The Portugese economy seems to be the next one to require an EU bail-out. It would appear that they are unable to produce enough product to be able to service their debt, rather than be suffering any major banking crisis. Consequently twenty of us decided to pop over for a bit of golf and see if that helped them out!!
It was the 20th year of the Algarve Cup, and one member of the party, 'Yorkshire', had attended all of them. I was a mere novice with thirteen years behind me, however, I was unable to attend last year due to family commitments, and have also served a one year ban after receiving a red card, sometime in the past.
So with twenty participants being an apt number to have on tour, we had to think up villa themes and thought the terrible twenties would be as good as any. Consequently I was a member of the Charles Lindberg villa and others included the Flappers, the Louis Armstrongs, the Charlie Chaplins and the Al Capones.
We also had some additional tour guests this year and so we had to provide nicknames for them. Its a tradition in the City where most of the boys work, to have a nickname, as it is in the fire service, in which none of them work!!
Now the footballer mentality of adding ie on the end of a name gave us our first . One of the chaps had a surname of Tait and was called Taitie by his friends when he arrived. We soon changed that to call him Neeps. There was a father and son combination with surname of Simpson so they quickly became Bart and Homer. Bit of a no brainer really.
Mark Hurley became Liz, and John Kendall became Mintie. One of the group was fairly nondescript, and a name was proving difficult until he shot 17 points one day in the stableford. Now as 17 is the Boots own range cosmetics, he became bootsie, and unless he reads this blog he will still be wondering why!
Our final newcomer looked just like Dobby the house elf from Harry Potter so he was tasked with collecting the fines on the final night, using a sock as a collection vehicle. Quite good I thought!
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Candy Cabs
We had some friends staying at the weekend, and that gives us a chance to do a few things which are out of our regular routine. So on Saturday we went to walk the wall around Chester.
Chester is the only completely walled City remaining in Britain and one marvels at the planning which went into making the spans wide enough to take a four lane duel carriage way, and install zebra crossings at strategic spots on the walk!!
We saw the Mott and bailey castle, the cock fighting pit and amphitheatre, the edge of the harbour wall which is now embedded in the bank of the race course, several miles inland, and the tower from which King Charles stood and watched his army defeated in the battle of Rowton Moor.
The fact you can't see Rowton Moor from the tower is, of course, irrelevant.
We managed to stop for an ice-cream half way round by the river, and finished with a pie and pint near the cathedral. All a jolly good wease
Sunday we went to West Kirby which has been featured in the BBC programme 'Candy Cabs'. We wandered around the marina, where from the shore it looks like people are walking on water. We also stopped for a while to watch the annual Wirral egg chase. This involves hundreds of bikers and scooter riders burning it up around the coast all to raise funds for Claire House Hospice. The way the bikers has decked out their trusty steads was a joy to behold. Jolly well done to all of them
Chester is the only completely walled City remaining in Britain and one marvels at the planning which went into making the spans wide enough to take a four lane duel carriage way, and install zebra crossings at strategic spots on the walk!!
We saw the Mott and bailey castle, the cock fighting pit and amphitheatre, the edge of the harbour wall which is now embedded in the bank of the race course, several miles inland, and the tower from which King Charles stood and watched his army defeated in the battle of Rowton Moor.
The fact you can't see Rowton Moor from the tower is, of course, irrelevant.
We managed to stop for an ice-cream half way round by the river, and finished with a pie and pint near the cathedral. All a jolly good wease
Sunday we went to West Kirby which has been featured in the BBC programme 'Candy Cabs'. We wandered around the marina, where from the shore it looks like people are walking on water. We also stopped for a while to watch the annual Wirral egg chase. This involves hundreds of bikers and scooter riders burning it up around the coast all to raise funds for Claire House Hospice. The way the bikers has decked out their trusty steads was a joy to behold. Jolly well done to all of them
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Live and let die....
Liz Taylor passed away a few days ago, and so brought to a close the latest chapter of the rugby club death list. This session had run for six months and provided a tidy sum for Julie, the winner. It was less than the several thousand won when John Forsythe popped his clogs a few sessions ago, but at least the Duchess of Death, Kerrie was not the winner. Kerrie has won more times than anybody, so woe betide any celeb she picks in future.
One of the picks last time was Jim Branning out of East Enders, somebody I know personally from our time together at Wyke Green golf club. It would have been strange to have to tell him that he had been selected in the list although I guess he knows he is a prime candidate.
