I think it's fair to say that Europe is in the freezer at the moment, bizarrely as a result of global warming, which has melted the Arctic ice, setting off some kind of reaction which is likely to freeze our butts off for many winters to come, possibly forever.
Meanwhile, my little conservatory (a sort of small, glass garden room) absorbed the sun falling on it from the south and attained a temperature of 60 degrees F/15 C by 1.30pm. Sadly, by 3pm, with the sun sinking, it was getting pretty cold, so I don't think I'll move myself in there permanently just yet.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Smile - Day 1
Far from smiling, Det. Goren clamps his mouth shut to avoid inhaling any of the dentist's fatal laughing gas.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Odds-Off
Someone made a very intresting point to me yesterday.
Bearing in mind that I have discovered that I am at 3 degrees of Obama two different ways - my friend knows someone who used to know him, adding my second string - and that there is only one of him in the whole world; remembering that I actually have a connection to TWO US presidents; given that I am two degrees from Che Guevara, a unique man whose life should not have touched on mine in any way, and who is dead.
Thinking of all this, how is it, as my correspondent said, that I don't know a single lottery jackpot winner? There have been hundreds of them over the years. This 6 degrees business means I should know someone who knows someone, etc, etc...but I don't. Diane, the last two Euromillions winners come from Nottinghamshire, which is your neck of the woods. Do you come within any small number of degrees of them?
If not, statistically I think we have to say that the lottery is a fraud, and NO ONE EVER WINS!
Bearing in mind that I have discovered that I am at 3 degrees of Obama two different ways - my friend knows someone who used to know him, adding my second string - and that there is only one of him in the whole world; remembering that I actually have a connection to TWO US presidents; given that I am two degrees from Che Guevara, a unique man whose life should not have touched on mine in any way, and who is dead.
Thinking of all this, how is it, as my correspondent said, that I don't know a single lottery jackpot winner? There have been hundreds of them over the years. This 6 degrees business means I should know someone who knows someone, etc, etc...but I don't. Diane, the last two Euromillions winners come from Nottinghamshire, which is your neck of the woods. Do you come within any small number of degrees of them?
If not, statistically I think we have to say that the lottery is a fraud, and NO ONE EVER WINS!
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Happy Birthday Charlie
It can't have escaped many people's notice that today is Charles Dickens' 200th birthday.
Have a great one, Charlie boy.
Sadly, I'm really not fond of your prose...
Have a great one, Charlie boy.
Sadly, I'm really not fond of your prose...
Monday, February 06, 2012
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Saturday, February 04, 2012
How many degrees of a legend?
I was pretty pleased to be in just 2 degrees of Vincent, and Bill Clinton, the latter making me just 3 degrees of Barack Obama. But a chance conversation yesterday, reminiscing with a friend, gave me a big surprise.
When I was in the 6th Form at school (nowadays known as Post-16) it was common practice for schools to have modern language assistants. These were native speakers, students working as tutors to help school kids with conversational French, German, Spanish, etc. As I was studying French, I had regular small group or individual sessions with our French assistant, who happened to be Algerian. One day, he mentioned having met Che Guevara. I was too stunned to enquire further, but it now occurs to me -
I am 2 degrees of Che Guevara!
When I was in the 6th Form at school (nowadays known as Post-16) it was common practice for schools to have modern language assistants. These were native speakers, students working as tutors to help school kids with conversational French, German, Spanish, etc. As I was studying French, I had regular small group or individual sessions with our French assistant, who happened to be Algerian. One day, he mentioned having met Che Guevara. I was too stunned to enquire further, but it now occurs to me -
I am 2 degrees of Che Guevara!
And as you know me, you are 3 degrees away.
Wow!
Amends - Day 6
"I'm sorry, Alex, you know we have to do this." Thanks to Bobby, she finally gets proper closure.
Friday, February 03, 2012
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Amends - Day 3
Bobby doesn't look as if he's feeling very trusting towards his fellow officer.
Meanwhile, please check the post below, which now has the correct picture!
Meanwhile, please check the post below, which now has the correct picture!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Amends - Day 2
Don't know why I like this shot...and this is the one that should originally have appeared yesterday!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Amends - Day 1
Time to start displaying my new caps from the Dutch dvd.
Never noticed before - baby's in his sockies!
Never noticed before - baby's in his sockies!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Climbing Mount Olympics
When I was leaving the National Gallery on Thursday, I was beguiled by the fountains with their red underlighting. I clicked a picture including the Olympic countdown clock. I didn't intend the flash to go off, but it did, making the whole scene look like night, when it was barely dusk. I think it makes a better, more colourful picture though.
Today a flier came through the door about transport and parking during the Olympics. Apparently the only parking in the Olympic park will be disabled parking. Everyone who has a ticket for an event will get a free travel pass.
So those of us who paid for the whole show, and had no chance of geting tickets (OK, I didn't try, but even so...) will be paying to travel on overcrowded buses and trains while the visitors filling them up will get on free.
Most people will consider that, as we are some miles away across the river from the stadiums, we will be relatively unaffected here. But the light railway system takes 45 minutes at most to go directly to the Olympic site. Plus the equestrian events take place in Greenwich Park, just 4 stops along.
This rankles with locals, as it really isn't suitable. It's too small, and IT'S A WORLD HERITAGE SITE!!! No escape to its quiet green hills and stunning views for those of us uninterested in the whole spectacle. Will we ever get it back the way it was?
Curmudgeons Are Us!
Today a flier came through the door about transport and parking during the Olympics. Apparently the only parking in the Olympic park will be disabled parking. Everyone who has a ticket for an event will get a free travel pass.
So those of us who paid for the whole show, and had no chance of geting tickets (OK, I didn't try, but even so...) will be paying to travel on overcrowded buses and trains while the visitors filling them up will get on free.
Most people will consider that, as we are some miles away across the river from the stadiums, we will be relatively unaffected here. But the light railway system takes 45 minutes at most to go directly to the Olympic site. Plus the equestrian events take place in Greenwich Park, just 4 stops along.
This rankles with locals, as it really isn't suitable. It's too small, and IT'S A WORLD HERITAGE SITE!!! No escape to its quiet green hills and stunning views for those of us uninterested in the whole spectacle. Will we ever get it back the way it was?
Curmudgeons Are Us!
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