tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2009-11-21:/The Blogger formerly known as Bloke in the Big Blue HouseMokoFeed2009-11-21T00:11:23+01:00tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-08-04:/2008/08/04/what-about-me-4540434/Bloke2008-08-04T10:57:35+02:002008-08-04T11:00:11+02:00 <p>On Saturday one daughter, one nephew and two German students are playing hide and seek in the house. During the course of the game the living room curtains manage to get pulled down, rail and all!</p> <p>So I have to stop what I'm doing, take all of the curtains off the rail, find all of the missing bits, climb on chairs, sofas and windowsills to put the rail back up, put one curtain up, take it back down again because I've put the rail upside down, remove said rail and turn it over and put it back up again, search for the bits that fall off again, put four curtains back up and then go back to what i was doing.</p> <p>Then on Sunday all four of them present Sarah with a homemade card apologising for misbehaving - just Sarah not ME! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/08/04/what-about-me-4540434/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-08-01:/2008/08/01/the-case-of-the-vanishing-vacuum-cleaner-4528307/Bloke2008-08-01T09:46:24+02:002008-08-01T09:47:49+02:00 <p>Last week our vacuum cleaner suddenly stopped working - I checked all of the usual suspects like the wiring connections in the plug and the fuse but they were all fine. As it was just a cheap one we decided to buy another.</p> <p>After we did we put the old one out in front of the house ready for the bin men to take away. A couple of days later Sarah heard someone talking about it and it promptly vanished!! </p> <p>However the next morning it was back again!!</p> <p>And then the following evening it had gone again but this time the hose was left behind.</p> <p>Make your minds up!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/08/01/the-case-of-the-vanishing-vacuum-cleaner-4528307/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-07-22:/2008/07/22/licence-to-print-money-4483851/Bloke2008-07-22T16:09:37+02:002008-07-22T16:09:37+02:00 <p>Is it just me or do the Power companies set your monthly payments too low when you switch suppliers or move house and then let you run up a huge bill which ties you into them till you have paid off the balance.</p> <p>We moved in to our house in October last year - in November we switched to E-on who told us our payments would be £65 a month.</p> <p>After a few months we found out they had totally under estimated our reading at our old house and we now owed them over £1000. We were then told that our payment should have been £80 per month. With the money owed for our old property we now had to pay £140 per month</p> <p>we then found out they had under estimated our readings in the new property too and their current estimate is £159 per month (double what we were originally asked to pay. So with the money owed from the previous property and the money owed from this one they want us to pay £235 per month (and that is after they waived almost £600 of the back money.</p> <p>So we have gone from £65 to £235 in just under a year - talk about inflation and we are stuck with them for at least two years - after which they'll be dumped without a doubt!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/07/22/licence-to-print-money-4483851/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-07-22:/2008/07/22/what-a-world-we-live-in-4483123/Bloke2008-07-22T13:20:03+02:002008-07-22T13:20:03+02:00 <p>Yesterday Sarah was sitting with the kids in MacDonalds in Thornton Heath (near Crotdon)talking to her mum on the mobile. Ben was in the play area with his sister and cousin. Suddenly he let out a scream and came running over to his mum in tears. he had been bitten on the face by another child.</p> <p>This child was about the same age as Ben and launched an unprovked attack on him - ben had just been standing there quietly when it happened.</p> <p>The bite mark on his face was so bad that he needed to go to hospital to have it checked over. Thankfully the bite wasn't so deep and to require any major treatment but he has to take anti-biotics as a precaution and may need a tetanus injection.</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/456/2678456_c3b62e3743_s.jpg" alt="DSC00018" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>The staff in Macdonalds were useless and the person who Sarah asked didn't even know if they had a first aid kit. Luckily for them there wasn't a serious disturbance between the parents of the two children because I doubt they would have coped.</p> <p>Meanwhile Sarah's mum had driven down to the restaurant and while she was inside her car was keyed from one end to the other in the car park outside.</p> <p>And I think to myself what a wonderful world!