As always, zoom in to see some gorgeous detail.
DW
22.6.12
Geranium Photos ... close ups!
I have planted a few geraniums in my garden and put one in a pot to keep in my kitchen. The first flowers are due out any day now ... here are a couple of photos ... macro lens, close up!
As always, zoom in to see some gorgeous detail.
DW
As always, zoom in to see some gorgeous detail.
DW
20.6.12
On the way back from town ...
A friend said she had never seen photos of the area where I live so on my way back from town today I took a couple of snaps with my phone ...
DW
19.6.12
Hiccups!
I can't remember when I last had hiccups during the day. I think I only ever get them at night. I know how to deal with hiccups: I sip at a glass of cold water and that cures any attack of hiccups.
Last night, however, I woke up suffering from a fit of hiccups so I dealt with it. Then beggar me, at some later stage of the night I got another attack of hiccups. I had been asleep and I know it wasn't the same attack!!
I think I have never had a double attack of hiccups before.
I also wish I knew the cause of my hiccups. In the old days I would drink some beer and hiccups came with it. I have not had a drink for years ... so???
DW
18.6.12
Lovely Walk!
I have been back home since Thursday afternoon of last week and this afternoon was the first warm and sunny afternoon so I have just been for a walk. I've got a 30 minute route that takes in fields, cows, buttercups, clover, a steep hill going down, walking through a housing estate, a steep hill up that goes through a wood taking in a babbling brook.
I played my walk to the shops playlist of tunes and that was spot on: allowing for the couple of minutes I spent talking to Daisy the cow and hoping that some bees would come and visit the foxgloves next to her! They didn't.
Nice walk!
DW
I played my walk to the shops playlist of tunes and that was spot on: allowing for the couple of minutes I spent talking to Daisy the cow and hoping that some bees would come and visit the foxgloves next to her! They didn't.
Nice walk!
DW
17.6.12
Will Self Slurs Again
Self publicist Will Self has been on the radio again and he reminded my that he has yet to respond to any of my messages and attempts at exploring with him why he thinks its bullshit for anyone to compete at the Olympic or any other games. That didn't stop him from being paid to travel all of the way to Australia to appear on television there to blackguard the London Olympics yet again.
I took the opportunity to write to Mr Self again, as follows; and I will let you know if he ever responds:
I took the opportunity to write to Mr Self again, as follows; and I will let you know if he ever responds:
Dear Mr Self,
I have just listened to the book programme on Radio 4 hosted by Mariela Frostrup. I was rather surprised that you didn't mention your plan for investing in London for the greater good. You know, your anti London Olympics £9 billion solution.
It's been quite a while since you announced your grand plan on Newsnight. Maybe you have realised that your grand plan is much more difficult to prepare than your flippant assertion suggested.
I have also read that transcript on your web site of a television programme [on] Australian television in which you appeared. Do I understand it correctly, that you went all the way to Australia for a very handsome fee merely to give a jaundiced opinion on sport and sports people? Why would anyone rational do that? Moreover, your comments illustrate that you have no understanding whatsoever of why people participate in sport and sporting events: whether the Olympic Games or merely running around the local park.
I notice that you are involved in something to do with Disability in the Media. Let me advise you that one of the most revealing and emotional events I have been to recently was a national swimming competition in Sheffield in which able bodied swimmers and disabled swimmers performed turn and turn about. We saw young people of all levels of ability swimming for no financial reward whatsoever. We saw very fine physical specimens ranging from 16 to 20 years of age. We saw swimmers who represented the 10 or so levels of disability that UK and Paralympic Sports divide their sportsmen into.
If you search your mind you might find that your view on the motivation of sportsmen has nothing to do with reality. You might then understand why you have found it absolutely impossible to come up with anything resembling your putative £9 billion alternative solution to the London Olympics.
As your failure even to acknowledge any of my messages is obvious, I will, as before, be posting this message on my blog where many people will see that I have been attempting a dialogue with you for a long time now but in spite of your drunken rallying cry on Newsnight your views are, to paraphrase your own words on the Australian television programme, bullshit.
