The View from the Hill on Saturday 5th June
What do you think to the idea of a red front door?
Mrs B and I are in the process of having a new front door and you can get some very nice colours these days, red being at the top of our list.
Of course I don't believe in all this feng shui crap but a red door is supposed to draw positive energy into the house, the red door becoming the mouth of your home...I wonder if I can train it to spit on people we don't want to come in?
In Catholicism, red doors are supposedly representative of the blood of Christ, indicating that what lies behind them is a holy or sacred place...not sure I want anything Catholic about the house, don't want to scare any passing choir boys.
Einstein painted his front door red, because it was the only way he could recognise his house...not sure I want dead scientists knocking at the door at all hours. But then another piece of tradition says that red doors ward of ghosts and spirits, so we should be safe.
I think the pros outweigh the cons though, so Mrs B and I will visit the door showroom today and have a look at red doors.
I did think about having a green door for a while but then Frankie Vaughan (or Shakin' Stevens if you are younger) popped into my head and started singing so that had to go, there is only room in my head for one song and that is still Birdhouse in Your Soul.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Come on baby, light my fire
The Doors
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Saturday, 5 June 2010
Friday, 4 June 2010
The View from the Hill on Friday 4th June
The coverage of major news events should be factual or as factual as possible - not gossip or supposition, in my opinion.
There is a slight tendency for the news providers to get caught up with the gossip in relation to the Cumbria murders where it is clear that it is too early to speculate about motives or the randomness of the killings.
It does seem sensible to suppose that Bird could not have known where all those people were going to be at that time, therefore it is obvious that many were just unlucky to be his targets but this will all come out during the inquests.
The news coverage of the BP oil spillage has actually hit home this morning having seen the footage of all the pelicans covered in oil. I don't like pelicans, they scare me, but seeing them covered in oil and knowing that a very painful death awaits them really does make seeing the top brass of BP smiling as they try and protect their share price by reassuring the Americans that it is all under control, well that is just irksome to say the least.
President Obama must be thinking - why me? To be elected with such potential and to be faced with an event like this which seems to be beyond his control and yet he will ultimately have to clear it up ( not actually physically clear it up, that would not look good) - yes, he must think fighting in Afghanistan is easy. The American public don't really care about anything outside the country so when it hits home, like this will hit home, they expect answers and they expect action.
Finally, sad to see the penultimate Golden Girl has died, Rue McClanahan or Blanche Devereaux as most of the UK will remember her. She was flirtatious and had some wonderful sayings like "I'm as nervous as a virgin at a prison rodeo".
Must get the box set out.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Blanche: Oh honey it's fine to cancel your friends for a man, thats the law of the jungle
Sophia: So says Sheena, queen of the slut people
The Golden Girls
The coverage of major news events should be factual or as factual as possible - not gossip or supposition, in my opinion.
There is a slight tendency for the news providers to get caught up with the gossip in relation to the Cumbria murders where it is clear that it is too early to speculate about motives or the randomness of the killings.
It does seem sensible to suppose that Bird could not have known where all those people were going to be at that time, therefore it is obvious that many were just unlucky to be his targets but this will all come out during the inquests.
The news coverage of the BP oil spillage has actually hit home this morning having seen the footage of all the pelicans covered in oil. I don't like pelicans, they scare me, but seeing them covered in oil and knowing that a very painful death awaits them really does make seeing the top brass of BP smiling as they try and protect their share price by reassuring the Americans that it is all under control, well that is just irksome to say the least.
President Obama must be thinking - why me? To be elected with such potential and to be faced with an event like this which seems to be beyond his control and yet he will ultimately have to clear it up ( not actually physically clear it up, that would not look good) - yes, he must think fighting in Afghanistan is easy. The American public don't really care about anything outside the country so when it hits home, like this will hit home, they expect answers and they expect action.
Finally, sad to see the penultimate Golden Girl has died, Rue McClanahan or Blanche Devereaux as most of the UK will remember her. She was flirtatious and had some wonderful sayings like "I'm as nervous as a virgin at a prison rodeo".
Must get the box set out.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Blanche: Oh honey it's fine to cancel your friends for a man, thats the law of the jungle
Sophia: So says Sheena, queen of the slut people
The Golden Girls
Thursday, 3 June 2010
The View from the Hill on Thursday 3rd June
This terrible incident in Cumbria has reminded all of us that life is precious and that no one has a promise of a tomorrow.
People walking in a quiet town, going about their business, literally being in the wrong place at the wrong time find themselves caught up in the maelstrom of one mans descent into madness.
