The 2015 General Election now approaches at a fast pace and I am feeling increasingly confident that the Tories are seeing their last few days in government. With this in mind I thought it would be interesting to share with you some details of an address made just before an earlier General Election. This talk was given to the Tamworth and District ( Read more... )

Saying “Good night boat” was a ritual that young Kay insisted on every evening as the lights of her bedroom were turned off and she settled down to sleep and cuddle Paddington bear. The boat in question was a cardboard model of a tug boat that lived, alongside models of a steam engine and a lorry, on one of the beams which then spanned the ceiling ( Read more... )

As you no doubt know I just love boats, and one of the highlights of going to Plymouth today with three lovely ladies was that a vintage boat festival was taking place. So fresh from attending the Wooden Boat Festival on Lake Union, Seattle, I find myself on the floating pontoon on the Barbican surrounded by the delicious, desirable, delectable and ( Read more... )

Just as the oil leak on Daisy is repaired her tailpipe falls off at Downderry. Don't you just love old motors eh? But I've got my eye on a replacement tailpipe on ebay..less than 2 days to go and bids stand at £1.04 ( Read more... )

With my good lady wife away and buying things on ebay I've finished off painting the bathroom wall, resealing the shower and investigating the lamentable flush on the new bog. I've tweaked it a bit and all seems well now. The opportunity was taken to deep-clean the bathroom with disinfectants and scented detergents. It is even more of a supreme ( Read more... )

As I write this journal, flight BA015 has started its descent into Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport. On Christmas Day 1968 I remember Jim Lovell uttering those famous words "Be advised, there is a Santa Claus" as Apollo 8 emerged from the radio shadow of the moon. This Christmas I give thanks to Santa for bringing the best Christmas possible with ( Read more... )

Hoorah and great job to NASA, the shuttle crews and those of Apollo, Gemini, Mercury all the subcontractors and scientists and engineers and the bloke what cleaned the windows. Welcome back and happy retirement Atlantis. The Brits manufactured the shark repellant for the Apollo programme so we played our part too ( Read more... )

A year ago it was predicted that should Nick Clegg accept the invite to slip beneath Lord (Sir Jasper) Snooty's and his city pal's lily white sheets then it will end in tears. How true it has become. The smile has been wiped from nice Nick's and the ginger rodent's face, Oh how trusting and naive they were. What is clear that the Lib-Democrats ( Read more... )

There are two girls in my Ashridge life, the first is without question my good lady wife (oh how she hates that). My wife has been my friend, companion, wall to lean on, religious advisor, counsellor, psychiatrist, soul mate and, yes okay, lover for over 40 years. I know it’s hard to believe but I am really that old ( Read more... )

Marilyn and I battled through snow and ice this morning to make our 8am appointment at Derriford Hospital for my exploratory angiogram. The angiogram itself went extremely well and the cardiac team at Derriford were absolutely great and did their utmost to make me feel at ease. The atmosphere in theatre was brilliant, if not jovial, and the ( Read more... )