Some wag at the rugby club did say we should have a death list comprising members of the club. That is taking the list to a place which I suspect nobody wants to go, particularly if you are one of the more mature members, or a life member, as that category of member seems to pop off soon after being nominated.There are loads of
death pool web sites out there and it is amazing how many celebs do keep leaving us.....here's to President Mugabe, my choice at the moment, riddled with cancer and sure to stop a bullet sometime. That said, Zaa Zaa Gabor is not too bright, Ronnie Biggs must be hanging by a thread and who's to say one of the Douglas family will oblige? Carpe Diem.Thursday, 10 March 2011
Groupon, Groupon, Groupon
We spent the weekend in the North pennines, near Alston. Alston is reputed to be the highest market down in the Country and in keeping with such towns it had 8 or nine pubs and a fair splattering of idiots.
It used to be a mining town when the locals were involved in excavating lead. Today the lead mines are all closed. The lead is still there but now too deep to extract for any commercial gain.
These mining areas do seem to have the knack of rejuvenating though, and currently a Canadian outfit is boring for other mineral deposits.
The locals also had the opportunity to place a wind farm in the area, but rejected it. The benefit of free electricity for the community was outweighed by the weekend residents wanting to preserve their scenic views, and why not?
We were staying as part of a Groupon offer....buy a room for £60 instead of £200, then spend shed loads of money in our bar and restaurant. It was a good weekend so I declined to complain about the poor quality shower, low temperature hot water and lack of taxi's, that's my townie mentality coming out.
We took the opportunity of visiting Hadrians wall while we were so close to it. It qualifies as our Unesco World heritage site of 2011. We had a bit of a roll in 2010, visiting the Maritime Mercantile City in Liverpool (handy that), the historic centre of Rome and Saltaire in Yorkshire. 2009 saw us in, the old town in Edinburgh, Machu Picchu and Cusco. where to in 2012?
It used to be a mining town when the locals were involved in excavating lead. Today the lead mines are all closed. The lead is still there but now too deep to extract for any commercial gain.
These mining areas do seem to have the knack of rejuvenating though, and currently a Canadian outfit is boring for other mineral deposits.
The locals also had the opportunity to place a wind farm in the area, but rejected it. The benefit of free electricity for the community was outweighed by the weekend residents wanting to preserve their scenic views, and why not?
We were staying as part of a Groupon offer....buy a room for £60 instead of £200, then spend shed loads of money in our bar and restaurant. It was a good weekend so I declined to complain about the poor quality shower, low temperature hot water and lack of taxi's, that's my townie mentality coming out.
We took the opportunity of visiting Hadrians wall while we were so close to it. It qualifies as our Unesco World heritage site of 2011. We had a bit of a roll in 2010, visiting the Maritime Mercantile City in Liverpool (handy that), the historic centre of Rome and Saltaire in Yorkshire. 2009 saw us in, the old town in Edinburgh, Machu Picchu and Cusco. where to in 2012?
Friday, 18 February 2011
Don't break the seal
The Six Nations rugby came to Twickenham at the weekend, and, as usual we were there!
It was a very strange day though. The stadium was full with 83,000 souls being there, and yet the surrounding streets, pubs and restaurants were remarkably quiet. This may have been due to people cutting back on their hospitality expenses, or, more likely, an increase in family groups and couples attending the game.
Italy always seem to be the least popular game for the die hard supporters to attend, and tickets are often placed with Ticketmaster to gain access to the non-rugby club portion of the public.
Now this different demographic generated a problem which Twickenham Stadium was not geared up to cater for, namely, insufficient ladies toilets. Now long queues at ladies toilets are commonplace at many sporting arenas, but Twickenham has been able to cope pretty well in the past. Not this week though.
The increase in lady spectators is one reason for the extra queues, but the other is the increase in the number of ladies who are now drinking pints. Whatever happened to Babycham or Cherry B as the lady ruggers tipple of choice.
It was a very strange day though. The stadium was full with 83,000 souls being there, and yet the surrounding streets, pubs and restaurants were remarkably quiet. This may have been due to people cutting back on their hospitality expenses, or, more likely, an increase in family groups and couples attending the game.
Italy always seem to be the least popular game for the die hard supporters to attend, and tickets are often placed with Ticketmaster to gain access to the non-rugby club portion of the public.
Now this different demographic generated a problem which Twickenham Stadium was not geared up to cater for, namely, insufficient ladies toilets. Now long queues at ladies toilets are commonplace at many sporting arenas, but Twickenham has been able to cope pretty well in the past. Not this week though.
The increase in lady spectators is one reason for the extra queues, but the other is the increase in the number of ladies who are now drinking pints. Whatever happened to Babycham or Cherry B as the lady ruggers tipple of choice.