Yours etc
DW
16.6.12
Good News and from Microsoft, too!
I bought MS Office 2010 just after it first came out. I installed the software and used it until late last year. Late last year I had a major hard disk disaster and whilst I had backed up the vast majority of everything, the people who repaired my laptop installed Office 2007 instead of 2010 on the new HDD.
Over the last few weeks I have been pondering how to get my MS Office 2010 back. Today I got it and not only downloaded the software but I was able to retrieve my product code and therefore install the software and run it.
At last Gates, something went right!
DW
Over the last few weeks I have been pondering how to get my MS Office 2010 back. Today I got it and not only downloaded the software but I was able to retrieve my product code and therefore install the software and run it.
At last Gates, something went right!
DW
So Sad but Such Hope!
I don't have a television set connected to any television services so I watch programmes either when I go travelling or on the BBC iPlayer or the ITV iPlayer. This morning I saw a programme on the BBC iPlayer on the Great Ormond Street Hospital. Great Ormond Street (GOS) is, by all accounts, a world beating hospital that specialises in the treatment of sick children and benefits from the bequest of JM Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, inter alia.
In this programme, we followed three children each with their own horrific cardiac problems. One child had been flown in from Germany and not only had a hole in his heart but his trachea was far too thin to allow him to breathe effectively. This tiny baby was on the verge of death at all times and had already had one cardiac arrest with concomitant potential brain damage. The question was whether they should operate: was it dangerous now and/or in the future. Anyway, they performed the operation and we saw the baby being taken home to Germany with huge hope for the future. This must have been so emotional for everyone concerned: parents, nurses and doctors. Huge praise too for the highly talented international team that works at the hospital.
Another case was the boy who only had, as I understand it, half a heart: they knew this from before the boy was born so that when he was born he was taken immediately to split his heart into two and he was given a chance of survival. Again, parents and grandparents in evidence giving unconditional love to a baby even before he was born. The same was true of the medical team: a baby has not even been born but everyone is fighting for its life.
We also saw a baby who had been in GOS for almost every day of his 6 month life being made well enough to be taken outside for a walk in the park. So good to see.
Whilst our politicians are attempting, full steam ahead, to make a complete mess of the NHS, it is fantastic to be able to see such high quality care from what is clearly a dedicated and talented team at the hospital.
DW
In this programme, we followed three children each with their own horrific cardiac problems. One child had been flown in from Germany and not only had a hole in his heart but his trachea was far too thin to allow him to breathe effectively. This tiny baby was on the verge of death at all times and had already had one cardiac arrest with concomitant potential brain damage. The question was whether they should operate: was it dangerous now and/or in the future. Anyway, they performed the operation and we saw the baby being taken home to Germany with huge hope for the future. This must have been so emotional for everyone concerned: parents, nurses and doctors. Huge praise too for the highly talented international team that works at the hospital.
Another case was the boy who only had, as I understand it, half a heart: they knew this from before the boy was born so that when he was born he was taken immediately to split his heart into two and he was given a chance of survival. Again, parents and grandparents in evidence giving unconditional love to a baby even before he was born. The same was true of the medical team: a baby has not even been born but everyone is fighting for its life.
We also saw a baby who had been in GOS for almost every day of his 6 month life being made well enough to be taken outside for a walk in the park. So good to see.
Whilst our politicians are attempting, full steam ahead, to make a complete mess of the NHS, it is fantastic to be able to see such high quality care from what is clearly a dedicated and talented team at the hospital.
DW
14.6.12
Hooray, it's sunny ... oh! no it isn't!
I arrived at Manchester Airport and it was sunny. The drive home started out well and then deteriorated to the state where dark clouds were looming by the time I got home.
Within half an hour of having made my first cup of coffee etc, it started raining and almost two hours later, there are still rain drops on my windows.
So, from 42 degree Riyadh to 13 degree Halifax.
DW
Within half an hour of having made my first cup of coffee etc, it started raining and almost two hours later, there are still rain drops on my windows.
