Via a mate that's laid a lot of Tarmac: Our major roads' composition is geared very much toward rain shedding (and is apparently pretty good at that). High bitumen content, so subject to above average heat. Lesser roads. recent (10 year) trend towards cheapest/low quality/less durable composition. Windscreen-chipping, carpet-crunching, wheel-spinning shite, basically. Short-term nonsense that only lasts a few years regardless of conditions but someone gets to tick a 'fixed that' box and receive a pat on the head. Some councils don't/won't do it. It's everywhere in Leicestershire and everyone I know has had window chips while parked, FFS.
Ah, the new British malady! Along with coming up with new things to charge the public for—things that were formerly free, of course. I have to say, as we moved around the South East, roads were somewhat of an issue. My wife and I are rather accustomed to simply 'going places' without the need to investigate routes and logistics too much; this didn't seem to fly with our relatives, who relied on what can only be called 'local intelligence'. Issues: a) Roadworks all over the place and patchworks of colour on the surface suggesting they've been dug up every other year to access something or other, yet strangely little work going on (nobody present) whenever we passed the temporary traffic lights that were keeping a whole lane closed. b) Clearly too many new housing developments without any increase/improvement in road access to them or between them and vital services. c) Some bizarre 'motorway becomes lorry park' game that is going on. I do have a vague idea what it's all about, but the claim that this is an actual solution for any duration beyond the short-term is laughable. d) 'Smart' motorways without hard shoulders look potentially deadly on the face of things, but I've not looked into the subject. None of us actually broke down or was killed, so perhaps this shouldn't feature on my list...
Thought my weather station was faulty until I looked up but it soon cleared without a drop of rain so far. The cloud has moved in and humidity is building, similar to Turin in August, where many of the population used to move out to the Alps for fresher air. This could be the worst night for sleep so far, minimum 16 degrees and over 20 for most of the night.
Lot cloudier here today but still very warm and sticky. Thought I’d take a trip down memory lane yesterday and made myself an ice cream float. Just had a fancy for one as I roasted. Real sodding anti-climax though. Maybe I should have used cream soda instead of lemonade, but I didn’t have any and it was far too hot to be arsed going to the shops. Anyway, I was totally underwhelmed. I’m sure they tasted better 50 years ago but sometimes the things you enjoyed as a nipper are best left there. Murphy, however, had no such feelings of disappointment with his own ice cream treat (other brands are available - er, maybe). And enjoying the air con again:
Vimto was always my favourite until I got to eleven. My dad was a licensee, my mother used to do Wedding receptions and as a florist she also made up the bouquets. Myself and a mate went into the bottle store to clear out the empties one sunny June or July afternoon, only they weren't all empty. Half full Bottles of Champaign. We woke up in the field next door some time in the evening, after falling asleep between bales of hay. Good old days!
We bought an aircon not dissimilar to yours some years ago, we gave it to our daughter las year to keep her baby cool. The dogs wouldn't have anything to do with it and went outside, rather defeating the object of keeping our husky cool. She doesn't even like a fan on her. The aircon was never really a success as it also woke the baby up and now with the cost of energy the 2kw unit is expensive to run. I might not be able to come here this winter as our energy provider has sent us a new contract proposal. We went through the "switch" exercise the last few years but last year our new provider sold the domestic power to someone else. The price was slightly higher but we had a new boiler installed so used less than they expected. We are now £600 in credit. A nest egg we thought for net winter. The new proposal for next year has gone up from just below £200 a month to over £500 . 6 grand a year to warm a four bedroom house! Fully insulated and fairly efficient. A joke you might say but on a state pension plus a bit its just not feasible, so we're going to have to close a few rooms down which will include my computer room/studio and see what happens. The car too will have to go which will mean isolation once more, the same ae last year and the one before.
A very entertaining night last night sitting in a middle of a field in my caravan lashing it down with thunder and lightning to add to the excitement can't get better than that
fill the rooms you wont be using with mens rubbish fill it right up to the door frame, close and lock door or sell the house and downsize
I think I got confused too over whether you spoon out and eat the ice cream first then drink the slop that’s left, or drink the cream soda, or lemonade in my sacrilegious case, through the ice cream. Plain forgot what I used to do and clearly ruined the whole experience. Cream soda on the shopping list this week, give it another try. If it’s still a let down I can blame Clive.
It's seaside cafés for me. Seaside café while rain absolutely hammers down the windows. Lovely. Dunno why. Just is.
Was introduced to Vimto in the 70s when mum took me up with her on one of her trips back to Bury, to where she was evacuated. She kept in touch with “Aunt” Anne and “Uncle” Sam, wonderful couple, until they both passed away. I always hold a place for them in my heart for looking after mum and it was a privilege for me to meet them too. Mum still regularly writes and phones their son and daughter, bless her. I couldn’t make my mind up about Vimto when I first tasted it. I’d never had it before, in fact I’m not sure I’d ever seen it in the shops down here at the time. Grew on me the more I had though. As for energy bills, right now we’re still enjoying our fixed tariff from before the proverbial hit the fan, but the clock is ticking fast and clearly I’m in for a shock and should have a defibrillator close by for the new estimates!
Drought: Waterlevels in the rivers have reached record lows. The Rhine (or rather Nederrijn) at Arnhem has been reduced to a narrow gully. Just a little while and we don't need a bridge to reach the other side; we can jump across it.
Ominous rolls of thunder about an hour ago, sky darkened and…nothing. I’d run out to get the washing in too! (third batch of laundry today, I’m a great house husband).
Great stuff. You just took me right back to days of yore, cafe in Herne Bay, tipping down, drinking coffee from one of those glass (Pyrex?) cup and saucer sets that seemed to be de rigueur at the time.
Energy Bills: Damn it man we're British. When we were threatened by nuclear holocaust a month or two ago I thought about digging a bunker in the garden, cutting down the Leylandii to support the roof and add a bit of camouflage. I suggested to by mates that we form an electric scooter local defence squadron. (they all said "What" ,"hey" "cant hear you!!" I thought it was a good idea anyway. Positive thinking and all that. How could I contemplate selling up without a fight. So I am placing enquiries for competitive quotes, whilst waiting for a politician in shining armour to come to the rescue. Worst comes to the worst we will have to go outside to sit around the campfire to eat fresh roast flesh like our forebears, until the spring is sprung. After all this is Tamworth, the Ancient Capital of Mercia. Warriors and Ditch Diggers extraordinaire. (leave you to work that one out).
Now Martin you know full well it is Cream Soda.You only have yourself to blame for this lemonade fiasco. Dont try to blame me for this abomination (although quite rightly it will be my fault being I am a turnip) The sweet shop lady put in the vanilla ice cream first then gently poured the Cream Soda over it then shoved a straw into the ice cream.I think it was sixpence or a shilling There was a Coke float but I never took to it regards Clive (needs a life and to get out more)
A bunch of young southerners it seems. Vimto was No1 closely followed by Dandelion & Burdock, thick like a stout much better than Cola (Yank stuff). Ice cream floats on it no problem. Sitting in the evening summer sun, on the see saw next to the crater from the bomb that missed the BSA. Later years we drank Ansells Bitter in a Shandy or Mitchells & Butler Mild. Anyone remember Cidrax and Peardrax?