tan hill wedding

Off to Tan Hill on Saturday for the wedding of Lynn (who works with the FPO) and Tony. Got a taxi there and back (at the cost of £60), but it meant I would be back at home and in my own bed for the Sunday papers. The do was better than I thought it would be and plenty off ale was imbibed, so the taxi turned out to be a good idea. The main surprise of the evening was seeing a couple of people I know working there. Ranting Ritchie was behind the bar serving the ale, and didn't recognise me at first as I have had so much hair cut off. This meant he called me "Sir" for a while before realising who I was (Oh! - how we laughed about it later!). There was also a bit of a shock when the food came out, as Newcastle Steve was the chef/cook and had prepared it. It was curry, and tasted pretty good, although I was a bit suspicious about his special sauce and avoided that. Sat in the bar after the do talking to Ritchie and Steve until about 1.30am, drinking double whiskies while waiting for the taxi. There was some talk about doing some kind of benefit gig for Ritchie's brother John, who is in hospital in a bad way after having a stroke a few weeks ago, which was also a bit of a shock as it was the first I had heard about it. Something may indeed happen, but who knows? Anyway, it was a good night, and followed up by an argument with the taxi driver on the way home as he was a Manchester City fan (albeit in good spirits).

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plants have eyes

This is wierd - very weird!

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back from marmaris

Another trip finished and l am now back for a while. Arrived back from Marmaris last night, but there is no peace (for the wicked) at the moment. Off to a wedding at Tan Hill this afternoon, and decided to get a taxi there and back so lots of drink can be taken and l will also wake up in my own bed in the morning, awaiting the Sunday paper. The cost with Frontline taxis is £60, but it would have cost just as much to book a hotel, plus somebody has to drive. The offer was on to stay at the pub itself, but l didn't fancy dossing down with a load of other people (Christ l am getting old and boring). Pick up is at 3.15pm, so l had better go and have a quick bath and wash some of the Turkish filth off me. Who knows, l may even treat everyone and have a shave as well.

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turkey again - leave in one hour!

These are pictures of the Villa we rented when we were in Dalyan last week. Unfortunately this time, because it is work, I am staying in a hotel (The Blue Bay?) in Marmaris, which I do not expect will be as good. Still, it is a free holiday and it is all inclusive, so there's no way I am going to complain about it (plus I get paid extra for going).

I have just been to Tesco for last minute purchases and I also picked up some money and got insurance for the trip. Now I am just hanging around waiting for my taxi. I have just put on some washing and done the dishes, packed my bag and finished the book I was reading. Think I'll be a good lad and tidy up some more, before giving little Nozzer a tearful kiss goodbye.

Till next week..

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dalyan holiday

Some of the mementos from the Dalyan trip last week. It seems to have flown by and also seems as though it was ages ago (as usual). Still, off to Turkey again tomorrow! Hurrah!!

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wow man - pretty high

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the milky way

Imagine that in this single frame you are looking at about half of the 200 billion stars (our Sun is one of them) in our Galaxy.

If you were to count them and if you could do 100 a second (100, 200, 300, ...) it would take no less than 30 years to count them all!

photo by costadinos

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hair cut in dalyan

While I was away in Dalyan l decided to get all my hair cut off, so it has now gone from pretty damn long to pretty damn short. The hairdresser also gave me a shave, did my eyebrows, put a face pack on me and burnt all my excess hair off. He also tried to drown me (see the evidence above). Good though.

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flowers in dalyan

Just back from being in Dalyan, Turkey for nearly two weeks (since the last post). It feels like it has flown by and finished way too soon. Maybe not for Kerry (one of our party) as she suffered from a bad back while away, and had to go to the local clinic for injections each day (not that they did much good). More news about the holiday later, as I am under strict instructions not to stay up too late tonight, as I am going to Stockton in the morning, but here's some pictures of flowers around our villa.

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dating in the 1980's

Dating Montage
Uploaded by smithy00101. - Watch more comedy videos and sitcoms.

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nature photographs

Unsure where this is

This is Hawaii

The Northern Lights

I can't remember where I got these from, it was probably National Geographic, but I wouldn't swear on it. However, they are pretty damn good, wherever they are from.

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things you don't see anymore (part 328)

I was pondering (as is my wont) about how language changes and words evolve. Also about insults and old expressions (exciting life I lead), and it occurred to me that you never have anyone saying "Phwoor!" while doing the motion above (Ray Langton in Coronation Street, 1974, for all you youngsters out there).

I might start a one man campaign and try to bring it back. Wish me luck.

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keep out signs

Nothing to say really, apart from the top one is my favourite

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alex higgins

I will be away next week (In Turkey!), but have set the Sky controls to tape the Alex Higgins documentary on the BBC. I used to see him out and about in the Boro a few years ago, and he wasn't looking too good even then. I was still pretty surprised to see the photos of him just before he died, he was definitely not a well man. By all accounts he could be a right twat, but one thing was also certain, he was never that dull, and popularised snooker for the likes of myself, who previously just thought the game was for sad old bastards and boring. Sport could do with more mavericks like Alex, who cared more for living a full life rather than just trying to fit in and please everyone. He was only letting himself down, as his was an individual sport, not a team game whereby he had to take the other team members into account. Obviously in his private life he would have also let people down, but that was between him and them. I am just amazed that he lived so long.

