Monday 28 December 2009

Ten-ten, good buddy!

Here I am chillin' for Christmas at Ma and Pa's house, where snow is
expected tonight!

I bought this wee giftie for my brother and I am taking great delight
in reading it. If you know your sci-fi, you'll recall Ace Trucking
from the comic 2000AD, and many a caper in the space hauler Speedo
Ghost!

The small boy in me is resurgent!

Friday 25 December 2009

Festive recycling.

My brother and I must be the most uncoordinated and gangly people in
England so we ventured on to Ma and Pa's drive (icy as you like) so I
could get into the recyling bin (he's called Hikaru) . I was trying to
make space after happy wrapping paper filled it up this lunchtime!

Happy days!

Thursday 24 December 2009

Christmas Eve stew.

Today I have pitched in to make dinner.

I used stewing beef, celery, onions, carrotts, a green pepper,
sweetcorn and a little smoked bacon. Oh, and garlic, coriander and
cumin! I added liberal amounts of red wine and a stock made from a
pheasant carcas.

It smells good and we will taste it later with some mash.

BS9: rest assured I have taken enough out to freeze some for you for
next week x .

Wednesday 23 December 2009

TOP smart!

Check this out! Total 27" inch Mac action, and ST: TNG.

Get in!

Home for Christmas!

I had a very snowy drive to my folks' place for Christmas today and
the last two miles saw some extremely careful driving in VX52 with
heavy flurries coming down.

Having planned my packing 48 hours in advance I remembered almost
everything, leaving only one thing at BS5, a lamb shank! That's a bit
of a pisser because it was really tasty and as well as finishing it
off, I wanted to make stock from it for a stew next week. Never mind.

On getting here I unpacked and cracked on with some festive ironing! I
did this with some Carols on via my iPhone to wireless speakers. It
really is cutting edge here.

Festive pictures of the snow to follow tomorrow.

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Almost on the way!

One more sleep until I am driving home for Christmas...

A happy hour with BS9 tomorrow, and then I am away - weather and circumstance permitting!


Snow Hound.


My brother just sent this image via his Iphone (Your Iphone to my Iphone, my mind to your mind) ...


If memory serves, I think this is a road near his house at Prestwood, and just through the gate at the left is one of the regualr walks he does with the chaps, and indeed where he met Quaddie before he adopted him!


This is Dog 1 of 2, or Toby as goes his official designation.
Come rain or shine or snow this is a dog with a mania for the biggest stick he can find.

Monday 21 December 2009

Screen life....

This is the home page on my Iphone, a device that really has been a
fantastic delight this last quarter of 2009.

Today I have sussed a few short cuts and tricks, like screen shots!

Here you can see important stuff like Speed Test, Battery %, Doom and
text messaging.

Love it!

Festive!

A smattering of snow has fallen overnight here in BS5, which is rather
nice for the last few days before Christmas!

Sunday 20 December 2009

BS5 and The Big Man.

This is a bit of a spannery video but I took this earlier tonight
prior to our Church candlelit Carol service. It was well attended and
had all the Hymns one would expect and enjoy.

I read one of the lessons and this year I landed John and 'in the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God'.

Anyhow a good sing song and a happy event just after a rather decent
roast lamb. Lamb and carols both delightfully shared with BS9.

Work tomorrow and the quietening down to Christmas eve.

Nigella comes to class..

This weekend and prior to some tv work, Nigella came to BS5 because
she heard I had some cookery on the go and she needed some tips!

I have made a great chicken stock with a carcas , some onions and a
carrot; that has now become the basis for leek and potato soup. I
knocked up a pie filling with the chicken meat and some other things I
had in the house. These will all freeze shortly for Christmas at Ma
and Pa's where I have elected to make dinner a few times. I have also
made sausage rolls as this Nigella movie makes clear!

Roast lamb today with my delightful BS9 prior to an evening carol
service, at which I am reading a lesson.

Friday 18 December 2009

Top pointless action!

