Monday – annual 4th celebration barbecue at Jerri’s / PCMSC. As usual starts with a choice of hikes / bike rides. Select the 2nd from easiest. What a mistake turns out to be led by a marathon runner. Not a stop to check pace or for water, despite being the first really hot day and no shade. In the end Mike, Hawain man and I stop for water, bugger the rest of the group. I think Hawaii man is about to peg out any time from heat exhaustion. It’s just a death march. A few of us bail out as soon as we hit a road. Barbecues enjoyable and credit to Jerri and Rob for a great do.
To help save the economy the Government will announce next month that the immigration Department will start deporting seniors (instead of illegals) in order to lower Social Security and Medicare costs.
Older people are easier to catch and will not remember how to get back home. Be sure to send this notice to your relatives and friends so they’ll know what happened to you.
4th July parade at Oakley – beats PC. They still have sweets and even tee shirts.
Tuesday – yeah it’s happy traitors day (4th July to celebrate their 1776 moment – smart move). We pass on the parade in Park City and go to the one in Oakley. Easier to park and get set up. A great small time parade with some 70 odd small town floats. Weather’s great, all very enjoyable and plenty of sweets for the kids, young and old, PC doesn’t do sweets anymore and it looks like it rained on their parade.
4th July BBQ at Mike’s
Then in the afternoon we’re off to Mikes for OUR happy Traitors day barbecue. We wanted to host it at ours, Marriane suggest hosting at hers, cooler up at Glenwild and bigger deck, but Mike is insisted on hosting it at his. Seemed somewhat bizarre inviting our friends to a barbecue at someone else’s home, but it was great and we all hod a great time.
Sat up at Glenwild on the deck watching fireworks.
In the evening Mike, D&B and Wendy and I drive up to Mariannes to watch the Glenwild fireworks.
Awesome fireworks up at Glenwild. PC settled for a drone display.
They were great, almost as good as Epcots fireworks. Fitting end to a great day. The Americans sure know how to celebrate their independence, great to see their love of country and flags everywhere. What ever happened to the UK’s pride in country, too many these days don’t respect the country. If you don’t like our flag then I’ll help you pack.
Joe folds up his Origami kayak.
Thursday – kayaking with Joe and Mike. Joe launches his new folding / origami kayak. In the evening 9 of us go down to the Bee’s baseball game. I buy 9 tickets, yet again, they’re that gormless they only scan 7.
Chicago Suburb Pays Reparations to Black Residents in a ‘Test Run for the Whole Country’
Evanston, Ill., has committed to spending $10 million over 10 years for discrimination.
Evanston is the only city that is delivering on its promise. By the end of this year, it expects to have distributed $25,000 each to 140 mostly elderly residents like Weathers who were at least 18 and lived in the city between 1919 and 1969, when the city passed a fair-housing ordinance. The payments can come in either vouchers or cash and are funded by marijuana and real-estate transfer taxes.
Friday – 4 old guys go bowling. Then in the evening 7 of us were going to TGIF but it was outdoors and bring your own chairs, sounds like hassle, so we had a TGIF at ours.
Saturday – L&M, B&M, D&B and Wendy and I troop off toe Wyoming Downs to watch the horse racing. Wow, such short races with cutting horses. We have two tables, complete with waitress service. Junk foods pretty good.Wendy and I win $49, we betted $40, so won the gran sum of $9. My boring philosophy is to just bet on the favourites, what the hell do I know about form, jockeys etc. Seems the best bet to me.
Waitress service at the races.
Climate change nonsense – only one molecule of every 85,000 in the atmosphere is CO2 of human origin, and yet we are asked to believe that this one molecule drives hugely complex climate change systems. We are also asked to believe that the 22 molecules of CO2 of natural origin in every 85,000 molecules play no part in driving climate change.
Sunday – Mike and I do our coffee shop bike ride. A lazy afternoon and then in the evening we’re off to B&M with D&B and M&L. Have to turn down two other dinner invites. What is it with Sundays we always seem to get multiple invites to dinner.
