2013 - How Was It For You?

So, 2013 is almost an end. As life chugs remorselessly into its latter stages and retirement has to be considered more often what is it from the last twelve months that I can look back on and appreciate for the differences they made? Personal achievement or global occasion, what will I recall in my memoirs when I eventually sit down to write them? In no particular order....

Friends are important. I've met a few new people in the course of the last year through Geocaching and I hope that we stay friends for many years to come. Having a shared interest helps of course but it is more than that. I've enjoyed some good times and learnt a lot about life and amity. 

Good neighbours are invaluable. Living alongside people that you can trust is worth more than the bricks and mortar you live in. The shift working lifestyle of my household has led to some tricky situations and being able to fall back on others to help out with dog feeding and walking duties has been invaluable. They've made living where we do a pleasure, long may it continue.

A great man, the likes of which will probably never be seen again, departed this mortal coil. There is nothing I can say that hasn't been said or written already about Nelson Mandela. All I hope is that his message lives on into future generations. 

I will never forget Saturday 27th April. That crossbar, that penalty, Marcello Trotta et al. Sitting with my head in my hands on the Ealing Road terrace unable to comprehend what had just happened. The events of that day are written in football folklore now and I still cannot watch the Youtube videos without a lump in my throat. It hurt so badly, almost as if I'd been bereaved, maybe 2014 will be our promotion year but that day will never leave me.

Standing up against the establishment. I stuck my head above the parapet and took on the perceived bad guy. It was always going to be an uphill struggle and the outcome was as I expected but the pyrrhic victory achieved by the other candidate was reward in itself. If nothing else I hope that the door has been opened for others to challenge.

Poverty is a crime against humanity. How is it possible, in the 21st Century, for so many people to be reliant on Food Banks? This abhorrent government that we have is not even prepared to debate the subject in parliament. Do they think that ignoring the problem will make it go away? Has there ever been a regime so uncaring of the lower classes?

Taking a trip down Memory Lane can be a disappointment. Those rosy memories of younger years will be soured by those mates you look up. Has to be best to leave the past where it is I think.

England. In 2013 I've seen more of this country than ever before and what a beautiful place it is. So much glorious scenery to be enjoyed, so many places to visit. Taking the time to get out of the car and walk through this land of ours is the simplest yet greatest of pleasures. I don't do resolutions but I do hope to continue seeing as much of our land as possible.

Taking a punt

I enjoy a small flutter on the football, nothing extravagant or frivolous, just pick 4 or 5 matches and do a small fourfold or fivefold, never winning a fortune. Now I pride myself on my knowledge of the game and keep a keen eye on the ups and downs of the Premiership, Championship and the Football League.

Fleetwood at home to Dagenham?

So how come its so bloody difficult to successfully pick a handful of games and be correct on all of them?

Take last weekend for example. Yeovil, West Country bumpkins and bottom of the Championship taking on Watford who are challenging for the play offs. You'd think that Watford, being at home, would no have trouble sticking enough goals past the basement dwellers to secure the win and three points. No bloody chance. For some inexplicable reason Zolas Hertfordshire lightweights managed to ship three goals and lose convincingly.

Turn right only

And that seems to repeat itself every week. Only once this season have I had a return! But like any good gambler I'll be making my picks again this weekend ready to pass over another fiver to the coffers of a bookamaker.

Its in the bag

When the Music Plays

Who is Kurt Harris you might ask? I've spent many a happy hour flitting around YouTube watching and listening to some great music from many genres. I recently came across a track called "Emperor of my Baby's Heart" and its has rapidly become a real favourite, even making it to the heady heights of my mobile ring tone. This is one of the few pictures I've been able to find of the man, the cover of another record he recorded under the stage name of Kurtis Scott.

aka Kurt Harris

Emperor of my Baby's Heart is 2'46" of classic Northern Soul. Released in 1964 on the Diamond record label, an original copy could easily set you back £50. Follow the link below to judge for yourself how good this track is....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_Lrog3dSXU

Influenzotestostero

Sods Law reared its ugly head over the weekend just past. A tickle in the throat on the evening of my last day at work on Thursday turned into a full blown bout of Manflu by Saturday morning. Why couldn't the tickle and ensuing affliction have happened on my first day at work, forcing me to have consideration for my colleagues by removing myself from the workplace for a few days?