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/07/22/what-a-world-we-live-in-4483123/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-06-05:/2008/06/05/the-naked-truth-4275928/Bloke2008-06-05T12:24:37+02:002008-06-05T12:24:37+02:00 <p>I've been watching that Trinny and Suzanna program the Great British body and I had to laugh at the end! All through the program they were banging on about how they were going to get these people to strip off to help them deal with their body issues. In reality when it came to the crunch the only two people in the field who seemed to have issues about stripping off were....Trinny and Suzanna!! Everyone else got their kit off and lay about naked for hours on end while they organised the sculpture. The two of them wrapped themselves in space blankets and only shed them when they were so close together their bodies were actually hidden!!</p> <p>I wish I'd known about it - I would have been up there like a shot - never known to be shy about getting my kit off in public!! I always wanted to be in one of those <a href="http://www.spencertunick.com">Spencer Tunick</a> pictures - maybe one day!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/06/05/the-naked-truth-4275928/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-05-16:/2008/05/16/i-love-you-baby-but-face-it-she-s-madonn-4181155/Bloke2008-05-16T11:30:01+02:002008-05-16T11:30:01+02:00 <p>I can't believe I just did that!!</p> <p>She said she wanted to go and see Madonna so I bought her tickets!!</p> <p>I'm still recovering from the shock! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/05/16/i-love-you-baby-but-face-it-she-s-madonn-4181155/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-05-15:/2008/05/15/take-your-daughter-to-work-day-4179525/Bloke2008-05-15T22:47:19+02:002008-05-15T22:48:14+02:00 <p>Sarah's eldest daughter's school organised a "Take your daughter to work" day and we were asked if we could take them with us to give them a taste of what a day in a work environment was like. So a couple of weeks ago I asked my boss if it was ok and to my surprise he said yes!</p> <p>So today she came in with me and found out just how boring work can be!! I got her to help me sort out some graphics for an event next week and generally observe what I did. The girls in admin nabbed her while I was talking to one of the Directors and got her putting purchase orders into envelopes and franking them.</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/974/2529974_946e5c9c23_s.jpg" alt="tydtw 1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>After a while I ran out of things for her to do and she started rummaging in my desk drawers and found a toy monkey which is now dangling from the back of my seat!</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/975/2529975_61e165dabd_s.jpg" alt="tydtw 2" vspace="5" hspace="5"> </p> <p>Tomorrow she has to discuss her experience and give a presentation so I blagged her a company t-shirt to wear but she's just tried it on and it's miles too big!! Oh well maybe she'll grow into it!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/05/15/take-your-daughter-to-work-day-4179525/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-05-12:/2008/05/12/it-s-taken-me-3-hours-to-get-home-4165395/Bloke2008-05-12T20:45:51+02:002008-05-12T20:45:51+02:00 <p>All of 40 miles!!</p> <p>There was an accident on the London bound side of the M20/A20 and the motorway was shut. I don't know what had happened but as I past the spot the Police were turning all the traffic round preparing to get them to drive back down the motorway on the wrong side.</p> <p>Meanwhile it had taken me over an hour and a half to get the 5 miles to that point. The reason the driver of a 40' truck full of beer obviously hadn't spotted the stationary traffic in front of him and had to slam the brakes on. This caused him to turn over and as I passed the police were unloading the beer from the back of the truck as it lay on it's side across two lanes.</p> <p>Sometimes I hate the South East! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/05/12/it-s-taken-me-3-hours-to-get-home-4165395/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-05-11:/2008/05/11/try-anything-once-4161388/Bloke2008-05-11T22:10:19+02:002008-05-11T22:10:19+02:00 <p>....except incest and Morris dancing!</p> <p>Well it finally happened I've gone back to Morris dancing. It happened at the Sweeps festival in Rochester last weekend when I was finally convinced to go back. So I went along to practise last Wednesday and again this afternoon - and to be honest I really enjoyed it. I'm also amazed how many of the dances I can actually remember after 2 years.</p> <p>Also today the side - Wolf's Head & Vixen - were in the Independent on Sunday magazine in an article entitled </p> <p>"Hey nonny no, no, no: Goths and pagans are reinventing morris dancing"</p> <p>you can see it <a href="http://tinyurl.com/44kh8j ">here</a> </p> <p>And there are pictures of the side <a href="http://tinyurl.com/3t75o4">here</a> and <a href="http://tinyurl.com/4u8hjq">here</a></p> <p>Here is one of them it's our friends Hanna and Matt with their daughter Lillie</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/494/2521494_f2470d0abb_s.jpg" alt="hanna and matt small" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/05/11/try-anything-once-4161388/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-04-26:/2008/04/26/a-blog-for-my-brother-4096861/Bloke2008-04-26T10:56:27+02:002008-04-26T10:56:27+02:00 <p>'Ere Garry you're a senior Police officer maybe you can spot what is wrong with this picture.