Hey, . Today is a cold one. I was up very early again this morning, to be greeted by frigid air and icy white roofs once more. . The forecast is that the weekend will be -10, and with inches of snow to boot…. but we will have to see! . Obviously a good time [...]
Feb
3
2012
3
2012
Jan
27
2012
27
2012
Jacob Riis. Iconic And Life-Changing Work.
Hi, . Some people can make such a difference by how they choose to live their lives. One such person was Jacob A. Riis. . Jacob Riis was originally Danish, although he later emigrated to America where he eventually became a police reporter. He used the new of medium flash photography to make late-night visits [...]
Jan
13
2012
13
2012
Building The Ark.
a Hey, . Many people are worrying about the ‘end of the world’ scenario which is prevalent at the moment. . How many of you are considering the desirability of building yourselves an Ark and making like Noah! . Well, these things can no doubt be done a lot more quickly these days. . Last [...]
Dec
8
2011
8
2011
The North Wind Doth Blow.
Hello, . My goodness we are getting icy winds here today. . Apparently, some reports state that it is gusting up to over 150 mph in Scotland. . Here is a BBC news report about the weather conditions. . . And this is the beach at Prestwick, Scotland uploaded yesterday. . . Oooohhh….summer’s gone then! [...]
Dec
3
2011
3
2011
‘Glow In The Dark’ Surfers Greet The Summer On Bondi Beach.
G’day, . . Do note the Australian flavour to the proceedings today It may be cold and damp up here in The North, where winter is underway, but some places are just beginning their summertime. . Places like . A place where they have just celebrated a most fabulous ‘Welcome To Summer’ extravaganza, which was [...]
Nov
22
2011
22
2011
Oooh, Temptation On A Sunday Afternoon.
Hey, . As you may have noticed … Monday’s post totally failed to happen, so here it is….just a day late!!! . . Yesterday, I had a very nice daydream about owning a 42.7 acre Hebridean Island. . Do you want to share the dream too …. if so, here are the details for your [...]
Nov
6
2011
6
2011
How The Mighty Have Fallen.
Hi, . This is a post which is interesting for everyone, never mind just the tree-huggers amongst us. . In the Parks of America there are some groves of the Giant Sequoia Trees, which are giant Redwoods. . These amazing trees measure huge circumferences around their trunk. . In fact, as a child, I can [...]
Nov
4
2011
4
2011
Lemmings Will Love This Place!
Hey Folks, . This post is especially for any of you Lemmings who happen to be reading my post today….so, you don’t need to bother writing to me anymore, in order to complain that I do not try and include the concerns of such small creatures such as yourselves in my posts. . You may [...]
Oct
10
2011
10
2011
Now You See It….Now You Don’t.
Hello Monday, . After a weekend of rubbish weather, and extremely from the dampness, I was once again thinking of how much nicer it would be to live down in a place like where it is warm enough to support some quite tropical plants. And oh, the lure of more sunshine and much warmer winters. [...]
Sep
29
2011
29
2011
What A Day That Was.
Hi, . Greetings to you, from a northern place where an early blue sky and sunshine seems to be disintegrating into a much duller sort of day…but I don’t care, because yesterday was sublime. . We went off for the day to a place called Howick, which is set on the coast. The rocks there [...]
Sep
12
2011
12
2011
9/11. We Remember.
Hi, . Sad memories at this time. We are all remembering the shock and horror of the attacks on the Twin Towers on September 11 2001, a sad ten years ago. . Short clip of first plane. . . Short Clip of second plane . . . Various news reports of the attack as it [...]
Sep
2
2011
2
2011
In My Dreams.
Hey, . Good Morning to yourself! . I am up again very early this morning, and don’t ask me why, because I don’t know. It can hardly have been the lure of watching a magnificent sunrise because the dull, damp and heavy grey cloud layer is still ‘present and correct’ as usual. . The only [...]
Aug
14
2011
14
2011
Feeling Blue!
