Rollercoaster 2

For those of you who felt misled by the title of my last posting - here is a photo that is actually related to the subject matter. However, I must say that posting titles are not always supposed to be literal so please be aware of this in future.

Never work with children or animals.

Happy 400th birthday

Oops! I missed the 400th birthday of the union jack last week. You'll notice that 'union jack' is written in lower case. This is because the BBC says that's how it should be written and who am I to argue with the Beeb? Now the history of this flag is long and intricate with a myriad of theories about how it originated, where it can be flown and even what it should be called. The flag was the result of the union of the English and Scottish monarchies in 1603, under James I (as he was in England) or James VI (as he was in Scotland). Are you bored yet? I am.

So let's just leave it there shall we?

Footie woe

Woe is me. Woe is being a Birmingham City fan. Alas, this posting is not a happy one. For those of you who either dislike football or support another club, then this will merely be an opportunity for you to laugh, mock and vilify me. So why am I mooching around with a face like the proverbial 'slapped-arse'? Well, my beloved Birmingham (the Blues) are facing the very raw and real prospect of relegation from the Premier League. This would, of course be the worst thing that could happen in the world. Ever.

My wife shows due reverence when the subject is mentioned. However, as she doesn't actually feel the pain and suffering that I'm currently experiencing, she makes comments such as "Never mind" and "I'm sure they'll get promoted next year". Does she not realize? This is relegation we're talking about! If we go down a division we'll be playing teams like Hull City, Plymouth Argyle and very possibly - Southend United. This is a cataclysmic disaster. A monumental, global calamity. The end of civilization and the human existence as we know it!

Might as well have a beer then.

British BBQ's

Well I've just got back from my brother-in-law's birthday BBQ. It's nearly mid-April remember. Unfortunately, it's nearly mid-April in England. Thus, it poured with rain. It sleeted. It snowed for a few minutes too. The highest temperature during the day was 7 degrees C (44 degrees farenheit). We had to erect a tarpaulin to keep the BBQ dry and we had to eat indoors due the bitterly cold wind and driving rain. Being from England, we're used to the British weather. However, being from England, we also tried manfully to tough it out but the starters (tortillas and dips) were becoming waterlogged so we had to take cover inside. However, the BBQ triumphed underneath the plastic sheet and the booze helped our spirits even more. And so the Great British BBQ lived to fight another day.

Our baps got wet though...

UK English v US English

Yes - another post were I am musing about something completely random but nontheless, interesting. Will I think so anyway. OK, today's subject is about the different words for a particular meaning or object depending to where you live - America or Blighty. There are loads, so please feel free to email me any others. Here's some for starters:

UK US
Pavement Sidewalk
Fortnight Two weeks
Bum bag Fanny pack
Holiday Vacation
Mobile phone Cell phone
Motorway Freeway
Telly TV
Tramp Bum

Birmingham is great

I lived in Birmingham for a few years and I fell in love with the place. Birmingham is also fondly known as 'Brum' and the people who live there are called 'Brummies'. It also helps that I'm a Birmingham City (football)fan - 'The Blues', although at the moment they are doing quite badly in the Premiership, so we won't talk about that right now.

Birmingham is the second largest city in England and is located in the Midlands, which occupies the central area of the country. The people there are just great and display a truly wonderful ability to be quite self-deprecating. This is a quality I really admire and their humour is extremely witty and often sarcastic, but tinged with a sort of warmth and beguiling charm. This appealing nature of Brummies is one of the main reasons for my affection for the city and the people who live there. By the way, this isn't a history of Birmingham, or a celebration of Brummie humour and demeanour. It's just that I've had 2 litres of strong cider and I'm all over the place. I shall say 'goodnight' and just mention that today's photo is of Selfridges in Birmingham. It's very posh.

Rather like myself ...

Spring has sprung

Well at bleedin' last! The temperature outside the house is now approaching the temperature inside the house. Although temperatures, like stocks & shares, can go up as well as down. And so with the joy of spring comes the associated misery of DIY and gardening.

Just when you think you can begin to enjoy the great outdoors, you realise that there a number of jobs to be done. Jobs that you happily put off in the winter due to the cold. Unfortunately for me these include painting walls in the house, painting skirting boards in the house, painting the garage, re-doing the putty around the garage window, re-painting the sofits around the house and of course - lots of gardening. Also this year, I must add to the list of gardening tasks - the removal of a half-dead tree. Obviously I'll have to get a tree surgeon in, but this will be both costly and messy. God damn it!I was hoping for BBQ's, sunbathing and a relaxing glass of Bonneau du Martray 2002 Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru (or Tennants Extra)...

Roll on the winter.