tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60842739674888145582024-03-25T00:33:55.251+01:00Zut alors!bloke moves to france with confused partner and two barking-mad terriersTommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.comBlogger331125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-46361774004057007262023-07-28T11:09:00.001+02:002023-07-28T11:09:46.007+02:00Juillet '23 Time flies. Almost at the end of July already. Been a good month. Long days, sunshine, and of course the Tour de France. It passed our way this year. Straight through Felletin and up the back of our hamlet across the valley. Drove up to a road junction on the Crocq road to watch the 'caravanne' pass through. Bit of a crowd there. Some locals put a table and chairs outside their roadside house. Out came the coffees and vin rosé. Not for us though. We had quiche and water. After a long wait the publicity vehicles, preceding the riders, eventually came and went. People grabbed their freebies, mostly teeshirts and hats. Then a couple of helicopters buzzed overhead. Then the riders whooshed by, followed by their support cars. Then they were gone. That was it. Went home and watched them climb to the finish line at the Puy de Dome, just outside Clermont Ferrand. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwQ4e783eRJjbcsuiqUCglGjTCCQYN8jnosbInQwufUZZIxnn7pne4pbKC6pOQ05hRzLtWDXHOXt7AVsBz7zkGAIcDE8uTBGB31Gvp5csOSGQARQzvB66YUsc5OmX1ViyGwwvGT15cycqhqMoGq84kLZBE9vyMcMFauZjIRHL5_5cckC67wQTGFd_SCQ/s1200/tou8.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwQ4e783eRJjbcsuiqUCglGjTCCQYN8jnosbInQwufUZZIxnn7pne4pbKC6pOQ05hRzLtWDXHOXt7AVsBz7zkGAIcDE8uTBGB31Gvp5csOSGQARQzvB66YUsc5OmX1ViyGwwvGT15cycqhqMoGq84kLZBE9vyMcMFauZjIRHL5_5cckC67wQTGFd_SCQ/s200/tou8.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKW_QOQOEVU0Rl8eXSF9E0zXHCjGhOfr9A2BCeJvyzHNCy1ExWFncGqFfTk2RGpWiC_y7KwQcOedKRyG9HZJq4RHrt2zAGgrSz0lplj6F7J0lVzVs5Xk9l-HbLCdhemneZRW8W7K_KVfRAY3S-JMjvCtnklOa_yTXmGpTqB5ZODCSoirp67BOBwfH0As/s1200/tou9.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKW_QOQOEVU0Rl8eXSF9E0zXHCjGhOfr9A2BCeJvyzHNCy1ExWFncGqFfTk2RGpWiC_y7KwQcOedKRyG9HZJq4RHrt2zAGgrSz0lplj6F7J0lVzVs5Xk9l-HbLCdhemneZRW8W7K_KVfRAY3S-JMjvCtnklOa_yTXmGpTqB5ZODCSoirp67BOBwfH0As/s200/tou9.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y1gXnGjQ8K1lP8KvmrcaCgLn5Q3sx6ijZX-WlBEBd1IvwaOyumu8CDLkfRoQa7WNczZax5zBkHJmgNMxz78PG3V_7751EUtvhs0Aq2CTEYCckcZAmqPUo0KnQlGN7riLdsh_-moRQVFlNHbKy-GrJ0e2frZwzICN-WSXWcS2iDlwyRn1bVaImvxg5No/s1200/tou3.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y1gXnGjQ8K1lP8KvmrcaCgLn5Q3sx6ijZX-WlBEBd1IvwaOyumu8CDLkfRoQa7WNczZax5zBkHJmgNMxz78PG3V_7751EUtvhs0Aq2CTEYCckcZAmqPUo0KnQlGN7riLdsh_-moRQVFlNHbKy-GrJ0e2frZwzICN-WSXWcS2iDlwyRn1bVaImvxg5No/s200/tou3.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanzwtB-nmNIpSEcFHU2b_fpk2phz-bLjDAHtTw_qqRDPUKQGTSwBOMmvtDQOnUxlZSiarIvLGFbpw7r-8tZECqqsCqKNUJyifSADGYY_IT0WL3gzl_VsbL7-VFyHfdoX2hNWLa-fvaqHpo-EBg2XBupFJDf1EZ1wvUm6MsBUsGuJAvjFQcdObvGmEfhI/s1200/tou4.jpg" style="display: block; 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padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMcxBz1NLXTRwwZJi8hZjNdXvrquehGeMtSfjqACc-tbTyqcw2wbEjatFO4bBC1_BqrfYHEmEUZRdMofOPyp2OGmQpPTPRh6tduCquN1BpDipqt3Gm-qJimmw_xkVHCRnBFalBx4OK25odNHrxK-1bctyGEJLh75IMczblJ1ixY6GZgFWNh3dcnNE0b8/s200/tou11.jpg"/></a></div>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-36640642460191469272023-06-06T17:35:00.000+02:002023-06-06T17:35:06.949+02:00PoppiesGarden's looking good. Loadsa poppies. Had a downpour the other day and a hailstorm. Battered the poppies to smithereens. But nae bother, new ones exploded into flower. When the sun's shining on them they look luminous red. A brilliant colour. Or is it vermillion? Interestingly, red in nature means danger, keep away, but I don't think poppies can harm. Or maybe they can through cocaine. Does cocaine come from poppies? Here I am, old as the hills, and I'm still not sure where cocaine comes from. Shall have to check. Anyways..., as I said, garden's looking good.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpiLURK_ZvGUG1GYIWfl4hK18-zSVxxhpJWl12uAwXpyKFsWFn8dSPds3V9dwMLTETZVxc2XzKztuz550QcNPMmvOp8762dIS5MhA4NbbaCXKlMNboIaRKRcSi48hU5QrEkSowLl7VcPKXhjeciNkKiqalLSBW8SvQ2OcxWnL0V0e9h5HF-0qQ8gu/s2048/20230606_112741.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpiLURK_ZvGUG1GYIWfl4hK18-zSVxxhpJWl12uAwXpyKFsWFn8dSPds3V9dwMLTETZVxc2XzKztuz550QcNPMmvOp8762dIS5MhA4NbbaCXKlMNboIaRKRcSi48hU5QrEkSowLl7VcPKXhjeciNkKiqalLSBW8SvQ2OcxWnL0V0e9h5HF-0qQ8gu/s320/20230606_112741.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHEs0ObrmLbKsZ-ziZ05gECvJkdmXwLxOXHioaDJGm2Ngo_U5U5YvRp4Mb0MdukeQ8IDmpUDbb-FlSwfkNM_VYQYIHgGxJRYQ0hzq1EL0G0JdijYVcBNqTvnpXYPkAWEmuYbH8AbFpaVWLYdLpCrFZmehupMVMdF13LBViCdckuq0YcPZdb4Siwtb/s2048/20230601_110614.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHEs0ObrmLbKsZ-ziZ05gECvJkdmXwLxOXHioaDJGm2Ngo_U5U5YvRp4Mb0MdukeQ8IDmpUDbb-FlSwfkNM_VYQYIHgGxJRYQ0hzq1EL0G0JdijYVcBNqTvnpXYPkAWEmuYbH8AbFpaVWLYdLpCrFZmehupMVMdF13LBViCdckuq0YcPZdb4Siwtb/s320/20230601_110614.jpg"/></a></div>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-7183584093468684822023-06-05T19:02:00.001+02:002023-06-05T19:05:31.640+02:00FieldLiving out here deep in the misty backwoods we're surrounded by fields where deer roam freely and cattle and sheep munch on the succulent grass. This being cattle country, the local farmers are kept busy with making sure their land is in top condition for their herds of beasts. One becomes aware of the farmers' hard work while strolling about on dogwalks, especially up at Sprocket Hill, which is where one particular field has seen a lot of change over the last couple of years. After being ploughed, it was re-seeded, then the grass (or was it barley or wheat or something?) grew to a height of about three feet and, recently, it was cut and baled. Now the field is back to being just grassy, but it's growing again. Went up there a couple of evenings ago and the farmer's gang were busy doing more baling and wrapping with black plastic. Had a quick word with the farmer, asked if the plastic rolls were expensive. "Oui" he said, "très chère". Had a torrential downpour the next day so the plastic did its job in keeping the hay dry. I guess some other farmers unfortunately didn't get around to wrapping their bales so they now have to dry out before storing. Noticed a few hawks circling above, looking for fieldmice which are easier to spot when the grass has been cut. Saw a hare running across another field. Unfortunately, so did Hamish, so he went off in hot pursuit. No chance of catching the hare, but it kept him busy for ten minutes, then twenty, then half an hour. An hour and a half later Hamish re-appeared, hot, panting, and covered in ticks. Picked the few visible ones off him, but there were probably others hidden in his fur. Pulled a few others of these blood-sucking nasties off him over the following days. Went up there a bit later. Hamish immediately whizzed off in hunting mode again. Another ninety minute-wait for his reluctant return. Another search for ticks. Ah, the busy routine of life out here in the backwoods.
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Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-41866557039715923242023-06-05T15:56:00.000+02:002023-06-05T15:56:02.144+02:00Nothing much<p>I regret to say, once again, that I haven't added to this blog for ages. This is probably due to being lazy, or unsure if anyone's interested in the nothing much that goes on up here in the backwoods. Anyways..., despite nothing much happening, apart from dogwalks, I thought I'd post a few sort of recent photos which, hopefully, will be more interesting than my boring scribings.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxcoazXGIXPnUDRbeGpAHiHYKyUJOTXSHyKBb2SAiJVNPkF9RcPH1HMGm3pzVAbhLyLrvLE8BtUWPDVhngFkN-4Lq9lB-NIB6bOE4ZBAveV0Hfz6dLEL8Ebtx2RD4CWa085vw65Kr_5ZJAHcNitnEixf_Exc0ML-gvrfMwgWNoKBQJyGZZ-wO3ujf/s1200/rai5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxcoazXGIXPnUDRbeGpAHiHYKyUJOTXSHyKBb2SAiJVNPkF9RcPH1HMGm3pzVAbhLyLrvLE8BtUWPDVhngFkN-4Lq9lB-NIB6bOE4ZBAveV0Hfz6dLEL8Ebtx2RD4CWa085vw65Kr_5ZJAHcNitnEixf_Exc0ML-gvrfMwgWNoKBQJyGZZ-wO3ujf/w200-h113/rai5.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9D6NGp_pn2Jtw_Jvt2tqix6Y3ZBPPJSLfB9l3_EpMTcX0hAuJj6ku4mj6TtQulbdl33f6nFttQ19IJqYA8x-7WunF2YX-rlqhziUSufXcK4UJNKXfJdp0PWwcZQGgOkfKONiO7n3mUbjsc3kKdmnAS8VJUW5kgmRi7Mb8wMUMDaXqvzZcGj8hguR/s1200/pop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9D6NGp_pn2Jtw_Jvt2tqix6Y3ZBPPJSLfB9l3_EpMTcX0hAuJj6ku4mj6TtQulbdl33f6nFttQ19IJqYA8x-7WunF2YX-rlqhziUSufXcK4UJNKXfJdp0PWwcZQGgOkfKONiO7n3mUbjsc3kKdmnAS8VJUW5kgmRi7Mb8wMUMDaXqvzZcGj8hguR/w200-h113/pop2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRM7FF5ODCJ9r11yvPU9xvjjDlG8xPgbhnyGApRNcQjS-3pBBju83TWolf_z76T2LqPGljWnGIewiSQDVxNEdzXLFhHgtXZAwVuAgiauM_G9rpPWxQAmB2a8x4I1gHQZDZgBLbnGNlzc7jHYL3tAn7ZD_X_ljD_HNao6E-XAfY0gKXMWTt0lHLcWxN/s1200/rai1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRM7FF5ODCJ9r11yvPU9xvjjDlG8xPgbhnyGApRNcQjS-3pBBju83TWolf_z76T2LqPGljWnGIewiSQDVxNEdzXLFhHgtXZAwVuAgiauM_G9rpPWxQAmB2a8x4I1gHQZDZgBLbnGNlzc7jHYL3tAn7ZD_X_ljD_HNao6E-XAfY0gKXMWTt0lHLcWxN/w200-h113/rai1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2qQtLn-UN8ZCUPuZqQJm2ApLCxOfbFYnIh9HVwQZM8Hohm-OluutJaW8xgCign1xCAlUkwxI4Pp2XqVBwz0KDEO3KAb5XoMtfx2qun2gb4yCui2o3IMTDKPckRbBtEKv4QCew6VnhRQB72y_sP-RW28C5FBUYPGU_hfpgY3XNfAF1a8AcjTFPMHB/s1000/wai4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2qQtLn-UN8ZCUPuZqQJm2ApLCxOfbFYnIh9HVwQZM8Hohm-OluutJaW8xgCign1xCAlUkwxI4Pp2XqVBwz0KDEO3KAb5XoMtfx2qun2gb4yCui2o3IMTDKPckRbBtEKv4QCew6VnhRQB72y_sP-RW28C5FBUYPGU_hfpgY3XNfAF1a8AcjTFPMHB/w200-h113/wai4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPlmJ6kLZOx63EECP6qK4dp-QNdKZVpTAPuk_TnhIomdWqEl-PbJ3sdnwHoFA9JZQjj4YKkTF8DuwA9Zj4QoLVdtKUf4ubm5QCP28usRuKyN1z9YlhF0nK9SuI34dWjUuuMJuAbLI8uaJWZa8zoLR3Ib-rUj8d-OguFhrnEP9GE8jZgrp5zwA_Ny7/s1000/rui4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPlmJ6kLZOx63EECP6qK4dp-QNdKZVpTAPuk_TnhIomdWqEl-PbJ3sdnwHoFA9JZQjj4YKkTF8DuwA9Zj4QoLVdtKUf4ubm5QCP28usRuKyN1z9YlhF0nK9SuI34dWjUuuMJuAbLI8uaJWZa8zoLR3Ib-rUj8d-OguFhrnEP9GE8jZgrp5zwA_Ny7/w200-h113/rui4.