Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten

Last day of June already, a month of good and bad.

Started the month over in Edinburgh at the hospital sleep clinic, they wire you up to machines then expect you to hget a normal nicht's sleep. Well, I did sleep a bit as I had a slight hangover from the previous evening but as for results, haven't had any, I guess no news is good news.

Weather has been quite good so took the opportunity for a wee walk along the coast to Crail, then on to St Andrews by bus, was a glorious day and we discovered the new St Andrews brew pub which was nice. Strange place St Andrews, very historical and nice, famous university, but spending 3-4 years as a student there? Wouldn't be too much to do if you don't play golf.

Have continued my running adventures too, last couple of weeks I ran along the coast to Kirkcaldy rather than getting wet feet at the Black Rock. Have no plans to run a marathon, I barely manage doing 40 minutes at the moment, still at least I'm getting exercise. Am also getting exercise clearing my father's house (he now has a smaller one), there are still some items that will be difficult, like an ancient grandfather clock that I inherited from my grandfather. Was even over in Edinburgh at weekend getting an old stamp album from the 1920s valued, unfortunately it will not make me money though. My wee flat has even more stuff in it than normal now, a lot of old family photos etc. Maybe at some point I can get stuff scanned.

One of the negative things happened opposite my parent's house in Burntisland, the ancient tree there has been under threat from a scumbag developer for years, having had no success going the legal route he took a chainsaw to it and damaged it irreversibly (there are photos of him doing it), at time of writing this the tree still stands , but will have to come down due to safety concerns, the end of the tree's 130 years or so. The bastard has been charged, but the tree is sadly doomed. So should he be.
 
My car also conked out on Wednesday on way to work, the front suspension arm broke, due to corrosion, and I blocked a lane of a busy road in Crossgates, still as the mechanic said, had I been doing 70 on motorway I could have been a goner.

Right, am off to watch the world cup games, until July

Here a few photos from this month, two from a nice day, the other two of not so good days.

Round the rugged rock..

..the ragged rascal ran..and indeed I'm just back in after running to the Black Rock and back. Have done this now 3 times this month and my times are gradually improving, can only be done when the tide is out, I wouldn't fancy swimming in the freezing Firth of Forth!

Well the month of May is almost over already, has been not bad, went for a week trip to Germany and visited many places - Heidelberg, Mannheim, Stuttgart, Cottbus, Berlin etc - so one or two days were mostly driving, but was an enjoyable break from the usual routine. The weather was good too, but then I almost always take the good weather with me. Shame the time went so quick, before I knew it I was back at my desk in Dunfermline.

Work is going ok, things are getting busier and I will be doing my last shift until 9pm today, almost all hours I owed the company are paid back, so things are looking up. I don't need to think about work when I'm not there so in that respect it's good. My mind is already wandering to future adventures, have a week off in September and October and plans are afoot for a long walk with one or other of my old German friends, the actual walk is still to be decided but is likely to be in September, around the time of the independence referendum.  Will be glad to see the back of all this referendum crap, the "yes" campaigners were out in force in my wee town (and many others) in the last week or two (what part of "sod off, I'm voting No" do they not understand?). Posters and leaflets from both sides are everywhere too, Goebbels would be impressed, and you can't turn the TV on without the debate raging on, roll on September when it will all be over, hopefully.

On a more positive note the World Cup is soon to start and am looking forward to that, am hoping an underdog will win it, but feel Brazil are hot favourites, I mean which referee would be brave enough to give a penalty against the host nation in the 89th minute? At least it's being played in a football nation and not some middle eastern desert that has no football tradition at all! Sepp Blatter is the Robert Mugabe of the sport and, like Mugabe, is allowed to stay in power despite all the corruption, rant over.

Another piece of good news is the fact that another Bavarian Beer Festival is to be held in Kirkcaldy in August,  was good last time and I still have my silly Bavarian hat to wear, think I'll give the lederhosen morphsuit a miss though..we'll see!

Would have been my mum's birthday today, wonder what she would have thought of my father's plans to sell the house? In a way I see his point, but it will still be sad to see the house I grew up in sold, we'll see what happens over the next month or two.  Here are two pictures from Stuttgart and one with Oli and Clemens in Mannheim.

Ladder-climbing trimmer

It's foggy as hell here today, but then yesterday started the same and turned out glorious, shame I had to go to work in the afternoon. This week I start late and finish late, it does have the advantage that I don't have to get up early though. Been trying to get things done these mornings but generally I continue watching classic movies, recently I watched, among others, Kes, the Titfield Thunderbolt and Cast Away.