Monday – the usual easy bike ride then Mike, Wendy and I go out to the Boneyard for dinner with Dot and Barry.
Tuesday – usual easy hike then in the evening we all troop off to Joanne’s and Dan’s for an awesome barbecue with the rest of Mike’s family. Hmmm steaks.
Wednesday – go down to Costco for an hearing aid test. Wow, were they thorough! Took 75 minutes, not just tone test but speech comprehension and words tests. English test takes about 20 minutes. All free, then hearing aids are $1,600, unlike the UK where they £3,200. These come with a 3 year warranty, plus if I loose one within 2 years they replace it for free and hearing aid lifetime after care, including cleaning. All available in US and UK. Everyone of my geriatric friends swears by them. On top of that there’s 180 days trial period with full refund if I’m not happy with them. In the evening we head off for a Newcomers wine tasting with B&M.
Thursday – it’s our annual Coalville ride for old geezers. 22 miles all downhill with some flat sections, hence ideal for us geriatrics.
More climate change nonsense – https://www.prageru.com/video/is-there-really-a-climate-emergency.
Friday – bowling as usual in the morning then we go to TGIF with Mike in the evening. One of the best TGIF, plenty of meat and good company.
Golden Spike
Saturday – at last we’re off to the Golden Spike with B&M. Another first here at the Golden Spike, as we step back in time to May 10th 1869, with a re-enactment to commemorate the joining of the two railroads, Union Pacific and Central Pacific, joint the East coast to the West Coast. I’m nominated for a key role in the re-enactment as a Mormon Bishop – managed to resist the temptation to mention the Meadows Massacre. It’s nearly a 2 hour drive to get there, in the middle of nowhere, but worth it to visit this awesome historic site.
Although only a National Historic Park, not a National Park, it is another masterpiece from the National Parks Service. Thankfully have the forage cap and tee shirt to prove it.
How lucky can we be.
In the evening it’s dinner on the patio with Zinfandel.
The golden spike (also known as The Last Spike) is the ceremonial 17.6-karat gold final spike driven by Leland Stanford to join the rails of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States connecting the Central Pacific Railroad from Sacramento and the Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha on May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory. The term last spike has been used to refer to one driven at the usually ceremonial completion of any new railroad construction projects, particularly those in which construction is undertaken from two disparate origins towards a common meeting point. The spike is now displayed in the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University.
Chinamens cave.
Wasatch golf course trail. Hotter than hell and half of Georgia.
Sunday – pick Mike up who is still in bed because he read last weeks calendar email I sent him rather than this weeks and assumed there was nothing happening today. Then pick B&M up and we’re off for a nature trail walk around Rockcliff. Sadly the nature centre is closed on a Sunday. Plan B, a walk along the side of Wassatch golf course down to the farm and wild turkeys. My its hotter than hell and half of Georgia.
Then off down to Sportsmens warehouse for some 9mm ammunition, better get it before Biden bans it.
Call in at Chicks for lunch. It’s 12:30 but they’re still on the breakfast menu, lunch in Mormon Heber doesn’t start until 13:00, as by 12:00 they’ve only just rolled out of church. Alas I don’t get my Utah scone, religion strikes again. Walk out and go down to Don Pedro’s for a Mexican. Great food, will go again. Then it’s back home for a lazy afternoon.
Then in the evening Mikes invited us to Joanne’s and Dan’s for dinner – how to gatecrash.
Dan and Joanne’s patio.
Monday – Easybike ride in the morning and in the evening a Beethoven concert in the park, bring your own food and booze. Wendy was not at all impressed with here cultural overdose.
Tuesday – Easy hike in the morning around Fink Again. Then in the evening it’s Mike’s 81st birthday party with ribs, Tiramassou and of course wine. Great party, great company. I think he’s the oldest guy I know.