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ePiTfw1k7uOR0O8mNE3wYF6TKlG-APQ-q-1E_gaClWLNrLm1miisr173QDgMjoOUsJ4RQagn36iy9-1Sigu6LL5RIGIghbT7L0eAoyNZtf3Aonz3P5XTfZDhP45WlSbmEtjHZssscwwj255e5x5pMQCz5iZ-pXfx52sL16PjzsgQl-8a3u0RYpOg/s1000/pop5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ePiTfw1k7uOR0O8mNE3wYF6TKlG-APQ-q-1E_gaClWLNrLm1miisr173QDgMjoOUsJ4RQagn36iy9-1Sigu6LL5RIGIghbT7L0eAoyNZtf3Aonz3P5XTfZDhP45WlSbmEtjHZssscwwj255e5x5pMQCz5iZ-pXfx52sL16PjzsgQl-8a3u0RYpOg/w200-h113/pop5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWb_nKpOLY_sxUE2IOf79sBVByTOu8e8Iyo42KYZuQTaHN-jhB5zejHj-CoPy2aTNGwTid3abDB4RqyB8Qz5loFlCM7HGjPTLNcEfmmIII2QuAp2IpzbsnBhJ2rCVJXCkFkPaOeteu2iL7lRTdmhagrNF9PUIwDOIj2oFtelozCwHYvnxik90h5R6/s1000/pop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWb_nKpOLY_sxUE2IOf79sBVByTOu8e8Iyo42KYZuQTaHN-jhB5zejHj-CoPy2aTNGwTid3abDB4RqyB8Qz5loFlCM7HGjPTLNcEfmmIII2QuAp2IpzbsnBhJ2rCVJXCkFkPaOeteu2iL7lRTdmhagrNF9PUIwDOIj2oFtelozCwHYvnxik90h5R6/w200-h113/pop2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcPl_SX1KJMQKqDDR72MCfWOcLi-0515bgQjA-XFapyHgqky9nKusmmYBUHX_54G5OaphI2DiJTHiAlAzSZ9xNgGa_5KnNh0pBLfqNpPCAFfi9e_Q6Q11cVvFkIDGfhEDZ4ytn06cejN4c6xV7EwwPAkeokG25cCBulnr2j7kdqOECMaIK2KdQcyn/s1152/fung1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="1152" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcPl_SX1KJMQKqDDR72MCfWOcLi-0515bgQjA-XFapyHgqky9nKusmmYBUHX_54G5OaphI2DiJTHiAlAzSZ9xNgGa_5KnNh0pBLfqNpPCAFfi9e_Q6Q11cVvFkIDGfhEDZ4ytn06cejN4c6xV7EwwPAkeokG25cCBulnr2j7kdqOECMaIK2KdQcyn/w200-h108/fung1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDq-3I09WKZmgJn58imRjop6yeh_9O0FRMI0w3g8AeztVsgKMvYGtEeY1pDEJ3CNWihBzxnq4f2FnPCeE-UymXWg5K93bSUcSfxI5DA-R0uZM4-aOEwKcBtA_RVfRY4DJ7m9FWf2RS1pj50dT7bdxdzEvCkj7h4JsYjm_jj4qymhNDfu9pdxgVk40/s1000/lea1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDq-3I09WKZmgJn58imRjop6yeh_9O0FRMI0w3g8AeztVsgKMvYGtEeY1pDEJ3CNWihBzxnq4f2FnPCeE-UymXWg5K93bSUcSfxI5DA-R0uZM4-aOEwKcBtA_RVfRY4DJ7m9FWf2RS1pj50dT7bdxdzEvCkj7h4JsYjm_jj4qymhNDfu9pdxgVk40/w320-h181/lea1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-4716170170505178232022-09-22T22:25:00.003+02:002022-09-27T10:26:35.650+02:001996 Jaguar XJ6 3.2<p><span class="gvxzyvdx aeinzg81 t7p7dqev gh25dzvf exr7barw b6ax4al1 gem102v4 ncib64c9 mrvwc6qr sx8pxkcf f597kf1v cpcgwwas m2nijcs8 hxfwr5lz k1z55t6l oog5qr5w tes86rjd pbevjfx6 ztn2w49o" dir="auto">We
have a twenty year old 1.6 Ford Fiesta. It's practical, fairly
economical and suits our needs. But, being a bit of a petrolhead, I
often fancy something with a bit more poke. Which is why I occasionally
wander off into the Leboncoin site (French website for buying and
selling all sorts of stuff) and dribble over cars for sale at under €10k
(about £9.5k). Current fave is a one owner 1996 Jaaag XJ6 3.2 with just
85000kms (about 50000miles) for €7900 (about £7250). The <span></span>'94-'97
XJ6 3.2 models are widely regarded as being 'top notch' as they were
produced just after Ford invested £millions into Jaguar which
dramatically improved quality. However, très magnifique that it is, it's
not exactly practical - too thirsty, too big, too difficult to park in
little local streets, etc., but it'd be great on the open roads around
these here parts! Ahem, other tasty morsels I spotted include a bright
red Alfa 159 3.2 v6, a bright red Alfa 166 with a glorious 2.5 v6 Busso engine,
and a 'hewn from granite' 1994 Mercedes E200 2.0 produced when the
Stuttgart company was ruled by proper engineers, just before the
penny-pinching economists took over and quality inevitably suffered. Ah
well, think I'll stick with the Fiesta.</span></p><p><span class="gvxzyvdx aeinzg81 t7p7dqev gh25dzvf exr7barw b6ax4al1 gem102v4 ncib64c9 mrvwc6qr sx8pxkcf f597kf1v cpcgwwas m2nijcs8 hxfwr5lz k1z55t6l oog5qr5w tes86rjd pbevjfx6 ztn2w49o" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBpxdwo5wMBM_mSr9f1u_KHtjHvmyPtIv4bLbrAsILATJYykBpSWNv4w11YA71bF6zFJD0EG6phE69Jcg1F-EyvvF3ZcCL9xbPsLY6JcJe1fAB3jhpEgxrrNeRapQL0fqCrjWgqYx8jrFx9-Zkq4SMluh7aBYDly9aN0VdcaJn4U66cRHuDW0bQlT/s640/1996%20xj6%203.2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBpxdwo5wMBM_mSr9f1u_KHtjHvmyPtIv4bLbrAsILATJYykBpSWNv4w11YA71bF6zFJD0EG6phE69Jcg1F-EyvvF3ZcCL9xbPsLY6JcJe1fAB3jhpEgxrrNeRapQL0fqCrjWgqYx8jrFx9-Zkq4SMluh7aBYDly9aN0VdcaJn4U66cRHuDW0bQlT/s320/1996%20xj6%203.2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Qn7Yc4lPpMNK8KyyphcYRNyBQ3luf938Qu_veuDN2i6xZ7wE773dHntwO-jO08I5zdWXOvtTQ74H626EjUcnbHzdlVlbV7CA0twhiAmbanvSfkUCsxqsug2xgVY6qnmFwcNMoAeyO1-9C9IgFLGHTnT_0MoBl8XFzYoV8uCQUXGpfZAk0dn_2zZW/s1066/159%203.2%20v6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1066" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Qn7Yc4lPpMNK8KyyphcYRNyBQ3luf938Qu_veuDN2i6xZ7wE773dHntwO-jO08I5zdWXOvtTQ74H626EjUcnbHzdlVlbV7CA0twhiAmbanvSfkUCsxqsug2xgVY6qnmFwcNMoAeyO1-9C9IgFLGHTnT_0MoBl8XFzYoV8uCQUXGpfZAk0dn_2zZW/w200-h150/159%203.2%20v6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0-I1jgwrKlMTOa3oiAecPoCT4H_FYAUWZO43ULYQMOdlTU0tpHQAUDl-0dZLcF0fldXulWNrGMEbOiH3RNojpLo3NbHltvBkBqwQsYYnHErp28Mm4k1BFDNUFt5JSaOlBAFJXN5XdAoAqh4xsMWT34GLiwrxmW3dMZvyyF47PVnVYYyY-I3wn8tG/s800/166%202.5%20v6%20Busso.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="800" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0-I1jgwrKlMTOa3oiAecPoCT4H_FYAUWZO43ULYQMOdlTU0tpHQAUDl-0dZLcF0fldXulWNrGMEbOiH3RNojpLo3NbHltvBkBqwQsYYnHErp28Mm4k1BFDNUFt5JSaOlBAFJXN5XdAoAqh4xsMWT34GLiwrxmW3dMZvyyF47PVnVYYyY-I3wn8tG/w200-h145/166%202.5%20v6%20Busso.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Giq_s61RbjegM8ZYx75db5_wX3ZNBJyGzqnMqvlz_cwctiMhMldhd7Sf1ZY57LkLQ3WMgcVrtcdF1pUI4yZngiHxSMiuvzTT52ZL9FSVievcgXv7624_UlhqPAcclhiTbvkIiB4iubsqApLFdYiyb6C0ZtifK6UUHYlOpdcTgxoOPmsUuq8tegob/s800/E200%202.0%20W124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Giq_s61RbjegM8ZYx75db5_wX3ZNBJyGzqnMqvlz_cwctiMhMldhd7Sf1ZY57LkLQ3WMgcVrtcdF1pUI4yZngiHxSMiuvzTT52ZL9FSVievcgXv7624_UlhqPAcclhiTbvkIiB4iubsqApLFdYiyb6C0ZtifK6UUHYlOpdcTgxoOPmsUuq8tegob/w200-h150/E200%202.0%20W124.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-31075664204141053232022-09-15T12:40:00.000+02:002022-09-15T12:40:01.996+02:00Nicked<p><span class="gvxzyvdx aeinzg81 t7p7dqev gh25dzvf exr7barw b6ax4al1 gem102v4 ncib64c9 mrvwc6qr sx8pxkcf f597kf1v cpcgwwas m2nijcs8 hxfwr5lz k1z55t6l oog5qr5w tes86rjd pbevjfx6 ztn2w49o" dir="auto">Must
have been around '84 when I was working in Covent Garden. I bought a
brand new Yamaha RD350LC YPVS. Rode it to work, parked in a quiet alley,
clicked the headlock on and went to work. Finished grafting, grabbed
helmet and jacket, pottered back to the bike. Wasn't there. Nicked. This
was in the days before bike nicking became rampant. Bit pissed off, to
say the least. Luckily the insurance paid up, not full value but enough
to think about buying another Yam. Returned to the Guildford Yamaha
dealership (Portman?). Told 'em about having my lovely, brand spanking
new Yam nicked and asked about buying another RD350. Interestingly, they
said they were about to get a couple of the new RD500 models. Would I
like to order one and pay a deposit? Would I?!! Collected the bike a
couple of weeks later and rode it back to Southfields, keeping the revs
low (running in). Parked it in the hallway with a chain lock. Didn't
ride it to work, just at week-ends. Fab bike. Brilliant! Was sort of
marketed as a road-going version of Kenny Roberts' V4 racer. Hero. I was
there at Silverstone in '79 and saw that epic Roberts/Sheene race.
Couldn't see who won 'cos I was in the stand at Stow, miles away from
the finish line. Vids of the race are on YouTube. Well worth a look.</span></p><p><span class="gvxzyvdx aeinzg81 t7p7dqev gh25dzvf exr7barw b6ax4al1 gem102v4 ncib64c9 mrvwc6qr sx8pxkcf f597kf1v cpcgwwas m2nijcs8 hxfwr5lz k1z55t6l oog5qr5w tes86rjd pbevjfx6 ztn2w49o" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCIktNGawldCvcKaUhC_ZIhFGwyIoDHRlCFI7cmoUNoH-FaUfcJOeOmEQEQo-Ae_fcLe1o1y09tcgNXsbz0doPXqFuzZ46OfEiIRff-Xwt5vpJixSd7JRNstkN9FIB0GMsNvLxUqP9uYE-cJTFhofCwGoYVuSRUxe27Ga2NgRSLtK-kZ8CVwWkvAf/s1500/350-YPVS-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCIktNGawldCvcKaUhC_ZIhFGwyIoDHRlCFI7cmoUNoH-FaUfcJOeOmEQEQo-Ae_fcLe1o1y09tcgNXsbz0doPXqFuzZ46OfEiIRff-Xwt5vpJixSd7JRNstkN9FIB0GMsNvLxUqP9uYE-cJTFhofCwGoYVuSRUxe27Ga2NgRSLtK-kZ8CVwWkvAf/s320/350-YPVS-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UbZxDZYoFywRlrvjY51WYNbkxI06V15PlPJ5ZV9GtEFLXCkXS8R3BgevarQTBkyZEaTjY2I4DuMq0-c2j9Yf3-fMdrNBO84-9W3OkGZyFvh4ByouVqHJMSdMN6xoKa_jHmQeMqowAYhUTYGBj687EEkabGs-pzGq9dmAfUxHrCecXA-H8pJhsA-i/s1024/1984%20Yamaha%20RD500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UbZxDZYoFywRlrvjY51WYNbkxI06V15PlPJ5ZV9GtEFLXCkXS8R3BgevarQTBkyZEaTjY2I4DuMq0-c2j9Yf3-fMdrNBO84-9W3OkGZyFvh4ByouVqHJMSdMN6xoKa_jHmQeMqowAYhUTYGBj687EEkabGs-pzGq9dmAfUxHrCecXA-H8pJhsA-i/s320/1984%20Yamaha%20RD500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNTfeoqLA4mBRA646iTK2qHInHNu9ZhCjzaQd-rwyte9j-LtAh5uDKT6WLAzKePh5rnH-PicCUNydcwZcYb-XNui1EBKFbukWE-8Q1k6Ysek__jJbu-SZxtN-d_XS4n43F3W07oRXobqukJNccVb0Ti_bcY5FQalRzmUWx856K83TO9zEEPbXJu4B/s700/1979.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNTfeoqLA4mBRA646iTK2qHInHNu9ZhCjzaQd-rwyte9j-LtAh5uDKT6WLAzKePh5rnH-PicCUNydcwZcYb-XNui1EBKFbukWE-8Q1k6Ysek__jJbu-SZxtN-d_XS4n43F3W07oRXobqukJNccVb0Ti_bcY5FQalRzmUWx856K83TO9zEEPbXJu4B/s320/1979.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-71047884935937896172022-03-30T18:07:00.003+02:002022-03-31T23:57:28.546+02:00Scorn<p>Regret to say I haven't posted here for ages. Been posting on Facebook. Mainly anti-Johnson, anti-Tory stuff. Lost a few buddies due to my rants. Didn't realise so many of them are Tory Brexiteers. Strange, because I always thought they were quite bright. I was wrong.</p><p>Anyway..., I recently posted a couple of photos of young Ukranian ladies going off to fight the war armed with guns and carrying rucksacks. Brave ladies. I presume they're just ordinary working citizens who've signed up to fight the Ruskies. Ordinary secretaries, hairdressers, business people, etc. I added the caption 'Brave Ukranian ladies off to war'. Then my sister (who I love dearly) commented "<span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" dir="auto" lang="en">You’ve
always had such scorn for our armed forces. Now you’re praising them!
Make up your mind, our amazing guys and gals are so amazing." I responded with "</span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" dir="auto" lang="en">Not
entirely true. I never liked the way Dad was overlooked for promotion,
presumably because he was a Territorial rather than a Regular soldier. I
may be incorrect in that assumption, but that's the way I saw it. Also,
he was basically a working-class lad in a profession which favoured
upper-class, ex public school, officer types. That, as you rightly
imply, did indeed annoy moi. Again, I may be wrong in this, but ç'est la
vie. He did well to eventually become a Major when he should really
have been a Colonel or Brigadier. And..., I was praising the Ukranian
women soldiers, ordinary hairdressers, secretaries, business owners etc.