So, from 42 degree Riyadh to 13 degree Halifax.
DW
Oh no it's BMI!
Just remembered that the flight from Doha to Manchester is with BMI on behalf of Qatar. Let's hope I don't have to wait two months for my suitcase after this one.
DW
DW
8.6.12
How Odd!
Here is one of those PC, stupid PC, things that we hear about from time to time. Just study the warning notice on this packet of peanuts: I got it in the UK.
DW
DW
Grr! The Clot Forgot
Take a look at this photo ... what's missing?
You are right, it's my travelling bottle of Molton Brown Ziao Jao shampoo ... my favourite. I am very careful these days with my things as my history of leaving things behind is prolific ... forgive the grammar.
Well, in a bathroom (that's a room with a bath in it) in an hotel in Jubail, I left that bottle which has doubtless been thrown in the bin by now.
RIP
DW
You are right, it's my travelling bottle of Molton Brown Ziao Jao shampoo ... my favourite. I am very careful these days with my things as my history of leaving things behind is prolific ... forgive the grammar.
Well, in a bathroom (that's a room with a bath in it) in an hotel in Jubail, I left that bottle which has doubtless been thrown in the bin by now.
RIP
DW
7.6.12
The Cure for a Sloping Floor and a Shoe Repair
Drawers that persistently slide open get on my nerves, how about you? So, the photo here shows my solution for the latest example of this situation.
Kewl!
Oh! It's time to repair my favourite shoes too ...
DW
Kewl!
Oh! It's time to repair my favourite shoes too ...
DW
Late Night Chat Shows
In the UK there was Parky, then there was that woofter Harty (RIP). Much later Wogan came along (never liked his style).
UK chat shows: open plan studio, fireside chat style. Seemed relaxed and friendly as well as entertaining.
In the US they do things differently. Their chat shows ALL seem to start with some untalented man in a suit doing some kind of DEEPLY SCRIPTED stand up routine that is very rarely funny. It would help if they didn't just read from an auto cue of course.
Then the US host will go and sit behind a desk as his guests usually sit to the side of the desk and on a chair that is lower than their host's. Psychologically damaging.
Let's not mention the little musical troupe they all, UK, have. In the US, of corse, their musical leader is always a wacky one!
Finally, back to the US: why does the host always sit in front of an image of a night time city scape? It fools no one!!
Finally, finally, I can see why they are called talk shows in the US and chat shows in the UK. At least in the UK the guests are invited on from the beginning so we don't have to suffer a lengthy and inane monologue by the host.
Just saying!
DW
UK chat shows: open plan studio, fireside chat style. Seemed relaxed and friendly as well as entertaining.
In the US they do things differently. Their chat shows ALL seem to start with some untalented man in a suit doing some kind of DEEPLY SCRIPTED stand up routine that is very rarely funny. It would help if they didn't just read from an auto cue of course.
Then the US host will go and sit behind a desk as his guests usually sit to the side of the desk and on a chair that is lower than their host's. Psychologically damaging.
Let's not mention the little musical troupe they all, UK, have. In the US, of corse, their musical leader is always a wacky one!
Finally, back to the US: why does the host always sit in front of an image of a night time city scape? It fools no one!!
Finally, finally, I can see why they are called talk shows in the US and chat shows in the UK. At least in the UK the guests are invited on from the beginning so we don't have to suffer a lengthy and inane monologue by the host.
Just saying!
DW
6.6.12
I Told You!
A year or more ago I wrote in various places that newspaper talk of UK unemployment SOARING to 3million was just tripe: yes it was rising and yes it was getting worse; but soaring it wasn't.
In my inbox today came an email that linked to www.marketoracle.co.uk which reported:
Academic economists producing models in ivory towers detached from the real world FAILED to realise or comprehend the consequences of both the Labour government's employment measures such as the 0.5 million public sector jobs created during the recession ... academic economists still stuck to theoretical models that failed abysmally ...
