Southsea Pier Safety – The Unbalanced View


How can you ban the general public from the pier on safety grounds but then still allow anglers access

Surely it is either safe or unsafe.

Or does the couple of quid charged to the anglers really make everything all right ?

Its time that some form of national funding was put in place to ensure the survival of the many piers around our coastline. They are part of our heritage. I would hate to see Southsea Pier go the same way that other piers, such as those of Brighton and Hastings Piers.

Southsea Pier has so far withstood the ravages of time and also Ken Russell’s attempt during the filming of the movie version of The Who’s Tommy.

Outcry as public barred from pier over safety fears – Local – Portsmouth News.

Aaah – That’s Better !!!


Just got me round the outside of a nice pint of Master Brew courtesy of Shepherd Neame

 

 

 

 

 

Just what I needed after mowing the front lawns.

Blenheim Palace


Yesterday was the second of what we hope will become a frequent event. Choose, with friends,  a location to visit, travel, lunch, tour, head home and stop for an evening meal en route. All punctuated with gossip and laughs.

Yesterday we chose to visit Blenheim Palace near Woodstock. Some of you may recognise it from the recent Jack Black movie, Gullivers Travels. Blenheim was used as the Lilliput royal palace.

Instead of lunch, we chose to take a picnic and why wouldn’t you when Blenheim offers over 2000 acres of grounds in which to throw down a blanket. To be able to feast both on the food and the fabulous views provided.

We threw down our blankets high on the rise alongside the lake. There we feasted on roast chicken, pork pie,  mixed salad, fruit cake, walnut cake and fresh fruits.

At the same time we savoured this fabulous view of Vanbrugh’s Grand Bridge. Apparently, at one time this bridge only sat astride several streams. There are rooms within the bridge, now flooded, that the 4th Duke supposedly used for gambling with his cronies. Much later the streams were further damned and the two lakes were formed.

And this is the view in the opposite direction.

Many folks come to visit the house and  grounds. They come for a variety of reasons, be it for weddings in The Orangery, the history, the beautiful scenery or perhaps just a bit of scavenging

The following are just a few snaps taken around the grounds.

The Column of Victory
Entrance – Blenheim Palace
Architectural Features – Blenheim
A Cheeky Shot
Chestnut Blossom
The Cascade – Blenheim Palace
The Lake Below The Cascades
The Boat House with Blenheim Palace above and behind

For other pix please take a look at my Flickr photostream, just click the link over to the right.

This Is A Cracker


The boss wondered why one of his most valued employees was absent but had not phoned in sick one day.  Needing to have an urgent problem with one of the main computers resolved, he dialled the employee’s home phone number and was greeted with a child’s whisper. ‘ Hello ? ‘

‘Is your daddy home?’ he asked.

‘ Yes ,’ whispered the small voice.
May I talk with him?’

The child whispered, ‘ No .’

Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, ‘Is your Mummy there?’ ‘ Yes ‘

‘May I talk with her?’ Again the small voice whispered, ‘ No ‘

Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, ‘Is anybody else there?’

‘ Yes , ‘ whispered the child, ‘ a policeman . ‘

Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, ‘May I speak with the policeman?’

‘ No, he’s busy , ‘ whispered the child.

‘Busy doing what?’

‘ Talking to Daddy and Mummy and the Fireman , ‘ came the whispered answer.

Growing more worried as he heard a loud noise in the background through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, ‘What is that noise?’

‘ A helicopter ‘ answered the whispering voice.

‘What is going on there?’ demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive. Again, whispering, the child answered,

‘ The search team just landed a helicopter ‘

Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, ‘What are they searching for?’

Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle…

‘ ME ... ‘

Audi Registration OW53 AZU – Stupid Stupid Stupid Driver


The  blond-haired female driver, of Audi Registration OW53 AZU is an idiot of the first order.

Not only was she negotiating the roundabout, at the end of Downwood Way Horndean,  but she was doing it with her mobile stuck to her ear.

I couldn’t see if she still had it stuck to her ear when she negotiated the roundabout between London Road, Portsmouth Road and Havant Road in the centre of Horndean.

However, after taken the Havant Road she decided she needed something from the back of the car. Rather than pull over she kept rummaging, pretty much for the length of the road while meandering over the centre line and back. By rummaging I mean she was turning around in her seat to lean between the two front seats for several seconds at a time.

At the end of the road she encountered the next roundabout which is at the junction of Havant Road, Dell Piece East and the B2149 which leads to Rowlands Castle.

At his point our paths separated.

I hope she made it to her destination as I hope all the other road users in her path made it to theirs.

As a driver this woman is a menace.

Texting & Driving – Don’t Do It


This trailer PSA “Texting while Driving U.K. Ad” should be shown as often as possible on UK TV.

I have had two near misses due to idiots who were using their mobile while driving. One actually did a U-turn in front of me. The message needs to be hammered home to the imbeciles that use their phones whilst driving.

Tredegar Comprehensive School and Gwent Police (Gwent is located in south-east Wales,UK) present a half hour drama entitled ‘COW’ –The film that will stop you from texting and driving,” with SPECIAL EFFECTS BY ZIPLINE CREATIVE http://www.ziplinecreative.co.uk (this is a trailer video)

COW: It’s all about Cassie COWan a nice girl from a Gwent valleys family who kills four people on the road because she used her mobile and lost her concentration for a few seconds.

It was the babies eyes that did it to me !!!

Bangers & Mash


Had the best Bangers & Mash for dinner last night. Best for a long time.

And these are the little beauties responsible for this post. Direct from Waitrose

They smell, smoked bacon & garlic, just great straight from the packet and once they start to cook mmm mmm !!! Texture is nice and medium chunky with no shrinkage during cooking but best of all is the flavour. It’s full on, my taste buds thought it was their birthday.

They get my vote

The Olympic Flame – I Don’t Get It


Am I the only person in Britain that doesn’t give a damn about the arrival of the Olympic Flame ?

Olympics fever was officially ignited in the UK today when the iconic flame started its 70-day nationwide tour.

Read more: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/05/19/olympic-flame-starts-journey-to-midlands/#ixzz1vKcC6JVB

The only fever that I see anywhere is the media falling over itself to report that a flame has arrived in the UK.

So What ?

Anyone would think that we are a nation of pyromaniacs, to be aroused by the appearance of a flame.

What on earth do we need 8,000 torch bearers for ? Surely a simple Bic lighter could have been used at far less expense. Several million folks in this country carry one everyday.

Yes I know the olympics are approaching and I do understand that national pride is at stake and I will be as pleased as the next person if we win any medals. But that is the actual olympics.

I really can’t get excited about a flame and I really don’t want to see endless news reports about its progress around the country.

This countries press have reached new depths when they are reduced to reporting that the flame had its own seat allocated on the flight from Greece.

I’m more interested in the fact that the Princess Royal was seated 3 rows away from David Beckham. Presumably she wanted someone sat next to her with whom she could hold an intelligent conversation.

Congratulations – Lydia & Dave


Congratulations to Lydia and Dave who are getting married this afternoon.

Will see you both this evening.

Farewell Donna


Donna Summer, famous for disco classics including I Feel Love and Love To Love You Baby, has died at the age of 63.

Summer first entered the  music business, as a backing singer for Three Dog Night, whilst still in her early 20’s. She then went on, as a solo artist, to release the many singles that were to provide the sound track to the 70’s and 80’s.

She won five Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards and charted three multi-platinum albums.

My favourite track, by far, was State of Independence and shows that she was more than just a disco artist.