The Varsity rugby match has traditionally been the start of my Christmas build-up. It used to be the only game of rugger I could temp my old mate Figs to go and see. We would have a belter of an evening and things kicked on from there.
These days the pre-Christmas alcoholically dominated lunches are few and far between so I have to make extra efforts to find and attend them. There have been a couple of Turkey Trot events at the golf club, and we have just returned from the London branch Christmas party weekend which was very enjoyable.
With only a few days to go though, I might be a little bit too sober for the Christmas festivities, of which I am less and less a fan as I enter my twilight years. I am off to Chester tomorrow to continue an IBM Northern tradition of red wine and lunch with Cookie. We have been doing this sort of thing for years and as neither of us could make the bigger do in Manchester last week we are having a cosy twosome in a suitable establishment.
Last night I went to the Liverpool Anglian cathedral where oldest ankle biter, Ava, was in her school choir. They were very good but most of the other choirs were not, and at times it felt we were in a requiem mass rather than a jolly Christmas event. Come on Radio City, buck your ideas up for next year.
Ava was amazed by the cathedral however, and she had every reason to be. It is the largest cathedral in the UK, and the fifth largest in the World. It was completed only as recently as 1979 and took 74 years to complete. Giles Gilbert Scott, a 22 year old, won a competition to design and build the cathedral, and he had to wait until 1942 before he could lay the final stone on the massive tower, which at its highest point is almost 100 yards above the cathedral floor. He sadly died in 1960 and was unable to see his life's work completed. For a choir of seven and eight year olds to bash out a few carols in such a structure must have been an amazing experience, as it was for us to watch Ava and her class mates do so.
I have one problem with the cathedral, and that is caused only by my warped mind. Above the great entrance there is a neon sign in the handwriting of Tracey Emin. It is therefore a prominent work of art. It reads ' I felt you and I knew you loved me'. Strange words to have in a church, given the current trend for tabloid exposes of the clergy!
Tuesday, 19 December 2017
Tuesday, 21 November 2017
Georgia on my mind
In 1996 SWMBO and I were fortunate enough to be volunteers at the Olympic Games in Atlanta USA. Our brief was to help man the Georgia Dome, a multisports venue which, at the time had been purpose built for the Atlanta Games.
We worked some long and hard shifts from 06:00 in the morning to gone midnight some days. venue was split in two and was used for the men and women gymnastics and the men and women basketball events. We were lucky enough to be on duty in both halves of the arena at various times.
We met the world during those two weeks, which nearly became three, as the pre-qualifiers began before the opening ceremony and the finals of the basketball were held in the second official week.
I chatted to the CEO of Delta Airlines who was happy with a bit of man chat while his wife and three daughters became engrossed in the women's gymnastics. SWMBO was vetted for a visit by Bill Clinton, but that never came off which was a pity. Our uniforms were awful, but did get us lifts home in the rain on a couple of occasions.
Today, therefore, marks an end of an era, as the Georgia Dome was detonated and reduced to rubble in the space of very few seconds. It was a 21 storey building and the biggest indoor sporting arena in the World when it was built. There are , no doubt, plans to erect something else in it's place, but a bit of our heritage seems to have disappeared with the building today. Our memorial bricks are still in Centenary Park and some parts of Buckhead remain, like The Five Paces and Mike and Angelo's but progress has no time for sentiment so accept today for what it is and move on! An anniversary tour in 2021 might be a goer though, y'all.
We worked some long and hard shifts from 06:00 in the morning to gone midnight some days. venue was split in two and was used for the men and women gymnastics and the men and women basketball events. We were lucky enough to be on duty in both halves of the arena at various times.
We met the world during those two weeks, which nearly became three, as the pre-qualifiers began before the opening ceremony and the finals of the basketball were held in the second official week.
I chatted to the CEO of Delta Airlines who was happy with a bit of man chat while his wife and three daughters became engrossed in the women's gymnastics. SWMBO was vetted for a visit by Bill Clinton, but that never came off which was a pity. Our uniforms were awful, but did get us lifts home in the rain on a couple of occasions.
Today, therefore, marks an end of an era, as the Georgia Dome was detonated and reduced to rubble in the space of very few seconds. It was a 21 storey building and the biggest indoor sporting arena in the World when it was built. There are , no doubt, plans to erect something else in it's place, but a bit of our heritage seems to have disappeared with the building today. Our memorial bricks are still in Centenary Park and some parts of Buckhead remain, like The Five Paces and Mike and Angelo's but progress has no time for sentiment so accept today for what it is and move on! An anniversary tour in 2021 might be a goer though, y'all.
Thursday, 19 October 2017
Madeira cake
Hey, Wal hope you read this one....
Just back from a golf tour with the Twickenham lads. We do two UK tours followed by an overseas trip and this weekend it was away to Madiera, 8 of us go and that gives us four football matches for the Dom something or other trophy.
Wally and Gino were victorious with Adam snatching the individual in dank and misty conditions on the last day.
The first night was a Sangria sesh with mega pizza and silly drinking games. Somehow I became Original for the evening based on some resemblance to a famous brand of toffee. Others had cricket based nicknames like Freddie and Beefy. The rest of the night is a bit of a blur.
Day one golf was up the top of a mountain. This is not unusually for Madiera as it's volcanic and has limited flat bits. The evening was fancy dress with a nautical theme. I went as a shark and felt a bit underdressed compared with Nelson, Hagar the horrible, Blackbeard and Roger the cabin boy. Seamen Staines also came along.
Day two golf was also up a mountain and was a prelude to cocktail night.
I can remember Majita's, Capeira's, Aperol Spritz and possibly a Jasmine. Campari was defo involved somewhere.
The evening then moved more into my comfort zone with Brandy Alexander and Irish coffee before finishing with Gin and tonic.
I have never drunk G & T and can't quite work out how it is a cocktail.Fines were involved so I just got on with it.
Last day was up the same mountain as day two and was spoilt a bit by low cloud cover, rain and a temperature drop. Still it did not stop the trophies being decided, a bit of scoff being consumed and then an interesting flight home with hurricane Othelia blowing us back quicker than expected.
All in all a great three days but I get home to find SWMBO has disappeared off to Tanzania to see if the rumour are true. Is dental charity work a bridge too far?
Just back from a golf tour with the Twickenham lads. We do two UK tours followed by an overseas trip and this weekend it was away to Madiera, 8 of us go and that gives us four football matches for the Dom something or other trophy.
Wally and Gino were victorious with Adam snatching the individual in dank and misty conditions on the last day.
The first night was a Sangria sesh with mega pizza and silly drinking games. Somehow I became Original for the evening based on some resemblance to a famous brand of toffee. Others had cricket based nicknames like Freddie and Beefy. The rest of the night is a bit of a blur.
Day one golf was up the top of a mountain. This is not unusually for Madiera as it's volcanic and has limited flat bits. The evening was fancy dress with a nautical theme. I went as a shark and felt a bit underdressed compared with Nelson, Hagar the horrible, Blackbeard and Roger the cabin boy. Seamen Staines also came along.
Day two golf was also up a mountain and was a prelude to cocktail night.
I can remember Majita's, Capeira's, Aperol Spritz and possibly a Jasmine. Campari was defo involved somewhere.
The evening then moved more into my comfort zone with Brandy Alexander and Irish coffee before finishing with Gin and tonic.
I have never drunk G & T and can't quite work out how it is a cocktail.Fines were involved so I just got on with it.
Last day was up the same mountain as day two and was spoilt a bit by low cloud cover, rain and a temperature drop. Still it did not stop the trophies being decided, a bit of scoff being consumed and then an interesting flight home with hurricane Othelia blowing us back quicker than expected.
All in all a great three days but I get home to find SWMBO has disappeared off to Tanzania to see if the rumour are true. Is dental charity work a bridge too far?
Monday, 9 October 2017
Party streamers
This has been a strange weekend technologically speaking. For some time now we have had a KODI box, often referred to as 'a dodgy box' connected via the internet to our television in the main living room. It has been used to stream football, rugby and cricket from a variety of sources on the net, and has meant we have not had to subscribe to SKY or BT Sports.
Slowly but surely these organisations have picked away at the sites which host these feeds, closing them down or making the signals encrypted so that people cannot receive them without the correct technology. It's a game of cat and mouse, as people love a challenge and for every roadblock SKY put in front of these illegal streamers, the streamers look for another way to circumvent the restrictions.
KODI boxes themselves, though, are not illegal, so we have just installed a second box in our bedroom, where we are suffering freeview service degradation. The KODI box allows us to watch the mainly ITV based channels which are pixelated in clear view, but has the added benefit of providing on demand services via ITV hub and the BBC iPlayer so we can watch catch-up as well.
