'GREAT' Britain.....is it time to drop the great...?

Great Britain eh?  Ruler of the waves...inventor of the Industrial Revolution...Kings of Empire...Destroyer of Nazism...and inventors of football and cricket.

What about the UK?

It's the ninth largest Island in the world, it's the largest European island, it's the third most populous Island in the World and is surrounded by over 1000 smaller islands and islets.

The Kingdom of Great Britain resulted from the political union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland with the Acts of Union 1707 on 1 May 1707 under Queen Anne. In 1801, under a new Act of Union, this kingdom merged with the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. After the Irish War of Independence most of Ireland seceded from the Union, which then became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The island has a relatively small variety of fauna and flora, due to its size and the fact that wildlife has had little time to develop since the last ice age. The high level of urbanisation on the island has contributed to a species extinction rate that is about 100 times greater than the background species extinction rate.

So what pisses a lot of people off about the UK at the moment?

Well apart from the disrespectful state of the Union and specifically England we have left it in since the heroic actions of our forefathers fighting for this sceptered isle against overwhelming odds in WW2 let alone WW1, and the thought that they were fighting to protect the 'British Way of Life' the answer is ...almost everything.

How sad is that?  Imagine a veteran of Normandy returning today, is it possible he would ask the following questions?

Why is it today in modern 'UK' that the rights of a criminal overides that of the victim?

Why is it today in the UK that we have no operational Aircraft Carriers?

Why is it only 30 years later that we cannot defend the Falkand Islands?

Why is it in the UK that it is becoming a way of life and a life choice to live on Benefits than do an honest days work?

Why is it in the UK that it's ok to give a 'life sentence' to a murderer but let them out after 8 years?

Why is it that a murderer in the UK cannot be deported to theitr home country due to 'their' human rights?

Why is ok to fund Wales, Scotland and Ireland from Whitehall still but get nothing in return?

Why is it okay to deny Racial sterotypical crimes such as the grooming of young white girls by older Asian groups of men in Northern England because of Racial sensitivities?

Why is ok to deny historical facts in that Guy Gibsons dog was called 'Nigger' and not 'Digger'?

Why is it racist to possibly suggest that most 'terrorism' in modern UK is committed by followers of radical Islam?

Why is it okay to celebrate St Patricks Day in England but celebrating St Georges Day has Racial overtones?

Why is okay in the UK that many MP's take the piss out of the expenses system and escape prosecution only by archaic rules but in the eyes of the electorate are guilty as sin?

The above are not my own grievencies but are just a selection of recent stories or accusations easily available to read further in the media.  I suppose the accusation levelled at 'UK PLC' is how the hell have we got to this position? ...to even touch on the so called 'Illegal Immigation' debacle would need a server bigger than the one i operate on.and has been left alone by me here.

The really sad thing about most of this is the alledged total capitulation of most people into accepting this and the refusal to make a stand because it might put them in a bad light.  Gone are the days where the backbone of most Englishmen and women would refuse to accept this but are literally scared into saying the 'wrong thing' or exhibit the 'wrong opinion', especially if it doesnt confornm to the dogma of the day.

As Edmund Burke once said ""All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

and to the dustbin of history is commited the ashes of UK 1990 onwards...

Happy for your comments to genrate further discussion.  As far as I'm concerned grown up adults can still discuss issues such as this.

Did you know?

Secret Histories - Avro Yeadon

As Michael Caine would say, "Not a lot of people know this" but in this instance its true.  During WWII Yeadon, just outside Leeds, had a big secret that many 'locals' still do not know about to this day.  I came across this during my research into the Lancaster Bomber following on from research into my Great Grandads association with 617 Sqdn, the 'Dambusters'.  Next door to Yeadon aerodrome, now known as Leeds & Bradford International Airport was a secret 'Avro Shadow factory' which built Lancaster  Bombers for the war effort. 

At the time Yeadon's population was only 10,000 but it employed 17,500 workers with many of them being bussed in from areas such as Guiseley and Menston, in fact a whole squadron of buses brought in workers from all over  West Yorkshire. The factory produced over 4,000 Avro Ansons and over 700 Lancasters as well as building and repairing fighter aircraft.