Its not looking good.

After doing the macho thing and refusing to be subdued by a few germs I took myself off to see the mighty Brentford FC play Crawley in their Meccano based stadium. I'd dosed myself up with the maximum recommended amount of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen; cough sweets, tissues and a small hip flask filled with medicinal rum. 

After lunch and an ale at a nearby hostelry we headed off to the ground and watched Newcastle mug Chelsea on the TV in the club bar. Crawley vs Brentford was a poor game with little to get excited about. The Bees scored a stonewall penalty in the 5th minute and thats how the score stayed. Huffing and puffing in midfield by both teams and the occasional sortie forward presented a poor advert for League One football. The win was good though, being Brentfords fourth in a row.

Penalty king Adam Forshaw

The journey home was quick and uneventful until I arrived back in Andover. The manflu had clearly had enough of being subdued with drugs and alcohol and took its revenge. A shivering fit and a bout of hacking cough followed by a pounding headache took hold. I dragged myself to the settee with a duvet and crashed out to be woken thirty minutes later by Shaz coming home from work.

Think I was hallucinating

I was packed off to bed pretty quickly and had one of those restless nights with virus dreams and much tossing and turning, hot one minute and cold the next. Sunday turned into a dressing gown and sofa day. Shaz kept the drinks coming and I looked after the TV remote control, watching three movies back to back, V for Vendetta, Once Upon a Time in America and The Dark Knight. 

Got any tripe flavoured popcorn?

Monday dawned and unsurprisingly the symptoms had waned making a couple of days off work a guilt ridden prospect instead of a self excusing skive. Sods law?

 

 

That Friday feeling.

There is little that is more irksome to a shift worker than an effervescent radio or television personality bleating on about it being Friday and how the weekend is here. Those of us whose working life is spread over all seven days of the week can well do without their exhortations to get out and enjoy the traditional two days off. 

I'd be most grateful if the likes of Chris 'Ginger Twat' Evans on The One Show and Vanessa 'Porker' Feltz on Radio Two would take their stereotyped inanities and shove them them back from whence they came.

Annoying bastards

Likewise the desk jockeys and nine to fivers of this nation. I don't give a shit if its a Friday and you're off out to swill overpriced alcopops down your neck and stuff yourself full of curry or kebab. Keep your Facebook and Twitter updates to yourselves thankyou. 

Shut the fuck up.

I have no desire to hear of your walks in the park, trips to the beach or shopping expeditions whilst I'm working. So please have some consideration for the weekend people, many of whom are making your days of rest that bit better.

Oh so true!

Although you may rest assured that I'll be regaling all and sundry with tales of lazy weekdays and relaxing mid-week trips free from the madding crowds. Whilst you're in the office counting paper clips and shuffling pieces of paper I'll be enjoying queue and crowd free open spaces. Parking spaces will be abundant and eating establishments will not be heaving with obnoxious kids and their parents.   

Can someone shoot Evans and Feltz?

 

Searching For The Good Life

A few weeks ago, in a fit of generosity, I treated Shazzie to a greenhouse. Nothing too elaborate or expensive, just a a basic 6'x4' made from aluminium and polycarbonate. Since it got delivered its been sitting under our rear porch waiting to be erected. So okay I thought, just how difficult can it be? 

How its meant to look

Our garden already had a suitable site, lots of sunshine, level and firm that required no preparation. So I sat down with a cup of PG and read through the instructions. 16 pages and 23 steps later I was still scratching my head trying to get to grips with the odd wording and dodgy diagrams.

