Wooden Hoedown #bidford 13

These wooden folk create quite a stir in the pub’s beer garden. It almost makes you want to sit next to them and join in a bit of a singsong or break out the spoons. It would be great to see them animated or have some real musicians join them. The dog could bark out a regular beat for them to keep in time and howl at the end. Well, Harry Potter needed a hobby after he left school and defeated Voldemort. You can imagine the farmer practicing to scare the birds off his land while the missus washes his clothes. The waistcoat man is missing his instrument so he must be improvising by playing the air guitar. It certainly explains why the box he’s been perched on is a cloud. Meanwhile, Saffron Sally must realise that half her cello is missing. Maybe she’s refusing to believe it by keeping her eyes closed. At least the weather hasn’t worn them down.

Is this the right way?

So it takes thirty minutes to recharge an electric dray. This is great if you’ve got somewhere back at base to do it. The driver could have his lunch and be back on the road straight after providing the brewery’s excess energy is being put to good use. It’s not so efficient at a service station, though it does give the brewery great advertising providing that the dray’s empty. It might take only thirty seconds to fill it with diesel, but then someone’s got to have cash or the company credit card or be able to claim it back. Both these methods are more efficient than a horse which would struggle to last three hours and wouldn’t be able to travel as far. I still think that we’ve gone the wrong way about this electric battery business. Surely you’d be able to take the old one out and insert a charged one in a matter of minutes?

Bounce Park #dreamdiary 199

We’re at a holiday park. There’s some great ride here in the theme park. There’s some great water slides and a cable car ride. The last ride that we go on is a rope swing, but we have to climb up a wall to get to it. It’s decorated as a bookcase and at the top there’s a large clock that swings open to reveal a hole to crawl through. My elder niece makes it through the hole but I’m carrying my youngest niece up there. She makes it to the gap but lacks the strength and courage to pull herself up. At times she makes it but I’m sacrificing my rest points to get her through there and at times it feels like I’m pulling her back down just to stay on the wall. Eventually we give up the climb and both descend gracefully back to the floor below while my eldest niece watches.

Shadows in the Day #bidford 12

It looks picturesque but it looks like something’s lurking underneath. The shallow bit is in front of us, but we don’t know how deep the back goes. Perhaps something with a lot of fur judging by the surrounding grass. Just to the left of the right-hand bank, something could even be giving us the finger while the shadow of hand rests on the other side. Perhaps it’s angry that we’ve ventured onto its land. It could be a giant woman relaxing with a water-printed dress, and the bar at the top is holding it into place while a pair of unseen arms hang off the telegraph pole. The large green bushes on the edges could be hair with an earring on the righthand side. Maybe something needs a trim. And you don’t want to think about the white foam that’s appeared in the centre on the top of the water. You’ll have to dive down there to find out.

An Unexpected Blockage #titannabell 23

One of the maids had to apologise to the King & Queen. She was a small young thing who hadn’t long been in service but was keen to make a reputation of herself in front of the royal family. While everyone else was focused on the residents, she would take the initiative and apologise to the King and Queen and get the princess up so that the breakfast room could be prepared. She skipped along the passageway, and as she turned into the corridor leading past the breakfast room, she came to a halt. Rubble was everywhere. Perhaps the castle had been attacked as the door was lying on the floor. In its place was a silk-like material with a nozzle for a handle with cracks around the walls. She placed a hand on it and a huge sigh echoed behind it. As she turned it, a milk-white substance came out.  

Under River Rock #bidford 11

In the unlikely event that I was to fall in, where would I end up? I’m quite a good swimmer so I wouldn’t get far unless the current took me under. There’s every chance that someone may throw me a ring. I always get confused where these rivers go. We tend to see them as a natural background rather than a throughfare to transport ourselves. Often we’ll do a circular trip for the novelty of it. Or I could end up in an underwater world with mermaids who try to save me in between realising that I don’t have gills. There may even be underground caves that haven’t been explored because no-one knows of their existence. It could be the world of the missing who wonder what these strange fossils are that wash up on their shore. It could be a home for the abandoned and reclusive that don’t want to be involved with society any more.