- not the Brits who, as far as I know, haven't yet seen action out
there."</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" dir="auto" lang="en"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NJpF7kP_q_4QUmPMOK6a-MsN5douPRvZV8TsxtYfjsHUWTiwtYwslc9DheZuLw0YZGH5XgRwUS_Bs11cMfOsqg8QlDneJMpz0Nfpvzv78M-RfIoFwkMrZn6Lgwl1Db9cJnVi5BOJ6XfN37R4SxGMtEEh7O-HnYS-YmW8szOant9LdYkD8yZ4qLoM/s1280/277250260_526584772218774_7116539424508343470_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1280" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NJpF7kP_q_4QUmPMOK6a-MsN5douPRvZV8TsxtYfjsHUWTiwtYwslc9DheZuLw0YZGH5XgRwUS_Bs11cMfOsqg8QlDneJMpz0Nfpvzv78M-RfIoFwkMrZn6Lgwl1Db9cJnVi5BOJ6XfN37R4SxGMtEEh7O-HnYS-YmW8szOant9LdYkD8yZ4qLoM/w200-h140/277250260_526584772218774_7116539424508343470_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JnLpScQg4TfCviNXdVWC4F2_1oFftnCua_uUrCKd6MwHDZSiOEndoHBuCtj0rsVxEx9jUl-OUYHSRAA9PH1h03c2Zhr_Rq7lbLv2mNqGg2j07aoCD5dPWgiy2x5rwQC8oaaLB4vTAytDUmLTfhNbmF7ZnsBjAOgJ0igzXShYSYphhlyRMudN1aWX/s1165/dad8th.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="874" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JnLpScQg4TfCviNXdVWC4F2_1oFftnCua_uUrCKd6MwHDZSiOEndoHBuCtj0rsVxEx9jUl-OUYHSRAA9PH1h03c2Zhr_Rq7lbLv2mNqGg2j07aoCD5dPWgiy2x5rwQC8oaaLB4vTAytDUmLTfhNbmF7ZnsBjAOgJ0igzXShYSYphhlyRMudN1aWX/w150-h200/dad8th.jpg" width="150" /></a></div></div><br /> This exchange got me thinking. Yes, she has a point about my er, lack of respect for the armed forces while she, being an ex-RAF officer, naturally supports them. Another point of difference: to put it simply, she likes England and I don't. Or, more accurately, I don't like what it's become under the recent twelve years of Tory rule. It's changed (and how!). But there are some people out there who still haven't moved on since England won the World Cup in '66, and who still retain a blinkered, Little England, island mentality, despite the disasters of Brexit and the years of corrupt Tory rule.<p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id" dir="auto" lang="en">So..., when did I start feeling this way? Interestingly, my lack of admiration for the armed forces may have been triggered by, as I mentioned, my father's slow promotion, which I'm almost certain was due to his working-class background and his enlisting in the army (1939?) as a Territorial rather than a Regular (there is a difference). This almost certainly instilled in me a dislike for authority that remains with me to this day. Probably happened when I was about fifteen and about to leave school. At the time I was set to follow in Dad's footsteps and join the army, possibly via Welbeck and Sandhurst. Didn't happen. Didn't like the idea of saying yessir, no sir, three bags full sir, to some toffee-nosed twat. Went to art school instead. One extreme to t'other.</span></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-92110299567076780842021-09-09T18:01:00.005+02:002021-09-10T06:26:36.584+02:00Formentera August 2021<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Booked hols in Formentera for last August (2020) but cancelled due to Covid. Booked again for this year (2021) despite the threat of Covid sweeping through Ibiza's young and foolish disco revellers (Ibiza airport has to be negotiated in order to get to Formentera). Hols didn't start according to plan - flight from Toulouse was cancelled due to the plane having a fractured engine casing so all 120(?) passengers were wheeled off for an overnight stay in a local hotel. Flew off next day. Being a lazy burger I can't be arsed to scribe in detail all the terrifically exciting things that happened on our hol, so I've nicked some postings wot I dun on my Facebook page during those lazy afternoons when doing nothing seemed a far better option than rushing around getting sunburnt and fleeced of coinage.</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgPjpISvCP-L-4RV5izq-ufwYzDKoIuCzHpAEO_mX7T-HTmGmTvOx_WinL6O3Oi6u_5kCMkmD70gIfgmJ4bgRnFrVkhqpxr4wBCKDyIRnwJLLQzdUXON0s7Of1AlbB7MCZj3VLEiafJ8/s1000/usfor32.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgPjpISvCP-L-4RV5izq-ufwYzDKoIuCzHpAEO_mX7T-HTmGmTvOx_WinL6O3Oi6u_5kCMkmD70gIfgmJ4bgRnFrVkhqpxr4wBCKDyIRnwJLLQzdUXON0s7Of1AlbB7MCZj3VLEiafJ8/w200-h113/usfor32.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kg65OPGvKEmw_M0UfkxuWz-gRcV71A_I-UWAt65_XfbTqQiJ7U6XAJuF8qXb6KkmOjSOd-W4skHjYvqRV3N4aZi0XMmrVNseCRRrq-YtxBIF6UFX9NjY4aY3CkuERjNLiAQRE5C_OZ4/s2048/20210902_165154.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kg65OPGvKEmw_M0UfkxuWz-gRcV71A_I-UWAt65_XfbTqQiJ7U6XAJuF8qXb6KkmOjSOd-W4skHjYvqRV3N4aZi0XMmrVNseCRRrq-YtxBIF6UFX9NjY4aY3CkuERjNLiAQRE5C_OZ4/w200-h113/20210902_165154.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHcx_KzBh74XwojGmmg0fQkFBszZOpiCZtMXE59nPpbosYjaIAC5Y4UVmZhzgLj84CZOy87dVjq7C2FgkBopEdV2HKwRsBy0is46XaRADMMruaErMoNlMs8W-5_LHtfK8HYJ03vfLnnI/s1000/usfor13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHcx_KzBh74XwojGmmg0fQkFBszZOpiCZtMXE59nPpbosYjaIAC5Y4UVmZhzgLj84CZOy87dVjq7C2FgkBopEdV2HKwRsBy0is46XaRADMMruaErMoNlMs8W-5_LHtfK8HYJ03vfLnnI/s320/usfor13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">1) Couple
of days ago (my, how time flies) we parked up in the shadow of the La
Mola lighthouse and headed to the adjacent bar shack for beers and vino.
The beverages were served by a lithe person with an impressively tanned
bod (the isle's full of such peeps which makes the vast expanse of my
milky-white bod that much more conspicuous). Being an artist who fully
appreciates the beauty of the human form I reckoned with a fair degree
of certainty that our drinks server was quite probably female. A closer
inspection of the subject's thoracic region revealed two wobbly bits
which confirmed my suspicion as being correct (however, this deduction
may well be disputed by people who have recently observed Michaela Gove
in his jogging gear - not a pretty sight). Ahem, by now Geo was casting
disapproving glances in my direction having noticed my concentrated
study of our scantily-clad drinks-bringer, so I gave her a sheepish grin
and cast my gaze out to sea. "Ooh look, a seagull!" Anyways..., what
really struck me about this fine specimen of a female humanoid was that
it appeared to be bereft of tattoos. Bit odd considering the current
popularity of these body enhancements. In the good old days a tattoo was
a mark of rebellion; now it's a mark of conformity. Weird. And the sad
thing is that most of the tattoos on display (and there are billions out
here!) are badly designed and hideously unattractive. And as for those
big black areas that look like they're covering up an image that the
owner's become bored with, or which hide the name of an ex-loved one who
is now a despised enemy, well, words fail me. As an example of this
blacked-out ugliness take a peek at Messi's left leg below the knee.
So..., our waitress - top marks for no tattoos. Or maybe she had one in a
nether region hidden from public gaze. Nah. No way. So why do people do
it? Beats me. No comprendo. Then there's piercings. No, better not get
started.</span><p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3WRWTMWsEL3ez9_QjlnVZ92gByGZK2WtGNdU7xHvR69LK1aQXRoZDMuLWxdFl8ZCswfP90cExGdPngnc2NAukC3oOoitRidrV0dRko5wrc5stHt6eOukyenyrzKT_s0EjdRQXIXZK1Y/s1000/usfor18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3WRWTMWsEL3ez9_QjlnVZ92gByGZK2WtGNdU7xHvR69LK1aQXRoZDMuLWxdFl8ZCswfP90cExGdPngnc2NAukC3oOoitRidrV0dRko5wrc5stHt6eOukyenyrzKT_s0EjdRQXIXZK1Y/s320/usfor18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">2) When
laziness sets in (as it does most days, but especially when on hols)
and Geo asks 'what shall we do now then?' (after she and twin sis Don
have been for an early swim and raid of the little seaside shop where
they liberated a few croissants, a baguette, some tomatoes and other
goodies before returning to HQ and berating moi for being lazy and not
taking this rare opportunity of immersing my sweaty bod in the Med - "I
might do it this evening, if I can be arsed") I generally respond with a
slightly bemused "er...". But last Sunday I had a brainwave: "we'll
have a drive!". Jumped in the Fart and hit the road - after opening the
car doors and waiting about ten minutes for the seats and steering wheel
to cool down enough so they were touchable without oven gloves. Drove
down to the most southerly point of the isle (Cap De Barbaria) but we
didn't get that far cos there's a barrier across the road about a
quarter of a mile before the clff end, so we turned around and headed
back inland. Boogied onwards across the isle then up the twisty hilly
bit at the eastern end, passing through a heaving El Pilar De La Mola
(twas market day) and eventually running out of road at the most
easterly point. Parked up in the shadow of the La Mola lighthouse and
hit the little bar shack where the gals had beer and I had a cool vin
rose while ogling the millions of scooters (slight exaggeration
eggsagggeration - how do you spell that? T,h,a,t. Simple. Ha.) coming
and parking and going. Interestingly, and exceedingly encouragingly,
there was an abundance of pairs of ladies scootering while executing
some impressive feet-up slow turns with deft throttle control. Avoided
the temptation of photoing the clifftop lighthouse (look it up if
interested) wot everyone seemed to be shooting. Photoed an interesting
bit of wall instead. Having run out of road we headed back to base. Good
outing.</span><p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0D2yM4OXf1UQ8Jfpg6R2hue9Ve8VHmFNTSYX1poJ9yMimOGvS0bC40fck-Z5-hKD_x-qbYLC-zbO7T9o43pWHuBa6PC4JxmoK1JiscvcjoIwOt1HUcmxjd8LaAmbzbhnbvb1o_ceRqWM/s2048/241115193_395806018629984_2118249029856904743_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0D2yM4OXf1UQ8Jfpg6R2hue9Ve8VHmFNTSYX1poJ9yMimOGvS0bC40fck-Z5-hKD_x-qbYLC-zbO7T9o43pWHuBa6PC4JxmoK1JiscvcjoIwOt1HUcmxjd8LaAmbzbhnbvb1o_ceRqWM/w200-h113/241115193_395806018629984_2118249029856904743_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsgHcaiS573YBH79wOGtesHpwXt_pQobFD3bf5b_SAhHeR8auLWpMZDZak8XTbD9jrUPKIOlUk6C8dLWJe9CbkzVPsJCggcPhP3GqmEpKZNbzWK4W3vn_P5D3gb9Q3yfPc51RzMd3vuw/s1000/usfor49.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsgHcaiS573YBH79wOGtesHpwXt_pQobFD3bf5b_SAhHeR8auLWpMZDZak8XTbD9jrUPKIOlUk6C8dLWJe9CbkzVPsJCggcPhP3GqmEpKZNbzWK4W3vn_P5D3gb9Q3yfPc51RzMd3vuw/w200-h113/usfor49.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />3) <span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Top
tree and pinky bushy stuff in busy Sant Francesc Xavier ce matin where
we brekky coffeed and I lashed out on a Formy mug and a snorkelly
thingy. Jad such a groovy time I ordered Geo to nip back to the Fart
Panda and top up up the parking meter, thereby avoiding maassivo fine
and a longthy jail sentence. Buggaire, podgy fingers on miniscule keypad
npt goodo.</span><p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdnFaiZoUVZBDg2rpBRtDwYCX_do8PAilWQ_5owLpesbEAuPH8v9rHwMAybBQsXhIhBgHwWrPyK5QF4OphtltCPs8xio48xCvF3K3d9dAEUIiCMMK4YHNcxrGV9i_Pb4lB7CpesatEvM/s1000/usfor26.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdnFaiZoUVZBDg2rpBRtDwYCX_do8PAilWQ_5owLpesbEAuPH8v9rHwMAybBQsXhIhBgHwWrPyK5QF4OphtltCPs8xio48xCvF3K3d9dAEUIiCMMK4YHNcxrGV9i_Pb4lB7CpesatEvM/w320-h181/usfor26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">4) Unbelievable!
Caviar crisps! Burst out giggling when I spotted 'em in the shop. And
there were truffle ones too. The height of decadence. Or is it the
depths of decadence?</span> <p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_S3q7BDONLDVZ9xTpBoiTiYjvl3Eo_Cad3hENPx-jaFx_p21ece1pex-tweRjvTLZvK7vDSe9zZ-tT01wvn0R4P-IuuBkrBu3ca9k1u2jkq93BqK8tUhmxWrvoSYvtKpB_ukibRse-0/s2048/240895857_394336325443620_704464523427171930_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_S3q7BDONLDVZ9xTpBoiTiYjvl3Eo_Cad3hENPx-jaFx_p21ece1pex-tweRjvTLZvK7vDSe9zZ-tT01wvn0R4P-IuuBkrBu3ca9k1u2jkq93BqK8tUhmxWrvoSYvtKpB_ukibRse-0/s320/240895857_394336325443620_704464523427171930_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>5) <span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">How
are the shelves back in the sunlit uplands? They seem to be
doing rather well out here in the EU Bally Erics. Bah, Brexit. Crap.
