steve light up a couple of fags for themselves and their girls, Big-boob Brenda and Corrie-the-Chav.

Suddenly wanna-be policeman Malcolm whips out a camera and starts flashing away at the group with the comment: "Ha, gottcha!! You are all criminals now and I have the evidence to prove it!" (waiving the camera at them in a "look at me, I am a detective"-sort of way.
"Next time I catch you it will cost you all £50 cash!!"
Challenging him, Trisha-the-tart is now lighting up and taking a deliberately deep drag on the cigarette places her mouth firmly on Sally Sicknote, exhaling and thus sharing the smoke with her.
More snapping of pictures, more warnings, more threats of penalties.
"I did not light up!" exclaims Sally, "So you better don't mess with me, buddy!"
Malcolm seems confused as to what to do about this. Now other youngster join in the fun and shout their mouths off about discrimination against lesbians.
Stinky Steve has meanwhile started on his second fag but insists on challenge that this is still his first one and asks Malcolm to prove the opposite - which of course he can't.
Seeing his authority being eroded before his eyes, Malcolm now waves his 'I am a w*nker but one with governmental authority' badge at them and asks them all for their names and the inevitable fine of £50.

About two minutes later the picture is as follows:

Hooknose Harry has embedded his left fist in Malcolm's face - Trisha-the-Tart has caught his camera, placed one of Malcolm's hands inside Big-Boob-Brenda's top and has taken a picture of him 'violating' her before shoving the camera up his arse!

Meanwhile barely 20 yards from the commotion, four 16-year old girls are puking up having spent the last 3 hours binge-drinking and flashing their boobs at pub goers.
They are all on the way to becoming alcoholics, school drop-outs and are this evening costing the tax-payer several hundred pounds each as they need to be forcefully removed by the proper police, ferried via police van to a cell to sober up or having their stomachs pumped and have reports written up about them, not to speak about the court costs when they are told that the charges against them have been dropped this time!
Their livers are shot, their prospects of getting jobs are slim and their reliance on the national health service (which you and I pay for) is likely to be great.
Instead of collecting revenue from those naughty, naughty smokers, the tax payer now needs to fork out for an operation to remove a camera from a wanna-be policeman's rectum and pay for an investigation for 'inappropriate behavior' by a wanna-be-police do-gooder who has been snapped having his hand down someones blouse as well as for the cost of a new camera!

Meanwhile the pub is getting fined for having people smoking there and has been forced to ban the lot of them for life, thus reducing their income by 20% as Stinky Steve, Hooknose Harry and all of their friends now prefer to drink and smoke at their various garden bar-b-que get-togethers instead of supporting the local pubs.

As to the growing problems of 'binge-drinking' . . . . who cares!!

============================================

As for the Fun Monday post . . . I will have to sit this one out!

10 stupid Thinks I've gone in my Life

2007-02-15T13:24:00.000Z

We've all done stupid things in our lives and I am no exception!
Here then is my list of stupid things. I hope you'll enjoy it!

Once, as a teenager, I tried to speed up the burning process of a bonfire by trying to add petrol to it with a canister. Luckily my girlfriend's Dad grabbed me just in time, choking the hell out of me and calling me a moronic son-of-a-b*tch! Phew!!
I married my first wife! How stupid was that?!!!
When I was 18 I drove off to get some more beer from the store. Unfortunately I was totally drunk at the time! So drunk in fact, I couldn't find the store and returned empty-handed. Madness!!
Whilst in the army I had a dispute with another soldier, so I clobbered him one - locked him in the wardrobe and threw the wardrobe out of the second floor window! He landed upside down stunned and severely bruised but otherwise intact (which is more than can be said for the wardrobe!). It netted me a 2-week visit to the army prison but I didn't care.
At the age of 18 I borrowed my Dad's car, which after a while started to make horrific grinding noises from the engine. I still carried on driving until it gave up the ghost, thus rendering it irreparable, since it had completely run out of oil! Oops!! Was my Dad a happy bunny?? Ehm . . that's a No then!!
Aged 20 I met the woman of my (then) dreams. She lived 300 miles away and I spent all of my evenings working after school at a sh*tty job to earn enough money to go and see her on the weekends. After 9 months, she was fed up with me and send me packing! (B*tch!!)
In the summer of 1987 I packed up my entire family to drive overnight from England to Germany. In Belgium I took the wrong turning off the motorway. Realising my mistake I turned around 180 degrees back up to the motorway which woke my wife Jan up.
"You are on the wrong side!!" she screamed. "Of course I am on the wrong side!!" I replied, waving my hand at her in a belittling way, "We are in Belgium! They do drive on the other side!!" Before she could say anything else 2 cars came towards us (like in the film Trains, Planes and Automobiles) lights flashing and I realised that I was going against the flow of traffic on a dual carriage-way! Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!
When I was 12 years old, my brother Tom (then 7 years old) was a pain in the neck. We shared a bedroom together and he just wouldn't shut up and go to sleep. So I got up and punched him. Unfortunately he fell back onto the small wooden head-board of the bed nearly breaking his neck. The doctor was called and should have been re-called for me after the tremendous thrashing my Dad gave me.
At the tender age of 10 my friend and I decided that school was to be avoided as our homework was not up-to-date and the note to our parents to alert them of this fact was unsigned due to us not telling them about this. We figured since it was only 10 days to go to the 8 weeks summer holidays, we'd stay off school in the hope that after the break the teacher will have forgotten about the homework.
All went well until day 8 when the teacher phoned our parents wishing "speedy recovery" for whatever illness was keeping us from school.
Do you know how to hit a moving object with a four-slice toaster?? My Dad does!! OMG!!!
Whilst on holiday in Greece with the family and Jan being 7 months pregnant with Victoria she was complaining about back pain. "I know how to cure that!" I said, standing back to back with her, interlocking arms and lifting her up over my back. (Insert any old swear-words you can think of here!!)
How was I to know about Sciatica, often experienced in late pregnancy, primarily resulting from the uterus pressing on the sciatic nerve, and, secondarily, from the muscular tension and / or vertebral compression consequent to carrying the extra weight of the fetus, and the postural changes inherent to pregnancy. (according to the doctor's handbook)

So, there you have it! My list of idiotic behaviour. I tag you all to do a list yourselves!

Marching Orders

2007-02-14T09:03:00.000Z

This is it! My company has given me my marching orders and asked me to take my carcass out of there by the end of February.
Someone once said that when God closes a McDonald's, he opens a Burger King and I hope that there will be a company out there somewhere who might be interested in hiring a kind-hearted, caring and well organised person such as myself.
Time will tell.

Yesterday was my friend Garry's birthday and we got together for the obligatory "beers & curry" routine.
A good time was had by everybody and I awoke this morning wondering whether a camel had been sleeping on my tongue!
The things we do!!

Kevin, Jan, Christine, Debs and Garry at the beginning of the evening

Garry & Jan at the end of the evening after the alcohol has taken its toll

To all of you out there . . have a very happy Valentine's day and I wonder if any of you have received a secret Valentine's card?? (I know I haven't!).

Why I love where I live

2007-02-12T07:26:00.000Z

Marnie has put forward this Fun Monday challenge:

In order to learn about different places and to get to know all of our blogging buddies, tell us why you love where you live.

I live in Buckingham on latitude 51.99561 ; longitude -0.986887 in the South East of England.
Buckingham is a small town of about 14000 people is home to the UK's first and only private university, the University of Buckingham.
Unlike other UK universities, most of its students are from overseas.

Buckingham has a variety of restaurants and pubs as you would expect in most towns of its size. It has a small array of local shops and the town of Milton Keynes is easily reachable by road.

The river Great Ouse flows through the town, which is centred on the historic market place and contains many 18th century buildings.

Why I love where I live:
Buckingham is a quiet and peaceful little town with a good mix of families, elderly and also young people. Everything you need is in walking distance, such as supermarkets, shops, swimming pool as well as several nice pubs. There is a nice park with walks along the river and many a summer's evening is taken up with sitting outside a pub with friends, sipping beer, laughing and staggering home with a Kebab from the shop or the van in the market place in hand.
There is hardly ever any trouble and crime is low.
Milton Keynes with its big shopping center, multiscreen cinema, theatre and snow-dome is 15 minutes by car and Oxford is only 45 minutes away.

In order to give all of you a more visual effect of the place allow me to show you some pictures I took on a nice morning in early spring:

The Buckingham Church

Along the river Great Ouse

The small shopping area

Near the old cemetery

The old goal - now a museum

The market place

The White Hart pub

I'm sure you will agree that it all looks really lovely and that there are far worse places to live in.
The only handicap is that the nearest coast is about 2 hours drive away and I love the sea.
Well, you can't have everything! Or can you???

Fecking Polititians!!

2007-02-09T09:21:00.000Z

There are 635 members of the British House of Commons, the same group that cranks out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line. Fine!
But did you realise that in that group

3 have done time for assault
7 have been arrested for fraud
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
19 have been accused of writing bad cheques
21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
29 have been accused of spouse abuse
71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
84 were arrested for drink driving in the last year
117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

And those are the people that we put our trust in to move the country forward!
Doesn't it just put the Great back into Great Britain?!?!?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

2007-02-08T10:29:00.000Z

We woke up to this scene this morning and since I am a sucker for snow, I just had to post these pictures!

View from our top window to the front

View from top window to the back

Lonely plant

Here you can see how much snow fell this morning

Ten Things I believe

2007-02-07T09:20:00.001Z

Here is a list of 10 things I believe.
Maybe you want to do a list like this as well! I certainly would like to read it.

Don't get involved with "high maintenance" people.
They will zap your strength and add to your woes. They are not happy unless there is a crisis in their life (there usually is one - self inflicted) and they love to lament about it.
If you don't stand for something, you will fall for everything.
Unless you have lines in your life which you refuse to cross, anyone can just push you around and you will end up in situations not knowing how you got there in the first place.
Most people do not need a good talking to but a good listening to.
We are all happy to give advice and to suggest ways of getting out of some troublesome predicament. Opinions are however cheap to get hold of and by far the better way is to give your time listening and asking questions which will help the person to form their own solutions.
Love will win the day.
There is nothing more powerful than true, unconditional love. It will heal, restore, drive out fear, build faith, overcome barriers and it is the difference between existing and living. If you have not found this type of love, seek God- because God IS love.
An end with horror is better than horror without end.
When things are not right it is better to cut loose rather than continuing on the same path and be subjected to more and more pain, frustration and heart-ache. Only once you have let go can you restart afresh.
Don't ask me if I 'can keep a secret'.
Ask yourself . . why do people want to tell you a secret? If it is a secret, then why are they telling it to you? Is it because it is too heavy to carry? In which case why do you want to be burdened with it? Does 'knowing the secret' give you any advantage apart from being able to gossip it to someone else? No! It usually puts you in an awkward position should someone ask you if you know anything about this.
Money is a great slave but a terrifying master.
If you use money for what it can do for you then it is very useful but if you are running after it and it becomes your focus for life, then you are screwed! Giving it away to do good offends its power and puts you right back in charge. So practise charity often! Guard your heart.
There is one name only by which man can be saved - Jesus Christ
Someone has sold us the lie that we are all pilots of our lives in the full knowledge that we are all going to crash and burn. Handing your life over to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Saviour and master of life will guarantee life eternal and forgiveness of all sins.
Generalisations are usually wrong
Stay away from statements such as: "You are always late" or "All men are b*stards" or "The youths of today are all irresponsible"!
Ignore comments like these or at least question their validity.
People are in essence 'good'!
Yes, many people are careless, misguided, stressed, make mistakes and are often not on our wave-length but I challenge you to think about this:
If you look for the bad in people, you will find it! Look for good in people and you will also find it! Which would you rather find??
A man had a white and a black dog who were constantly fighting. "Which one will win?" his son asked. "The one I feed!" was the reply.
So feed the white dog in people and in yourself.