Hearing the witnesses talk about their experiences on the radio so soon after it all happened, I was amazed that so many had the emotional strength to engage with reporters.
I did get really fed up with the BBC reporters on all media prefacing their remarks with statements like "Whitehaven, a quiet place where things like this just don't happen". Well where do they happen then?
What was Hungerford, what was Dunblane?
They also rolled out a local clergyman to talk for the community - a pet hate of mine - I'm sure the chap was very nice but how many of that community go to his church?
A personal tragedy for the area and for all the families involved and with the death of the suspected offender by his own hand, we may never really understand why he did what he did, why he chose to stop and shoot some and chose to drive past others - and this will be the cause of much more pain and distress.
I lost my temper with the chap from the pro firearms lobby, defending guns and gun ownership and I just think if the only argument we have is that to ban them might affect Olympic shooters, well that's just a bit weak.
It's all too soon after the event to make snap decisions about these things anyway.
Just a sad day.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No pithy quotes today - not sure what you could say to sum up these events.
This terrible incident in Cumbria has reminded all of us that life is precious and that no one has a promise of a tomorrow.
People walking in a quiet town, going about their business, literally being in the wrong place at the wrong time find themselves caught up in the maelstrom of one mans descent into madness.
Hearing the witnesses talk about their experiences on the radio so soon after it all happened, I was amazed that so many had the emotional strength to engage with reporters.
I did get really fed up with the BBC reporters on all media prefacing their remarks with statements like "Whitehaven, a quiet place where things like this just don't happen". Well where do they happen then?
What was Hungerford, what was Dunblane?
They also rolled out a local clergyman to talk for the community - a pet hate of mine - I'm sure the chap was very nice but how many of that community go to his church?
A personal tragedy for the area and for all the families involved and with the death of the suspected offender by his own hand, we may never really understand why he did what he did, why he chose to stop and shoot some and chose to drive past others - and this will be the cause of much more pain and distress.
I lost my temper with the chap from the pro firearms lobby, defending guns and gun ownership and I just think if the only argument we have is that to ban them might affect Olympic shooters, well that's just a bit weak.
It's all too soon after the event to make snap decisions about these things anyway.
Just a sad day.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No pithy quotes today - not sure what you could say to sum up these events.
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
The View from the Hill on Wednesday 2nd June
Some random ramblings this morning.
Watching the unfolding disaster with the BP oil leak, I have a sense of sadness for the local ecology but somewhere inside a little part of me is thinking, you Americans do so love your oil...have some more.
Listening to the Israeli spokesman Mark Regev on the radio and tv yesterday, my views on the Gaza situation are starting to crystallise - not sure what I can do other than donate via Amnesty, but I do feel like protesting somehow. Come on Netanyahu - let my people go!
To be beaten by a group of little boys singing badly is almost bearable I'm sure, but to be beaten by a dancing dog must be sickening...the people who vote on Britain's Got Talent must all have been barking.
I do think the dog was adorable but it wasn't the best act - in fact there wasn't a best act in many way. It was a weaker show than the first and you do wonder who puts them together and are they engineered to let certain acts have a better chance?
I think we have seen the best, Spellbound, who live up to their name in that you do sit spellbound watching them throw each other around the stage. I hope they win.
I have along lonely day ahead of me, off to Lincoln at 9.30 and not back till 6pm, and I will miss having my own dog for company today - one week on the loss of Jake is still very painful.
And to those of you considering life changes (you know who you are) Mrs B and I are thinking of you too!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep
it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.
Harvey MacKay
Some random ramblings this morning.
Watching the unfolding disaster with the BP oil leak, I have a sense of sadness for the local ecology but somewhere inside a little part of me is thinking, you Americans do so love your oil...have some more.
Listening to the Israeli spokesman Mark Regev on the radio and tv yesterday, my views on the Gaza situation are starting to crystallise - not sure what I can do other than donate via Amnesty, but I do feel like protesting somehow. Come on Netanyahu - let my people go!
To be beaten by a group of little boys singing badly is almost bearable I'm sure, but to be beaten by a dancing dog must be sickening...the people who vote on Britain's Got Talent must all have been barking.
I do think the dog was adorable but it wasn't the best act - in fact there wasn't a best act in many way. It was a weaker show than the first and you do wonder who puts them together and are they engineered to let certain acts have a better chance?
I think we have seen the best, Spellbound, who live up to their name in that you do sit spellbound watching them throw each other around the stage. I hope they win.
I have along lonely day ahead of me, off to Lincoln at 9.30 and not back till 6pm, and I will miss having my own dog for company today - one week on the loss of Jake is still very painful.
