Blast from the Past - Part 3

Challenge Cup Final 1999

Leeds Rhinos v London Crusaders, Wembley Stadium

Thankfully both the Rhino's and United have afforded me many trips to Wembley over the years and I think everyone has been a scream from begining to end regardless of the result.  This particular trip was just as eventful but also gave us our first Challange Cup win for many years.  Here's just a selection of pics from the day.

An early start and early arrival at the twin towers.  Straight to the pub then...

Ed and me outside the Greyhound, just one of our Wembly watering holes. look at Eddies mouth and guess what he's saying lol...I think it went .." I f***ing love you!"   This was the day of
Eddies infamous Asian 'confrontation'.  Inebriated as we were we decided we needed more beer
so went to a local off licence to stock up for the walk to the stadium.  Add Eddies inebriated state
together with his northern accent and this what the Asian shopkeeper thought Eddie had said...
"I'm gonna do a pakki today" ..to which the Asian shopkeeper bolted into a backroom and locked and barricaded the door.  We were led to believe he misunderstood Eddies inebriated state and
 Northern accent for an aggressive  threat but Eddie had only tried to be friendly and said
" I bet youre gonna do a packet today" meaning earn a lot of dough due to the Rugby crowd lol

Yup, still on the beer and at the stadium - god only knows what I'm doing?!?

We are leeds!

Calmed down a bit here...just enjoying the game lol

Still a bit razzelled - and just spotted the camera!

Must have won by now

As an aside - this is my 100th post on the blog.  How time flies!  Hope you are still enjoying the posts - would love to read your comments so post when you can.  Here's to the next 100.....

Back to Malham today - Animal Safari!

Took Ollie to Malham today to join in with the Animal Safari.  It's a hunt through the village to spot animals and solve clues.  There's also duck racing in the stream, football, and archery - a great day.  Here's a selection of some of the 'exibits'...


Are you ready ollie....ok, let's go!

Ok, let's start BIG, a charging bull elephant!



What's this then? A mad March hare ?

Ollie, making his singing debut with.....the Beatles!

Ouch!

A break from the safari, not only did you have to score twice out of three attempts but Fred Flintstone

 was swinging - don't think they wanted many winners!

A 'school' or 'pod' of Dolphins swiming down the river Aire - yes, Malhamdale is the source of the Aire 

.... and the river can contain some very dangerous reptiles...Ollie, BEHIND you!

Oh to, Oh to be, Oh to be a, RHINO!

"Ebony and ivory, live together in perfect harmony"

What now Ollie, if it isn't Oliver 'Robin' of Baildon

Bullseye!

Malham today

To celebrate the begining of Springwatch on BBC2 tonight and my blue tits leaving the nestbox I went to Malham in the hope of spotting the nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons.  According to text books the Peregrine can reach speeds of 320kmh (200mph) during it's hunting stoop making it the fastest extant member of the animal kingdom.  According to the RSPB website there are 1400 breeding pairs in the UK, slightly more than the 148 breeding pairs of Osprey in the UK, one pair of which I had the pleasure to see at Manton Bay, Rutland Water 3 weeks ago.

Believe it or not I managed to snatch a picture on my mobile phone..here it is!

Can you see it?

In case you can't, here is what a Peregrine looks like..

A magnificent bird.

I was lucky enough to see both the male amd female seeing the male in flight as it approached the cove.  One of them also made it's 'hawking' call as it flew overhead.

Also spotted today was my first ever Redstart..

Redstart, spotted at malham Cove today (web pic)

Spotted Flycatcher - spotted at Malham Cove today (web pic)

Grey Wagtail spotted at Malham Cove today (web pic)

Also seen today were Pied Wagtail, sweeping House Martins and two Little Owls although I was just to late to see the Owls.  Anyway,  a good afternoon was had in the fresh air of Malham.

Wet weather gear donned due to the bloody showery weather!
Bill Oddie eat your heart out.

Blast from the past - Part 2

Paris 1999

My brother Des and I and our respective partners took a coach trip to Paris for 4 days, gay romantic Paris eh.  What a laugh.  We set off from Bradford at 7.ooam and were due to be in our hotel by 7.00pm.  At 11.00pm we were still driving around the outskirts of Paris.  The driver and tour guide could not find the hotel!  Round and round Paris we went, mutiny on the cards until we gave in and just ripped the mickey out of the driver and tour guide - they took it well :)   Eventually we booked a taxi to the hotel and the driver followed that!  Here's a few pics from that trip...

