WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Cathy]

The Animatronic Workshop was so interesting. Loved Wendy. Would be great to have a look around.

[Big Kev]

My travel insurance paid out for the 'missed port'. Due to bad weather, on February 23rd, the ship was unable to dock at Funchal in Madeira. The insurance company finally got around to processing my claim and the money will be in my bank within 3 days, I'd forgotten about it to be honest. Result

[Stanley]

Perhaps insuring cruise ships is as infectious as sailing in them.....

[Tizer]

We saw this lovely bench at Godrevy beach near Hayle in Cornwall. It celebrates Ken Bray, Ice Cream Van Man, 1989-2009. The dates refer to the time he spent selling ice cream from his van at the beach. He died aged 60. Note the tiny ice cream cones carved into the bench.

[Stanley]

That got me going! I was trying to get 1989-2009 to come to 60 years..... Then I read the text again.



This caught my attention yesterday. The Yarn Fairies have been at it again!

[PanBiker]

I have met an unmasked Yarn Fairy but was given a "forget my name now" potion to preserve anonymity.

[Big Kev]

I have met an unmasked Yarn Fairy but was given a "forget my name now" potion to preserve anonymity.

[PanBiker]

When they rocked up at the Town Meeting to collect their "Pride of Barlick" awards a few weeks ago they were suitably disguised with hoods up and ski goggles on.

[Stanley]

I like their style....

[Cathy]

I love their creations, and I’m sure they brighten many people’s days.

[Stanley]

I'm sure you're right Cathy.... They do small ones as well, we had a bollard disguised as a guardsman the other day.....
I heard a report yesterday of patients refusing treatment at hospital because they couldn't afford the cost of getting there. This morning there are reports of care home workers calling in sick because they can't afford to fill their cars with fuel. At the same time the government is taking almost half the cost of fuel in tax and VAT.
I can't remember ever seeing these phenomena before.....

[Tizer]

We switched off the Radio 4 Today programme this morning and decided that in future we'll get our news from the web sites of the BBC and the better newspapers, and our one real newspaper, the Saturday edition of The Times. We don't watch TV news. We'll continue listening to Radio 4's excellent programmes such as More or Less, Word of Mouth, In Business, Inside Science etc - but we don't listen to much else. We still believe the BBC does an excellent job of investigative journalism and exposure of misinformation (e.g. it's Reality Check Team) but its news programmes have deteriorated badly into vox pop, celebrities and a dubious affinity for sex and violence. Sadly, I think that these changes in the BBC have driven people to social media for their news and therefore contributed to the dangerous `echo chamber' effect which is seriously damaging society and encouraging populism.

[Tripps]

Wow - if the BBC radio are getting the elbow from you - they are in deep trouble. I gave up on them a while ago but still channel hop now and then. Tuning in to radio 4, at random times shows they have a definite agenda. Not hard to spot.

AS for TV news - I'm on Freesat, and have been denied viewing Russia Today, and the Chinese news channel. It's probably for my own good though, as I'm ckearly incapable of watching, and making my own mind up about what they say. Some might call it censorship.

[PanBiker]

The difference in fuel retailers. E10 unleaded petrol, £1.86.9 at the Kelbrook Road Garage, up over 3 pence a Litre this week alone. Even though they are probably selling from the same stuff in the tanks all week! Colne, Sainsbury's £1.78.9 for E10 per Litre. Guess where I filled up? Bit disappointed that the pay at pump reader would not read my Nectar card, it's a bit worn. I have just ordered a new one. "Every little helps" as another supermarket brand would say.

[Stanley]

I can understand why you have rejected BBC News Peter. Their standards have dropped as they get less and less funding and have to fill the air waves with 'citizen journalists' I am not so strong willed, I shall continue to allow Today to wind me up in the morning. That and World at One are the only BBC news I get and WAtO gets shut down early almost every day. I never watch BBC TV news now.

[Tizer]

If you haven't already done so, watch these two programmes featuring Jim Al-Kahlili: `Secrets of Size: Atoms to Supergalaxies' Secrets of Size He's done a great job of describing how we study the biggest and smallest things and explaining the equipment used. It's very well presented and makes wonderful use of modern graphics. You'll enjoy it!

[Stanley]

The fact that instead of going back to bed for second sleep I have to sit here and wait for a call from my GP, 'any time after 07:30'.... Like waiting for a courier! Is what we have to report progress?

[PanBiker]

You should maybe have had a lie in until 7am.

[Stanley]

But some people like to read my posts as they have their early morning cup of tea Ian!

[Tizer]

A couple of years ago I related on OG how Specsavers managed to make my new glasses with the left and right lenses the wrong way around. I couldn't see properly through them but agreed I'd take them home and try them there. At first they wouldn't believe me when I told them if I turned the glasses over I could see better and that my micrometer showed that the right lens (always thicker, as confirmed by the prescription) was in the left side by mistake. They had to admit they got it wrong and they'd wasted a lot of my time and caused me wasted journeys. he story is in this old post: LINK

I decided this time to go to a local independent optician who seems to have a good reputation but is a lot more expensive than the big chains. Would you believe it, I got problems again? Vision in my right eye was distorted with the new specs. After return visits and me pointing out that the `cylinder' reading for my right eye seemed to be much higher than last time they did the tests again and agreed they had overdone it! It all began at the beginning of May and yesterday I finally got the corrected glasses. It makes me wonder how many people are driving around wearing glasses with incorrect lenses!

[Big Kev]

That's disgraceful, surely the optician would have noticed the bigger change and double checked.

[Stanley]

You're right Kev, it should never have happened. It pays to find a good optician and stick with them, not as easy these days with the large chains. I think I have been lucky.
I've been listening to accounts of Grenfell and the whole situation is a disgrace. It is quite clear that there was malfeasance on a grand scale, aided and abetted by the government's continuing failure to listen to criticism and regulate properly. They are still not listening.

[Tizer]

Our Taunton weather forecast is for 29C on Friday, 22C on Saturday and 16C on Sunday!

[Cathy]

We hear that your temperature is going to soar.
Make some ice-cubes and have a jug of cold water in the fridge.
Slip on a t-shirt
Slop on the sunscreen
Slap on a hat
Good Luck

[Stanley]

The highest forecast we have is 22C tomorrow so I don't thing there is any need for panic!
I have an assignation with a lady this afternoon.... so there!