eventful walk home from the pub

Always handy to keep your eyes peeled for action on the walk home from the pub (last night)

 As usual - not much traffic about

 The joys of living by an Army Garrison

 Still no traffic

 Beauty trying to escape it's shackles

 Really prominent directions

 There's always one flower that gets too pissed and lets the side down

A bin getting spit roasted

toodle pip

glimmer twins graffiti at white shops

To people of a certain age that grew up around Catterick, this was a regular sight at the corner of White Shops (Where the kebab place is now). Every time the graffiti was painted over, another one was done, only slightly bigger, until the cartoons were nearly life size. 

Obviously l have no idea who did it, but it was funny for a while (Though probably not for the shop owner)

toodle pip

targeted by funeral homes

I know l'm knocking on, but there's no need to keep reminding me. Now there's another funeral establishment sending me adverts. This one arrived today from the new place in Richmond.
I think they are trying to tell me something, not realising of course, that they are wasting their time, effort, and money, as l am indestructible.

toodle pip

going mad in tesco's

The next time l want some milk and tomatoes, l will just go to the corner shop, as l am the kind of impulse buyer that Tesco love.
It turned out to be an expensive shop for something that would have cost a couple of pounds!

toodle pip

the car and conker connection

I had to drop off my car recently for some minor work at a local garage, and rather than get up early to do so (as l stay up pretty damn late), l drove it down to the garage at about 6am, put the car keys through the garage letter box, and then walked home (and didn't bother going to bed). The conkers had fallen from some trees on the way back, and as l have been told they deter spiders, l picked them up to put on my window ledges to keep the eight legged bastards out.
Let's hope they work.

toodle pip

britain's oldest man - henry jenkins

Apparently Britain's oldest man, Henry Jenkins lived and died near where l live, and is buried at St Mary's Church, Bolton on Swale. If you believe the stories, he lived to be 169.
I don't. However, it's worth a visit if you're in the area.

toodle pip

the new chip shop in catterick and jethro tull

Well, l finally managed to drag myself in and try out the new fish and chip shop in Catterick (149 at 36 Richmond road). It was nice enough (fish, chips and curry sauce), and l got another menu for the collection, but l am bought to my (what little there are of them) senses every time l buy stuff nowadays, as l still expect fish and chips to be about £2.50.
That's what you get for being an old git and living in the past (as Jethro Tull would say).
Also, l know they probably think the foods cooked better if they do it to order, but if l go into a fast food place for a takeaway, l want it ready immediately, which wasn't the case here. Fast food should be the giveaway clue.
I'm not just an old git - I'm an impatient one.

And here's Jethro Tull - Living in the past



toodle pip

savings at tesco

After calling in at the local Tesco's for some shopping, l got home to discover that on my spend of nearly £65, l had saved 29 pence on branded items.

Hurrah!!

I'm in the money, and off out to celebrate tonight!

toodle pip

sasha and john hartson, plus john and nobby stiles

Two scary looking fellows you don't want to meet in a dark alley late at night.
It's Sasha, one of my mates who l've played football with on numerous times over the years, with John Hartson, after last weeks 'Gentlemans Evening' at Catterick / Colburn's 'Hanson Sport and Social Club' (or, as we still call it, 'The Arc'). A splendid evening for all, which also featured Nobby Stiles' son (John) in his role as compere and stand up comedian, and who was much, much better than l was expecting, although, as he said himself, nobody remembers him playing for Leeds United, it's always as Nobby's son.
Mind you, Nobby did play for Manchester United and England, and is one of the few English players to have won both the European Cup (in 1968) and World Cup (in 1966).
Sadly, Nobby has had dementia and very poor health for a while, as aging and illnesses are bastards, but l hope he and his family are not suffering.
Here's John and Nobby

And here's Nobby at a charity match in 1968, pre owning the 'Spud' look that was later used in Trainspotting. He may not look it from the photograph, but he was one mean, hard player.

toodle pip

jacket at halloween

Halloween may be over, but l can't erase this image of Jacket (a lad from Catterick) out of my tiny little mind.
It's like it's been lasered into my eyeballs for eternity!

toodle pip

scotty is a menber of the wrong army

This photograph makes me laugh every time I see it. It's Scooty, son of Bez, both of whom are well known in the Catterick area. New army recruits at Catterick are having their photograph taken alongside Tescos at Catterick Garrison, and Scotty joins in dressed as a Roman soldier (possibly Greek).
Top man, and a Manchester United fan as well (like his father).
You may also have guessed - Scotty is crackers.

