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.
What are you curious about?
Or maybe not, ask Schrodinger.
But what am I curious about ? As it happens, many things peek my curiosity.
There are many more subjects that cross my curiosity horizon, but I think I’ll leave it there.
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 ?
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
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.
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.
What would you change about modern society?
What would I change ? So, so many things.
These are just my initial thoughts with no priority implied by order listed.
At the age of 96, by anyone’s standard, Tony Bennett had a good innings.
I had the pleasure of attending a Tony Bennett concert at Portsmouth Guildhall. This would have been in the early seventies. Well over forty years ago, when I was in my twenties.
Obviously, I don’t remember a whole lot about the show. I do remember that he only had a small band supporting him. That they opened for him and that I really liked the stuff they did. I also know how when Tony came on stage, he owned the stage, the auditorium, and the audience.
He was the consummate professional showman with a superb voice and his own style.
He will be missed, but he has left behind a huge legacy of recordings. Dip in, give them a listen.
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Nothing beats the aroma, taste, warmth and belly filling attributes of a good Cornish Pasty.
Not just any pasty will do. Not for me are those supermarket, factory produced pasties. Typically, they disappoint with their flaky pastry case filled with some kind of tasteless slop.
A true pasty has to be made with shortcrust pastry with a chunky “handle” around the perimeter. The filling should comprise chunky, not minced meat and potato, swede, onion. Other veggies are acceptable. The filling should fill the cavity, “floor to ceiling.” So often, the factory versions are just full of air.
Probably the reason the pasty is dear to my heart is that my mum used to regularly make them. The circle of pastry was dinner plate sized, filling added, then folded. So our dinner would be a pasty that filled half the plate, then additional veggies and gravy.
Also, we holidayed for many years in Cornwall. Highlights of those holidays had to be walking around Mevagissey with a freshly baked Cornish Pasty. Usually followed by clotted cream ice cream, but that’s the subject of a whole new post.
Pure heavenly, peppery scrumptiousness. .
WrAnTz 