To protect it's identity the local Yeadon Tarn was drained of water and a copy was painted onto the roof of the factory to confuse the German Bombers.  paper mache cows were also built and moved around the roof daily to represent a field with a herd of cows! A heavy Anti Aircraft battery was constructed just outside of Otley which remains largely intact today.

Anyway, here's a few pictures from my research to help build the story of the 'Hidden Shadow Factory' at Yeadon..

Here is a rareWWII shot showing the factory with it's earthern banks enclosing it
and the wide doors from which the completed Ansons and Lancasters would emerge.
They would then be pushed down the road linking the factory to the aerodrome
whose buildings you can see in the foreground.

Here's a shot showing the position of the factory in relation to the aerodrome.
Again note the wide doors on the right of the factory.  The modern airport has
new terminals obviously and the layout of the runways has changed with the
right to left runway in this hot having been extended over the road on the left.

Here's those same doors today. 

The factory is still there today in it's present guise as a bonded warehouse and reclad.

Note here in this picture of one of the 'emergency exit' doors that part of the earthworks banking
still remains and on the left of the door where it has been removed.

Here's a very grainy shot (rare!) and the only one i can find showing
the inside of the factory during aircraft production.  You can just make out
what a huge open space it is.

Here's some details of some of the Lancasters built at Yeadon which would
allow a Lancaster Historian to research what happened to each plane.
I have the full list of production aircraft in my files.  Production of
Lancasters began in Nov 1942.

Altogether now..." Daa Daaa da da dad a da da da daaaaaaaaaaaa...."


edit* note to my parents.  Follow this link to a very interesting PDF book called "Leeds Women at work" and is packed with photos and stories from people who used to work in all the different factories in and around Leeds at the time of the war http://www.leeds.gov.uk/files/Internet2007/2008/37/leeds%20libraries%20wwii%20book.pdf   (just double click on the blue hyperlink)

Blast from the Past - part 7

Vroom Vroom!

For ten years my mates and I used to build go karts and race them down a steep hill which was in fact a public road.  It all began when my neighbour and mate Joth decided he wanted to do something different to celebrate his birthday....the annual go kart challenge was born!  We even had a rules committee and different classes of cart, four wheelers and trikes.  We had different trophies to win from fastest kart, fastest trike, best looking kart and best crash.

It was so succesfull in year 1 that it lasted 10 years before age crept up with us and the continual falling off a kart at high speed and bouncing down tarmac and into ditches began to lose its appeal.

Anyway, here are a few pics from one of those days...

Me and my machine.  My kart styled on an F1 Ferrari.  It even had

a racing skirt with sponsorship decals and front and rear spoilers!

Unfortunately it didn't have any brakes...

We started at the top of this hill.....(notice the crowds we used to attract lol)

...and round this tricky steep corner with a left to right camber and down the main straight

sometimes it didn't go to plan and you ate tarmac..

the grooves in the road were made by one of us losing a wheel..

Where did it all go wrong?

The crowd love a crash! Notice the buckled front wheel after careering straight into the ditch!

Sometimes we had 10 and 12 karts going down at the same time...guaranteed carnage!

Happy days!

East Kirkby revisited

Had a day out at RAF East Kirkby today and the sun was shining.  I always enjoy visiting East Kirkby, it has a good vibe about the place especially on 'taxy' days when 'Just Jane' is woken up and the Merlin engines can exercise their lungs.  A couple of pics from today..

'Just Jane' looking resplendent in the East Lincolnshire sunshine..

Bomb bay doors are open and she's just been prepped for her taxy run

A short vid of todays taxy run..

Then onto the Petwood Hotel for lunch.  During the war this was the Officers mess

of 617 Squadron 'The Dambusters' led by Guy Gibson VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar.

The terrace where lunch was taken showing the Hotels extensive grounds..

 Plaque inside the Hotel detailing the Squadrons who billeted here.

There is a lot of memorabilia inside the Hotel and around the grounds

An old favourite - short films

Reviving an old series from here I'm recommending some more short films.

This one is called 'Get off my Land' - a short satirical comedy.  It features Rafe Spall one of my favourite up and coming actors and has starred in 'Sean of the Dead', 'Hot Fuzz', 'Pete versus Life' and 'the Shadow Line'

Anyway, its 4 minutes long and I hope you enjoy it..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/films/p00gs4yj


This one is short (3 minutes), arty but brilliant.  Think Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel but more pleasing.