Saturday, 29 January 2011
You've been Tango'd
I really think this blog should be read in the style of David Attenborough.
We were in the Merseyside suburb of Birkenhead last night witnessing an annual ritual performed by the species Homo Sapiens. They were frequenting the local watering holes in numbers rarely seen at other times of the year as they prepared for their mating dance later in the evening.
The explanation for this increase in activity can be attributed to the fact that the last Friday in January is the first pay day since Christmas and the New Year, and consequently the frustrations and stifled emotions of Homo Sapiens can be released. It is a rare sight, and one we were privileged to witness so unexpectedly
To prepare themselves for this particular activity, the female of the species has her own particular ritual which sees her make herself suitably conspicuous to her potential mate. This she achieves by burying herself in a habitat know as the tanning studio. In here females administer to each other coverings and lotions which are selected from a range of colours within the orange range of the light spectrum. Products easily obtained in the Merseyside area.
Belisha Beacon seems to be this years preferred shade, that should make them flash their wears at the right moment.
We were in the Merseyside suburb of Birkenhead last night witnessing an annual ritual performed by the species Homo Sapiens. They were frequenting the local watering holes in numbers rarely seen at other times of the year as they prepared for their mating dance later in the evening.
The explanation for this increase in activity can be attributed to the fact that the last Friday in January is the first pay day since Christmas and the New Year, and consequently the frustrations and stifled emotions of Homo Sapiens can be released. It is a rare sight, and one we were privileged to witness so unexpectedly
To prepare themselves for this particular activity, the female of the species has her own particular ritual which sees her make herself suitably conspicuous to her potential mate. This she achieves by burying herself in a habitat know as the tanning studio. In here females administer to each other coverings and lotions which are selected from a range of colours within the orange range of the light spectrum. Products easily obtained in the Merseyside area.
Belisha Beacon seems to be this years preferred shade, that should make them flash their wears at the right moment.
Monday, 24 January 2011
That's another fine mess you gotten me into
We went to our first wedding of the year at the weekend and a mighty fine do it was too, well from what I can remember. The wedding was that of the best friend of our eldest daughter who we have known for years. Kate was marrying Gareth and it was a bit like an Emelia Fox and Jamie Carragher look alike wedding.
I have to say the venue was fit for OK! or Hello! though. One does not associate Liverpool with stately homes, but nestled in the countryside just outside Kirkby, a right, rough part of town, lies Knowlsey Hall, the ancestral home of the Earl
of Derby. It is a fabulous place with lakes and gardens designed by Capability Brown, and an interior in part re-styled by Adams. We were lucky enough to stay in one of the nine bedrooms in the house and so have a chance to wander round a bit.
The Derby family owned a large tract of land in the North West, and the Isle of Man at various stages in their history, but they are best known for their sporting interests and political adventures, with horse racing being the foremost association with them these days.
An early Earl, when Governor of Canada, presented the Stanley Cup as the premium ice-hockey trophy, and the Derby and the Oaks are both named after aspects of the family. Portraits of horses, most by Lynwood Palmer, litter the walls of the house, with their most recent favourite, Ouija Board, featuring prominently.
The Knowlsey safari park forms part of the estate which is surrounded by 9.5 miles of sandstone wall, but sadly bisected by the M57 these days, and much of their revenue comes from the agriculture, shooting and wedding markets, however, the place seemed pretty unspoilt as far as I could see and if it helps to preserve the heritage that's fine by me.
I have to say the venue was fit for OK! or Hello! though. One does not associate Liverpool with stately homes, but nestled in the countryside just outside Kirkby, a right, rough part of town, lies Knowlsey Hall, the ancestral home of the Earl
of Derby. It is a fabulous place with lakes and gardens designed by Capability Brown, and an interior in part re-styled by Adams. We were lucky enough to stay in one of the nine bedrooms in the house and so have a chance to wander round a bit.The Derby family owned a large tract of land in the North West, and the Isle of Man at various stages in their history, but they are best known for their sporting interests and political adventures, with horse racing being the foremost association with them these days.
An early Earl, when Governor of Canada, presented the Stanley Cup as the premium ice-hockey trophy, and the Derby and the Oaks are both named after aspects of the family. Portraits of horses, most by Lynwood Palmer, litter the walls of the house, with their most recent favourite, Ouija Board, featuring prominently.
The Knowlsey safari park forms part of the estate which is surrounded by 9.5 miles of sandstone wall, but sadly bisected by the M57 these days, and much of their revenue comes from the agriculture, shooting and wedding markets, however, the place seemed pretty unspoilt as far as I could see and if it helps to preserve the heritage that's fine by me.
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