Have not been too lazy though, have been to the gym 3 times this month, which is good going for me! Also was walking on Saturday from Queensferry to Aberdour, my original plan to walk all the way to Kinghorn was hijacked by a few ales in the Cedar Inn. Even got my hair cut during this walk - a place in Inverkeithing I've used a couple of times before. Ended up getting train back here and going for a couple in the Auld Hoose. So that was my exercise.

Plan on another gym visit, probably early on Friday before work. Looking forward to a week off next week, so burning a few calories beforehand might be a good idea. Fear not, dear reader, I shall let you know how my trip went in my next update.

Have also been up a long ladder cutting the ivy back this month, the ivy just grows and grows, and was touching my flat, so I decided to borrow a ladder from Rob in the pub and up I went. Going up is one thing, cutting the bloody ivy with garden shears while not falling off ladder is another! Still, I was moderately successful, will need to trim it again soon though. Even managed to cut grass twice this month, there wasn't even much cat crap either.

Here a couple of photos of this month's exciting adventures, well actually one is of the ruins of St Bridgit's Kirk on the walk to Aberdour, another of a sunny day this month, another of the ivy (from above) and a new erection my neighbours have put up. Their garden is a bit small for it in my opinion.

Lakeland wanderer

My hours at work changed toward the beginning of the month, so I have slightly more free time, or at least I will once I've worked the hours back that I owe. Am starting at 2pm today, so had time to do stuff..only I didn't, watched a film "The inn of sixth happiness" and it went well over 2 hours. Have been watching a lot of classic films in recent times "Laura" and "Gaslight" being two examples and both were excellent. Oh, they don't make them like they used to for sure!

Went for a week down to Ulverston in the Lake District a couple of weeks ago, the weather was surprisingly mostly excellent and the flat was nice. Walked from Ulverson to Coniston on one of the days, was a long scenic walk and my plan is to do the whole of the Cumbria Way at some time in the future. Also visited other towns in the lakes- Keswick, Windermere, Ambleside and Cockermouth - and drove up the very steep Hard Knot Pass. Found time for a wee day trip to Blackpool too but, unfortunately, it was a misty day so wasn't worthwhile going up the tower.

Ulverston, where we were based, is famous for being the birthplace of Stan Laurel, so visited the Laurel and Hardy Museum, followed by a meal in the Stan Laurel Inn. The other pubs were quite good too, especially the Mill, the Swan, and Old Friends.  Old Friends had a pub quiz which we didn't win, but we met Tommy the Tortoise who kept himself warm by the fire. Actually Tommy is a girl but the owners kept the name, afterall she is about 55 years old and used to it!

The month of April is almost with us, no major plans other than the usual, but hopefully will manage another walk, though will be working on one or two weekends. Here are a few photos: Laurel and Hardy statue, a knackered Alan on the way to Coniston, the house where Stan Laurel was born, and Tommy Tortoise.



 

Sentimental walking hoarder

Have a day off today and the sun is shining into my eyes as I write this, makes a change after all the miserable weather we've been having. Had intended to go to Arrochar and climb/walk up the Cobbler but the forecast was so bad I postponed the idea. Have been walking this month though, a couple of times along to Aberdour, so no massive distance, but will be doing longer stretches in the next few weeks. Also walked along to Kirkcaldy to do some shopping in the new Morrisons supermarket there, then walked back along the coast with my shopping as a picture here shows.

Workwise things are ok, am changing hours soon so will have slightly more free time, so that's good. It's also good that I can forget all about work when I'm not there. Have a week off after next week, will head down to England for relaxation, walking, and a few real ales I'm sure, am in holiday mode already, am ticking the days off until then. Have an appointment at an Edinburgh hospital before then, nothing major, but it's something I could do without.

Been along at my Dad's house a couple of times, he wants a lot of things cleared out, not furniture, just the "junk". He has moved on with his life and has a new romantic interest, good for him. My mum, like me, was a bit of a hoarder, and I don't like to see things thrown out, especially photos and sentimental stuff, so I've loads of  photos etc in the flat now. If I get the scanner working I'll post some of them here.

