robin's ramblings

GREAT I no longer need to watch the cricket loud cheering from the lounge brings me to see the replay - yes you have guessed it SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED has become engrossed in the cricket.

Have just returned from weekend away to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. Definately some kind of miracle that we lasted all this time yet can still have totally new experiences. eg Saturday, the anni, for the first time in my life I had no recollection of several hours of Sat evening including making a 12 min. video in perfect focus and steady as a rock with a camera I had never used before! Can any of you 'youngsters' out there (she-devil?) explain that -

I have been getting nagged to write an account of my trip to France which lasted from April 2002 to September 2003 so for as long as I can take it any readers out there are lumbered!
The history of this madcap plan was a wish to spend time in warm climes instead of whirling around like a Dervish on the end of an anchor chain up some west highland loch! I suggested to my crew (SWMBO) and one other that as they both still worked I would take the boat (a 30ft plywood sailing cruiser) to the French canals and they could fly over for their three weeks of sun, food and vin. I was thinking along the lines of the canals near Paris and over towards the Rhone. That is why I had to leave in April to get to Carcassonne by the first week in July!! The main obstacle to the planned itinery was the fact that the mast was approximately 15ft longer than the boat so it would be impractical to carry it on deck. This was solved by arranging for it to be unstepped in Le Harve and stored awaiting my return expected to be late August. The other slight problem was that I was expelled from the french class when I was at school!

recent visit to B&Q - kitchen blind purchased - easily trimmed said blurb -
Ha Ha ! 6ft drop 50 canes per foot - both ends - how does one repair deep crevases in fingers!

finished result of bamboo style blind. do not believe date - as usual when confronted with techy things pressed wrong button or correct button too soon!! for now

THAT MEANS IT IS RAINING have been watching the cricket this week so at a bit of a loss today because of rain in manchester reduced to reading the papers and wondering why I am so out of cink with their leader writers.
I do not mind losing some freedoms if it is going to save the lives of some of my fellow citizens - and whether it was right or wrong to go into Iraq the voters of Britain did not feel strongly enough about it to reurn the lib dems as our govt. in may. I also feel that the judges should come a bit more down to earth and understand that there is a war on between fundamental religous types and the rest of us. I have a brain to use and I refuse to allow anyone else to tell me what to think.
I am a christian but that is my choice after an experience which changed my life, but that change was in me and i do not claim that the same thing will happen to everyone or that my beliefs are the only ones that are correct. I know them to be correct for me but god made me different from every other being on earth so how can i argue that others must believe as i do - doesn't make any sense.

sorry about that - I forgot and pressed return and I have no idea how to remove it!
Had a lovely day today with swmbo away for a few days and therefore the cricket available constantly. Used to get bored stiff with it but ever since 1981 when Ian Botham took control of the test against the Aussies I have been hooked. Last week's was a cracker and hopefully this weeks might have some of the same tension!

I took the four legged one to the same location today (this is for the benefit of swmbo [ the two legged one] ) so that I cannot be accused of laziness - it is after all hard work watching cricket especially when Boycott is commentating !
However I also did some cosmetic work to a garden bench and when finished will post it here (at least a picture of it !) DO NOT HOLD YOUR BREADTH

I am deliighted to read that a thouroughly decent (as far as we know ) prime minister is not breaking his holiday with his family to return for the funeral of a deceitful, though brilliant, debater who was effective in parliament but a dead loss as far as a minister was concerned. We appear to put more importance on someones ability to debate rather than lead. I try to vote for a leader of the nation rather than a good parliamentarian, after all W Hague was a hit in parliament but that was the only place other than " Have I got News For You ".
It would appear that politicians do not deserve unbroken holidays even after the incredible strains that PMs are liable to experience. So come on Britons stop being so negative and live a little!

return from holiday monday- nasties in post referring to previous life 20 years ago

tuesday a full days washing! ugh!!

wednesday visit son to see how he has recovered from special olympics (team gold medal winner in 10 pin bowling) to discover that no one has seen fit to make sure his dss form has been completed and consequently all funds have stopped! also while sitting in the new car a french couple on holiday run into the back of it!!!

thursday sorting out yesterdays disasters (at least SWMBO does so )

friday recovery

saturday gardening and cricket watching keep it up England

Just returned from touring Ireland , mainly south , but some journeys thru north one on the twelfth of July!!! nuf said
a tip should you wish to tour south west ireland by vehicle DO NOT!!!!! the roads are crap , the signposting requires you to understand the basis of Irish jokes and then be able to decipher them http://www.blog.co.uk/main/img/smilies/grayupset.gif
http://www.blog.co.uk/main/img/smilies/icon_crazy.gif___##0##___ http://www.blog.co.uk/main/img/smilies/icon_arrow.gif___##0##___ and then understand that the last sign means go left!
othe rthan that a great time was had by all although a few hiccups did occur to the motorhome we were using like waste system falling off, two bolts falling out of engine, attacked by overhanging rocks etc
more presently