Wednesday – bike ride with Howard and then down to Costco to have my hearing aids fitted. Again another very thorough job. I pick up a couple of Reubens at Feldmans (courtesy of Brett for Father’s Day), in the evening it’s clay pigeon shooting.
Thursday – lazy start to the day then Mike and I go kayaking -hot – while Wendy and Marilyn go ???? Yes, you guessed it, shopping and lunch yet agin.
What better way to spend the day than drifting around in a kayak.
Here’s a great song and movie that’s really pissing off the libtards, wokes and snowflakes, so much so that it’s risen to number 1 – “Try That In a Small Town” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_RKu-ESCY&t=54s
Saturday – off down to the Bee’s game. Booked a table for 10 in the Lazy 13. Menu looks good and some good reviews. Half the group never listened when they were told to bring Id so they weren’t allowed in the rest of us had Id but the air conditioning wasn’t working on the hottest day of the year 103F. Plenty of moaning and groaning, most of which could have been avoided if only people would listen.The restaurants attitude sucks so we upped sticks and went to the stadium. it didn’t open for another 40 minutes but we managed to talk our way into the Diamond Entrance and sat in a cool air conditioned lounge. Games was ok and the pastrami burger was good, but oh so hot, a good job Wendy didn’t come.
And the moral of that little escaped is don’t try and book restaurant for so many people. We have so many great AMerican friends but most seem to have trouble reading, comprehending and following emails, also have trouble listening – seems a very American trait.
Our resting spot on the way back up from the coffee shop. Here, by the babbling brook, we reflect on life and how lucky we are to be here in paradise
Monday – lead an easy bike ride. To make it even easier we’re off down to the coffee
Then in the evening we go with B&M down to Prohibition restaurant, themed on a prohibition Speak Easy. Good food and exotic drinks. Awesome burger.
A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an illicit establishment that sells alcoholic beverages, or a retro style bar that replicates aspects of historical speakeasies.
Speakeasy bars came into prominence in the United States during the Prohibition era (1920–1933, longer in some states). During that time, the sale, manufacture, and transportation (bootlegging) of alcoholic beverages was illegal throughout the United States.[1] Speakeasies largely disappeared after Prohibition ended in 1933. The speakeasy-style trend began in 2000 with the opening of the bar Milk & Honey.
Not to be outdone by the Iranian Islamic regime’s brutal enforcement of hijab, Afghanistan’s Taliban has renewed its jihad against Western dress – particularly the necktie worn by men. The tie draped around the collar resembles a crucifix or a Christian cross, the Taliban regime declared.
The cross, which signifies mankind’s redemption through the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is a hated symbol according to the Islamic Sharia law, and must be desecrated and destroyed, a senior Taliban operative proclaimed.
“What is a tie? It is the cross. It is ordered in Sharia that you should break it and eliminate it,” Mohammad Hashim Shaheed Wror, Taliban’s head of Islamic proselytizing and guidance told reporters on Wednesday.
Tuesday – farewell dinner at B&M’s. Mike forgets, now there’s a surprise, so he dips out.
Only one statistic matters for our living standards and that is economic growth. That statistic tells us that we are not poorer for leaving the EU. We did not leave the EU economic zone until the end of 2020 and since then Britain’s economy has grown faster than that of France, Germany, Italy and Spain*.
The International Monetary Fund, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and others, all said Britain would be in recession this year. We are not. They said Germany would grow. It is in recession, as is the whole Eurozone.
And finally — though it is rarely mentioned nowadays — we no longer have to send vast sums to the EU budget. In 2019 we paid just under £10 billion. The EU budget is now nearly twice as big, so we could be paying around £20 billion.
Still we need to remember that all our problems are due to BREXIT, including climate change.
Wednesday – Joe and I borrow Mikes .22 rifle and AR15. Off down to the rifle range. Bloody hell the targets just over a 100 yards away, can only just see it. Haven’t a clue whether we’re hitting it as can’t see the bullet holes, even with binoculars. Needless to say our two targets are re-usable.
When it rains, it rains American style – big.
Cascade Springs
Sundance.
