Back In The Saddle

Back at work!

In more ways than one.

I got the first few days at the plant over without too much mishap.

At the weekend it was decided by the management of Hotel Americain that the shed need some work and that the apricot tree needed to go.

A course of action was decided upon and I got the shed duties and Mr. Flores got the apricot tree.

This is what was left of the tree after the first day.

Here is Mr. Flores as seen from the webcam cutting  out the roots.

This is what it looks like now that he has finished.

I must admit that the shed still does not look quite how I would like it.

The generator has been moved to a new home and that was the main purpose of the work.

So now there are two bikes and the lift in the shed along with my drill press and sundry other tools.

At least the generator is accessible if needed.

I installed the new Ariel sign given to me by Richard and Jan on our recent visit to the UK.

Ciao Bella,

More soon.

Norm.

Durham, a city both ancient and academic.

Durham ancient and academic.

When we were in the city of Durham, we walked almost everywhere. This gives you the opportunity to see things that you would normally miss if traveling by car.

I decided early in the trip to choose a course of study, which if I were a student it the city I would like to follow.

On the first night my choice seemed obvious:

It would be long legged good looking chicks.

But then I thought Naw! too much like hard work.

So I looked more toward academia for my major.

How about this, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, now there's a period into which I could really get my teeth .

However upon reflection I thought that perhaps literature would be more my strong point. 

So I asked a few literary looking types where I might find an institute of higher learning in that field.

I was recommended a place in Saddler Street.

Yes, Shakespeare, now there is  a topic worthy of study.

So having found this fountain of knowledge I ventured inside with some trepidation. 

Who knows, perhaps there would be some literary genius waiting to floor you with his knowledge.

But, no it was just the usual Saturday afternoon crowd.

I thought carefully about the period that I should study and came up with a particular year.

There was available in this establishment a somewhat precise vessel designed to fit exactly such needs.

So here it is, I am part way through my studies of the year 1664, two years before the Great Fire of London and 48 years after Shakespeare's death when I thought Hmmm!

 This is wrong, what is it that you should seek in the city which is home to the third oldest university in the UK?

Only knowledge?

No!, wisdom.

So after more careful thinking, another course of study sprang to mind, what is it that makes you wiser?

And for years the answer has been staring me in the face!

So here I am, older Budweiser.

A great place Durham.

They even have a clock for people who cannot tell the time.

More soon,

Norm.

Earthquake !

You may have heard about this on the news.

This morning at 6:25 AM there was a minor earthquake in the greater Los Angeles area.

This is a small part of a longer article from the L.A. Times:

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck near Westwood early Monday was a "rude awakening" for Angelenos who remain vulnerable to being caught unprepared by a major temblor, Mayor Eric Garcetti said.

The earthquake that struck in Sherman Oaks at 6:25 a.m. was the most significant shake in Southern California since a 5.5-earthquake hit Chino Hills in 2008. It was followed up by seven smaller temblors, with two registering as magnitude 2.5 or greater, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

As we were still jet lagged, we got up very early around 3:30 AM, neither of us felt anything.

The news media have been in a feeding frenzy trying to make something out of this.

The best they could come up with was some woman who had an ornament fall off the shelf and was broken.

However, now you know why we have the earthquake cupboard.

More from the UK trip soon.

Best wishes,

Ciao Bella,

Norm

Headed Home

After a great trip, we left this morning from Durham at 4:00 AM.
There weren't even any cat burglars out at that time so we had an easy ride through to Newcastle airport where we parked up in the rental lot and headed for the terminal. Once again the wind was coming from Sibera, Anne had to tie her hat on with her scarf. It was gale force and freezing cold.

We want to thank all of our friends and family for showing us a wonderful time.
The pictures are not arranged in any particular order.






Frank Allison and his sister Jen along with her daughter Katie drove up from Lancashire to spend time with us.





Diane and Jose who put on a party for us and invited a bunch of people over to their house.





Susan Irwin who travelled up from Leicester to see us, I don't seem to have any more pictures of Susan, anyway she is the one who is not Anne on this picture.