I'm going to need plenty of these.

Preparation is the key my old headmaster used to tell me, So I cleared a space in the garage and made sure that I had all the tools needed to hand. Screws, bolts and fixings all decanted into a small tub and the parts laid out ready to be identified as required. Lacking any further reason to delay the start I turned to page 1, the door. If you've read this far without losing the will to live I suspect you may be expecting a tale of twisted metal and cracked panels. Not so dear reader, the door went together fairly well and was soon complete and placed to one side ready for installation when required. What I did realize was that this was not going to be a quick job, more like 2 or 3 days of concerted effort.

Surely it can't be that hard?

Even after enlisting the assistance of my neighbour and chum Keith from over the road, by mid afternoon we only had the base and 2 sides constructed. But so far so good, nothing has been broken or damaged and there are no parts missing.

Dog tired

Day 2 of the big build will commence later. Back to work tomorrow so hopefully it'll be just about finished.

Update: 17.00 and its complete and in situ, all that remains is for it to be fixed to the ground. Better get that done a bit sharpish given the storms forecast for next week! My hands are sore and my back aches but its a good feeling to have done something reasonably well. Shazzie is very happy, already planning what she is going to grow and where the radio is going to be!

The finished item.

Time to get back to this blogging malarkey, hard to believe its been such a long time since I even visited Blogger.

Shazzie and I recently returned to Devizes for a weekend in the motorhome. Amongst other things we did the Wadworths brewery tour. A very pleasant couple of hours that only cost a tenner and was an interesting experience.

We enjoyed the weekend away, especially after Shazzie's recent health scare. Devizes is a nice town with a distinct atmosphere all of its own.

I'm in the middle of a run of late shifts, lots of getting home between 0100 and 0200. Better than having to get out of bed before dawn for an early shift!

Earlier this week we drove out to a place called Echilhampton to do a geocaching trail. We walked 8.4km, found 28 caches and logged a new Trigpoint at the top of Echilhampton Hill. Terrific views across the North Wiltshire countryside.

Life has been a bit hectic recently, so many things going on at once.

Its odd how one minute you don't know where your next spare half hour is coming from and all of a sudden you have time on your hands as the decks clear themselves.

My first case as an RMT Workplace Representative was successful although I have to admit that I didn't really have to work very hard for the outcome and can't claim that it was all my doing. I was pleased with my performance and demeanor though and after reviewing what happened I don't think I missed anything and followed the training previously given. My colleague will be back at work this week and resuming his normal driving duties.

My recent experience of the court and legal system has left me severely disillusioned. The way that people are treated is despicable and regardless of guilt or innocence, they and their families should be treated with respect. The officials of Andover Magistrates Court in particular are a bunch of arrogant, pompous bullies who wouldn't be out of place in a Flashman novel. The presiding magistrate on the day displayed a vile demeanour and if he is an example of our judiciary then a lot needs to be done.

A period of untroubled routine would be nice for a couple of months before the next crisis presents itself but then isn't that what life is all about? A series of challenges interspersed with highs and lows of emotion? 

Snow-go in Winter Shock

During the recent weekend parts of the United Kingdom saw a couple of centimeters of snow fall and accumulate. Nothing spectacular, just what I would describe as a below average winter weekends smattering of the white stuff that the country experiences every year. If going out socially or to work was too hazardous or onerous during this brief flurry then what else was there to do? The answer is obvious, stay at home and enjoy the hysterical coverage in the press and on the television and radio.

The build up to the 'Big Freeze' during the final days of last week was absurd. Any self respecting Martian listening in would have thought that we were facing Armageddon! What on earth those poor souls in Eastern Europe currently enduring some of the coldest temperatures on record, down to -33 degrees, must think of us doesn't bear considering.