Read the whole page at www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article20757.html
DW
In my inbox today came an email that linked to www.marketoracle.co.uk which reported:
Academic economists producing models in ivory towers detached from the real world FAILED to realise or comprehend the consequences of both the Labour government's employment measures such as the 0.5 million public sector jobs created during the recession ... academic economists still stuck to theoretical models that failed abysmally ...
Read the whole page at www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article20757.html
DW
4.6.12
Blue with Blue? Never thought of that before!
How about this? Normally I wear this shirt with a yellow tie. It looks good with blue though, doesn't it!
DW
DW
2.6.12
... and the tax man taketh!
That's done now, then! I paid my corporation tax today. Big wrench.
Duty done, however!
DW
Duty done, however!
DW
Zomboid!
Woke like a zombie this morning ... showered like a zombie ... breakfast like a zombie ... gradually woke up after an hour or so!
I should sleep well tonight and then be on top form for the rest of my two weeks here!
DW
I should sleep well tonight and then be on top form for the rest of my two weeks here!
DW
1.6.12
En Route
I am sat sitting here in an airport lounge waiting for my next flight. My bank account provides me with an airport lounge access card and it works!
So I can come into a lounge, sit back, relax and enjoy the peace ... and food and drink if necessary.
Boarding just announced.
Au revoir!
DW
So I can come into a lounge, sit back, relax and enjoy the peace ... and food and drink if necessary.
Boarding just announced.
Au revoir!
DW
31.5.12
Afternoon Tea ... first rate service
I am just finishing afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly. High quality everything and first rate service. Excellent setting too!
DW
DW
Lego ... extraordinary
As I walked past Hamley's in Regent's Street the other evening, I saw this image and just had to stop and snap it.
Her Majesty done in Lego bricks.
Takes me a year to finish a jigsaw!!
DW
Her Majesty done in Lego bricks.
Takes me a year to finish a jigsaw!!
DW
29.5.12
28.5.12
Landan innit!
I have taken a lot of video footage today and not many photos. Here's one of the Tower of Big Ben from an unusual angle!!
Here's the Olympics countdown clock in Trafalfar Square too.
DW
Here's the Olympics countdown clock in Trafalfar Square too.
DW
Biodegradable ... what?
Strange but true! It's interesting what one learns when just chatting.
Last night I heard about the Eco friendly biodegradable potty. Yes. Potty.
It's a cracking idea and you can see it here: http://www.becothings.com/newbornpotty.html
There are other such products too that might be worthy of your attention!
You (probably) heard it first here!!
DW
Last night I heard about the Eco friendly biodegradable potty. Yes. Potty.
It's a cracking idea and you can see it here: http://www.becothings.com/newbornpotty.html
There are other such products too that might be worthy of your attention!
You (probably) heard it first here!!
DW
27.5.12
My garden this morning
Goodness ... the weather is warm and sunny in Halifax today. So I took a look in the garden and this is what I have found:
a daddy long legs ... zoom in to see its eyes!
four nascent cherries ... looks like this is will be this year's crop
the apple tree ... not sure whether this plant is sick or not ... what do you think?
the raspberry tree seems healthy
the blackberry tree is very slow to get going but I THINK I can see a new bud now.
a daddy long legs ... zoom in to see its eyes!
four nascent cherries ... looks like this is will be this year's crop
the apple tree ... not sure whether this plant is sick or not ... what do you think?
the raspberry tree seems healthy
the blackberry tree is very slow to get going but I THINK I can see a new bud now.
26.5.12
We need a new Prime Minister: I nominate Susan Boyle
I have never watched Britain's got Talent and never will. However, I stumbled across Susan Boyle's audition for BgT from 2009 and I am hooked on it.
I nominate Susan Boyle for PM!
DW
I nominate Susan Boyle for PM!
DW
25.5.12
Grimwade goes to Turkey!
He stayed in the room but he's a curious chap ... he wondered why the leaflet in Turkey is in Arabic!!!
He also spent time in the training room.
DW
He also spent time in the training room.
DW
These Dratted Keys!