Spanish bloke in open air beach bar asked moi if I was English. Told him
"je suis francais". Too damned embarrassed, nay ashamed, to admit I
hailed from that third world outpost. I think the Europeans' respect for
Brits has been diminished by Brexit. We're now outcasts so it's no
wonder we scored nil points in Eurovision. I use the "we" loosely! All
very sad. Still, the Leavers won their stupid victory while complaining
that "this isn't the Brexit I voted for". Oh yes it is.</span> <p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0b4nI0mDWFJ_G7NYiHLmo1JNA3y5Yqdp1_P6IFhakLgVgFdg9QWfEGlIQr0B7AOx37T6nSDsc3KinT9cT_CDK28H4TXThsh98c__UrTr3u7sFCwxS4rKNYc0dDHWOL-zHzOelFH9gUEU/s2048/20210904_140550.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0b4nI0mDWFJ_G7NYiHLmo1JNA3y5Yqdp1_P6IFhakLgVgFdg9QWfEGlIQr0B7AOx37T6nSDsc3KinT9cT_CDK28H4TXThsh98c__UrTr3u7sFCwxS4rKNYc0dDHWOL-zHzOelFH9gUEU/w200-h113/20210904_140550.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcZGgRxj9TKOH-vF3DnvxUjYu6ZYnWjenWzC7Pot5ssChd9F30Pmb_zxmransN6TvJ78tYbu7mMrCKZY9ODNhcfYwiVjw6xPQA4e6FPSRgKSKCLx7wvMi-9PXuKe3KKi-FVS5DVBoTgE/s1000/usfor40.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcZGgRxj9TKOH-vF3DnvxUjYu6ZYnWjenWzC7Pot5ssChd9F30Pmb_zxmransN6TvJ78tYbu7mMrCKZY9ODNhcfYwiVjw6xPQA4e6FPSRgKSKCLx7wvMi-9PXuKe3KKi-FVS5DVBoTgE/w200-h113/usfor40.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><br />6) <span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Hols
finito. Escaped Formentera Sat midday. Ferry to Ibiza (calm sea, unlike
going there - rough), cab to aeroport, plane to Toulouse, straight out,
no customs or inspection (just a signed declaration that we hadn't been
in touch with a covid person) - another advantage of being a French
resident returning from Spain (Brexit, pah!), overnight hotel, hit the
road home 11.30am after digging the car out from under a two-week pile
of pigeon and magpie poo, quick stop at service area, another at Canal
du Midi, another at a carwash to remove a few more oiseau droppings,
turn right at Brive, all shops shut (it's the law - Sunday afternoon),
sunny dash across Plateau de Millevaches, collect dawg from kennels,
quick dogstroll, then home. Big spider in sink. Have now just binned
crap photos, reduced not quite crap photos, and am trying to pick a few
goodies - maybes there ain't any. Ah well, ç'est la vie.</span> <p></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQ7evk9f3RHP5ZCKTR6s6NMrsWrO-NyhY0cQFE0RJZ5RZPLN2aacQzkYuZFBAl3fgUGYslKfA5vLCPEBADLRx2s7YgwX702G9Pkv7xmEsO_J_cpI5ZnA2eUf2t6WQM9fDY8OYjSPzWkU/s1000/usfor46.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="1000" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQ7evk9f3RHP5ZCKTR6s6NMrsWrO-NyhY0cQFE0RJZ5RZPLN2aacQzkYuZFBAl3fgUGYslKfA5vLCPEBADLRx2s7YgwX702G9Pkv7xmEsO_J_cpI5ZnA2eUf2t6WQM9fDY8OYjSPzWkU/s320/usfor46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-43292776139630869112021-07-29T16:14:00.003+02:002023-06-05T16:07:02.162+02:00Summery<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Had torrential rains in early July but not as bad as Germany and Belgium where there was serious flooding (is any flooding not serious?). Lucky to be living up here in the hills where the rains drain off down streams and rivers. River Creuse down in Felletin looked pretty swollen but didn't burst its banks. Felletin's up high so the river flows downward towards Aubusson. Looked quite close to bursting its banks down there but, again, Aubusson's up high so the river carried on flowing downward. Must have been serious down below Aubusson.</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Then the rains stopped and the sun came out. Really hot. One extreme to t'other. Felt quite summery so we went up to Lake Marie (not its real name) for an early evening dip. Well, more specifically, Georgie paddled while I sat on a rock with dawg. Very pleasant. Went again the following soirée, though this time better prepared for swimming. Well, to be exact, Georgie was prepared with cozzie and towel so she had a swim while I sat on a grassy bank with dawg. However, I eventually threw caution to the wind
and took the plunge in my knickers. Dawg (tied to tree - he'd cause bedlam if running
free) immediately barked his head off, thinking I was drowning. Abrupt
end of dip. Dried off and drove home. Took a few snaps on the way back. Evening sun makes for pretty views. Glorious weather lasted a couple of days then clouded over again. Then thunder and lightning. Good while it lasted.</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGKA6ZESRa6B7csMgN_9rlH1hhO44JLUv6iot94lJT_GDO6xITV7plxH3U0jGSzOKU2K3SdGBksvnb61kHpaYjy7c7VWQ8nV1BlfmTh6Uw1vyrLkutOd3jToA62fKtJvLor0BL6hWnok/s1000/for8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGKA6ZESRa6B7csMgN_9rlH1hhO44JLUv6iot94lJT_GDO6xITV7plxH3U0jGSzOKU2K3SdGBksvnb61kHpaYjy7c7VWQ8nV1BlfmTh6Uw1vyrLkutOd3jToA62fKtJvLor0BL6hWnok/w200-h113/for8.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE3alUOaqgTq6f92ZK3Nd0UOojA3JVZrtZaWZT63q04Ijf_k5HRW0kaqFCtLlu81s5sqCLTNKtX9v_-bG7IIuFwUDJoq13RrQJk4PjYmy05HplQUrro_vBHsyOa-bkFNhqDO-yTelxzA/s1000/for6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEanTWFDweKjHtTZ9xwttReLW4-fnN-ZYACimS6IKSxil57ME-Da9pALhAZLgc0yQjffc5erEJfNae34q_IyN35dehyaegcNt4lkXhuSp5KhRzGwMc55YlIF7qaf5onGwQslwwcb3Y8Pk/s1000/lmar11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEanTWFDweKjHtTZ9xwttReLW4-fnN-ZYACimS6IKSxil57ME-Da9pALhAZLgc0yQjffc5erEJfNae34q_IyN35dehyaegcNt4lkXhuSp5KhRzGwMc55YlIF7qaf5onGwQslwwcb3Y8Pk/w200-h113/lmar11.jpg" width="200" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4CcXtlibwWbKxtDh8OXO5mqn-taaSvoHOs-RK9_PG_2DzZ4oQ5J7b6yZbLGEu5ArJWQpSeMvMOIVRl4gWqJyHUBazkg1mZ8rvK7p6okc-I0zXTY7skhSLuKkrKufiPTX5jqhE0EtOF0/w200-h113/lmar8.jpg" width="200" /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeb0H3ogImwrWKFuUZcQz6AgmeBPqzwFeFkWVObjxbBEZo7GkF9c9lEh8B5E_KgTBFQT_h4de8GottVX3yP3edMB1UlMLEMZm0QQGJoGFDLyhv0EiqjPgkWoGvqF28AxQ45COP2zTC1s/s1000/lmar16%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeb0H3ogImwrWKFuUZcQz6AgmeBPqzwFeFkWVObjxbBEZo7GkF9c9lEh8B5E_KgTBFQT_h4de8GottVX3yP3edMB1UlMLEMZm0QQGJoGFDLyhv0EiqjPgkWoGvqF28AxQ45COP2zTC1s/w320-h181/lmar16%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-23880080585868858252021-06-29T14:57:00.006+02:002021-06-29T14:57:47.727+02:00To the woods!<p>With all this news about the various post-Brexit disasters (far too many to list here but they include businesses and finance companies moving out of Britain, families facing deportation, foreign workers leaving Britain and returning to Europe, imports and exports being decimated by governmental red tape bureaucracy, empty supermarket shelves, shortage of lorry drivers, NHS workers and fruit pickers, etc.), and continuing revelations of Tory lies and corruption, and the escalating growth of the truth-defying, brainwashing, right-wing British media, etc., etc., it's good to get away for an occasional dogstroll in the the local woods. Up there all is calm. Especially on a sunny summer's eve. The bad news is forgotten as I park the car, unclip the doglead and set forth on a quiet path. A sidestep over a small beetle crossing a shared path. A shaft of sunlight through tall trees provides a moment of fascination as it highlights bright green leaves and damp moss. Then stop and listen. The sound of silence.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfflgqUIB3DLm7GCKhr8yhW7wWaQQO7Dq9aPhY0ptgcs1d8R7oSq3hm9e3XW-l6MS4KVOAISb61AFS3Jlfdp_w3EGz4msA3peqmsdmRXiqqw_j1G-ZdO3p_h2dBwwu4fHEGzPbF-We86k/s1000/suwo6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfflgqUIB3DLm7GCKhr8yhW7wWaQQO7Dq9aPhY0ptgcs1d8R7oSq3hm9e3XW-l6MS4KVOAISb61AFS3Jlfdp_w3EGz4msA3peqmsdmRXiqqw_j1G-ZdO3p_h2dBwwu4fHEGzPbF-We86k/w200-h113/suwo6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wetfbzUIXTe9ft9DSJbsxnb7GABbzpzm5GyZ_pOJMuNQPkAldNTrudOhP13sj4WUsFhK5fchsLgI2keiKGs1RC2kPxoqn424GeZLcSQrIM0t10luqGhUDl8uHVUOLTet7tn3hwKj0Fo/s1000/suwo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wetfbzUIXTe9ft9DSJbsxnb7GABbzpzm5GyZ_pOJMuNQPkAldNTrudOhP13sj4WUsFhK5fchsLgI2keiKGs1RC2kPxoqn424GeZLcSQrIM0t10luqGhUDl8uHVUOLTet7tn3hwKj0Fo/w200-h113/suwo1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWBkiP690WzCs0fjBGz5QcJGwqxvQ8KHR4xMTst1VesVRkAZ8k3IfQKF05x1R2rkzQRC5c5qJXkjlZAAl3hV8VQ_KllEIVf9rohjcXsq0sEDnfnIqlhKu9f0ldqVT8x7H4hx4tS0mNH8/s1000/suwo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWBkiP690WzCs0fjBGz5QcJGwqxvQ8KHR4xMTst1VesVRkAZ8k3IfQKF05x1R2rkzQRC5c5qJXkjlZAAl3hV8VQ_KllEIVf9rohjcXsq0sEDnfnIqlhKu9f0ldqVT8x7H4hx4tS0mNH8/w200-h113/suwo4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUo5ARukUhq862lPQkxymVl2WKMKMp2PuO0u_eP1mI93Fra-oWnAjANnGrksRTPa6ivg8ct8YEq8UBuhKJZFBcl_f70yy_nGFDS5GduOounbFUWE0NtdaoI5ZD0QyMIx5hZhQB2ZGyaQ/s1000/suwo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUo5ARukUhq862lPQkxymVl2WKMKMp2PuO0u_eP1mI93Fra-oWnAjANnGrksRTPa6ivg8ct8YEq8UBuhKJZFBcl_f70yy_nGFDS5GduOounbFUWE0NtdaoI5ZD0QyMIx5hZhQB2ZGyaQ/w200-h113/suwo2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxIM2Hwfa2cjYYhXEE6lGKrFSar16R5wrUPSq-IuQnD4NClxOni9xFpAk45dIiU4nqrQaNqle40NcxEveglSO0_7naQQvRGz9_ICB9MJnia2TG4eqDjCQvHt6-tlDVnF9FZR15Yq2p1s/s1000/suwo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxIM2Hwfa2cjYYhXEE6lGKrFSar16R5wrUPSq-IuQnD4NClxOni9xFpAk45dIiU4nqrQaNqle40NcxEveglSO0_7naQQvRGz9_ICB9MJnia2TG4eqDjCQvHt6-tlDVnF9FZR15Yq2p1s/w200-h113/suwo3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-73176918247716960942021-06-25T19:03:00.004+02:002021-06-26T15:01:20.338+02:00Tory Hancock<p>Having been caught on camera snogging his aide Gina Coladangelo in the corridors of power, Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health of the United Kingdom, has apologised for breaching two social distancing Covid guidelines that he instigated. There has apparently been no official apologies for distress caused to Hancock's wife and family or his aide's husband and family, all of whom must be feeling rather shattered by this affair. Liar Johnson, an expert in such matters, has announced that he continues to have "full confidence" in Hancock and considers the matter "closed". But some interesting revelations have since surfaced regarding the appointment of Coladangelo. Inevitably, accusations of 'chumocracy' abound. And, surprise surprise, her brother is now alleged to have benefitted from her close relationship with the disgraced Hancock. More Tory sleaze and corruption. Will it ever end?</p><p>P.S. It would appear that there's more to this story than meets the eye. Apparently the still photo of 'the clinch' that appeared on the front page of The Sun newsrag was taken from a 60 second CCTV video played on a television. It remains a mystery whose television, who arranged the video and why it should surface now rather than earlier (it was recorded six weeks ago on 6 May). A former counter-terror investigator has studied the video and concluded that it was recorded by a 'spy' camera hidden in a smoke alarm, of which Hancock was clearly not aware. The investigator suggests that if 'they' (who? we don't know) can plant a camera in a high-ranking government official's office without his or her knowledge, then they could plant a bomb. Then of course the question arises, who else is being spied on? He further suggested that it all sounds rather sinister. Further developments are anticipated. </p><p>P.P.S. Why has this video surfaced now rather than six weeks ago? Well, possibly because it creates a diversion away from the terrible news that <span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Boris Johnson's £37billion Test & Trace service, run by Dido Harding and using private firms Serco and Deloitte, has lost track of 550 million Covid tests and failed to reach nearly 100,000 people who had tested positive and failing to identify their contacts.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81PESnKKabnDVCTa9eK2oxukFq2yBqVT7lpCKpKOoqqN9oEarLtkssK8zIo6CK-jh2kz4ip8paFJCIze8okJCYekVHQzPf_jppuN1rG4ZF_yv2SwWSdEGCbsykCJBMRMnF0AdkiG4JFE/s1664/E4tTw6aWEAEEPvY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81PESnKKabnDVCTa9eK2oxukFq2yBqVT7lpCKpKOoqqN9oEarLtkssK8zIo6CK-jh2kz4ip8paFJCIze8okJCYekVHQzPf_jppuN1rG4ZF_yv2SwWSdEGCbsykCJBMRMnF0AdkiG4JFE/s320/E4tTw6aWEAEEPvY.jpg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoLUhtHQxlOnjSy7kPwp1dGk_oNN83raE3bOON6FKStcKo37s16ttywqTq1C9nIxMHJdIlg9HNaiDIUd_2hitb46t_IKnJHbxahIIffj0GSAb2a1aySGq2GRhrPXBeJDhyphenhyphennlM0rA-GgQ/s1920/E4vTpYoWEAMjy3i.