</p> <p>We have lived in our house for around 6 months now. In that time we have noticed that there are a few minor problems with vandalism and drunken behaviour on Friday and Saturday nights - nothing in the league of the guy who was kicked to death in your area - but enough to be of annoyance. My wing mirror was kicked off one night, I've had to pick up broken beer bottles from the front of the house on several occasions, next door's for sale sign has been kicked down more times than I care to remember - you get the picture. So with that and a number of quite vocal drunks wandering down the street in the early hours how many Police Officers have we seen in the street in those 6 months........</p> <p>.....none!</p> <p>Until today....</p> <p>....today at the bottom of the street we have 10 armoured Police vans and about 40 Police officers -some in paramilitary uniforms with batons. Oh and apparently the area will be patrolled by a helicopter later - just in case! The reason?</p> <p>A football match - Gillingham's last game of the season in which they may be relegated. </p> <p>The two things that I can see are:</p> <p>Firstly - remember all those years ago when we used to follow Sunderland around? Well what would antagonise football fans more than a large visible Police presence. </p> <p>and secondly - if the money can be found for such a large Police presence today then why can't it be found for normal policing in street like ours (and other like it) every other day?</p> <p>I'll shut up now or you will think I've turned into our Dad! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/04/26/a-blog-for-my-brother-4096861/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-04-21:/2008/04/21/cara-cymru-4076434/Bloke2008-04-21T22:42:23+02:002008-04-21T23:16:56+02:00 <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/489/2483489_03135b2c8a_s.jpg" alt="Welsh flag small" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>We just got back from a lovely weeks holiday in Wales near Aberystwyth. The Weather was really nice for most of the week which was most unexpected. In fact we had better weather in April than we had in Southern France in August last year.</p> <p>We had picked the area because it was somewhere we had never been to but when we looked into it we found there were lots of interesting things to do and see. It is also a very scenic part of the world with stunning views.</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/491/2483491_4933d8d434_m.jpg" alt="Aberystwyth Castle small" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>On our first day - after we had made sure we had some food (didn't want to repeat the problem we had last year) we went into Aberystwyth to have a look around. We visited the castle and went down to the beach. We also noticed it had a <a href="http://www.aberystwythcliffrailway.co.uk/">Cliff lift</a> which we investiagted later in the week (turns out it's the largest cliff lift in the UK.</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/494/2483494_8556d4443d_s.jpg" alt="cliff lift" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>One of the things that I noticed quite early was the number of steam railways there were in the area and we got to see not one, not two but three of them even though we only went on one of them. The first one we saw was the <a href="http://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/">Vale of Rheidol </a> railway which is in the centre of Aberystwyth. We happened to get to the station just as a train steamed in. It was a toss up between this one and the nearby Talyllyn railway as to which we went on.</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/492/2483492_f81ea9cbd2_m.jpg" alt="Ben and Rheneas" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>In the end it was the <a href="http://www.talyllyn.co.uk/">Talyllyn</a> because we found out that it was the railway on which the Rev W Awdry based the Skarloey Railway stories after he had worked there as a volunteer Guard. In fact the train that was in steam that day was No.2 Dolgoch which appears in the stories as Rheneas - the train that saved the railway. We also saw Rusty and I got a glimpse of Peter Sam in the sheds as we went past.</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/495/2483495_30c932368c_s.jpg" alt="GWR train" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>On the way home we stopped off at the <a href="http://www.wllr.org.uk/">Welshpool & Llanfair Railway</a> and once again just as we arrived a train pulled into the station. Ben amd I had an intersting discussion as I thought the train was like Duck (being a GWR engine) but he said it was like Percy because he was green!! We also spotted another railway when we went to <a href="http://www.kingarthurslabyrinth.com/">King Arthurs Labyrinth</a> - The <a href="http://www.corris.co.uk/">Corris railway</a> which also features in the stories of Rev Awdry but sadly iy wasn't in steam that day.