Hamilton Fuel Line Problems


Leaky fuel line has caused Hamilton to delay his arrival on the grid. This will severely limit his preparation time. However, this is better than the alternative of starting from the pit lane after all the hard work put in this weekend.

Webbers F1 Woes


Once again Mark Webber is suffering from an attack of the gremlins. His KERS system let him down during qualifying hence his position on the grid. So yet again he has an uphill task in todays GP. Good luck Mark.

Go The Brits


Just watching the F1 coverage of the Chinese GP. Tension building as the start approaches. Button and Hamilton are well placed to knock the young upstart, Vettel, from his leading position in the competition. Or at least close the gap. So rooting for both of them.

Pupils fear the arrival of academies – Really ?


Tried to post this on the News website but something was wrong with the link so am posting this here. Will try on the News site later.

So pupils are worried that they may have to become competetive with each other ???

Well I’m sorry but that is one of the things that is missing from the modern education world. School is a preparation for life. And life is full of competition be it in the workplace or between schools. Why would becoming an Academy remove ties with other schools. You only have to look at big business. Somehow they manage to remain competetive within their particular business spheres but on occasions those same rival companies can forge agreements and work together. Time to wake up young Master Taylor.

On a positive note I would like to congratulate Hayden Taylor for getting involved and in COPS. Its nice to see youngsters taking an active part in their own futures.

Follow this link for more detail….

Pupils fear the arrival of academies – East Hampshire – The News.

MG Rides Again


Once again the names Longbridge and MG will be joined together in automotive history when the new MG6 begins production. The new model will be available to buy from May.

Hooray !!!

The MG6 is a British design and although the production will also be British it is somewhat sad that the actual parts manufacture will take place in China. This only reflects the fact that MG are now a Chinese company, owned by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation.

We should be pleased that they chose to return production to the UK and to bring employment back to the Longbridge plant where 6000 jobs were lost when Rover closed its doors back in 2005.

Lets hope that the MG venture proves to be a success and is the beginning of a rejuvenation of the MG marque.

Catch and Release – Piracy Policy


What the hell is going on ?

A British naval vessel intercepts a small craft acting as the mother ship for Somali pirates. They arrest the pirates and free the hostages that they have been using as slaves. The pirates are found to be in possession of a large array of weapons including AK47s and rocket-propelled grenades. The captives also confess to their involvement in piracy.

Strike one for the good guys. Job done. You might think so, but you’d be wrong.

Instead the crew of HMS Cornwall, a Royal Navy frigate,  fed, watered and gave medical treatment to the pirates.

They then set them free !!!

Commander David Wilkinson, Cornwall’s captain, must be suffering a huge amount of frustration as he was ordered to release these criminals. The decision came from “the UK’s Maritime Component Commander”. An anonymous figure based in Bahrain.

As for the pirates they must be sporting full stomachs, a big fat smile and the feeling that they just beat the Royal Navy

What is the point of expending the effort to hunt down these pirates if all we do is pat them on their heads and send them on their way ?

Why can’t we take an eye or a hand or exact some other form of preventative measure so that, if we have to release them, they cannot come back and resume their pirate activities.

View From The Conservatory


Another bright, sunny and, a bit chilly, morning. I am watching a Grey Squirrel making the most of some bread crusts that I have just thrown out. I plodded out with bare feet and the dew on the grass was very cold, borderline ice cold.The crusts are from a nice seeded batch loaf and have been enhanced with a small amount of peanut butter. The squirrel has now been joined by a single Carrion Crow. I wonder where it’s partner is. From here I can also see a Robin, or is it a pair of Robins, making regular trips carrying nest-building materials. Looks like they are homemaking in the ivy that covers our back fence.

I am viewing all this through very bleary eyes as yesterday turned into a very long day. Or rather I should say that yesterday evening turned into one of the longest I have experienced. My 14-year-old granddaughter had chosen not to go home, not to face her mum and the expected row over yet another lost or stolen mobile phone.

Rather than go home she chose to roam the streets of Portsmouth. As the evening drew on the rest of the family began to worry as there was no way to contact her. We have all become so dependent on mobile phones, with the almost 24/7 availability that they provide, that when we can’t contact someone the fear factor is very much heightened. Add to this the instant media coverage of the slightest mishap anywhere in the country that seems to make every incident a local one and the imagination can drive stress levels to incredible levels.

So last night we toured the streets trying to find her. The police had been informed and they were also on the look out. They even stopped and interviewed a man carrying a pink, ladies style, bag. Just in case it belonged to my granddaughter. Just because he was walking down a street in one of the last areas that we knew she had visited.

We were also trying to find her by contacting some of her “friends”. They turned out to be less than helpful and it transpires were even lying. Though misguided, they probably thought they were helping my granddaughter. But all they did was add to the concern we already felt. Isn’t it amazing how most teenagers are never without their mobile phones. And yet, when you try to contact them they don’t answer. Either your texts or direct calls. Suddenly they have no signal, the battery just died or it mysteriously was switched to silent so they didn’t know you called.

Anyway, much to everyone’s relief, my granddaughter opted to go home, walking through the front door at around ten.

Needless to say, after the relief, there were the recriminations. And, she still had to confront the row that she had been dodging all day. Unfortunately, as she now realises, she had also thrown fuel onto that particular fire due to the choices she made throughout the day.

So I’m guessing that my bleary eyes are matched by those of her Nan, Mum and Step-Dad. Probably none of us are looking forward to work today. Least of all her Mum who has meetings in Basingstoke today.

As I type this the bread crusts are nearly all gone. A very satisfied looking crow is sitting in a tree and the squirrel is perched high on the back of our garden seat busily nibbling a crust. And the Robin ? Well it’s taken up a sentry position chasing away the various tits that have dared to enter its territory and that are trying to grab some seed from the feeders.

And so begins, another day full of possibilities.