Thursday – easy bike ride with Mike down to the coffee shop. Then in the afternoon Wendy, Mike and I take a drive up to Sundance for lunch. Then onto Cascade Springs, followed by getting lost on dirt road to Guardsmen’s pass. Pleasant if somewhat peak invoking afternoons drive out.
Dinner at Howard and Nancy’s. Great food and company, what an awesome view they have.
Saturday – over to Mikes to sort his wine.
Sorting out Mike’s 250+ bottles of wine.
What is wrong with you? It really is time you stopped all this illegal immigration nonsense. Us geriatrics are ready to take up our Zimmer frames and come down to sort you out. So here’s my guide to succcess in just 5 days.
As you may be aware Churchill had some red stickers for “Action This Day” that he stuck on any edict and woe betide anyone who didn’t get the job done. Get some of these stickers, some backbone and some gonads. So here’s how to solve this problem within the next 5 days:
Monday – Issue an “Action This Day” edict to the bureaucrats to draft two new Acts of parliament to be ready by tomorrow morning.
1 the “ECHR Escape act” to immediately withdraw us from the ECHR, no if’s and’s or but’s, complete withdrawal.
2 the “Stop Illegals Now act”, AKA the SIN act, to ensure that illegals have zero rights; no entitlements to the wanton luxury you seem to want to lavish on them whilst our own veterans and homeless suffer; illegals will be deported to any shithole of a country of our choosing; they have no rights of appeal; no rights for snowflakes, libtards, wokes or other do gooders to appeal this supreme act; no legal aid for illegals; any attempt to appeal or otherwise hinder this enactment will result in the law firm in question being banned from all legal aid and government work, as well as being investigated for illegal activities.
Tuesday – put the ECHR Escape Act and the SIN Act before pariliment with an “Action This Day” notice email all your MP’s that any member of the Conservative Party not turning up and not voting FOR these two acts will be kicked out of the party; on top of which 1,000 illegals will be immediately bused to their constituency, preferably next door to the MP in question.
Wednesday – having passed the two Acts, send an “Action This Day” email to all concerned instructing them to load the first two planes with illegals for their flight to Rwanda. Videothe loading and takeoff and post it on YouTube and all social media. Loudspeaker broadcast of Rwanda flight details in refugee camps in France
Thursday – “Action This Day” email to continue flying and videoing illegals being deported to Rwanda. Post on YouTube and social media. Broadcast Rwanda flights in refugee camps in France. Report on the dwindling numbers of illegals landing. Ship any that are still stupid enough to come straight onto Rwanda flights. Publicise it. Stop payments to France.
Friday – now start to plan your landslide election victory campaign. Keep publicizing the deportations to Rwanda. Make some of the freed up facilities for illegals available to our veterans and homeless. Start to look after our own citizens.
Posted inUncategorized|Comments Off on 20230703 – Happy Traitors Day & A Very Hot July
Sunday – lazy day with a supermarket trip of course. French learning website completed. Now need a new software project. Time to get started on improving my French. Then in the evening it’s dinner at Joe and Dan’s with Marianne, Carmel and Mike. Another amazing table layout and awesome Lamb cutlets.
Monday – Wendy goes to the Chiropractor then in the pantry at the Christian Centre. For me it’s some great Pickleball with a bike ride down the Rail Trail in the afternoon. Then in the evening Mike takes us all (Marianne, Carmel, Joanne, Dan, Wendy and I) to Giodottis. What is it with American restaurants? The place is virtually empty, the tables are set but “please wait to be seated” – about 10 minutes of the usual power play. No concept of customer service.
Tuesday – I and Wendy lead an Easy hike from Silver Star down to the old Barn. We were rewarded with a Stellars Jay sitting.
Wednesday – Pickleball in the morning, get to play some 3 handed. Actually it’s quite a lot of fun, exhausting when you play 6 games non-stop. My afternoon Easy Bike ride is a washout due to rain.