</p> <p>Overall we had such a good time that we have booked to got back there next year at Easter to do some of the things we didn't get to do this time. Looking forward to it already!!</p> <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/493/2483493_01c0474513_s.jpg" alt="boat at sunset" vspace="5" hspace="5"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/04/21/cara-cymru-4076434/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-04-09:/2008/04/09/crying-over-spilt-milk-4023334/Bloke2008-04-09T23:48:55+02:002008-04-09T23:48:55+02:00 <p>I just watched the latest episode of Skins again</p> <p>I still can't believe Chris died - it was horrible</p> <p>Poor Cassie </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/04/09/crying-over-spilt-milk-4023334/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-04-08:/2008/04/08/a-long-time-ago-in-a-country-not-too-far-4017316/Bloke2008-04-08T19:46:24+02:002008-04-08T19:46:24+02:00 <p>A band called The Grateful Dead played what was one of the best versions of one of their songs.</p> <p>That was 36 years ago tonight at the Empire Pool at wembley</p> <p>The song was Dark Star and clocked in at around 32 minutes (and they didn't even reach the second verse!) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/04/08/a-long-time-ago-in-a-country-not-too-far-4017316/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-04-08:/2008/04/08/feelin-old-4017292/Bloke2008-04-08T19:41:47+02:002008-04-08T19:41:47+02:00 <p>I was in the supermarket at the CD counter - phone pressed under one ear reading out the details on the back of a CD.</p> <p>First I heard myself complain that I needed my glasses to read the small print on the back</p> <p>Then I said I've never heard of any of these people - DJ something or other featuring somebady else. </p> <p>I wouldn't have minded if I'd been buying a CD for my daughter but it was for the missus!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/04/08/feelin-old-4017292/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-04-08:/2008/04/08/to-know-which-way-the-wind-blows-4017280/Bloke2008-04-08T19:38:57+02:002008-04-08T19:38:57+02:00 <p>So two days after shivering in the snow I'm able to walk around in shirt sleeves at 7pm.</p> <p>Weirder and weirder!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/04/08/to-know-which-way-the-wind-blows-4017280/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-04-06:/2008/04/06/you-don-t-need-a-weatherman-4004255/Bloke2008-04-06T19:19:00+02:002008-04-06T19:19:00+02:00 <p>Thursday - hottest day of the year so far</p> <p>Today - snow</p> <p>Freaky weather or what? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/04/06/you-don-t-need-a-weatherman-4004255/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-04-02:/2008/04/02/bbc-radio-poo-3987722/Bloke2008-04-02T20:55:38+02:002008-04-02T20:56:38+02:00 <p>I was listening to Radio 4 tonight when I picked Sarah up. She did her usual thing of getting into the car and saying "what's this rubbish you're listening to?"</p> <p>At that moment Ben said "It's Radio Poo!" </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/04/02/bbc-radio-poo-3987722/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-31:/2008/03/31/empty-gestures-3974359/Bloke2008-03-31T13:38:46+02:002008-03-31T13:38:46+02:00 <p>I just went to my local Tesco to buy some energy saving light-bulbs but guess what they don't sell them! And there was me thinking that Tesco was the "Green" supermarket....</p> <p>....oh but hang on Energy saving light bulbs were last years big environmental thing - this years is carrier bags of course silly me!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/31/empty-gestures-3974359/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-30:/2008/03/30/there-s-a-darkness-on-the-edge-of-town-3970118/Bloke2008-03-30T23:09:56+02:002008-03-30T23:12:11+02:00 <p>Last night we joined in the <a href="http://www.earthhour.org/">Earth hour campaign</a> and switched all our lights off between 8pm and 9pm. Earth hour started in Sydney last year but this years event was global. The idea was to switch off your lights for an hour to highlight the need for action on global warming and the contribution that electricity generation makes.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deadheaduk/2373998623/" title="Earth Hour #2 by deadheaduk, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2219/2373998623_c45873a95b_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Earth Hour #2"></a></p> <p>So we switched all the lights off and lit candles around the house. We even had to put the shopping away by the light of three candles in the kitchen. It was rather nice and we all agreed that we should light the house by candles more often!