The View from the Hill on Saturday 12th December
There wasn't much view at all - the fog was very thick, thick enough to snuff out most of the lights of Mansfield making it a very eerie place.
You know there is a problem with news reporting when the biggest story of the day is that Tiger Woods is taking an extended break from golf to sort out his private life - the doom and gloom in the reports make it seem like golf is going to vanish. But let me tell you a little secret, golf is bigger than one man.
All it will take in a few months at The Masters is for there to be a real ding dong battle for the Green Jacket, rather than a Woods march to victory, and people will start to remember what it was like before Tiger when there was some excitement about who might win.
Tiger can stay away as long as he wants, he can afford to, and golf can draw breath and show the world how they can manage without him.
I went and did my christmas shopping yesterday and braved Marks and Spencers trying to buy a decent piece of beef. I should have gone to the butcher at Carbuncle but didn't have time. Anyway, entering M&S was like walking into a war zone - it was middle class mayhem as people fought over the scraps of a 'two meals for a tenner' deal.
I didn't stay too long, I walked up to Waitrose where the queue was just as long but a little more upper class.
I then did something I had not done for years, I caught the bus home. Mrs B had dropped me in town but not wanting to wait two hours for her return I jumped on the Pronto (they run every fifteen minutes you know) and just 40 minutes later I had travelled from Nottingham to Mansfield and was safely deposited at the bus station. It was a very full bus and you have to sit very close to total strangers and then you all start playing the same game - trying not to touch, trying not to look at each other, trying to pretend that you are actually the only one on the bus.
Why are we like that? I will tell you, nobody wants to talk because we all know that only nutters talk on buses. And nobody wants to get lumbered with the nutter on a bus!
Just as an aside, a nutter is someone of questionable mental stability - that's for my audience beyond the shores of the UK, including Scott in Boise, who took up my kind invitation and contacted me.
I hope many others will now start to correspond with me and I can report on how my plan for world domination is progressing.
That's all for now - I'm off to polish my three wood and prepare my assault on the Open Championship, well with Tiger out of the way anything could happen!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On this day in 1893, Edward G Robinson was born. Robinson was most famous for his portrayals of gangsters and Johnny Rocco in Key Largo was probably one of his best. His voice is well imitated and most recently can be heard coming from the mouth of Chief Wiggum in the Simpsons.
By all accounts Robinson was a very nice man, totally unlike some of the villains he played but they adored him too. Johnny Fingers, Bob The Hatchet, Smiling Gino, Phil The Homosexual - all of these gangsters courted Robinson - especially Phil but it didn't last.
There is a history of gangsters in the family, I can't say too much as it upsets my mother but suffice to say that much of our accrued family wealth was returned after a court case involving Uncle Bert ( he had in his kitchen the biggest sink you ever did see, we called it Uncle Bert's Bumper Sink).
Bert was light fingered and he stole from his place of work over many years, the trouble was he worked at the sewerage works! He wasn't that light fingered really, they were quite dark.
And that's a fact!
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Saturday, 12 December 2009
Friday, 11 December 2009
The View from the Hill on Friday 11th December
It can be put off no longer - today I do have to open the hatch and creep into the loft and fetch down the boxes of christmas decorations for Mrs B. She will be arranging said baubles on our evergreen everlasting tree tomorrow morning whilst I am out of the house. I will return and find the furniture rearranged to accommodate the tree, a dwarf representation of The Coca Cola Santa, twinkling lights and candles. It will look lovely. (I'm doing my best to sound convinced but I do hate christmas).
One bright spark amongst the misery - champagne on offer at Asda, good stuff too not some cheap Russian crap, proper French champagne - now that's my sort of christmas spirit!
I see the death of Gene Barry is being reported, the 90 years old actor passed away a couple of days ago.
Gene Barry might not be the most famous actor in the world but in this household he was well regarded especially for his connection with La Cage Aux Folles.