Bonjour mes amis, . So, as you have probably gathered….today’s post has an authentic French flavour. . It has come about because I was thinking recently about how many of the shades of and brown, used enthusiastically in house decoration and furnishing, are colours that I find to be personally depressing, and would therefore avoid [...]
Aug
6
2011
6
2011
Touches Of Gaudi!
Good Morning, . ….is what we are all saying here at the moment….but hey, we are used to it! . Yesterday turned out to be a corker though. Big H felt great and suggested that we make the most of the sunshine by going to the beach, and he did not need to ask me [...]
Jul
17
2011
17
2011
From Holidays To Hummingbirds.
Hi Peeps, . Greetings to you from an extremely wet UK. It seems that we have had nothing but ferocious downpours and high winds for ages. . You get up in the morning to the accompaniment of drumming rain and then retire at night to the some beat. I have to say though, that lying [...]
Jul
10
2011
10
2011
To Go Or Not To Go, That Is The Question!
Hey, , So it is Sunday, and what a day it is. . After a week of very heavy rainstorms, we were greeted this morning by sunshine and blue skies once again….so the once more. . I don’t know what is in store for us for the rest of this promising day, apart from a [...]
Jun
22
2011
22
2011
I’m With Phil.
Hi, . This is about a small place in , about 100 miles from Birmingham. It is called Phil Campbell. . It was damaged by a wedge in April 2011. . The Alabama Wedge tornado. . . . The devastation was dreadful, with many people dead or injured as a result. . There was however, [...]
Jun
19
2011
19
2011
Peter Davies. Mayor Of Doncaster. This Is No ‘Yes-Man’.
Hello, . Recently, a friend of mine, who lives in , asked me what I thought about Peter Davies….Mayor of Doncaster in South Yorkshire. . I confessed that I had no idea who she was talking about, so she sent me a follow-up e-mail about him. Because of that I have something very unusual for [...]
May
1
2011
1
2011
Awesome Saturday.
Hi folks, . How was your own Saturday then….enjoyable! . Mine was most excellent indeed. Big H got up early and felt a bit better than usual, so I asked him what his plans for the day were…..he said that he didn’t know, was there anything that I wanted to do? Well, you don’t need [...]
Apr
23
2011
23
2011
Final Warning. London Air Is Dangerous.
Hi, . I hope I find you chipper today. . We are having another very warm day again here….as forecast….but all is not well. Yesterday it ended up being a hazy sort of day here, all day, and was more chilly out of the sun too. . It turned out that there were warnings issued [...]
Apr
15
2011
15
2011
Oh, I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside.
Hi, . And a good afternoon to you from a cold and grey place. It is a good job that I have a slight tan from that recent exotic spell of weather because otherwise it would be hard to believe that it ever happened at all. Looking out from my window I see that everyone [...]
Mar
28
2011
28
2011
Japan. Later Available Videos Of Tsunami.
Hey, . After the first shock of the tsunami hitting Japan, and the viewing of the first available films taken, there are now a lot other videos being uploaded to UTube. . This one shows the awesome power of the water and it’s unstoppable movement as it reaches Kesennuma Port in Miyagi. How helpless we [...]
Mar
13
2011
13
2011
Japan. Hit By Tsunami After 8.9 Earthquake.
Hi People, . Terrible things happening in Japan just now in our . . Just imagine….an off-shore earthquake that measured 8.9 on the Richter Scale. . This is how it all began. . . After that….the tsunami strikes. . Ariel view of giant tsunami waves striking land. . . The effects have eventually reached California. [...]
Jan
28
2011
28
2011
A Different Tack Today.
Hey, . Friday’s back….weekend’s nigh….yeahhhhh! . Actually I have just realised that today’s heading could be quite misleading for those of you who are of a horse riding type ‘cos this has nothing to do with horses. Sorry about that. I actually don’t know much about horses at all, except for the fact that sat [...]
Nov
12
2010
12
2010
Alston Rocks.
. So, Another trip to . . It is like being on a marvellous film set. Suitable for a meeting with , or your , just like . . Always an atmospheric place with it’s Market Square, cobbled streets and old houses from the 17th C and 18th C falling towards each other, and I [...]