toodle pip

around joes with mr parrot

Visiting Joe yesterday with Mr Parrot, who is still a bit dubious about Joe's large blue one (fnnaaaarr), hence his slightly ruffled / raised feathers look.

toodle pip

hand written messages at the kfc

When l was at the Catterick branch of KFC yesterday (I'm still not used to having a branch at Catterick!), my order came with a handwritten message at the top, which l did not notice until l had driven away from the premises.
Now this meant l immediately considered two options. First of all, and the one that would have been more likely years ago, was that the girl who was serving me took a bit of a shine to my cheeky charm, and left the message as a flirtatious one off. The second, more likely option, is that she was just being friendly, and leaves a message for most people. Either way, a nice gesture, that enhanced the already joyous experience of purchasing chicken and chips.
I suppose there is also a chance that the staff are slave driven worker drones on less than minimum wage who have no say in the matter as it is now part of company policy, and face instant dismissal if they fail to adhere to the strict work code, in constant fear of losing their jobs, and having to plaster on fake smiles all through their mind numbingly tedious shifts, while waiting for the aching in their feet from standing all day to abate with the sweet relief of death, or the clocking off time, whichever comes first.
I hope it's one of the first two options.

toodle pip

the new kfc at catterick

The new KFC franchise taking shape at Catterick Garrison. It's meant to be one of the first of the new outlets to be opened, and l (as well as many others) can't wait.

I'll have to get around to expanding  the doorways in my house before the gluttony commences, or l'll be sleeping in the streets.

toodle pip

burnfest - coming soon

Coming very soon to sunny Colburn in the heart of Catterick - the now annual Burnfest!
Wine bar first, then Colburn, then flaking out at about 10pm. Fun for all the family!

toodle pip

the a1 closed in both directions

                           

High drama in Catterick Village!!!!!
It's not very often that the A1 is closed in both directions, but here's the evidence from a couple of weeks ago, when the police and army were investigating a mysterious explosion. Cue mayhem on the slip and surrounding roads.
The cause of the explosion is still unknown, but my guess would be a left over firework, set off drunkenly, late at night.

toodle pip

the weekend starts here!! - plus rival sons - keep on swinging

The weekend does indeed, start here!!
I'm heading out later around Catterick and Richmond with Robbo and the lads today, then seeing Rocker's band in Richmond tonight (no doubt followed by takeaways and a recording of 'Match of the Day').
Manchester United v Liverpool tomorrow at 1.30pm, (hopefully 6 wins on the trot), then off to see Rival Sons in Newcastle on Monday, followed by a day of doing bugger all on Tuesday, before heading back to Newcastle on Wednesday, and resuming work thereafter.
Admittedly a rather long stretch of the definition 'weekend', but it certainly suits me.



toodle pip

johnny's cafe at camp centre and progress

To anyone living in the Catterick Garrison area, Johnny's cafes were one of the main places to hang out, eat cheese and onion rolls, and talk crap. Obviously only the location has changed, as plenty of rolls are still eaten, and trust me, the crap is flowing as steadily as ever, but it's a shame that they have now gone, this one by Camp Centre roundabout being replaced by an Aldi (or Lidl, l forget which one).
Much as l love the addition of new shops to the area, buildings such as this, the Camp Centre post office, The Walkerville hotel / Stax / Scorpion nightclub, and the Colburn Lodge should have been given historical status and preserved. They are what gave the Garrison an identity (apart from the thousands of soldiers passing through).
Bloody progress!!!!!
Saying that,  l'm still looking forward to the new cinema and KFC outlet.  Sitting in the dark watching films, and eating plenty of Southern Fried Chicken.
As before, only the venues will have changed, as l already do that at home (way too often).

The Colburn Lodge earlier in the year, awaiting development. It looks a lot worse now.

toodle pip

hitler is posted to catterick

Hitler is posted to Catterick, and he's not happy about it.
At least he knows about my local (the shitty wine bar at White Shops).

toodle pip

harry enfield in the hildyard arms

Something that wasn't expected at the weekend.  Harry Enfield in The Hildyard Arms in Colburn, Catterick Garrison. One of our few remaining local pubs.
Either that or my drug flashbacks have started to kick in (about bleeding time).

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