On a different note:
Yes, we finally have got a nice cold spell and the temperature this morning was a nice -8 degrees Celsius, turning everything into a white winter wonderland. How beautiful is this!!?

Bugs! You're going down!

2007-02-06T09:47:00.000Z

Since we have not had a winter to speak of this year, everybody is suffering with illness due to the fact that no bugs have been killed off at all.
Crocuses are everywhere, little flies are dancing in the sunshine and neighbours are mowing the lawn.
The world has gone bonkers!!

This morning however, the temperature outside showed a healthy minus five degree Celsius and everything seemed to be frozen in time and place.
This weather shift is said to continue for a few days so here's a word for all those pesky little bugs out there!
"You're going down!!"

Posts that left an Impression on me!

2007-02-05T07:45:00.000Z

Today we wish to highlight posts that we thought of as memorable.
Here then are the ones that love and 'stuck in my mind':

First Place
Favorite post: Ode to Ma (a bit late)
Artist: Marnie
Blogsite: I didn't say it was your fault . . .
Link to post: http://thefates3.blogspot.com/2006/05/ode-to-ma-bit-late.html

Reason for choosing this post:
I just love Marnie's humorous way of describing things but this post is a bitter-sweet account of life, family, struggle and perseverance. It is an 'Ode to Ma' but it is also an ode to family, to courage and to love.
Marnie manages to tell this very personal story in her own funny but fragile, gentle way which has you spell-bound between laughing out loud on moment to crying tears the next.
This piece of writing is a most wonderful and honest 'gift of thanks' and is very precious indeed.
This reader feels very privileged to be allowed to read it.
Marnie, I applaud you!

Second Place
Favorite post: Agent Provocateur
Artist: CB
Blogsite: The Company Bitch
Link to post: http://thecompanybitch.blogspot.com/2006/05/agent-provocateur.html

Reason for choosing this post:
CB, like Marnie, has a great sense of humor and most of her posts are very funny to read.
This post is a great example of his and takes its hilarity from good observation of everyday life occurrences and peoples behaviour. It shows our own vulnerability and often ridiculous reservations, fear and anguish.

Third Place
Favorite post: What do you do with girls
Artist: Ree
Blogsite: Confessions of a Pioneer Woman
Link to post: http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/confessions_of_a_pioneer_/2007/01/when_marlboro_m.html

Reason for choosing this post:
Ree has created a stunning post which shows a father-daughter relationship as they work together. This post is underpinned with the most beautiful picture sequence of the couple in action. You will love it!

To link to other participating blog friends, just go to Swampy at Anecdotes, Antidotes & Anodes now.

Breaking through

2007-02-03T08:56:00.000Z

When I was walking the dog this morning in the clear, crisp and frosty air with the sun shining out of a cloudless blue sky I just couldn't help but praise God for all He has created.
Even though I am suffering from a bad flu I believe God has sent me this bright morning to confirm to me that this is indeed a new era for me.
He has cut me loose from my old frustrating job, He has spent the past month repairing my soul and I do feel wonderfully restored inside and He will now do the same on my body.

If you feel stressed, unappreciated or depressed and life is a struggle, then just take yourself back to the maker. He is the only one who can fix it all!

So today's post is solely dedicated with thanks to our most wonderful friend, Saviour and God.
After the dark night, His mercy is new every morning!

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day

The Sound of Silence

2007-02-02T11:42:00.000Z

What's happening?? Why doesn't he post stuff anymore every day??
Those might be the questions in your head when visiting my blog.
Alas . . the "Fly" has had the Flu!!
I think I have been unwell now for the best part of a month and I am pig-sick of it!
Enough already!!

Before I submerge myself back into a bucket of Flu Remedy, I just wanted to remind all you readers of the next Fun Monday on February 5th:

Just email Swampy at swampwitch06@gmail.com and she will include you on her list of participants this Monday on her blogsite Anecdotes, Antidotes & Anodes

We are to link to memorable posts.
It can be one of your own. It can be a fellow blogger's post.You can list as many posts as you want. This is just another way to meet new bloggers and possibly learn something new about current blogging friends. What post(s) come to mind that stick in your memory for some reason?

Example:
The first post that came to my mind was Not My Day to Die Part 1 posted by Julie at Another Chance Ranch.

Please also include any background information about why you chose those particular posts. About the only rule around here is to keep one foot on the floor at all times. Just link us to something we will enjoy.

So, back to the tissues and tablets!
Be blessed!

Those were the days!!

2007-01-28T21:15:00.000Z

Fun Monday is here!!!
Before we go to all the participating blogsite and have a good laugh or go all soft about the cute pictures, let me just say this:

I am tagging Swampy to suggest the next Fun Monday post on the 5th February!
So, go girl, GO!!

So here then without further delay are my pictures:

Me being 3 years old (above)
and 13 years old (below)

Now go and have a look at the other participating blog friends:

Vicki at Living Life & Catching Light
Swampwitch at Anecdotes, Antidotes & Anodes
Beccy at Peppermint Tea
Kila at Momto3cubs
A Novelist at All you can't leave behind
Peggy at Peggy, as she is
Robin at Pensieve
Songbird at My Way
Karmyn at Dreaming of What If's
Tiggerlane at Tiggerlane, the Neophyte Blogger
Willowtree at A Dingo's got my Barbie
Marnie at I didn't say it was your fault . .
Leann at View from the Eagles Nest
Heather at Fumbling for Words
Desert Songbird at The Ice Box
Chrisb at Ms Cellania
Amy W at A Family Story
Anvilcloud at Raindrops
Yara at Hovering over Mediocrity
Jenny at Mama Drama
Cuppa at Brown Betty Brew
Enid at Third-Person Singular
Sharon at From Fattie to Hottie
Mert at Almost somewhat positive

Thank you to all of you who have taken part!
Erik

Remember, remember!!

2007-01-27T12:06:00.000Z

Fun Monday

Just a quick note to all you blog friends out there to dig out and scan in your childhood photographs and to post them this Monday!

The Artist formally known as "My Daughter"!

2007-01-26T08:56:00.000Z

Some of you might remember this post about my daughter's drawings versus my own!
Well, in a further attempt to discredit my work she has created this masterpiece, thus putting me firmly in my place - Last place!!

I came home one evening still feeling confident in my artistic naivety to be greeted with the words:
"Hi, Dad, have you seen Angus?"
After searching my brain for friends and associates called "Angus" and coming up blank she produced this!

She has now enrolled into a local "Watercolouring Art Class" and only had one lesson.
The mind boggles!!
Even though it pains me to admit, I think the score is:
Erik 0 - Victoria 1

Addendum:
Debs pointed out that the above score is incorrect as Victoria won the last time as well!
Under protest and with much squirming I hereby declare the score to be:
Erik 0 - Victoria 2
(I hate you, Debs!!)

IKEA strikes again

2007-01-25T07:31:00.001Z

Since my DVD, Video and CD collection is constantly expanding I felt the need to visit IKEA to buy some shelves and attempt to put them up!
I think I did quite a good job! What do you think?

Now that I have more space I also have a good excuse to buy some more DVDs.
Any suggestion of good films I should get??

Fun Monday:
The following people have so far indicated that they wish to participate in posting a picture (or pictures) of themselves when they were a child on Monday, 29th January:

Vicki at Living Life & Catching Light
Swampwitch at Anecdotes, Antidotes & Anodes
Beccy at Peppermint Tea
Kila at Momto3cubs
A Novelist at All you can't leave behind
Peggy at Peggy, as she is
Robin at Pensieve
Songbird at My Way
Karmyn at Dreaming of What If's
Tiggerlane at Tiggerlane, the Neophyte Blogger
Willowtree at A Dingo's got my Barbie
Marnie at I didn't say it was your fault . .
Leann at View from the Eagles Nest
Heather at Fumbling for Words
Desert Songbird at The Ice Box
Chrisb at Ms Cellania
Amy W at A Family Story

To partake, just indicate this by leaving a comment or send an email to me!
Thanks

Please scoot over to Swampy who has put up a tremendous post regarding Breast Cancer with several useful links!
We all need to support the fight against this affliction!

Now that's more like it!!!

2007-01-24T09:40:00.000Z

Having bitched on about not having any snow here to all of my American blog friends, I woke up to this:

So thanks to all of you who have sent some of the white stuff over for me!

Fun Monday:
The following people have so far indicated that they wish to participate in posting a picture (or pictures) of themselves when they were a child on Monday, 29th January:

Vicki at Living Life & Catching Light
Swampwitch at Anecdotes, Antidotes & Anodes
Beccy at Peppermint Tea
Kila at Momto3cubs
A Novelist at All you can't leave behind
Peggy at Peggy, as she is
Robin at Pensieve
Songbird at My Way
Karmyn at Dreaming of What If's
Tiggerlane at Tiggerlane, the Neophyte Blogger

To partake, just send an email to me!
Thanks

My suggestion for next Monday

2007-01-23T11:23:00.000Z

Hi, Blog friends!
After Vicki's successful suggestion to post a view from our front door I thought it might be fun to carry on doing something similar every Monday.
So my suggestion for the next Monday would be this:

On Monday 29th January we should each post a picture (or several pictures if you like) of ourselves as kids, stating the age we were when the picture(s) was taken!

If you are up for it, then please email your blog address (http://.......) and your Blogsite Name to
talktothefly@yahoo.co.uk
and I will add you as a link on my posts.

Here's hoping for a good turnout of participation and for many more ideas for future Monday postings!

Vicki's International Front Door View Day

2007-01-22T07:32:00.001Z

Vicki wrote:
Using my very best British accent when I say, "What a grand idea!"
I had an idea yesterday that perhaps we could post a picture on our blogs of the view from our front door. Willowtree had the idea we post them all on the same day. I thought that was just a fabulous addition.
So here's the plan Stan.
So that all people who are participating can have one central place to see all the front door views, if you want to participate (and I hope you do) email me your blog link and the name of your blog by January 19th and on Monday January 22nd I will post a list of blogs that are participating. We can all post our view from our Front door on the same day, Monday January 22nd.

So, folks! Here is mine!!
Happy Front Door View Day!!!

The End is in Sight

2007-01-13T19:36:00.000Z

Dear friends,

I thought it is about high time to update you on my situation at work.
As you may or may not know, my company has decided to once again reorganise and in the process lose a lot of people via redundancy.

When I joined the company in 1986, there was a truly international feel to things, people were seen as the most important asset of the company, training and development opportunities were good and there was a buzz of work and excitement in every department.
This is in stark contrast to the company that exists now and I have returned home from work nearly every day in the past 3 years without ever feeling that we actually achieved anything, made any difference leave alone being appreciated.

It is therefore time to end my employ with this company, thus avoiding yet another two years of utter frustration in the hope that “things are going to be different” only to find myself back in exactly the same position we are in now.
My exit will happen anytime in February or March.

Am I bitter?
I am disappointed, since most of this could have been avoided had someone listened to the people in the first place.
I am also relieved to have finally made this decision and a burden has been lifted from my heart.
After 20 years, it is an end of an era but for me it is always better to have ‘an end with horror’ rather than ‘horror without end’. At least I have preserved my dignity and most of my sanity and health.

Well, that’s about it for now and if you need someone to do a job or know someone who does . . I might well be your (very nice) man!

Tagged again!

2007-01-10T08:10:00.000Z

I have been tagged by A Novelist (thanks Desert Songbird for pointing it out!)

Here then are five useless facts about Me:
1) I have never taken any drugs (not even smoked a joint)
2) From the age of 16 to the age of 23 I had over 30 girl-friends
3) I am one of those men who will cry with others without feeling embarrassed
4) When I was a boy, I used to listen to music with my headphones on in a dark room and dream of being the lead singer of a band (me . . singing??? Mohaa!)
5) One of my dreams is to win a few Million Pounds on the lottery so I can help a lot of people

Right . .
I am tagging Tonya, Heather, Kila, Leann and Aisby

The Master at Work

2007-01-08T08:59:00.000Z

This picture greeted me on my way to work this morning!
God's recreation of a new day!
The master painter at work!