He and George Hearn originated the roles in the musical about the two gay night club owners whose life is thrown into chaos when their son announces his intention to marry the daughter of a rather right wing bigot. Anyway, go see the show in London, Douglas Hodge and Denis Lawson are going back in for the last few weeks of the run before the transfer to Broadway with Hodge and Kelsey Grammar.
The soundtrack of that original Broadway production was something I bought way back in the 1980's and their version of Song on the Sand has never been bettered.
Gene Barry gained extra credit from me for being in War of the Worlds (1953) and Spielberg gave him and his co-star Ann Robinson a cameo at the end of his remake in 2005.
Gene Barry was also the very first person to test the mettle of Lt Columbo in the pilot for one of the best detective shows ever.
So, although not that famous in the UK he is famous in this house and I shall play Song on the Sand today in his memory.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Today is Tango Day in Argentina, the day they celebrate that most wonderful of dances and this weekend on Strictly we get to see the remaining couples dance an Argentine Tango - it will be good but not as good as Vincent and Flavia's display dance last week.
The Tango developed in the brothels of Buenos Aires and is a ritualised vertical exploration of the physical act of love making - especially the bit where the lady flicks her leg between the mans legs, rubbing her strong thigh along his calf and then kneeing him in the gonads. It's like a marriage in so many ways.
And that's a fact!
It can be put off no longer - today I do have to open the hatch and creep into the loft and fetch down the boxes of christmas decorations for Mrs B. She will be arranging said baubles on our evergreen everlasting tree tomorrow morning whilst I am out of the house. I will return and find the furniture rearranged to accommodate the tree, a dwarf representation of The Coca Cola Santa, twinkling lights and candles. It will look lovely. (I'm doing my best to sound convinced but I do hate christmas).
One bright spark amongst the misery - champagne on offer at Asda, good stuff too not some cheap Russian crap, proper French champagne - now that's my sort of christmas spirit!
I see the death of Gene Barry is being reported, the 90 years old actor passed away a couple of days ago.
Gene Barry might not be the most famous actor in the world but in this household he was well regarded especially for his connection with La Cage Aux Folles.
He and George Hearn originated the roles in the musical about the two gay night club owners whose life is thrown into chaos when their son announces his intention to marry the daughter of a rather right wing bigot. Anyway, go see the show in London, Douglas Hodge and Denis Lawson are going back in for the last few weeks of the run before the transfer to Broadway with Hodge and Kelsey Grammar.
The soundtrack of that original Broadway production was something I bought way back in the 1980's and their version of Song on the Sand has never been bettered.
Gene Barry gained extra credit from me for being in War of the Worlds (1953) and Spielberg gave him and his co-star Ann Robinson a cameo at the end of his remake in 2005.
Gene Barry was also the very first person to test the mettle of Lt Columbo in the pilot for one of the best detective shows ever.
So, although not that famous in the UK he is famous in this house and I shall play Song on the Sand today in his memory.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Today is Tango Day in Argentina, the day they celebrate that most wonderful of dances and this weekend on Strictly we get to see the remaining couples dance an Argentine Tango - it will be good but not as good as Vincent and Flavia's display dance last week.
The Tango developed in the brothels of Buenos Aires and is a ritualised vertical exploration of the physical act of love making - especially the bit where the lady flicks her leg between the mans legs, rubbing her strong thigh along his calf and then kneeing him in the gonads. It's like a marriage in so many ways.
And that's a fact!
Thursday, 10 December 2009
The View from the Hill on Thursday 10th December
Hey, what do you know, I was right - The Darling is making us pay and the worst of it is there is more to come after the election. It seems no matter who we vote for, the next Government is going to screw us for the cock up they made. Democracy!
The one thing that really annoyed me yesterday was his announcement of a 50p per month levy on landlines which will be used to give high speed broadband to everyone. Is it just me or does that seem like Broadband Communism?
Hey, I can't afford a new car so let's have £100 of everyone in the street so I can afford a new car - that's basically the same concept isn't it?
