Month: July 2023

Goodwood Breakfast Club – Classic Cars


Sunday was the last Breakfast Club for 2023. As usual, there was a great turnout of both classic cars and spectators.

As usual, I’m posting a few photos from my visit.

First up then is this Gordon-Keeble. A British car marque with a local base, The original concept was conceived in Slough, and construction was in Eastleigh, near Southampton. Build took place between 1964 and 1967.

1964 Gordon Keeble

Oddly, the cars badge features a tortoise. The story goes that a pet tortoise walked into frame at a photo shoot and was chosen as the emblem.

And now for something completely different. Here, we have a Daimler Scout Car, known in service as the Daimler Dingo. It is a British light (3 tonnes), fast four-wheel drive reconnaissance vehicle.

Powered by a 2.5 litre 6 cylinder engine with 5 forward and 5 reverse gears, it was capable of speeds up to 55 mph. Although, speaking to the owner, this would be a noisy experience for the driver and scary, too, as stopping could be an issue. This vehicle only has drum brakes !!

No, this next one isn’t an aircraft carrier. Although it seems big enough. All I know is that it is a Ford

Ford ?

Oh, and 302 CI (cubic inches) equates to around 5 litres.

Next up is a rare beast. It’s a Rover P6 3500 Estoura. It was never a production car with only around 160 conversions having been completed.

Rover P6 3500 “Estoura”

Bought new in 1973 for around £2000 the conversion cost was just under £700.

I don’t really know much about this next car. I had to Google it, and this is what I believe it to be.

Austin Seven Mulliners Style Boat Tail 1938

An Austin Seven Mulliners Style Boat tail c1938. Providing a truly minimalist driving experience.

The Citroën 2CV, in French deux chevaux i.e. “two horses.” It was designed with the french farmer in mind to replace the ubiquitous horse and cart. It was literally designed to cross a freshly ploughed field with a basket full of eggs on the passenger’s seat without breaking them. Due, at that time, to a lack of paved roads in France. The 2CV was produced from 1948 to 1990.

1956 CITROËN 2CV ‘RALLYE’

A bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The Triumph Vitesse looked just like it’s cousin, the Triumph Herald. But under the bonnet, the Vitesse had a straight 6 with twin carburettors.

c1966 Triumph Vitesse

Available in either a 1600cc or 2000cc version. I was lucky enough to own a 1600 version for a couple of years until the differential failed. Sadly, at the time, I couldn’t afford to pay for it to be repaired, and with no willing buyers, I had to scrap the car.

One of the prettiest sports cars ever produced was the mid-engined Lotus Europa. Produced from the mid 60’s until the mid 70’s, nearly 10,000 cars were produced.

Lotus Europa

Just look at the beautiful flowing lines of this next example, a classic Jaguar XK120, presented here in racing trim.

Jaguar XK120

Potentially worth in excess of £300,000

Back across the channel to France for another beautiful car. The Citroen Traction Avant.

Citoen Traction Avant

The Avant was one of the first production cars to incorporate front-wheel drive, a monocoque body construction, and all-round independent suspension.

Here, putting in a rare appearance is Russian GAZ M21 Volga saloon. Produced between 1956 thru 1970

GAZ M21 Volga

And that is it from the Goodwood Breakfast Clubs for this year. Of course, there were many more vehicles on show. I have barely scratched the surface.

The Breakfast Club events are always good value for money as they are free. Even the car parks are worth strolling around as many more classics are there to be seen

Etsy ‘destroying’ sellers by withholding money


I have posted this BBC news item because my granddaughter is one of the Etsy victims. Etsy currently owes her several hundreds of pounds, and she is the sole earner in her household.

BBC News – Etsy accused of ‘destroying’ sellers by withholding money https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66201042

My granddaughter is running a small baked goods business. How is she supposed to stay in business while she pays up front for the ingredients, packaging, and postal / courier services, but Etsy withholds the money from her customers for 45 days.

Not only do they withhold the money, but when they do release the money, they drip feed the payments in the same order that the original customer orders were made.

Let’s also not forget that Etsy charges a transaction fee of 6.5% per sale. Compared to around 3% as charged by Amazon.

Those cynics amongst us might think that Etsy are in financial difficulties if, as has been reported, they have no good reason for withholding payments and are holding onto sellers money ???

Through their actions, many people are struggling to survive, while presumably Etsy are reaping the benefits of interest earned on those withheld payments.

View From The Conservatory


Our Hazel Tree is laden with clusters of nuts. It is productive every year, but we never get to reap the benefits. Every year, the squirrels move in and pillage the crop.

Hazelnut Thief

They do this before the nuts have a chance to ripen, and this year is no exception. I don’t begrudge them the feed, but it would be nice if they waited a bit so we could share.

So Many Things !


What would you change about modern society?

What would I change ? So, so many things.