Originality is not something that occurs too often in our media and this brief spell of inclement weather has produced all the usual rubbish. Coverage and photographs of a few celebs and their offspring sledging down Primrose Hill. This time round it was Tim Burton and Helena Bonham-Carter who thrilled the photographers and us with their antics. And why Primrose Hill? Because all the lazy bastard press photographers live just round the corner and they can get their pictures done and be back indoors by half past ten in the morning.

Predictable!

Equally culpable in this weather induced feeding frenzy are the TV channels. Sky News in particular must have a reporter primed and ready, swathed in Marks and Spencer matching scarf and hat sets, in every city in the country. Cue shots of sledging infants hurtling down hill sides followed by the aforementioned reporter being ambushed by snowball throwing thugs. Usually with a follow up report a couple of days later about the dangers of these hoodlums and how they all deserve ASBO's.

Boring!

A more recent phenomenon has been the sharing via social media of other peoples snow pictures and experiences. If I've seen one picture of someones son/daughter/grandchild building a snowman/riding a sledge/making a snow angel then I've seen a thousand. For crying out loud keep the bloody pictures to yourself unless there is something remotely original to share.

Much better!

It's not the actual snow or cold weather that I have a problem with, I quite enjoy a walk in the snow and seeing the children enjoying themselves. It's the mass hysteria indulged in and propagated by the media that irks me so much.

Anyway, enough of me being a seriously grumpy old man, I'm off to post a few snaps of my dog playing in the snow on Facebook.      

As always please feel free to leave a comment.

The BBC diet

Lets get one thing straight, I bloody hate diets but unfortunately they have become a necessary evil to myself and many others.  I can blame my corpulence on many things, some of which genuinely affect my physique and some that are the feeblest of justifications. Indolence, knackered thyroid, love of all things savoury, sedentary occupation and the fact that I live to eat rather than eat to live are just a few of the many excuses I've used over the years. 

Mmmmm...

I've done Slimmers World and Weight Watchers both of whom are laudable organisations that provide support and dietary regimes that work if you are strong enough to stick at it. But like many people I'm a slider. My dedication to the cause of a slimmer-self starts well but fades as the weeks pass and the little treats increase. Two or three months in and the weigh-ins become a chore and the meetings a bind.

And then there's 'cutting back' and self-discipline. Neither of which work for me or many others. Temptation comes in many forms, almost all of which are impossible to resist. True happiness can be found on a Curry restaurant menu and measured by the number of side dishes ordered, no point in going out for a ruby and resisting temptation is there?

So what is the BBC diet? Not sure that I really know to be honest and I have very little idea if it'll be effective. The basic premise is that you don't eat or drink anything (within reason) that begins with the letters B or C. Biscuits, bread, beer and baguettes. Crisps, cakes, chips and cream horns. I would like to point out that according to my research the original spelling is Kurry.

Lovely Jubbly

To go along with this reduction of all things pleasant from my intake I will of course be taking some exercise. The bicycle that I purchased last year has been dusted off and lubricated to within an inch of its life and I have decided that its okay to ride even if he there is no wind and the temperature is not in the mid sixties. The daily dog walk will of course continue and may even be lengthened.

Anyway, there will be no target setting this time. Nothing to aim for besides a slimmer, fitter me that feels a bit better about himself and doesn't automatically head to the XXL section of a clothing store. Doubtless I'll fall off the wagon or get bored with the lack of spicy snacks but I'll give it a try anyway.

Please feel free to leave a comment for me.

The Ladies Walk

When we moved to Andover in September 2006 we had little knowledge of the local area and probably should have done more research than we did. Fortunately we haven't encountered any drawbacks worth mentioning, in fact the move has turned out to be the best thing Sharon and I have done.

Our house is literally 2 minutes casual stroll away from open fields and a public footpath that forms part of the southern boundary of the town. The Ladies Walk was laid out as a recreational walk by the town council in 1785 after the Enclosure Acts of the 18th century took away common lands. 