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoLUhtHQxlOnjSy7kPwp1dGk_oNN83raE3bOON6FKStcKo37s16ttywqTq1C9nIxMHJdIlg9HNaiDIUd_2hitb46t_IKnJHbxahIIffj0GSAb2a1aySGq2GRhrPXBeJDhyphenhyphennlM0rA-GgQ/s320/E4vTpYoWEAMjy3i.jpg" /></a></div></div><p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-11552279280776238002021-06-23T18:22:00.003+02:002021-06-23T18:53:49.528+02:00Five years of Brexit<p>Today is the fifth anniversary of Britain's vote to leave the EU. Despite the referendum being advisory and not legally binding, and despite the vote being a close run race with 51% voting Leave and 49% Remain, Britain went ahead with "the will of the people".</p><p>Five years later, the general consensus is that Brexit has been a disaster. It's been disastrous for businesses and the economy, it's divided families as well as the nation, it's provided the corrupt Tories with a significant and dangerously undemocratic majority in Parliament, it's diminished Britain's standing on the world stage even though some erroneously claim it's allowed Britain to compete "globally" and become "world-beating" while the sad reality is that Britain is now seen as a third rate power with delusions of grandeur. Sadly, Brexit can't be reversed, but maybe one day in the not too distant future, people will see sense and once again vote to join the EU.</p><p>Interestingly, people are demanding "show me one single Brexit benefit". In response there's a deafening silence, apart from the odd comedian muttering "blue passports and happy fish". But, surprise surprise, there are two remarkable positives. The first is an increase in the average IQ of the EU population now that Britain's left (good joke, wot) and the second is that those few Brit millionaires with huge amounts of dosh hidden away in tax-free havens such as the Cayman Islands can now rest easy having escaped the eagle eyes and inquisitive noses of the EU's tax investigators. Had Britain remained in the EU, their tax-free dosh would have become taxable. So, for them, that's a definite benefit of Brexit.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivf7VX0OtTpE1cZaKncYcbNFN0TeySjltVKsKj70hrLh6gVq-X9kz_r2gEw90E_VceEZRiUr96q9bHK-EO30ojhokHiRjgyw1XfvKhu5w13tyqoEi36S0qHtN_qXJn7gsiBRJBFZxpOo/s495/cayman-map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="495" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivf7VX0OtTpE1cZaKncYcbNFN0TeySjltVKsKj70hrLh6gVq-X9kz_r2gEw90E_VceEZRiUr96q9bHK-EO30ojhokHiRjgyw1XfvKhu5w13tyqoEi36S0qHtN_qXJn7gsiBRJBFZxpOo/s320/cayman-map.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41uCSl6aPylvyOIQmo5g1pYpVs1ocg0NHots31ONxCAsQH-O9nsAR-mlu82JBoLHXWXSWBbmZhyuEQ81WuCrhYrFQub56bfYhh9wUHxH4UPEANIA1jDTy_3V9aENiBew9tFJKRN-ybEw/s1200/tax-havens.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41uCSl6aPylvyOIQmo5g1pYpVs1ocg0NHots31ONxCAsQH-O9nsAR-mlu82JBoLHXWXSWBbmZhyuEQ81WuCrhYrFQub56bfYhh9wUHxH4UPEANIA1jDTy_3V9aENiBew9tFJKRN-ybEw/s320/tax-havens.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-43609521586495257112021-06-23T16:41:00.004+02:002021-06-23T18:54:12.838+02:00One Britain One Nation<p>The Tory government's Department for Education is encouraging schools to sing the 'One Britain One Nation' song this coming Friday. The song has been hailed as a celebration of unity, but a closer inspection of the lyrics has led to an outburst of ridicule on social media with comments such as "Shared values of tolerance, kindness, pride and respect’ are a far cry from the current state of the UK” and “Who decided these were “our values” and when?” Some people are so disgusted with the irony of this song's wording that they are threatening to keep their kids at home on Friday rather than have them sing this "nationalistic crap". Others have suggested it would be more appropriate in North Korea rather than in Britain.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXx3UV5P40DHO35ZkuYKV1greUZYe9oCTEsYg-NYgJYYI8Sw9MNLN2t5sdO-uVukj4Ma_Zg8z6ehJiqvj3i9Rlp3EIADSsw9tSBajbXWQrWYcHKFtYkWWDW9ke5thdnYfbXDaM5UEIGQ/s1170/E4fqCmiXoA0dtWN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXx3UV5P40DHO35ZkuYKV1greUZYe9oCTEsYg-NYgJYYI8Sw9MNLN2t5sdO-uVukj4Ma_Zg8z6ehJiqvj3i9Rlp3EIADSsw9tSBajbXWQrWYcHKFtYkWWDW9ke5thdnYfbXDaM5UEIGQ/s320/E4fqCmiXoA0dtWN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoD9LmJfBMQShkzQGOmzBI1OEG6Q0aHqkYduL3xhO05_oO1Kc3zZhOBtP84SDusML1yzKukpVI22O5gJMfE4GNwnCESkOtpu50ZLTExRwAseKfw3Fp6UbcqSmt4hGEtDx1BEXnHgK9GMo/s300/hitkids.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoD9LmJfBMQShkzQGOmzBI1OEG6Q0aHqkYduL3xhO05_oO1Kc3zZhOBtP84SDusML1yzKukpVI22O5gJMfE4GNwnCESkOtpu50ZLTExRwAseKfw3Fp6UbcqSmt4hGEtDx1BEXnHgK9GMo/s0/hitkids.jpg" /></a></div> <p></p><p>This negativity reminded me of another nationalistic song that appears to be declining in popularity: The National Anthem. As Billy Connolly opined, it's boring, slow, racist and should be replaced by the theme from The Archers. And as for saving the Queen, well, she has been saved and is currently well into her nineties. But when she goes, will that be the end of the Royal Family? Maybe. And maybe not. Personally, I think it's time for a new National Anthem. Not just because it glorifies royalty, but because I can't help associating it with flag-waving, right-wing, tattoo-ed, beer-gutted, Engerrrland football hooligans who cheer their anthem then boo the opposition's. Come to think of it, National is the wrong description. It should be English Anthem. After all, the Scots and Welsh have theirs, and I presume the Northern Irish aren't exactly overjoyed about singing England's anthem. Maybe a united Ireland will happen soon.</p><p>Then there's that Rule Britannia song. Ruling the waves? A sentiment that seems somewhat dated nowadays. Seems to be wallowing in past glories. Hardly relevant in these dark, post-Brexit times. And as for ruling the waves, that claim always now reminds of Liar Johnson's waiving the rules in Parliament, with the EU and in numerous other situations.</p><p>Which leaves us (us?! I now consider myself rather more European than British) with that jolly old song, Land of Hope and Glory. Er, hope? Glory? </p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-25686686102983215502021-06-21T15:14:00.004+02:002021-06-23T18:55:59.225+02:00NHS<p>Dido Harding has applied to become chief executive of England's National Health Service where she intends to make the NHS 'less reliant on foreigners'. And, considering her close connections with the upper echelons of the Tory government, there's a strong likelihood that she'll be appointed.</p><p>Quite frankly I'm appalled, but not exactly surprised. Few things surprise me nowadays about this corrupt Tory government, apart from the support they continue to muster from a hoodwinked national electorate despite their lies, deception, the catastrophe of Brexit and their mis-management of the Covid epidemic.</p><p>Dido Harding is totally unfit for the job, which is probably why she'll get it. After all, it's no secret that the Tories want to replace the NHS with a health insurance system. So they'll make sure it fails; firstly by under-funding and secondly by putting an incompetent idiot in charge. Outrageous.</p><p>So..., Dido. This is the lady who, after being appointed chief executive of TalkTalk, won the company two wooden spoons in a row for providing the worst public service in Britain. Two consecutive years! Despite this recognition of her talents, and her lack of health qualifications, she was then appointed head of the NHS Improvement Board. One would assume that this surprising elevation may have been aided by her marriage to a Tory MP, her close friendship with David Cameron who made her a life peer (they were pals at Oxford University) and her friendship with Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Then Hancock handed her the key job of leading the Covid pandemic's Test and Trace programme. The result was a testing system that almost collapsed as the second wave hit, a tracing system that failed to trace anywhere near the required number of people and an astonishing bill for taxpayers of £37bn for the programme's first two years - including hundreds of consultants from firms such as McKinseys pocketing £6624 per day. The Public Accounts Committee concluded that, despite spending "unimaginable sums", it still wasn't clear if Test and Trace was working effectively.</p><p>Having staggered from failure to failure, she arrogantly thinks that the entire NHS with its £150bn should be placed in her hands. This is crazy. Madness. Perish the thought.</p><p>Then there's her comment about 'foreigners'. Hmm.. would the NHS exist without 'foreigners'? Probably not. But as I've already mentioned, that's what the Tories want. It's wrong. And it shows a disgraceful lack of appreciation for the enormous contribution 'foreigners' have made to the NHS, especially during Britain's killer Covid pandemic. Long may the NHS continue with its wonderful bunch of 'foreigners'.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZH4Ubp_cG9yYcCLU8y31RCJanS9i35Jbf785AK-lJRVZY5fegIc3t26qJXe9sMRdIOgRfC3Pxgl_9KMVuLePYuDVUgd2YvwvjDCcL2rxJcGelB7iYwXOyyTjM3PzV5Ptd0m-qRA0yVA/s768/skynews-dido-harding-nhs_5418354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZH4Ubp_cG9yYcCLU8y31RCJanS9i35Jbf785AK-lJRVZY5fegIc3t26qJXe9sMRdIOgRfC3Pxgl_9KMVuLePYuDVUgd2YvwvjDCcL2rxJcGelB7iYwXOyyTjM3PzV5Ptd0m-qRA0yVA/s320/skynews-dido-harding-nhs_5418354.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1tRzyVEhNxDErUslPE6pXq0GOBwprsBOhyphenhyphenwiU0fh6i9vis9vxKKMR6oD37gvmF8-jm3HHhedxg6SzOwrPnA6DCYqVperk7gL0568J-oRELl-pyCQsrE1RWiRzIgKNteixoCV7ioI7XE/s990/E4VrgXVX0AEmrrH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="990" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1tRzyVEhNxDErUslPE6pXq0GOBwprsBOhyphenhyphenwiU0fh6i9vis9vxKKMR6oD37gvmF8-jm3HHhedxg6SzOwrPnA6DCYqVperk7gL0568J-oRELl-pyCQsrE1RWiRzIgKNteixoCV7ioI7XE/s320/E4VrgXVX0AEmrrH.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-48035309101158724332021-06-18T14:41:00.003+02:002021-06-23T18:55:03.264+02:00Quitting <p>Up 'til now I've been mainly posting on Facebook, rather than scribing here on my blog. But that's about to change. I'm quitting Facebook, mainly because I got fed up with all the ads they plastered on my 'wall' or 'page' or whatever it's called. And there's no way to stop the ads. It's annoying. And intrusive. I've had enough, so, in future, I'll do my attacking of corrupt Tories and the stupidity of Brexit here, rather than in Facebook. But intrusive ads isn't the only reason for quitting, there's also their snooping. It's common knowledge that Facebook has become notorious for gathering data (information) about their global members and then using that data for commercial gain and/or political influence (Cambridge Analytica, Brexit, etc.). It's evolved into Big Brother and is exactly what George Orwell warned against.</p><p>In a way it's sad to be quitting FB because I'll miss keeping tabs on some of my old friends and family members. Not sure if they'll miss me though. My anti-Tory and pro-EU stance didn't please everyone! But, interestingly, there at last seems to be a very slight swing against the Liar's corrupt Tory charlatans as evidenced by yesterday's Chesham and Amersham byelection. It's been a safe Tory seat since 1974 and a Tory win was anticipated, but the LibDems won. Apparently people are losing faith in Liar Johnson. About time too! But Labour didn't do too well. Maybe a few Labour voters voted LibDem knowing that Labour didn't stand a chance. And maybe a few Tory voters voted LibDem to punish Liar for the Brexit catastrophe. Maybe this is the start of a LibDem revival and a Tory collapse. I hope so. That blue wall appears to be crumbling! </p><p>CABAL! That's the word I've been wracking what's left of my grey matter to think of. Tory cabal. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3egjbCyNWPcMSIgAShVYODNKPpc5MLgVc5KOqZQRadzbGQMyv1JyfFCTBpJg-9BdWCcjLC2r2TF6CBpEdAaFlOouOi8UTftt6h7QAiUiksA49zDN2HT4EPscGn90fD40180tDkn5hLI/s620/NINTCHDBPICT000660038088.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="620" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3egjbCyNWPcMSIgAShVYODNKPpc5MLgVc5KOqZQRadzbGQMyv1JyfFCTBpJg-9BdWCcjLC2r2TF6CBpEdAaFlOouOi8UTftt6h7QAiUiksA49zDN2HT4EPscGn90fD40180tDkn5hLI/w400-h269/NINTCHDBPICT000660038088.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-78870398323790525132021-06-17T16:56:00.005+02:002021-06-17T17:00:30.291+02:00Down the valley<p>Been very hot lately. Even in late afternoon. Too hot for a dogstroll up the usual route by Sprocket Hill. Hamish keeps to the shady bits, not that there are many. But he likes the little shade by the tall grass trackside. Then he lies front down on the cool grass in the shadow of the hedge. And the farmer and his lads have been cutting the grass up there and bagging it in black plastic bales. So there's loads of pollen in the air. Not good for my hay fever. Keep sneezing. Pockets full of soggy paper hankies. Kitchen roll squares actuellement. So..., just for a change I took the brute down the valley forest track. It's shady down there and we haven't been there in ages. Took a few snaps. Then spotted quite a few ticks crawling on Hamish's fur. Devil of a job squeezing the little blighters between thumbnails. Have to keep checking him for ticks. Georgie says get a tick collar. So that's another thing on the shopping list. Do they work, or is it a waste of dosh? Shall check the internet. (Click on photos to enlarge.)