The unmistakeable landmark of Paris - La Tour Eiffel.  Might have gone up it

but all the staff who worked in the tourist hotspots were on strike - how typically French.

This had to be seen to be believed.  This picture is taken at mid day in July.  Paris got hit by a micro storm and unleashed a massive downpour.  The sky turned black and you can see the cars in the background with their headlights on.  This is taken on the Champs Elysses which turned into a river.  We took shelter in an arcade until the river over run the  pavement and went into them too.

Me and Des on the Champs Elysses just before the heavens opened.  You can see the lights coming on from the shops. Remember this is mid day and it was darker than the picture looks.

Des and myself sampling du vin rouge ;)  We found a bar on the banks of the Seine just opposite
 Notre Dame Cathedral (shut due the strike).  This bar is apparantly a favourite with the arty set - arty bill too.
We walked all over Paris stopping off at numerous bars and I'm sure Des will remember how I
sampled a Croque monsieur at each one - research you understand! lol

End of a long day and what else is there to do but mess around in the pool.  No trunks? doesn't matter just
dive in in your jeans!  Think this is Des - not sure what style he has adopted here?!?  We ended up bulding
a diving tower out of the chairs and tables.

After the diving games - here's me laughing at how short our coach driver is.  After all the mickey taking
 both him and the tour guide became our mates and joined in with all the shenanigans.

Des and his excessive cocaine habit.   He was messing about with a 'stress ball'.  It must have all got
a bit too much for him as it burst in his hands lol - "hmmmm Betty"

...back at the Port on our way home the French were on strike again - quelle suprise! 
So we had a lot of time to kill.  I got bored so enlisted the driver and Des to make it look like
I was levitating up and down at the back of this coach from Cheshire.  They were quite
suprised to see me rise and knock on their window lol

Part of 'our gang' from this infamous tour.  The tour guide is holding our homemade
'Carry On Tours' banner that we put in the window.  I nick named her Hattie Jacques!
Happy days!

Blast from the past Special

This week see's a blast from the past special.  Each day this week I will post some pictures that are as it says in the title, a blast from the past.  having looked through the candidates this afternoon there are some beauts to come!  Stick with it this week, enjoy and paste some comments ;)

I'm going to start with a trip to Ibiza with my brother Ed and our respective partners.  This only came about as Leeds Utd were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi's so we decided to spend the money saved on a holiday - Ibiza it was.  You may spot a recurring theme in the following photo's...

Blast from the past - Part 1
IBIZA May 2001

The Management - Ed and myself have just 'berthed' our yachts.

Wonder which was our room...

Strange, but we took it everywhere lol

We are Leeds We are leeds We are Leeds.....WE ARE LEEDS!
is my left arm broken??  lol

Watching the Champions League final, Bayern Munich v Valencia, Munich won on penalties.

Not sure if this is before or after our row with ze Germans lol.  Ed might be able to tell more.

Ed, get it pasted in the comments section and while your're there put up the story about facing

the 80 Germans on Portinax beach!

There will be more 'Leeds' pics later this week but tomorrow - the story of the 'Carry On' Tour to France with my other brother Des. The tour from hell turned tour of laughter.

Afternoon off..

Finished early today and a couple of us went over to headingly to watch Yorkshires 2nd eleven.  My friends Godson was captaining the team v Derbyshire in two twenty20 games.

But first a check up on the home of the Rhinos...

We lost both games!  And to compound things SOMEBODY took a corkscrew wine bottle without a corkscrew instead of a screw top wine bottle....

Today - Ollies Investiture

At the end of Ollies Beaver/Cub camp at Bramhope, he was investited into the cubs.

Having said the pledge, Ollie is presented with his certifcate and badges.

Jimmyboys 18th!

Jimmy celebrated his 18th birthday last weekend - a (hic) very good (hic) time was had by all!

Here's just a few snaps of the weekend

Happy Birthday son - Smiths Bar on the Sunday

Yours truly showing em how it's done....still got it, oh yes!

In the eve, a bit peckish so why not cook an egg over the garden lighters!

Eddie and myself enjoying hair of the dog on Sunday

Having a good time Jimmy?

Dib Dib Dib

Ollie has gone on his first Cub camp today.  Here he is being dropped off by yours truly at the Bramhope cub/scout camp at Bramhope, nr to Leeds Bradford airport.

Got everything Ollie?

Off you trot then...have a good time!

Ging gang gooley gooley ....

and yet another swimming badge!
(last Saturday)