Blimey, it's a cliche that we Brits talk about the weather by default when we meet each other. Now I'm about to blog about the weather.
But, I mean, really ... what is going on?
My son jokingly (or perhaps not) said about ten days ago, "It's now officially the worst summer ever!" (It's not official really.) And since he said that, it's actually got worse!
We live in Surrey, so we've not had it as bad as other parts of the country many of whose woes have been worse than simply having to moan about the rain, wind and cold.
It's shocking and depressing and we're all fed up.
My philosophical neighbour said, "At least we're all in the same boat." (Stiff British upper lip.) The boat's going to sink under the weight of water soon.
England's football team failed at Euro 2012.
Poor Andy Murray couldn't quite lift the spirits (though we love a plucky loser ... especially an emotional one!).
The England cricket team has been denied a possible 5-0 one-day whitewash of the Aussies by ... the weather!
It will fall to our Olympians to lift the mood. If they can lift the weather too, they really will be champions!
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Wedding Cake Toppers
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Thursday, 7 June 2012
Jubilee weekend shows what the Brits do best
The rain couldn't dampen British spirits over the weekend of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee when, once again, the silent majority found their voice.
Crowds lined the streets, vessels filled the Thames, and parties took to the streets in a general excuse for a watery knees-up!
The Queen performed with her exemplary aplomb despite Prince Philip falling ill, but not all the acts at the Buckingham Palace seemed quite to her taste. Indeed, I'm sure they were not all to everyone's taste!
Nevertheless, it was a weekend that showed what the Brits do best - a bit of a show and a little pageantry tossed in for good measure.
The Olympics are just seven weeks away now and things are shaping up well. The slient majority will rise and push the misery-mongers to one side for a couple of weeks. I look forward to it. Even the rain won't matter.
Damp, but undeterred: a street party in Surrey, 5 June.
Crowds lined the streets, vessels filled the Thames, and parties took to the streets in a general excuse for a watery knees-up!
The Queen performed with her exemplary aplomb despite Prince Philip falling ill, but not all the acts at the Buckingham Palace seemed quite to her taste. Indeed, I'm sure they were not all to everyone's taste!
Nevertheless, it was a weekend that showed what the Brits do best - a bit of a show and a little pageantry tossed in for good measure.
The Olympics are just seven weeks away now and things are shaping up well. The slient majority will rise and push the misery-mongers to one side for a couple of weeks. I look forward to it. Even the rain won't matter.
Monday, 16 April 2012
Shropshire IS beautiful
I recently went on holiday to Shropshire, staying at a holiday cottage in Newcastle-on-Clun (a tiny village with some houses, a church, a pub that doesn't open often, a community centre with some very friendly locals, a d football club(!)) with family and friends.
Before I went, whenever I told people I was going to Shropshire they said how beautiful it is. Yet I didn't have any pre-conception of what it was like.
Beautiful it is!
Hills, valleys, rivers, old castles, here's a flavour.
Before I went, whenever I told people I was going to Shropshire they said how beautiful it is. Yet I didn't have any pre-conception of what it was like.
Beautiful it is!
Hills, valleys, rivers, old castles, here's a flavour.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
A satisfying book
I often - and I guess I'm not the only one in a blog - moan about stuff on here. It's a chance to let off steam. But I thought it would be nice to write about something that pleased me.
I like to read and I'm not happy if I haven't got a book on the go.
I've just finished reading The Confession by John Grisham. Grisham's an easy read and I've read all of his books. I thoroughly enjoyed The Confession. Obviously based on his experiences researching his non-ficiton book The Innocent Man, The Confession is a tale of a man accused of a crime, his forced confession and his death at the hands of the State of Texas, just before it is proven that he couldn't have done it.
The book takes you through the range of emotions - despair, hope, pride - which is what a good book should do.
Give it a try. As I say, it's an easy read and I found it immensely satisfying.
I like to read and I'm not happy if I haven't got a book on the go.
I've just finished reading The Confession by John Grisham. Grisham's an easy read and I've read all of his books. I thoroughly enjoyed The Confession. Obviously based on his experiences researching his non-ficiton book The Innocent Man, The Confession is a tale of a man accused of a crime, his forced confession and his death at the hands of the State of Texas, just before it is proven that he couldn't have done it.
