Second flush from the climbing rose and a first for the clematis.
View From The Conservatory
Author: siskinbob
Formerly employed by MOD and IBM, now retired
Y’know ?
What is a word you feel that too many people use?
I feel, y’know, the word y’know, is the word that is, y’know, used too often.
My feeling is, y’know, that many people have a low grasp of, y’know, the English language. Or perhaps, they are, y’know, just too lazy to compose proper sentences
Admiration Unlimited
What profession do you admire most and why?
My admiration is for all members of the emergency services whoever they may be and regardless of which branch they belong to.
So here below, in no particular order, are the folks that I admire the most.
- RNLI – Predominantly volunteers. They go out to sea in all weathers, putting their lives at risk to rescue seafarers in danger.
- Police – Out there, dealing with the low lives and scum, dealing with drink/drug drivers, dealing with the drunks that pour out of the pubs and clubs every night. So often, they are unfairly criticised for doing their jobs.
- Ambulance / Paramedics – Tending to us in our hours of need. Attending many harrowing scenes on our roads and highways, often the carnage resulting from the misuse of drugs and alcohol. The trauma of what they witness must stay with them for a long long time.
- Fire Service – Another of our services where they put their lives at risk to rescue us. Whether it be from fire or as is so often the carnage of a road accident. Again they have to deal with the things that we would not want to witness.
- Nurses / Doctors – And once the police, the paramedics and the fire service have done their bit it’s the turn of the folks in A and E. They work so hard to maintain the lives of those brought before them
All of these folks are not paid enough to put up with the abuse and physical violence that they encounter whilst just doing their jobs.
Whether it be vocal or physical abuse in A&E. Bricks and bottles thrown at fire and ambulance crews or spitting and fisticuffs suffered by the police.
They all do an amazing job for very little in the way of gratitude or respect.
Ladies and gentlemen, I salute you.
One Small Change
What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?
If my blog stopped one person and made them smile, that’s job done.
If my blog made one person laugh out loud, that’s job done.
If my blog made one person angry enough to right an injustice however trivial, that’s job done.
If my blog provides something that is of value to my readers, that’s job done.
Curiosity Killed The Cat ?
What are you curious about?
Or maybe not, ask Schrodinger.
But what am I curious about ? As it happens, many things peek my curiosity.
- Who was my grandfather, my dad’s dad ? The answer is a bit of a genealogical cul-de-sac. Nobody knows. I’m sad that I never spoke to him about it when he was still alive.
- When watching TV series, especially historically based dramas like Vikings, I often have to check things via Google. For example, did the Vikings truly go to Egypt?
- I have a wide interest in technology related subjects. My background is mechanical engineering, but the bulk of my working life was spent around computers. I lived through / experienced the birth of the PC and the subsequent physical shrinkage leading us to the pocket devices we carry and take for granted. Although I have been retired for a few years, I still find the technological world fascinating.
- Travel ! Lots there to be curious about. Whether it be the varying geographies of each country visited, or the people and their culture, or to a large extent the cuisines of those people.
- Words ! I am an avid reader of crime dramas/thrillers, SciFi, Sword and Sorcery. Fairly often, an author will use a word that I have not come across. Down will go the book while I pick up a dictionary to search out a definition. Kindles are great in this regard as you can just click on the word and look it up on line.
There are many more subjects that cross my curiosity horizon, but I think I’ll leave it there.
When Doves Cry
Take a listen to Patti Smiths’ cover of “When Doves Cry”, just follow the link below.
When Doves Cry https://g.co/kgs/CU1zh3
I had only ever heard the original by Prince until today when Radio Paradise played the Patti Smith cover.
I really like the original Prince release, but to my ears, Patti Smiths is the superior interpretation.
What do you think ?
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Just look at the beautiful flowing lines of this next example, a classic Jaguar XK120, presented here in racing trim.
Potentially worth in excess of £300,000
Back across the channel to France for another beautiful car. The Citroen 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
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.
Oh Lord
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.
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.
WrAnTz 