Getting p*ssed off

2007-01-06T08:27:00.000Z

OK, I have resisted this for a long time now, but with pressures mounting I think now is a good time to release some steam!
Every day at work we gents are facing this sign at the urinals:

This is now beginning to p*ss me off, if you excuse the pun!

So this little session is for all of you women out there who seemingly have no clue as to how things work in this department:

When we men go to the toilet we do not use our private parts as a garden hose waiving it about and making water loops for several reasons:
a.) It's not long enough (well . . . )
b.) This will not impress the guys standing at the adjacent cubicles
c.) You would make an almighty mess including p*ssing your shoes and trousers
d.) We do actually have better things to do!
It is actually not as easy as just "point & shoot" in the right direction.
Now I really do not want to get too graphical here but anyone who has ever had closer contact with a male member will know that there is very little similarity between a penis and a garden hose. Let's just say (and leave it at that) that asking us "to aim too" is almost as ridiculous as us asking you girls to pee into a bucket standing up without spilling a drop!
Since the cleaners clearly think that we p*ss on the floor on purpose and cannot imagine that there is maybe a design reason why we can't aim perfectly all the time it leads me to conclude that they are probably
a.) uneducated (you'd learn stuff like this in basic human biology)
b.) Never got laid
c.) Do not understand men, since they seem to think that just because they put a sign up we would actually give a rat's arse!

Don't make me come to your toilets and put up signs!
I have a stack of ideas for some fitting slogans, collected by some of my fellow loo visitors!

Let's just start as we mean to carry on!

2007-01-05T06:46:00.000Z

Unperturbed by threats of redundancy and scaremongering everywhere we have decided to remain positive and trust as always in the one constant and utterly reliable force in the (uni)verse, the good Lord Himself!

We have therefore already booked the following little holiday for June:

Rome and the Amalfi Coast
The Eternal City of Rome is one of the world’s truly great cities, a destination where history and culture abound. The picturesque Sorrento Coast meanwhile is the perfect base to either relax or discover the treasures of the Amalfi region and the extensive ruins of Pompeii. Experience both on this exciting new two-centre holiday.

Day 1. UK to Rome

Day 2. Rome: included walking tour
Day 3. Rome: Open-top bus tour
Day 4. Excursion to the Vatican City and Sistine Chapel
Day 5. Rome to Castellammare di Stabia
Day 6. Full day tour of the Amalfi coast
Day 7. Excursion to Capri

Day 8. At leisure
Day 9. Castellammare to Rome airport

Are we crazy to book this at such a precarious time??
Do we care??
. . . . . . . .
That’ll be a NO then!

Of Guns and Squids!

2007-01-03T10:59:00.000Z

Here then is the very last picture I took in 2006!
The pub was crowded to say the least but everyone seemed to have a good time waiting for the new year to arrive.
What I want to know is . . who on earth is pointing a gun at my daughter and why is she so happy about it??
Could it be that it is better to be shot at than to be attacked by a giant squid like this unfortunate creature on Marnie's blog??

My new years resolutions for 2007 are:
. . . eeehm . . ehrrr . . .

Happy New Year 2007

2007-01-01T08:43:00.000Z

Dear blog friends,
We wish you a very happy, healthy, successful and peaceful 2007.
May your dreams come true, your days be filled with joy and laughter and may your troubles be few.
We pray that you and your loved ones are surrounded by Angels and that the favour of the Lord will rest on you.

New Year Fireworks in London... London Eye in the background

Here are some lyrics which summerise our hopes for you for this new year:

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that youll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin might mean takin chances but theyre worth takin,
Lovin might be a mistake but its worth makin,

Dont let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance.

The 2006 Tag

2006-12-29T08:50:00.000Z

My dear friends, here is a tag for you all to tell us what were the outstanding things you remember from the year 2006.

OK, I'll start with my list and look forward to reading all of yours:

My son Christopher got married to Mari-Colette, who is just a wonderful and beautiful person.
Jan and I took a holiday to Denmark to visit my good friend Doug and his fiancee Karen in Copenhagen and we then visited the beautiful Frisian Island of Baltrum, where I used to spend many a happy holiday when I was a boy.
My Mum had a pacemaker fitted and is thankfully doing fine now.
The Electronic Firefly blog was created, resulting in many beautiful blogging friends.
England crashed out of the Football World Cup do to total incompetence of its manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Charles Roberts kills three girls and critically wounds eight at an Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster County, Pa.
Stingray's barb kills Steve Irwin.
Saddam Hussain is sentenced to death by a court in Bagdad.
Britain pays off last installment for World War II debts ($83.25m to the US and $22.7m to Canada) which it borrowed in 1950 for rebuilding work after the war.
Gerald Ford and James Brown die amongst others.

Christmas pictures

2006-12-27T09:24:00.000Z

One small house, two days, 16 people, loads of presents, tons of food!

'Twas the night before Christmas

2006-12-25T11:03:00.000Z

'Twas the night before Christmas
nowhere near Santa's grotto
that we mingled with friends
and got a bit blotto!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS ! ! !

2006-12-23T11:33:00.000Z

To all my wonderful blog friends:

Jan, Victoria and I wish you all a wonderful Christmas!

Erik xx

The Christmas Tag of Joy

2006-12-21T09:49:00.000Z

Marnie tagged me with this one!
She also sent me a lovely Christmas card (see below).
Thank you so much, Marnie

Here is my list of answers to the tag:

1. Hot Chocolate or Egg Nog?
Egg Nog! It has alcohol in it!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa is much to important to wrap presents himself! It’s the Elves that do all the boring stuff!
3.Colored lights on tree/house or white?
White of course! It’s so much more sophisticated.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Yes but with little effect.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
December 1st. For the very first time ever! Normally I am just ‘Bah Humbug’.

6. What is your favourite holiday dish?
An Indian Take-away!

7. Favorite Holiday memory?
The time I drunk a whole bottle of Whisky being left home alone when /was a teenager.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I suspected things from a very early age, being the cynical person I am? Can’t remember when exactly though.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
When I was living in Germany we always opened all presents on Christmas Eve but now we wait until Christmas Day.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
Quite plainly - with white candles, some little figurines and silver garlands.

11. Snow! Love it or Hate it?
Love it, love it, love it!! We just don’t get much of it here! (See below)

12. Can you ice skate?
Yes I can! I am quite good at it but can’t stop very well, much to the dismay of all the people I crash into!

13. Do you remember your favourite gift?
No! I don’t like getting gifts too much! It embarrasses me!

14. What's the most important thing?
Remembering the birth of Jesus!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Sherry Trifle.

16. ???????????????
Marnie, there wasn't a question No. 16! What's up, girl?? Lost your counting ability? Heehee!

17. What tops your tree?
A star saying “Merry Christmas!

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Giving, of course. See above point 13.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
"I Believe in Father Christmas"-- Emerson, Lake and Palmer (Greg Lake/Peter Sinfield)

They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the virgin birth.
I remember one Christmas morning
A winter's light and the distant choir
And the peal of a bell
and that Christmas tree smell
Eyes full a tinsel and fire.

They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a silent night
They told me a fairy story
Till I believed in the Israelite.
And I believed in Father Christmas
I looked to the sky with excited eyes
Than I woke with a yawn
in the first light of dawn
And I saw him through his disguise.

I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave new year
All anguish, pain, and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear.
They said there'd be snow at Christmas
They said there'd be peace on earth.
Hallelujah, Noel, Be it heaven or hell,
The Christmas we get we deserve.

20. Candy canes, Yuck or Yum?
Yum! But my dentist doesn’t agree!

I am tagging everybody who has just read this post!

Christmas Cheer - for the first Year

2006-12-19T06:37:00.000Z

I might have been ill and I might have given the flu to my wife (sharing, caring person that I am) but this year, unlike any other year, I am embracing Christmas like never before.
The food has been ordered, the drinks are well chilled, the guests are invited (all 16 of them) and here I am starting to put decorations and lights up. As you can see , Victoria is just sitting there in absolute disbelief as she has never seen anything like this.

I used to be very "Bah Humbug" which has only slowly changed over the years.
I did not care much for Christmas due to my experiences of that time in my youth back in Germany being one of mixed emotions.
To my mind, Christmas should have been a time for much joy; a time of laughter, sharing and relaxation. Things were however too regimented with too many ‘rules’ and set-ups.
Let me give you some examples:

Weeks before Christmas we were tasked with learning some Christmas poem which we would have to recite for our parents and grand-parents on Christmas Eve. I have never had any leanings towards poems, nor could I remember such things easily. It was a chore I did not relish and I resented the fact that I had to do this before any presents could be received.
It built in me a great reluctance of receiving presents and for many years I would have preferred not getting any.
The day before Christmas the lounge was locked up and declared a “no-go zone”, as my parents would use this room to decorate the tree without us seeing it. According to them, it was “Father Christmas” who brought the tree, decorated it and left presents as well.

In Germany, the handing out of presents (and all the other things) takes place on Christmas Eve. The usual day would go like this:
After arguing most of the morning about the question why we had to learn a stupid poem, I then had to join my father in an afternoon nap, which I did not want to do.
When we finally got up I argued the case of not having to take a walk (“Let’s see if we can meet Father Christmas”) as even as a small child I had cottoned on to the fact that every time we arrived back home we had “juuuust missed Him!” and when I was older and did not believe in Father Christmas any longer – what exactly was the point???!!
Next on the list of arguments was my parents insistence of having to get changed into our ‘Sunday Best’ clothes, which considering the fact that only ‘family’ was assembled seemed to be utterly unnecessary and pointless, since the moment the presents had been distributed we run upstairs to get changed back into comfortable attire. I cannot remember one Christmas when my Dad and I did not fall out over these things.
We then would sit around in the kitchen whilst my Dad would light the (natural) candles on the tree without setting the house on fire. A bell (how annoying is this?!) heralded the permission for my grandparents, my mother, brother, sister and me to enter the living-room and admire the tree. Then came the awkward “stand in front of the tree and recite your poem” time.
First off was my sister, then me, then my brother.
Most of my efforts went into selecting the shortest possible poem acceptable to my parents but even these presented a big hurdle to a young person harbouring a very negative attitude to Christmas, lazy to learn and hating to be pushed into any lime-light.

The presents were handed out and apart from a meal together, that was Christmas!
Christmas day and Boxing Day were total non-events!
This procedure did work fine when we were small kids but became utter nonsense by the time we got to the age of 12. Unfortunately, having a younger brother dragged this out until he was 12, by which time I was 17!
I guess my parents got the hint that year, when my ‘closely guarded’ poem for that year went like this:
‘Weihnacht ist heut’
Wie mich das freut,
Ich wünsche das Beste
zum fröhlichen Feste!

Loosely translated meaning:
It’s Christmas today,
How this pleases me,
I wish the best
On this happy occasion!

My father was not overly pleased, judging on the expression on his face but not wanting to kick-start another argument in front of my Grand-parents, mumbled something about lack of effort and telegram style (i.e. veeery short!).

In my heart I had determined that this was going to be the last time I would participate in this charade, since I would be 18 the following year and therefore ‘of age!’ and so it indeed was.

So you see that humming Christmas songs and decorating the house must have been a complete shock to my poor family :-)

Man Flu

2006-12-15T07:48:00.000Z

So, let us recap:
I am being made redundant, someone has broken into my car, smashed the window and stole my Sat Nav System and to top it all I have a rotten cold (and very sexy voice to go with it) otherwise known as "Man Flu"!
Seems like my life is strewn with cow pats from the devils own satanic herds!
So, am I down-hearted??
No way!
I have a lovely family, a wife who loves me, a nice house, caring blog friends and the love of Jesus Christ in my heart!
I am therefore truly blessed! Life is good!
Before the hustle and bustle of work begins I will now visit all your blogs and leave a comment to let you all know that I am still here.