The upshot, Mrs B and I will be getting rid of our landline, we will now be accessible only via pigeon post, that is until The Darling taxes pigeons.
Public sector wages to be capped, pensions to be capped, but the bankers can defer their bonus until May next years and avoid any extra tax!
More National Insurance to pay over £20k - was there any good news in the pre budget report? Only if you pay bingo apparently. That in itself is a farce - first of all why tax bingo? Secondly the tax on bingo was 15%, The Darling put it up to 22% and now he dropped it 2% to 20 and expects praise for his stewardship of the economy - dithering, wet idiot!
Anyhoo, moving on, before the PBR we had Polyphemus Brown at the dispatch box in what is laughingly called Prime Ministers Questions - what happens is that anyone can ask the Polyphemus a question and the game is won if he actually answers it. What usually happens is, as with all politician or liars as I call them, is that they say things like - "that isn't the question" or "the public will want to know" - actually we want you to answer the bloody question!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On this day in 1919, Alexander Courage was born. The name may not be familiar but his work will be, especially if like me you watched those great old tv sci-fi shows like Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, Lost in Space and Star Trek. Alexander Courage wrote the theme tunes to all those great shows.
Courage was a well regarded orchestrator who worked on some great old Hollywood musicals and he was nominated for Oscars and the like, he wrote music for The Waltons, another favourite of mine, but it will be that wonderful simple Star Trek theme that will see his name immortalised in the pantheon of musical legends. (Excuse the hyperbole but perhaps you were not aware that I am a huge Star Trek fan - have I never mentioned it?)
So some reverence today for the great man who helped create and maintain an icon.
And that's a fact!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdjL8WXjlGI
Hey, what do you know, I was right - The Darling is making us pay and the worst of it is there is more to come after the election. It seems no matter who we vote for, the next Government is going to screw us for the cock up they made. Democracy!
The one thing that really annoyed me yesterday was his announcement of a 50p per month levy on landlines which will be used to give high speed broadband to everyone. Is it just me or does that seem like Broadband Communism?
Hey, I can't afford a new car so let's have £100 of everyone in the street so I can afford a new car - that's basically the same concept isn't it?
The upshot, Mrs B and I will be getting rid of our landline, we will now be accessible only via pigeon post, that is until The Darling taxes pigeons.
Public sector wages to be capped, pensions to be capped, but the bankers can defer their bonus until May next years and avoid any extra tax!
More National Insurance to pay over £20k - was there any good news in the pre budget report? Only if you pay bingo apparently. That in itself is a farce - first of all why tax bingo? Secondly the tax on bingo was 15%, The Darling put it up to 22% and now he dropped it 2% to 20 and expects praise for his stewardship of the economy - dithering, wet idiot!
Anyhoo, moving on, before the PBR we had Polyphemus Brown at the dispatch box in what is laughingly called Prime Ministers Questions - what happens is that anyone can ask the Polyphemus a question and the game is won if he actually answers it. What usually happens is, as with all politician or liars as I call them, is that they say things like - "that isn't the question" or "the public will want to know" - actually we want you to answer the bloody question!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On this day in 1919, Alexander Courage was born. The name may not be familiar but his work will be, especially if like me you watched those great old tv sci-fi shows like Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, Lost in Space and Star Trek. Alexander Courage wrote the theme tunes to all those great shows.
Courage was a well regarded orchestrator who worked on some great old Hollywood musicals and he was nominated for Oscars and the like, he wrote music for The Waltons, another favourite of mine, but it will be that wonderful simple Star Trek theme that will see his name immortalised in the pantheon of musical legends. (Excuse the hyperbole but perhaps you were not aware that I am a huge Star Trek fan - have I never mentioned it?)
So some reverence today for the great man who helped create and maintain an icon.
And that's a fact!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdjL8WXjlGI
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
The View from the Hill on Wednesday 9th December
So what do you do at 5.27am on a Wednesday morning when you are wide awake - obvious. You have a cup of tea and watch Delia Smith cook classic christmas dishes. The gammon smeared with molasses, the beef fillet cooked in pastry smeared with butter, the chocolate cake smeared with chocolate - Delia does love to smear!