Patitiri Grocery

It’s a friendly little supermarket on the last stretch of the town strip. It’s well-connected for its footfall since it’s opposite a track that’s frequented by tourists as they pass to and from their accommodation. It looks stocked up with beach goods, a nice selection of chilled drinks, wines, souvenirs and supplies. The coffee machine looked amazing, but unfortunately there was a power cut which prevented the lady from operating it. It would be difficult to run an inventory, but you’ve got to trade somehow. This also meant that the ham and cheese croissants I purchased; although delicious; couldn’t be kept warm.  There’s also an adorable little dog and you can purchase treats for him to support the local dog’s shelter. Meanwhile, a parrot keeps a watchful eye on shoplifters. ‘Wotcha got?’! There’s also a gazebo with tables and a small play area that you can use and consume your goods while watching the world go by. The owner might join you for a chat.

Under the Ground #bidford 10

It all began with the oak tree. Its roots are at the centre of the society and its many branches stretch up into the ground above. Many branches form the basis of what the occupants travel through, and it even holds up the river containing the great fall. Light is sparse. It’s slowly filtered through holes in the sky and is reflected off diamonds and crystals carefully placed to give the best positions. Many have grown accustomed to the dark and have developed their other senses so that they can hear, smell and feel the movements of others. But they don’t tamper with anything related to the Great Oak. Engineers occasionally divert the Great River to help them build new tunnels or wash away unwanted debris. There’s plenty of space, but occasionally they find metal pipes when they try to expand. This just causes further cave-ins, but they seem to come from above.

Role Models

So it’s more male role models that we need. Dads aren’t doing their jobs properly as they’re not making enough media appearances. There’s a lot of interest in the sporting world. Personally, I disapprove of this as a lot of them tend to spit on the field, but it’s also down to what they do off the pitch as well. One person who does stand out is Marcus Rashford whose work on child poverty is to be applauded, organising school meals and campaigning to end child poverty. Elsewhere, we hear reports of politicians getting arrested and music and movie stars seem to keep their activities quiet when they’re not performing or promoting. We don’t want people looking good in fancy clothes promoting products, but we do want o to be inspired by people’s actions. Little acts of kindness are all well and good but we want people who can lead by example, people that people think ‘I’d like to be that person’, or ‘if he was in that situation, what would he do?’.

Under the Surface #bidford 9

I might seem like a happy chappy but I’ve still got my socks pulled up and my scabby knees on show. I think I’m happy because I’ve managed to get myself to a place that others would struggle to position themselves whereas I’m quite comfortable returning from where I started. There’s a big branch behind me that looks like a lever. Its position isn’t clear. It could be on the bank or it could be in the water like a giraffe that’s just washed up. If I pull it, will the water stop or is it more likely to snap off and fall into the water taking me with it? It looks sturdy enough to survive a snapping. At least I’ve got something sturdy to hold onto. I’ll end up like one of those figureheads that hangs off the side of a ship. I wonder if the leaves are hiding anything?

The Truth About Honour

It’s about doing what you said you’ll do. It’s about keeping promises. The more you do this, the more reputable you’ll become. People will be willing to trust you because they know you’ve done things to their satisfaction before and they think that you’ll do the right thing. It’s the basis of life in some societies and not living up to expectations can be quite shameful. You could find it difficult to complete the simplest of tasks with other people’s cooperation. There are things that you could do without; but other people are expecting you to do these things; whether it’s to father a child or make time to do the smallest of chores to help someone out like doing the washing up before leaving for the evening. In some cultures, you have to swear an oath in front of family and friends. You could be getting married and declare what you will and won’t do, or declare your loyalty to an organisation. Dishonest people are undesirable and shouldn’t be trusted to do other things as they’ve let you down before and you’re unwilling to trust them in case they do the same again.