Bailey

The Walk is a place of great natural beauty with many magnificent trees to admire and views across the town to the north and west taking in Salisbury plain and one of the ridgeways in the distance. Last year I joined the 'Love Where you Live' campaign and now as Bailey and I perambulate around I take a litter picker and a carrier bag and pick up other peoples detritus. Keeping the path and its surrounds free of cans,bottles, crisp packets and whatever else is dropped by those who care not enough is a slight burden when compared to the pleasure I derive from the surroundings.

Looking East

Looking West

Looking North

Most people I meet are complimentary and laud my efforts but I have had one or two strange reactions. A couple of weeks ago a chap walking his dog in the opposite direction said 'Wotcha doing that for mate?'. I explained as I always do that I enjoy The Walk and like to keep it free of rubbish as I go around. 'Bloody 'ell' he replied, 'wastin' your bleedin' time, ain't that what we pay Council Tax for?' and walked off shaking his head. It takes all sorts!

The Iron Bridge

Tomorrow I shall be joining in a scrub clearance event on the southern side of The Walk. Waste land below the treeline is being returned to pasture and Dexter cattle will be grazed there after its been fenced in, still with gates for public access though. I expect to be aching all over by the time its done. 

A Pub on Every Corner?

You support Brentford? Aren't they the team with a pub on every corner of the ground? I wouldn't mind being bought a beer for each time I've been asked that question. Anyway, yesterday I trekked up to West London and after a chinwag and a cup of tea with my Mum I headed off to Griffin Park with my cousins husband Tony, my regular footballing buddy and grumpy old man.

First stop was as usual the Kings Arms...

...for a couple of pints of Fullers London Pride and a Chilli. The Kings Arms is what I like to call a proper pub, there is nothing flashy or pretentious about it, just good beer, decent scran and Sky Sports on the telly. The landlady and her staff are friendly and efficient and if you want to sit quietly in the corner with a pint and the crossword its no problem. Best of all is that its not one of the 'pubs on the corner' so its not frequented by visiting football anoraks who want to boast that they did all four the day they came to Brentford. After the usual pee stops before leaving the pub and upon entering the ground the game beckoned.

And so to the match. Supporting The Bees can often feel like a penance. We do have the occasional moment a few times a season but yesterday was not one of those occasions. Chances were few and far between and although a great deal of huffing and puffing went on it was clear that Brentford were a mid-table team at best and the visitors Walsall would be lucky to finish in the top half. Still, you don't go to Griffin Park expecting to see silky skills and it wasn't the worst 0-0 draw that I've ever had the misfortune to witness. The referee was whistle happy and one of those men in black who want to eradicate any kind of physical contact from the game. Our only real chance to score fell to Clayton Donaldson who was put clean through by a defence splitting pass only to decide that it would be a good idea to stop and wait for some chums and the opposition defence to get back before trying to put the ball into the net.

It was nice to bump into some Bees supporting friends (hello Paul, Andrea & Ella-Bee) plus a few others that I'm on nodding terms with having seen them at home and away games over the years.

Just to show that we do have the aforementioned 'occasional moment' here is a link to a report of one that has a special place in my memory...

The Bees sting the Rams.

Doubtless I'll be returning to Griffin Park a couple more times this season and many more in seasons to come. You don't support a team like Brentford for the glory or the trophies, you do it because it has to be done. Football, beer, food, and mates, what better way is there to spend a freezing cold Saturday afternoon in January? Actually the older I get the more answers I can think of to that question!

Brentford FC & Griffin Park
The Kings Arms, Brentford

Making a Difference

Its the smallest things that make the difference. Last night at work, after pulling into London Waterloo for the second time, an elderly couple that had gotten off my train took the time and trouble to say thank you. I managed a quick 'you're welcome' in reply as they passed by on their way to the exit barriers. Maybe its because they come from from a different generation that they took the time to express their gratitude but it was very much appreciated.