I've not had breakfast yet and Mrs B has fallen back to sleep muttering about double cream and canapes and wondering what happened to the stuffing that Delia crammed under the skin of her turkey, it seemed to have disappeared when it was carved - the magic of telly.
All those christmas treats prepared by Delia, the perfect middle class christmas, and without the obvious sex of Nigella so less sinful of course, but there are more treats in store today as we discover how The Darling will start to repay the national debt, more suffering for us I'm afraid.
It will fall to the middle classes of course to carry the burden of this deficit, the poor will get assistance and the rich will have highly paid accountants to divert the funds somehow, so Mrs B and I will no doubt end up owing the country twice as much as we thought - I think we owe £13,300 each but that was twelve seconds ago, it's probably gone up by now!
Amazing to think that every child born today automatically carries £13,000 debt - and that's without student loans.
I think this is too depressing, I'm going to go and watch Delia's graceful yet ageing hands stuff that turkey again and whilst she does I will imagine that she is actually pushing it right up The Darling.
Just an afterthought, wasn't Darling the name of the family in Peter Pan - well in that case I want you all to imagine this scenario...a little fairy twinkles through the door of Number 11 Downing Street, it's not Tinkerbell, it's MandleBell and he whispers in The Darling's ear. The Darling smiles and thanks MandleBell and walks through a magic door into the land of Brown or Never Never Get It Right Land.
The Evil Captain is there with his pet crocodile Balls and he begins to sneer and laugh at The Darling, he knows it is all his fault but he is happy to have someone else to blame. He then starts to taunt The Darling with his nasty hook and tells him that he is going to stuff him like a turkey using the hooked hand. (Sorry, this isn't for kiddies). Just then, Peter Pan swoops down and carries The Darling away, flying with him around Big Ben and taking him past the second star on the right (I think that's Ant but it might be Hand - which one stands on the right?)
Peter Pan drops The Darling safely to the floor and The Darling sighs thinking he has escaped the clutches of the evil Brown but then he realises, he's not safe - it's the Houses of Parliament and he has to make his statement to the whole country - he looks at Peter Pan and asks "Why?".
And Peter Pan smiles and answers - "because you're an idiot".
And we all lived happily ever after (not).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On this day in 1960 the first episode of Coronation Street was aired, and to think William Roache has made a living by playing the same role for 49 years - amazing. In 1934, another struggling actress was born, her name is Dame Judi Dench.
Of course it was always obvious that she was destined to find stardom, to be born Dame Judi Dench sort of gave her the kick start she needed. If only I had been born Sir Andrew rather than plain Andrew, I could have been a superstar by now. I could have had my own chat show or been arrested for drunken brawling in some fancy club in Mansfield. I could have been asked to play Cleopatra at the National Theatre or Alan Bennett might have written me a Talking Heads monologue called A Rich Tea in the Wisteria.
It goes to show how unfair our society is, oh how I long to have been born a Dame Judi but I will carry on and strive to reach those goals and targets I have set for myself - I may not be Q but I can P!
And that's a fact!
So what do you do at 5.27am on a Wednesday morning when you are wide awake - obvious. You have a cup of tea and watch Delia Smith cook classic christmas dishes. The gammon smeared with molasses, the beef fillet cooked in pastry smeared with butter, the chocolate cake smeared with chocolate - Delia does love to smear!
I've not had breakfast yet and Mrs B has fallen back to sleep muttering about double cream and canapes and wondering what happened to the stuffing that Delia crammed under the skin of her turkey, it seemed to have disappeared when it was carved - the magic of telly.
All those christmas treats prepared by Delia, the perfect middle class christmas, and without the obvious sex of Nigella so less sinful of course, but there are more treats in store today as we discover how The Darling will start to repay the national debt, more suffering for us I'm afraid.