</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deadheaduk/2373994899/" title="Earth Hour #4 by deadheaduk, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2332/2373994899_45c6a7b75a_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Earth Hour #4"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/30/there-s-a-darkness-on-the-edge-of-town-3970118/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-26:/2008/03/26/flash-aaaarrrrrggghhhh-3946601/Bloke2008-03-26T23:30:27+01:002008-03-26T23:30:27+01:00 <p>I got a nice letter from the Metropolitan Police today informing me that I am to be prosecuted for speeding. This was after I set off a speed camera at five to four on my way to work the other morning. Apparently I was doing 46 mph in a 30 limit - oops!</p> <p>All together now....</p> <p>Three points on my licence but I'm still rolling along...</p> <p>Damn you Mr Gatzo </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/26/flash-aaaarrrrrggghhhh-3946601/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-25:/2008/03/25/was-it-really-worth-it-3940428/Bloke2008-03-25T23:36:48+01:002008-03-25T23:36:48+01:00 <p><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/271/2431271_bee3248bbb_s.jpg" alt="Easter eggs" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>Sarah's nan sent over some money to buy Easter eggs with - I got a little creme egg one from Woolies. When I opened it up there were 2 (yes folks count 'em) MINI creme eggs inside the main egg. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/25/was-it-really-worth-it-3940428/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-24:/2008/03/25/been-confused-all-weekend-3934380/Bloke2008-03-25T00:07:56+01:002008-03-25T00:07:56+01:00 <p>Oh god I've been so confused</p> <p>On Friday I thought it was Saturday because I was off work and we went to Asda but then we had roast lamb for dinner and it felt like Sunday but that only lasted till EastEnders came on then it was Friday again!!</p> <p>Then on Saturday Sarah's mum and Nan came over which made it feel like Sunday but I went to the library so it couldn't have been.</p> <p>And then there was the snow which was very confusing - I guess we are used to Easter being later and therefore warmer. </p> <p>I blame the full moon </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/25/been-confused-all-weekend-3934380/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-24:/2008/03/24/facebook-3932534/Bloke2008-03-24T19:14:47+01:002008-03-24T19:14:47+01:00 <p>I've finally given in to the hype and joined facebook!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/24/facebook-3932534/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-20:/2008/03/20/when-the-night-comes-falling-from-the-sk-3910732/Bloke2008-03-20T17:47:45+01:002008-03-20T17:47:45+01:00 <p>I forgot to do this when it happened but it was with sadness that I learned of the death from cancer of guitarist Jeff Healey.</p> <p><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/117/2419117_3c9841fab1_s.jpg" alt="jeff healey" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>I first heard Jeff Healey when a friend played his album to me one night - it was on vinyl so that shows how long ago it was. I subsequently bought it on CD and to be honest it didn't sound as good. </p> <p>Jeff was blind from the age of one due to cancer - a disease he spent his whole life fighting and when he came to play the guitar he had never seen anyone play so he played it in what seemed to be a logical way with it sitting on his lap.</p> <p>It worked though and he played some mean blues. I saw him years ago at the Town and Country club in London. Sadly missed </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/20/when-the-night-comes-falling-from-the-sk-3910732/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-15:/2008/03/15/we-ve-been-upstaged-3883614/Bloke2008-03-15T20:27:12+01:002008-03-15T20:27:12+01:00 <p>That bloody Neil Young bloke has just announced his only UK summer date </p> <p>It's at the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood a few miles from the site of our festival</p> <p>And it's on July 6th - the day after our festival</p> <p>Wonder if he wants to do a warm up gig?</p> <p>So if there are any Neil fans out there want to spend an enjoyable Saturday listening to some good music before going on to see Neil then there are still some tickets left! (That's assuming you can still afford it after buying your NY ticket which if his Hammersmith shows are anything to go by will be astronomical!!</p> <p>This years line up btw</p> <p>Workingman's Deed<br> Nigel Mazlyn Jones<br> Laredo<br> Tyrannosaurus Alan<br> Nick Weaver</p> <p>and entertainment from DJ's The Strange Remain and dancing from Sian Edwards-Davies.</p> <p>Who knows those Squeeze boys might even put in an appearance again!