The Challenge is on!!

2006-12-12T18:14:00.000Z

Hello, neglected blog friends!!
Sorry I have been a miserable blogger but I am in the middle of being made redundant and need to sort stuff out! Yeah, I know . . Merry Christmas!
So, as a token of trying to make it up to you I challenge you to ask me one question each and I promise I will answer it truthfully! (Gulp!!)
So ask before change my mind!!

Cologne Christmas Markets Pictures

2006-12-10T19:08:00.000Z

Dear friends,
Thank you so much for your kind words and wishes!
We had a fabulous time and the hotel was just great!
Cologne showed itself in a very charming light and
we all had a wonderful 2 days!
Unfortunately some unkind person had broken into our car
by smashing a side window and stealing my Sat Nav System.
Luckily I know the way from Cologne through Belgium and
France like the back of my hand.
Anyway, we won't let that spoil what otherwise was a great weekend with our daughter and future son-in-law!

Now . . I promised pictures and as there are slightly too many
to show here would you kindly follow this link to Flickr
where you can see 4 pages of pictures!

Thanks and it's good to be back with my blog friends.

We interrupt the blogging . . .

2006-12-07T13:50:00.000Z

. . . for a few days as we (my wife and I and my daughter and her fiancee) are off to Cologne, Germany to visit the Christmas market and to see all my folks. I was born and lived in Cologne for the first 25 years of my life and it's about time we paid a visit.
So, keep safe, my beautiful blog friends and don't forget me.
When I am back (by about Tuesday I guess) I will post many pictures!
Byeeeee!!
Erik

The Angel Story (by popular demand)

2006-12-06T10:09:00.000Z

When I was least expecting it (and not looking for it) the Lord in his grace found me and turned my life around. This is a whole different story though but suffice it to say that everybody who knew me, including my wife, noticed that something significant had happened in my life which changed me from hating people to have a real passion for people amongst other things.
My wife had always believed in God and went to a church in our home town (which I refused to go to!) but had never really had a personal encounter with Him.
As it happened, the church I started attending was in the town where I worked, some 30 miles away.
I kept talking to my wife about the goodness of God and the need to meet with Jesus Christ personally as I felt that this was what God asked me to do.
This was the start of a six months disagreement between us with my wife defending quite understandably her position (You didn’t want to come to church with me and now you ask me to travel 30 miles each time! You suddenly think you have the inside track on things, etc.) and me trying to make her understand mine.
This really sucked the strength out of our relationship and one day when I was feeling particularly low I shared this with some people during one of those church meetings.
“I am really worried that my wife will never get to know the Lord in a real personal way” I said and we just prayed that God will send me a clear sign that she would be alright!
That night we went to sleep (still locked in disharmony) and - as I told you in my previous post - I sleep like a baby and never wake up in the middle of the night.
That night however I was awaken by the room being flooded with bright, white light which was so strong that it hurt my eyes.
As I slowly came round and my eyes started to adjust, there was an Angel standing at the foot of our bed. He had the statue of a man about 6’4” (that’s about 2 meters) and the light coming from it was so white that you could not see his face or clothes. It was like a reverse silouette (so instead of seeing a dark figure in front of a bright light, I saw a white figure in front of darkness).
I nearly crapped myself and stood up (yes, stood up) in bed when the angel spoke to me in an audible voice: “There is no need to worry any more, Erik! Your wife is going to be fine!”
With those words the angel vanished and an amazing peace flooded my very being.
My wife, awoken by the commotion, turned around and seeing me standing in bed said: “What on earth is the matter??!!”
I was totally stunned and could only repeat: “Hey!! You are going to be OK!!”
“Of course I’m OK” she replied, not really understanding what I was on about as she turned back over and went back to sleep.
I, too, got back under the covers and fell into a wonderfully peaceful sleep.
The next morning I woke up and everything seemed to be back to normal with two exceptions.
1.) I knew that what happened had been real and not a dream!
2.) I stopped arguing with my wife as there was no need to worry anymore! She was going to be fine!
Our relationship improved and a short time afterwards the Lord touched her in a very deep and personal way and she was ‘born again’.
This was about 10 years ago and we haven’t looked back since.
This, in essence, is my story about when I was privileged enough to be visited by an angel of the Lord.

Six weird Things about Me

2006-12-05T12:59:00.000Z

Picking up the theme from other bloggers in the verse, here are 6 bizarre things about me:

I can drink a cup of tea or coffee (or anything else for that matter) whilst lying down flat.
I can sleep anywhere in any position (even standing up) but I cannot sleep in cars or on planes!
When speaking to people I can nearly always tell whether they are telling the truth.
I have actually seen an angel with my own eyes.
I hate anyone touching my ears
When I walk in crowded places I always need to have my arms free (my daughter always wants to walk arm in arm and I won't let her).

Any of you got crazy things like that going on??

The Train and the Bull

2006-12-03T18:25:00.000Z

So, on Saturday our good friends Ray & Gill asked us whether we would fancy a trip by train to Birmingham to go to the Christmas market there.
So we said:
"What, Sir? Us, Sir? Go, Sir? On Sunday, Sir? Sure, Sir!!"
and off we went!

Unfortunately that very day was also the day that "The Clothes Show" was on in Birmingham.
Surely the train company will have catered for that, seeing that this is an annual event!?
What do you think?? (See below)

We did however manage to get a seat and eventually got to Birmingham New Street Station, which borders onto the Bullring Shopping Centre!
Can you spot the bull?? (I know it is hard!)

Here then are a few pictures from the Christmas market and of us eating and drinking everything in site!

That's one way of warming your hands!

The Italian Job

2006-12-03T09:32:00.000Z

In October 2005 an odd assortment of people just happened to book the same holiday in Italy and had such fun that they decided to keep in touch.
Now, over a year later, this promise has proven to be more than an idle threat as we have met with each other individually but also as a group.

This time around we met at the Chequers Restaurant in Fowlmere near Cambridge.
This place was ideal, the food and wine delightful and we all had a wonderful time catching up with each other's news and sharing plenty of laughs.

We toasted our friends Terry & Marion who could unfortunately not make the get-together due to family circumstances. We hope all is well, guys!!

Here then are a few snapshots from the evening.

". . and I am warning you now, George will tell one
of his made-up stories again."

"Did you hear, George is telling a story! Wanna go?"

"Wait for it, wait for it! Any time now"

". . and there I was surrounded by 3 sharks . ."

". . must avoid eye contact"

"Pff! Sharks! In Gran Canaria! Yeah, right!"

"Yoohoo! Look at us! We are sharks!!"

(Sorry, George! Only kidding!)

Twinkle, twinkle, little . . . D'Oh!!

2006-12-01T13:45:00.000Z

A couple of days ago I put up some new Christmas lights on the outside of our house and filled the wooden advent calendar with nice praline chocolates just to start getting into the Christmas spirit.

At night time the lights came on (via timer switch) and everything looked so beautiful and I was very proud of myself, as I don't really like Christmas (all the commercial stuff) and I can't wait until the children visit us, since they know how "Bah Humbug" I normally am.

Since I was far too cheerful the f*ck-fairy decided to send us torrential rain and strong winds which makes my beautiful decorated house (the only one in our street so far) look totally out of place and the neighbours must be wondering whether I am some sort of lobotomised weirdo!
(Hey, maybe I am lobotomised!! You wouldn't know, would you?!)

On the other hand, why am I complaining about silly things like this??
At least I don't have problems like my beautiful blog friend Desert Songbird!

BEARly BEARable

2006-11-29T15:39:00.000Z

Sorry, blog-friends, but I am having a lot to do at present and therefore my posts are a bit lean.

Anyway, following on from my Christmas decoration rant below and Yara's suggestion of having a Care Bear Christmas . . . look no further!

Well . . Bears at least . . and a penguin! Bizarre!

How refreshing to see this last night in a village next to us!

Yes! A normal Christmas tree! Aaaaahhh!!

Away on a Merry-go-round

2006-11-27T09:04:00.000Z

Every year there is a Christmas display in the shopping centre in our neighbouring town of Milton Keynes. This year is no different and even though I try and stay away from this crazy place and the waves of morons pushing their way past the shops with kids, pushchairs and a gazillion shopping bags full of useless stuff that they can not afford and have to pay for by credit cards which they won't be able to pay off when it appears on their statements in January, I had the misfortune to join them as we are apparently having 16 people invading our home for Christmas!
Now in past years the Christmas display had (as you would expect) a Christian theme but this is obviously not acceptable any more as it could be seen as discriminating against . . . well . . everything else!
Here are some pictures to explain what I am on about:

Santa's Grotto has been replaced by some house with creatures flying out through the top window! ???

There seems to be a pirate ship featuring in the nativity play these days!?
Seems like the 'fat bearded one' has been replaced by a pirate in red coat!

There are now trolls and goblins which seemed to have replaced the angels of the Lord!

and to top it all, the manger where the Lord Jesus Christ was born has been effectively replaced by a carousel, which seems to tell us that we are all on the merry-go-round of life!

So from now on would you kindly refer to Christmas as
The Feast of goblins, pirates and Red Indians*!
(* There was also a display of Red Indians smoking the peace pipe but I just couldn't bring myself to photograph it!)

Also . . .
I have been tagged by Yara and here then is my list of 10 simple pleasures:

Top 10 Simple Pleasures:

Snuggling in with my wife
Watching a movie
Drinking a nice cup of Cappuccino
Laughing at a good joke
Playing "Trivial Pursuit" with friends
Writing on my blog
Playing my guitar
Having a beer with a friend
Going to a Live Concert of a band
Cooking a nice meal

I am tagging Desert Songbird, Marnie and Momto3cubs

Up on Blocks!

2006-11-24T10:31:00.000Z

I know we don't have Thanksgiving in this country but last night we invited some friends for dinner just to celebrate 'friendships' and we had a wonderful time laughing and sharing stories.

I made Baked Camembert

followed by Creamy Sour Cream Chicken

followed by Baileys Yogurt Cream Dessert

It was delicious and don't even expect a weight update on Monday!! :-)

Alas . . this morning my car had a flat tyre and after I had limped to the garage it became obvious that I needed to have all 4 tyres renewed!
One hour later and £387 ($748) poorer (boohoo) I finally emerged from the garage bruised but not beaten!

Well, that's life!

The 'Fly' gives thanks for its Blogfriends!

2006-11-23T11:17:00.000Z

To all my American Blogfriends:

The Fly wishes you a very happy Thanksgiving and we here in England will be thinking of you as you gather together to celebrate!

To you I offer up this poem:

I ate too much Turkey, I ate too much corn,

I ate too much pudding and pie.

I'm stuffed up with muffins and too much stuffin'

I'm probably going to die.
I piled up my plate and I ate and I ate.

But I wish I had known when to stop,

For I'm so crammed with yams, sauces, gravies, and jams

That my buttons are starting to pop!
I'm full of tomatoes and french fried potatoes

My stomach is swollen and sore,

But there's still some dessert so I guess it won't hurt

if I eat just a little bit more!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Oops, I did it again!!

2006-11-22T19:00:00.000Z

I have changed my template!!
I know, I know it doesn't look like it but I have.

Unfortunately in the mayhem I have lost all of my blogger friends links!
I managed to get some of them back but I am certain I am missing others!
If you cannot see your blog on the link list to your right, would you please leave a message so I can add you again?!!! Oh . . and sorry!! :-)

The Fly's 'Top 10' List of Love and Hate

2006-11-21T14:51:00.000Z

I love:

Getting mail or email or comments

People who have a generous heart

The truth

Falling in love

Being able to help others

My family

Visiting different countries or places

Meeting new people

Good food (cooking it, eating it, going out for it)

Romantic movies and music

I hate:

People who think they are better than everybody else

Offal (heart, kidneys, liver, brain, haggis, . . . )

Wasps (what are they all about??)