Surf's Up #bidford 8

 I wonder what washes up along this shoreline. It’s beautiful to watch, and it stops any debris from going any further, though I suspect someone has to go and fish it all out. It’s probably common to see rubbish. Plastic bottles, grass, the odd floating shoe. Then there’s broken driftwood and discarded packets and some of the remains of wrappers shredded by animals trying to get a taste of the food that was within. There might be a dead discarded fish. Unfortunately, it’s got to be someone’s job to keep the river looking pristine. If there’s anything decent or worthy then they get first dibs. But it’s going to be very unlikely that a message in a bottle washes up complete with treasure map. You’re more likely to find rusted drink cans and bird feathers. For boats, there’s a lock. I suppose this means that kayaks have to get out. It’s going to be very risky otherwise.

Make me Laugh

Is it going to be a one-liner? Is it going to tell  me a story? Or will it be tuned to my needs? It’s known me for a while now. It gives me a simple one-liner that I’ve heard before. I didn’t even hear the question properly to know that scarecrows ae so smart because they’re outstanding in their field. It didn’t even bring me a chuckle. It’s a shame that these things don’t come with sound effects. I’d expect at least a drum. I wonder if it’s listening to hear me laugh so it knows whether it’s been successful. It doesn’t ask for any feedback directly. Maybe she’s ignoring me completely because I didn’t laugh the first time round. The third result is a geography joke which does put a smile on my face but again it’s not original. It’s a shame that there’s no adult mode or that it’s not afraid to reference other materials.

Underground Arch #bidford 7

It’s beaver country. There’s a perfect nib, almost as if they’re trying to make a pencil out of the trunk. It’s that close that the photographer could be mistaken for doing it. Maybe he did do it to scoop something out. Or there could be the slight reflection of eyes in the tunnel. It’s a handy retreat should it fancy a turn in the fields (and who wouldn’t with the sun out like that) and has a place to retreat to should something chase it. Should that be too risky, there’s some greenery nearby. Is it the light on the leaves as it tries to enter the abyss? It’s like the green is trying to turn blue. And there’s a slight red wildflower that looks like it’s been hung up like a Christmas decoration. It’s impressive that it’s been constructed out of slate and stone. It’s a private luxury hideaway for whoever establishes their territory first.

"If you decide that you're going to do only the things that are going to work, you're going to leave a lot of opportunities on the table".

 -Jeff Bezos.

Sometimes you have to take risks. There’s things that are easy to do and things that you have to force yourself to do. Sometimes you just have to force yourself to try. You can be surprised by the results if you think positively. Often, many people may be prepared to adapt to help you out. There’s always the fear of being rejected; people generally don’t want to be cruel and deny you chances. Sometimes it’s a judgement of character and it’s easier not to be involved. You might feel a bit guilty for lying but a lot of the time you won’t know the full story. You’ve also got to consider what you can get out of the partnership and whether it’s worth your time or if you can get some recognition by doing a favour for someone. But if you have a big network and you’re able to help others grow then they’ll really appreciate it.

Tall Tales #biford 6

Rather than thick on the bottom and thin on the top, they’re thin all round. I wonder if they’re able to take any weight or if they’ll bend at the first sign of wind as they’re in an open area. I’d like to think that I can put a few timbers around them to form a cube strong enough to support a room or two with the trunks passing through the top, but the width of the trunks don’t give me much confidence. At least there’s a bit of camouflage around the base, but the building will be easy to spot, especially with the sunlight cast over, unless a few more trees can be felled and placed horizontally, or that higher branches will develop. Perhaps the copse will grow, hopefully without too much damage once the nails are bolted in. It would be a great viewing spot for wildlife, though the owners may not be too keen on the idea.

Calling all Counsellors

This was an agency that put me on an interesting journey. It didn’t change my life, but it did provide some great tales. It all started with an application to travel overseas to work as a camp counsellor. I didn’t have to travel far to get an interview. We met at a hotel conference room just a few doors down from the train station. There was a morning meet and greet with a welcome session of what to expect followed by a little breakfast then we were free to talk to the directors. It was just a case of walking around to chat with who you liked the look of. Then there was a bit of a talk about caring for those you’re put in charge of. We were young but some of us needed lessons in responsibility. We couldn’t exactly turn round and tell parents that we’d lost their children but they’re young and that they could have another one.