We are now, therefore, pretty well full on wired round the house. We can get films from various sources like Netflix and Amazon as well as Genesis and Pheonix via KODI.
So, you ask, how was the weekend strange?
Well using all the resources at my disposal, I identified via LiveonSat.com that Plymouth Argyle v Fleetwood Town was being shown on a Serbian sports channel on Saturday afternoon, live from Home Park, so I watched that. Then a friend of mine who has a son playing second division rugby in Italy sent me a streaming link, www.retebiella.tv, to watch his match live on Sunday afternoon. Beiella won 25-0 and Connor kicked 13 points. Happy days.
It's all out there on the web, and in the dark web too if you know where you are looking, but I am sure SKY have their technicians trying to shut off another loophole as I typ.......bugger they got me!!
Slowly but surely these organisations have picked away at the sites which host these feeds, closing them down or making the signals encrypted so that people cannot receive them without the correct technology. It's a game of cat and mouse, as people love a challenge and for every roadblock SKY put in front of these illegal streamers, the streamers look for another way to circumvent the restrictions.
KODI boxes themselves, though, are not illegal, so we have just installed a second box in our bedroom, where we are suffering freeview service degradation. The KODI box allows us to watch the mainly ITV based channels which are pixelated in clear view, but has the added benefit of providing on demand services via ITV hub and the BBC iPlayer so we can watch catch-up as well.
We are now, therefore, pretty well full on wired round the house. We can get films from various sources like Netflix and Amazon as well as Genesis and Pheonix via KODI.
So, you ask, how was the weekend strange?
Well using all the resources at my disposal, I identified via LiveonSat.com that Plymouth Argyle v Fleetwood Town was being shown on a Serbian sports channel on Saturday afternoon, live from Home Park, so I watched that. Then a friend of mine who has a son playing second division rugby in Italy sent me a streaming link, www.retebiella.tv, to watch his match live on Sunday afternoon. Beiella won 25-0 and Connor kicked 13 points. Happy days.
It's all out there on the web, and in the dark web too if you know where you are looking, but I am sure SKY have their technicians trying to shut off another loophole as I typ.......bugger they got me!!
Sunday, 17 September 2017
Air today gone tomorrow
We have just packed off four lads who have been here for the weekend as our latest Airbnb guests. They were in Liverpool for some sort of Game Of Thrones convention. They were no trouble at all and departed after breakfast. A few more bob deposited into the SWMBO account and hopefully their feedback will be good to allow us to maintain our gold hosting standard.
Our guests seem to be falling into three categories. One, like the lad's , is people visiting Liverpool for an event, festival or concert. Two is people staying with us while they visit relatives who live locally, and thirdly is people working or participating in some sort of sporting event.
Sadly none in the latter category has embraced the midweek golf profile we were targeting when we set the enterprise up, and most of our attendee's are weekenders. Still we get to meet interesting people and enjoy being able to share the home now the kids have vacated the top floor. We had two NASA scientists staying with us last week while they popped over to the Isle of Man for the classic TT events.
Sadly we can't help the people who need rooms in Oxton for New Year but it would probably be easier to cater for than the 20 we are expecting for Christmas Day and the fifty odd for Boxing Day.
Four people for New Year? No problem!!
Our guests seem to be falling into three categories. One, like the lad's , is people visiting Liverpool for an event, festival or concert. Two is people staying with us while they visit relatives who live locally, and thirdly is people working or participating in some sort of sporting event.
Sadly none in the latter category has embraced the midweek golf profile we were targeting when we set the enterprise up, and most of our attendee's are weekenders. Still we get to meet interesting people and enjoy being able to share the home now the kids have vacated the top floor. We had two NASA scientists staying with us last week while they popped over to the Isle of Man for the classic TT events.
Sadly we can't help the people who need rooms in Oxton for New Year but it would probably be easier to cater for than the 20 we are expecting for Christmas Day and the fifty odd for Boxing Day.
Four people for New Year? No problem!!
Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Not funny bone
Lots of golf has been taking up too much time recently, so I instigated a shed clear out project while the marquee was still up after our family barbecue.
I moved everything out of the shed and then stripped off the roof. It was a plywood roof which had rotted beyond repair in about four years.
I have now relaid the floor to wood and used shiplap to redo the roof. The felt is on and it just needs the tar to fill the gaps and a few clout nails to baton down the sides. I was hoping to finish that tomorrow, however, disaster struck today while playing at Chester golf club.
One of my opponents decided to play an unusual shot called a shank which basically travels unintentionally at 90 degrees to the expected direction. On this occasion it travelled about 30 yards at 30mph at three foot off the ground and struck an unsuspecting victim right on the elbow. That victim was me and goodness it hurt. I am hopeful nothing is broken but tonight might be a bit uncomfortable.
The final shed repairs and the restock might have to wait a while, but I will definitely apply a keep, sell, tip philosophy to every item that came out, before it goes back in. Tiger balm anybody?
I moved everything out of the shed and then stripped off the roof. It was a plywood roof which had rotted beyond repair in about four years.
I have now relaid the floor to wood and used shiplap to redo the roof. The felt is on and it just needs the tar to fill the gaps and a few clout nails to baton down the sides. I was hoping to finish that tomorrow, however, disaster struck today while playing at Chester golf club.
One of my opponents decided to play an unusual shot called a shank which basically travels unintentionally at 90 degrees to the expected direction. On this occasion it travelled about 30 yards at 30mph at three foot off the ground and struck an unsuspecting victim right on the elbow. That victim was me and goodness it hurt. I am hopeful nothing is broken but tonight might be a bit uncomfortable.
The final shed repairs and the restock might have to wait a while, but I will definitely apply a keep, sell, tip philosophy to every item that came out, before it goes back in. Tiger balm anybody?
Thursday, 13 July 2017
King of the castle
Day four over and the Czech us out tour comes to an end. Today we were at Karlstejn, an ex European tour venue, and a lovely course. It is high in the hills about an hour from Prague, and really would not have the infrastructure for a major tournament these days.
Cookie and I played another match play for our Virgin Atlantic league, and I had a rare win against him. Back to back birdies at 11 and 12 got my nose in front and a steady back nine saw me through to victory.
The course is built in the grounds of Karlstejn castle built in the 14th century by Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV and it is one of the best examples in the Czech Republic.
Last night was the gala dinner at which prizes were dished out. We came home empty handed but the experience has still been worthwhile. As far as a festival of golf goes though it was not quite what we expected.
There were tour reps from China and Germany, and a guest of one of the Germans ran a Porsche golf events team. Four Scots had won the trip in a golf magazine competition. One Frenchman owned a hotel with two golf courses in Bordeaux and another typical French raconteur lived in Aix Les Vains. He had a restaurant in Mirrabelle and skied in Japan.
So there were very few paying guests, but we held our own had a good time and would come back. It's a golf tour destination of the future. Now all I need to do is repack my suitcase for EasyJet. Hey ho!!
Cookie and I played another match play for our Virgin Atlantic league, and I had a rare win against him. Back to back birdies at 11 and 12 got my nose in front and a steady back nine saw me through to victory.
The course is built in the grounds of Karlstejn castle built in the 14th century by Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV and it is one of the best examples in the Czech Republic.
Last night was the gala dinner at which prizes were dished out. We came home empty handed but the experience has still been worthwhile. As far as a festival of golf goes though it was not quite what we expected.
There were tour reps from China and Germany, and a guest of one of the Germans ran a Porsche golf events team. Four Scots had won the trip in a golf magazine competition. One Frenchman owned a hotel with two golf courses in Bordeaux and another typical French raconteur lived in Aix Les Vains. He had a restaurant in Mirrabelle and skied in Japan.
So there were very few paying guests, but we held our own had a good time and would come back. It's a golf tour destination of the future. Now all I need to do is repack my suitcase for EasyJet. Hey ho!!
Wednesday, 12 July 2017
Pythonesque
The third and final festival day was at the Albatross course. It is about to host the Czech masters so was set up in a testing way for us. It is a naturally tough course so given that and a third day fatigue factor scores were not expected to be too high. We will find out at the gala dinner later tonight.
Last night was at leisure in Prague so Cookie and I found a Czech restaurant near the Spanish Synagogue and I over ate to the point of uncomfortable. I was warned off the starters but insisted on shredded meat on toast. They would have done as a full meal, so when the goulash arrived I knew I had a battle on my hand to eat it all. The walk home was mandatory to allow a bit of digestion to occur before bed.
I will be more circumspect this evening but have already had a seafood risotto for lunch so I don't think there is any hope for me.
