Lemsip Anyone?

The current outbreak is a serious matter but let's try to keep things in proportion and not let media induced hysteria drive us into panicing. Stay calm, take basic hygene and germ prevention measures.

Return To Sender?

The end of last week I got notified via my postman that someone had tried to send me something but there was a 30p shortfall on the postage. For out of towners that's about around 45c (US), 60c (AU). As a result Royal Mail expected the recipient (me) to pay the shortage plus an admin fee of £1.00 before they would deliver. Hardly fair but if it's something you really want, kind of (regretfully) acceptable and you can always take it up with the sender later. So imagine my annoyance when I finally received this unsolicited flier/junk mail...
















Seems to me this handling fee is an unfair levy on the poor recipient who has done nothing wrong and basically a licence for Royal Mail to print money. Next time I'll know better and let the post office return to sender.




Oh, I thought I'd post a sneak tease image of my work last night at college. Can you guess what it is yet LOL?

Long Shot

Shane Long scored two for the Royals tonight, away at Norwich, keeping their slim chances of automatic promotion alive. The 0 - 2 win means Reading are three points behind second placed Birmingham, who the Royals face at home on Sunday in the last game of the season. A win would would put Reading on equal points but ahead on goal difference and assuming other matches went in their favour... Nail biting stuff.

Sunday Thought

Why do I get the impression the youths responsible for the decor in the background will soon be put behind something similar to the foreground? LOL

Can you believe, it a few years back the local youths managed burn down the town cricket pavilion one night. Their punishment was to have a custom hut built in it's place they could decorate and no doubt use to get up to no good. Plus they got a shiny new skate park. All paid for by the council (and therefore ultimately the tax payers). The cricket team had to find a new home somewhere else. Hardly seems fair does it?

Fly The Flag!

Isn't it about time the English took pride in our nation and celebrated our national day just like the Irish, Scots and Welsh do with theirs?



For more information, consider reading this*.

Happy St George's Day everyone. Warm beer** all round LOL.



* To the best of my knowledge, this site is not connected to any political organisation or grouping with extreme or racist practices.
** Yes- British 'Bitter' style beer is best served at room temperature, something other nations will never fully understand or appreciate LOL.

Away From Home

Reading gained three valuable points away from home tonight. Puts them back up to fourth.

Derby 0 - 2 Reading

Park Life

Wasn't the weather great today? Spring is definitely here.

Spent a lovely time with Little Lad playing on some nearby swings and slides. He's like a little dynamo, I just don't know where he gets the energy at times. The thing is he expects me to do everything he does, clamber over all the equipment. Can't I just watch and encourage from a respectable distance?









Oh and take a look at this image taken today of the fab shoots on my Fig. Proof if ever it were needed that the growing season is here...




Reading 0 - 0 Barnsley

What Happens At Work

'Nuff said LOL.

"Johnny got a boom boom" courtesy of Imelda May, no financial gain is made from this Blog. No infringement of copyright intended. Honest.

Damn Those Stairs

Back in January I posted this question.

Apparently the answer is still "no" LOL.




















Thank you Miss Minogue for clearing up that little matter.

Let There Be Light...

What better way to spend a Bank Holiday Monday morning than up a ladder.

Yes today Dad wanted help adding a Passive Infra Red sensor to an existing light under his car porch, so he can find his way to the house at night. Only trouble is, he forgot the roof beams and rafters stopping me from feeding cables where I needed them to go in the cramped roof space. Not to mention the lack of access from the main loft. Got covered head to foot in saw dust and assorted dirt. Anyway after a number of hours but not too much swearing, job done LOL.



Look no wires. Clever Ceramix has all nasty cables hidden away!









Elsewhere, the Royals have obviously decided they prefer life stuck in the Championship.

Good Friday: Reading 0 - 1 Sheffield United
Easter Monday: Blackpool 2 - 2 Reading

Update:
I'm pleased to report my Italian friend "P" and her family ("R" & "P") didn't get caught up in the bad Earthquake last week, I've just received an email saying all is well.

Easter Day

Don't eat too much chocolate, please take a moment to remember what Easter is really about.

Have a peaceful one everybody.

Good Friday- Chocolate Fun

An oldie but goodie LOL...












For some real chocolate fun, visit Chococo- the little handmade chocolate shop I know in Swanage, Dorset. The best confectionery... in the world*.

*Said in the style of Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson LOL.

It's Official- Wilf Is Back!

Doctor Who's outgoing Executive Producer Russell T Davis has confirmed that the final two special episodes to be shown later this year will feature veteran actor Bernard Cribbins reprising his role as Wilf Mott.















His character first appeared in the 2007 Christmas special Voyage of the Damned and returned as Donna Noble's (Catherine Tate) grandfather throughout series 4 and soon became a fan favourite.

The talented and popluar 80 year old actor also co-starred in the Peter Cushing 1966 Doctor Who film Daleks' Invasion Earth:2150 AD. As well as having an extremely full CV of acting credits, Cribbins also has the distinction of being one of the most popluar story readers on children's series Jackanory.

Nice to see age is no barrier when it comes to top rated British Television.

Tough Times

At the end of last month the company I work for had to let my colleague P go. There just wasn't the work for two of us; since I am full time and he part time, it seemed that was a fore gone conclusion I'm sad to say. Anyway apart from not having someone to work with/share the load etc, it's the odd things you miss. P obviously took his personal items but also "his" wall clock.

It's amazing just how many times I've looked up at a blank wall these past few days! But I now have a cunning plan...


















Yes that's 4.55- so I know when to start shutting down my PC and go home LOL.

Time To Move On

So a third high profile member of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's cabinet has been accused of being less than honest regarding expenses paid over and above their generous salary.



Blackadder's Capt Darling. Not to be confused with Chancellor Alistair Darling, MP LOL.






It doesn't now matter whether these payments were within the rules or not, mud sticks and it is perceived that our politicians are "on the make," when hard working people up and down the country are losing their livelihoods and homes through no fault of their own.

Apparently it is permitted for MP's to claim second home allowances of up to approx £23,000 in the following situations:

• When staying with at a relative or parent's house
  
• Their main home is within 20 miles of Parliament
• They have an apartment provided and paid for by the state

I don't recall many jobs in the private sector that have such generous perks. It's time for the government to clean up it's act, do away with these considerable benefits and then call a prompt general election.

Say It Ain't So...

The combination of one of my favourite TV programmes- motoring show Top Gear- and one of my all time favourite films- motoring based The Italian Job (1969 original)- seemed just too good to be true. And sadly it was.



Top Gear's 'tame' race driver, known only as Stig.








The TG team had planned to recreate the cliff hanger ending to the Caine classic, in conjunction with the Royal Chemistry Society, in order to solve to problem of how to get the gold safely home. Apparently it cost too much. Read here about what might have been...

Stuck In Third

Coventry 0 - 0 Reading

I wonder sometimes if The Royals are even trying to get back into the Premiership?

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Except for maybe sport, this kind of seems a fair summary to me...

You Are 45% Left Brained, 55% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Easter Special

The next Doctor Who special "Planet of the Dead" will air on BBC 1 at 6.45pm Saturday 11 April.

Read here.

Sofa

Yesterday the great and the good of the G20 nations met in London and agreed to fund an additional £681 bn (US$1.1 trillion) to attempt to turn around the recession. So while most countries have suffered huge job losses, our respective governments have been holding out on us..?

Did they, on the other hand, forget they had this money and found it tucked down the back of some collective sofa?

Or (more likely) will Little Lad and his generation just get saddled with even more debt?