Thursday – another mixed day. No bowling but Wendy and I do a Round Valley stroll, our efforts are rewarded with the sitting of an awesome Mountain Blue Bird. Made the effort worthwhile. Sadly not our pictures.
Friday – today’s bike ride spots 7 White Pelicans and a Red Winged Blackbird – yes it’s a ride down the Rail Trail.
The Madness Never Ends: Adidas Hires a Man to Model Its New Women’s Swimsuit. I would post a photo but I don’t want you to loose your dinner.
Saturday – clay pigeon shooting. Pistol range is infested with youngsters, so keep well away.
A visitor.
Monday – Pickleball with the Troy family. Sadly, Marianne falls and sprains her wrist. End up driving Mike’s souped up BMW 3 series. A pleasure to drive. Resist putting it through its paces. Short walk after tea – best way to avoid too much TV.
Tuesday – Easy hike in the afternoon along the Rail Trail. Wendy does half of it. Weather has gone bizarre, Monsoons and thunderstorms most afternoons, and forecast for the next week. Good job I’m moving hiking and biking to 10:00 as mornings are generally still warm and sunny.
Whole foods New York cheesecake for breakfast. Awesome.
Wednesday – Well it should have been Pickleball in the morning but Mike forgets. So a lazy start then easy bike ride in the afternoon, we miss any rain. Then it’s off pistol shooting but alas just as we turn into the Kamas Lions Gun Club it starts to rain. Oh well, shit happens.
Thursday – Another great day here in Paradise. Bowling; Gyros and Baklava at the Mad Greeks, more awesome junk food; visit a unique coffee roasters for some great coffee, still warm off the roaster; Costco, well you can’t have everything, Wendy’s treat; a short hike on a balmy evening. We’re just shitting in the tall cotton.
Cornholing with Wendy, the game that is.
Tuesday – Lead an easy hike then it’s Cornholing with Wendy and Mike (no it’s not the dogging version). I thought it was for kids but it’s quite skillful and addictive. All taken very seriously. Thursday – Wendy, Marianne, Mike and I go to the Bee’s baseball game. A tad cool but great junk food. Finally get the proper Chicago Hot Dog, along with salted peanuts and soft Pretzal.
Friday – bowling of course and yet another TGIF in yet another 6,000 square foot mansion.
Monday – barbecue at Mikes with Wendy and Marianne.
Some of Wendy’s handy work.
Tuesday – In the morning lead a stroll around Masonic hill, one of my favorites. After lunch take two guns with a live round jammed in them down to a gunsmith in Lehi. Nip to Costco while he’s fixing them. Then a pleasant drive back along Provo Canyon and pick up some 9mm brass ammunition – hopefully it won’t jam like the steel rounds I’ve been using.
Wednesday – volunteering for archery at the NAC starts.
4 who tried to come on my bike ride.
Thursday – Mike and I go down to the Easton Archery Centre for some range practice. Great indoor and out door facility but sadly they don’t have any compound bows. Then we take some scrap copper to scrap metal merchants, a right pair of Steptoe and son.
Fathers days postings.
Friday – Howards back in town so set off to do a bike ride but weathers still shit so we just put the World to rights over coffee.
More fathers day postings.
Monday – help Mike move some mattresses for Linda, then it’s a swish lunch with Mike and Marriane at the Glenwild Clubhouse.
Tuesday – easy hike around one of my favorites, Snowtop. Then in the evening we go to a concert in City Park – good weather for a change. Sadly I’m not drinking.
More of Wendy’s handy work.
Friday – bowling again. In the evening it’s Dogs and Suds with PCMSC in the City Park. So far the weather’s been pretty mixed with afternoon monsoons and crap weather forecasts that make it difficult to plan. But my week seems to be settling down into a routine. Mondays lead an easy bike ride while Wendy volunteers at the CC; Tuesday lead an easy hike, sometimes Wendy comes; Wednesday hike with the Newcomers and sometimes NAC archery volunteer in the afternoon, pistol shooting in the evening; Thursday kayaking coming back on the calendar; Friday bowling then TGIF in the evening; Saturday clay pigeon shooting; Sunday relax with a stroll and free cinema or a meal in the evening.
