Author: siskinbob

Formerly employed by MOD and IBM, now retired

Carriers ‘may have no jets until 2025’ – Britains Shame


The labour government sold this country down the pan and our current government isn’t doing anything to stop things going from bad to worse.

It is no wonder that the likes of Argentina are playing silly buggers by turning away British cruise ships and any ships flying the Falklands flag. This is what they did when, under Maggie’s government, they thought that Britain couldn’t reach them militarily.

Here we are, once the greatest sea power on the planet, reduced to a toothless second-rate nation.

There have been many warnings by folks far better qualified than me. Yet the British government takes no notice.

We are going to have two new aircraft carriers but no aircraft to put on them. The aircraft that were planned to be used are “not fit for purpose” as, due to a design fault, they cannot be landed on an aircraft carrier. At least the government could have kept the Harrier but apparently our planes have been sold off “cheap” to the US. Surely the fact that they wanted to buy them should have said something to our government.

How can anyone one allow us to end up in this situation. We have no carriers until 2020 and no aircraft to populate them until 2025.

Our government, both Labour and our current unholy alliance, should hang their heads in shame. They have not served the British people as they deserve.

Carriers ‘may have no jets until 2025’ – Local – The News.

Engelbert Humperdinck to represent UK at Eurovision Song Contest 2012 – Scraping The Barrel Or What ?


What on earth are they thinking, Engelbert Humperdinck. Come on, Really ???

It’s not April 1st is it ?

I have no doubt that he is a good singer, I’ll even go as to admit he’s a great singer but is this really the best that “GREAT BRITAIN”  can do ?

It is possible that Engelbert could pull it off, after all he certainly couldn’t do any worse than some of our previous candidates and it is a lottery.

Apparently Humperdinck will perform an, as yet, unannounced song. As if it will make any difference, the BBC said the song would be recorded in London, Los Angeles and Nashville. What the hell difference does it make where it is recorded. It’s the performance on the night that’s going to count as well as the quality of the songwriting.

It will be written by Grammy award-winning producer Martin Terefe and Ivor Novello winner Sacha Skarbek, who co-wrote James Blunt hit You’re Beautiful.

Here we go again with the “they’ve written a hit so they must be able to write another one”

It’s about time they all realised that it doesn’t matter how good your singers and writers are….. by the way did I mention that It Is A Lottery !!!

Even with all the political voting it’s still a lottery.

And then of course we mustn’t forget that we are universally hated by the rest of europe.

Engelbert, you have my vote even though I don’t think you have a snowballs hope in hell of winning. You’d get my vote for having the guts to do this at the age of 75.

Lets face it, it can’t hurt your career, can it ???

Engelbert Humperdinck to represent UK at Eurovision Song Contest 2012 | News | NME.COM.

Davy’s happy days spent on his Hampshire farm – Remember When – The News


Link provided for sister Sue.

Davy’s happy days spent on his Hampshire farm – Remember When – The News.

£1m McDonald’s Bedhampton drive-through gets green light


Yet another farcical decision by our local planners.

Have they ever visited this site ? How many times have they sat in the queue waiting to either get into Asda to go shopping or even just to go and get fuel. Many times I have seen the traffic backed out of the site and I have decided to go elsewhere or even just go home to return another day.

I think it is just what we need, more traffic entering the Asda site. Admittedly when the store is closed and the kiosk-pay petrol pumps are closed then there really won’t be an issue. However, for the rest of the time i.e. during waking and normal working hours this new development will surely add to the aggravation.

As usual there are the weasely words about creating jobs but what will happen to the McDonald’s branch in Waterlooville centre. I’m guessing that it will fade away in the evenings.

£1m McDonald’s Bedhampton drive-through gets green light – Politics – The News.

RIP Davy – We Were All Believers


Davy Jones, lead singer with The Monkees, has passed away in his sleep. He died of a heart attack aged 66.

Jones, with the Monkees, was an integral part of our lives throughout the sixties. Many will also remember him appearing in Coronation Street.

Although not high on my list of favourite bands I will admit to enjoying many of their songs. Davy and the band have a place in my memories.

The music lives on…..we were and still are believers.