The vast majority of passengers barely acknowledge those around them let alone the train crew. They cocoon themselves in a world of earplugs and mobile phones and shy away from anybody who might intrude in their personal space. Perhaps if they took the time to smile or greet fellow travellers and staff their commute or journey might be that bit better.

We probably communicate more now than we ever did thanks to mobile phones and I imagine more inanity passes through the airwaves than at any time in the history of our planet. I wouldn't mind a pound for every time I've heard someone say into their phone 'I'm on the train' as if its imperative that the wife/husband/lover knows their every movement.

Train driving is a solitary occupation with lengthy periods being spent alone and even the briefest interaction away from the driving cab is welcome. That old couple certainly brightened up my day and I hope the rest of their journey home or to wherever they were going was smooth. 

Photographic Memories

When my Dad was alive he liked to do a bit of photography. Nothing too serious, weddings, holidays and grandchildren; the usual thing that most people do. I've no idea why but for some reason he preferred slides rather than printed photographs and I can remember quite a few wintry Sunday afternoons and evenings when the projector and screen would make an appearance (this was long before Sky TV and games consoles) and his Grandchildren would enjoy seeing their parents and themselves in younger days.

After he died in 1997 my Mum put the slides, projector and screen away and although she purchased one of those hand held viewers I don't think they've seen the light of day too often. Recently she has been trying to offload the slides and paraphernalia onto my sister or myself and before Christmas I gave in and now the slides are sitting on my office floor waiting to be transferred onto CD or DVD.

I've got the feeling that the task is going to be long and arduous but also quite emotional, there are sure to be many long forgotten memories in those boxes. I picked up a cheapish negative/slide scanner from Maplins (my favourite shop) and have made a start in sorting through them. There are many of my first wedding that I'm not entirely sure I want to look at and I'll be running that one past the present Mrs Reed. In total there must be seven to eight hundred of the damn things but this is part of our family archive so it has to be worth doing.

I've already discovered a small box that I had no idea existed. In my late teens I played for a local football team called Lampton Celtic formed of a bunch of schoolmates plus a few others. It would be no exaggeration to say that we were pretty good, winning everything in sight for the three seasons that we played together. Our finest hour was winning the double of Premier Division champions and knockout cup. My Mum reckons I must have seen the pictures before but I can't remember so. The quality of the photography is a bit iffy but its a great reminder of how I was over thirty years ago.

 

Early Days

An interesting Hobbit once said...


'I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve'


...and he may even have been right.

I'm fucked if I know what that means but it seems a decently cryptic way of kicking off 2012 and the blog I've been threatening myself with for a while. Most blogs I've bothered to read seem to be rambling monologues dedicated to the self  and I expect mine will turn out be much the same. Anyway here goes...

New Years Eve went well. Shaz (the wife) managed to drop a newly opened Tesco's dip selection all over the new kitchen floor and cupboards even before she'd had a drink. Then after that had been cleared up Bailey (the dog) threw up on the living room carpet. Not the most exhilarating last evening of the year I've ever had.

The Ladies Walk (link below) is going to need a fair bit of litter picking doing over the coming weeks. I filled a carrier bag full of rubbish very quickly and had to leave loads behind. Nice to see plenty of people out walking and enjoying the fresh air before the rains came this afternoon. 

The coming working week isn't too appealing. Up at 0300 on Tuesday for an 0401 start is the worst possible first day with another four seriously early starts to follow. So it'll be early to bed and very early to rise for me, keeping company with the others who get the country up and running each morning. 

The Ladies Walk

So, here it is. A blog page that I've been threatening myself with for quite a while now. An opportunity to bore the pants off anyone who can be arsed to waste their time by following me and the mostly irritating shit that fills my life although I have to admit to having the occasional ray of sunshine. Not every life can be all bad after all. Anyway, I've wasted far too much time just creating the page and its layout and adding a couple of links and pics  and no there is no time to left to write any more than these few lines.