House Party #dreamdiary 198

We’re having a party! We have no idea what’s happening, even though we live in the house, as it’s being organised by another resident. We have no idea of who is coming or what is involved. All that we’ve been told is the date and time of the party and we’re welcome to attend. We’re keen to get things started as soon as possible, but our host hasn’t done much in the way of preparation. He’s in the shower getting ready and we’ve all gathered outside the bathroom to try and decipher what sort of party it will be and what the expected dress code is. We’ve managed to make some Pina Coladas from the ingredients lying around in the kitchen but it seems rude to start drinking them until our host is ready. There’s nothing in the way of extra food or drink being brought in. Perhaps he’s relying on everyone else to bring the big supermarket slabs of beer. Maybe food is being ordered in when everyone else arrives. Or perhaps we’re about to discover that it’s not that kind of party and we’re going to be extremely disappointed.

Wandering towards a river #bidford 5

Our next target was to link back up with the Avon to complete the walk. Heading north-east, we crossed  field keeping the house’s fence on our left, then as we approached the wood a track opened up to the left of it. Once we’d passed the wood, we continued in the same direction through two more fields before we reached a farm. The trees here were very tall but extremely narrow as well. Turning left, we followed the track to a tarmacked road which then passed through a small estate of houses to reach the main road. Here we turned left again, and after a short incline up a very straight road we turned right to pass through a hedgerow to reach the river. Heading west, we had a lovely stroll along the Avon, passing a lovely beauty spot to perch on and also a lock. From here, it was a gentle stroll back to the harbour where we parked.

 

Gladiators: Season 2

An interesting season with new gladiators and new games, as well as a revisit to the old favourites. It was great to see Atmosphere back, though I preferred the original format where the contenders had to roll their cages over pods to get points rather than the new race format which just seems to be easier for the contenders. I also loved the drama that was created in Unleash. I liked the suspense in this season of two new gladiators being called to action, though I’m not yet convinced of their characters. Cyclone seems to be the new bad girl of the bunch which I previously attributed to Diamond and Sabre, so perhaps it gives a bit more freedom for them to be more sporting. Hammer seems quite ancient, and perhaps he’s destined to be the new leader to replace Giant. Some of the actions also seem quite scripted like carrying the ref off into the distance and changing the rules of one of the games in the final (which I hope doesn’t become a permanent fixture as the result was a little mellow compared to the action that we would have seen). I’m looking forward to next year’s show, and hope that its schedule is a little less interrupted.

Founder's Rock #bidford 4

Continuing east, we found this rather poetic rock of a tribute to this strange philanthropist, and although the stoneworks makes reference to any of his friends, there’s no indication of his past activities. We continued east across some fields until a track through a hedgerow deposited us back onto a road. Here we turned right and followed the road around a bend to the left and then to the right which bore south into the picturesque village of Dorsington. After passing some lovely country cottages, we turned left by the church and followed the road out towards Braggington. Just as the land on the left opened up into a field, we entered it through a kissing gate and bore northeasterly through a field, then headed directly east across the next one to reach another road via a kissing gate. The next kissing gate was on the opposite side of the road through a hedgerow.

Can I call the police for a ride to court?

It depends on what number you use. If you call the local station and explain the situation in good time, they may bend a sympathetic ear and will be able to help you out if they’re not busy. If you can provide evidence that you had made plans but they didn’t come to fruition then they’re more likely to help you. They’ll probably have to schedule you a lot earlier and you’ll have to provide a good reason as to why you can’t get there yourself. It does sound a bit desperate if you have to do this though, but at least you’re being honest. If the worst comes to the worst, they will come and get you, though they’d probably lock you up for a while first. Public transportation may be a better option, or maybe a neighbour or family neighbour. Failing that, you may need to make a new friend.