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/15/we-ve-been-upstaged-3883614/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-15:/2008/03/15/oh-bum-3883558/Bloke2008-03-15T20:17:32+01:002008-03-15T20:17:32+01:00 <p>Driving to work at about 3:40 yesterday morning I forgot about the speed camera in the Limehouse tunnel and there was a flash in my rear view mirror - grrr! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/15/oh-bum-3883558/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-13:/2008/03/13/granny-knows-best-3872116/Bloke2008-03-13T16:58:10+01:002008-03-13T16:58:10+01:00 <p>I've had an emotional couple of days working on Age Concern's <a href="http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/grandparent_of_the_year.asp">Grandparent of the year</a> awards. </p> <p>On Wednesday we had to go to a London hotel and film the Grandchildren talking about why they had nominated their Grandparent and what was so special about them. There were some tear jerking moments both for the children as they told their stories and for me listening to and recording them.</p> <p>Then today there was the awards ceremony at the Houses of Parliament presented by Fiona Phillips (who had a few sniffles along the way) and even though I'd recorded the videos and edited them playing them back in that room today set me off all over again.</p> <p>And of course it sets you off thinking about your Grandparents - my Gran is 98 in May and still going strong - albeit a little slower than before. My Nan died aged 92 without seeing any of my children (she died a week after my eldest was born and never got to see even a picture of her).</p> <p>And of course my mum who would have loved to have been a Grandmother but she died just before I knew I was going to be a Dad - I'm sure she would have been a contender for this award had she lived. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/13/granny-knows-best-3872116/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-08:/2008/03/08/do-bad-things-always-happen-in-3-s-3836234/Bloke2008-03-08T12:58:26+01:002008-03-08T12:58:58+01:00 <p>If so I'll just sit here quietly waiting for number 3.....</p> <p>Last night I fell down the stairs from the attic room smacking the 3 little toes on my right foot on the spindles of the banister - ouch!</p> <p>Then just as we were getting into bed I heard a bang right outside the window, followed by a clatter and a drunken cheer. I didn't bother looking because I just thought that some drunks had knocked next doors For Sale sign down (again).</p> <p>However when I looked out at 5:30 this morning and saw the sign still standing I looked round to see what else it could have been and spotted the wing mirror missing from my car.</p> <p>Luckily (if that's the right word) they only broke the mirror ( I had a spare) and housing (which fitted back after a fashion) and left the mechanism and electrics intact - but still about £100 worth of damage </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/08/do-bad-things-always-happen-in-3-s-3836234/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-06:/2008/03/06/if-this-was-your-daughter-3825640/Bloke2008-03-06T16:13:59+01:002008-03-06T16:13:59+01:00 <p>We've had some French Students staying with us over the last few days.</p> <p>Last night - just as I was going off to collect them we had a phonecall to say one of them was ill and they were trying to sort out getting her to a doctor - they would keep us informed.</p> <p>An hour and a half later we found out that she had been to the Doctor - the agent didn't know what was wrong but knew that they had gone with a teacher to a late night pharmacy and would be coming back to us in a taxi.</p> <p>About quarter to ten the doorbell rang and the two girls were there - no sign of a teacher. So we knew they were ill but not what was wrong with them. There was no explanation about the medicine she had been given nor what the problem had been. If she had been taken ill again (she arrived holding one of those trays they have in hospitals for people to be sick into) we would have known what to say to a Doctor.</p> <p>Sarah googled the medicine so we could get an idea of what was wrong.</p> <p>Hope our daughter gets better treatment on her school trip to Belgium! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/06/if-this-was-your-daughter-3825640/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:number142.blog.co.uk,2008-03-06:/2008/03/06/what-i-wish-i-d-said-3825591/Bloke2008-03-06T16:04:52+01:002008-03-06T16:04:52+01:00 <p>There was a woman on the train this morning who tapped the man next to me and asked him to turn down his mp3 player because it was annoying her.</p> <p>This is what I wish I had said to her!!</p> <p>"Excuse me - while I understand you asking him to turn down his music can I just say that I haven't really enjoyed sitting here watching you put on your make up. You really should consider how your actions effect those around you before you criticize others"</p> <p>If only I'd had the guts!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://number142.blog.co.uk/2008/03/06/what-i-wish-i-d-said-3825591/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>