oldphil

I think that what the government hoped would happen was that the first few boatloads to be actually sent to Rwanda would signal real intent and deter the remainder from attempting a crossing.

I've always stuck to the rule never to climb a ladder if either the weather or myself are windy.

Have I imagined it? Just now in the garden a Lancaster flew over, heading in the direction of Tollerton. Can't imagine it will have room to land. Trying to imagine the very impressive noise of those engines multiplied a dozen times over at dusk over Lincolnshire all those years ago.

Yes......And yes, it is

Of course they were. The old days were when we were young enough to enjoy them, and not old enough to appreciate them. Hearing everyone's memories here brings them alive, and keeps them fresh.

must admit - I cannot fault Castle healthcare. Using the online services takes three clicks to get to my prescription list, empty boxes next to the ones needing replacing. Submit, and as soon as the doctor approves them, they get e-mailed to the chemist round the corner. Usually ready to pick up in two days. The record was ordering at 7:30 one Monday morning, and picking up a couple of hours later! PS-without my glasses I couldn't even find the boxes, let alone tick them. My far better half reckons I've never ticked the right boxes, ever.

Over the coming years, it will be interesting to see the A & E records for injuries caused by e-bikes, e-scooters and e-cars for all the usual reasons. Poor levels of attention on the part of users and pedestrians will prevail in the statistics. On the question of trailing cables on the pavement, some pedantic citizen will doubtless treat them as you would overhanging branches - cop them and chuck them in the owners garden. I see a few round our estate on driveways, It wont be long before the bored Neanderthals take to roaming the streets at night with insulated bolt croppers. Th

Thanks, Rog, that's where I've been looking. At that price there's little to lose! Amalfi coming up, so if I survive the heat, I'll fit it all in September and report back.

Come autumn. I'm swapping out a double ring for a single - would you recommend the oval? Overall gearing will be the same (with a bigger rear cassette). I keep seeing the oval rings getting a lot of hype? If they make an old git a better cyclist I'll be a happy man.

Whatever the officer motives and state of mind at the time, he should not be working with guns and tasers. I notice that the Evening Post are asking readers to sum up Nottingham in three words, Bit brave, I can imagine the initial reaction of many people I know. Anyone got any good ones?

Turn the cover inside out. Put your arms inside to the corners. Get hold of the corners of the quilt. Shake the cover down your arms over the quilt. With a large double, you can stand over the bannister and shake it into the stairwell. First saw it done in Switzerland, and it's never let me down.

my late father in law worked at Wheatcrofts for a spell. clearing out his old gardening journals, I have a splendid handwritten diary of the preparations leading up to their display for the Chelsea show in 1962. Early morning shifts to inspect every plant, nicotine sprays (!) to ward off insects. Trips to nearby farms to collect gallons of watered manure (mostly chicken). And all the while under the watchful eye of a couple of terrifying head gardeners, and occasionally a large gentleman with a ridiculous moustache.

Swapped the knobblies on the Trek for a pair of Continental double fighters - urban tread but small raised sections at the edge for the odd foray onto loose stuff. Combined with a smaller crank makes it easier for this arthritic old git to make reasonable progress!

I really wish I hadn't taken the Raleigh Nitro to the dump now!

It's been a busy year. Alarmed in July to find my weight and numbers had ballooned. Dr talked about increasing three of the medications. Asked for a reprieve. After Italy, realised I needed to stick around for the family. Fericious diet courtesy of Dr Mark Porter (which isn't as dire as expected) and last Saturday the nurse taking the bloods told me I had shed 1 stone 8 lbs. For the first time in years I am no longer clinically obese, merely overweight. Nine more lbs and I will be classed as normal (a real first, that, in many ways). So, Christmas will be enjoyed via the antics of the girls. T

My gut feeling is that the problem is location, halfway along the length of the road. Anything coming up from the channel ports is reaching the limit of safe driver awareness. Similarly coming down from the North. I often used to find myself suffering those "micro bursts" of sleep especially in the dark and cold - the car is warm, and the motorway noise becomes rhythmic. If I was near enough to home, switching the heating off, and opening the window a crack made it col and noisy enough for me to get home. Definitely wouldn't be recommended by the constabulary though, I feel.

Never had that. Boxing day was usually some left over pigs in blankets fried in goose fat and wedged between two thick slices of white bread. Sauce was an option, extra cholesterol wasn't. PS; my Nan always said the white bread was "Clarty" When asked to explain, she just used to say "Well, Clarty's Clarty" never did find out.

That is the problem. The Premiership is heavily populated with foreign players, all of whom report to their Countries with a working knowledge of how each and every English player will behave. That said, it always seems to me that, however consistent and talented a team is, you invariably need a bit of luck along the way. Sadly, the luck always seems to go to other teams. Unless the adage about making your own luck applies somewhere.

In Scandinavia, winter starts on cue and lasts all season. By law, winter tyres go on, and all the new drivers get down to the supermarket car parks to practice setting off in second, and practicing gentle slides to work out how much space to give the other drivers. In the UK, we never know when it's going to hit, and we are saddled with the bloody-minded, "cup of tea and a woodbine for breakfast, and let me get to work" brigade who regularly provide the Evening Post with copy about another few hours delay on the M1.

Andrew the dubious. Because nobody is sure about him

Sixes and sevens this morning. Seven days in Sorrento only enough to catch Pompeii and Capri. Notice that they do Vesuvius e-bike tours. Under serious consideration. Nonna, I now know why you enthuse about the lifestyle! Small hotel in a sidestreet in St.Agnello. First thing in the morning a guy in a tiny three wheeler delivering fresh stuff to the hotel and residents. They don't put up with the rubbish our supermarkets fob us off with (with a few exceptions) came back with a 1.2 kg bag of coffee beens, so time to try some and get back on the bike.

The chap running my speed awareness course had a telling fact. Done for 36mph on London road, he said that, at 36 instead of 30, instead of stopping, I would still be doing 18mph. Thought about that, and trundled along at 18 mph - enough I reckon do do some real damage to a pedestrian, especially a young or frail one.

Providing some of the rules of the road are transposed to the pavement/cycleway. If we all stayed left (including walkers, runners etc) it could work. At the moment it is a bit of a free-for-all.

Still, at least you didn't get into the car ready for a bath.....

So do I. Alpha. Dad driving us back from Christmas Eve "do" at relatives. Coming along Stockhill lane, Ilooked out the offside back window, and saw the kerb! Told dad he was on the wrong side, but by then he'd mounted the kerb and hit a lamppost, just as a double decker loomed by inches from our left side. Being an old morris oxford JT, all dad had to do was wipe the bumper with a wet cloth.