As Eric Clapton said, 'ang on 'ang on, I do have a picture with Susan, here she is on my right. That's my right not your right as you look at the picture.








Eileen and Neil with their two girls Stephanie and Diane, we met up twice with them and then stopped by the house.




We met up with Marjorie a couple of times at her house and in Durham.




The Ross family, here you see Ronnie with his son Steven, Teresa was out with Eileen and Anne and so we went off on a Men's day out to York.
Hmmm! I wonder who had that Budweiser?





Here's Teresa, Eileen and Anne taking a trip down memory lane. The picture was taken in Barnes Park, Sunderland.



Anne met up for lunch with her friends, Lynne, foreground left, Liz opposite Anne and Iris foreground right.
They have known each other for a very long time, but I am not allowed to say how long!





Hmmm, I know that face, this was at the house of Janet and Michael, I think that might be Michael who has "assumed the position"


We also met up with Mike and Mary in the new room addition to their house and a wonderful job it was too.
Mike had done home made fish and chips and they were excellent.




Here I am at Janet and Michael's house with my cousin Elizabeth and of course, she who must be obeyed.



This is Michael with his daughter Rhiannon.

Janet and Michael had put on a family get together party for us on Saturday.
Steven, Janet's brother had made his special meatballs as he knows I really like them.
Steven, thank you for that, I loved them.




Now who would not want this guy as their grandad?

Olivia is a very lucky little girl. (Even though Jim is not really her grandad, it's a role which he does very well)









We met out friends John and Olivia (I know you don't meet someone called Olivia everyday and then you meet two within a couple of days)






And last but not least, Richard and Jan.



Yeah, I know, that's a lot of people in a short time.


Keep watching the blog, there may be one more report from the UK.

If you did not get a mention or see your picture, I apologize, however, some people don't want their picture on the blog.
Maybe they are afraid that someone may recognize them from a picture in the post office. (USA joke)



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Beamish

Today we decided on a trip to Beamish museum.

As you can see the weather was a bit on the cool side this morning.







Fortunately Hertz provide you with an ice scraper when you rent the car.
I am sure that it is an extra buried in the bill somewhere.

We drove over to Beamish and found that the museum is partially closed on winter weekdays, but to be fair they only charge half price.









I spent a lot of time looking at the old mechanical stuff.




















Such as this old Ruston Bucyrus steam navigator.

As we progressed around the museum, we visited the station.







Anne found a suitcase about the right size for her!








Leon, this is where the ice cream van was parked during our last visit.






Moving further on we saw the pub and had to check it out.
Of course Anne had to have a couple of pickled eggs.
NOT!



















This was the board outside of one of the miners cottages, in the days before alarm clocks, you wrote the time you needed to get up for your shift on the board. A man employed by the colliery came around and tapped on the window, if you had two story house he used a pole to tap on the upstairs bedroom window.
His official title was "The Knocker Up" some job!







We took the tram back from the town to the museum entrance, this one is an old Blackpool tram.








Then it was back to Durham for a late lunch and a look around.

























A beautiful city, with some spectacular views.

Norm
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A Grand Day Out!

For those of you unfamiliar with the title, "A Grand Day Out" is the name of a Wallace & Gromit movie.

We met up in Sunderland this morning and drove through to Durham.
The group joined the train at 10:30 AM and were whisked off in relative comfort to York.






We arrived in York a short 50 minutes later.




Of course we saw one of the most iconic steam locomotives in the world.

This is the famous Mallard, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, this was the fastest steam locomotive EVER period.
There will never be a steam locomotive to supercede this achievement.

Following a very careful look around the museum including a detailed picture shoot of the underside of the Rocket, we headed out for lunch.

It was decided (by me) to go to the Tempus Bar in the Royal York Hotel.
Who cares what the other guys thought?








It was kind of like Apres Ski, sitting on the balcony of a ski lodge, beautiful blue sky, warm and lots of beer.

Then it was back to the train for the ride up to Durham.




Leaving York.






Brown Baggin' it on the train.




Now you see what was in the brown bag.

All the best from the York crew, Norm, Ronnie and Steven.


Take care, more soon.

Ciao Bela.



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