What a plonker

Have you ever popped a bottle of room-temperature beer into the freezer 'just for a few minutes' to chill, but then forgotten about it? I did the other day...

A bit of a catch-up

Enormous erection
A couple of weeks ago whilst travelling across-country, I found myself unexpectedly right underneath the Emley Moor transmitter in West Yorkshire. Wow, it's impressive! I mean, I've seen it many times before, of course, across tens of miles of countryside, as the telecommunications beacon it surely is. But it's taller than the Eiffel Tower, you know?

Steve's birthday

The Friday of Steve's birthday we both had the day off and went down to Salisbury, where we ate at The Lemon Tree. Very pleasant, and I wouldn't hesitate to reccommend it. On the Saturday, as Steve's Birthday Treat, we went to the cinema to watch the new Indiana Jones film. The Odeon in the New Canal is, architecturally, a very interseting building, but sadly the main screen has a disappointing sound set-up. Of course we don't want a huge multiplex on the outskirts to destroy the character of the town centre, and I am looking forward to seeing many more films at the Odeon, but perhaps for the must-see blockbusters a trip down to Southampton may have to be arranged.

Burly Chassis

On the way home on Sunday evening we came across a beautiful silver Aston Martin DB5 on the M25 (this was the car Sean Connery's James Bond drove in Goldfinger and Thunderball, in the mid-sixties). With slowish traffic across four or five lanes Steve was able to get into various positions for me to try and take some pictures, the best of which is reproduced here. Click on it for a larger version and you'll be able to see the two passengers are grinning at me!

Bibulous

Wednesday last week to Imbibe in Blackfriars for a pub quiz in aid of a number of charities, organised by Steve's indefatigable fund-raising colleague Simon. Great fun, and a slightly bizarre mystery-tour lift home afterwards with another colleague.

House move latest:
Still waiting.


Wooo-eeee-oooo

Last Saturday was the first of the two-parter Doctor Who season finale. Steve was, to put it mildly, captivated by the unfolding storyline - as you can see!

Health news

In Monday's Times was a story about the NHS, and the accompanying photo had this caption: "Aneira Thomas, pictured at the age of 4, was named for Aneurin Bevin". Dear Times, please please do not Americanise the term "named after". I know that "named for" makes exactly as much sense, and moreover is perfectly comprehensible to every reader, but come on.

Clarkson said it, too, in the report on the Mercerdes, filmed in the Black Hills in Wales, in the second Top Gear in the new series.

Incidentally, reading the newspaper story I learned that the 1.5 million employees of the NHS are exceeded only by the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Wal-Mart, and Indian Railways.

One year on
The 1st of July saw the first anniversary of the smoking ban in England, in case you missed it. Or cared.

What a boring summer it would be...

Apparently Westminster City Council wants to ban all drinking outside licensed premises in Soho. Can you imagine what that would look like? No restaurant tables outside, no seating outside the pubs. It would be awful. Naturally, there's a petition.

Please highlight this to anyone who might sign.

Once in a while...

Just occasionally I get to drive my car and really enjoy the experience. It doesn't happen often these days on Britain's congested roads. A couple of weeks ago I was able to chuck the car through some very satisfying south-Welsh twists and turns, and this morning I lifted Ian from Salisbury to Tollard Royal (he's doing a circular walk) through some pretty Wiltshire villages. And Roxana, Steve and I are off out there again very shortly to join him for lunch at the King John Inn, so I get to do it again!

Fab show

Thoroughly good evening at the Palace Theatre. Go and see it - but only if you don't mind tasteless show tunes about the Jews, the Gays ... and the French! "Lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail," says the publicity, and it surely is, but expands to satirise musical theatre in general. Highly recommended.

Tonight

This is where we are tonight! Will post review later.

Springwatch - the real story

Just received this text from my sister.
"Bluetits fledged. Two on kitchen floor - now in compost bin. Third in flower bed - cats locked in house - parents trying to encourage baby to join them."

An ethical question

You're standing in front of a parking ticket machine (the pay-and-display sort), working out your change for the number of minutes you expect to need, when a kindly fellow motorist who is about to drive off winds her window down and offers you her still-valid ticket. Firstly, should you accept it? Secondly, and if you do, should you offer her at least something towards it? And, assuming you haven't paid anything, should you put the ticket through on expenses?

The next chapter begins

I am beginning to set up a new website - to run alongside haymee.com - called 20KR.net.

As we prepare for, and begin, our move to Salisbury; as we move into our new home; as we plan and start the major projects to modernise the house; and as we make our mark on the property, enjoy it and party in it... we want to take you along for the ride.

So, bookmark the page, and check back frequently!

I've got myself a Facebook, or something. No idea what to do with it really. Any ideas?