It will fall to the middle classes of course to carry the burden of this deficit, the poor will get assistance and the rich will have highly paid accountants to divert the funds somehow, so Mrs B and I will no doubt end up owing the country twice as much as we thought - I think we owe £13,300 each but that was twelve seconds ago, it's probably gone up by now!
Amazing to think that every child born today automatically carries £13,000 debt - and that's without student loans.
I think this is too depressing, I'm going to go and watch Delia's graceful yet ageing hands stuff that turkey again and whilst she does I will imagine that she is actually pushing it right up The Darling.
Just an afterthought, wasn't Darling the name of the family in Peter Pan - well in that case I want you all to imagine this scenario...a little fairy twinkles through the door of Number 11 Downing Street, it's not Tinkerbell, it's MandleBell and he whispers in The Darling's ear. The Darling smiles and thanks MandleBell and walks through a magic door into the land of Brown or Never Never Get It Right Land.
The Evil Captain is there with his pet crocodile Balls and he begins to sneer and laugh at The Darling, he knows it is all his fault but he is happy to have someone else to blame. He then starts to taunt The Darling with his nasty hook and tells him that he is going to stuff him like a turkey using the hooked hand. (Sorry, this isn't for kiddies). Just then, Peter Pan swoops down and carries The Darling away, flying with him around Big Ben and taking him past the second star on the right (I think that's Ant but it might be Hand - which one stands on the right?)
Peter Pan drops The Darling safely to the floor and The Darling sighs thinking he has escaped the clutches of the evil Brown but then he realises, he's not safe - it's the Houses of Parliament and he has to make his statement to the whole country - he looks at Peter Pan and asks "Why?".
And Peter Pan smiles and answers - "because you're an idiot".
And we all lived happily ever after (not).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On this day in 1960 the first episode of Coronation Street was aired, and to think William Roache has made a living by playing the same role for 49 years - amazing. In 1934, another struggling actress was born, her name is Dame Judi Dench.
Of course it was always obvious that she was destined to find stardom, to be born Dame Judi Dench sort of gave her the kick start she needed. If only I had been born Sir Andrew rather than plain Andrew, I could have been a superstar by now. I could have had my own chat show or been arrested for drunken brawling in some fancy club in Mansfield. I could have been asked to play Cleopatra at the National Theatre or Alan Bennett might have written me a Talking Heads monologue called A Rich Tea in the Wisteria.
It goes to show how unfair our society is, oh how I long to have been born a Dame Judi but I will carry on and strive to reach those goals and targets I have set for myself - I may not be Q but I can P!
And that's a fact!
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
The View from the Hill on Tuesday 8th December
You never know do you. I get up and I give the dogs a treat and then put the kettle on. I put the TV on and have a look at the news while thinking about what I might say in this blog. I make the tea, let the dogs back in and then....and then you feel yourself getting so angry that you want to punch a total stranger in the face.
The 100th fatality of a British soldier is announced, 100 young lives lost and that is sad but the anger comes not from their sacrifice but from the story of Roger Day aged 61 from Earl Shilton.
The local news show him marching at recent Remembrance Day parades, with his medals proudly displayed for all to see - but it turns out he is a fantasist, an amateur actor who likes to fashion himself an SAS hero. He was challenged about the medals and claims they are all 'pukka' but as he is 61 and was wearing medals from the Korean War, well he is obviously full of shit.
I just felt so angry, and as a man who doesn't really do violence, I felt I could do violence to him in a very bad way.
I hope the press hound him and show the whole world what a fraud and charlatan he is - I hope they rake up every transgression of his past and I hope his neighbours and work mates give him the cold shoulder. There is nothing wrong with having a fantasy, there is nothing wrong with the occasional white lie, but to make out you are some kind of hero whilst our young men are risking their lives for real, makes me sick and angry.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On this day in 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed in New York.
And that's a fact.
I'm sorry, can't think of anything funny.