Here's a blackberry shot of my iPhone running an application! I have a
speedometer that uses gps to indicate your speed.

Now I grant you, 15 mph is no particular thrill but earlier my train
did nudge 94mph.

Most exciting and pointless!

Nice bush!

Seen this morning.....

Arf arf.

Snow Friday.

I am on a train into London and from there back to BS5 today. I've had
a pleasant couple of HQ days but here's the state of the office this
morning.

Much of the south east is like this today, so let's see if crossing
London and heading out is easy or crazy...

Wednesday 16 December 2009

The night train!

When I visit my HQ I end the journey at a station that is rather
entertaining for top fast train vids as lots of express trains hurtle
through to London.

Today for the first time in my eight month tenure I arrived in the
dark.....so here's a night train.

Get in!

Larks with my bro'

Today I am blogging from the train to London. I have meetings at HQ
and my department Christmas do as well.

Before getting my train I spent the morning with my brother who had
flown HK to Heathrow during much of yesterday. He got in to BS5 after
midnight and I met him downstairs today, which was cool.

We had a morning errand of purchasing his new Mac from the Apple
store. It's a right smart bit of kit and ginormous too!

Tuesday 15 December 2009

Festive BS5 .

Well now, here's Santa on an early run in BS5, and specifically ,
visiting The Rhubarb Tavern last Sunday .

He does an early visit each year but then each year my mate Trevor
disappears at about the same time and always misses it. It's a bit
like Clarke Kent never being around to catch Superman; some journalist
he must be.

Anyhow, here's a festive treat for your enjoyment.

Sunday 13 December 2009

BS5 and the big man

Advent is here and half way through, and from now on Church ( or what
my brother delights in calling my imaginary friends) dons its glad
rags and candles. It's pretty atmospheric and smart. This is St Luke's
here in BS5, my branch!

Thursday 10 December 2009

Beans!

Here I am at Bristol Temple Meads for the 0730 Edinburgh train. I take
the service as far as Derby and then hop on a small train through the
Dales to my store. It's my Christmas visit so I am taking a Christmas
pressie for the store manager because she has done a great job this
year.

No exciting through trains at BTM today, not even a slow, rumbling
goods train!

Further mobile blogging should I see anything fundamentally 'Blog BS5'
during the day.

Tuesday 8 December 2009

Mother says...


This weekend I spent some time at my Mum and Dad's house and BS9 came with me, which was rather nice.


Over the Sunday breakfast boiled egg, it was my turn to read out the crossword clues and I did just that for most of the puzzle.


At one point there was a tricky clue about a camel and somehow, we happened upon a strange word in our searching that started with a Dz. I was a bit confused and had to ask three times what this meant (let alone what it had to do with Crossword appearing ungulates) .


Anyhow, Mother and BS9 became impatatient at my stupidity at the same time and shouted out in perfect unison at the top of their lungs...



"SLUT!!!"


Nice experience....I am traumatised to the point of having forgotten the word, its meaning or its relation to camels.

Friday 4 December 2009

The Collective.

This is a new thermostat at my Mum and Dad's house. For some days now
the temperature has been unwavering and constant and if you know your
sci fi, you know that's a scary sign.

Constant temp' on deck means a Borg drone and a solar plexing beacon
are sure to follow.

Luckily this new one has remedied the issue so no assimilation here.

Phew!

Treemendous

Although I am 37 which is worryingly close to forty, I am still
excited about Christmas.

This is my folks' Christmas tree and it is having a good drink before
it comes into the house (minus the decorative bin) in a week or so.

Top smart!

Saturday 28 November 2009

Filling the reservoir.

Check out this top smart Land Rover that I had a ride in on store
visits too!

Had it just been me and my colleague Gary, I would have asked for a
drive but as we were a group of five I declined!

Oh yes, there's a waterfall that feeds the reservoir too.

Saving the Wales.