BBC News – The Monkees lead Davy Jones tributes.

Police hunt for two missing Hampshire teenagers


Has anyone seen either Harley Smith or Anita Rawson, both 16, who have been missing since 16th February. Last seen in Cosham.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen Harley and Anita or knows where they are to call 101.

Police hunt for two missing Hampshire teenagers – Local – The News.

Countdown to F1 2012: How to Follow F1 this Season


Yes it’s almost that time again and I for one cannot wait. Well I guess I’ll have to, but you know what I mean.

F1 starts in March – Whoohoo !!!!

The sad thing is that the world-class coverage that we enjoyed last year will not be continuing into 2012. Due to budget cuts the BBC has had to relinquish its grip on one of the “Crown Jewels” of the international sports world. I for one will miss the presentation team. Some of them are moving over to Sky but it remains to be seen what the feel of the programs will b.

Follow the link below for David Beans tongue in cheek guide to what you will need to enable you to follow the best and most exciting sport in the world.

Countdown to F1 2012: How to Follow F1 this Season – Formula 1 – The Checkered Flag.

Yobs hurl brick at car from Portsmouth bridge – Haven’t Got Two Brain Cells To Rub Together


Yet another moron without two brain cells to rub together.

Someone out there knows who this is and needs to turn them into the police.

Elsewhere in the country there have already been serious injuries caused by idiots such as this.

If they really want to kill people, why don’t they join the army and head over to Afghanistan where they will be given the opportunity. At least then they can show how brave they really are. After all, motorists don’t throw bricks back at them.

Yobs hurl brick at car from Portsmouth bridge – Local – The News.

“I’m 76 and I’m Tired”


The following was sent to me in an email. It is attributed as having been written by Bill Cosby but this appears to be untrue and that the true author is retired Massachusetts state senator Robert A. Hall .

Truth is I don’t really care. But I do agree with many of the sentiments expressed in the following words even though I’m not 76….yet.

“I’m 76 and I’m Tired”

I’m 76. Except for brief period in the 50’s when I was doing my National Service, I’ve worked hard since I was 17. Except for some some serious health challenges, I put in 50-hour weeks, and didn’t call in sick in nearly 40 years. I made a reasonable salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my
income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, it looks as though retirement was a bad idea, and I’m tired. Very tired.

I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.

I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family “honor”; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christians and Jews because they aren’t
“believers”; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for “adultery”; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an and Shari’a law tells them to.

I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures” we must let Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in Australia, New Zealand, UK, America and Canada, while no one from these countries are allowed to
fund a church, synagogue, or religious school in Saudi Arabia or any other Arab country to teach love and tolerance.

I’m tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate.

I’m tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ  rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to fight it off?

I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of all parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught.. I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.

I’m really tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and actions. I’m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.

I’m also tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their teens and early 20’s be-deck them selves in tattoos and face studs, thereby making themselves un-employable and claiming money from the Government.

Yes, I’m damn tired. But I’m also glad to be 76. Because, mostly, I’m not going to have to see the world these people are making. I’m just sorry for my granddaughter and her children. Thank God I’m on the way out and not on the way in.

 
“I’m 76 and I’m tired.”

So Are Your Kids Safe ?


So you pack your kids off to school by taxi. That same taxi firm picks them up and brings them home safely.

Well you might think they do it safely.

This afternoon I spotted two private hire taxis that I assume were carrying kids home from the same school. They had presumably picked up their passengers in Chandlers Ford. Both passed me, while I waited at a roundabout just outside Otterbourne, coming from the Chandlers Ford direction.

The first had a young boy hanging out of the offside rear passenger window. The second had a young boy hanging out of the near side front passenger window. The two boys were obviously having fun and were waving and possibly shouting at each other. At the next roundabout the cars parted company. The first heading south down the slip road onto the M3 while the other carried on round the roundabout presumably heading towards the north bound M3.

I assume that their actions and the fact that the drivers allowed them to do this was breaking some basic private hire licensing rules let alone the road traffic rules regarding seat belts etc. Where on earth were the drivers brains ?

I don’t know which school the boys had come from and I didn’t catch the name of the taxi else I would have been on the phone to both to express my concerns.