Not many plans for this weekend as I'm working on Saturday, will no doubt be visiting the Auld Hoose though, it's good having a good pub on your doorstep! Shane they don't sell Schlenkerla smoked wheat beer though, am having that bottle in the picture right now. In the other photo the seals can be seen.

Unfit Ember onesie walker

So January has only a couple of hours to go, it's not a month I'll look back and say "wow, what a month!" about. I had intended doing the Looney Dook on 1 Jan but it was too soon after my hospital visit, I'll do it next year, no excuses.

Been working today, only got in at 8.30, and I'm working tomorrow too,  I work one Saturday in every four, but who knows how things might change at work, would ideally like a mid-week day off now and then so I can do things and maybe even get to the gym again, my work-life balance isn't right at the moment.

I did have yesterday off and walked along to Kirkcaldy but my one real day of exercise was a couple of weeks ago when I took Kath's dog Ember over the Binn, through Burntisland, and on to Aberdour and the dog-friendly Cedar Inn. Felt stiffness in my legs for about a week afterward, so just goes to show how unfit I've become. Things will have to change!

Just had my birthday, an unremarkable day as I was working until 8pm, though I did have a nice Tomatin and Ardbeg in the Auld Hoose, wearing a onesie, when I finished. It's a bit of a cliche but years just whizz by. Plan a bit of hill walking in a week or two, will tell you later. Also planned a couple of wee holidays to Lake District and to europe, it's nice having something to look forward to in these dreich dark days.

Here are photos of me in a onesie on my birthday (looking even fatter than what I am), with Ember above Burntisland, and a badly taken photo with BePo,who kindly bought me a few nice German beers for my birthday, cheers!

Bye bye at last 2013

Started month off with another trip to Edinburgh, the Christmas market there is bigger than previously but very expensive, still, I partook of a mulled wine or two and a £4 Bratwurst. Obviously I bought a couple of small presents, including a bottle of Glenfarclas (wonder who that was for..).

I had the first week of the month off actually but didn't travel anywhere, there had been a bug going around at work and it chose to get me just as I had free time, most of the week was spent on sofa watching numerous downloaded movies from the golden age of Hollywood - a lot of my 2TB harddrive is taken up by them- and playing hidden object PC games that are becoming quite an obsession.

The following two weeks were spent not doing much at work, it has been a quiet time but judging by yesterday things are starting to get busy again, going in today for what will probably be a short shift, then I can prepare for tonight's new year celebration, probably in the pub. Will be glad to see this year gone, even Christmas was the worst ever due to a variety of reasons, and petty "family" politics, still at least 3 hours of Christmas day were good- at the raffle in the Auld Hoose. Didn't win much, just 6 beers and a bottle of rose, was a good laugh though. Then I went down to mine and downed a bottle of champagne.

Adding to my non-festive feeling was a hospital appointment on the 29th and had to starve myself for a day and a half and drink the most god awful stuff I wouldn't wish on anyone. I got through it though, glad it's behind me.  So come on 2014, let's be having you! Here a couple of photos, one at Xmas market, the other with Davie specs in pub.

PS hope Schumacher survives his head injury, he made F1 watchable back then and I always wanted him to lose, not this time though. 

Capital Punishment

This month started off with a night in the capital Edinburgh, courtesy of my home insurance company, so off we went and a good time was had by all. Unfortunately the mussels and oysters had a wicked effect that lasted a few days..
  
A few days later and it was back to Edinburgh again, this time to see Dame Edna on her farewell tour, had tickets near the front but luckily I wasn't called up onto the stage like a couple near me were! About 3 days later it was off to Edinburgh for a third time, this time for a music concert in the HMV Picture House. Shame this was on a Sunday though, as I always had the worry of missing last train - it goes about 10.30 from the so-called world city, a tad too early in my opinion.

Rest of the month didn't feature Edinburgh, work is going ok but things are very quiet, it means the days drag on forever, especially if on backshift. These dark mornings and early evenings are also affecting my budgies, they are not too lively when there is no light so sometimes I don't see them flying about at all. They are loud as hell today though, driving me insane they are!

Just back from a night in Lundin Links, a wee treat as I have this coming week off. Had a few good ales in the Railway Inn and a meal in the Crusoe in Lower Largo. Hopefully I'll not waste the week completely like I did last time I had a week off, maybe I'll head to Edinburgh yet again to see what the Xmas market is like. Also have other  mundane things to sort out and maybe I'll look along to the new Morrisons that will open on Monday.  