Last golf day tomorrow then home,might have a frozen albatross on a stick later!
Last night was at leisure in Prague so Cookie and I found a Czech restaurant near the Spanish Synagogue and I over ate to the point of uncomfortable. I was warned off the starters but insisted on shredded meat on toast. They would have done as a full meal, so when the goulash arrived I knew I had a battle on my hand to eat it all. The walk home was mandatory to allow a bit of digestion to occur before bed.
I will be more circumspect this evening but have already had a seafood risotto for lunch so I don't think there is any hope for me.
Last golf day tomorrow then home,might have a frozen albatross on a stick later!
Tuesday, 11 July 2017
Out on the Konopiste
Day two of the Czech golf festival saw us travel a little further to the Konopiste resort and spa. The facilities have two 18 hole courses, a nine holer and practise ground. The practise ground doubles as a ski slow during the Winter and has a lift to the top. There is a hotel and spa and additional dormey house accommodation for golfers.
Our welcome at the course was not as enthusiastic as that which we got yesterday. It is often a characteristic of golf hotels that they almost find golfers an unavoidable nuisance. Today seemed back that up.
Early on the course seemed a bit tired and tatty but it's conditional improved greatly after about three holes. The only other downside was the back nine which seemed have four holes of a similar design which have a certain tedium to them.
Cookie and I stormed back from 4 down against two dour Scotsmen and after pulling back to all square on the 17th we gained an honourable half on the last. In the Virgin Swingers league though Cookie beat me 2 & 1.
Last night we had our tour of Prague followed by typical Czech cuisine which was very enjoyable. We had a coach to the castle and then walked down to the Charles bridge and old town in the company of an English speaking guide. It showed us some fascinating architecture, buildings many centuries old standing beside those a few hundred years old, and those in between.
Prague has never been under siege or subjected to land or air bombardments which has allowed it to evolve in the way it has. The only sadness lies in the Jewish quarter where many beautiful synagogues stand as a monument to the atrocities of the Second World War. The Germans cleansed the City of the Jewish population and the Jews have never returned.
So to tomorrow which sees us battle for the Czech trophy. Must keep the ball the fairway and out of the water hazards otherwise Cookie will beat me again.
Our welcome at the course was not as enthusiastic as that which we got yesterday. It is often a characteristic of golf hotels that they almost find golfers an unavoidable nuisance. Today seemed back that up.
Early on the course seemed a bit tired and tatty but it's conditional improved greatly after about three holes. The only other downside was the back nine which seemed have four holes of a similar design which have a certain tedium to them.
Cookie and I stormed back from 4 down against two dour Scotsmen and after pulling back to all square on the 17th we gained an honourable half on the last. In the Virgin Swingers league though Cookie beat me 2 & 1.
Last night we had our tour of Prague followed by typical Czech cuisine which was very enjoyable. We had a coach to the castle and then walked down to the Charles bridge and old town in the company of an English speaking guide. It showed us some fascinating architecture, buildings many centuries old standing beside those a few hundred years old, and those in between.
Prague has never been under siege or subjected to land or air bombardments which has allowed it to evolve in the way it has. The only sadness lies in the Jewish quarter where many beautiful synagogues stand as a monument to the atrocities of the Second World War. The Germans cleansed the City of the Jewish population and the Jews have never returned.
So to tomorrow which sees us battle for the Czech trophy. Must keep the ball the fairway and out of the water hazards otherwise Cookie will beat me again.
Monday, 10 July 2017
Czech us out
Myself and good mate Cookie are in Prague at the moment checking out the city and its surrounding golf courses. We flew in last night and avoided all the hen and stag parties going back the other way.
Today was the first round at the Loreta course about 35 minutes from the centre. It's a new layout from 2013 but was the ideal start for our tour. We played it as a warm-up round and hit some dreadful and hit a few birdies so all in all a good start.
Neither of us have been to Prague before and first impression was how clean a city it was. We have a two hour sightseeing tour this evening so that will give us a chance to see the old town, the Charles bridge and so on.
There are 21 of us on the tour and many are travel agents or tour operators seeing whether Prague golf could fill a place in the European holiday destination portfolio. Initial indications are that it could. Let's see what tomorrow brings.
Today was the first round at the Loreta course about 35 minutes from the centre. It's a new layout from 2013 but was the ideal start for our tour. We played it as a warm-up round and hit some dreadful and hit a few birdies so all in all a good start.
Neither of us have been to Prague before and first impression was how clean a city it was. We have a two hour sightseeing tour this evening so that will give us a chance to see the old town, the Charles bridge and so on.
There are 21 of us on the tour and many are travel agents or tour operators seeing whether Prague golf could fill a place in the European holiday destination portfolio. Initial indications are that it could. Let's see what tomorrow brings.
Tuesday, 27 June 2017
Six Pack
As June comes to an end its time to do some catching up. After a bit if golf with the Virgin Airways golf society at Wallasey, I was able to focus once more on the trip ahead to Striding Edge and Helvellyn.
As a side, however, the Virgin golf team are called the Swingers, an interesting name choice and one which Sir Richard must have the odd chuckle about. If they knew what went on in the sand dunes near the Wallasey course, they would see even more irony in the name.
I digress, so in early June we set off to Camp Dick II, again hosted in Bampton by Seamus and Kate. They was a fair old gathering, although a few less than the assemble at Camp Dick, the original. Yep, this blog has been going over ten years...phew.
Dicks lads all have WaGs in tow now, and people had again travelled from near and far. The main topic of conversation though was the weather!!
We stayed at a B & B in the village, the host of which was the official Winter weather man and climbed Helvellyn every day to do a weather report. It was pretty clear on the Saturday morning then that there was no way that walk was going to happen. It was a huge disappointment as we had been training quite extensively for it. Safety has to come first though, so a brisk few mile hike to Shap Abbey was considered the alternative. It was good fun and built up an appetite for pie and peas, ploughmans lunch and large pots of stew. It was all washed down with three barrels of local craft beer and we all slept well on the back of it!!
As a side, however, the Virgin golf team are called the Swingers, an interesting name choice and one which Sir Richard must have the odd chuckle about. If they knew what went on in the sand dunes near the Wallasey course, they would see even more irony in the name.
I digress, so in early June we set off to Camp Dick II, again hosted in Bampton by Seamus and Kate. They was a fair old gathering, although a few less than the assemble at Camp Dick, the original. Yep, this blog has been going over ten years...phew.
Dicks lads all have WaGs in tow now, and people had again travelled from near and far. The main topic of conversation though was the weather!!
We stayed at a B & B in the village, the host of which was the official Winter weather man and climbed Helvellyn every day to do a weather report. It was pretty clear on the Saturday morning then that there was no way that walk was going to happen. It was a huge disappointment as we had been training quite extensively for it. Safety has to come first though, so a brisk few mile hike to Shap Abbey was considered the alternative. It was good fun and built up an appetite for pie and peas, ploughmans lunch and large pots of stew. It was all washed down with three barrels of local craft beer and we all slept well on the back of it!!
The next exciting weekend was that just past, which started off with An Old England XI v Oxton CC in a T20 game. Mark Ramprakash was the big name but Devon Malcolm, Dominic Cork and Simon Jones were also in the team.
That evening the London branch of the family arrived for Ava's first holy communion the next morning. Lions rugby had to be sacrificed as we were on duty in the church for 09:45. It was then all back to Emma's house for bouncy castle, mega blow up slide, bbq and more beer. I am not sure how London Pride got on the menu but who was I to complain.
It also gave us a rare photo opportunity as we had one with the ankle biters en masse!
July starts off with cousin Mike and his wife Val coming up North for Chester races. It will be my fourth day at the course and I have yet to win any money. Lets hope the weather and the luck changes on Saturday.
Thursday, 25 May 2017
Sicilian defense
What a sad tragic start to the week. SWMBO and I had enjoyed a pleasant weekend with mutual friends and did not learn of the bomb blast until waking up on Tuesday morning. Our kids have been to the concert hall many times, we went ourselves to see Paul Simon and Sting.
The bombers are herristic in the way smart chess computers are. They learn what works and what doesn't and modify their moves accordingly. Security which is tight bars them from the stadia and arena's so wait outside and let your targets come to you.
Cowardly and evil people,however, are limited in their modification ability. After attacking several countries in an effort to strike fear and nervousness, which in turn they hope will provide a basis for their deranged religious beliefs, they are failing to realise that it will do nothing of the sort.
Each evil act simply strengthens the resolve of the opposition and provides greater resilience and fortitude against which they will subsequently need to battle. The end game approaches faster with each failed attempt at provocation.