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the hairy chest shirt

Is it brilliant and ironic, or just disgusting? I'm not sure myself

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olaf otto becker

Pictures of Greenland by Olaf Otto Becker. It was called Greenland to try and attract folk to move there (if I remember my history properly). It doesn't look as though it has worked. Still, some great pictures to admire.

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wc fields juggles

Pure Genius

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another mad tattoo

Trouble is, I can't decide if this is a genius idea or the guy is a fucking idiot. I think it would be great if it was covered up by hair, but was then exposed in a hospital when they were about to do surgery or something. It would then give everyone a surprise and be brilliant. If however, the guy just kept his head shaved all the time to show it off, I don't like it and he is a fucking idiot.

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Russian photographer Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky's 100 year old colour photographs

These were all taken 100 years ago, but look really fresh and full of life. Obviously everybody in the photographs are now dead, and that is before thinking about the fact that these were taken before the First World War.

Amazing.

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guitar shop front in southampton

This is a shop in Southampton that sells guitar stuff (as if you couldn't guess). What a great idea. It makes me want to travel there and get myself a guitar from them (and then buy an amp, leads, learn how to play it etc etc - maybe I won't bother after all). I love the clever advertising though.

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the busby stoop

When I was out and about at work the other day, I had to go to Thirsk to pick someone up. On the way there, I called in at the Busby Stoop, the first time I have ever stopped there, although I have driven past it plenty of times.

It is a famous pub in Ghost hunting circles, as it had a chair in it that was an old customers favourite, and when he died, it resulted in bad luck to anyone who sat on it.

The tale goes that some soldiers from Catterick didn't believe the tale, sat on the chair for a dare, and then crashed their car on the way back to Catterick and died (if true, it probably had nothing to do with the beer they would have drunk while in the pub, I'm sure).

The chair is featured on the pub sign, and people travel to the pub because of the tales, but it is actually not there anymore, and hasn't been for some time. It is now housed in Thirsk museum, which I think is a bit crap, as it should still be in the pub. It could always be put up out of the way, I do think it was attached to the wall at one stage, but it could surely be put in a place that made it impossible for people to sit on it. Don't get me wrong, I think the tale is a load of hookum, but if true, let people sit on it and take their chances. I certainly would, just to disprove the ghostly tale, but I also guess that is why they do not want it in the pub.

Softies.

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getting the loop recorder checked

On Tuesday I had to go to The James Cook hospital in Middlesbrough to get my loop recorder checked out (it was fine). Glad to say I was only in the hospital for 32 minutes in total (the parking ticket machine gives out the information). As usual though, it was another crappy August day. Bloody English summers, where's the bleeding sunshine?

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early for the meeting in darlington

I had to go to Darlington this week for a work meeting, but I decided to come in early and have a wander round while listening to my ipod. Arrival time was about 8am and my meeting was at 10am, so it gave me plenty of time to doss about. Good job the weather was OK, or I wouldn't have been so keen.

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william arthur (ludgate hill) 1894 - 1940

"When lions were being led by donkeys, I led the donkey"

William Arthur (sometimes known as Ludgate Hill), was a Manchester born poet who died in the blitz. He was a stretcher bearer during the First World War and ended up in Rampton Mental Institution in the 1930's. He was also part of a firing squad (see 'The Coward).

When everyone goes on about 'Help the Heroes' nowadays, I think it's the ordinary people like William Arthur that were conscripted in the past who are the real embodiment of heroes. At least the soldiers today are going off to fight through choice, as nobody forces them to join up now (although I do realise it's often the poorer and less well educated members of society that choose to do so).

Here's some of William Arthur's work.

We Gassed Fritz Today (The Somme 1916)

We dropped mustard gas on Fritz today

The wind blew it back in our faces

Mother of God we murdered our own

Lined up dead in old munition cases

And the Padre he blessed all of the bodies

The General he addressed all of the men

Tomorrow the wind would be turning

And we’ll be gassing the Hun again

Mud There Was (The Somme 1916)

Mud there was and more mud to see

Mud there was for the 22’s and me

Mud there was on July the bloody first

And it’s the mud I remember the worst

Mud there was when the whistle blew

Mud there was when cannon shell flew

Mud there was when little Nobby died

Mud there was when he fell by my side

Mud there was and more mud to see

Mud from the front to the infirmary

Mud there was on July the bloody first

And it’s the mud I remember the worst

The Coward (Etaples base camp 1916)

We Shot Harry for cowardice

But I never met a braver man

But I was on the hill that morning

And I saw that Harry ran

They picked a shooting party

They chose at random by lot

And I was chosen to shoot Harry

For something that he was not

And he refused his last cigarette

And he refused his blindfold too

And we shivered behind our rifles

But we aimed them straight and true

And one of the six had a blank

And a target fixed to Harry’s chest

And each man discharged his rifle

And each man earned one day’s rest

We Shot Harry for cowardice

But I never met a braver man

And I sent home all his possessions

And a letter to his Mam

This article would not have been possible without the research of Mike Duff (and United We Stand)

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johnny walker ad with robert carlyle

I bet that script took some remembering. Apparently this was take 40 when they finally nailed it.

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