I am fairly ambivalent to the result of the European referendum. I don't know if that is because of my age, or because I no longer live in the South East. Merseyside voted to stay, and as a Labour hotbed, that is no surprise. They follow the party line up here, but that dictated by Joe Anderson and Frank Field rather than Jeremy Corbyn. Usually a vote for the Conservatives is a wasted vote, but last Thursday the one person, one vote system saw a much higher voter turnout, and a significantly close vote. I have not heard much disappointment voiced on the Wirral.
I think it was apparent even during the renegotiation that David Cameron did not have the appetite to manage a Brexit, and that was confirmed by his early resignation notification. Bonking Boris stood to win whichever way things panned out, and the clever people he surrounds himself with are likely to earn their money in the coming months.
Farange is a fringe play in all this, but it is disappointing that racial vandalism has reared it's head in some of the immigrant dominated areas of the Country. The authorities should move swiftly to stamp that out.
Our poisoned dwarf North of the border is rattling her cage, but she must remember that a once in a lifetime independence referendum does not become a best of three, overnight. She should be reminded that if Alex Salmond had been successful, Scotland would have been running cap in hand to Westminster as the slump in oil prices would have almost made the Country bankrupt.
I would love to be a fly on their wall when she meets Angela Merkel to request EU membership. "Run along now Nicola, there's a good girl, what did you say you had to offer?"
The biggest winners here will be the financial institutions who are already manipulating the markets to their best advantage, and the large legal firms who are wringing their hands in expectation of the large fees to be charged going forward.
It's been four days now since the vote....the UK political process, and Labour in particular, have taken a real battering, and the EU have had a wake up call. People were fed up with the lack of dynamism at home and the increase in restrictions imposed from abroad. Those who voted to join a Common Market in 1975 did not want it to develop into a political superpower and have had a chance to make their views known. Now it's time for our elected representatives to earn their corn and plot a way towards a new Great Britain which shows leadership, originality and solidarity while still supporting Europe through tried and tested alliances.
All bumpy roads get resurfaced eventually.
Monday, 27 June 2016
Friday, 10 June 2016
Figs, Sri Lanka and beer
I have discussed my Lord's attendance record here before, and the trend continues. I also wrote about the demise of Crockers Folly as long ago as 2009. That situation I am pleased to say has been reversed, but more on that later.
Going to Lord's on a Saturday has long been the tradition, but now I and SWMBO are available for recreational pastimes all week, we thought we would go on a Thursday for a change. We have suffered some dull Saturday's so some first day excitement would be good.
We were not disappointed either as Sri Lanka showed more steel than the first two tests and only a late century from Johnny Bairstow wrestled some parity back for England.
We punctuated out day with a mid match expedition to a local pub and were delighted we could revisit above mentioned Crickets. Eight years ago I wrote about it but it may have closed longer. It has been expertly restored to it's original but is now more a restaurant with a bar than the other way round. They welcomed the cricket crew willingly and had London Pride on draught. Bliss.
Life often has the habit of balancing highs and lows to keep everything in perspective. This weekend was no exception as our weekend started with a visit to my mate Figs. Figs and I have shared many days at Lords as chronicled in the first link above, but I am now concerned we will never be able to so again.
A few weeks ago he was taken to hospital with a heart problem. His ticker has been less than 100% for some years but this incident saw him moved to Harefield hospital for a valve replacement and defibrillating pacemaker. Much like the young England cricketer James Taylor, has had fitted this week.
Unfortunately they did not think Figs was up to the op so they sent him home for strength conditioning and weight loss regimes. Sadly last week he suffered a stroke and has been in Atkinson Morley Neurological unit for several days. He has now been moved to Kingston for rehab. He has lost the use of his left arm and some movement in his leg. His speech is degraded and memory confused. It is all very distressing not least forMarion, his SWMBO.
They will scan him again in two weeks so lets hope there is improvement.
Going to Lord's on a Saturday has long been the tradition, but now I and SWMBO are available for recreational pastimes all week, we thought we would go on a Thursday for a change. We have suffered some dull Saturday's so some first day excitement would be good.
We were not disappointed either as Sri Lanka showed more steel than the first two tests and only a late century from Johnny Bairstow wrestled some parity back for England.
We punctuated out day with a mid match expedition to a local pub and were delighted we could revisit above mentioned Crickets. Eight years ago I wrote about it but it may have closed longer. It has been expertly restored to it's original but is now more a restaurant with a bar than the other way round. They welcomed the cricket crew willingly and had London Pride on draught. Bliss.