The bombers are pawns in hands of their bigger players but eventually bishops, knights, kings and queens will triumph. Checkmate.
The bombers are herristic in the way smart chess computers are. They learn what works and what doesn't and modify their moves accordingly. Security which is tight bars them from the stadia and arena's so wait outside and let your targets come to you.
Cowardly and evil people,however, are limited in their modification ability. After attacking several countries in an effort to strike fear and nervousness, which in turn they hope will provide a basis for their deranged religious beliefs, they are failing to realise that it will do nothing of the sort.
Each evil act simply strengthens the resolve of the opposition and provides greater resilience and fortitude against which they will subsequently need to battle. The end game approaches faster with each failed attempt at provocation.
The bombers are pawns in hands of their bigger players but eventually bishops, knights, kings and queens will triumph. Checkmate.
Saturday, 6 May 2017
Danny John-Jules
Beach day today following a very large evening meal at a beachside restaurant called Champers, last night. Three courses was just being too greedy. It felt like being on a cruise ship. The place was lovely though, a bit like The Cliff on the West coast but a bit more relaxed.
Today we have been out snorkelling with the Hawksbill turtles who turn up near the beach to feed off the sardine entrails the local beach fishermen throw back. The turtles don't let you get too close but the are very relaxed creatures nonetheless.
We have a mega Sunday lunch booked tomorrow so it will be frugal fayre tonight or the taxi will need to be re-enforced to get us home!!
Today we have been out snorkelling with the Hawksbill turtles who turn up near the beach to feed off the sardine entrails the local beach fishermen throw back. The turtles don't let you get too close but the are very relaxed creatures nonetheless.
We have a mega Sunday lunch booked tomorrow so it will be frugal fayre tonight or the taxi will need to be re-enforced to get us home!!
Friday, 5 May 2017
Sting
The last two days have been car hire and tour the island days. Things did not start too well as we were wiped out by a reggae bus less than half a mile from the hotel. Police arrived and will decide who was at fault if the insurers can't. At home I would have been blameless, but here, who knows? Interestingly the insurance company send a man to the crash scene. That would be novel at home!
Anyway, after kicking the wing back in place we set off round the South of the island. Maps are a waste of time here so our tour took a long time and we visited some places three times before doing some remote beaches, Gun Hill and Bethesda, a great surfing beach. It was here we ran into policeman 2. He was serving behind the bar at a beach restaurant before driving his mum home!! If the writers of Death in Paradise were looking for somebody to base Dwain on, we just found him!!
Yesterday was calmer. We only got lost once. We visited an old plantation house, St Nicholas Abbey, where they have the last working rum distillery, and then the North point of the island for amazing cliffs and crashing waves.
Came back via the posh part of the island on the West coast. The contrast is amazingly stark. Car now handed back and beach chilling re-instated.
Anyway, after kicking the wing back in place we set off round the South of the island. Maps are a waste of time here so our tour took a long time and we visited some places three times before doing some remote beaches, Gun Hill and Bethesda, a great surfing beach. It was here we ran into policeman 2. He was serving behind the bar at a beach restaurant before driving his mum home!! If the writers of Death in Paradise were looking for somebody to base Dwain on, we just found him!!
Yesterday was calmer. We only got lost once. We visited an old plantation house, St Nicholas Abbey, where they have the last working rum distillery, and then the North point of the island for amazing cliffs and crashing waves.
Came back via the posh part of the island on the West coast. The contrast is amazingly stark. Car now handed back and beach chilling re-instated.
Monday, 1 May 2017
Andrea Corr
Phew that's finished. A long four days ended yesterday at Sandy Lane and I came 61st overall out of 140 medal competitors. I beat Gordon Greenidge and Brian Lara but not Otis Gibson or Wayne Baptiste
One of our fourball hit a gross 80 yesterday which was very impressive.
Sandy Lane as a golf course layout was a bit disappointing. It was wide open off the tee and only protected by lightening fast greens. I was undone by the par 3 holes on the front nine, dropping 8 shots to par. That said the rest of the round was pretty solid.
The course has hosted a World Golf Championship event and is the second such I've played after the Victoria course in Portugal. It is the second course at Sandy Lane. The main one, the Green Monkey, is for hotel guests only and is still $4000 a tee time. There was nobody on it yesterday!!
The hotel is owned by J P McManus, John Magnier and Dermott Desmond, part of the hugely wealthy Irish racing community, Tiger Woods married there and Simon Cowell and Rihanna, amongst others, have homes on the estate.
One of our fourball hit a gross 80 yesterday which was very impressive.
Sandy Lane as a golf course layout was a bit disappointing. It was wide open off the tee and only protected by lightening fast greens. I was undone by the par 3 holes on the front nine, dropping 8 shots to par. That said the rest of the round was pretty solid.
The course has hosted a World Golf Championship event and is the second such I've played after the Victoria course in Portugal. It is the second course at Sandy Lane. The main one, the Green Monkey, is for hotel guests only and is still $4000 a tee time. There was nobody on it yesterday!!
The hotel is owned by J P McManus, John Magnier and Dermott Desmond, part of the hugely wealthy Irish racing community, Tiger Woods married there and Simon Cowell and Rihanna, amongst others, have homes on the estate.
Saturday, 29 April 2017
Gordon Greenidge
He used to be half of the great West Indies opening pair with Desmond Haynes I saw them bat together many times at Lords, and, more recently in Oxton when they batted together for Lashings, an invitation celebrity side.
Today he is playing with me in The Sir Gary Sobers golf festival. Desmond was due to play too, but along with Dwight York, he has scratched. I had a much better day today. A 7am start meant the heat was less oppressive than yesterday. Two lads from Queens in New York and one from Hertfordshire meant we had a bit of cross pond banter, and the golf responded accordingly.
Apes Hill is the new kid on the block and has aspirations to rival Royal Westmoreland. Its holes though were a bit samey off the tee, but the greens were tricky targets. 12,13 and 14 were the standout holes with the obligatory par theee over a lake, the pick of the front nine. I still had my three poor holes but managed to make a few more pars today to move up to eleventh, very much mid table.
A good round at Sandy Lane tomorrow and I could squeeze into the top six. Managed to keep my lunch away from the monkey's today.
Apes Hill is the centre of the island polo activity and the Williams family who own it, are good friends with Prince Charles and the boys. Chukka anyone?
Today he is playing with me in The Sir Gary Sobers golf festival. Desmond was due to play too, but along with Dwight York, he has scratched. I had a much better day today. A 7am start meant the heat was less oppressive than yesterday. Two lads from Queens in New York and one from Hertfordshire meant we had a bit of cross pond banter, and the golf responded accordingly.
Apes Hill is the new kid on the block and has aspirations to rival Royal Westmoreland. Its holes though were a bit samey off the tee, but the greens were tricky targets. 12,13 and 14 were the standout holes with the obligatory par theee over a lake, the pick of the front nine. I still had my three poor holes but managed to make a few more pars today to move up to eleventh, very much mid table.
A good round at Sandy Lane tomorrow and I could squeeze into the top six. Managed to keep my lunch away from the monkey's today.
Apes Hill is the centre of the island polo activity and the Williams family who own it, are good friends with Prince Charles and the boys. Chukka anyone?
Friday, 28 April 2017
Brian Lara
The great man is in this golf Tournament with me and seems to have the same challenges as we go into day 3. I had hoped to do four rounds gross 90 or better, but so far only one of our division has managed to be 90 or less for the two rounds we have played.
Royal Westmoreland is a class track in so much better condition than yesterday, although I found the greens slower. I had another frustrating day with 14 ok holes and four nightmares. I played with three Trinidadians who were pretty slow and their whispers carried a fair way. One of them played well so standing at 15th out of 20, I am going to need two good rounds to break into the top ten.
Monkey's took our apples today but I had wised up and hid mine in the ice box. Apes Hill tomorrow so they will probably take the whole buggy!!
Today was a public holiday in Barbados so they moved the racing at Garrison Savannah from Saturday, meaning we missed it. I tee off tomorrow at 07:10 so would have been back in time. Instead I can spend the afternoon on the beach with SWMBO. Every cloud!
Royal Westmoreland is a class track in so much better condition than yesterday, although I found the greens slower. I had another frustrating day with 14 ok holes and four nightmares. I played with three Trinidadians who were pretty slow and their whispers carried a fair way. One of them played well so standing at 15th out of 20, I am going to need two good rounds to break into the top ten.
Monkey's took our apples today but I had wised up and hid mine in the ice box. Apes Hill tomorrow so they will probably take the whole buggy!!