So, I've amassed THREE room keys so far this week!
Went for dinner last night and remembered to take a key.
Got back to the room ... key wouldn't work! Doh!!
Trailed all the way back to reception ...
DW
Went for dinner last night and remembered to take a key.
Got back to the room ... key wouldn't work! Doh!!
Trailed all the way back to reception ...
DW
24.5.12
Room Key
I left my room key card in my room the other night ... it happens every now and again.
Last night I put my key card in my shoe so that I couldn't forget it.
I'll just take that shoe off again, then; and retrieve the card!!
DW
Last night I put my key card in my shoe so that I couldn't forget it.
I'll just take that shoe off again, then; and retrieve the card!!
DW
The Bosphorus
I took a long walk down hill from the hotel last night (and then back uphill of course!) and here are a few snaps from that peregrination!!
Photos 3 - 6 were taken with my zoom lens and you will see the air is a bit thick in parts and that caused the lens one or two problems when I tried to zoom in on some subjects.
The cannon is the subject!
A lady fishing ... many men, just this one lady!
A lightouse?
The buildings opposite with boats to add interest! How wide is the Bosphorus at this point?
A Mosque from across the bay ... again the boat to add another dimension!
Simon Speedboat: he was going at a good speed and this is an excellent zoom shot under those conditions! The light was good and he was about 200 - 300 metres away from me at this point.
DW
Photos 3 - 6 were taken with my zoom lens and you will see the air is a bit thick in parts and that caused the lens one or two problems when I tried to zoom in on some subjects.
The cannon is the subject!
A lady fishing ... many men, just this one lady!
A lightouse?
The buildings opposite with boats to add interest! How wide is the Bosphorus at this point?
A Mosque from across the bay ... again the boat to add another dimension!
Simon Speedboat: he was going at a good speed and this is an excellent zoom shot under those conditions! The light was good and he was about 200 - 300 metres away from me at this point.
DW
Book Reviews: new blog
Dear All,
I read a book and review it ... well, I did but I have lost my way a little by missing out on reviewing some of the books I have read. So, I am going to start my book reading blog but I need help.
My blogger blogs' titles are alliterative:
duncan's diurnal diatribe and
duncan's diactricial discussion
What can I call my book review blog ...
duncan's d_______ d________ ??
All help gratefully received!
DW
I read a book and review it ... well, I did but I have lost my way a little by missing out on reviewing some of the books I have read. So, I am going to start my book reading blog but I need help.
My blogger blogs' titles are alliterative:
duncan's diurnal diatribe and
duncan's diactricial discussion
What can I call my book review blog ...
duncan's d_______ d________ ??
All help gratefully received!
DW
23.5.12
Blue Mosque Istanbul
This is the first Mosque I have been inside. I like the architecture this Mosque: cascading domes!
I love the detail on the doors and ceiling and so on ... the same as in the Alhambra in Granada in Spain to some extent.
The first photo is of a row of houses just round the corner from the Mosque: colourful!
DW
I love the detail on the doors and ceiling and so on ... the same as in the Alhambra in Granada in Spain to some extent.
The first photo is of a row of houses just round the corner from the Mosque: colourful!
DW
22.5.12
Plug Plotter!
This is just brilliant in my estimation. A one size fits all bath plug.
I think it's genius personified!
DW
I think it's genius personified!
DW
21.5.12
IST is Astonishingly Busy
It is a long time since I have been in such a relatively large airport that is so busy. Istanbul Ataturk Airport was astonishingly busy this evening as I arrived.
The visa queue was also astonishingly long but it didn't take too long to get my 180 multiple entry visa for 15 Euros
Just went down to look at this week's training rooms with a colleague. In the lift on the way back to the room a young lady got in the lift with us. She asked us if we were together! Hidden meaning? Then she asked us where we were from ... Malaysia ... England ... I asked her where she is from and she said the Ukraine. I then said, in Russian, dobra pazhalavats ... which she ignored completely and then bold as brass she asked if we wanted her number!!! No thanks!