<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5P7eC8GCkRWp7_AsLvmKpd47JKEAgEEXvij4KoHRm7DPZNhFtli-r_1BaFoRYn0-MMy6xKOBLRnDS1MFaJNxS3GpHt60bAIthQg8ge8SbPGNR0c1kZjM5j5zruRKVFw_Aggm_IyEXBZ0/s1000/gras13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5P7eC8GCkRWp7_AsLvmKpd47JKEAgEEXvij4KoHRm7DPZNhFtli-r_1BaFoRYn0-MMy6xKOBLRnDS1MFaJNxS3GpHt60bAIthQg8ge8SbPGNR0c1kZjM5j5zruRKVFw_Aggm_IyEXBZ0/w200-h113/gras13.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3hqFaZ4zzXcjz4mKctx1mEqOppC52USx8QM8ikBZmVe5ro8GxFYZiTWF5B5Au_RbdP6B07TexZ1-GW8bjXoT9iUgbWjXTl9TuvFMtVJN3DzNKFxoNYIY_Na88RD1ua5j5g9VoUwz0_Q/s1000/gras10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3hqFaZ4zzXcjz4mKctx1mEqOppC52USx8QM8ikBZmVe5ro8GxFYZiTWF5B5Au_RbdP6B07TexZ1-GW8bjXoT9iUgbWjXTl9TuvFMtVJN3DzNKFxoNYIY_Na88RD1ua5j5g9VoUwz0_Q/w200-h113/gras10.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuJ2GKUr2dTlTXiI-S6xtKH2nZZb0ENWmOqPq0NiFwazjwa8HJQEAxNU8qtCnNn1o8MuCXLEmqQUcy-jmNvs-gTJGvmVwBP8X3cIxnax-jq63CbLK5xm3qw8l7coEvFhCDLKHOXH7uE4/s1000/gras11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuJ2GKUr2dTlTXiI-S6xtKH2nZZb0ENWmOqPq0NiFwazjwa8HJQEAxNU8qtCnNn1o8MuCXLEmqQUcy-jmNvs-gTJGvmVwBP8X3cIxnax-jq63CbLK5xm3qw8l7coEvFhCDLKHOXH7uE4/w200-h113/gras11.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbh6vYdNLwy3MRXrvmNLATenT3gyim5HvAyQFC4Jye84xjyXpLu0_wZndjCqmy9GX6CFvPz9O1thlsm5gnXgvGC8jBHwP471NHODhocsaL6q8upo8nm43iTSsW6oICGlEmEb9PCx2Tfc/s1000/gras12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbh6vYdNLwy3MRXrvmNLATenT3gyim5HvAyQFC4Jye84xjyXpLu0_wZndjCqmy9GX6CFvPz9O1thlsm5gnXgvGC8jBHwP471NHODhocsaL6q8upo8nm43iTSsW6oICGlEmEb9PCx2Tfc/w200-h113/gras12.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SPauSMZzMGua8j-s7L8Y5L1mgYXbskeOlX8jGSgPrZgwQNOCjgobIUGAhgUBwEu7af_PSaQtzeER5sgCruKVX3ARC8acRcm31a2MAVX8wfJvm3l5zVPgLGJxCZ6PzcrE6DszX3Ojyww/s1000/gras9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SPauSMZzMGua8j-s7L8Y5L1mgYXbskeOlX8jGSgPrZgwQNOCjgobIUGAhgUBwEu7af_PSaQtzeER5sgCruKVX3ARC8acRcm31a2MAVX8wfJvm3l5zVPgLGJxCZ6PzcrE6DszX3Ojyww/w200-h113/gras9.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67BK7OhI2q0zQN1sLp_XWZ960m_vXxpBcEaztBXDNBDDorxSWb0_Pu-lEBGO4joF2dldZg9Gz9zgLomLN3bBV-IaI3WzD3YUC0a4RO801NU-QfyMP3ArtzWkV-6clx5KnauCwzUcIeC8/s1000/gras8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67BK7OhI2q0zQN1sLp_XWZ960m_vXxpBcEaztBXDNBDDorxSWb0_Pu-lEBGO4joF2dldZg9Gz9zgLomLN3bBV-IaI3WzD3YUC0a4RO801NU-QfyMP3ArtzWkV-6clx5KnauCwzUcIeC8/w200-h113/gras8.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-23758577141833079522021-05-29T14:35:00.002+02:002021-05-29T14:35:24.136+02:00Dylan 80<p>Bob Dylan was eighty this week. Big news on the internet and in the media. Loads of articles praising his achievements and longevity from his early days, first recordings, global breakthrough, his various guises, hit albums, bum albums, fave songs, his jump from folk to rock, motorcycle accident, epic tours, good concerts, bad concerts... right up to the release of his latest album 'Rough and Rowdy Ways'. It's been quite a journey with ups and downs, a rough ride you might say, though millions of Boomers like me have been with him all the way. </p><p>Interesting to note the many rock stars who voiced their appreciation of Dylan's contribution to not only the music industry, but also literature and culture generally. Interesting too how many people managed to name their fave Dylan song and/or album. Notably, Mick Jagger went for 'Desolation Row' while Bruce Springsteen plumped for 'Like A Rolling Stone'. I tried to narrow my faves down to a single album and single track, but couldn't really decide. Too many to choose from. An almost impossible task.</p><p>Delved into cyberspace to remind myself of forgotten tracks and albums I hadn't heard (surprisingly, there are quite a few, such as 'New Morning', 'Infidels', 'Under The Red Sky' and 'Planet Waves'). Maybe I couldn't afford them, or maybe they'd had bad reviews, or maybe I bought some other non-Dylan album instead, or maybe I didn't rate the previous Dylan album I'd bought so I'd given up on him (sad to say that happened quite a few times).</p><p>Anyway, I noticed that, as well as fave albums getting mentioned, there were quite a few 'worst' albums being named. Among them were his 'religious phase' albums such as 'Saved' and 'Slow Train Coming', both of which I don't think I bought. Another unpopular one was 'Self Portrait' which I did buy and rather liked (even though I couldn't really afford it - it was in the final year of my student days). I still occasionally play the cd in the car. Contrary to Rolling Stone's famous review when the album was released (the opening line was "What is this shit?") I still reckon there's some good stuff on there, such as 'All The Tired Horses', 'Early Mornin' Rain' (by Gordon Lightfoot) and 'Belle Isle' (traditional). I think Rolling Stone gripe was that the album wasn't what they expected or wanted. And many Dylan fans agreed. People were disappointed. And how! </p><p>However, I reckoned that maybe Dylan just wanted to do an album of stuff he liked, to please himself, not others. Or maybe to annoy people on purpose. But I thought, fair enough. So it came as no surprise when I discovered an article on the internet where Dylan explained his reasons for this album being different. Basically, he reacted against being labelled 'the voice of a generation' and 'the protest singer' and 'the youth leader' etc. He'd had enough of that nonsense. Get off my back. It's a bit like Monty Python's 'he's not the messiah, he's just a singer'. Which probably explains the inclusion of 'Blue Moon' on this album. That'll really annoy them! Always makes me smile when I hear it. Shows a sense of humour.</p><p>So, is 'Self Portrait' my fave album? Well, as I said, I can't decide. Maybe. Or maybe it's 'Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid'. Or 'Blonde On Blonde' or 'Nashville Skyline' or 'Highway 61 Revisited'. And is 'Blue Moon' my fave single? Er, nah. Maybe 'Desolation Row', mainly because Charlie McCoy's guitar work wins it by a nose.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22pjcLidXMdmENPcfV_bQzmgs0oqsjlNAhk4fhoCS_nSu1FddJ5Bh8ovrsqLSWkhVGsgcV0egvvRSH6doqGw6jRutFlvTmjmRUpeCKTdU6R9u_2ZPcf3Acf-OawdaHTJ7IwaFu-OLZ2Y/s682/BF_BD055_14a_JR_8x10x300_PROOF_DRUM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="682" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22pjcLidXMdmENPcfV_bQzmgs0oqsjlNAhk4fhoCS_nSu1FddJ5Bh8ovrsqLSWkhVGsgcV0egvvRSH6doqGw6jRutFlvTmjmRUpeCKTdU6R9u_2ZPcf3Acf-OawdaHTJ7IwaFu-OLZ2Y/w400-h288/BF_BD055_14a_JR_8x10x300_PROOF_DRUM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /><p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-89106088013753154782021-04-11T16:39:00.003+02:002021-04-11T17:40:12.282+02:00Lazy Sunday<p>Weather's been warm and dry lately. Not good for gardeners like Georgie. Garden's dry and flowers collapsed. She's been checking weather reports over the last week or two. Gets glum when fine weather forecast. Bit weird. I get happyish when that happens but I ain't a gardener. She cheered up yesterday 'cos rain was predicted today. Sure enough, it arrived overnight. Been damp and grey all day. Not exactly bucketing down, but better than 'nowt. Anyways..., lazy Sunday afternoon. Been fiddling with some snaps. Playing with computery jiggery-pokery. Should be doing something useful I suppose, but can't be arsed.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSgkOAN33bIXELEPPdkL_OnXOvs7QRofjBhMiLi82XCNuCAMti0Rw2STie_2p6A5xjFds5v8jH3QSKFeEhgVItLF-XBpgjMxodPJ7f_lM2vkj0RiEFnjuHP4obTDvTm0LfzrWriM3Zug/s1200/warty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3Cuonz52mtdzP1tJ3X2YU-UIYaBunbSUYjSfhuDr0JtUhvEbhBNudDwiYyOeAVVl6u_QiC5pMGezthr6NYU2pqymq-2-LXRWLTkNw4zcGtjbvIHdTBzdqUcRdYtsJ_o6U7N8_fbcHt4/s1200/treetouca.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3Cuonz52mtdzP1tJ3X2YU-UIYaBunbSUYjSfhuDr0JtUhvEbhBNudDwiYyOeAVVl6u_QiC5pMGezthr6NYU2pqymq-2-LXRWLTkNw4zcGtjbvIHdTBzdqUcRdYtsJ_o6U7N8_fbcHt4/w400-h226/treetouca.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Gd2huS-lA2Rv1s3ireaiPgznFDP7PnrySFcmaorm9fgKI64URuzEvI-sHxR2LjM8zgSeJ40Yc1lFUK0GB0IBwFOlF8RCTa0diKeY55yT0cjUDq0w6aSY2urVwaUqy3BoAUQL1-Enlvc/s1200/treetoucd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Gd2huS-lA2Rv1s3ireaiPgznFDP7PnrySFcmaorm9fgKI64URuzEvI-sHxR2LjM8zgSeJ40Yc1lFUK0GB0IBwFOlF8RCTa0diKeY55yT0cjUDq0w6aSY2urVwaUqy3BoAUQL1-Enlvc/w200-h113/treetoucd.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hhFWQyU9X6dK4bSc7cH0WufkSL4NYkiE0Cv3YmsYQaeL2rEej4S8zV3kPq_fOAXG6ki4OYMDdB_4jNZHxm-hBk6DBhNr6fkPfYh1H3oKBjfFa7Il7Vn0TVZob7S6MAuCVMX9PSuZerQ/s1200/treetoucb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hhFWQyU9X6dK4bSc7cH0WufkSL4NYkiE0Cv3YmsYQaeL2rEej4S8zV3kPq_fOAXG6ki4OYMDdB_4jNZHxm-hBk6DBhNr6fkPfYh1H3oKBjfFa7Il7Vn0TVZob7S6MAuCVMX9PSuZerQ/w200-h113/treetoucb.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UFO78E2SFERUv3ZuthZbIfK-q7briaK5EaRw5tmn1F5aDhWb-md_QwmS6jF2ltrkaijNVAp3cxh-_kfFnKNB0OBPULpcFhknlkE8ChfnwBE3hRQPFBCZH_xHWb9Na5TyY9IlpZE7-CA/s1200/treetoucc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UFO78E2SFERUv3ZuthZbIfK-q7briaK5EaRw5tmn1F5aDhWb-md_QwmS6jF2ltrkaijNVAp3cxh-_kfFnKNB0OBPULpcFhknlkE8ChfnwBE3hRQPFBCZH_xHWb9Na5TyY9IlpZE7-CA/w200-h113/treetoucc.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQN5dyAuwhvLdKheM1Kp7M0obOarHAXEVaPb_A_p44El9Bqqk_MiUr5BXHVq0O_xehjBZmtA6rA001VHdi5XQmglcu6MMQPmVceP2ifJBjrSFv-5zFjB2YAVdhH6U1F8rVdhD2lnvAds/s1200/treetouce.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1200" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQN5dyAuwhvLdKheM1Kp7M0obOarHAXEVaPb_A_p44El9Bqqk_MiUr5BXHVq0O_xehjBZmtA6rA001VHdi5XQmglcu6MMQPmVceP2ifJBjrSFv-5zFjB2YAVdhH6U1F8rVdhD2lnvAds/w200-h111/treetouce.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><br /> <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-61050511729760669302021-04-05T10:44:00.001+02:002021-04-05T11:10:06.642+02:00Easter Sunday<p>A very good day. Managed a longish walk with dog, Geo and walking stick down to the bottom gate of Sprocket Hill. Late afternoon but still sunny and warm. Tree in blossom down there. Re-seeded field looking dazzling bright green. Returned home to watch thrilling Doha MotoGP with Frenchies Quartararo and Zarco first and second. Excellent. Watched the incredible Moto3 race earlier. Exhausting. Munched a bit of an Easter egg while ogling evening telly. As I said, a very good day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCaf6SCSfDn-E7DyFiQtCT-SzsGD-E2tl9CeylpUZRyVxb2DFAtZhGZKT1zS9tqzb43ChnPr2keZHup9iAVSwanmvVa__ChziY0YazhVonMaoWHo_M6sl3qIXYzrBw7ZDI_lXI4ClHc8/s1200/fen1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCaf6SCSfDn-E7DyFiQtCT-SzsGD-E2tl9CeylpUZRyVxb2DFAtZhGZKT1zS9tqzb43ChnPr2keZHup9iAVSwanmvVa__ChziY0YazhVonMaoWHo_M6sl3qIXYzrBw7ZDI_lXI4ClHc8/w400-h225/fen1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1bzHo3mkg5eB_chspCjikNPL-yiwyeN8213lKapfDDPnF4R9sPbExkPClAnYyRbrOV4aLUHmS4s-DYnvIDfKR2ipyE0qpWzdsc6gBrbZxdps92MGNKS6W3L9torP7wWKpLk9il4gM70/s1200/fen6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1bzHo3mkg5eB_chspCjikNPL-yiwyeN8213lKapfDDPnF4R9sPbExkPClAnYyRbrOV4aLUHmS4s-DYnvIDfKR2ipyE0qpWzdsc6gBrbZxdps92MGNKS6W3L9torP7wWKpLk9il4gM70/s320/fen6.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-63590266823561662322021-03-31T17:48:00.001+02:002021-03-31T17:48:13.683+02:00Sprocket Hill<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Sunny
and warm yesterday. Took Hamish up to Sprocket Hill for his evening
walk. Geo stayed home, doing the washing. Hamish has developed a nasty
habit of disappearing under the fence and into the Sprocket Hill woods where he disobeys orders to come back. Nose down on the scent of deer he ignores
all our commands and whistles. Few weeks back he disappeared for hours.
Drove home without him after sunset. Almost dark. Luckily spotted him in
a field on the way home. Quite by chance. Sheer good fortune. Anyways,
yesterday, sure enough he disappeared into the woods. Again. Couldn't be arsed
to go after him so I headed onwards up the hill. Big effort with gammy hip
and walking stick. Sat down at the top. Good view. Spotted Mr.