Today was a public holiday in Barbados so they moved the racing at Garrison Savannah from Saturday, meaning we missed it. I tee off tomorrow at 07:10 so would have been back in time. Instead I can spend the afternoon on the beach with SWMBO. Every cloud!
Thursday, 27 April 2017
Sir Garfield Sobers
Day two in Barbados passed off fairly quietly. A bit of overnight rain livened things up and the cloud stayed most of the day. A meal and early night were the order before the first round of the Sir Garfield Sobers festival of golf today.
I played the first round at Barbados golf club which is the weaker of the four and few errant shots saw me shoot a net 79 and be firmly in the pack. The course is suffering from the recent drought but is scrappy and routine as a test of golf. You can only play what's in front of you and I did that for 15 of the holes but had three minor disasters. Anyway, on to tomorrow.
I played with a Canadian living in New York who was a bit up himself, a very pleasant accountant from Trinidad and an English chap who lives over here now. One of his sons plays for Stoke City. So mostly pleasant company. Three different partners tomorrow.
The festival is very well organised with a packed lunch on the tenth tee, but as I putted out on the green a chicken robbed my buggy and took my tuna sandwich. We thought the Fox at Wallasey was bad!!!
I played the first round at Barbados golf club which is the weaker of the four and few errant shots saw me shoot a net 79 and be firmly in the pack. The course is suffering from the recent drought but is scrappy and routine as a test of golf. You can only play what's in front of you and I did that for 15 of the holes but had three minor disasters. Anyway, on to tomorrow.
I played with a Canadian living in New York who was a bit up himself, a very pleasant accountant from Trinidad and an English chap who lives over here now. One of his sons plays for Stoke City. So mostly pleasant company. Three different partners tomorrow.
The festival is very well organised with a packed lunch on the tenth tee, but as I putted out on the green a chicken robbed my buggy and took my tuna sandwich. We thought the Fox at Wallasey was bad!!!
Tuesday, 25 April 2017
Grantley Adams
The first day of our Barbados holiday has been interspersed with Apocalypse Now flashbacks.
On the flight over I finished reading Fredrick Forsythe's book, The Kill List. Not his best but a reasonable read. Anyway when, during the finale, the SAS pathfinder team leap from a C-130, they predictably do it to Wagner's Flight of the Valkyries.
Didn't think too much of that until we were at the beach bar last night and a fellow guest had a t-shirt on with the slogan ' I love the smell of napalm in the morning'.
The final thing that made the connection is me lying on the bed with the ceiling fan going round and round and reflecting on the past 24 hours as I write this blog. Very strange.
Anyway we are here, have a good room and been out for supplies. Now its time to hit the beach and get some rays before the serious business starts on Thursday. The hotel is pretty busy, lots of repeat visitors and SWMBO is chilling out. Rock and roll!
On the flight over I finished reading Fredrick Forsythe's book, The Kill List. Not his best but a reasonable read. Anyway when, during the finale, the SAS pathfinder team leap from a C-130, they predictably do it to Wagner's Flight of the Valkyries.
Didn't think too much of that until we were at the beach bar last night and a fellow guest had a t-shirt on with the slogan ' I love the smell of napalm in the morning'.
The final thing that made the connection is me lying on the bed with the ceiling fan going round and round and reflecting on the past 24 hours as I write this blog. Very strange.
Anyway we are here, have a good room and been out for supplies. Now its time to hit the beach and get some rays before the serious business starts on Thursday. The hotel is pretty busy, lots of repeat visitors and SWMBO is chilling out. Rock and roll!
Friday, 3 March 2017
It's all downhill from here
Final day spent climbing up and over another mountain, scenery was spectacular and gave us a good last day view of the forest and valley. Stopped for a Grosi to in a hillside restaurant so that completed the food double I wanted.
Yesterday we went to Innsbrook for a few hours. The highlight in The old town was undoubtedly the magnificent cathedral. We had a wander around the Swarovski crystal shop and exhibition. I had not realised they were Innsbrook based, you can take a bus to the factory and do a tour but we were happy seeing the few special bits on display in the shop.
We were pleased we did not press on with the langlauf lessons when, on Wednesday we saw a lady tumble in front of our bar terrace and break her hip. She was on the dead flat nursery slope, if a a slope can be flat! It was impressive to see the air ambulance fly in but clearly we would rather it had not happened.
So its home tomorrow, the holiday has been good if not necessarily in the way we wanted it to be, but that seems a trend with us and walking. The resort is very quiet with little or no apres ski bars so I think SWMBO was disappointed with that but overall had a good time.
She became very philosophical when she said, try to do all the things on your bucket list before you get too old to do them! Skiing certainly falls into that category, enjoying an Alpine resort does not.
Yesterday we went to Innsbrook for a few hours. The highlight in The old town was undoubtedly the magnificent cathedral. We had a wander around the Swarovski crystal shop and exhibition. I had not realised they were Innsbrook based, you can take a bus to the factory and do a tour but we were happy seeing the few special bits on display in the shop.
We were pleased we did not press on with the langlauf lessons when, on Wednesday we saw a lady tumble in front of our bar terrace and break her hip. She was on the dead flat nursery slope, if a a slope can be flat! It was impressive to see the air ambulance fly in but clearly we would rather it had not happened.
So its home tomorrow, the holiday has been good if not necessarily in the way we wanted it to be, but that seems a trend with us and walking. The resort is very quiet with little or no apres ski bars so I think SWMBO was disappointed with that but overall had a good time.
She became very philosophical when she said, try to do all the things on your bucket list before you get too old to do them! Skiing certainly falls into that category, enjoying an Alpine resort does not.
Wednesday, 1 March 2017
Seefeld and eat it
Second day of our Winter experiences holiday saw us ditch the Langlauf as too risky injury wise, and explore a bit of alpine hill climbing.
So armed with supplies, kit and map we started at base level 3600ft and followed a route expected to take three and a half hours. With no expectation of elevation variations we were lured into a false scene of security as we started off along the lake and down about 600ft into a pine clad valley.
What goes down must come up of course and after about 45 minutes the gradient started to kick in, and two hours later we reached our summit of 4300ft. Quite a view, snowy track down and a beer or three waiting at the end. We finished fifteen minutes ahead of schedule too!
The resort its suffering with lack of snowfall so a day at leisure is planned for tomorrow, Insbrook on Thursday and who knows what Friday will have in store?
So armed with supplies, kit and map we started at base level 3600ft and followed a route expected to take three and a half hours. With no expectation of elevation variations we were lured into a false scene of security as we started off along the lake and down about 600ft into a pine clad valley.
What goes down must come up of course and after about 45 minutes the gradient started to kick in, and two hours later we reached our summit of 4300ft. Quite a view, snowy track down and a beer or three waiting at the end. We finished fifteen minutes ahead of schedule too!
The resort its suffering with lack of snowfall so a day at leisure is planned for tomorrow, Insbrook on Thursday and who knows what Friday will have in store?
Monday, 27 February 2017
You're having a langlauf
SWMBO and I are here in Seefeld as we tick off anothe4r of her bucket list items. It's not so much that she wanted to ski, more the fact that she always wanted to visit an alpine resort.
We chose Seefeld as it is well regarded as a cross country skiing destination so she could have a go at that with minimum risk, right?
Wrong! We used yesterday as a reconnaissance day. We found our ski school, picked up our ski hire equipment and found an apres ski bar. All good sensible stuff. The hotel had a six course gala dinner, we had a few drinks then headed to bed eager for the fun ahead.
There has been little snow in Seefeld for about three weeks but the piste bashers and snow cannons have done their job keeping the runs in good order, so with a glorious blue sky and much anticipation we set out on our new adventure. Chris, the ski guide showed us how to use the cross country equipment stage by stage, then he showed us how to fall properly if need be. This came a bit late in the lesson for me as I had already been down twice but no damage recorded.
SWMBO then decided to fall innocously but got her ski's twisted, a well meaning Austrian tried to untangle her and 'pop' she strained an intercorstal muscle on her sternum. Mega pain and concern followed but she was determined to see the lesson through, not anticipating I would have other ideas. The worst fall you can have cross country skiing is when you lean backwards, you are a gonna. Coccyx damage, a bang to the head or a broken wrist are there just waiting to happen.
So what did I do? Yep, fell backwards at pace, luckily avoiding all the above by landing square on my back, but wiped SWMBO out as I had encouraged her to go ahead so I could keep an eye on her. Oh dear, end of lesson and another holiday trauma to add to her collection!
We did manage the venicular railway up to a mountain top restaurant to take in views and have a bowl of goulash, but whether either of us will be able to walk tomorrow remains to be seen!
We chose Seefeld as it is well regarded as a cross country skiing destination so she could have a go at that with minimum risk, right?