Life often has the habit of balancing highs and lows to keep everything in perspective. This weekend was no exception as our weekend started with a visit to my mate Figs. Figs and I have shared many days at Lords as chronicled in the first link above, but I am now concerned we will never be able to so again.
A few weeks ago he was taken to hospital with a heart problem. His ticker has been less than 100% for some years but this incident saw him moved to Harefield hospital for a valve replacement and defibrillating pacemaker. Much like the young England cricketer James Taylor, has had fitted this week.
Unfortunately they did not think Figs was up to the op so they sent him home for strength conditioning and weight loss regimes. Sadly last week he suffered a stroke and has been in Atkinson Morley Neurological unit for several days. He has now been moved to Kingston for rehab. He has lost the use of his left arm and some movement in his leg. His speech is degraded and memory confused. It is all very distressing not least forMarion, his SWMBO.
They will scan him again in two weeks so lets hope there is improvement.
Thursday, 26 May 2016
Brexit stage right
Should I stay or should I go? Well the Clash knew it was going to be a clash. Let's examine the facts (facts? Shurely some mistake here....ed).
The economy will be flattened....but it might not be.
We will be able to secure our borders.......but might not be able to.
Immigration will fall.......but it might not.
Austerity will increase.......but prosperity might increase.
The NHS will be better funded.......but we lose all the EU NHS funding
Regional development grants will stop.......but will it matter
The UK will keep it's payments which currently go to the EU, but will they outweigh EU subsidies
Air travel and holidays will cost more.........but nobody will pay so prices will fall
House prices will fall.......like they do regularly, not.
So there we have it.....and here is Julie Garland singing Somewhere over the Rainbow.
The economy will be flattened....but it might not be.
We will be able to secure our borders.......but might not be able to.
Immigration will fall.......but it might not.
Austerity will increase.......but prosperity might increase.
The NHS will be better funded.......but we lose all the EU NHS funding
Regional development grants will stop.......but will it matter
The UK will keep it's payments which currently go to the EU, but will they outweigh EU subsidies
Air travel and holidays will cost more.........but nobody will pay so prices will fall
House prices will fall.......like they do regularly, not.
So there we have it.....and here is Julie Garland singing Somewhere over the Rainbow.
Tuesday, 24 May 2016
I can see your house from here
As the golf matches slow down for a while, its time for house maintenance. The big job I have been putting off is painting the wooden surrounds and soffits on the roof.
It's a scaffold job, and one I will probably need a couple of professionals for. One to do the woodwork and one to do the painting. So it's a few phone calls tomorrow.
I have built a slide in the garden for the ankle biters. The slide is connected to a tree and the kids have two ways to climb up. Either on the rustic ladder or by using the climbing wall. The wall is made up of coloured handhelds and gives them a different sort of challenge. So it won't be long before an A & E trip is planned!!
A new addition to the eco friendliness of the garden has been a water butt which collects water from the room of the storage shed. I am already using the water on the pots and new flower beds and that has allowed us to harvest our baby salad leaves twice already. We already have wood piles, wild flower patches and butterfly & bee friendly flowers so I seem to be doing my bit for the wildlife.
This has been confirmed by a wren nesting in the eaves of the house, a blue tit nest in the wall and a blackbirds in the yew hedge. Just need to keep those magpies at bay...now where is that air rifle?
It's a scaffold job, and one I will probably need a couple of professionals for. One to do the woodwork and one to do the painting. So it's a few phone calls tomorrow.
I have built a slide in the garden for the ankle biters. The slide is connected to a tree and the kids have two ways to climb up. Either on the rustic ladder or by using the climbing wall. The wall is made up of coloured handhelds and gives them a different sort of challenge. So it won't be long before an A & E trip is planned!!
A new addition to the eco friendliness of the garden has been a water butt which collects water from the room of the storage shed. I am already using the water on the pots and new flower beds and that has allowed us to harvest our baby salad leaves twice already. We already have wood piles, wild flower patches and butterfly & bee friendly flowers so I seem to be doing my bit for the wildlife.
This has been confirmed by a wren nesting in the eaves of the house, a blue tit nest in the wall and a blackbirds in the yew hedge. Just need to keep those magpies at bay...now where is that air rifle?
Monday, 23 May 2016
A Senior moment...or two
I have been suffering Firefox v Google conflicts which have restricted my blogging but I think I have cracked it.....