  • Have people be more considerate. To be more aware of the implications of their own actions and the impacts to other peoples lives.
  • Change the attitudes of our politicians. I’m sure they start their political journey with the best of intentions. But somewhere along the road, they go through a metamorphosis where, regardless of political party, they become self-serving liars. They also go through some kind of memory crisis whereby they forget that they were voted into position by us, the general public. That they are supposed to be our voice in parliament to reflect our wishes.
  • Teach today’s youth some manners and the true meaning of respect. Respect for their elders, their teachers, and the police. Teach them that everyone is entitled to respect until they show themselves unworthy. Teach them that they themselves have to show respect to earn it for themselves. This education should start at home with the parents, who seem to dispense with all responsibilities for how their offspring behave, once they step out of their parental home.
  • Put some proper investment in place for our NHS. With decent wages for our nurses. Surely the recent Covid-19 pandemic has shown us their worth.
  • More investment in our emergency services, get more bodies in place to relieve the workload on those already out there.
  • Put in place better support for our armed forces veterans. It seems like this country bends over backwards to provide support for so-called refugees while our veterans, having served their country, find themselves surplus to requirements.

These are just my initial thoughts with no priority implied by order listed.

RIP Tony Bennett


At the age of 96, by anyone’s standard, Tony Bennett had a good innings.

I had the pleasure of attending a Tony Bennett concert at Portsmouth Guildhall. This would have been in the early seventies. Well over forty years ago, when I was in my twenties.

Obviously, I don’t remember a whole lot about the show. I do remember that he only had a small band supporting him. That they opened for him and that I really liked the stuff they did. I also know how when Tony came on stage, he owned the stage, the auditorium, and the audience.

He was the consummate professional showman with a superb voice and his own style.

He will be missed, but he has left behind a huge legacy of recordings. Dip in, give them a listen.

It’s Got To Be A Pasty


What’s your go-to comfort food?

Nothing beats the aroma, taste, warmth and belly filling attributes of a good Cornish Pasty.

Not just any pasty will do. Not for me are those supermarket, factory produced pasties. Typically, they disappoint with their flaky pastry case filled with some kind of tasteless slop.

A true pasty has to be made with shortcrust pastry with a chunky “handle” around the perimeter. The filling should comprise chunky, not minced meat and potato, swede, onion. Other veggies are acceptable. The filling should fill the cavity, “floor to ceiling.” So often, the factory versions are just full of air.

Probably the reason the pasty is dear to my heart is that my mum used to regularly make them. The circle of pastry was dinner plate sized, filling added, then folded. So our dinner would be a pasty that filled half the plate, then additional veggies and gravy.

Also, we holidayed for many years in Cornwall. Highlights of those holidays had to be walking around Mevagissey with a freshly baked Cornish Pasty. Usually followed by clotted cream ice cream, but that’s the subject of a whole new post.

Pure heavenly, peppery scrumptiousness. .

Turn It Up To 11


What do you listen to while you work?

I’ve been retired now for eight years. So work is perhaps not the right word. Perhaps the question is really, “What do I listen to while doing my chores ?”

The simple answer is Radio Paradise.

I stream this station, up to eight hours a day, sometimes more. They are the soundtrack to my life. The primary reason for my choice is the eclectic mix of music played, followed closely by the distinct lack of babble.

Music is the priority, no inane chatter from self-indulgent DJs. Below is a snapshot of the music that has been playing while I type this post.

In their own words …

RP is a blend of many styles and genres of music, carefully selected and mixed by two real human beings. You’ll hear modern and classic rock, world music, electronica, even a bit of classical and jazz. What you won’t hear are random computer-generated playlists or mind-numbing commercials.

Our specialty is taking a diverse assortment of songs and making them flow together in a way that makes sense harmonically, rhythmically, and lyrically — an art that, to us, is the very essence of radio. We hope that you’ll enjoy RP so much that you’ll want to share it with your friends, family, co-workers, neighbours, Facebook buddies, Twitter followers, etc.

Bill and Rebecca Goldsmith

Notably absent from the RP airwaves are the typical pop chart fodder. There is a distinct lack of breathy blondes, boy bands and rappers. What you will find is rock, prog rock, folk, jazz, classical, reggae, and pretty much every other genre. A veritable musical stew whose ingredients have been intelligently curated.

I have never been bored by the music they share. Sometimes, a track will be aired that I don’t particularly like, but just like with life, I grin and bear it. There is always the next track to look forward to.

Every so often, RP plays that classic track, work/chores stop, and I ….

Turn It Up To 11

Where Did The Time Go ?


Which activities make you lose track of time?

The primary activity that I engage with is reading. Once I am locked into a good read I have no idea where time goes.

Ask my wife, she will confirm. Two days already, this week, I have spoilt our evening meal.

Just last night I virtually incinerated a beautiful gammon steak while my nose was buried in the latest Lindsay Buroker offering. She may not be a challenge for the Hemingway buffs but her books are a good read with enough pace to keep the adrenaline flowing and great dollop of humour too.

View From The Conservatory


Or rather, within the conservatory.

Aglais io – European Peacock Butterfly

This beautiful butterfly decided to pay me a visit.