Nearly Done

Another year is about to start, let's make it a good one!

Happy New Year, everyone.

 

Out Out

New Year's Eve lunch out in a traditional English pub. Supporting the economy, and in particular small local pubs. Cheers!

Baby It's Cold Outside

Not just the title of a song, but this morning a reality. That's around 24 degrees Fahrenheit, just so you know.

Cracking Movie, Gromit

This was repeated yesterday afternoon, always worth a second watch.

Rise!

When your Yorkshire Puddings have gone just right! It's all about getting sufficient air into the batter, and ensuring the oil is hot LOL.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Goodness Gracious Me

Prepped and ready for the big day LOL.

Time

It's that time again, every little helps I guess LOL.

Rightside Down

When you find out, after 10 years, something was fitted upside down and is now full of water. Grrr.

Archangel

Take a good look at this lovely 2026 interpretation of an historic coin. This £5 coin features the angel battling the dragon (the Archangel Michael against Satan). Not surprisingly, since its original introduction in the mid 15th century, the angel coin has attracted religious connotations, as well as being seen as a symbol of authority by monarchs. Isn't it fab?

Our NHS?

Found elsewhere on the Interweb.

Sorted

Think that's quite enough Christmas food purchased LOL.

To Boldy Misstep

That's an hour and a half of my life I'll never see again. 

If you're a Trekkie (like me) but you haven't seen this yet, take immediate evasive action. It really is trash and has little to commend it. This is damaging to the franchise. In fact it's quite likely this is so poor, any future Star Trek projects may be placed on indefinite hold.

Budget Day

 "Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them" - Margaret Thatcher, 1976.

It's highly likely today the current Chancellor and her government colleagues will prove Mrs Thatcher 100% right.

Saw Tow

It had to happen eventually: the toe nail that I damaged a few weeks back has finally detached itself. Feels quite sore now.

Two Dollar Poppy

Remembrance day may have been a couple of weeks ago but I'm still chuffed to have received this lovely Aussie $2 coin issued by the RAM. Overseas delivery times can be a bit hit and miss but nevertheless I really appreciate the efforts by Max Stern & Co, who did their level best for me. 

Isn't this coloured coin gorgeous?

Bottom Of The Class

Begin rant. 

Last Sunday evening I put some important documents in the Post, with a Royal Mail First Class stamp on the envelope, going to High Wycombe. Only 45 minutes away. The Postie would have collected it Monday morning, taken it to the sorting office for processing before delivery on Tuesday morning. That's why a First Class stamp is so expensive. Imagine my frustration when it was finally delivered late Thursday afternoon. Not good enough, this caused the recipient a high degree of stress.

Rant over.

Lava

Sometimes I think I could watch this for hours, but then why just think about it LOL?

No Sh--

That's that rather undignified experience over for another two years* LOL.

* Finger's crossed.

First

This morning has seen the first snow of winter, in this corner of the United Kingdom. How exciting! It's not actually cold enough to hang around, but nevertheless...

Classical Bush

In darkest Basingstoke LOL.

Wood

Back to the spiritual home of this...

Feels like my car knows its own way these days LOL.

Veterans

Whilst this Tuesday (11/11) is Armistice Day for Commonwealth countries, and Veterans Day in the US, the Sunday closest is day we usually acknowledge the lives given to protect our freedoms. This year being 80 years from the end of WW2, we have to note there are very few veterans from that conflict we can still thank personally. With hard won freedoms, rights and liberties coming under increasing pressure, it seems that now it is even more important to remember the lives given for us.

His Majesty pays tribute to the brave on behalf of us all.

Plot

Found elsewhere on the Interweb just in time for 5th November, otherwise known as Guy Fawkes Night.

Overdose?

Is it possible to have too much of your favourite yeast extract spreads? I do not think so but in the name of science, I'm prepared to give it a go. One (patriotic) mug of hot Marmite drink and two bagels layered-up with Australia's Vegemite. The only thing missing being a bag of Marmite crisps (chips) and Marmite Cashews.

Yum!

Taxing Times

Morally no politician who benefits from taxpayer funded accommodation should be able to profit because their own property is "spare." All resulting rental income should be passed to the Exchequer (ie a tax rate of 100%).

That's only fair, isn't it?

Final

Could today have seen my last trip to Lane End..?

Answers on a postcard to the usual competition address.

Mister Toad

Made Hole in the Toad (sorry childhood habits are hard to shift!), with Mustard Mash, Veggies. All helped down with a few glasses of (alcoholic) Cider dontchaknow. 

Think I made enough to feed a small army LOL.

Sorry You Were Out

Found elsewhere on the Interweb...

Bucks

Three visits in one week? I might as well live there LOL!

England Expects

...that every man will do his duty.

Boo Boo Too

Think something's gonna drop off LOL.

Boo Boo

Damn that sofa!

Popular Demand

Back LOL.

...And Rest

Taking a break today and back to the madness tomorrow LOL.

Bucks Weather

Fortunately the weather's been very kind for us so far. It would have been very inconvenient, in and outdoors all day in the rain, or worse. 

Sliced

You'd be hard pressed to beat the deliciousness of Malt Loaf, and in particular the brand leader Soreen. When you're on the go and in a hurry, surely this handy little pack is superior to bread pre-cut into equal parts LOL?

It's That Time

Coffee time, you really cannot beat it LOL.

Moving On

... And from Lane End, we've headed into High Wycombe, a town that used to be a hub of British furniture making dontchaknow. Except we're not here for tables and chairs, or indeed the renowned theatre, The Swan, but drinks may be involved at some point...

What To Do On A Tuesday

Sometimes you just can't keep away LOL. Here's an image of a beautiful country church too, worth a visit.

Roadside

One of the things I dislike about modern cars is the lack of a spare tyre, even a so-called Space Saver. 

Obviously without the Spare there's also no need to supply a jack and tools either. Manufacturers often claim this is to improve fuel efficiency but I suspect it is more that they have realised they can save a few quid. Plus they can invoice the customer a small fortune to supply this "Optional Extra" from new.

Instead cars come with liquid tyre repair compound in an aerosol container. This is great if you're really stuck but if you've picked up a nail or screw, using the compound means repair shops are unable to patch what might have been an otherwise perfectly good tyre. This then turns a £25 (AU$50, US$35) repair into a replacement tyre in excess of £100. 

All this is to say, after a recent experience, I've found a supplier of OEM Space Saver tyres, together with scissor jack etc all for the bargain price of £140 (AU$280, US$190). Given my previous runs of poor (tyre) fortune, this will pay for itself in no time. 

Maybe I can rest easy now LOL.

Puffin

Cos he's old enough to buy his old man booze LOL.

Crumble

Just look what has arrived, yum!

In my humble opinion, this Aussie delight is superior to the Cadbury Crunchie.