Oct
16
2010
16
2010
For The Traveller Who Wants Everything.
Hi, . It is colder than ever today, as far as I am concerned, even though I seem to be wearing my sheepskin boots and my Puffa body warmer….(a steal from TK Max at £39.99 instead of £100, according to the ticket)….all of the time from getting up ’til bedtime. . Oh, and my black [...]
Oct
15
2010
15
2010
From A Harry Potter Viewpoint.
Hi Folks, . Well, I don’t have a long time to spare today because it is at the hospital. Whoooaaaah! . I got up early because I hate to be involved in a last minute rush. Over the years I have found that even if you plan something like clockwork, it takes only a tiny [...]
Oct
12
2010
12
2010
Psst!…Do You Want To Buy ‘The Mull Of Kintyre’?
Hi, . Just a quick one for you. . Were you a fan of Wings? . Were you one of the thousands of fans who bought one of the 2,000,000 copies of Paul McCartney’s hit song ‘Mull Of Kintyre’ which were sold in the UK. Did the swirling of the bagpipes bring out something mystical [...]
Sep
27
2010
27
2010
On Yellow Balloons And Dancing In Madagascar.
Hi, . I was watching a video of a yellow balloon dancing late last night and I really liked it. . You do have to take into account that I only drink at weekends now as I am somewhat, so it was my last night to indulge…and I really did! . I may therefore have [...]
Sep
27
2010
27
2010
A Moment Out Of Time.
Hi, . Lying in bed this morning, feeling deliciously warm and not yet wanting to face the chill of getting up, I began thinking about outstanding moments in a life. The ones that stay clear and meaningful even decades later on. . One of mine took place in . . is a strange place, with [...]
Sep
17
2010
17
2010
Developments At Marble Arch, London.
Hi, Just a quick one about Marble Arch in London. . . What did you think of the new and permanent sculpture which has just been unveiled at the Marble Arch in London. . It is named ‘Horse at Water’ and has been created by Nic Fiddian-Green. . It is a free standing work in [...]
Jun
28
2010
28
2010
The Darkest, Most Haunted, Place In Italy
Hey, . Recently I was reading about Venice and I came across the island of Poveglia, which has a most awful history and appears to be closed to both locals and visitors, although psychics seem to be permitted to visit on occasion. . There are many stories about it. It apparently housed a small community [...]
Jun
26
2010
26
2010
The Fun Begins.
Hi, . Another fine day I have got myself into here. Blue sky, hot sunshine and it is ….what more could a person ask! . I wonder how many of you are packing for an imminent holiday. I wonder how many of you are heading out to Florida for some excellent wizardy-type fun. . Do [...]
May
25
2010
25
2010
From The Emperor Hadrian To Russell Crowe.
Hey, . Oh dear, it is all over now. No more exotic tropical weather for us. Yesterday became damp and grey by lunchtime and as the afternoon progressed it got much colder again. Oh well, never mind, it is not as if we are not used to it is it! . At the moment though, [...]
May
14
2010
14
2010
Morpeth Yesterday.
Hey, . I am up early again today but somewhat dissapointed to be met with these familiar dark grey skies and rain once more, especially after the promise of yesterday. Everything is all go at the moment now that Big H is picking up a bit. Because it was a nice sunny day on thursday, [...]
May
13
2010
13
2010
The Place Where Dracula Landed. Whitby.
Hey Peeps, . What a magnificent day we have here. It is everything that you could wish to see in the middle of May, with blue skies, no clouds and a wealth of sunshine. Long may it last! . Last weekend Big H and I were watching something that mentioned Robin Hood’s Bay, which is [...]
May
12
2010
12
2010
The Execution of Ruth Snyder. Jan 12th 1928.
Hi, . I was fascinated to see a picture taken by a reporter named Tom Howard, who worked for the Chicago Tribune. . The day was January 12th in 1928. A convicted murderer called Ruth Brown Snyder was executed in Sing Sing Prison after being found guilty of the murder of her husband Albert Snyder. [...]
Apr
26
2010
26
2010
Alston. An Atmospheric Place.