For much of this week I have been on store visits in mid Wales. All
great fun but zero phone signal so no calls, no texts, no blogging and
most difficult of all no connection with my BS9 :-(

That is all restored now

Now then, in previous roles, store visits have been to one identical
high st or another with a dull view of a staff car park or a tired
staff room in need of a refurb' . These days I support eight stores
with views like this!

This is Lake Vyrnwy in mid Wales. It was dammed and filled in 1864 and
gravity feeds Liverpool with a source of about eight million gallons
of clean Welsh H2O. My store is at the end of the road atop the
reservoir. It is a profitable store with sound customer service and a
decently low wage to sale ratio (this is good) . The team are
innovative and excellent.

After a store visit with sales analysis, I hopped into a land rover
with some of the gang and explored the 22000 acre reserve! We saw peat
preservation, land management and up close some Welsh Black cattle.
Not a bad few days' work!

Thursday 19 November 2009

Cruise news..


















I am on a day's leave today.






I woke at half five and drove to Southampton to collect my folks.




They have just finished a 28 day cruise that covered 8500 miles and a ton of stops and countries!






My Mother entered the digital age and took a new diggie camera with her. She was only on one photo of the 400 she took, most of which were buses with ears, ships, cranes and lorries - oh, and a bridge! She thought I'd like that.....spot on!



Here's a Caribbean crane, Ma and Pa's cruise ship (next to the world's largest), and my Dad in holiday mode! No pix of my Ma here; she wouldn't like that.







Back at Ma and Pa's now, and here comes the rain

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Monosyllabic


My friend and fellow Blogger Saz had this 'one-worder' meme on her Blog so I am having a go...


1. Where is your cell phone? There


2. Your hair? Lengthy!


3. Your mother? Sorted


4. Your father? Relaxed


5. Your favourite food? Shared


6. Your dream last night? Chicken


7. Your favourite drink? Beer


8. Your dream/goal? Happy


9. What room are you in? Kitchen


10. Your hobby? Cooking


11. Your fear? Chives


12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Bristol


13. Where were you last night? Goodrich


14. Something that you aren't? Bird


15. Muffins? Top


16. Wish list item? Spaceship


17. Where did you grow up? Haven't


18. Last thing you did? Typed!


19. What are you wearing? Out


20. Your TV? Infrequent


21. Your pets? Megaladon


22. Friends? Unsurpassable


23. Your life? Appreciated


24. Your mood? Bingy


25. Missing someone? Yes


26. Vehicle? Mercedes


27. Something you're not wearing? Bra (Saz wrote that on hers but, hey....)


28. Your favourite store? Sweetmart


29. Your favourite colour? Green


30. When was the last time you laughed? 4pm


31. Last time you cried? 2008


32. Your best friend? Australia!


33. One place that I go to over and over? Rhubarb


34. One person who emails me regularly? Wavey


35. Favourite place to eat? BS5


Have a go if you wish!
PS: Did you try to play the video you saw? Yes? Bnnnnngggggh!

Tuesday 17 November 2009

Stew!

Here is a winter beef stew that I have made at my house to take to my
folks' house where I have volunteered to make dinner! It had a great
winter smell to it as the beef slowly braised!

Monday 16 November 2009

Bread BS5

I have a breadmaker which arrived about a week ago.

I made a brown loaf last week under supervision and a white loaf
today, nearly without supervision. Today's came out just fine and
tasted great. It fills the house with a really good smell in the last
hour of production.

I think a loaf works out at about eighty pence a go, which is about
40p less than a store one.

It's also really easy to do!

Saturday 14 November 2009

Finnnnniiiiished!

All smiles here in Bathroom BS5!

Thursday 12 November 2009

Store visits.

In Matlock today for a visit to my store at a reservoir nearby.
Matlock is a civilised town with a 'local services for local folk'
sort of feeling, but it makes strangers welcome or at least the lady
who put my two cheques into my bank account did. Derbyshire is a
pretty county.

I am blogging from the bus now and it's all very picturesque. I pass a
stone museum on the way to the store. That's a museum about stones,
not just one made of them.

