cutting the bleeding grass again!

I've paid someone twice to do the garden this year, and the bleeding grass has managed to grow back again after both cuts, as every time l've been off work, the weather has been crap, or l've been out and about.
Yesterday however, l slaved away for hours trying to hack through thorns and bushes, plus cut the grass again and dig out roots, to find some semblance of a garden underneath. The grass bins are heaving, and will be emptied tomorrow, and l will hopefully finish it off afterwards, in preparation for the scorching sunshine that's about to appear (in my wildest dreams).
I may have to look at getting a false lawn down next year, and do away with all this crap.

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the rather rude weather forecast

As the sunshine has finally arrived, it's an appropriate time to show this old classic.
A rather suggestive weather forecast from America.
You can't convince me that the artist didn't know what they were doing, but l am surprised (yet happy) the paper printed it.

toodle pip.

the hoover dam and saint thomas - with added sugar

I've been to (and stood on the edge of) The Hoover Dam, and it looked mightily impressive. However, l'd liked to have been there recently (alright, a few years ago!), because there had been a severe drought. Because of this, the waters had been receding, and exposed the old Mormon pioneer town of Saint Thomas, which was covered over by the Colorado river when the damn was built.
Now that would be an interesting thing to see, and maybe the last opportunity to do so.
The last two photo collages are from here.



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the sun is not looking happy

It's been a nice sunny day here in Catterick, the A1 has re-opened after the mysterious explosion, but the sun itself is not looking too happy about it.

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a big wave during the floods

A picture taken during the recent floods featuring the Cove House Inn and a big wave.  If it hasn't been photoshopped, the bloke in the orange must have been crapping himself.

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proper snow

Snow snow bloody snow.
I'm sick of everyone going on about it.
I have lived in Germany, where it was a lot worse, and they just got on with their lives and coped with it (with stereotypical efficiency)
If you want to check out proper snow (and with folk still getting the job done - not just in Germany), just peruse the photograph above, and thank yourself lucky.

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out and about at work

One of the great things about my job (apart from the free holidays), is that l get to drive around the area and have a break from the usual routine.  When the weather is good, life can certainly be sweet. These were taken around the Masham area last month.

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the new york subway after hurricane sandy

I caught the end of a hurricane the very first time l went to New York (while sleeping rough), but it was nowhere as devastating as Hurricane Sandy has been.  I know there has been a lot of damage, it will cost a fortune to sort out, people have died etc, but l would have loved to have been there when it hit.  It's not exactly an experience you can have anytime you want.
More about the aftermath of the storm in New York is here.

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the snow has arrived

The bastard snow has arrived in Catterick, and it is only October.  This is the view from outside my front door about half an hour ago.  It's bleeding cold as well.
I blame God.

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take shelter (2011) - jeff nichols

I kind of enjoyed 'Take Shelter', but strangely, never felt that moved or involved with the characters, and didn't feel a lot of empathy towards them, but l couldn't say it was due to bad acting. Maybe it was the pace of the movie, or the script itself.  As l said, l can't really put my finger on why l felt unmoved, as it all appeared to be fine, but there was (to me) a lack of tension, and at the films end, l just kind of shrugged and got on with my day.
It stars Michael Shannon (the God fearing police officer in Boardwalk Empire) as Curtis LaForche, a husband who starts to have terrifying  apocalyptic visions, which make him prepare a shelter so he can save his family.  On the other hand, his mother had mental problems, and maybe it's the case that he is having them as well, and his wife Samantha (Jessica Chastain) and Hannah (his deaf daughter) need to be protected from him.  His family and friends doubt him, he acts crazy and he loses his job, but one day, the sirens start to wail, so the family head to the shelter to 'Take Shelter'.  Has he been proved right?  Is he a hero?  Watch and find out.

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the rained off football game

I switched on the TV last night to catch the end of the Poland v England game, only to find it had been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch in Warsaw.
Now l may well be an idiot, and there might be an easy explanation for this, but why didn't they close the roof of the stadium if they were expecting so much rain?  Otherwise, what's the point?
You know who l blame?  The foreign betting syndicates for it not closing, and God himself for the downpour.  Maybe he just didn't fancy England's chances on the night (It's been re-arranged for this afternoon).
Maybe it's true.  God is an Englishman (or doesn't like football)!

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videos of the flooding in catterick village

Catterick Village high street

Catterick Village Low Green, near the Oak Tree and the Bay Horse pubs

These are two videos of the flooding in Catterick Village the other day after the beck had broke its banks.  Sadly, it only blocked half of the village, so l could still get to work by heading in via the other side.  It still looks pretty impressive, even with the prat in a canoe swanning around wanting to be filmed for TV.

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recent rain photos

 The road by Tesco's heading towards Richmond from Catterick.  Only just passable on Tuesday

Heading from Catterick Bridge towards Colburn on Wednesday.  This road was closed on Tuesday

 From the TV on Monday.  I think it's Catterick Village green (they just said Catterick green).

 The River Swale at Richmond on Wednesday after it had died down a bit (but was still up)

                                        By the River Swale falls at Richmond on Wednesday

The River Swale falls, again on Wednesday

The River Swale looking towards the main bridge crossing to Catterick on Wednesday  

 The stream at Catterick village on Wednesday. You can see by the bench and table how high it had been.

The Swale inbetween Brompton and Richmond on Wednesday

It sure has been raining a lot in the last few days.  here's some picturs that l took while out and about, which show some of the effects.  Most of the really bad rain and after effects of it had died down by the time of the photos, as it was probably worse on Monday.  Ah well, we will soon have the snow to look forward to, as winter seems a lot closer than summer already.  Bloody weather.

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the A1 closed due to rain

The A1 flooded at Catterick on Monday

Looking south from Catterick Village bridge on Wednesday

Looking north from Catterick Village bridge on Wednesday

The non existant traffic on the A1 looking north and south from the Bridge at Catterick Village (North Yorkshire).  The road is closed off due to the heavy rain that has stopped the FPO going to work for two days (while l only have to go 4 miles, so l got in OK). Damn!

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holidays, las vegas and new york

 Ah, lovely Las Vegas / Sin City

 You've got to go under the sign!

Midtown comics in New York.  Mmmmmmm.....Spidey comics

Myself and the FPO (and maybe others) are jetting off early next week to go somewhere for a last minute holiday.  It won't be in the USA, but looking through some earlier photographs, these ones leapt out and reminded us of other splendid holidays thereabouts.  I don't really care where we go this time, as long as it is hot and relaxing, so we can do some reading and chill out.  The weather in the UK has been crap this year, with near constant rain oop north, so it will be good to get away.  You know who l blame?   God.   He's meant to be in charge of sunshine duties (or did l misread the Bible?).

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the new york lord of the rings sky

I'd have loved to have been in New York this week and seen this storm brewing.  The above are real photographs that have not been photo shopped, and they are all by Ryan Brenizier.  They are available to buy from his site here (without the writing on).  Very cool indeed, although l bet some people were thinking it was 'the end of days' or something..

Some other random photographs from the storm are below.

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