DW
The visa queue was also astonishingly long but it didn't take too long to get my 180 multiple entry visa for 15 Euros
Just went down to look at this week's training rooms with a colleague. In the lift on the way back to the room a young lady got in the lift with us. She asked us if we were together! Hidden meaning? Then she asked us where we were from ... Malaysia ... England ... I asked her where she is from and she said the Ukraine. I then said, in Russian, dobra pazhalavats ... which she ignored completely and then bold as brass she asked if we wanted her number!!! No thanks!
DW
20.5.12
Paperless my @rse!
I got to the gate ... see previous post ... and presented my paperless boarding pass. They asked me to make it show my name ... well, it's just not there. So I had to find the attachment to the email on my phone that shows all if my details.
Now, just who hasn't fully thought this out then??
DW
Now, just who hasn't fully thought this out then??
DW
Paperless Travel
I have had electronic bar codes for a flight sent to me before, by AirAsia. In that case, one prints out a hard copy of one's boarding pass before checking in and flying.
I am now at Manchester Airport, about to board a flight to Frankfurt, onwards to Istanbul, with Lufthansa ... completely paperless!
Ta daa!
DW
I am now at Manchester Airport, about to board a flight to Frankfurt, onwards to Istanbul, with Lufthansa ... completely paperless!
Ta daa!
DW
Well Done Chelsea
Well done Chelsea, winning a major European trophy is good for the English game. An English team winning a penalty shoot out ... almost unheard of too. Don't be a larry literal and tell me about the 357 English team penalty shoot out wins please!
DW
DW
19.5.12
Pot Plants
After years of not having pot plants because I am not entirely able to take care of them, I have taken the plunge again:
DW
Garden Coming On!
It's early days but I am trying to get my garden, front and back, in shape.
Phase three arrived yesterday and now there are dozens and dozens of plants in the border at the front of the house now. Here are some photos:
Phase three arrived yesterday and now there are dozens and dozens of plants in the border at the front of the house now. Here are some photos:
DW
Grimwade Fights Back
Just been doing a bit of online research following a revival of thoughts on my Grimwade and other pie funnels.
I have found that all of a sudden, there are many pie funnels for sale on ebay and elsewhere. I also learned that there are other Grimwade brand pie funnels AND that my pie funnel is likely to have a value of between £30 and £40. I am not going to sell it, it the sentimental value that is important to me. If I were to sell it, I wouldn't let it change my life.
DW
I have found that all of a sudden, there are many pie funnels for sale on ebay and elsewhere. I also learned that there are other Grimwade brand pie funnels AND that my pie funnel is likely to have a value of between £30 and £40. I am not going to sell it, it the sentimental value that is important to me. If I were to sell it, I wouldn't let it change my life.
DW
Radio Star ... as near as!
If you were listening to BBC Radio 4 this afternoon at about 17:50 you would have heard my name being read out on the PM programme. No, not the "most wanted list" but to read out a message I had written to them a couple of days ago.
What has been happening is that a lot of very negative people have been given a lot of air time recently and what they are doing is trying to ruin the London Olympics before they have started. They have complained about the cost, about the legacy, about the ... well, even the grass and flowers no doubt.
In desperation I wrote this:
Positive Only
For crying out loud please put positive people on PM when talking about the Olympics. The woman speaking now is good: she understands what these games mean to competitors and the rest of us.
There you are, my twp penn'orth
DW
What has been happening is that a lot of very negative people have been given a lot of air time recently and what they are doing is trying to ruin the London Olympics before they have started. They have complained about the cost, about the legacy, about the ... well, even the grass and flowers no doubt.
In desperation I wrote this:
Positive Only
For crying out loud please put positive people on PM when talking about the Olympics. The woman speaking now is good: she understands what these games mean to competitors and the rest of us.
There you are, my twp penn'orth
DW
16.5.12
STOP PRESS
Just heard that the Queen and Philip had lunch at Burnley Football Club today ... their son Charles is reputed to be a fan!
DW
DW
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