Wednesday – pick Dot and Barry up from the airport. Wendy’s sat in the wait car park, but car won’t start. I have to Uber back to car park. Sure enough won’t start, think the batteries flat. Phone SLC support who are there within 10 minutes and boost start the car for free – unbelievable service – so good I even tip the guy.
Thursday – Michael and Laurie come round for drinks.
Friday – a gang of us go down to Feldmans for dinner and then to the Bees game.
Saturday – Wendy’s been invited to a pig roast so we troop off along with D&B. Sunday – free cinema tickets with D&B and B&M. Film was so boring I tried to escape to the High West.
Thursday – first club kayaking with Mike, Joe and Bob. Another activity to add to the Thursday calendar. Friday – bowling with the usual crew and D&B. Followed by TGIF in the evening. Invited to a retirement due at Marions, haven’t a clue who she is, but finally manage to identify her. Going shooting that night.
Saturday – Clay pigeon shooting, then bike ride with Bob and Mike, then B&M come round for dinner.
Sunday – invited to a barbecue at Joanne and Dans but already going to dinner at Carols. Busy, need a big busted social secretary. A lovely evening with Carol and Angela on their deck.
Yeah, finally finished the Hamilton book. Interesting but just too much detail made it an ordeal.
Posted inUncategorized|Comments Off on Paradise 15/5/23 to 2/7/23
Monday – as I sit here across the Atlantic (it’s not a pond), with the colonials, sadly I read the news from back home and I am disgusted, hence the daily rants. I really can’t make up my mind whether we live in a kakistocracy or just a kleptocracy. Fortunately we’re not alone, the colonials seem to have the same issues with their government.
But the latest fiasco has to merit special attention.
Yes, the imbeciles in the big chattering house have still not settled the nurse’s pay and they’re having to strike.
The country is in dire straights and if we don’t tackle inflation then we’re all worse off. Don’t these greed-obsessed postal and train drivers, who are all replaceable with automation, get it. That’s right, we don’t really need them. Yet, the government can offer the already overpaid train driver 8% over two years (would be better to just replace them with computer-controlled trains) and our snail mail postmen 9% over 18 months (who needs them with email and parcel delivery companies, let private enterprise sort it).
A kakistocracy (/kækɪˈstɒkrəsi/, /kækɪsˈtɒ-/) is a government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens. The word was coined as early as the seventeenth century. Peter Bowler has noted in his book that there is no word for the government run by the best citizens, and that the aristarchy may be the right term, but still, it could conceivably be a kakistocracy disguised as an aristocracy.
Scene at Bethlem Royal Hospital, sometimes known as Bedlam, the first asylum in England for the mentally ill.
So much for clapping for nurses, that put a lot of money in their pockets. Listen you morons, pay them 20%, not the 17% they’re asking, worth every penny of it. Would you want to do that job? Then tell the rest of the greedy striking government workers to piss off, realise that there’s a patriotic need to tackle inflation and if they’re still not happy go get a useful job as a nurse.
And the moral of this rant – DON’T READ THE NEWS – half of its fake, liberal, left-wing, and the other half is just depressing.
PS
I’ve come to the conclusion we live in a kakistocracy. Most of them in government are just too dumb to be kleptocrats.
Kleptocracy (from Greek κλέπτης kléptēs, “thief”, κλέπτω kléptō, “I steal”, and -κρατία -kratía from κράτος krátos, “power, rule”) is a government whose corrupt leaders (kleptocrats) use political power to expropriate the wealth of the people and land they govern, typically by embezzling or misappropriating government funds at the expense of the wider population. Thievocracy means literally the rule by thievery and is a term used synonymously to kleptocracy. One feature of political-based socioeconomic thievery is that there is often no public announcement explaining or apologizing for misappropriations, nor any legal charges or punishment levied against the offenders.