False friends

People who cannot be bothered to wash or use deodorant

Companies that phone you up late at night or at weekends to sell you sh*t!

Drivers who do 40 mph in a 60 mph zone!

Women who talk in the middle of the supermarket or a walkway blocking everything

People who don't clean up after their dogs

Kids who are allowed to run riot without their parents intervening

What are your 10 love & hate entries??

The 'Fly' is furious!!

2006-11-20T11:53:00.000Z

The world has gone completely barking mad and here is yet another example to prove it!
This week (yes, for one week only) is anti-bullying week!! Oh, yes!!
So, if you are a bully, watch out!! . . or better still . . just take a week off!!
Here is the article! (My observations in red).

Get all you need for Anti-Bullying Week!
Free online interactive resources covering racist, cyber, inter-faith, homophobic and text bullying amongst lots more for secondary schools.
So if you are bullied, just ask them to wait a second while you complete this interactive course!

Free online interactive resources covering all types of bullying, bystanding and emotional intelligence concepts for primary schools.
Primary schools?? So let me get this right . . little people get to primary school and need to brush up on bullying, because certain parents haven’t dragged their brats up well enough to behave in a decent manner??
'What have you learned today, Johnnie? Your times-table, your alphabet?'
'No, but I now can spot a bully a mile off!!'
'Couldn’t you do that before?'
'Yes, but now I know what to call it when Jack kicks me in the head!'

BBClic, M8Z and Antbassadors learning resources
Antbassadors??? Are they the anti-bullying soldiers for Ants??
Maybe the people who wrote this would have been better of learning how to proof-read rather than fighting off bullies!

Competitions and games.
Games?? Bullying and games??
Oh, yes, let’s play some games rather than punishing the bullies!
That will make us all feel better and it is politically correct!!

Free charters and workshop outlines.
Wow! Everyone loves something for free!!

The Take A Stand campaign.
Take a stand? Yes, let’s take a stand!! Every little person should take a stand when confronted with a bunch of aggressive, ill-educated thugs! You’ll get the sh*t kicked out of you but at least you took a stand!!

Free toolkits for all staff, governors, parents, children and young people.
I don’t know about you but when I was in primary school I didn’t even know how to spell toolkit and now I need one??

Free teachers’ notes and lesson plans.
I don’t even want to go there!!

And finally, why not support Anti-Bullying Week by wearing a dog tag, glow-in-the-dark wristband or a badge? As worn by celebrities, the much-sought-after dog tags, glow-in-the-dark wrist bands and badges are now available at 50p each for Anti-Bullying Week for you to buy in bulk and raise money for your school.
This is brilliant!! Don’t make the bullies do (or wear) anything but all you decent young people will now have to wear a dog-tag (woof!!) and a glow-in-the-dark badge so bullies can single you out more easily during these dark winter evenings! (It can otherwise be very difficult to see clearly whom you have to beat up next!).
I know that even though you have done nothing wrong, you will need to spend 50 pence of your own money for this privilege but hey, . . . look on the bright side . . that’ll be 50 pence less you’ll have to hand over to the bullies when they rob you of your lunch money!
Now, doesn’t that make you sleep easier at night?!!

To all bullies anywhere in the vicinity of my family:
You start bullying any member of my family, . . . I will make you regret the day you had to be born!!

==========================

My target weight is 199 pounds and if you haven’t sponsored me yet, please do so by going to http://www.justgiving.com/firefly and adding yourself to the list.

Throughout the next weeks you will be able to follow my progess (O God, I hope it will indeed be progress!!) on my Biff-o-meter and can comment on this blogsite with words of encouragment or by throwing abuse at me.

Here then is the Biff-o-meter after week 7 of my Challenge!

Weight now = 209 pounds
Weight lost so far = 20 pounds

Your time is almost up, G.W.!!

2006-11-17T13:26:00.000Z

Here is a light-hearted post for all you Yanks out there!
Have a nice weekend!

George Bush goes to a primary school to talk to the kids to do a little PR.
After his talk he offers question time.
One little boy puts up his hand and George asks him his name.

"Stanley," responds the little boy.
"And what is your question, Stanley?"
"I have 4 questions:
First, why did the USA invade Iraq without the support of the UN?
Second, why are you President when Al Gore got more votes?
Third, whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden?"
Fourth, why are we so worried about gay-marriage when 1/2 of all Americans don't have health insurance?"

Just then, the bell rings for recess. George Bush informs the kiddies that they will continue after recess.
When they resume George says, "OK, where were we? Oh, that's right,question time. Who has a question?"
Another little boy puts up his hand. George points him out and asks him his name.
"John" he responds.
"And what is your question, John?"
"Actually Sir, I have 6 questions:
First, why did the USA invade Iraq without the support of the UN?
Second, why are you President when Al Gore got more votes?
Third, whatever happened to Osama Bin Laden?
Fourth, why are we so worried about gay marriage when 1/2 of all Americans don't have health insurance?
Fifth, why did the recess bell go off 20 minutes early?
And sixth, what the hell happened to Stanley?"

Superglued Fran!

2006-11-16T11:09:00.000Z

Just heard a hilarious thing!
My friend Fran broke a saucer and, remembering that she still had an old tube of superglue in the fridge (don’t even ask!!), took it out to warm up.
She then started squeezing it but nothing much happened - or so she thought!!
The glue actually seeped out at the other end and before she realised, she had glued her fingers together.

In essence, the glue went everywhere except on her saucer!
Rushing to the sink to de-glue herself, she realised that her apron was stuck to the side of her work surface and when she tried to back off it, she nearly fell over as her slippers were stuck to the floor!!

I did have to laugh and wondered if any of you readers have done something equally silly or bizarre??

Thanks, Fran, for sharing this!!

Struggling to see straight!

2006-11-15T10:15:00.000Z

A few years back when my friend Keith used to still live near us, we used to regularly play darts for a pub team and I had a dart board up in my garage where we spent many hours playing. Even though he was always much better at this game than me, I did manage to put some decent scores together every now and then.
Last night my wife, my daughter and I went to a local pub where we met up with daughter No. 1 and her fiancée and with his parents, who run this pub.
Since I am on this sponsored slim and currently eating very little, the 4 whiskies I had soon made me feel all fuzzy and weird.
Due to lack of practise over the years and the fact that the whiskies were dragging my eyes out of alignment, Jason (future son-in-law) had no problems beating me.
In fact, he could have thrown the darts with his feet and still would have won.
To add insult to injury my daughter No. 2, who (it has to be said) has the weirdest way of holding a pool cue, wiped the floor with me beating me hands-down as I struggled to pot any ball with the exception of the white one, which I didn’t want to pot!

So . . . end result of the evening:

Darts: Jason 3 - Erik 0
Pool: Jason 1 - Erik 0
Victoria 1 - Erik 0
Funds: Pub £14.45 - Erik 0
Whiskies: Erik 4 - Pub 0

Victoria has almost potted all the Reds . .

. . and is now grinning at my feeble potting attempt.
Gorram cheek!!

The Electronic Firefly - 100th Post

2006-11-13T15:31:00.000Z

Well blow me down!!! Who would have thought that I would actually ever get to 100 posts on this site?!
Time to take stock at this monumental achievement:

First post published:
On 4th April 2006

Total number of visits to ‘The Fly’ so far:
Nearly 4000

Visitors so far were from:
United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Holland, India, Sweden, France and the United Kingdom

Pictures posted on ‘The Fly’:
Over 100

So, what can I say about this Blogsite?

It is not the most visited site nor the best liked one.
It has not got the most interesting or individually stimulating posts in the (uni)verse but over these days, weeks and months the electronic firefly has in a strange sort of way become part of me.
The people who read it are dear to me and their own blogsites are brilliant.

Some people have criticised this site as inane drivel and mindless nonsense!
Since I am the only one posting stuff here, you cannot think much of me either.
To you I say: “Congratulation on your highly intellectual (if somewhat boring) life and your expensive taste! Sorry ‘The Fly’ is not to your liking!”

To all of you who still pay a visit and leave the odd comment:
“Thanks for your encouragement! It just would be awful lonely out these in the blogsphere without you!”

If you are one of the people reading this site, maybe you could leave a comment (use 'anonymous' if you haven't got a logon) for once?!

Walking on Sunshine!

2006-11-12T19:20:00.000Z

As promised, today the Firefly is publishing a few photos from the Notting Hill walk we did on Saturday.
Things got off to a bit of a shaky start when London Underground transport (Tube) elected to close part of the Central Line, forcing us to change Tubes more often than we would have liked to and thus making us late for the rendezvous with Fran, who was patiently waiting at Notting Hill Gate Tube station.
We eventually got there and began the walk - admittedly taking the wrong road and therefore doing the entire walk the wrong way around. (Shhh!! I don't think they noticed!!)

As per usual, just click on the pictures to enlarge!

We walked past impressive large Victorian houses wondering who on earth could possibly afford to live there.

Who lives in a house like this?

The little mishap of walking anti-clockwise was however soon forgotten when we came across a lovely Italian delicatessen shop.
It was with great effort that we managed to crow-bar Gill, Jan and Victoria out of this shop - not however before they had bought some cakes and nibbles even though the walk hadn’t even started in earnest!!

The Italian shop

Everyone seemed to be in a good mood and the sun was shining on us as we walked up Westbourne Grove past the church and some nice clothes shops, food shops and restaurants towards Portobello Road.

At least we picked the right weather!

We soon arrived at Portobello Road with its nicely painted houses and its many shops selling everything from antiques, fashionable items to wear and ceramic pots to modern jewellery and pictures at the upper part of this road.

Portobello Road's multi-coloured houses

Looking past the sea of people into one of the little side streets, you could almost imagine living there. You’d have the best of all worlds - the cosmopolitan bustle of Portobello Road just around the corner from a quiet street, London at your feet and a property worth a mint!!

Pretty little side street off Portobello Road

Walking the other way, Portobello Road meanders down the hill towards Blenheim Crescent.
The shops and stalls here are stacked with ‘objets d’art’ and collectibles of all types and your eyes are drawn to so many different things that it is virtually impossible to keep track of each other.
This is where our mobile phones came in handy, as we only managed to re-group after informing each other of our whereabouts.

Silver . . .

. . . and all sorts of other stuff sold on Portobello Road

Just around the corner from Portobello Road in Blenheim Crescent you find the little Travel Bookshop made famous by the film “Notting Hill”, where Hugh Grant first met Julia Roberts. We just had to stop there and take a picture.

The gang in front of the Travel Bookshop, made famous by the film "Notting Hill"

Back at Portobello Road the market now turns into a food market selling fruit & vegetables, bread and other food stuff such as olives, feta cheese, cakes, herbs & spices to name but a few.

Portobello Food Market

We just took a little detour here to take a snapshot of the multi-coloured houses in Lancaster Road and see the old record shop in All Saints Road, the owner of which is sporting the most gigantic afro hairstyle ever seen! He definitely will scare children as well as the elderly and infirm and those of a nervous disposition.

I love those different colours!

From here the scenery deteriorates somewhat as we have nearly arrived at the Westway flyover. Chris is trying to blend into the surrounding and almost succeeds!

So, who's the animal?

By now everyone was getting hungry, prompting a ‘Why did you not organise a restaurant, Erik?? You always used to organise everything so well.’ outburst from Jan.
All my attempts to explain that I could not have possibly known at what time we would arrive where and that I thought we’d just grab a bite somewhere fell on deaf ears.
Luckily Jan found a little Greek place just under the flyover and I didn’t argue.

Jan spotted this Greek pitstop

We ordered some stuff and this arrived! It tasted great even though the owner of this place was a bit of a miserable son of a b*tch!!

Chilly Chicken Wrap! Mmmmm!