Hey, . Good morning to yourself. I hope that your Monday is buoyed up by memories of an amazingly good weekend, as can be hard to get through sometimes! . My morning is fine, but why wouldn’t it be, there is nothing at all that I have to do today. Of course I did have [...]
Mar
20
2010
20
2010
The Underground City.
Hi, Welcome to yet another Saturday! . Now that we are retired, and hopeful that Big H will soon be fixed….medically that is…..not like a tomcat, I have been looking at the ‘must see’ things that we have not yet managed to do, and as we wish to move south to somewhere warmer a.s.a.p. then [...]
Mar
18
2010
18
2010
Egypt Is Revealing The Eighth Wonder Of The World
Hey, . Another week almost done now. My, how quickly they pass, the older you get. . We have a grey day here again….but why change something that works! Seriously though, we have some hazy sunshine and the temperature is definitely rising nicely. So summer is coming….slowly! . I think that we are overusing the [...]
Mar
16
2010
16
2010
This Place Is Totally Outstanding.
Good morning to you all. . It is yet another day in the life of! . I don’t know what you did yesterday but I hope that there was fun in it for you. We had a very very good day. Big H was up a lot earlier than normal and said that we should [...]
Mar
13
2010
13
2010
New DR Congo Impact Crater Found.
Hi, Well, there is interesting news afoot. . It seems that a report by Italian researchers has identified a huge crater of up to 46km in central Africa. . It is thought to have been caused by impact. Perhaps happening after the Jurassic Period. There are less than 30 craters of this sort of size [...]
Feb
9
2010
9
2010
The Man In The Real Dog Collar. And Patti Smith..
Hey, . The best of mornings to you. . It was wonderful when I got up this morning. The bedroom was filled with light, even through the heavy bedroom curtains, just like a high summer day would be. The sky was totally blue and everything was breathtakingly glowing. Yes, okay, it did not last for [...]
Dec
21
2009
21
2009
Lost London.
Hi, . Still cold, white and frozen here with a forecast for more of the same. Proper Christmas weather. It beats sitting down to a hot, festive meal with all the trimmings while the sunshine is blasting down, which has happened quite often in the past few years. . The only real problem here is [...]
Nov
27
2009
27
2009
I’m Free.
HI, . It’s Friday, the weekend is almost upon us, and I’m free. I was determined to have a lie in this morning….just because I could! And I did. . Now I am sitting here in my comfortable old tigerskin patterned dressing gown, drinking a lovely cup of tea, whilst doing my blog. It is [...]
Nov
15
2009
15
2009
‘Twas On A Sunday Morning.
Hey, . Up very early again this morning, even after going to bed at 3.30am. . What on earth goes on with me…..I must be frightened that I am going to miss out on something. Just wait until tomorrow morning, when I HAVE to get up early because the painters will be here again. Then [...]
Nov
11
2009
11
2009
The People Who Lived On Stilts.
Hey, . I hope I find you well and happy today. . All is cool here. I have been up since the early hours, which has enabled me to have a bath, wash my hair, feed the birds, and enjoy a and …and all before the painters arrive at their usual hour of nine. . [...]
Nov
2
2009
2
2009
November Awaits.
Good Morning Peeps, . And so we reach yet one more Monday. Was your weekend a good one…I certainly hope so. . My life is about to become very restricted again, as we have the today to do a couple of weeks work, on the inside of the house this time! As I have said [...]
Oct
12
2009
12
2009
Job Offer On Isle Of Lundy. Deadline 19th October 2009.
Hello , . Today I saw an interesting Job Offer in The times. . It is a very different type of opportunity for a married couple. . The Landmark Trust wants a couple to look after their properties on Lundy, and they will pay them a combined salary of £25,300, along with free accomodation and [...]
Sep
16
2009
16
2009
The Lost Land Of The Volcano.2
Hello, hello, hello, . Oh my goodness, did you remember to watch the second part of the series I was . It was amazing. What a triumph for the BBC. This makes up for their past failings. This is what they are best at. . This week we saw the team leader, Dr. George McGavin, [...]