Wrong! We used yesterday as a reconnaissance day. We found our ski school, picked up our ski hire equipment and found an apres ski bar. All good sensible stuff. The hotel had a six course gala dinner, we had a few drinks then headed to bed eager for the fun ahead.
There has been little snow in Seefeld for about three weeks but the piste bashers and snow cannons have done their job keeping the runs in good order, so with a glorious blue sky and much anticipation we set out on our new adventure. Chris, the ski guide showed us how to use the cross country equipment stage by stage, then he showed us how to fall properly if need be. This came a bit late in the lesson for me as I had already been down twice but no damage recorded.
SWMBO then decided to fall innocously but got her ski's twisted, a well meaning Austrian tried to untangle her and 'pop' she strained an intercorstal muscle on her sternum. Mega pain and concern followed but she was determined to see the lesson through, not anticipating I would have other ideas. The worst fall you can have cross country skiing is when you lean backwards, you are a gonna. Coccyx damage, a bang to the head or a broken wrist are there just waiting to happen.
So what did I do? Yep, fell backwards at pace, luckily avoiding all the above by landing square on my back, but wiped SWMBO out as I had encouraged her to go ahead so I could keep an eye on her. Oh dear, end of lesson and another holiday trauma to add to her collection!
We did manage the venicular railway up to a mountain top restaurant to take in views and have a bowl of goulash, but whether either of us will be able to walk tomorrow remains to be seen!
Thursday, 23 February 2017
Biffa bear
There is an overwhelming case for sympathising with Juhel Miah, a Welsh maths teacher, who was refused boarding on an America bound flight from Iceland this week. It was particularly difficult as he was accompanying a group of school children who were allowed to fly and were clearly distressed that their teacher was left behind.
The story was featured on national television and showed him working out the value of x in a algebraic equation on a whiteboard at his school. He rightly included the verification process to ensure you got the right result.
It is such a pity when he wrote 'substitute' on the board, that he spelt it wrong! Clearly whiteboards do not benefit from spell checker!!
The whole joy of language seems to be degrading by the day. Lazy usage, abbreviations and American influences are all so sad to see and hear , but when our teachers can't spell, and address classes as 'guys' there really does not seem to be much hope going forward.
I am just off to prestidigitate and hope it all vanishes!
The story was featured on national television and showed him working out the value of x in a algebraic equation on a whiteboard at his school. He rightly included the verification process to ensure you got the right result.
It is such a pity when he wrote 'substitute' on the board, that he spelt it wrong! Clearly whiteboards do not benefit from spell checker!!
The whole joy of language seems to be degrading by the day. Lazy usage, abbreviations and American influences are all so sad to see and hear , but when our teachers can't spell, and address classes as 'guys' there really does not seem to be much hope going forward.
I am just off to prestidigitate and hope it all vanishes!
Thursday, 16 February 2017
You are number 2....
The final day started with a hearty breakfast, which was of equally good quality as all the food we had enjoyed in the hotel. Unfortunately it let itself down with the accomodation. If I were a Trip advisor junkie I would have to say the Tanronnen Inn had cold bedrooms, the bath was too narrow for normal sized people and the shower was next to useless. The bed was a small double and Wi-Fi was intermittent. So public areas and service 5 star, accommodation 3 star at best.
Anyway, onto day three. The plan was to drive to Barmouth and do the Cader Idris walk which took in the Victorian gardens and Garb, often referred to as the Barmouth Slabs. The weather was a bit misty and the bodies a bit weary, so that was parked for another day. We decided instead to stroll along the beach, have an ice cream and play tourist.
I had always been keen to visit Barmouth having heard stories of its role as an industrial tourist venue. During the traditional Summer factory shutdowns, thousands of workers from Yorkshire and Lancashire took the train to Barmouth. It is also the closest seaside resort to the West Midlands from where workers would load their charabanc's and make off for their annual break. The North Wales coastal resorts of Prestatyn, Llandudno, Rhyl and Portmadog benefited in the same way.
Barmouth, however, has stood the test of time. It's high street is still tidy, its hotels and guest houses are well presented and there are bars cafe's and bistro's which could grace Brighton or Bournemouth. There were a fair few Midland accents around too, so the links of old are still preserved by all accounts.
We drove back via Lake Bala, utilised by Thomas Telford in his construction,almost, of the Ellesmere Canal which he had planned to link the river Mersey with the Severn at Shrewsbury. It did not quite work but he did leave the Llangollen viaduct as a local legacy.
SWMBO did not fancy a walk over that so it was 'home James' with a wave to Moel Famau as we drove through Loggerheads, where this mad plan started. Next week is another adventure altogether.
Anyway, onto day three. The plan was to drive to Barmouth and do the Cader Idris walk which took in the Victorian gardens and Garb, often referred to as the Barmouth Slabs. The weather was a bit misty and the bodies a bit weary, so that was parked for another day. We decided instead to stroll along the beach, have an ice cream and play tourist.
I had always been keen to visit Barmouth having heard stories of its role as an industrial tourist venue. During the traditional Summer factory shutdowns, thousands of workers from Yorkshire and Lancashire took the train to Barmouth. It is also the closest seaside resort to the West Midlands from where workers would load their charabanc's and make off for their annual break. The North Wales coastal resorts of Prestatyn, Llandudno, Rhyl and Portmadog benefited in the same way.
Barmouth, however, has stood the test of time. It's high street is still tidy, its hotels and guest houses are well presented and there are bars cafe's and bistro's which could grace Brighton or Bournemouth. There were a fair few Midland accents around too, so the links of old are still preserved by all accounts.
We drove back via Lake Bala, utilised by Thomas Telford in his construction,almost, of the Ellesmere Canal which he had planned to link the river Mersey with the Severn at Shrewsbury. It did not quite work but he did leave the Llangollen viaduct as a local legacy.
SWMBO did not fancy a walk over that so it was 'home James' with a wave to Moel Famau as we drove through Loggerheads, where this mad plan started. Next week is another adventure altogether.
Tuesday, 14 February 2017
Dog tired
There is a saying in rugby circles that you never beat Wales, you just occasionally score more points than them. I don't even think the population of Snowdonia were even aware there was a game going on. I think they are just born miserable and their mood is never altered by events of the world. Hey ho!
So onto day two of camp Beddgelert, and another change of plan. We were due to do the Fisherman's Path, but the hotel proprietor indicated there had been a few people fall in the river lately and the mountain rescue team needed to get involved. The walk was fairly flat anyway, so we reverted to plan B.
This involves a gentle walk along the river to Bethania and a climb from there. We started off on the Watkin Path which would have taken us all the way up to Snowdon, but a more relaxed route allowed us to divert over Bylchau Terfyn and return to base that way.
It was a 1000ft climb on unmade paths so it certainly taxed our knees and thigh muscles.
It took a little over 4 hours and concluded with a visit to Gelert's grave, after which the village is named. Legend had it that Prince Llewellyn returned home one day to find his wife in distress and their baby missing. He then spotted his dog, Gelert with bloodied jowls, assumed the worst and slayed him.
A while later he heard a baby 's cry and found his child alive next to a dead wolf. Gelert was the hero after all, Llewellyn was distraught and buried the dog by a tree in a field. Now I expected a huge mausoleum, but no, it's a lump of rock. Very disappointing.
There is another legend in these parts about the Red Dragon and its symbolism zzzz.
I must remember it's Valentine's night tonight, leeks instead of roses in these parts. Can't see them cheering up the locals mind.
So onto day two of camp Beddgelert, and another change of plan. We were due to do the Fisherman's Path, but the hotel proprietor indicated there had been a few people fall in the river lately and the mountain rescue team needed to get involved. The walk was fairly flat anyway, so we reverted to plan B.
This involves a gentle walk along the river to Bethania and a climb from there. We started off on the Watkin Path which would have taken us all the way up to Snowdon, but a more relaxed route allowed us to divert over Bylchau Terfyn and return to base that way.It was a 1000ft climb on unmade paths so it certainly taxed our knees and thigh muscles.
It took a little over 4 hours and concluded with a visit to Gelert's grave, after which the village is named. Legend had it that Prince Llewellyn returned home one day to find his wife in distress and their baby missing. He then spotted his dog, Gelert with bloodied jowls, assumed the worst and slayed him.
A while later he heard a baby 's cry and found his child alive next to a dead wolf. Gelert was the hero after all, Llewellyn was distraught and buried the dog by a tree in a field. Now I expected a huge mausoleum, but no, it's a lump of rock. Very disappointing.
I must remember it's Valentine's night tonight, leeks instead of roses in these parts. Can't see them cheering up the locals mind.