Towards the end of our walk we strolled past what was supposed to be the Portuguese area but as we looked at the shops and restaurants framed in the distance by Trellick Tower, all we could see was Moroccan stuff! Odd!!

Trellick Tower, the 31-storey concrete tower, completed by Hungarian architect Erno Goldfinger in 1972. For years it was a symbol of urban decay and disaffection, but now some of the flats are privately owned and the tower has become a fashionable place to live.

By now the sun had disappeared and there was an unpleasant breeze chilling nose, ears and fingers so we decided to call it a day and return to the Tube station.

Time to go home for a hot tea or coffee!

Personally I thought this was a great walk with much to see and with great company and would certainly do it again or recommend it to anyone.
Erik

==========================

My target weight is 199 pounds and if you haven’t sponsored me yet, please do so by going to http://www.justgiving.com/firefly and adding yourself to the list.

Throughout the next weeks you will be able to follow my progess (O God, I hope it will indeed be progress!!) on my Biff-o-meter and can comment on this blogsite with words of encouragment or by throwing abuse at me.

Here then is the Biff-o-meter after week 6 of my Challenge!

Weight now = 211 pounds
Weight lost so far = 18 pounds

Notting Hill (as seen on DVD)

2006-11-10T13:23:00.000Z

This post is for all you people who might be thinking of visiting London and not want to partake in the usual "Oh, let's see Big Ben and Buckingham Palace" tourist malakee!

We will actually do this walk tomorrow, so on Monday there should be pictures about it.

The Walk

Distance: 3 miles approx
Type of walk: circular.

Starts and finishes at Notting Hill tube station (central, circle and district lines)
This walk is planned for a Saturday, which is the best time to explore the Portobello antiques market at the south end of Portobello Road, which only opens on Saturdays.

We come out of Notting Hill tube station on the north side of Notting Hill Gate and take the first right into Pembridge Road. We branch immediately left into Kensington Park Road and left again into Ladbroke Road past a row of delectable white stucco Victorian villas characteristic of the new affluent Notting Hill.
Turning right into Ladbroke Terrace we reach Ladbroke Square, one of many private garden squares in this area of London. Only residents of the tall Victorian houses in the square have keys to the three hectares of wooded gardens hidden behind iron railings in Ladbroke Square Gardens. We now turn left into Ladbroke Square with the gardens on our right and take a right into Ladbroke Grove, the area’s main traffic artery, and cross at the crossing into Lansdowne Crescent with St John’s Church on our right.
This and the sweeping surrounding crescents of stucco houses with carved Italianate buildings and pillared porches form the heart of the Ladbroke Estate. If you think the estate’s distinctive circular shape on the A-Z looks a bit like a racetrack, this is because it originally was. The area was opened as the Hippodrome racecourse in 1837 circling the hill, but the venture failed and the racecourse closed in 1841. The Ladbroke estate was developed on the land in the 1840s with the church marking the Hippodrome’s central point.

We now follow Lansdowne Crescent round to come out at Ladbroke Grove and walk northwards with the blue railway bridge carrying the tube over the road in front of us. Shops and streets quickly become dirtier and shabbier, with small ethnic supermarkets and takeaways, as we get nearer the Westway, the concrete motorway flyover which carves Notting Hill in two.
This is one of the few remnants of an ambitious scheme in the 1960s to build a series of ringways throughout London, with what is now the M25 as the outermost ring. But planners were stopped in their tracks in inner London by a combination of mounting costs and public outrage and the ringways were abandoned in the 1970s.
Now the spaces under the Westway are occupied by cafes, a fitness centre and the north end of Portobello Market.

We go under the Westway and turn immediately right into Cambridge Gardens, where you can see the Westway on our right, incongruous against the backdrop of Victorian terraces on our left. Then we turn left into Portobello Road past a clutch of furniture and antique clothing shops and right into Golborne Road. This is the shopping and cultural centre of the area’s Portuguese community, with the Lisbon Patisserie, Lisboa delicatessen and Café Oporto all busy with customers talking to each other in Portuguese.
We now turn right into Wornington Road and right into Malvern Close looking for a path leading half left past the Malvern pub and we keep ahead across the end of Acklam Road to pick up Portobello Road under the Westway.
The northern end of Portobello Road under the Westway is much less touristy and upmarket than the well-known antiques market further south but still worth exploring. Shops sell New Age and grunge clothes, pubs and cafes serve Thai food and Spanish wine, and market stalls sell a vast variety of fruit and vegetables.

Turning left into Lancaster Road we take the second right into All Saints Road. In the 1950s and 1960s, this and surrounding roads were slums, the large houses divided up into bed sits, many lived in by West Indians who had recently arrived in London. Tensions between whites, blacks and the police led to the Notting Hill riots of 1958 and continuing unrest throughout the 1960s.
All this is difficult to imagine now, looking at the multicoloured house fronts newly painted red, green, yellow and black, the elegant contemporary art galleries and furniture shops and offices of architects and designers. The only reminder of recent history is the People’s Sound record shop with reggae music blaring out of the door.

We now turn right into Westbourne Park Road and left into Portobello Road. This is where the shops get smarter and the Saturday antiques market starts with stalls out on the road in front of shops crammed with ‘objets d’art’ and collectibles. Blenheim Crescent off Portobello Road on our right is worth a detour to explore its eclectic selection of bookshops including The Travel Bookshop, famous as Hugh Grant’s bookshop in the film Notting Hill, and Books for Cooks. Coming back to Portobello Road, the lush interior of the Electric Cinema was restored in 2001 after years of neglect. The Electric has a Brasserie if we want to stop off for a meal or a drink. Otherwise Portobello Road and Blenheim Road have a wide choice of pubs, restaurants and takeaways.

We continue up Portobello Road to Westbourne Grove on our left, with its designer loo incorporating a flower stall on the island in the middle of the road. Westbourne Grove is lined with upmarket clothes chain stores including Whistles and Joseph, alongside bars and restaurants.
To return to Notting Hill Gate station and the end of the walk, we continue up Westbourne Grove and turn left into Pembridge Villas, which becomes Pembridge Road which leads back to the Notting Hill tube station.

Click on picture to enlarge!

Keeping your Poop in a Jar!

2006-11-09T11:59:00.000Z

Last night ‘yours truly’ met up with Keith (the one from the sponsored haircut fame) to once again be delighted by the wonderfully competent and funny Hayseed Dixie.

The long journey was well worth it for the following reasons:

* I finally saw for myself how much (or how little) Keith’s hair has grown back. (Can you tell that he was not amused about me taking this picture??)

* We spent a good time together catching up on each other’s news

* Hayseed Dixie were utterly brilliant and I am still smiling just thinking of the performance of the song "Keeping your poop in a jar".

Today unfortunately I am slightly on the tired side having only arrived back home at one o’clock in the morning.

I feel a rant coming on!! Wait for it . . . wait for it . . . yup! Here it is!!

Loyal Firefly readers may recall my rant about Aylesbury (were I work) and the traffic mess in this town (see here).
Well today we got this letter from the Council which about sums up their level of I.Q.:
Click on the photo to read it!

So, if I read this correctly, the increase in the amount of congestion is due to what??
Aaahhh!! Yes!!! It is due to a number of improvements being made!! Classic!!
The statement: “This could be eased if there were fewer cars on the road” is an amazing achievement of deduction! Well done!!
It could also be eased by not making ‘improvements’ or by sacking the gorram lot of you, you stupid, incompetent, dozy sons of b*tches!!
(End of rant!)

I am off to get coffee!!

We gonna get ya, sucker!!

2006-11-08T10:16:00.000Z

Well done all you Americans who voted against Bush!!

Here are some comments left on the BBC Website regarding this vote:

Today, for the first time since Clinton, I am proud to hold an american passport.

President Bush, America has given you the first boot. It won’t be long before you get the second boot too. You will go down in the history for being a liar.

Hopefully he will be remembered as the worst president in history. Thank you America for finally coming back into the real world. The international community, the environment and every person on this planet welcomes this turn.

All I can say is 'Yippeee'!
It's easy to say that democracy has triumphed when the result goes your way - but it certainly feels that way this morning - even to a non-American. I have always felt uncomfortable criticising a leader / administration that is not my own, but I still think Americans are not fully aware of their true impact on the rest of world. I'm sure millions around the world will be breathing a collective sigh-of-relief.

At last the American public have woken up and rejected the corruption, greed and misguided policies of George Bush and his cronies and to a latter extent the Republican party.
Hopefully the momentum will last till through the Presidential elections of 2008.

The American people have given their verdict on President Bush now the UK needs to do the same with Blair and the whole Labour government. The support they got from their people to wage war on Iraq was due only to the total fabrication of them having WMD, not to illegally unseat Saddam.
They have been responsible for mass killings and opened more doors for Al Quaeda to operate making the world more dangerous than before.
We will all have to watch our backs now since their big ego trip went wrong.

God bless America!!

For all Firefly Groopies!!

2006-11-07T16:09:00.000Z

Here is a picture to take 'pride of place' in your home!

Wot??? No takers???
Phah!!

The great weekend!!

2006-11-06T09:35:00.000Z

What a great weekend it was!

Friday night I made a nice dish which I picked up from ‘A. Novelist’ on her brilliant culinary blogsite. I just added some crème fraiche to it and it was superb!! Thanks, Novelist!!

Then I bought myself a Tassimo coffee, espresso, cappuccino, café crème, chocolate, tea maker and it is wonderful, quick and ever so tasty!

In the evening we went to see the local fireworks and bonfire display and had a meal back at home with our friends and yesterday I got all those repairs done around the house which I have been avoiding for months!

And then to top it all my football team ‘Tottenham Hotspurs’ produced the first home-win against local opposition ‘Chelsea’ for about 16 years!
Stunning, boys!!!

On top of all this I managed to lose some more weight, so I am a very happy bunny!!

Here is a neat trick for all of you people who always wanted a quick way of folding your T-Shirts!
Enjoy

Click here!!

==========================

My target weight is 199 pounds and if you haven’t sponsored me yet, please do so by going to http://www.justgiving.com/firefly and adding yourself to the list.

Throughout the next weeks you will be able to follow my progess (O God, I hope it will indeed be progress!!) on my Biff-o-meter and can comment on this blogsite with words of encouragment or by throwing abuse at me.

Here then is the Biff-o-meter after week 5 of my Challenge!

Weight now = 214 pounds
Weight lost so far = 15 pounds (Half-way there! Yeah!!)

Poor State of Nanny in Nanny State

2006-11-03T11:04:00.000Z

Here in England things we are turning more and more into a Nanny State where the government prohibits a lot of things which (according to the Do-Gooders) will harm us!
Here are some prime examples of some of those most important rules and regulations:

No longer can you
* Smack your children (even if they smack you!)
* Play with conkers in the school yard (in case you have someone’s eye out! Oh, yes!)
* Fly an English flag on your car if you are a taxi driver (in case you upset visitors)
* Wear a cross around your neck (in case you upset Muslims)
* Call someone an “Old-timer” (in case you upset the elderly)
* Go on a fairground ride unless you are a certain height (in case you fall out)
to name but a few!!

This weekend is Bonfire Night Weekend and each town has its own magnificent display, staged by professionals for the viewing pleasure of the masses.

Here then is a strange one for you:
How come that any half-witted Herbert can walk into any supermarket and buy a huge cluster of highly explosive fireworks which he/she (must be politically correct here and include the female variety) can let off anywhere without the slightest regard for children, adults, the elderly and pets??
We had some knob-head(s) let off an array of fireworks this morning at about 4 a.m. in the morning, waking everybody up and frightening the Bejeesus out of the dogs, cats, hamsters (and I guess infants) in the entire area.