It's called 'Sorry I'm Late' - A man encounters all sorts of obstacles in this creative stop-motion short. Filmed on the floor of a church hall, pillows, cars and all sorts of everyday objects impede the man's progress.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/films/p006x5jz

Enjoy!

If you go down to the woods today...

Today our local nature reserve held an open day so down to the woods we went...

"Hi....this is my nature reserve.."

I'm trying to catch river bugs and animals, I'm using a pipette...

Hmmm..this looks interesting...over to...

..to my microscope...hmmm



...it's better if I close one eye...

..right Dad, let's try and catch something bigger!



"Ollie, what's that behind you...?"

"Ahhh, Harry Potters Owl, what are you doing here?"

"Nice bird..nudge nudge, wink wink"





"Woo Woo..I won a coconut, I won a coconut"

However, one word of warning....all is not as it seems down in the woods...

there are monsters down there....

..but it could be worse....much worse...

Arrrrrrrgh...Morris Dancers!!



Today, Last night and Saturday..

Today

The sun was shining rather brightly today so it was an early finish and off to Stamford Bridge near York to watch the Yorkshire 2nds v Derbyshire at cricket.  I know someone who plays for them, Alex Lees.  He got 96 before edging a catch to the wicket keeper - unlucky Alex.

No entry fee, just sunshine, a picnic and the sound of leather on willow...
only in Englands green and pleasant land.

Last Night

Ollie receiving his BRONZE* award for Beavers.  The highest award a Beaver can attain.  Here he is being presented it by his 'Cub' leader.  Well done Ollie!
*Silver in Cubs, Gold in Scouts.

Saturday

As it was another nice day on Saturday I took Ollie to 'Sunnydale' reservoir, an old stomping ground of mine when I was growing up...previously I had taken him to the 'Dimps' where he became an honoury Dimps boy!

It's a nice place and I noticed some changes too.  We'll be going again to explore further..if I can persuade Ollie I was only kidding about the grass snakes!

The Wonderful World of Words

Watching the F1 on TV today it was mentioned that 'racecar' is the same read forwards or backwards.  This got me thinking about how strange words can be and non can be stranger than Anagrams....see what i mean...?

Slot Machines  -  Cash lost in em

Mother in law  -  Woman Hitler

The Earthquakes  -  That Queer Shake

Eleven plus two  - Twelve plus one

Astronomer  -  Moon starer

Princess Diana  -  End is a car spin

Snooze alarms  -  alas no more Z's

The Eyes  -  They see

Debit Card  -  Bad Credit

Election Results  - Lies, lets recount!

Osama bin Laden  -  An Islam bad one

Fir Cones  -  Conifers

The Detectives  -  Detect Thieves

Stunning

The picture was taken by Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli as he left the International Space Station in May in a Soyuz capsule to return to Earth.
Safety procedures mean the Russian vehicle would never normally be in transit when a shuttle is present.
It makes this the first-ever image of an American orbiter docked to the ISS.
Endeavour sits firmly on the bow of the station, which is moving across the surface of the Earth at a speed of 27,000km/h (17,000mph) and at an altitude of approximately 355km (220 miles).
Nespoli's camera is looking along the ISS's truss, or backbone, which carries the four sets of giant solar wings. The stern is occupied by Europe's robotic freighter - the Johannes Kepler ship.
The pictures were acquired on 23 May but were only released by the US space agency (Nasa) on Tuesday.

Shocking - Blast from the past part 6

My Mum and Dad

In fairness, they don't always dress like this.............

only when invited to my Punk themed fancy dress parties :)

notice the local newspaper billboard on the right :)



Nice eye work Ed!

Sid and Nancy lol, aka Des and Sharon.

The Witches of Eastwick

The 'Young Ones'

Didn't see that coming did you Mum?

Mum loses the pie in the face game!






 

Sportsday

Today was Ollies School Sportsday..the rain stayed away and great fun was had by all..here's a few pics from the 'GAMES'..

"Hello, welcome to my Sports day"

"Let's GO!"  Standing long jump.

Hurdles...

"No problem..., next"

Javelin.."Watch out!"

180!

Billy Whiz!   Lot's of running

....and back again!



Obstacle course...must not spill a drop!

Look at me GO!



More running!

Shot putt

More running!

and the obliatory sack race!!