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It surprised me to find out, some years ago, that water horses are one of the most dangerous animals on the continent, and they kill more people than lions.
The Retirement Thread
- Thread starter Dirk
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It surprised me to find out, some years ago, that water horses are one of the most dangerous animals on the continent, and they kill more people than lions.
monkers
Veteran
They're all easy if you happen to know the answers.
These are all random facts that relate to various episodes of my life.
1 At primary school at the age of 10, each of us were given a title for an essay. We had to spend time in the library to research and write. I was given 'The Chancellor of the Exchequer'. At the time it happened to be Sunny Jim. Later I lived in Portsmouth only then to remember that Sunny Jim was from there. I managed to find the family home from his childhood. For that essay I think I remember the only prize I ever won at school.
2 I couldn't make up my mind whether to buy the Harold Melvin or the Thelma Houston. I agonised, went to the local record shop, and bought both. My Dad said 'bloody typical, you are now officially a woman!'.
3 At the time of the oil crisis in 1973, big cars were cheap as chips - Minis sold for more than Jags. My friend Pete was a little older and a petrol head. He saw a DB5 for sale for £900 but he only had £600. He asked me for a loan of £300. I refused, instead we agreed that I would provide the £300 for a third share - so at age 16 I owned a third of a DB5 a la James Bond. Once I'd learnt to drive, he had it for two weekends out of three and I had it for the third. I even drove it on L plates on a provisional licence. It really pissed off the local constabulary!
4 My brother is 3 years older than me. He was in a school play and messed up big time getting the names of Gilbert and Sullivan wrong. The other cast were furious and he hid from them. They came across me and threw me over a wall instead. I needed 7 stitches in my head and I still have the lump.
5 I was born in Dartford, and my views on Thatcher are not for this thread.
6 In the first week of Secondary school the biology teacher took the class for a walk in the woods within the school grounds. I came across an old upside-down wooden seed box by accident. I trod on it with the inevitable result that my foot went straight through it. He was furious, apparently this was his 'wormhouse'. He turned out to be a nasty bully. In the subsequent lessons he twisted my ears with disecting tongs, once to the point that one bled profusely. He still didn't stop, so when he bent down to bring his face down to my level to rebuke me for crying out in pain, I gave him a fat lip.
7 After passing my driving test , the next thing I did was to drive the Aston from Lands end to Lowestoft between sun down and sun up in order to beat the sun. I saw Clarkson do the same thing recently in an old episode of Top Gear.
8 Depending on your perspective, it was either a tragedy or a missed opportunity. What followed was the rule of the Cromwells, The Restoration, the Bill of Rights etc. The Bill of Rights was referenced to settle the Miller cases. Johnson intends to clip the wings of the Supreme Court which could lead to the end of the separation of power between the legislature and the judiciary. I think this signals dangerous times, though opinions will vary.
9 I can switch happily between imperial and SI units, but the bar is the worst of them. I can remember tyre pressures in psi no problem, but in bar I always have to look them up, everything seems to be one point something.
10 I read The Third Policeman when I was a teenager. It is a most peculiar of books, divides opinion between the buffs. There are footnotes on many pages from a fictitious philospher called de Selby. His theories are hilariously whacko. In one the theory is that due to electrons being in motion, that they transfer between the materials of the contacting surfaces. His evidence is the local postman, who he claims has become part bicycle while the bicycle has become part postman. His observations of the behaviour of the postman to illustrate that have remained with me all this time. 😄
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Just been down to check on the caravan and pick up a couple of things from it.
Very heavy traffic coming into the village - almost Bank Holiday levels.
Came back along the coast road.
Beaches are rammed. All car parks have 'Full' signs.
Came back for a spot of lunch, a couple of beers and a doss in the garden.
Currently showing 30°.
Very heavy traffic coming into the village - almost Bank Holiday levels.
Came back along the coast road.
Beaches are rammed. All car parks have 'Full' signs.
Came back for a spot of lunch, a couple of beers and a doss in the garden.
Currently showing 30°.
welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
Good afternoon all. Back from a 17 mile bimble.
Bloomin hot here. More traffic on the roads here although not all the shops are open yet. Some are not going to open until 1st July.
Bloomin hot here. More traffic on the roads here although not all the shops are open yet. Some are not going to open until 1st July.
monkers
Veteran
Great pics - wonderful countryside - looks worth visiting in future - thanks for sharing.
oldwheels
Legendary Member
- Location
- Isle of Mull
It has now turned into a lovely sunny day in rainy west of Scotland.
DIL just been on for a chat. My son is in an apartment in Taiwan with an exercise bike and a computer. Has to send out for meals as not allowed out for 2 weeks quarantine. All paid for by his employer but very frustrating.
DIL just been on for a chat. My son is in an apartment in Taiwan with an exercise bike and a computer. Has to send out for meals as not allowed out for 2 weeks quarantine. All paid for by his employer but very frustrating.
welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
26 deg here. And tomorrow is going to be even hotter.
numbnuts
Legendary Member
- Location
- Gone over the hill and far away
Just in from 16.75 mile ride, very hot here at 33.5c 
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
I know Boris is a cyclist and visits these hallowed pages - so, Boris, when are you going to reopen the tattoo studios?
PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
Wellies....... terrible for clipping in.
PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
Landsurfer it's a standing joke round here, nothing personal..........Sorry .... some of us where retired for some time but had to go back to work part time when we took on the children .... we're classed as "Kinship" carers, so we don't get a penny of financial support for looking after them ....... but their lovely kids ... at times ...
I'll take the red card ........ bye folks .....
I'll leap to the defence of landsurfer.
He's off to do some proper mechanical fettling and problem solving 👍
The fact that he's getting paid for it is a Brucie Bonus. There's lots of people who'd pay good money to fettle a railway engine. 😁
gavroche
Getting old but not past it
- Location
- North Wales
Strange world. My son is going there on July 3rd and will have to spend 2 weeks in his hotel room too before moving on to his place of work, installing wind farms , only 5 miles off shore. After his 6 weeks on, he will have to spend another 2 weeks quarantine before being allowed to fly back. Like your son, he is being paid for the quarantine as well. What does your son do?
gavroche
Getting old but not past it
- Location
- North Wales
Planning on going for a ride later as it is too hot at the moment , 26 degrees. Maybe at 4pm?