And to those of you considering life changes (you know who you are) Mrs B and I are thinking of you too!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep
it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.
Harvey MacKay
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
The View from the Hill on Tuesday 1st June
It feels like a Monday.
The golf went well, in fact I played very well - finishing at 6 under par. No crowing or bragging - just a simple acknowledgement of the facts.
I forgot to tell you yesterday about the lady Mrs B and I saw walking into a car show room on Sunday - she had a very large bottom ( I mean VERY large) and stretched across it was a pair of jeans which you could hear crying in distress and across the jeans was the bottom of her fleece, pulled down as if to hide the VERY large bottom. The fleece was so distorted at the bottom that it could have been used as a pyramid cosy.
Written on the bottom of the fleece were the two words Fat Face....I was feeling a little naughty and said to Mrs B "Isn't that spelled wrong?"
I think this newspaper crusade into politicians past financial dealings has gone too far - we know that they were not perfect but we should now be concentrating on what they are doing for the future - can they help sort out this financial mess we are in? If David Laws is the best man for the job, and they want him as an advisor, let him do it - that's my view.
And finally, this bloody awful mess with the aid flotilla and the Israeli soldiers.
What has happened to the world famous pre-eminence of the Israeli Army?
Think back to what they did after the Munich Olympics, think back to how they arranged that raid on Entebbe, and now watch the footage of this disaster - they must be holding their heads in shame.
And they should be ashamed, not really because they made a balls up of it, but that they actually staged the attack.
I'm not an anti-semite, I'm certainly not an apologist for the militant Palestinians - but come on Netanyahu, this is just ridiculous.
It is actions like this which will reinforce any anti Israeli sentiment in the world, you are painting yourself into a corner, nobody is forcing you there.
Just one final thought - Tiger WHO!!!!?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time.
Arnold H. Glasgow
It feels like a Monday.
The golf went well, in fact I played very well - finishing at 6 under par. No crowing or bragging - just a simple acknowledgement of the facts.
I forgot to tell you yesterday about the lady Mrs B and I saw walking into a car show room on Sunday - she had a very large bottom ( I mean VERY large) and stretched across it was a pair of jeans which you could hear crying in distress and across the jeans was the bottom of her fleece, pulled down as if to hide the VERY large bottom. The fleece was so distorted at the bottom that it could have been used as a pyramid cosy.
Written on the bottom of the fleece were the two words Fat Face....I was feeling a little naughty and said to Mrs B "Isn't that spelled wrong?"
I think this newspaper crusade into politicians past financial dealings has gone too far - we know that they were not perfect but we should now be concentrating on what they are doing for the future - can they help sort out this financial mess we are in? If David Laws is the best man for the job, and they want him as an advisor, let him do it - that's my view.
And finally, this bloody awful mess with the aid flotilla and the Israeli soldiers.
What has happened to the world famous pre-eminence of the Israeli Army?
Think back to what they did after the Munich Olympics, think back to how they arranged that raid on Entebbe, and now watch the footage of this disaster - they must be holding their heads in shame.
And they should be ashamed, not really because they made a balls up of it, but that they actually staged the attack.
I'm not an anti-semite, I'm certainly not an apologist for the militant Palestinians - but come on Netanyahu, this is just ridiculous.
It is actions like this which will reinforce any anti Israeli sentiment in the world, you are painting yourself into a corner, nobody is forcing you there.
Just one final thought - Tiger WHO!!!!?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time.
Arnold H. Glasgow
Monday, 31 May 2010
The View from the Hill on Monday 31st May
I have developed an irritating tickle, down in my throat, between the clack and the uvula - it has meant a disturbed night for myself and Mrs B.
And I needed a good nights kip as I am assaulting Blankney Golf Course this morning and I have not played for about 87 years and I wanted to be as fresh as possible.
Of course I have played more recently than 87 years but this was a tribute to a chap called Bob Alexander who always claimed that he hadn't picked up a golf club for years, then would hit it miles.
I love golf, I even sat last night and watched Tom Lehman win the Senior US PGA title in Colorado, this was via the red button on Sky - a new discovery. I knew the BBC had a red button but I didn't know Sky had one.
I love watching the Senior golfers, I actually know who they are and they all have one thing in common - none of them are Tiger Woods.
Last evening it was Lehman fighting for the title against Fred Couple and David Frost, Nick Price and Mark O'Meara and lesser lights like Bill Glasson.
Glasson had spent three years undergoing various surgeries to fuse vertebrae in his neck and back, and now he swings the golf club with a great deal less energy than he did 25 years ago - I have a bad back as well as a tickle so perhaps I might play well?