The book takes you through the range of emotions - despair, hope, pride - which is what a good book should do.
Give it a try. As I say, it's an easy read and I found it immensely satisfying.
Friday, 13 January 2012
Recruiting for the Emergency Services
I have just completed a website for recruiting for the Emergency Services in the UK. It's called EmergencyServicesRecruit.co.uk.
It seems that trying to find a job with the Emergency Services is not that easy. The police force and the fire service recruit every 12-18 months when enough people have left the service. However, dates for recruiting are not set and could occur any time in any area. Potential new recruits have to check their websites for vacancies every week - every day, really. In addition, each different area has its own force or service and these will all recruit at different times. It is not an easy system to work.
The purpose of the new site is to stop all that pain and give you peace of mind that no matter when your service recruits you will know about it! It's not a free service, as paying for research staff and overheads means that there are costs involved.
I think it's a noble idea and I hope it meets with great success.
Access it here: www.emergencyservicesrecruit.co.uk.
It seems that trying to find a job with the Emergency Services is not that easy. The police force and the fire service recruit every 12-18 months when enough people have left the service. However, dates for recruiting are not set and could occur any time in any area. Potential new recruits have to check their websites for vacancies every week - every day, really. In addition, each different area has its own force or service and these will all recruit at different times. It is not an easy system to work.
The purpose of the new site is to stop all that pain and give you peace of mind that no matter when your service recruits you will know about it! It's not a free service, as paying for research staff and overheads means that there are costs involved.
I think it's a noble idea and I hope it meets with great success.
Access it here: www.emergencyservicesrecruit.co.uk.
Friday, 30 December 2011
2012 promises to be a momentous year!
2012 has the potential to be an exciting year. Well, it has if you're an England-based sports fan.
In June we have the European Football Championships based in Ukraine and Poland. Although I hold out no hope at all of England doing well (they NEVER do), it should still be an interesting tournament, and - unlike the World Cup - there are no easy games, and competition will be fierce. Expect the usual over-hyped expectations of England's chances from a hysterical media, who will also do their best to undo any chance we might have as they go in search of any scandal at all. The bottom line is actually that everything depends on the players and sadly, they're neither good enough nor disciplined enough to do any good in the tournament.
And then in late July and August we have the London Olympics! Truly exciting, once-in-a-lifetime stuff. Despite the doom-sayers and negative words of the vocal minority, the fact is that England (and Britain) has already embraced the Olympics and will continue to do so right through to the end of the Paralympics. The fact is - we love the Olympics coming to London!
Stadiums are mostly ready, tickets are nearly all sold out, merchandise is selling well - it's going to be a momentous occasion. I have no doubt that - unlike our footballers - our GB athletes will find the crest of the wave and be carried on in to unprecedented success.
The mood of the nation will be lifted by the excitement of the occasion and the gold medals that we'll win. Let's hope the weather doesn't spoil it!
In June we have the European Football Championships based in Ukraine and Poland. Although I hold out no hope at all of England doing well (they NEVER do), it should still be an interesting tournament, and - unlike the World Cup - there are no easy games, and competition will be fierce. Expect the usual over-hyped expectations of England's chances from a hysterical media, who will also do their best to undo any chance we might have as they go in search of any scandal at all. The bottom line is actually that everything depends on the players and sadly, they're neither good enough nor disciplined enough to do any good in the tournament.
And then in late July and August we have the London Olympics! Truly exciting, once-in-a-lifetime stuff. Despite the doom-sayers and negative words of the vocal minority, the fact is that England (and Britain) has already embraced the Olympics and will continue to do so right through to the end of the Paralympics. The fact is - we love the Olympics coming to London!
Stadiums are mostly ready, tickets are nearly all sold out, merchandise is selling well - it's going to be a momentous occasion. I have no doubt that - unlike our footballers - our GB athletes will find the crest of the wave and be carried on in to unprecedented success.
The mood of the nation will be lifted by the excitement of the occasion and the gold medals that we'll win. Let's hope the weather doesn't spoil it!
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