This picture is the bridge and river opposite my room.

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Top refurb' action!

For nearly seven months now I have been about my business as a retail
Area Manager and in all that time I have been all over the place on
trains. At least twice a month I find myself at Derby station (as I am
now) and it has always been boarded over. A revelation today as a
long, full refurb' has been completed since I last passed through.

As a train/construction/transport/concrete spod this is all to the
good! It's a bit of a spanker. And I'm out of Derby on a brand new
train. Tragic but ideal!

All afternoon I have been sharing train changes with a blind lady. I
helped her off the train at Derby and learned that she was from
Tiperrary ("Tip' sure", she said).

I am about 40 minutes from a pint now and thank feck for that.

On the Rattler.

On the rattler from Chester to Crewe, a single carriage and a nine
stopper. Leg room is scant and the middle table has a couple of young
girls giving it some volume on a tinny phone with R n' wanky B! Oh
joy. The ticket man has asked them to turn it down and in fairness
they did. That's cool.

So here I am on an hour's journey that will pass through Stoke, where
I attended uni'. It's not so bad really. I'm at my destination for
half seven by which time I'll have changed trains again and my pint
light will be on!

This is a picture of my shoe, live outside Alsager!

Tuesday 10 November 2009

The Nine Hundred.

As it happens post 900 is about my digital radio! It's a complete
bonus when I am away from home and have thought to pack it.

You can be in a random hotel room and most times can plug in, and
tune in to a plethora of digital stations, though I rarely heave far
from Radio 4 or The World Service.

It is nice to take these things along, as well as 'Today' from six
o'clock in the waking morning of another hotel.

As I type I am listening to a programme about 'Peak Oil' a documentary
about being in, or having passed World peak production.

I like my well travelled radio.

Friday 6 November 2009

Post 899!


Now these chaps have appeared before, praised for their common sense and ability to cut to the chase!

40 years old this week, would you believe?

Good for Larry and Sergey to make them today's image!


Thursday 5 November 2009

Breakfast brother.

Another brother, another breakfast!



Today my other brother is passing through BS5 and he is on his way to Hong Kong.




Just like earlier in the week with Greg, we went out for brekker at Grounded, my local and somewhat Guardian-esque cafe. We had a top smart time and were surrounded by mothers and tots drinking coffee and chattering.




Back at my house now and cracking on with WFH. Today it's all about stock turn and weeks' cover.




And a sneaky read of Trucking International, a magazine I like but haven't purchased for a year!




For Dandelion




My friend Dandelion recently sent me a bus picture as she knows I like these things.




I suspect Dandelion is not wholly averse to bridges and stuff, as well as buses so here's a post for her.




This top bit of kit is a flyover in BS5. I cross it in the car to go to Sainsbury's and I walk under it many times a week to the railway station.


This week it is having some work done on its legs. See how the chaps and lasses fixing it attend to their work by climbing down from the top, not up from the ground. Cool huh?




In the picture of me pointing at it (Credit: BS9) you can't see the movement of course, but it was whirring away!




Tuesday 3 November 2009

Breakfast with GH.


I have been WFH today and it has been a very pleasant affair.


I completed loads of useful work and analysis but I also had time to have breakfast with my brother who was passing through.


We went to a local eatery called Grounded and had some top scoff. We larked about with our Iphones and got a bit spoddy about Apps. Light Sabres were downloaded. Greg was a bit disappointed that his favourite item was not on the menu today.


On the way home we bought cream cakes (it's a long journey requiring sustenance) .


Top stuff.


My other brother is passing through tomorrow and then it's off to London and the South East at the end of my week.
Happy days for which I am grateful.


Saturday 31 October 2009

It's here!

Weeeeeyhey! I just checked the App Store and Classic Doom for iPhone
was uploaded last night. 78 meg of legendary distraction unleashed!

Downloading my £3.99's worth now!

Friday 30 October 2009

Bus Drama? Bus Trauma!