You never know do you. I get up and I give the dogs a treat and then put the kettle on. I put the TV on and have a look at the news while thinking about what I might say in this blog. I make the tea, let the dogs back in and then....and then you feel yourself getting so angry that you want to punch a total stranger in the face.
The 100th fatality of a British soldier is announced, 100 young lives lost and that is sad but the anger comes not from their sacrifice but from the story of Roger Day aged 61 from Earl Shilton.
The local news show him marching at recent Remembrance Day parades, with his medals proudly displayed for all to see - but it turns out he is a fantasist, an amateur actor who likes to fashion himself an SAS hero. He was challenged about the medals and claims they are all 'pukka' but as he is 61 and was wearing medals from the Korean War, well he is obviously full of shit.
I just felt so angry, and as a man who doesn't really do violence, I felt I could do violence to him in a very bad way.
I hope the press hound him and show the whole world what a fraud and charlatan he is - I hope they rake up every transgression of his past and I hope his neighbours and work mates give him the cold shoulder. There is nothing wrong with having a fantasy, there is nothing wrong with the occasional white lie, but to make out you are some kind of hero whilst our young men are risking their lives for real, makes me sick and angry.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On this day in 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed in New York.
And that's a fact.
I'm sorry, can't think of anything funny.
Monday, 7 December 2009
The View from the Hill on Monday 7th December
192 countries, the delegates gather for the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen (cue Danny Kaye).
Two weeks of each and everyone of them putting their case and arguing why they should be a special case for exemption from any new rules or agreements made - and we end up with a watered down agreement and eventually a watered down world!
Yes, I believe in climate change, you see I do believe in something.
I did end up going for a walk yesterday, it was windy but totally enlivening, watching two busy little beagles dashing here and there, jumping in puddles and rolling in fox crap, it was lovely. The view from the top of the hill at Vicar Water is quite good, and below you is a tableau which describes Nottinghamshire perfectly, the little mining village, the silent brooding and ever present headstocks, the edge of Sherwood Forest - all that was missing was Robin Hood. I should return with my camera and post some pictures for you or better still get your bums here and have a walk with me.
Oh well, must move on, a busy day ahead and the decorator is coming to titivate the passage and I have to be in Lincoln quite early.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On this day in 1941 the Japanese launched their surprise attack on Pearl Harbour, "a date that will live in infamy".
Infamy,infamy (oh I can't be bothered, you finish it yourself but just make sure you do it with a Kenny Williams sneer!)
Having been on holiday to Hawaii we were surprised just how many Japanese tourists there were there, all snapping up large boxes of Macadamia nuts and forcing Mrs B to bow and leave the elevator so they could use it - arrogant and rude little fellows.
The one place in Hawaii that you didn't see any Japanese tourists - The Pearl Harbour memorial.
And that's a fact!
192 countries, the delegates gather for the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen (cue Danny Kaye).
Two weeks of each and everyone of them putting their case and arguing why they should be a special case for exemption from any new rules or agreements made - and we end up with a watered down agreement and eventually a watered down world!
Yes, I believe in climate change, you see I do believe in something.
I did end up going for a walk yesterday, it was windy but totally enlivening, watching two busy little beagles dashing here and there, jumping in puddles and rolling in fox crap, it was lovely. The view from the top of the hill at Vicar Water is quite good, and below you is a tableau which describes Nottinghamshire perfectly, the little mining village, the silent brooding and ever present headstocks, the edge of Sherwood Forest - all that was missing was Robin Hood. I should return with my camera and post some pictures for you or better still get your bums here and have a walk with me.
Oh well, must move on, a busy day ahead and the decorator is coming to titivate the passage and I have to be in Lincoln quite early.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On this day in 1941 the Japanese launched their surprise attack on Pearl Harbour, "a date that will live in infamy".
Infamy,infamy (oh I can't be bothered, you finish it yourself but just make sure you do it with a Kenny Williams sneer!)