Here are some official statistics:

How many children are injured in firework accidents?
In Great Britain in the four weeks surrounding Bonfire Night, 1362 people were treated in hospital casualty departments after an accident involving a firework.
685 children under 16 were treated in hospital for injuries caused by fireworks – that is over half of all cases in Great Britain. Many more boys than girls were injured by fireworks– particularly in the 12 to 15 age group.

Are firework accidents increasing?
Firework injuries went up by over 40 per cent. There had been an eight per cent decrease the previous year – although this was shown to coincide with a 30 per cent reduction in sales of fireworks over the same time period. Numbers of firework injuries have fluctuated in the past five years making it difficult to identify trends.

Where do most firework accidents happen?
Just over 40 per cent of all accidents involving fireworks happened at a family or private party. A further 30 per cent of accidents were the result of casual incidents in the street or other public place. Only just over 10 per cent of accidents happened at large, public displays.

What type of fireworks cause the most accidents?
As in previous years - rockets (yes . . ROCKETS!!) caused more accidents than any other
type of firework.
Each year there are a large number of accidents caused by sparklers with young children being particularly at risk. In 2001 nearly one in ten firework accidents were caused by sparklers. Nearly seven in ten sparkler accidents happened at a family or private party.

What type of injuries are caused by fireworks?
Most firework accidents result in injuries to the eyes, head, hands or more than one of these areas.
Over 60 per cent of injuries require ongoing treatment from a GP or hospital and may leave permanent scarring.

Talking about the Nanny State . . . a Nanny who does not allow smacking but permits children to play with ROCKETS is like a Nanny who takes a spoon off the child in case it hurts itself and then has full-on sex in front of it whilst smoking pot and leaving the chip pan boiling on the gas stove in the kitchen.

So, this post is for all you governmental Do-Gooders and self-appointed police dogs.
My message to you:
“You suck!!"

EGGstra-ordinarily stupid!

2006-11-02T10:22:00.000Z

As I opened the door to our little garden this morning in order to have a look at the thermometer and take a picture, I noticed that some ‘nice’ person had thrown an egg at our back wall (See evidence below! ) probably as retaliation for an unsuccessful Trick-or-Treat session on Halloween Night when Jameson, our dog, threatened to rip your arm off if you ring that doorbell one more time.

To the egg-thrower:
I just wanted to let you in on a few secrets.
* In order to throw the egg, you had to go to the back of the property, which is very muddy and full of dog shit! Checked your shoes lately??
* You needed to buy, steal or (knowing your kind) just take eggs from your Mom
* You had to be careful not to break the eggs in your pocket, bag or whatever else you were carrying them in
* All your mates (if you have mates) think you are a real hero now but on reflection will soon realise that you are in fact a sad, under-endowed little Muppet!
* Your Mom will no doubt have barked at you for entering the house with mud- and shit-caked shoes.
* You missed the double patio door you were aiming at even though it is as big as a f*cking barn door!!
* You still didn’t get any treats from us!!

On top of all this, you need to consider:
* The egg doesn’t care (as it was never meant to be turned into a chicken anyway)
* The wall doesn’t care (being immune to salmonella)
* Jameson doesn’t care (at least you stopped ringing that f*cking bell)
* My kids don’t care (as they now enjoy the sweets you didn’t get!)
* I don’t care (the egg washes right off, ya know!)

So . . . Trick-or-Treat to you, Bozo!!

BETA Bloggers!

2006-11-01T10:41:00.000Z

Today we had the first frost on the windscreen of the car but . . my car has a heated windscreen (Yeah!!!). So, no more scraping of ice!

What else is new?? (Scratches head). Oh, yes!
Not sure whether I have done the right thing but for better or worse I have now moved over to the new BETA version of Blogger!
So, I hope that this doesn’t mean that nobody can leave comments now!
Just in case I need to re-advertise, here are some ideas!
What do you think??

Let's be careful out there on Halloween!!

2006-10-31T11:08:00.000Z

Here is a little story for your amusement!

A couple was invited to a swanky masked Halloween Party.
The wife got a terrible headache and told her husband to go to the party alone.
He, being a devoted husband, protested, but she argued and said she was going to take some aspirin and go to bed, and there was no need of his good time being spoiled by not going.
So he took his costume and away he went.
The wife, after sleeping soundly for one hour, awakened without pain, and as it was still early, she decided to go to the party. In as much as her husband did not know what her costume was, she thought she would have some fun by watching her husband to see how he acted when she was not with him.
She joined the party and soon spotted her husband cavorting around on the dance floor, dancing with every nice chick he could, and copping a little feel here and a little kiss there.
His wife sidled up to him and being a rather seductive babe herself, he left his partner high and dry and devoted his time to the new stuff that had just arrived.
She let him go as far as he wished; naturally, since he was her husband.
Finally he whispered a little proposition in her ear and she agreed, so off they went for some passionate kissing.
Just before unmasking at midnight, she slipped away and went home and put the costume away and got into bed, wondering what kind of explanation he would make for his behavior.
She was sitting up reading when he came in and asked what kind of a time he had.
He said, "Oh, the same old thing. You know I never have a good time when you're not there."
Then she asked, "Did you dance much?" He replied, "I'll tell you, I never even danced one dance. When I got there, I met Pete, Bill Brown and some other guys, so we went into the den and played poker all evening. But I'll tell you... the guy I loaned my costume to said he sure had a real good time!"

So, let's be careful out there and if you are planning to involve your pet in the dressing up game . . . DON'T!!
It p*sses them off big time!

If you think that they look cute, then you need therapy!!

I plead 'Not guilty'!!

2006-10-30T09:29:00.000Z

In a dramatic freak occurrence of nature this weekend, the earth started spinning the other way around for a short while with some stunning effects:

* The time went back by one hour
* Rain fell upon us at our short break in Scotland at double velocity
* My weekly weight loss program went into reverse as I put on 3 pounds rather than losing 3 pounds!

So, as you can see, it is not my fault!! Just a glitch in the system and if that does not cut any ice with you guys, I hereby name and shame the people responsible for at least the last point of the above disaster:

I blame:
* Jackie for organising a meal out at the local Indian Restaurant
* Doug for sharing his Whisky with me
* Their daughter for making the most delicious meal the following evening!
* Caroline for a meal involving cheese and pork pies (the death of any diet!)
* Brian & Carol for treating us to a Chinese Lunch and Sherry Trifle!

Well, it’s good to know that I was completely innocent in all of this and have therefore no need to hang my head in shame!
Phew!!

Bracklinn Falls, Callander, Scotland

==========================

My target weight is 199 pounds and if you haven’t sponsored me yet, please do so by going to http://www.justgiving.com/firefly and adding yourself to the list.

Throughout the next weeks you will be able to follow my progess (O God, I hope it will indeed be progress!!) on my Biff-o-meter and can comment on this blogsite with words of encouragment or by throwing abuse at me.

Here then is the Biff-o-meter after week 4 of my Challenge!

Weight now = 218 pounds
Weight lost so far = 11 pounds

No Trains, no Planes but a new Automobile

2006-10-24T11:39:00.000+01:00

This will be the last post for this week, as I am off to visit friends in Callander, Scotland for a few days.
No doubt we will sample a few Whiskeys and have some laughs together.

So, what else is new? . . . Oh, yes!! I got myself a new car (well nearly new anyway) and I am picking it up tomorrow on my birthday! Ooohh!!

Now I know what you are thinking!! “What could I possibly get Erik for his birthday??”
Well, fret not, dear friend!! Help is at hand! Just donate something at my sponsorship site
(go to http://www.justgiving.com/firefly )
to get me over the £1000 hurdle.

Sorry, that was very cheeky of me!!
Well, have a good few days and on Monday I will report on how everything went and hopefully post some pictures.

Happy days!!!

Whose Birthday is it anyway??

2006-10-23T09:14:00.000+01:00

Last week it was my colleague’s birthday and Debs (The Debster) send a birthday card round the office for us all to sign. All went well until Sara passed the card to Stuart with the words: “Here, sign the card for Gary!”
Stuart, only listening with one ear, understood “Here, sign the card for Erik!” and promptly wrote some demeaning stuff, passing it on to Shane, who followed in the same footsteps. Shane then passed it on to Gary (whose card it really was) with Debs spitting: “Shane, what is wrong with you?? Why are you giving Gary’s card to Gary??!!!”
Total pandemonium ensued and everybody got confused as to whose birthday is when.
We already agreed to re-use the same card for my birthday on Wednesday.
This morning however I came to work to find this!

No!! Not yet, guys!!! Wednesday!!!
Now everbody walking past my desk wishes me a happy birthday and asks where the cakes are that we normally buy for this occasion.

==========================

My target weight is 199 pounds and if you haven’t sponsored me yet, please do so by going to http://www.justgiving.com/firefly and adding yourself to the list.

Throughout the next weeks you will be able to follow my progess (O God, I hope it will indeed be progress!!) on my Biff-o-meter and can comment on this blogsite with words of encouragment or by throwing abuse at me.

Here then is the Biff-o-meter after week 3 of my Challenge!

Weigh now = 215 pounds
Weight lost so far = 14 pounds

Hair today - Gone tomorrow!

2006-10-20T12:28:00.000+01:00

Most of my friends have some sort of weird side to their character, which is probably why they are my friends in the first place.
This also applies to my friend Keith, who is and always has been stuck somewhere in the 70s!
When he was recently approaching his 50th birthday he let his hair grow even longer than usual and managed to look like a real old Hippy.
He is the only person I know who, when confronted with any 70s music, will not just be able to tell you the group but also the name of all the individuals in that group, what year the song came out, where it landed in the Top 40, what happened to them and what record label they were signed up with.
He is a bit of a technophobe and to this very day the word ‘Broadband’ will prompt the reply: “Don’t know them! Them must be one of them new groups doin’ Rap shit!”

His heart however is in the right place and he is always busy as a Scout-leader or helping out at the church.
For him it was therefore a great sacrifice to have his hair cut off for charity and I think he was quite worried as to whether it would grow back.

Well, Keith, I am sure it will and you are da Man for doing this charitable work!
This post is for you and I’ll see you on the 8th for the Live Concert of Hayseed Dixie!

Click on picture to enlarge and read the article!

Blogger Frust!!

2006-10-19T11:50:00.000+01:00

Today when I tried to look at my blogger friends sites I was greeted by this!
More and more things seem to trip up on Blogger!
My site takes ages to load the pictures, I cannot leave comments on some people's blog once they have moved to the new Beta version (which most of them are now bitching about as well) and more often than not you cannot post pictures via the blogger loader and therefore need to put the HTML code in yourself or just don't post them.

Time to move to a new provider??
Any suggestions?
What do you think?

Dirty Work

2006-10-17T15:45:00.000+01:00

Article in yesterday’s “The Times” Newspaper:

German women who can't face dumping their lovers are hiring a man to do it for them.
Perhaps if Bernd Dressler were smaller, sicklier, a little less confidently self-tanned and ivory-toothed, he’d be beaten up for doing the job he does. His victims find it difficult to argue with his unflinching, vaguely glamorous authoritativeness, the way he sternly peers out at them over the top of his fashionable spectacles to deliver the bad news, as if the German Paul McKenna had decided personally to intervene in their lives.
“There’s irritation. Then incredulity — ‘Where’s the hidden camera?’ ” Dressler says airily from behind a desk in his tiny Berlin office. “But once I show them the contract it starts to sink in.” The contract says that Berndt Dressler has been hired “to terminate the relationship between his client and his/her partner INSERT NAME”. Then there’s a list of reasons why.

Well, isn’t that just fantastic news, ladies - and I am sure soon someone will do the same for the gentlemen. Now you can breathe easily right from the start.

Pick your partner (not too carefully - no need!), have a lot of fun with him/her, get bored or exasperated or find someone else and Hey Presto!!
After not taking responsibility for the relationship coming together in the first place and not taking responsibility for the relationship cooling down you now also do not need to take responsibility for the death of the relationship.

You are therefore totally irresponsible!!!
. . .
. . .
No wait, - that sounded all wrong! I didn’t mean that, did I??