Have no major Xmas plans, though I'll have to show face in the Auld Hoose to see if I've won anything in the raffle. Whether I'll see any of the family at that time remains to be seen. What does "family" mean now?

Photos show me looking into very dirty mirror on day of Hendy's funeral, a deadly but tasty dish of mussels, Bea outside the Railway Inn in Lower Largo, and my kids Robbie and Stasi.

Always your friend...

I know this month still has a week to run, plan doing a spooky walk at halloween, it's a tradition, but  have no other major plans. Am off this week and had planned a massive tidy-up, but I'm a lazy bastard and prefer the Australian Shiraz I've just bought in the local co-op, bloody good one too.

I really wish the weather had been typically Scottish this week, instead I've had the sun beating in through the windows, windows I can't open due to the budgies flying around, and they are loud as hell! Well, they're locked in their cage now, but their protest squaking is hardly even drowned out by blasting out loud heavy metal. They are a couple of spoiled prima donnas to be sure!

Had a nice wee trip over to France at start of month, a work-related trip with very little work involved, so can't complain. Was near to Paris but didn't have time to see the sites in the city itself, a place I've only been twice to before, and last time was over 20 years ago. There's always next time. Anyway, saw a couple of nice French towns and a thought-provoking  First World War graveyard that we suddenly discovered by the side of a road we were travelling. Each headstone a tragedy for those who were left behind.

Tragedy also occured nearer to home two weeks ago when my friend from my schooldays Graeme "Hendy" Henderson suddenly died. Hendy and I had a lot of adventures over the years, including a never-to-be-repeated legendary drinking day/night in Edinburgh. We may have had a fall out, and didn't communicate for a while, but we had renewed our friendship with a couple of pub visits this year and I was looking forward to our next night out. He was perhaps one of the most interesting and gracious people I knew, taken much too young.

Photos show my lodge in France, a war cemetry, a curious french cat in Pierrefonds, and the late Hendy.

PS Hendy sent a couple of quite moving texts after the death of my mum (he was the only friend of mine who had the nerve to address her by her first name). The last three words of one of those texts is the title of this post.  I'll try to be more upbeat next time.

Jerry Derry Froggie

Another month almost gone and the last days of reasonably good weather are with us, it's sure to turn dreich and horrible before too long. Been on a couple of trips recently and there's another work-related one to come on Wednesday.

Was over in Germany for a few days at end of last month, hired a car and travelled to quite a few places including Heidelberg, Nuremberg, Potsdam and Berlin (yet again). As always with days off, the time went far too quickly and there was lots of places I'd like to have gone to, but didn't have time for, maybe next time, eh?  No Oktoberfest for me this year though, but did fit in a wee trip to Derry/Londonderry (a city with two names depending on your political position), went over there a couple of days ago and arrived back yesterday so the visit was brief but enjoyable. The weather was excellent too! Went to all the major sites, walked the historic city walls, and even had a couple of pints in the Bogside area, something I might not have done a few years ago.

Next trip is on Wednesday, going to France on a work-related trip, but I suspect serious amounts of eating and drinking will be involved, though I doubt I'll be able to keep up with my travel companions, am almost a pipe and slippers man now and am very rarely out in pubs at night and I can't remember the last time I went clubbing, lets face it the music they play there is crap anyway. Oohh, I am sounding middle-aged!

My budgies are doing fine, they are out of their cage more often than not, but are still a bit wary, only allowing themselves to be touched when tired.  Have today and tomorrow off, then it's France til Friday, so wont see much of the office this week.

Went to the gym for the first time in ages today and I struggled, but at least I didn't fall off the treadmill as I did on my last visit! See you in October!

Photos show me at the Luitpold war memorial, that played a starring role in a certain propaganda film of the distant past, the others are a peace monument, Free Derry Corner in the Bogside, and me guarding old Derry's walls.

Talisker Razor Terror

Buying a razor/clipper to keep what's left of my luxurious full head of hair neat and tidy was a mistake, tried a wee trim after a glass of Talisker or two, a total disaster! I luckily found a barber next day who covered the worst of the damage, though I'm looking a bit like Heinrich Himmler now!

Am writing just a few words today because I'm off on a wee trip tomorrow and, well I'll tell you about it later.

Went to my first gay wedding a couple of weeks ago- well the reception anyway and I didn't have far to go, just up the road to the local restaurant. Most of the pub high society were there so it went off well. Other than that I've been doing the usual stuff, looking after my "kids" and going to work on various day and back shifts. Had a bit of a cold at the time of the wedding, was walking around greeting people like a constipated dalek, but I'm more or less back to normal now.

