Happy New Year..

Early I know, but it's already arrived in Oz!

Well, the deed has been done and the knee has been opened up..

The 'Arrow' was to assist the surgeon....very hi tech and reassuring!

Best video of 2010?

Here's my recommendation

It'ssssssss Christmassssssssssssss!!!!!

Merry Christmas to you one and all ...

Englands TANGO barmy army strike!

With the all important 4th Ashes test begining on Boxing day here's a reminder of how to TANGO the aussies.  Ady, Steve, Greg and Pedro style!  You may recognise a certain individual in the orange tshirt from 17 seconds onwards...(thanks to Pedro for the technical wizardry)

See Thursdays post below for a photo of the 'Ashes boys' aka the TBA, Tango Barmy Army!

30 seconds after this incident my nephew Jimmy called me on the mobile laughing his head to say he'd just seen his Uncle on the tv lol....5 minutes after the incident a new steward turned up with a chair and sat it down right in front of us facing us lol

On it in the Skyrack, Headingly
L-R Me aka Tango man, Greg aka Tourist (just out for a good day out), Pete aka Pedro, Steve aka 'the Blagger (gets all our tickets for free)



1940's Ollie..

Ollie had to go to school today dressed as a 1940's evacuee...he was quite convincing!  Last week he went to Eden Camp and the week before he had to build an Anderson shelter as part of his homework as the class look into the events of WWII.  I smiled with pride as he sat humming the dambustes theme in my living room at the weekend and when I asked him why he was humming that replied "cos my family flew lancasters in the dambusters..", nearly Ollie, nearly.

"Clean ya chimney Guv'nor?"

update: on looking at the blog Ollie asked his mum "why is there one thousand nine hundred and forty Ollies??"  lol


Lunar eclipse on its way

Coinciding with the winter solstice the eclipse will happen when the Earth directly aligns itself with the sun and the moon.  The effect causes the Earth to block the sun’s rays, casting a shadow over the moon which will see it change colour – from grey, to pink, and perhaps even red.

Star gazers in Britain will be able to witness the beginning of the eclipse, if skies are clear, at 0633 GMT. The stage of total eclipse will run from 0741 to 0853 GMT.   Overall, the eclipse will last for three and a half hours, finishing at 1001 GMT.  Unlike solar eclipses, which should not be looked at without protective glasses, lunar eclipses are perfectly safe to watch.

John Mason, from the British Astronomical Association, said: 'Observers should go out at about 6.30am when, if the sky is clear, the moon will be visible in the western sky, and they will be able to watch as more and more of the southern part of the moon becomes immersed in the Earth's shadow.
'They can continue watching until the eclipse becomes total at 7.40am, and hopefully for a little while after this time, if they have an unobstructed western horizon.'

The brightness of the eclipse depends on the conditions in the Earth's upper atmosphere through which all light falling on to the shadowed moon has to pass.
Dr Mason added: 'For observers in the British Isles, the very low elevation of the moon during the total phase means that it is not possible to predict just how dark the moon will be when it is eclipsed, or what colour it will appear.  'One will just have to go out and have a look

The trees up!

With help from a little elf called Ollie, who i think is trying to ensure he's been a good boy before December 25th!  The lights worked first time!

There's a Christmas decoration on the tree that I know is over 40 years old as I remember it being on the tree in Rugby.  Got a few special baubles on the tree.

Good Luck ....

to Mum and Dad on your 965 km journey through a snowy winterland on Saturday.  Hope you have a good journey getting from A to B.  I hope the passenger doesn't make it too stressful for the driver with 'back seat comments'  :)

Tomorrow...
Me and the rest of the 'Ashes' boys will be celebrating Christmas.  A few bevvies will be had as we celebrate another impending ashes thrashing of the Aussies.

However this time we won't be up close and personal with the Aussie team!

"You're *!*! aaaaahhhh!"

A thought for the day...

Life may not be the party we hoped for,
but while we're here we should dance.

Sad Day for britain

Harrier jets take off on retirement

Britain's Harrier jump jets have taken off on what is billed as their "final flight" before the axe of Government spending cuts falls on them.
The 16-strong fleet of distinctive aircraft soared into the grey skies above RAF Cottesmore in the East Midlands on a farewell journey due to take them over several other RAF bases.
Weather permitting, they are scheduled to fly over the local town centres of Stamford and Oakham as well as Lincoln Cathedral before landing back at RAF Cottesmore later.
The jets date back to the 1960s when the first generation of Harriers were built in the UK. They became famous for their ability to hover above the ground.
In 1969 the Royal Air Force became the first in the world to use the jets' unusual vertical take-off and landing abilities.
This distinctive feature enabled the aircraft to fly in and out of areas near to the battlefield that conventional aircraft cannot reach.
But the planes fell victim to the recent bout of belt-tightening by the coalition, which announced they would be removed from service in this autumn's defence review.
The farewell flight is in celebration of their retirement, the Ministry of Defence said.