I mean, you can feel good - well, no, not good . . but OK about the whole thing for 2 reasons:
1.) At least you gave him/her (and yourself) an end with horror rather then horror without end
2.) Duh!! You’ve paid good money for it, so that makes it OK! The break-up has cost you dearly, you poor thing!!

So, let’s just check everything through to ensure we have the complete lover’s relationship sandwich (no pun intended here!) and see if this would work for marriages as well.

On the bottom we have:
No hassle speed dating
So we don’t have to get of off our arses to meet people and when we do we don’t have to go through the laborious time called courtship (where we would actually find out much more about a possible partner and build trust and relationship). Instead we get a bunch of lonely people in a room, see whether they throw up seeing us or if we throw up seeing them, ask them a couple of pertinent questions such as “Do you have aids or gonorrhoea” and “How do you feel about being humped on your first date?” and then settle with this partnership ‘choice’.

In the middle we have:
Relationship (good, bad, indifferent)

At the top we have:
No hassle speed separation
So we can get on with our lives and with new, more exciting partners without having to do this pesky breaking up and arguing (or even crying, eeeww!!) bit that is just so tedious.

Excellent! We’re almost there!

All we need to find now is someone who will do all that yucky, fluffy stuff in the middle such as telling our partner that we love him/her, buy their presents and . . well . . talk to them!

I wonder if I have a look in Google, whether . . . .

Clippety Clop!!

2006-10-17T11:29:00.000+01:00

From horsepower and 4 wheels yesterday to horsepower and 4 hoofs today.
It's all in a day's work - or more accurately it’s all in a day off work as our department decides to seize the last opportunity of the year to watch the races at Windsor, London.

Apparently there is no horse racing in winter as it is too tricky galloping down the track in snow shoes! I don’t even know where the brakes are on those wildebeests but how difficult can it be picking a winner??!?
Very difficult apparently as such names like “Always a Winner” and “Run like the Wind” easily turn out to be nothing else but wishful thinking crossing the line in place 7 and 9 as they don't always win and rarely run like the wind.
Have they never heard of the trade’s description act?

After backing a couple of particularly stupid mares I finally managed to get a winner (see proof photo below) but was disappointed when the bookies told me that I had not won the horse but just a few notes instead!
Gorram nonsense!
Nevertheless we all had a good time and laughed a lot.
In the evening we had a nice meal and none of us drunk much alcohol . . at all . . hardly any . . honest . . barely a drop!!

Here are some pictures from the day(click on them to enlarge) :

The Work Bunch trying to work out how to fill in the coupons

and again

There is always one Smarty who has been swatting up on the odds beforehand!

Before we decide, let's look at the horses! (As if that would help!)

On our balcony at the start & finish line!

For the first race most horses were still asleep, hence the poor turnout!

"C'mon 'Moon on a Spoon' or it's the butchers for you!"

. . . and he backs the winner.

If proof was needed!

The staff looking after us for the day were green with envy of my winnings!

Wroom! Wroom!!!

2006-10-16T09:21:00.000+01:00

This Sunday my good friend Garry invited Jan and me to Silverston for the British Touring Car Races but Jan was still not too good on her feet having had an operation on her toe so Sally came with us instead.
It was a great day apart from it being f***ing freezing!

Here are some pictures from the day
(click on them to enlarge) :

Renault Clio Race

and again

Seat Cupra Race

Looks like Heather (Canada) landing

The British Touring car Race we really came to see!!

Overtaking on the grass?? Is that allowed?

Sally, Christine and I

The girls are munching the sandwiches Garry (right) so kindy provided.

Formular Something!

Garry, Christine and Sally

==========================

My target weight is 199 pounds and if you haven’t sponsored me yet, please do so by going to http://www.justgiving.com/firefly and adding yourself to the list.

Throughout the next weeks you will be able to follow my progess (O God, I hope it will indeed be progress!!) on my Biff-o-meter and can comment on this blogsite with words of encouragment or by throwing abuse at me.

Here then is the Biff-o-meter after week 2 of my Challenge!

Weigh now = 219 pounds
Weight lost so far = 10 pounds

Past Echoes of the slimmer Kind

2006-10-13T14:03:00.000+01:00

Sensing my state of low resistance my daughter managed to persuade me to bid (and eventually win) a Video-DVD Writer Combo on Ebay.
With son No. 1 currently being ‘up on blocks’ after a knee operation and lingering around our house like a bad smell, he managed to rig this contraption up last night and we all sat around watching the old self-made videos from ‘Anno Godknowswhen’.
In the videos there were family members showing their complete lack of style through Elvis Presley sideburns, half-hearted Afros and beards to rival Bluebeard the Terrible!
And those were just the women!
My good friend G. B. looked like Harry Potter and my brother-in-law like the Cookie Monster!

We laughed and generally extracted the urine (took the p*ss) out of each other.
There were people who had since died, people who stopped being friends, people who stopped getting in touch, people who stopped being children and people who stopped worrying about getting caught by the style police!
I, too, had more hair, less weight, more muscles, less wrinkles, more energy and no glasses.

By the time we managed to ice ourselves away from the trip into our past it was past midnight.
As I stood in the bathroom brushing (what are still my own) teeth I looked into the mirror and thought:
What happened?
Did the F*ck-fairy come when we were all asleep and hit us with an ugly-stick??
Is the universe and everything in it travelling North at high speed thus leaving all our body parts to drag behind?

Either ways, the hunt is now on to find all the people in the videos (Spoken in a German Accent: "vee have vays of finding you!!") in order to make them watch the video with us, giving us the chance (and enormous pleasure) to laugh at them whilst pointing fingers at ‘em!
Mohaahaa!!

P.S.: It's Friday the 13th today! If this gives you the creeps . . Snap out of it, Freak!!

Teflon Leaves

2006-10-12T13:13:00.000+01:00

Following on from yesterday’s post and triggered by the comment made by City Slicker today’s post investigates the mystery of train delays due to leaves on the line.

I have travelled by train to various countries at various times of the year and I have encountered problems with frozen diesel, frozen power lines, cows on the track, melted rails and signal failures but only in England have I come across delays caused by leaves on the line.
To top it all this is not an isolated incident but happens here in autumn on a regular basis.
Even the time-table is amended to cater for delays thus caused!

So let me get this right:
A train weighing several tonnes is somehow affected by some leaves weighing less than 10 grams!
(draws picture in head)
Nope, still don’t get it!
But wait!! Help is at hand via the nice people from Translink who explain:

When leaves fall on or close to the railway line, they are swept up by the turbulence caused by passing trains and compressed under the wheels of the carriages. The leaves are pounded into a hard, black, shiny Teflon like substance which is difficult to remove. The problem is exacerbated during bad weather.
Crushed leaves become slippery when wet which causes a greasy ‘mulch’ to cover the rail. This mulch is to rails what ice is to roads. The poor adhesion between the wheel and track makes it difficult for trains to slow down and stop and causes ‘wheel slip’.

Now, that makes sense!!
My only question is . . why does this only apply to English leaves?? Do they have a special coating only seen in this part of the world?
If, as Translink put it, the crushed leaves turn into a Teflon like substance, could that be the reason why Britain is currently not partaking in the latest trials of magnetic trains, as the leaves solve the ‘friction’ problem?

Me in the (T)rain

2006-10-11T13:02:00.000+01:00

Here I am sitting on the train to London which has now accidentally stopped because there is a terrific thunderstorm going on outside to which we have top seats. The water is coming down so fast that the people in the carriage are looking round to see if it is entering the train by the doors.
As we pull into the unsheltered station somewhere between Aylesbury and London the people resemble drowned rats and the smell of wet clothes fills the place.
The weather forecast says that by the time I return home it will be nice again but as the guard announces that this train will be delayed due to problems on the line (hmmm . . . what could it possibly be??) I am reflecting on the following:
What would happen (or should it be will happen) once global warming has turned this otherwise calm and moderate British climate into a cauldron of storms and other types of severe weather??
Already predictions are that a major part of Southern Britain will fall victim to floods and be submerged, which will turn my little home in the centre of England into beach property.
England is already densely populated without a third disappearing under water.
Where is everybody going to go??
How very ill prepared we all are for such things.
Wait!! Hang on!!

(computer being hastily turned off)

Right! I am back! Back on the same train, having been ordered leave it, running across the bridge to the opposite platform and re-boarding it back to Aylesbury.
Apparently lightning has taken out the signalling system ahead and there will be no trains to London.
This reinforces my argument.
Single lightning strike = no trains
Global warming = ????

Jan and I have for some time toyed with the idea of becoming self-sufficient. Easier said then done!

Electricity:
Yes, you can put solar panels on your roof to get your electricity but the way it works is that it first gets put into the national grid and then you take what you want from there. If you produce more than you use, they pay you and visa versa.
Problem is . . . if there is a shortage, will you (as the producer) get first dip into the energy pot?? Eeeehhhmmm . . That would be a NO and you are just as screwed as everyone else.

Gas:
Even though I have been known to produce considerable amounts of it after kebabs, beers and other culinary delights, it just won’t be enough to heat a house or cook a meal.

Wood:
Wood burning used to be an option before England built their navy ships by cutting down most forests around the country. England once resembled Canada (forest-wise) but now looks more like . . . well, Holland I guess.

Growing your own food:
Good idea but if the future holds storms, floods and on the other end of the spectrum severe droughts, the only thing that will grow here successfully is water cress!!

So, in summary:
Are we worried about the change in climate? Has the government taken a “lead by example” approach to this looming problem??
Perish the thought! Britain is far too busy sending tax demands to their people, soldiers to Irak and celebrities to the jungle!
Fan-dabee-dosey!!

Of Hearts and Dreams

2006-10-10T12:19:00.000+01:00

From a very young age we all develop dreams for the future. First those dreams are about things we might want to do or have the next day or next week but gradually they become more ambitious and wide-ranging and more often concern themselves with what we want to be doing when we are grown up.
For example, when I was young my dream was to be a train driver. You know . . one of those impressive steam locomotives which I was fortunate enough to observe many times whilst standing on my grandparents balcony near the train station.
I was fascinated by the big, shiny, gleaming locomotive bellowing smoke from seemingly every orifice and those massive wheels of steel being driven forward by a red steel rod connecting them all.
I had visions of me pulling the train into the station and people looking at me with great admiration, jealous of the fact that I had a job where I would see many far away places.
Today, even though the original dream still sits deep in my heart as a young boy’s dream of how things should have been, I realise that reality is never quite like the dream. Electric trains and diesel powered ones just haven’t got the same romance and being assigned to a shuttle service between 2 cities doesn’t hold true to the childish idea of ‘seeing the world’.

Many of our dreams will get shattered throughout our life but after reading many people’s blogs I guess the ones hardest to handle are broken dreams about relationships.
Whereas not achieving the job we dreamt of or the belongings we hoped for might point to various reasons, broken relationships seem to firmly point to one thing:
‘I am not worth (read pretty, fancy-able, clever, slim, tall, exciting, sexy, successful, lovable, adorable, secure, etc.) enough’!!
This ‘fact’ is further enhanced by each and every day we have tried to no avail to keep the relationship going and by every tear we’ve cried.
If your Best was not good enough, what chance of happiness is there for the future??

Children have a great self-preservation mechanism at their disposal!
They constantly make new dreams and if a dream gets shattered, they just make a new one - always hoping - always trusting - always waiting for the next dream to arrive.
Like you and me, children are scarred by broken relationships and just like them, you need to know that you are loveable, acceptable and worth more than you could ever imagine.

If you had saved up for a car and when you took the money to the dealership it was gone, would you burn your money?? No way!! You’d keep it save in order to buy a different one at a later stage!
So it must be with your heart, your dream!
Your Best might not have been enough in your last relationship but your average will be more than enough for another one, as long as you don’t lose heart!