Author: siskinbob

Formerly employed by MOD and IBM, now retired

Mill is set to get new lease of life – What A Bargain


The mill is believed to date back to 1728, and there were originally two tidal mills battling to grind wheat and oats on the peninsula.

It was previously used as a tidal mill until 1935, making it the last working tidal mill in Sussex before it was pressed into service to build and repair naval boats during the Second World War.

There is something really strange that such a property, in such an attractive location, should be sold for such an amazingly small sum !!!

In an unusual move, no reserve price was put on the Grade II-listed brick-and-timber property at Birdham Pool Marina, Chichester Harbour when it went for auction.

With a zero reserve, bidding was fast and furious, and the gavel came down on a final bid of £62,000.

The potential for this property is out of this world even with the peculiarities of the British planning laws.

I am mystified.

Mill is set to get new lease of life – Local Business – Portsmouth News.

It’s St. Georges Day – Why Isn’t This A National Holiday For England ?



He is the Patron Saint Of England. His cross has been adopted as the flag of England and is the core of the Union Flag. Yet few celebrate St. Georges day. There are parades held around the country but the most people are at work.

The shameful fact is that more people will take the time to celebrate St Patrick’s day than will bother with St Georges day.

St Georges day should be the day that we celebrate the actions of members of UK forces and other extraordinary ordinary folks around the UK. It’s time our government helped generate some patriotism.

England’s saint is brought to life at events – Lifestyle – Portsmouth News.

Keith Moon To Play Olympics ???


According to this Planet Rock article, the organisers of this summers olympics approached Who manager Bill Curbishley to see if drummer Keith Moon would like to play at one of the musical events.
Keith Moon Asked To Play Olympics | Rock News | News | Planet Rock.

I emailed back saying Keith now resides in Golders Green crematorium, having lived up to the Who’s anthemic line “I hope I die before I get old”,

said Curbishley

If they have a round table, some glasses and candles, we might contact him

RIP Levon Helm


Grammy award winner, Levon Helm died yesterday afternoon aged 71 after battling with cancer.

In a career spanning over 60 years Helm is probably best know as the drummer and lead singer of The Band who performed both as support to Bob Dylan and in their own right.

He also appeared as a solo artist playing with artists such as Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Albert Lee, Joe Walsh, Dr. John and many many more. Although best known as a drummer Helm was a multi-instrumentalist, playing mandolin, guitar, harmonica and banjo as well as drums and various percussion instruments. In addition Helm had a steady acting career, appearing in around a dozen movies.

The music world is today mourning the loss of a major talent.

Bloody Red Baron – Killed


Yes, on this day in history the “Bloody Red Baron” of Germany, Baron Manfred von Richthofen was shot down in France.

Richthofen was shot down and killed near Amiens on 21 April 1918. There has been considerable discussion and debate regarding aspects of his career, especially the circumstances of his death.

A Canadian captain, Arthur Roy Brown was officially credited with the kill but we all know different.

Don’t we !!!


If not for the location names this could be the UK. And I so agree with the missing letter “s” from the word “caring”.

lskenazy's avatarFreeRangeKids

Readers! As we approach our third annual, “Take Our Children to the Park…And Leave Them There Day” (Saturday, May 19), this story is outrageous. Apparently a dad let his two kids, ages 6 and 9, play in a local suburban Pittsburgh park on Saturday morning for not quite two hours while he did some shopping and took a shower. That is, while he went about the tasks of everyday life.

Meantime, a woman noticed this unusual thing: Kids playing without an adult around! That this fact was “disturbing” to an onlooker is what is so disturbing about our culture. For millennia, kids kept themselves occupied while their parents were otherwise engaged. A 9-year-old watching a 6-year-old was NORMAL, not a REASON TO CALL THE COPS.

But call the cops she did. And when they got there, they charged the dad with two counts of child endangerment. Meantime, of course, child…

View original post 121 more words

Father Of Modern British Guitar Playing Dies – RIP Bert Weedon


Bert Weedon has died at the age of 91.

Weedon is the guy that most British musicians refer to when asked who influenced and inspired them to take up the guitar. He is well known as the author of the famous “Play In A Day” book and is cited by McCartney, May & Clapton as the source for their learning the guitar.

Bert began his show business career playing with names such as Ted Heath, Mantovani and The Squadronnaires, before becoming a featured soloist with the BBC Show Band. He also accompanied singing stars Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Nat King Cole and Judy Garland.

I have included the YouTube clips as a tribute for those who, like me, were brought up with the master on TV.

Shall We / Shan’t We Defence Policy


The continuing saga of the shall we / shan’t we defense plan.

Apparently this is the plane that the Labour government had ordered but was rejected by the current government. Now, it appears, they have changed their minds on discovering the mind-boggling costs of installing a catapult system to our new carriers.

Personally, I think I would be doing some serious auditing of the costs being put forward here.

A whole carrier can be built for £5.2bn but just one catapult system fitted to one ship will cost £1.8bn !!!

I believe that the shilly-shallying of successive governments has brought the defence of this once great nation to its knees. Yet the government is still committing the support of our forces without the relevent infrastructure being in place.

This is akin to writing cheques on an empty account.

Defence of the nation, protection of the oppressed is not cheap. Face up to it and get on with the job.

Or else, let’s forget about colonialism, worldwide policing, protection of the oppressed and let’s declare ourselves neutral and rely on other nations to protect us.

Royal Navy jet’s future up in the air – Local – Portsmouth News.