Monday 25 January 2010

Robbery (or dodgy maths).


Last week I flew to Spain and back, a total flight distance of 1, 978 miles. This cost me £94.00 , or 4.8 pence a mile.


Back at work this week I have just booked 320 miles of train travel up and down the country at a cost of £309.50, and that works out at 96 pence a mile.


That's a bit mental really.

Breaker breaker!

Check this out!

Icon on the bottom right; I have gone iTunes crazy and spent £1.79 on
Ice Road Truckers, a lorry driving game delivering freight across the
ice!

What's not to like?

Saturday 23 January 2010

Coming home a total of 969 miles

Coming home a total of 969 miles on the plane at 560 mph and a height
of six miles! I love it when the Captain on a flight comes over the
mic' with a quick update and some top-fact action!

I am writing this six miles high over Madrid but will have to send it
once back on terra firma in good old Bristol.

I have a book with me about the aftermath of two planes smashing into
the World Trade Center; not the wisest choice and a couple of glances
have been put my way.

It's been a top-smart week and all told I walked 42 miles and
experienced ascent and descent of 1000m.

Out of the window I have just seen a plane pass under us and for some
reason of height, perspective and speed this viewpoint always shows
the terrific progress of a jet that you don't appreciate from the
ground.

All in all this is a fine flight save for the slight discomfort of so
many Brits sporting a copy of the Daily Mail.

Last fact: the Captain just came on to say we will land in 14 minutes
with 'just' 170 miles to go! I know a little car called Tickles that
approaches a run along the M5 in similar fashion...

Get in, what an enjoyable and gratefully received week!

Friday 22 January 2010

It's myyyyyy turn!!

Several goats from a huge old herd we passed on our final walk today!

There's only one bell to go around.

Thursday 21 January 2010

Down into Malaga ....

This road nips through a small gap that forms the mountain border of
Andalucia and Grenada and it goes down, down, down through some mega
curves!

I have found my favourite bit of Spanish road (mostly after this
vid' , alas!)

Fab' walking today but truly excellent transport action to get there.

Wednesday 20 January 2010

A day in Malaga.

I had a fine day off from walking today and went into Malaga with my
pal Andy. We had a good look around the cathedral and the castle and
the Picasso museum, all within the old city. Photography is frowned
upon at each of these tourist attractions so here is a great vid' I
took instead; it captures Malaga, I think.

Actually I have to say, that boy Pablo was top of his game.

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Tired and high!

Here's today's Blog BS5 from Spain!

Drove to the lower parts of a high mountain today then walked three
hours and 800m up. Last part was about 35 degrees steep and like
climbing sheer stairs. What a view at the end though!

The mountain is called Maroma and there's a longer walk up it on
Thursday, starting at the halfway point of today's ascent. My guide
and long term pal Andy says if I was fine today, the ascent is well
within me too, so I may have a go.

Hope you're all well there!

Monday 18 January 2010

Some neck....

I did not know Spain had Emu, but then again I did not know they didn't.

Anyhow yesterday just near the small village of Competa I encountered
these chaps. I greeted them and asked about the day and they looked at
me from their long Gregories as if I was mad. They were Spanish Emu,
and of course I have very little Spanish so they probably had no idea
what I was on about .

That said they were easier to understand than one of the chaps from
the group who is from Diddsbury in Manchester.

Sunday 17 January 2010

Hola!

I am now in Spain on a week's walking holiday .

First full day today but I feel like I have been here ages because
Saturday was such a very long day after a 3am start to get here. (Had
an aiport lift from a fabulous volunteer - thank you BS9).

It is t shirt weather and hit 70 degrees today (or 19 in the modern
scale).

Today I have seen the first mountains of Africa across in Morroco.
Even though they are 130 miles away you can see them because they are
immense as are the mountains I viewed them from. I have also seen two
Emu and tons of horses and oxen!

This bridge was pretty smart as were the many churches so far today,
but the bridge edged it for blog inclusion. We had a gentle start with
a 7 mile walk.

If you care to know, I am near Malaga in the south of Spain and just a
touch back in from the coast and east of it.

More reviews tomorrow and a spectacular mountain view.

Saturday 16 January 2010

On the way.

04.30 and at Bristol airport for holiday departure. I'm a bit nervous
even though I love airports and planes!

Friday 15 January 2010

And where've you bin?


Just recently and in the snow, I heard a knock at the door.
BS9 had come to see me and in the short time it took me to answer the door, the hooligan in her took over and she tagged my bin!


She's a liability sometimes.
But a fabulous one...

Big heap metal bird...


It's a year today since the rather cool and calm captain of an American Airlines plane landed it in the Hudson after hitting geese!

I ponder this today, one day before I fly to Spain for a quick week's sunny break . If my Bristol plane takes off and hits geese, we'll have to land in the Feeder river near my house, and if you know that bit of water it's as narrow as the chance of seeing a pork pie in a Synagogue.


Wednesday 13 January 2010

Size twelves.

I am doing quite a bit of walking next week (on holiday) so today I
picked up some new boots in size 12.

They are quite smart and comfy & supportive.

I'm going to wear them for the next couple of days and report progress!

By the way, if you are reading this and happen to be the helpful chap
from O2 with whom I just discussed iPhone action in Spain, then thanks
to you.

Tuesday 12 January 2010

Flower Power


It's quite nippy here in BS5 with more snow due this afternoon and into tomorrow.

I have 2 duvets on the bed and this makes it toasty - however, BS9 (well her Mum - hello Shirley) has given me a double bedsheet to tuck in under said duvets and this takes it from toasty to positively power station-like. Ideal!

The sheet does have big red flowers on it but hey, I'm warm....

I'm not that surprised I hadn't thought of this common sense addition to the bed sooner. All that said, I do enjoy a spot of linen shopping...

Friday 8 January 2010

Sun Factor Zero


Took this little snap from the top of a tall ladder I have here at BS5.


F.E.J.... it's cooooooooooooooooooooold out tonight!


:)

Wednesday 6 January 2010

Snow hound!

This is a snow vid' from my brother and his gf, and dog 2 of 2.

Larks indeed!
>
>

BS5 weather.

So here it is, The BS5 Snow 'event' , as they say on the weather these
days.

Quite a bit but not tons. Might have a look out in it later. It is
still coming down steadily this morning.

I think my pal Walshy has more in Manchester (ish) as do my folks in
Herefordshire.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Monday 4 January 2010

There are three lights!

Check out my house for fast 'to do list' action!

Friday 1 January 2010

My brother, the Artist!

Check out Wavey's take on TNG 'Best of Both Worlds , Pt II' in the
frozen windscreen of VX52 this evening!

A more civilised New Year Post (1)

Having gone to bed at about 25 seconds after midnight, I awoke refreshed and full of beans (I was informed I was all bouncy!)




Anyhow, after a new year Kipper, BS9 and I took a walk down to Kerne Bridge on the River Wye (not the River Kwai). We saw this on the way!




Once we were there, we had a game of Pooh sticks. The drama that unfolded in that game is in the post after this one.




2010!

Spending the first 5 mins of 2010 on the pot watching fireworks and
having a poo.

Happy new year!