Disobedient emerge from the wood heading back to the car. Didn't see me
up the hill. Whistled and shouted "oi, bastard!" and he came running up,
panting. So we both sat there taking in the sunny view. Then headed
back down. And home.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA9oJIigOkWrKlQooBlRXlTwFLAHCl3m9T1KEeDKqOlbUlMugb7F0yvAqXCXKqvirZTBeuEmwqL2losu-xnNvpEklx7IsHD9Jz63_0Iu65mgZ3ERtBlRVvBSgaaYnyATAG9dLBznYHTc/s1000/sph9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA9oJIigOkWrKlQooBlRXlTwFLAHCl3m9T1KEeDKqOlbUlMugb7F0yvAqXCXKqvirZTBeuEmwqL2losu-xnNvpEklx7IsHD9Jz63_0Iu65mgZ3ERtBlRVvBSgaaYnyATAG9dLBznYHTc/w200-h113/sph9.jpg" width="200" /><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40pcI0RX3P6I87yArFyAQc7hcS6tutv4DFYXqI0HilOt3Dzx031t0aTX3yqUo5FpkysX45coEjZWZdSnDKoHkd2U2XYedId6en2sTd0ioDCUGtalELqDo2p_aSNMOWjHHPzYGezKJ2Zk/w200-h113/sph8.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bM7KRiM8lWgDBWIfVzCeExKi_d5tah_3FLpiAtFfv8UNsFIj2l71KnDqnHjhjkerUWS9fm-YZO8dNb_fQvA0Bb6-eNDL7PN7UtrQHcUHVY-naOtR9x5vlS8JrJ0nLboHU9pH2YcZ-bs/s1200/nar6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bM7KRiM8lWgDBWIfVzCeExKi_d5tah_3FLpiAtFfv8UNsFIj2l71KnDqnHjhjkerUWS9fm-YZO8dNb_fQvA0Bb6-eNDL7PN7UtrQHcUHVY-naOtR9x5vlS8JrJ0nLboHU9pH2YcZ-bs/w400-h225/nar6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoL-66ZB3dIMgZP8mP9o3wc6dSRgVysOnJpt1JOl3YCIc6HymxgVm_FFTl9rS4H4ErzTcnP8t7mvRfo3c3nyuiaemRetfPyYnst8igxa3RNtb-PIAMgn-GezHIvXw7ImEtTAahTkxT3w/s1000/sph1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoL-66ZB3dIMgZP8mP9o3wc6dSRgVysOnJpt1JOl3YCIc6HymxgVm_FFTl9rS4H4ErzTcnP8t7mvRfo3c3nyuiaemRetfPyYnst8igxa3RNtb-PIAMgn-GezHIvXw7ImEtTAahTkxT3w/w200-h113/sph1.jpg" width="200" /><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3r2i67Cu_7RcLOcJ5ZTQHrXwTV7-Whctw9UXv9tlhDaMQtk2jqQSBuUEc3BwBe-8mkdRo4f9t9awTBT8Puhn8c0RmA_zIW3ghfz4eey-_inc5oUDWxTHrpNNWHxa7IUgkSxspN1manQI/w200-h113/sph2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCp4uZmffmRs5-6XACIh-y86MGVLyHgNfiaYbLPYi6cWfF7kL3u-acHyokfjnaIbvMzA2N9WiQSAVnYD6sflQ4AS2oAuSO7ykvAv0s9LD5hSi2J9sLKDULXkcTRHbyDeQ9SgDp0WqXvc/s1000/sph3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCp4uZmffmRs5-6XACIh-y86MGVLyHgNfiaYbLPYi6cWfF7kL3u-acHyokfjnaIbvMzA2N9WiQSAVnYD6sflQ4AS2oAuSO7ykvAv0s9LD5hSi2J9sLKDULXkcTRHbyDeQ9SgDp0WqXvc/w400-h225/sph3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgvMPiDOvfIxOzZFK8QonvtBmiAwnuvylw6HGeMsw2W5_VYEYz1JkqsJAHp0CBbr33khVhSmwe3w3iQ4qKumrU1f1HSLGZoTdJ4rzq2tufgEB8m-xwuwELrlc6wjlKUfXzIUUnI1VLXA/s1000/sph4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgvMPiDOvfIxOzZFK8QonvtBmiAwnuvylw6HGeMsw2W5_VYEYz1JkqsJAHp0CBbr33khVhSmwe3w3iQ4qKumrU1f1HSLGZoTdJ4rzq2tufgEB8m-xwuwELrlc6wjlKUfXzIUUnI1VLXA/w200-h113/sph4.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUNimwHUJis-ckdbSX0x0WsXyucIHeus_na8IXeY239JxqR2sBQN_VlhoLog4L09b6e9mHwZzSWsZeW92wjnkNBOwfUyK8nCYD9Ln67gFXqo8pQKvD_9hlcSTG3uyLOBgzC3ndsKdQbc/s1876/sph7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="1876" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUNimwHUJis-ckdbSX0x0WsXyucIHeus_na8IXeY239JxqR2sBQN_VlhoLog4L09b6e9mHwZzSWsZeW92wjnkNBOwfUyK8nCYD9Ln67gFXqo8pQKvD_9hlcSTG3uyLOBgzC3ndsKdQbc/w200-h113/sph7.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /></div>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-43797327380319268182021-03-27T13:31:00.003+01:002021-03-28T12:34:30.738+02:00Not a lot<p>Another month has whizzed by since my last posting. So, what's happened since then? Well, not a lot, nothing much, can't really think of anything worth mentioning, but there must be something. Er, ah yes, had a bit of unexpected snow a few days back. Woke up, looked out the fenetre and there it was. About an inch or deux of the stuff. Looked quite pretty but was probably a bit of a shock for the poor daffs. So there you go, when nothing much happens, talk about the weather. Or grub. Amazing how Geo knocks stuff up on our pathetic, elderly, mini 'leccy cooker with two rings on top, one of which no longer works. Keep meaning to lash out and buy a proper 'leccy cooker but never seem to get around to it. I've known mini kitchens in caravans and scout camps that are better equipped than ours. But caravans and scout camps don't have our secret weapon: the log burning stove. Works a treat for cooking. And saves on electrickery. Logs cost a packet though. We buy 'em from neighbour Christian who chops down trees from his foresty bits and then saws 'em up, stacks 'em and then sells 'em to us villagers. He presumably reckons that money does, in fact, grow on trees. Hah! </p><p>What else? Er..., ah yes, a couple of my old chums had their golden wedding anniversaire. Married fifty years ago. Fifty years! A registry office in Victoria, if I remember correctly. Way back in 1971. I was still a student. Final year at the Royal College o'Fart. Anyways, they organised a Zoomy meeting. About half a dozen of us took part. I'd never done this before. Didn't even realise this laptop thingy had a movie camera. Georgie explained and set up our connection. All very 21st Century. The gathering lasted forty minutes. Quite good fun. I was just getting into the swing of things, knocking back the vino and making derogatory comments, when suddenly the screen went blank. Amazing how quickly forty minutes zoom by when you're having fun. Luckily my Zoomy chums back in Angleterre are still speaking to me despite my insults and mickey-taking. </p><p>So..., what else? Er..., had another three-monthly visit to the doc in order for him to check if I was still alive and to renew my prescription. This was preceeded by a visit to the Dracula centre in Aubusson where they took a blood sample. Always tricky finding a vein. A pint! That's an armful! Blood test revealed more bad news - it's never good news - kidneys continuing to degenerate. Doc mentioned the possibility of dialysis. Said it can be self-administered at home by just plugging in a connector to one's stomach. Apparently he has an eighty year old male patient who lives on his tod out in the wilds who does self-dialysis. Otherwise it's daily trips to Limoges hospital about seventy-five miles away. Ah well, something to look forward to. And my hip joint has been complaining. Difficult walking. Bit painful. Have now bought a walking stick which helps. Especially on dogwalks. </p><p>Talking of dogwalks, spotted Hamish sniffing a fallen tree branch in the distance. Wasn't a branch. Turned out to be a deer's antler. No sign of blood so we assumed it wasn't lost in a punch-up. Gave rise to loads of questions: do female deer have antlers, what's a female deer called (doe, a deer, a female deer, ray, a drop of golden sun, tra-la-la), will a deer die if it loses an antler, etc.? Checked the internet for answers when we got home. Turns out that deer naturally lose antlers at this time of year and they grow back. So no worries. Er, nothing else to report. Weather's improving. Days getting longer. Well, no, they're not. They're still 24 hours long. Longer daylight. Full moon tonight, I think. Er, I'm rabbiting, so I'll stop. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrf28xZtbk35RoMsaI0Wk-JY242ghyvzJrBtUzbrCdQsLi4JY0ECwkUiEgGwWC5dEqJyv93P5pX7Y8CABceHxc_V41q8OjBrF8VY_jiOMe1Px9c6zI4Viy55kp6OpNuyH39xKYskhPAg/s1200/shoesandstick.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrf28xZtbk35RoMsaI0Wk-JY242ghyvzJrBtUzbrCdQsLi4JY0ECwkUiEgGwWC5dEqJyv93P5pX7Y8CABceHxc_V41q8OjBrF8VY_jiOMe1Px9c6zI4Viy55kp6OpNuyH39xKYskhPAg/s320/shoesandstick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_Y2HC_ewRKa8MKqmt-ZTb9yQtL8tc45OC5VooxgmWKwiv_czNH8NlqTM8vd8m3zT6840mhTbc0ldff5McF__eQO0oVKAIPU3j9kdsHDDWdHa7P6rUBQl17JOdzfn0PDmNsR8FYJ89Cg/s2048/P1060491.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46YMMkb9Rr5Ok9bPdMYTG9qrrMTCK8lTiR3NR8GyfWsl9pUjnLkgZMX4BI35h75R6Gs5lLd2IjYw8TR98i_AO3TRbX96tqmLwPhV-HI3XFei2y-y5v7zrUlesf2CohOToHAG4qI8L5X0/s1200/ant3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46YMMkb9Rr5Ok9bPdMYTG9qrrMTCK8lTiR3NR8GyfWsl9pUjnLkgZMX4BI35h75R6Gs5lLd2IjYw8TR98i_AO3TRbX96tqmLwPhV-HI3XFei2y-y5v7zrUlesf2CohOToHAG4qI8L5X0/w200-h113/ant3.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUj_yLJslsLQMqtKE-utLzrypTHOUr0ywt9skQq-9EUOg32lkjK7wLsKpvtJmRNOcl_WV_uRrtXwnmWUi6cm1y9uz-n4Iu-JpKtahdNuqlwiDl2yAIHLUjDwluFHhkvye0j6S4BVR8UQ/s1200/ant4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUj_yLJslsLQMqtKE-utLzrypTHOUr0ywt9skQq-9EUOg32lkjK7wLsKpvtJmRNOcl_WV_uRrtXwnmWUi6cm1y9uz-n4Iu-JpKtahdNuqlwiDl2yAIHLUjDwluFHhkvye0j6S4BVR8UQ/w200-h113/ant4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ECIqvdsFNWy24iiT_g85gnqSIpIsY6ULyCNRfEEhoac4fb7c0ZVmqlp7XJDyLYXtghPu5ZWkgfuQ5u_IUyofpo99AA9WkNdxAqMmYGXl-5JE7fwLt69ygguUyTscJIldv6u8SAq6_d8/s1200/klm2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ECIqvdsFNWy24iiT_g85gnqSIpIsY6ULyCNRfEEhoac4fb7c0ZVmqlp7XJDyLYXtghPu5ZWkgfuQ5u_IUyofpo99AA9WkNdxAqMmYGXl-5JE7fwLt69ygguUyTscJIldv6u8SAq6_d8/w400-h223/klm2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhbqc8bXlts3sqV0DPf_IG9m_bQSTnrWa4WSYfI39UeJd9fQRl6sF-Rby2G6f5cUqORUBP1ZrU3jNoI34AWJw4ih16gVVV9AIo8RuQQO3K8FcQiK_6g-ZtMxkJw4BelIcF8b56JmIP50/s1200/ant1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1200" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhbqc8bXlts3sqV0DPf_IG9m_bQSTnrWa4WSYfI39UeJd9fQRl6sF-Rby2G6f5cUqORUBP1ZrU3jNoI34AWJw4ih16gVVV9AIo8RuQQO3K8FcQiK_6g-ZtMxkJw4BelIcF8b56JmIP50/w400-h259/ant1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-33708534547766338582021-02-27T13:22:00.003+01:002021-02-27T13:53:05.730+01:00Curfew<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">It's
said (but I don't know by whom - is it "who" or "whom"? - cor blimey,
brain the size of a planet, albeit a small one, and I still appear to be
thicker than thieves, or summink) that people who remark about what
they ate at mealtimes demonstrate an extreme lack of imagination, so
I'll show what we noshed a few soirées back (cos I like the colours),
preceded by the streamside dogstroll of a couple of late après-midis
ago, which, in turn, is preceded by a snap from yesterday's supermarché
trip where a rather impressive display of locally grown vegetables
caught my attention just as a supervisor's voice boomed out from various
speakers that there were just twenty minutes left before they shut up
shop at six - which is when the daily Covid curfew kicks off - at which
point there was a mad dash for the checkout tills followed by an even
madder dash to drive home before six in order to avoid a mahoosive fine,
or worse, by the rabid cops who we spotted lying in wait on our way to
the Aubusson Carrefour supermarché, thus causing us to take avoiding
action by taking the back road home at a thoroughly illegal ten past six
due to a time consuming petrol stop where I had big trouble opening and
closing the car's petrol cap lock (needs a squirt of WD40) and Geo had a
teeny bit of trouble remembering the bank card tap-in number thingy.
Which reminds moi, some chap was recently arrested for speeding at
190kph and his excuse was that he was trying to get home before the 6pm
curfew. Worth a try. Didn't work though. You're nicked, sunshine.