Having been on holiday to Hawaii we were surprised just how many Japanese tourists there were there, all snapping up large boxes of Macadamia nuts and forcing Mrs B to bow and leave the elevator so they could use it - arrogant and rude little fellows.
The one place in Hawaii that you didn't see any Japanese tourists - The Pearl Harbour memorial.
And that's a fact!
Sunday, 6 December 2009
The View from the Hill on Sunday 6th December
Happy St Nicholas Day to you all, I hope you find a lovely little present in your shoe this morning as is traditional. I found a little present in my shoe - I'll kill that bloody dog!
Of course this is where all the cross tradition arguing starts between christmas and Jesus and St Nick - with countries as diverse as Lebanon and the US, Serbia and the Netherlands celebrating Sinterklaas.
Whatever and wherever, it's all about giving a little and looking out for children which even to an old agnostic sinner like me, is a good thing which brightens my heart on a cold wet miserable day.
We had a very pleasant evening with the BBL Crew, that's Dave 'The Bridge' Yates and Jane 'The Handbag' Twillets. We ate too much and drank a little and laughed an awful lot at others expense.
Today we have been invited to join them on a walk at Clumber Park, which would be lovely if not for this horrendous rain - I'm staying in as I have work to do and later I'm going to visit my very own Sinterklaas look alike, Mr Paul Goldsmith, who is in hospital. I will drop him a little gift in his shoe.
Big news today, how soon the mighty are toppled, King of the Jungle Gino, arrested for killing and eating a rat. It's a whole new series for Ant and Hand, I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Arrested!
I thought I should share with you my new look, that is me with the new spectacles...so watch this space.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On this day in 1988 Roy Orbison died and this is one of those rare occasions that I can recall exactly where I was when I heard the news...I was in the mortuary of Lincoln County Hospital identifying the body of a suicide victim. Now don't feel sorry for him because he was a child abuser and I had been giving evidence against him at court and during the lunch break he threw himself off a very high bridge.
There was a very sad part to this tale, that is this trial had come along at short notice and meant that I couldn't join Mrs B on a trip to Madeira. Selfish bastard.
Anyway, no humour in this but a real true actual story involving me and the death of Roy Orbison - You Got It.
And that's a fact!
Happy St Nicholas Day to you all, I hope you find a lovely little present in your shoe this morning as is traditional. I found a little present in my shoe - I'll kill that bloody dog!
Of course this is where all the cross tradition arguing starts between christmas and Jesus and St Nick - with countries as diverse as Lebanon and the US, Serbia and the Netherlands celebrating Sinterklaas.
Whatever and wherever, it's all about giving a little and looking out for children which even to an old agnostic sinner like me, is a good thing which brightens my heart on a cold wet miserable day.
We had a very pleasant evening with the BBL Crew, that's Dave 'The Bridge' Yates and Jane 'The Handbag' Twillets. We ate too much and drank a little and laughed an awful lot at others expense.
Today we have been invited to join them on a walk at Clumber Park, which would be lovely if not for this horrendous rain - I'm staying in as I have work to do and later I'm going to visit my very own Sinterklaas look alike, Mr Paul Goldsmith, who is in hospital. I will drop him a little gift in his shoe.
Big news today, how soon the mighty are toppled, King of the Jungle Gino, arrested for killing and eating a rat. It's a whole new series for Ant and Hand, I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Arrested!
I thought I should share with you my new look, that is me with the new spectacles...so watch this space.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On this day in 1988 Roy Orbison died and this is one of those rare occasions that I can recall exactly where I was when I heard the news...I was in the mortuary of Lincoln County Hospital identifying the body of a suicide victim. Now don't feel sorry for him because he was a child abuser and I had been giving evidence against him at court and during the lunch break he threw himself off a very high bridge.
There was a very sad part to this tale, that is this trial had come along at short notice and meant that I couldn't join Mrs B on a trip to Madeira. Selfish bastard.
Anyway, no humour in this but a real true actual story involving me and the death of Roy Orbison - You Got It.
And that's a fact!
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