Have to dash now, still load to sort out and not much time,  bis bald!

Here a photo of the happy couple and of the new Morrisons
supermarket along the coast that is being built (thought you'd be excited).

The cute, the mad, and the crusty

Twenty past ten at night, it's gone dark and I'm very tired. Only got in from work about an hour and a half ago, am doing the back shift and it doesn't suit my body clock at all.  I like to get up early and finish early, no saucy pun intended.

July has gone quite quick and it was certainly warm, too warm for me for sure. Been baking hot here at home but when you've free-range budgies flying about the windows can't be opened much. On the rare occassions they are in their cage I open the windows wide. The budgies are spoilt at bit,they have developed a taste for apples and they go mad if they don't get out the cage.

Spent the month watching sport- tennis and golf being the traditional ones for me in July, but that's all past now and August is nearly upon us. Was in Edinburgh at Real Mary King's Close under the Royal Mile in Edinburgh at weekend, was quite good. Then, of course, I sampled a few brews as tradition dictates!

Last Thursday I thought I'd go to the gym as I'd been a lazy sod for a month or so, my reunion with the treadmill did not go well however, I managed to fall off the damned thing and suffered burns to wrist and leg! Old crusty wrist will have to be more careful in future, maybe lifting pints in the Auld Hoose is a better idea..

Looked in at Kath's place a couple of times recently, they now have a cute little doggie! At least I'll not have to get up during the night to take my budgies a walk :-)

Here are photos of the cute dog, the mad birds and me with a scowl on my pus (my usual inane grin being frowned upon by the passport authorities..)

Broken toothed poisoned budgie fan

Almost the end of June, so time for an update. Been at new job for 5 weeks now, things are going ok but I start backshift next week, working until 8pm and I'm not looking forward to it as I'm more of a morning person, still at least I should get more sleep.

Month started off with one of my teeth breaking off when I bit on something hard, went to dentist and I be going back there next week, so I'm not as stunning as I usually am, though it's not a tooth at the very front. The second week of June I felt like hell as I had food poisoning, really I wouldn't wish it on anyone, I won't go into details. I'm sure I get it from a dodgy chicken burger at Wetherspoons in Kirkcaldy so I'll not be rushing back there! I wasn't off work though as I was in training, didn't venture too far from a toilet though! It took about 9 days until I was back to normal, couldn't even enjoy a drink with my ex-colleague Linda who was back in town after 5 years on a brief visit from Australia, next time maybe.

On the same day I was poisoned I bought two Budgies - Robbie (named after a guy from the pub) and Stasi (after Eva Braun's dog..or the East German secret police, take your pick). They are lively wee fellows and demand to fly around the living room at least once a day. The smaller bird simply hates going back into his cage though, or is probably too think to find his way back, unlike the clever Robbie.

Had an eye test done the other day, eyes are fine but my distance sight could be better so have a prescription that I'm hoping Ron from the pub can get me a cheap pair with, we'll see. Plans are afoot for a massive walk on Saturday, probably the Tay Bridge to Newburgh stretch will be attempted, but I don't think there are any pubs before the end of the 17 mile stretch. Guess a wee carry-oot will have to be taken along!

Goodbye Hello

This year has certainly been one of change, my morph era came to an end last Friday and my new job in Dunfermline started yesterday, as with all new jobs it will take a lot of getting used to but I'm glad that I don't have too far to travel, have done the Edinburgh commute for many years and had no enthusiasm to start that again!

Had a nice wee trip to Berlin, which included a trip to the Baltic Sea last week. Four folk from the local pub were coincidently on same flight, though we resisted the urge to booze together in the big city, we do that all the time at home afterall! I never tire of Berlin, it's too big to discover in a few trips, though I will admit that this trip, like the last one in November was too short and too centred on Alexander Platz. Did have time to visit one of my Morphsuit accounts on the Scharnweber Strasse, it was a case of hello and goodbye really but was interesting to meet  someone I previously only had telephone contact with.

Would have been my mum's 75th today, she was most certainly the glue that kept the family together, things just aren't the same. It's amazing how quickly this year has gone, a year that has been just a tad stressful so far. Thanks to BePo for being there for me when many simply weren't. Here is she before a gate-like structure in Berlin, a photo of Potsdam and a spa health seeker during a very brief visit to Zingst. 