These jets were based at Cottesmore, a base just down the A1 from my brothers house in Bourne, Lincolnshire.  I often saw these Harriers flying low after they had either just taken off from or were returning to base.  Their greatest hour was arguably the Falklands campaign quickly ensuring air supremacy over the Argentine air force with 26 kills to 6 lost.

The Lincoln affair...

Just been to Lincoln with a few friends to celebrate the begining of Christmas.  We tried to solve a 'Murder Mystery' set in and around the historic part of the city and a good laugh was had by all..the snow made things a bit tricky especially as it had covered some of the clues we were looking for!

And they're off...er...just discussing our tactics for solving the mystery

er...still discussing our tactics...

ah..the mystery...me, Jo and Donaldski sleuthing away in the Chinese gardens

hmmm this looks fun,  Densa candidates try to solve childrens play puzzle

"psssst..keep smiling for the camera but there's a pub down there"

er...girls...the clue IS NOT up there!
how old are you  :)

ahhh.. the traditional touristy shot

What's Christmas without a fre pressies...

the one they all wanted....   :)

those Rugby days...part 2

matching hats, matching jumpers...nightmare!
I made it look good :)

larking about at Loch Ken, Dumfrieshire
spot our purple Austin Allegro in the background = square steering wheel!

the start of my sailing career...

the start of my tennis career...serving an Ace against the hapless Des!
the umpire takes it easy..

the beach at either Scarborough or Bridlington
ark at goofy on the right

the start of my golfing career...
hole in one pending..nice jacket and shorts combo :(

I'm away for a couple of days so no updates till the weekend, my operation is on Friday.

Blast from the past...those Rugby days (part 1)

Some of the few pictures from the Rugby days.  Cameras were not as common then, mores the pity.
For those of you who don't know, we lived next to the Corcorrans.  They had three sons who matched my brothers and me agewise.  This is the gang of us on our bikes outside our semi detached house in Dyson Close, Rugby.  Des, my eldest brother is taking the pic on his new Kodak instamatic!





L to R  Ed, Dave C, Mark C, Me and Steve C

Ed and Me enjoying our 'swings' before school!

Enjoying a summers evening drink in the garden of the Red Lion
L to R Ed, my Dad, Mark C, Steve C, me and my mum
Ed's head looks freakishly large lol!

  



Des and Steve C posing in our back garden.
 Note our swimming pool!  Many happy summer days spent splashing around in there!



Friday is fun day!

A day off for me, a day of for Ollie and lot's of snow means only one thing..!







This sledge is Great!

Waaaaahaaaaaaaaaay!









Good fun Dad



Friday Funnies

Ever since this snow has started the wife has just stood at the window and stared....

..I suppose I ought to let her in.

Someone keeps adding soil to my allotment overnight but I've no idea why?

The plot thickens

I almost had a psychic girlfriend..but she left me before we met

All those who believe in psycho kinesis..raise my hand

Friday Puzzles

What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

What's the speed of dark?

How do they stick non stick coatings to frying pans?

Friday Philosophy

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism, to steal from many is research

Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm

If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried


Views of Winter

Have a look at this audio slide show that has the sights and sounds of a very strange and wintery week...  
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11900122 



and finally, check out this story .."Woman dials 999 to report theft of snowman"..includes actual tape of the call.  We need to cleanse the gene pool.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-11908583



Snow today!

And quite a bit of it...

The drive home..

The congestion...this is the main road outside my house

Playing...

Urgent important message for Ollie!!

Hi Ollie

I think you need to see this...!

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/Hdz6u1VdpCBupak1HSIaHQ

Santa Steam Train Special

Today we went on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Santa Steam Special train!  It was great, Scrooge came through the carriage first and was roundly booed pantomine style followed by Santa who got cheered to the rafters lol.  Mince pies and sherry for the adults and presents and badges for the kids.  Then a lovely trundling trip through a snowy Worth Valley behind two hard working steam trains.

Wow, two steam trains!

This is great Dad

Two engines working hard

Signal is go for the Worth Valley

I'm so excited!

I'm on the footplate

What did you think of today Ollie.....?



Snow watch...

Nothing yet..but were ready when it does!  *update, snowed overnight last night, a blanket of snow over Baildon exists!

Ollie's Fab Super fast Sledge

Infact, he likes his new sledge so much he watches tv in it!

nice chocolate milkshake Ollie?

Thought for the Day

82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot

Bless this little boy..

EYES RIGHT is a command usually reserved to show respect for government officials and high ranking heads of state or political persons. For that commander to show such regard for that little boy is a wonderful thing

End of an era..

Hot of the press..

My friend just sent me this view from her house...Ark Royal making her final bow (see what i did there..) from Tynemouth..the Coalition government should hang their heads in shame. 

Rule Britannia!

My new Motor...

Golf SE FSI

* SE Special Edition,  FSI Fuel Stratified Injection

...it sounds like a GOLF!

Football Special!

How's this for a set of season tickets. I actually have a consecutive run of over 15 seasons but was even going before I could afford a season ticket...

...and there are some memories here, the tilt at the Champions League..tickets from games against Europes finest, AC Milan, Barcelona, Lazio and Real Madrid home and away...

..and we all need the accessories..

We are Leeds