I can't get the word uvula out of my head now - I blame Victoria Wood, her Audience with was on telly last night and I watched it for the umpteenth time - she is a very funny lady.
Anyway, I will purchase some Lockets and prepare for what will either be a disaster or a glory of a round of golf - there is never anything in between.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Golf is so popular simply because it is the best game in the world at which to be bad.
A.A. Milne
I have developed an irritating tickle, down in my throat, between the clack and the uvula - it has meant a disturbed night for myself and Mrs B.
And I needed a good nights kip as I am assaulting Blankney Golf Course this morning and I have not played for about 87 years and I wanted to be as fresh as possible.
Of course I have played more recently than 87 years but this was a tribute to a chap called Bob Alexander who always claimed that he hadn't picked up a golf club for years, then would hit it miles.
I love golf, I even sat last night and watched Tom Lehman win the Senior US PGA title in Colorado, this was via the red button on Sky - a new discovery. I knew the BBC had a red button but I didn't know Sky had one.
I love watching the Senior golfers, I actually know who they are and they all have one thing in common - none of them are Tiger Woods.
Last evening it was Lehman fighting for the title against Fred Couple and David Frost, Nick Price and Mark O'Meara and lesser lights like Bill Glasson.
Glasson had spent three years undergoing various surgeries to fuse vertebrae in his neck and back, and now he swings the golf club with a great deal less energy than he did 25 years ago - I have a bad back as well as a tickle so perhaps I might play well?
I can't get the word uvula out of my head now - I blame Victoria Wood, her Audience with was on telly last night and I watched it for the umpteenth time - she is a very funny lady.
Anyway, I will purchase some Lockets and prepare for what will either be a disaster or a glory of a round of golf - there is never anything in between.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Golf is so popular simply because it is the best game in the world at which to be bad.
A.A. Milne
Sunday, 30 May 2010
The View from the Hill on Sunday 30th May
I had a little dig at the so called new politics yesterday - and now I feel bad because David Laws actually has done something new, something we would never have seen from a Labour politician. We had an apology and a resignation. Well done Mr Laws, perhaps there is hope after all.
The death of Dennis Hopper has been widely reported, a man with so much talent who frittered it away, what a shame. He will be remembered for Blue Velvet I'm sure and for Easy Rider, but Mrs B and I liked him in the recent tv series E Ring where he played a cynical and wily old Army officer, he was wickedly good in that.
England came last in the Eurovision Song Contest, beaten by Germany...when does the World Cup start?
I have three days off, and I'm going to try and make the most of them by being creative - new pictures to capture, new videos to make, new podcasts to construct, you lucky lucky people are going to be artistically bombarded it will feel like a shower of gold descending on you.
I have several projects in mind, one of which is a series of debates about sporting issues, for example:-
Field Events are less interesting than Track Events - Discus.
Another project will be called Your First.....
I will interview people about their memorable firsts, like first day at school or first car or your first 12 incher.
I remember my first 12 incher, it made a big impact with me - it was Marc Almond.
Say Hello Wave Goodbye.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You want to hear about insanity? I was found running naked through the jungles in Mexico. At the Mexico City airport, I decided I was in the middle of a movie and walked out on the wing on takeoff. My body... my liver... okay, my brain... went.
Dennis Hopper
I had a little dig at the so called new politics yesterday - and now I feel bad because David Laws actually has done something new, something we would never have seen from a Labour politician. We had an apology and a resignation. Well done Mr Laws, perhaps there is hope after all.
The death of Dennis Hopper has been widely reported, a man with so much talent who frittered it away, what a shame. He will be remembered for Blue Velvet I'm sure and for Easy Rider, but Mrs B and I liked him in the recent tv series E Ring where he played a cynical and wily old Army officer, he was wickedly good in that.
England came last in the Eurovision Song Contest, beaten by Germany...when does the World Cup start?
I have three days off, and I'm going to try and make the most of them by being creative - new pictures to capture, new videos to make, new podcasts to construct, you lucky lucky people are going to be artistically bombarded it will feel like a shower of gold descending on you.
I have several projects in mind, one of which is a series of debates about sporting issues, for example:-
Field Events are less interesting than Track Events - Discus.
Another project will be called Your First.....
I will interview people about their memorable firsts, like first day at school or first car or your first 12 incher.
I remember my first 12 incher, it made a big impact with me - it was Marc Almond.
Say Hello Wave Goodbye.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You want to hear about insanity? I was found running naked through the jungles in Mexico. At the Mexico City airport, I decided I was in the middle of a movie and walked out on the wing on takeoff. My body... my liver... okay, my brain... went.
Dennis Hopper
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