 

Stressed sun-seeker

 April almost over and the sun is shining, it seems winter is over for another year. Things are slowly beginning to normalise after the recent stressful few weeks, though it saw another funeral, this time of my Uncle Jim. I hadn't seen my cousins on that side of the family for a long time, then I see them twice within a few weeks, though both occasions were tinged with sadness. 

A couple of weeks ago I escaped to the sun for a few days, was good to recharge the batteries and relax a bit. I normally go abroad about this time and it was a welcome break from what has been an annus horribilis so far. 

The job situation seems clearer, the parent company want to do their own thing without the experience our office provides. Already they can't cope, a disaster looms, and to paraphrase Rhett Butler "frankly I don't give a damn". Have applied for a couple of things and will do more after my next trip, am off to Berlin in a few days, will be good to see the city I remember from my youth, a full 6 months ago! 

Helped out with the Kinghorn beach clean on Sunday and had our picture taken by a press photographer, have scanned the paper these last couple of days but, alas, the picture has not been in it.

Here a couple of photos taken this month, not in Scotland in case you were wondering.. Have been adding photos to blogs for years but I'm finding aligning them more and more difficult. Am becoming less technical in my old age but I'm sure something has been changed..

Beware the Ides of March

March turned out to be a less than happy month for Julius Caesar, I know how he feels.

Month was dominated by the passing of my mum Laura, whose life journey ended on 19th March.  Even though you might suspect the end is drawing near, it's still a shock when it actually happens, she is at peace now and free of the cruel illness that affected her in her final months.

Auf Wiedersehen Mutti, you won't be forgotten by your family and friends. The funeral was well attended with family and friends, many of whom I hadn't seen for decades.

Other minor incidents this month? Well, after visiting my mum for last time some woman reversed into my car in Lidl carpark, so am going through an insurance claim right now, will probably cost me a whack unless she admits liability- there were no independent witnesses.  Got a courtesy car today while the minor damage to mine is repaired.

Also, at work things have been far from easy, with a major fallout with two members of the co-owners family, however I am in the right and have received support from colleagues. Hardly a stress-free existance this month though! Oh, and we are likely all to lose our jobs due to the parent company of Morphsuits internalising their operation, it will go pear-shaped for them for sure, but such is life.

To clear my head a bit, I spent a couple of nights in Lundin Links, walked Elie to Anstruther in the howling wind and snow, good for the mind so it is.

Anyway, I hope things get a bit better from April onwards, months like this one I really don't want to experience again in a hurry.

crashed again

Spent about an hour writing this update then suddenly a crash when adding a photo or two! No draft, nothing. Well I can' t be fashed writing the whole month again, here a couple of photos..not happy! One shows how much my colleagues love me, another a lovely sunny day here, the other one a whisky challenge that I lost last weekend.

No dooking loony

 

How does the song go again "January, sick and tired, you've been hanging on me ,  You make me sad with your eyes ,  You're telling me lies,  Don't go, don't go".  Well it is going to go and tomorrow it will be gone.


Mouth started off in usual fashion, down the beach looking at brave people doing the loony dook  - walking into the icy cold sea wearing silly clothing, most still nursing hangovers from the night before no doubt. I maybe should have put the morphsuit on and joined in, oh well there's always next year!

The month went by quite quickly if truth be told, I very much have a routine, one week mirroring the next. No massive long walks were done but I did manage Inverkeithing to Aberdour if that counts. Should be walking on Saturday however and no doubt a couple of drinkies will be had along at the Railway Inn or similar.

Birthday was on Tuesday, the folk at work got me a Thomas the Tank Engine cake, a beer and a new Foul Fashion shirt. After work I was in the Auld Hoose for a couple of beers and a wee dram, then it was back to the pipe and slippers at home. It is quite incredible to think how quickly time goes, still I'll never be as young as I am today.

Think I should maybe book a trip somewhere as these cold winter nights seem to drag on forever, was speaking to my barber on Monday ( a guy who I've known since I was a boy) and he was telling me about all the places he has visited- and he's been almost everywhere and he has 3 trips booked for this year already, including Monaco for the Grand Prix. Yeah, I need to see a bit more of the world, guess I'll have to get a new passport then.

Anyway, here a couple of photos, one of me on my birthday, the loony dookers, and Tavis havering on about Marxism or similar, see you in February.