Monday, 13 February 2017
One down,two to go
Here we are in the foothills of Snowdonia, at the start of Beddgelert boot camp. More hill walking and food and drink as the preparation for upcoming activity holidays continue
Today a 5 mile stroll to Rhyd Ddu and then the Sherpa bus back. It was not quite to plan as we had hoped to take the bus first and then walk back, but in hindsight it worked well as the altitude increase helped the old cardio vascular.
The first part of the walk meandered in and out of the Welsh mountain railway,
We then entered Beddgelert forest and later circumnavigated Llyn-y-Gadair. The sherpa bus is not quite like the reggae bus in Barbados, and it was 15 minutes late. Given there are only three a day lets hope they don't cancel any of them!!
All in all a good start to the camp. Nobody has mentioned the rugby yet but there is still time. Bar meal tonight then prep for tomorrow which is a planned alldayer!!
Today a 5 mile stroll to Rhyd Ddu and then the Sherpa bus back. It was not quite to plan as we had hoped to take the bus first and then walk back, but in hindsight it worked well as the altitude increase helped the old cardio vascular.
The first part of the walk meandered in and out of the Welsh mountain railway,
We then entered Beddgelert forest and later circumnavigated Llyn-y-Gadair. The sherpa bus is not quite like the reggae bus in Barbados, and it was 15 minutes late. Given there are only three a day lets hope they don't cancel any of them!!
All in all a good start to the camp. Nobody has mentioned the rugby yet but there is still time. Bar meal tonight then prep for tomorrow which is a planned alldayer!!
Sunday, 12 February 2017
A Porsche, a Porsche, my kingdom for a Porsche
The Six Nations rugby season is now well under way. The 'S Club' met up in London last week for the first England match v France, we were joined by a couple of Simon's who qualified by name(!) and various sons and friends, making it a very enjoyable first outing.
5pm kick-off's are always tricky, particularly for the spectators, but we were lucky enough to get a table in the White Horse pub in Richmond, just behind the Red Cow. Apparently the Black Dog, Green Dragon and Pink Flamingo were all fully booked.
Pre-match discussion centred on business and Brexit, and neither came out too badly, as two of the crew had, only the day before, independently ordered new Porsche's as their new family runabouts.....I really must get those virtual reality goggles out and see what all the fuss is about. I am not sure a Porsche 911 or Boxster would suit me though as I am quite tall and I am well past the SUV stage. Looks like a Beamer for a few years yet then.
As well as an inconvenience for the crowd, the 5pm kick-off did not seem to appeal to the England team much, and after a very rusty first half they managed to squeeze past a spirited French outfit right at the death. They seemed to adjust better to it yesterday though when they challenged Wales in Cardiff.
It was always going to be a tough day for me. One of my golf chums, George, was making a comeback after falling down the stairs a few weeks ago. George is 83 so its not in his best interests to start free running at his age!! anyway, we got him round 18 holes in one piece, and as it was a team competition we were able to make a good stab at winning. We were 6th in the end, our best result for some time in these things!
I then had Plymouth Argyle v Exeter City, Wales v England and Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspurs to contend with. Argyle did the business 3-0 so that was the most important result of the three. Spurs were blown away by Liverpool, well Mane actually, so that's the title challenge finished for another season, so that left England to continue their quest for a second consecutive grand slam, something never before achieved in the Six Nations era.
Well, it was a proper game of rugger, and one could not have begrudged Wales had they have won, but after getting a battering for the last 20 minutes of the first half, England once more showed their resolve, and not a little skill, to close the game out in the last few minutes. SWMBO and I are off to Snowdonia tomorrow to continue our climbing fitness programme, I might have to turn over a few stones, as I bet I won't be able to find a Welshman when I want one!!
5pm kick-off's are always tricky, particularly for the spectators, but we were lucky enough to get a table in the White Horse pub in Richmond, just behind the Red Cow. Apparently the Black Dog, Green Dragon and Pink Flamingo were all fully booked.
Pre-match discussion centred on business and Brexit, and neither came out too badly, as two of the crew had, only the day before, independently ordered new Porsche's as their new family runabouts.....I really must get those virtual reality goggles out and see what all the fuss is about. I am not sure a Porsche 911 or Boxster would suit me though as I am quite tall and I am well past the SUV stage. Looks like a Beamer for a few years yet then.
As well as an inconvenience for the crowd, the 5pm kick-off did not seem to appeal to the England team much, and after a very rusty first half they managed to squeeze past a spirited French outfit right at the death. They seemed to adjust better to it yesterday though when they challenged Wales in Cardiff.
It was always going to be a tough day for me. One of my golf chums, George, was making a comeback after falling down the stairs a few weeks ago. George is 83 so its not in his best interests to start free running at his age!! anyway, we got him round 18 holes in one piece, and as it was a team competition we were able to make a good stab at winning. We were 6th in the end, our best result for some time in these things!
I then had Plymouth Argyle v Exeter City, Wales v England and Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspurs to contend with. Argyle did the business 3-0 so that was the most important result of the three. Spurs were blown away by Liverpool, well Mane actually, so that's the title challenge finished for another season, so that left England to continue their quest for a second consecutive grand slam, something never before achieved in the Six Nations era.
Well, it was a proper game of rugger, and one could not have begrudged Wales had they have won, but after getting a battering for the last 20 minutes of the first half, England once more showed their resolve, and not a little skill, to close the game out in the last few minutes. SWMBO and I are off to Snowdonia tomorrow to continue our climbing fitness programme, I might have to turn over a few stones, as I bet I won't be able to find a Welshman when I want one!!
Sunday, 22 January 2017
A tale of two saunters
With a major walk planned in June, and a bit of cross country skiing in February, the training programme needed to be upped a notch.
We started off with a pioneering climb up to the top of Moel Famau in North Wales. It's 1800 feet and a fair slog for us. We had about 100 yards visibility when we set off, but only about 50 by the time we got to the top. We stopped at the Jubilee Tour and did not strike out for the trig point. we will save that for another day.
You can see I am at the top as my finger is in shot!!
Today we tried for something a bit different, a bit nearer home and with local history interest. We yomped up to the top of Bidston Hill, on which stands a windmill, and an observatory. Neither are working any more but that was not always the case. The hill is 281 feet high but full of history.
The windmill has been there since 1685, although the current stone building was erected in 1800 when the wooden ne got blown away. It was very productive as it's high position allowed it to utilise every ounce of wind, but cart owner had a real problem getting up to the top of the hill. The mill is now an educational source and opens to the public one day a month.
The Observatory was built in 1866 when Liverpool Observatory had to relocate due to the expansion of Waterloo Docks. The building was made using the stone mined during the creation of the cellars, the deepest of which (36 feet or 10.97 metres) maintains a constant cool temperature. Over the last 140 years the Observatory has undertaken a diversity of tasks, many of ground-breaking importance.
At the turn of 1929, the Observatory and the Tidal Institute were amalgamated and became the leading authority on tidal predictions. Bidston Observatory was deemed of national importance during the Second World War and predicted the tides for the D-Day landings amongst other things. In 1969, the telescopes housed in the observatory, which were previously used to watch planetary bodies in order to calculate the exact time, were donated to Liverpool museum. The exact time was needed for nautical navigation and was transferred to ships in the dock by the firing of the one o’clock gun; the gun was fired for the last time on the 18th of July 1969.
Bidston Hill was also once home to more than 100 flagpoles. Most were
erected between the lighthouse and the windmill but there were a further
8 flagpoles on the other side of the lighthouse which were reserved for
the British Admiralty and Excise Services.
In 1763 the signalling station was built near to the location of the
modern day lighthouse and functioned using the flagpoles as a
complicated early warning system. As merchant ships rounded the Point of
Ayr or sailed past Formby Point the ship would be spotted and identified.
Flag runners were employed to watch for ships and had 11 minutes to
raise the correct company’s flag on the right pole, followed by the
correct cargo flag. This enabled supervisors in the docks to ready their
work force to unload the ship (and it meant the workers would be paid
only for the time they spent working). Each flagpole was 30 ft (9.14 m)
tall and made of Baltic Pine.
So that's the end of the history lesson regarding Bidston Hill. We returned home via Flaybrick cemetery but that's one for another day.
We started off with a pioneering climb up to the top of Moel Famau in North Wales. It's 1800 feet and a fair slog for us. We had about 100 yards visibility when we set off, but only about 50 by the time we got to the top. We stopped at the Jubilee Tour and did not strike out for the trig point. we will save that for another day.
Today we tried for something a bit different, a bit nearer home and with local history interest. We yomped up to the top of Bidston Hill, on which stands a windmill, and an observatory. Neither are working any more but that was not always the case. The hill is 281 feet high but full of history.