The last month or so has seen Wallasey golf club Seniors section celebrate 50 years as a sub-section of the Club, which interestingly is also celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
The Seniors had a Jubilee Stableford competition early in May, and last Friday hosted members of all the clubs we play matches against, in a better ball fun event. The celebration concluded with a gala black tie dinner at the Club when over 70 people ate, drank and danced the night away. The Jubilee Cup was presented on the night by the Club captain, Paul Corvers.
Earlier in the week there was a two day Seniors scratch stableford competition which was won with a very creditable 65 points. The Club will now focus on their 125th celebration week in June.
I will now focus on the weekend, as Plymouth Argyle lock horns with AFC Wimbledon at Wembley for the final promotion place from Division 4, as we die hards call it!
Argyle have sold in excess of 31,000 tickets almost twice as many as Wimbledon so the atmosphere should be belting. I was at Wembley the last time Argyle got to the play-offs. That was twenty years ago at the old stadium and Argyle won 1-0. Neil Warnock was manager at the time and Ronnie Mange scored the winning goal. All great fun.
So here's hoping the Green Army can cheer Argyle to victory once again, and I can say, I was there!
The last month or so has seen Wallasey golf club Seniors section celebrate 50 years as a sub-section of the Club, which interestingly is also celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
The Seniors had a Jubilee Stableford competition early in May, and last Friday hosted members of all the clubs we play matches against, in a better ball fun event. The celebration concluded with a gala black tie dinner at the Club when over 70 people ate, drank and danced the night away. The Jubilee Cup was presented on the night by the Club captain, Paul Corvers.
Earlier in the week there was a two day Seniors scratch stableford competition which was won with a very creditable 65 points. The Club will now focus on their 125th celebration week in June.
I will now focus on the weekend, as Plymouth Argyle lock horns with AFC Wimbledon at Wembley for the final promotion place from Division 4, as we die hards call it!
Argyle have sold in excess of 31,000 tickets almost twice as many as Wimbledon so the atmosphere should be belting. I was at Wembley the last time Argyle got to the play-offs. That was twenty years ago at the old stadium and Argyle won 1-0. Neil Warnock was manager at the time and Ronnie Mange scored the winning goal. All great fun.
So here's hoping the Green Army can cheer Argyle to victory once again, and I can say, I was there!
Wednesday, 13 April 2016
I'm Spartacus
As promised, here is a set of pictures that are hard to beat......Argentina won the Bowl. Their captain stopped for us to take his picture. Now he said, you hold the Bowl and I will take your picture. Kieran and Ross delighted.
Then the England boys won the Plate and all these players seem to have the ability to effortlessly take selfies.....I liked this one
Worse was then to come for the poor England captain as Ross indicated to him that, as the Argentine captain had let us pose with the Bowl, it would only be fair for them to pose with the Plate...... then these two lookers came along and the day was complete.
Monday, 11 April 2016
Fiji again
So the Hong Kong sevens finished today with another win for Fiji as they beat New Zealand in the final. Sunday was a great last day with some really classy matches, but the weather in the morning was wild. I was soaked through by lunchtime so had to retire to the hotel for a kit change
England won the plate/shield ,beating USA in the final, with Dan Norton winning the speedster competition. I will post some memorable photo's on here later, including Kieran and Ross with the trophies and an ex-Twickenham player in the England team.
Friday the lads were in the South terrace and on Saturday we were all front row in the East stand. We then hit a roof top restaurant where a bottle of wine cost twice as much as our whole meal on the Sunday!!
Just met an England mum whose son couldn't play because of Hong Kong belly...must be a bugger. Hopefully he will be ok for Singapore next week although word is the city might not be....it's their first time hosting and the support infrastructure might be a bit frayed...hey go, lets go!!
England won the plate/shield ,beating USA in the final, with Dan Norton winning the speedster competition. I will post some memorable photo's on here later, including Kieran and Ross with the trophies and an ex-Twickenham player in the England team.
Friday the lads were in the South terrace and on Saturday we were all front row in the East stand. We then hit a roof top restaurant where a bottle of wine cost twice as much as our whole meal on the Sunday!!
Just met an England mum whose son couldn't play because of Hong Kong belly...must be a bugger. Hopefully he will be ok for Singapore next week although word is the city might not be....it's their first time hosting and the support infrastructure might be a bit frayed...hey go, lets go!!
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