My friend Dandelion has sent me a picture that is right on the money for the cutting edge mix of Blog BS5.


The post title is her own work too.


What we have here is top Bus trauma from Warwickshire, and not Liverpool as you might think given the lack of wheels on the bus (The Wheeeeels on the bus go round and round, round and round....)


Clearly this was a bus in trouble, caught in a crisis during its working day and unable to get back to the depot for a good night's sleep. It is Bus No. 13, unlucky for some.
Thank you, Dandelion.




Thursday 29 October 2009

All go for a Thursday!






What a roller coaster day at Blog BS5!








I got up early and frighteningly-excitedly to inspect some chicken stock I made last night. This is a new creative avenue for me and I am quite pleased with it. It is now ready and frozen for a culinary venture to come! I made goat stock some weeks back and it became the basis of a cracking little stew.








Next I nipped into Bristol to pick up a new landline handset for a neighbour of 85; I subsequently set it up for him. Top escalator action thrown in en route.








Also, and between a good day WFH, I squeezed out a late fifties MPG drive in VX52!








And next on the agenda is 'The Restaurant' with Raymond Blanc and Zeee Challlllonj; a show in its third year, an early feature of my Blog back in the day, and a total favourite!








All of this is top smart but dwindled in comparison to my morning.....you know who you are!

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Oh, so nearly close!


It is tantalisingly, nearly, tangibly close!

The game that undermined my degree ('91-'94) is almost ready for the Iphone (apparently) .

If I didn't have an Iphone now, I would buy it solely for this. Feck the fact that an Iphone can text, make calls, take pics and go on line; it can nearly play Classic Doom!

Come on!

Platform wit.

Another day on the train ! Off into Devon today. Stood on the platform
at Bristol, a witty fellow shouted out Green Arrrrrmy! every time
Plymouth was mentioned by the Announcer. If you have seen the current
TV ad' for car insurance you might get the reference!

Blogging from a fast countryside Pendolino.

Bye for now.

Thursday 22 October 2009

Fast to BS5.

Afternoon travel is a civilised thing!

Good connections and fast trains into London and a seat out of
Paddington too! This time last week I missed connections and seriously
lacked seating.

A productive morning at HQ but heading out of London for BS5 imminently.

Top train action :-)

Tuesday 20 October 2009

A Warrior's bin...

Top new bin action at BS5 senior HQ!

This little fella is new at Ma and Pa's house and they sent me a
picture knowing I'd appreciate it!

Total blog drama.

Skinny latte frappé lunacy.

I have a little time today so I am pausing at Paddington for a (non
ridiculous) coffee and the free wifi.

Can't see the trains from here but hey ho!

Six months in.

I have my six month review today so I am on a train into London
engaged in some background prep for it.

Rather interestingly and spoddily, I am, via my iPhone, picking up US
Airways free wifi on my Paddington train and pretty nippy it is too!

Monday 19 October 2009

Apps (as they say).


I have downloaded an 'app' for my Iphone which means you can talk to it in order to start a Google search.
You simply press the button and say 'spoons', or 'bucket' or 'Godalming', or indeed whatever you are after. I suppose it is handy if you are out an about in a city and don't want to stand about typing. It's rather good!


I haven't managed the Holy Grail yet - Classic Doom for Iphone but apparently it is in production!

Friday 16 October 2009

Retro BS5!

Cool! The Rhubarb has gone video game retro!

Frogger, space invaders and Galaxian!

Oh dear.

Friday elevation.





I am 'WFH' today and when I am doing that I am pretty disciplined and get on with it.


But all that said my gaffer is a decent bloke and he knows and I know that being at home invites the practicalities of having to do house stuff and work stuff too, so when I do WFH I am not shy about popping out to do the chores. It works well this way as neither part takes the piss.