Fortunately we weren't, thanks to our devious back roads escape ploy. Was
quite busy up there with other lawbreakers having the same idea. Er,
where was I? Ah yes, photos...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ_1gE96Sa9b19173GF8KxNhuQ2KNWhYgtYgyGXNbEP4dftbWILFISgVZMvju1tv6Rp5z4HVT0l_HMGP2_6sAqOS-Z00nlHzCvj39rNiG7iB2aUdl_Ye_UiwHHn4SMpKWknitC5vDBlw/s1000/tom3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ_1gE96Sa9b19173GF8KxNhuQ2KNWhYgtYgyGXNbEP4dftbWILFISgVZMvju1tv6Rp5z4HVT0l_HMGP2_6sAqOS-Z00nlHzCvj39rNiG7iB2aUdl_Ye_UiwHHn4SMpKWknitC5vDBlw/w400-h225/tom3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j0trbkQM4a6PaF1i3R-5IDwqR6iCQTHZ_z0D-q9B_KsSuRt0Q-7h0d5nXTtQEnh-WNFRS1BwXnTNNMdN-C8nSfuDFkNbNOdE_ew7SlqO3JEdfcj_Onlgnl15MEcBB8dyWm8IyGQcmpo/s1000/tom5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j0trbkQM4a6PaF1i3R-5IDwqR6iCQTHZ_z0D-q9B_KsSuRt0Q-7h0d5nXTtQEnh-WNFRS1BwXnTNNMdN-C8nSfuDFkNbNOdE_ew7SlqO3JEdfcj_Onlgnl15MEcBB8dyWm8IyGQcmpo/w200-h113/tom5.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRmX3Rg7TyZIIOS0nmVTjyUBvtlt7BNFxLmlQLadC0vIroP4VfP8odtSvEjn84AkWXHTDmpl8K6QEvoUJS6juQBN3MhaKnde81kMJYLMgWszavs_hlZQRIMKTd78DhkmB0VnazYcCeUk/s1000/tom4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRmX3Rg7TyZIIOS0nmVTjyUBvtlt7BNFxLmlQLadC0vIroP4VfP8odtSvEjn84AkWXHTDmpl8K6QEvoUJS6juQBN3MhaKnde81kMJYLMgWszavs_hlZQRIMKTd78DhkmB0VnazYcCeUk/w200-h113/tom4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudsdRXm3DYj06TEC4ibneOJms6PNkjkMy4mF6ugOGRkK_GbpzJ-9GhLjsvy0bMlMz7bIDdmubQAxAAEU4anMLnAOXfzonMmWg7nehOKl7KELuS4onmghk-1mM3w_iLATOJsWPdSJagew/s1000/tom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudsdRXm3DYj06TEC4ibneOJms6PNkjkMy4mF6ugOGRkK_GbpzJ-9GhLjsvy0bMlMz7bIDdmubQAxAAEU4anMLnAOXfzonMmWg7nehOKl7KELuS4onmghk-1mM3w_iLATOJsWPdSJagew/w200-h113/tom1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaGWukdVHBtTM2LBLn001yHfzrZLzty0T0cXbSvfvAbA8MtrdpH_SlJkhOQm-O0mptjqk56Ck_IRrrPnMrBLjjTzXHVvPHUs4EWn3k4w61eni-USTV1AZZr66Q1Pc3VZx_-kG0iN1Woc/s1000/tom6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaGWukdVHBtTM2LBLn001yHfzrZLzty0T0cXbSvfvAbA8MtrdpH_SlJkhOQm-O0mptjqk56Ck_IRrrPnMrBLjjTzXHVvPHUs4EWn3k4w61eni-USTV1AZZr66Q1Pc3VZx_-kG0iN1Woc/w200-h113/tom6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><br /><p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-4981606679544528802021-02-20T15:02:00.000+01:002021-02-20T15:02:25.956+01:00Back valley<p>Sundown's noticeably later. Not that we've had much sun lately. Slightly longer evenings mean we go out for late afternoon dogstrolls a bit later. Used to go at about fiveish, now about sixish. Street lights come on at 6.40pm. Roll on spring. When do the clocks go forward? Must be soon.</p><p>Anyways..., I'm rabbiting. </p><p>Had a drive around a few days back. Went to look at a property for sale near St. Georges Nigremont. Curiosity. Saw it advertised on Leboncoin. Drove past it, didn't go in, still occupied. Lovely building but slightly hemmed in by a couple of neighbours. They're probably very friendly, but... nah, not for us. Too damned pricey for a start (€112000). And doesn't get the evening sun.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlArUYqJzhyphenhyphenBLPH7AC-OQbMWXjt_aZEE1GchL_g4BGFUZySpje8onoj7auwK65MZYbNAhgCZvxVAVumP2xYFz9Dmrw9h9Y9E8A5QmPPhgTGoDrxnYmJMJ9CHBxTNqEnQGroZpf_JRsIkQ/s1024/b36630e41a135c21c6f9935d2a624e97ad39d1c6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlArUYqJzhyphenhyphenBLPH7AC-OQbMWXjt_aZEE1GchL_g4BGFUZySpje8onoj7auwK65MZYbNAhgCZvxVAVumP2xYFz9Dmrw9h9Y9E8A5QmPPhgTGoDrxnYmJMJ9CHBxTNqEnQGroZpf_JRsIkQ/s320/b36630e41a135c21c6f9935d2a624e97ad39d1c6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>On the drive back home we passed an amazing old tree. Stopped and took a photo, not a particularly good one, bit dark, late afternoon.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uAL8Nw6xlXQDdBEnQUPV3wbzv3goiWv2qAdcRWIQ85tpgD0ZCAT-tdGotk1qdbS0W_ZaWo6d-nzjRQDIpcn5ZkDtuZgDbCLubNlW7ccmtIBiSX9rwnGQ74t0C1yMFMwppCb2NJkOA9A/s1000/tre1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uAL8Nw6xlXQDdBEnQUPV3wbzv3goiWv2qAdcRWIQ85tpgD0ZCAT-tdGotk1qdbS0W_ZaWo6d-nzjRQDIpcn5ZkDtuZgDbCLubNlW7ccmtIBiSX9rwnGQ74t0C1yMFMwppCb2NJkOA9A/s320/tre1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Then stopped off for a dogwalk, down in the back valley, in a field with a stream which is usually occupied by cattle. Never been in that field before. Been past it dozens of times. Sort of faces east so doesn't get the evening sun, unlike our usual dogstroll fields up Sprocket Hill, which faces west so does get the evening sun, but no stream. Swings and roundabouts. Er, what evening sun? Haven't had much sun lately. Have I mentioned this already? Sign of getting old, saying things twice. And dandruff of the eyebrows. And it's said that oldies get more Tory and supportive of Brexit. Strange. I get more and more leftish, and European. <br /></p><p>Anyways..., I'm rabbiting.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvb9s00TaO5Z0Rd-VNF58-sPwPbbLpCHHy3bt5QCIZcF_OLq1OnuOldZK6OWNAanLs8dDYTW7vvXNsXQKjAEyeBMaFYQfpFfUcytlbIkUn1HnCb9KXcUyhB21JuRCFuVM_Ul27ogmx1w/s1000/back3a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvb9s00TaO5Z0Rd-VNF58-sPwPbbLpCHHy3bt5QCIZcF_OLq1OnuOldZK6OWNAanLs8dDYTW7vvXNsXQKjAEyeBMaFYQfpFfUcytlbIkUn1HnCb9KXcUyhB21JuRCFuVM_Ul27ogmx1w/w200-h113/back3a.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjVoK2lnRkyGs3YmlrnQVBUIavOCIKxRM86_eZXPdDUhXQBQ05JZzSVhxjKey5v-kIBkn8er5Jn5ioTLOQ_lVEWcBFgDoufoovA-3mxsQOOlkrhkcHxyeJlvIXLjVNk_Mgrv7t2fg9UA/s1000/back4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjVoK2lnRkyGs3YmlrnQVBUIavOCIKxRM86_eZXPdDUhXQBQ05JZzSVhxjKey5v-kIBkn8er5Jn5ioTLOQ_lVEWcBFgDoufoovA-3mxsQOOlkrhkcHxyeJlvIXLjVNk_Mgrv7t2fg9UA/w200-h113/back4a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLcoApFBqJyGZv7KABCnXo5NDpoCCDyNTBTyKQMJMDaHJYPSlHHgoVKxBNAAIklyUl65yQiHtEkANKY5IDPWMQW6LJUt3_3ji0zbJxSRqjJnf5m4e2duGUorXULcRk2a0vOCb3Tbe-qE/s1000/back5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLcoApFBqJyGZv7KABCnXo5NDpoCCDyNTBTyKQMJMDaHJYPSlHHgoVKxBNAAIklyUl65yQiHtEkANKY5IDPWMQW6LJUt3_3ji0zbJxSRqjJnf5m4e2duGUorXULcRk2a0vOCb3Tbe-qE/w200-h113/back5a.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vv15byS6sVsy7PrwdEKQmzcJjt4Yc3SH0OyHin4dZbN1eR0iwvBkNH39Wy81nY00Vj2NKkr_aQqYX7lou2JhT03PRJFRI5a06Ecq-uthRRayNy9K8t6-m2e1Ir5BP7wbAGTP6GGBohM/s1000/back6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vv15byS6sVsy7PrwdEKQmzcJjt4Yc3SH0OyHin4dZbN1eR0iwvBkNH39Wy81nY00Vj2NKkr_aQqYX7lou2JhT03PRJFRI5a06Ecq-uthRRayNy9K8t6-m2e1Ir5BP7wbAGTP6GGBohM/w200-h113/back6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFp3pycSJojDWArECQahrGcrRzAmSlXixNSoeF2DgCbtGlzj1JZUnAA9xylThNk-2EKing_aOk80H1nRLb5WlInuXVVEbTKW6Rw5ysuU4gg7yN4UQcSU_wVJFQZSGMomeGxC9j4k-4p8/s1000/back7a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFp3pycSJojDWArECQahrGcrRzAmSlXixNSoeF2DgCbtGlzj1JZUnAA9xylThNk-2EKing_aOk80H1nRLb5WlInuXVVEbTKW6Rw5ysuU4gg7yN4UQcSU_wVJFQZSGMomeGxC9j4k-4p8/w200-h113/back7a.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2x28wEKgGVfbZj6AzVpZ0ou3GU5xktoL-QiAenm5sNQfTXhM-9FZ0QCIOnVs41t9Fa2_zFCAjmeX4Q_2FKeJogm22sQtplc1jbqenQDn_D_2b12Ip-uLI9vyknEOKs_9r4yk3W56jyk/s1000/back8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2x28wEKgGVfbZj6AzVpZ0ou3GU5xktoL-QiAenm5sNQfTXhM-9FZ0QCIOnVs41t9Fa2_zFCAjmeX4Q_2FKeJogm22sQtplc1jbqenQDn_D_2b12Ip-uLI9vyknEOKs_9r4yk3W56jyk/w200-h113/back8.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNNsA20QcTWwqsavxTImZ_PyXnz7ToaqOw1SJvm-bLxz0oP7PRyhm2YP7WmGvRn-6TCGpv-8kX_OLkTx1_hPKGsDv-Q4YcqwBI9Le89D94vvAascgDBYbZf8bAbpGIDF5jwTBcMAG3KM/s1000/back9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNNsA20QcTWwqsavxTImZ_PyXnz7ToaqOw1SJvm-bLxz0oP7PRyhm2YP7WmGvRn-6TCGpv-8kX_OLkTx1_hPKGsDv-Q4YcqwBI9Le89D94vvAascgDBYbZf8bAbpGIDF5jwTBcMAG3KM/w200-h113/back9.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPXTm-NXyemqsyqe6Jn1R7BuT5Sml1DJmLIse_DwZx08Kdd_DEZ_glky272PNnB-1WO3whRcZjPxIuda2LcYv4iil6tGWZjsQidqHyBxbjSOSaoQ8Ta7Z23jE6O8z78VQ1xYL_r0rmaM/s1000/back1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPXTm-NXyemqsyqe6Jn1R7BuT5Sml1DJmLIse_DwZx08Kdd_DEZ_glky272PNnB-1WO3whRcZjPxIuda2LcYv4iil6tGWZjsQidqHyBxbjSOSaoQ8Ta7Z23jE6O8z78VQ1xYL_r0rmaM/w200-h113/back1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><p></p><p>For the next day's dogstroll I was about to go up Sprocket Hill when Geo said why do we always go up there when there are loads of other places to go? So we went back down the back valley stream, again. Still no cattle there so into the field we waltzed. Dull weather again, but at least it wasn't raining. We're very lucky to be able to wander around such a pleasant beauty spot. Kept thinking of all those lockdown Brits (and Frenchies, and all other global city dwellers) cooped up in overcrowded urban rabbit hutch boxes. We may be poor peasants but we count our blessings. Then Hamish went knee deep into black streamside mud. And I trod in a cowpat. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-41445920060095949342021-02-09T17:34:00.001+01:002021-02-09T17:34:10.584+01:00Amazon Crime<p>I used Amazon for the first time in December to buy a few shortbread Christmas presents. At the time I innocently signed up for a free 30 day trial of Amazon Prime. I've just discovered that they've taken two £7.99 monthly payments from my account without me realising. Daylight robbery Hidden in the depths of the small print of this free 30 day offer is a tiny little statement that if you don't request cancellation within this 30 day period they will automatically start a standing order to take £7.99 per month until such time as you figure out a way of ending this arrangement - not so much Amazon Prime as Amazon Crime. If you don't notice that these payments are being made (as I didn't until I made a rare visit to my online bank account) the payments continue indefinitely. How many people have fallen into this trap, I wonder.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn9lFluwhQpveDnOjXXVOpFPXV7kOyTHZsQVEAx2vBAyiBAhe8G6Rv6lvgnHyHdK_D65Uj02aZN-3SjFOvKNtzQo2S4y30mUZwK5OIFqGMYaqhaoKcqnhOkpu1fwp6_vvjPZB3Y01PPM/s500/CTA_header_welcome5._CB485972002_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn9lFluwhQpveDnOjXXVOpFPXV7kOyTHZsQVEAx2vBAyiBAhe8G6Rv6lvgnHyHdK_D65Uj02aZN-3SjFOvKNtzQo2S4y30mUZwK5OIFqGMYaqhaoKcqnhOkpu1fwp6_vvjPZB3Y01PPM/s320/CTA_header_welcome5._CB485972002_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-22926348206670842442021-01-30T17:19:00.001+01:002021-01-30T17:19:28.487+01:00Burns Night<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Burns
Night. Last Monday. Planned on having haggis (Christmas present from nephew)
for dinner. Had Sunday's chilli con carne </span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">leftovers</span> instead - don't
like binning grub. Plan to have haggis on Tuesday thwarted by pork
chops nearing outofdateness, so had them instead - don't like binning
grub. Eventually had haggis on Wednesday, two days late, with neeps, tatties and
carrots, and a big dram of Strathisla. Excellent. Better late than never.</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3E5xYj52Dv9NuEqJGxhUkMNapSYr8imq7b-MM2BRs_4RF88zhkkSZ_vXZMxkAOkKDnQdctzDhtmTouFUUL5moM3bndBmmh_e-cI7UhKbIAgNjV5PcwXUZ3p6dKAVOoCW5ocYprw89Zs4/s1200/burnshaggis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3E5xYj52Dv9NuEqJGxhUkMNapSYr8imq7b-MM2BRs_4RF88zhkkSZ_vXZMxkAOkKDnQdctzDhtmTouFUUL5moM3bndBmmh_e-cI7UhKbIAgNjV5PcwXUZ3p6dKAVOoCW5ocYprw89Zs4/w640-h360/burnshaggis.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p>Tommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.com2