Dotting Around Dorsington #bidford 3

This was a forest walk with lots of maintained paths and little treasures scattered across the land acquired by a charitable trust. The minimum that they ask for is a donation in the car park if you use it, though some of them are optional. The routes are well-signposted so long as you stick to the same colour-coded routes. You can also view them online. We start at a car park next to the river. It’s also opposite a set of docks. Heading south, we cross the road and follow a small track into the forest. The routes are well-signposted so long as you stick to the same colour-coded routes. It’s strange that it’s all founded by a former publisher. Evidently he must have had a turn of consciousness and tried to right his ways. We followed the path in a southeasterly direction to reach this clearing and carved bench.

@daraobriain takes a break from the Paris sport to consider if a ride at Disneyland Paris is the best in the world…

I think he only finds it interesting because he’s managed to acquire a stuffed toy to match the ride. I wonder if that’s his regular mascot or it’s just something he found or purchased while passing through to look the part. Although the ride looks fun, it doesn’t feel more appealing than the live sport on offer, and there’s quite a walk to get through the queues to the ride itself, which is a car ride alongside a screen. It’s very impressive that its trackless, though I wonder if you’re just going around a square on a pre-programmed route alongside a screen. There also seems to be lots of marshalls alongside the queue system; they’re probably really there to keep an eye out on the riders and to stop the system should someone decide to step out onto the track. It’s not the most convincing of expressions and he certainly hasn’t given the game away.

Buzzing around Beeston #beeston 1

Even though the restrictions have been lifted and we’re allowed to travel wherever we want, people are being cautious. I, on the other hand, fancied a change of scenery and wanted to take full advantage of my membership. I also had a voucher. We therefore drove sixty miles to the Cheshire border for a bit of a day out. It was a bit of a steep climb to the top, but there were plenty of viewpoints to stop and rest on the way. We even found a bench and treated ourselves to a picnic Although the top was quite contained, it was quite a view. On the north side, we could see a heritage steam train heading towards Wales, while to the south we saw neighbouring castles. On our walk down, we saw a Bronze Age roundhouse and took a disappointing castle walk. All we needed was somewhere that sold ice creams before the ride home.

Praising Plants

Flowers in a pink tin. The tin looks quite rustic, like it’s been borrowed off a farm and has had a spray job. It’s a bit on the thin side and there’s no handle. You wouldn’t be able to use it as a pail afterwards. But the contents side seems to last for ages. Pink flowers in bloom and plenty of them, though the leaves do look a bit plasticky as they reflect a greeny shine. They’ve got a little bit of weight added to them. Luckily the recipient was delighted with them. They took pride of place on the coffee table for a while before retreating into a corner by the fireplace. I’m not sure how flame retardant they are, but I wouldn’t like to find out. Their plastic glazed look suggests that they’d probably make a mess if they did catch fire. It comes with a handy stake and care tag which for some reason is still in the pail. I guess it’s easier to look up every time you need to care for it.

A Content Finish #bidford 2

 We take a seat in the porch outside of the pub. All the beer is on stillaging and caravans are pouring onto the field opposite. Meanwhile, we’re given the choice of either sandwiches or a ploughman’s for food. We were hoping for something hot but there wasn’t anything else on offer and the staff seemed put out to serve us. Back on the walk, we headed north along the road which became a path which entered a thicket. At the other end, we passed a pumping station then once we’d reached the river, we turned left. We followed the path in a northwesterly direction alongside the river for a while, then the path began to break away from the river through a field. At the end was a gate which led us to the bridge across the Avon, and we just had to cross the road to reach our starting point. It’s a nice walk in general, though the middle bit is a bit boring since it’s on the road.

Robert Jenrick vows to bring coalition together to end Tory-Reform fight

So what has this man been doing all this time? As he’s been sacked and has resigned from different governments, he’s not someone that we can trust. It’s probably why he’s been given the job of sorting his party out. Or at least he’s made it his personal mission to get the leadership role by pretending to do it already. He’s going to have to take a very critical approach of the other parties and their policies. It’s going to be a very patronising election with parties promising to undo the work of their predecessors. But how can he do this if he’s planning to shut up one of the parties that he has dealings with? It doesn’t make sense. As usual, they’re promising too much. They’re appealing to people rather than parties to try to win votes. But in a time when the leadership is unsteady, he has to be seen saying and doing something.