WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Tizer]

Tripps, I saw something in the newspaper about a big fuss in Cambridge over a big development being proposed for building on the Green Belt. It look like Cambridge is going to get bigger!

[Tripps]

I often wonder how useful/accurate surveys like this are.

It wasn't a survey - just a simple advert trying to recruit new patients to an already overburdened the NHS. Since Anxiety and Depression are the modern equivalent to the 'bad back' for those that don't fancy working, I suspect there'll be plenty of respondents.

[Stanley]

Bodge, we used to steal them and break them to get the glass tube out, excellent pea-shooters!
I happened to see a couple of minutes of the ITV programme 'The Chase' last night when changing channels. The question involved Burnley Miner's Club being the biggest single sales outlet for Benedictine Liqueur. They didn't know why. The story is that East Lancashire Pals Regiments were billeted near the monastery during the Great War and got a taste for it.

[Wendyf]

Benny & Hot, we had a History Society talk about it a few years ago.

[Stanley]

First time I came across it was in the Club at Foulridge many years ago....

[Tizer]

In about 1976 I was doing some work for Thwaites brewery and was taken for a meal at the White Bull Hotel in the centre of Blackburn. The diners were being given free Benedictine liqueurs after the meal as part of a special promotion because of the close link between the East Lancs Regiment and the Benedictine monastery. It might be Thwaites that now sells `Benny and Hop' - a beer infused with Benedictine herbs.

When you have plenty of time to spare (haha) have a look at this web site run by Mark Routh, a well-known collector of `moderns', i.e. contemporary postcards. Scroll down his blogs. The modern postcard world is very different from the `golden age' of black & white and the later colour seaside cards (although moderns include reproductions of old cards and photos, and he does have old cards on his site). Enjoy! Mark's Postcard Chat

[Stanley]

My attention has been grabbed this morning by what I think may be a first for me and Barlick. As we crossed the Green at the beginning of our walk I noticed something out of the ordinary in the bus shelter opposite what was the Council Shop (!). As we got to the road I realised that what I was looking at was two people huddled in blankets. My first thought, as ever on a Saturday morning, was late night revellers waiting for the first bus but if so why have they got blankets? Quite disturbing because the more I think about it, the more I am convinced that I might have seen my first rough sleepers in Barlick. One thing is certain, nobody with a choice would want to be huddled in a bus shelter on a chilly morning like this.
I have a request. I need some help from the sewing ladies! I shall need a piece of green baize to cover the bottom of the base board on the latest engine. It needs to be 10" X 19". Any suggestions as to the best place to source this would be welcomed.

[PanBiker]

Sally has green felt and some black thick wool felt if that's any use? Would have to be sometime after next Thursday though. You could try Sarah's on Rainhall Road.

[Stanley]

The green felt sounds good Ian. Tell Sally there's no rush, it'll be a week or two before I reach that point when the engine is finished. Best for me to see it before we cut it up....
An exciting qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix. I shall be watching it live this morning as I wash and cook! That way I lose the shed but gain my afternoon sleep.

[plaques]

Malaysian Grand Prix! It would have the exact opposite effect on me. After two laps I would be hard and fast asleep. Now show me some paint drying by comparison that is really interesting.

[Stanley]

Horses for courses P.
See THIS for a report about Monarch Airlines. The latest news is that has finally gone into administration this morning ending the speculation of the last few days.

[PanBiker]

[quote=Stanley post_id=108189 time=1506827875 user_id=68]
The green felt sounds good Ian. Tell Sally there's no rush, it'll be a week or two before I reach that point when the engine is finished. Best for me to see it before we cut it up....¿G
[/quohte]

No problem Stanley , Sally's in the pool at the moment, we will see you later this week.

[Stanley]

Nice to know she's keeping clean.....
Big sleep, didn't waken until 4AM. A bit late for me!
How does Trump square his support for the NRA and what happened in Las Vegas?

[Stanley]

Wendy delivered my copy of Stephanie's book. She saw me on the Green and accosted me! I felt no pain....
It being cooler I thought that perhaps it was a good day to light the stove in the front room to check and dry the flue and take the chill off the room which as it faces north is always a degree or two cooler than the rest of the house as I have the thermostat set quite low at 18C. No problems at all, it fired perfectly with no smoking back and was instantly able to be regulated at a very slow burn. It will have done the flue and the room good but I shall let it go out now as it stops the CH firing and that means the kitchen and shed suffer!
The fact that if you buy a semi-automatic assault rifle in America it will have had the automatic function de-activated as 'machine guns' are illegal. But.... you can legally buy a small device which is easily fitted that restores the fully automatic function. Crazy or what?

[Stanley]

For the last few days.... Jack's tail. He got a slight injury and licked it so much that he stripped the hair off it. It requires considerable guile to treat it and then distract him from licking the medication off. I think I have won....

[PanBiker]

Yesterday, but the rapid take off from Skiathos, it's a short runway and not long enough to carry a full compliment of passengers (220) and enough fuel to come all the way back to the UK in one go.

We were on an Airbus A321-200 with all but one seat occupied. Same aircraft type as the outward journey where the landing is a quick one as well, full reverse thrust on the engines to stop it overshooting the strip. Flightpath comes in right over one of the islands beaches and folk muster at the perimeter fence for take off's and landings to feel the draught! Lots of video's on this on YouTube.

On return they take the aircraft right to the far end of the runway and hold it on the brakes until the engines are at proper full thrust then let it go. It goes from zero to rotation speed in less than 20 seconds and the climb out is directly over the sea. It's a double hop flight on the return as it has to do a short 40 minute flight over to Kavala on the mainland for refuelling for the leg back to the UK. That is a much longer runway and is shared with the military. Everyone stays on the aircraft with seatbelts off while refuelling in case a quick exit is required. It took about 25 minutes to refuel but we were held on the apron for about 15 minutes waiting for take off clearance and a slot to become available in Swiss airspace. Time enough for the cabin staff to run through the safety drill for the second time in less than an hour, CAA regulations dictate the drill before every take off regardless. Expected 3h 40min from Kavala to Manchester and a late arrival due to delayed take off and an 85mph headwind. In the event we made up the loss and arrived bang on the scheduled time.

Another small thing that grabbed the attention, the head of cabin staff on all inbound legs of the journey asked all passengers to review all the emergency exit doors from the flight safety card shortly before making the final descent, just announced on the tannoy but never had this repeated on landings with any other carrier that we have flown with, this trip was with Thomas Cook.

[Stanley]

I've seen those videos, a few people have been killed there I think. You've come back to some cool weather!
I had to part from an old friend this morning, a pair of my old M&S knickers. They have done well but have developed holes. Always sad to see clothes going into the bin.....

[Big Kev]

St Andrews' Care Home on Rainhall Rd took a bit of a bashing in the LT http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.u ... chdog/

[Wendyf]

An entertaining evening at the Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre last night, what a great little live music venue!

[PanBiker]

Cellar Bar by any other name, had some good times down there over the years, not good if you are on the tall side.

[Wendyf]

Very comfy seats though!

[PanBiker]

[Big Kev]

I think I know what you mean

[PanBiker]

I was thinking of you when I made the comment Kev, good picture.

[Stanley]

He is very good at looming......
THIS NY Times news item grabbed me this morning. Once again Trump enrages large sections of the electorate by changing the law to allow organisations to contest public funding of contraception, part of the Obama health reforms. The really sad thing about this is that there is a majority in America who support these bigoted and sexist policies and that's why his popularity rating isn't damaged by him being so openly misogynistic. They probably support the NRA as well.....