The windmill has been there since 1685, although the current stone building was erected in 1800 when the wooden ne got blown away. It was very productive as it's high position allowed it to utilise every ounce of wind, but cart owner had a real problem getting up to the top of the hill. The mill is now an educational source and opens to the public one day a month.
At the turn of 1929, the Observatory and the Tidal Institute were amalgamated and became the leading authority on tidal predictions. Bidston Observatory was deemed of national importance during the Second World War and predicted the tides for the D-Day landings amongst other things. In 1969, the telescopes housed in the observatory, which were previously used to watch planetary bodies in order to calculate the exact time, were donated to Liverpool museum. The exact time was needed for nautical navigation and was transferred to ships in the dock by the firing of the one o’clock gun; the gun was fired for the last time on the 18th of July 1969.
The Observatory was sold last year and the plans are to turn it into artist studios and a craft centre.....we shall see.
There is also a lighthouse visible behind the domes of the observatory, this was used for navigation purposes until 1919, when the channel nearest to Birkenhead became too silted and shipping was moved North to the Crosby channel.
So that's the end of the history lesson regarding Bidston Hill. We returned home via Flaybrick cemetery but that's one for another day.
Monday, 9 January 2017
Park the bus
Yesterday I was at Anfield to watch the mighty Green Army take on Liverpool in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. It was 0-0 so Liverpool are now forced to travel to Plymouth for the replay next week.
I was lucky enough to be in a box in the Centenary Stand with a variety of commercial and professional people, all but one were supporting Liverpool. It is quite interesting how people who are good ( or excellent) at what they do seem to become so one eyed when they enter a football group!
At half time the Liverpool fans and pundit Steve McManaman were complaining that Argyle were not giving it a go, and were, therefore, spoiling the game as a spectacle. Clearly nobody told Argyle the were supposed to attack in a kamikaze manner, allow Liverpool to score five goals and send everybody home happy!
No, this was the equivalent of Argyle's first leg away from home in a major European Cup competition. Imagine they were Red Star Belgrade. Their only objectives were to be still in the game at half-time and ideally take Liverpool back to Home Park next week for the Second Leg. It is one thing for a manager to set out the tactics and strategy, but another altogether for the players to execute, especially when they are 66 positions and three divisions between them.
Argyle and their 'spoiling' tactics were not the problem. The young Liverpool team did not play with any pace or imagination and were almost like a fly trapped in a spiders web.
The two games will be worth almost £1m to Argyle. They have only recently paid off all their remaining debts from their period in administration, they have attracted new money through an additional director and a share/bond redistribution and that has allowed them to purchase their ground and now announce plans for a new grandstand and associated revenue earning facilities on the fourth side of the pitch.
Argyle have one of the last surviving Archibald Leitch main grandstands, and an elegant Art Nouveau entrance to the ground. Plans are said to include both these features in the new stand. That is a noble gesture these days, when so much heritage is demolished in the name of progress.
Things are definitiely looking brighter for Argyle now, they must just ensure they get promoted this season so that the Green Army waggon can keep on rolling.
I was lucky enough to be in a box in the Centenary Stand with a variety of commercial and professional people, all but one were supporting Liverpool. It is quite interesting how people who are good ( or excellent) at what they do seem to become so one eyed when they enter a football group!
At half time the Liverpool fans and pundit Steve McManaman were complaining that Argyle were not giving it a go, and were, therefore, spoiling the game as a spectacle. Clearly nobody told Argyle the were supposed to attack in a kamikaze manner, allow Liverpool to score five goals and send everybody home happy!
No, this was the equivalent of Argyle's first leg away from home in a major European Cup competition. Imagine they were Red Star Belgrade. Their only objectives were to be still in the game at half-time and ideally take Liverpool back to Home Park next week for the Second Leg. It is one thing for a manager to set out the tactics and strategy, but another altogether for the players to execute, especially when they are 66 positions and three divisions between them.
Argyle and their 'spoiling' tactics were not the problem. The young Liverpool team did not play with any pace or imagination and were almost like a fly trapped in a spiders web.
The two games will be worth almost £1m to Argyle. They have only recently paid off all their remaining debts from their period in administration, they have attracted new money through an additional director and a share/bond redistribution and that has allowed them to purchase their ground and now announce plans for a new grandstand and associated revenue earning facilities on the fourth side of the pitch.
Argyle have one of the last surviving Archibald Leitch main grandstands, and an elegant Art Nouveau entrance to the ground. Plans are said to include both these features in the new stand. That is a noble gesture these days, when so much heritage is demolished in the name of progress.
Things are definitiely looking brighter for Argyle now, they must just ensure they get promoted this season so that the Green Army waggon can keep on rolling.
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
Just the ticket
We were fortunate to have a very enjoyable 2016, albeit we lost some dear friends and relatives during its course. We now enter 2017 hoping to experience new and rewarding adventures at home and abroad, while maintaining our health and that of those closest to us.
The first thing I have to look forward to is a trip to Anfield on Sunday to see Plymouth Argyle take on Liverpool, and to see how the Green Army fair against the Kop. Argyle see themselves as a Championship side at minimum, but some of the build-up surrounding the game, and the ticketing in particular has been non-league at best.
I appreciated I did not have first dibs for away end tickets as I am not a season ticket holder, nor a regular attendee. but as a registered member I was able to obtain tickets when they went on general sale on Tuesday. Now, up until Tuesday, the tickets were available via the club website hosted for them by Ticketmaster. As of Tuesday though they were only available to the general public by telephone. Five hours I tried to get through before I managed at least to get in a queue. when I got through there were only restricted view seats left but at £11 each I could not really complain.
Subsequently I have been invited into a box to watch the match, so I will do a bit of Green Army and a bit of corporate as a mix 'n match.
Following on from Anfield we have a stamina building weekend in Snowdonia before our skiing trip later in February, then it's off to Portugal for the El Tel Cup before a couple of weeks warm weather training in Barbados. Slot in a few rugby internationals and that is the first part of the year taken care of. Decorating and gardening might have to be delayed for a few months!!
One sad piece of news emanating from Wallasey Golf Club, however, was the notice informing members that Neville Thompson passed away earlier in the week. Neville was 104 and up until the last couple of years had been a regular figure in the Club at lunchtime.
Neville was the last surviving Wallasey member who can recall watching Bobby Jones play the links in 1930 on his way to qualification for the Open finals at Hoylake. He won there and went on to complete the grand slam of golf in the same year, a feat which remains unique to this day. 104 is a good innings. Golfers always hope to one day shoot a gross score lower than their age, many never do it, some do it with regularity, hopefully Neville was one of the successful ones. Either way he remains a modern day legend in the Club, in the way Bobby Jones was in the world of golf, all those years ago.
The first thing I have to look forward to is a trip to Anfield on Sunday to see Plymouth Argyle take on Liverpool, and to see how the Green Army fair against the Kop. Argyle see themselves as a Championship side at minimum, but some of the build-up surrounding the game, and the ticketing in particular has been non-league at best.
I appreciated I did not have first dibs for away end tickets as I am not a season ticket holder, nor a regular attendee. but as a registered member I was able to obtain tickets when they went on general sale on Tuesday. Now, up until Tuesday, the tickets were available via the club website hosted for them by Ticketmaster. As of Tuesday though they were only available to the general public by telephone. Five hours I tried to get through before I managed at least to get in a queue. when I got through there were only restricted view seats left but at £11 each I could not really complain.
Subsequently I have been invited into a box to watch the match, so I will do a bit of Green Army and a bit of corporate as a mix 'n match.
Following on from Anfield we have a stamina building weekend in Snowdonia before our skiing trip later in February, then it's off to Portugal for the El Tel Cup before a couple of weeks warm weather training in Barbados. Slot in a few rugby internationals and that is the first part of the year taken care of. Decorating and gardening might have to be delayed for a few months!!
One sad piece of news emanating from Wallasey Golf Club, however, was the notice informing members that Neville Thompson passed away earlier in the week. Neville was 104 and up until the last couple of years had been a regular figure in the Club at lunchtime.
Neville was the last surviving Wallasey member who can recall watching Bobby Jones play the links in 1930 on his way to qualification for the Open finals at Hoylake. He won there and went on to complete the grand slam of golf in the same year, a feat which remains unique to this day. 104 is a good innings. Golfers always hope to one day shoot a gross score lower than their age, many never do it, some do it with regularity, hopefully Neville was one of the successful ones. Either way he remains a modern day legend in the Club, in the way Bobby Jones was in the world of golf, all those years ago.
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