Anyhow, out to The Sweet Mart today, a fine, fast and very family orientated supermarket in Easton (still BS5). I needed loose tomatoes, chillies, coriander, dill and BIG onions in order to make a curry on Saturday. The Sweet Mart is a vibrant, colourful store and it would make sense to add a pic' to the post, but check this out.....top crane action on the way home, and near a smart railway bridge too!


Curry at mine tomorrow if you are free (with great naan bread and a glass of plonk)







Two.


I am Two!


Blog BS5 reached the great age of two just yesterday.


What a lot of good things have taken place in two years and nearly 900 posts.


It's been a crazy roller-coaster ride of buses, bin lorries, trains, Bodie and Doyle, cooking, Upstairs Downstairs and the rather welcome Chicken of 2009.




Thursday 15 October 2009

I see him!

Big drama here at Blog BS5!

Today is October 15th and I have stoked up the fire for the first time
since March :-)

Prometheus lives.

Wednesday 14 October 2009

Cattle train home.

Here's a blog post from the train home.

Wobbly pic because I am standing.

Tonight I'm on a heaving train out of Paddington headed back to BS5.

The mood is polite enough but there was one bloke on the station.
who was a bit of a cock!

I don't really mind standing as it will probably thin out after Reading.

At least I am homeward bound!

Monday 12 October 2009

A fine new bag.

Before my Dad retired from working he spent about a decade pootling
all over the world, teaching folks about journalism and news
management, typically in countries that had recently emerged into
democracy. He did work in Africa, India, China, Russia, Central
America and, oh all over the place.

Anyhow, he had a very natty travel bag to supplement a larger case. I
have been using the bag in my new role which involves lots of travel,
although none of it beyond the UK.

My Pa has asked if he could have his bag back for a holiday soon with
my Ma, and of course I am only too happy to do this because he was
kind enough to lend it to me. What I did not expect was my Ma and Pa
to then replace the loan bag with a new one, and pass the newer one
to me as a gift. I was happily bowled over but I would gladly have
kept the older one and given the new one to Pa but he and Ma would not
have it.

Here it is. It's a little cracker and I am very happy. Bag and I have
our first jaunt tomorrow into London and on out through the other side
to my head office.

Here's thanks to my kind and thoughtful folks!

Friday 9 October 2009

Stick!

More stick action on a walk here at HR9!

Greg and I had a great walk along the river Wye yesterday afternoon
and several sticks were involved.

Get in!

Wednesday 7 October 2009

Some work!

I am still on holiday!


Today I woke and waited until a decent hour (neighbours off to work)
and then put in a right old vigorous 90 minutes on weeding and
scraping. Here's the result! At the weekend I m on bagging and binning
detail.

Garden sorted right in time for October!

Bathroom remains full of potential for decorating progress but hey,
one vast task at a time, eh?

Tuesday 6 October 2009

Holiday snaps.

At home, week off and currently watching The X Files.

Love it!

This must constitute profitable use of time off?

I did have a load of stuff out of the loft and at the tip before half
eight so I think I have earned a bit of sofa time.

Note the dinosaur to the left of the tv; might lark about with that too.

Monday 5 October 2009

Exodus

I saw this at the museum today too. Good stuff if you know, like or
even dislike Exodus. The big man shows Moses (and the Ears are
alights) the way out of Egypt with a column of fire to illuminate the
night.

Not in fact Close Encounters of the Third Kind as BS9 thought it might
have been depicting!

BS5 at the museum!

I have started my week off with a spot of culture at the museum in
Bristol. Load of old pots and plates and paintings....and bits of
dinosaur!

Check this tall chap out; I'm six feet five and smaller than his leg!

Smart!

It's half past ten on Monday morning here at BS5 and I'm just out of
bed, four hours later than usual.

Why?

I have four lieu days earned and have taken one day's holiday leave.
It's a free week off!

Ideal. Expect an increase in foolish blog posts.

Friday 2 October 2009

BS5 in SW1

Friday night and I'm at the QEII conference centre opposite
Westminster Abbey. I am on set up detail for the firm's agm this
weekend. This is the view!

Pint later for sure....