Political corruption.
Wednesday – drive down to Costco in a raging snowstorm. Must want my bumps feeling. The following week go to Costco and Try Sam’s club with Mike. Sam’s club has a better choice but Costco have better prices. Both worth membership, especially as Sam’s has a special $5 membership offer.
Thursday – sign up for Paramount+ in the UK and start binging on Yellowstone. Great series but not the best season ever. Then binge 1923, again great series with potential for a better season 2.
Nigeria: Islamic jihadis massacre 134 Christians, mostly women and children.
Yes, another 134 were massacred and not even a mention in the media, no space left after all their pathetic islamaphobia rants. Obviously doesn’t fit with their woke narrative. Couldn’t possibly hold the ideology of pieces and permanent offence to account.
Billions of pounds which are likely to be levied on household energy bills to fund an unproven climate technology, when we could save consumers £9,000 if this money were spent on insulation, experts have said.
Earlier this year, the Government pledged to invest £20 billion in carbon capture and storage (CCS), in which CO2 from factory chimneys or extracted from the air is trapped and stored underground.
However, analysis by Green Alliance, a think tank, shows that if the same money were redirected to insulate homes it could upgrade a quarter of all the houses in Britain, saving households around £9,000 each.
The analysis found that putting the money towards home insulation would save around 30 percent more carbon emissions than CCS.
Pastrami on Rye down at Feldmens Deli in Salt Lake. I think I must have died and gone to heaven.
Having a cold drink on hot day with a few friends is nice, but having a hot friend on a cold night after a few drinks is priceless.
Breaking News: Condoms don’t guarantee safe sex anymore. A friend of mine was wearing one when he was shot dead by the woman’s husband.
A 3-year-old boy examined his testicles while taking a bath. ”Mom”, he asked, “Are these my brains?” ”Not yet,” she replied.
Saturday – hardly any clays were harmed by me. 11 out of 25. My worst performance ever.
Sunday – off for a Sunday drive, with a view to stopping for lunch. Kamas, then Oakley (looks like they’re doing the Roadhouse diner up, the sooner the better), then Coalville. Alas, most places are closed in Mormon Utah. Settle for a Mexican in a Polar King, junk food in the American equivalent of a greedy spoon cafe. Wendy was not amused.
Chief Police Officer of Manchester has said – officers shouldn’t be offering protesters a ‘blanket and a warm drink,’ adding: “You’ll be leaving your fingerprints on the road surface of the motorway”.
“Candidly, I think it’s a dangerous activity, it’s hugely disruptive, There are people on that motorway who are going to kidney dialysis, they are going to visit their mums in the hospital”.
Good for him. Just one set of finger prints on the road and they’ll stop.
When will we wake up to what’s going on in our country with failed multi-culturism?
Angry chants, pig noises and blaring car horns echoed down Coventry Road as police were chased away trying to speak to pop-up market traders. On what was supposed to be a night of community engagement during Ramadan, crowds turned on officials responding to concerns about anti-social behaviour on the Small Heath-based road.
West Midlands Police officers, Trading Standards, Environmental Health and Licensing teams led a joint operation on the busy road to address complaints of alleged illegal vendors. The action came following a mass of complaints from residents, who claimed Ramadan turned into ’30 days of hell’ on Coventry Road.
Nearby businesses, imams and MPs have previously shared their worries about increased traffic congestion, anti-social behavior, littering and alleged illegal street vendors making life difficult for local residents.
Monday – manage a hours pickleball then a lazy afternoon on software and reading, while Wendy’s at the CC. In the evening drive down to SLC to pick Carol and Angela up. Not a pleasant drive in the dark and rain, it’s another one of those age things. Mind you it would help if they had some white paint to redo the lane markings. Roads are not one of the colonials strong points. Certainly bigger but alas not better.
The society-wide acceptance of transgender madness made this inevitable: at Sun Prairie East High School in Sun Prairie, Wis., an 18-year-old dude claiming to be a woman walked into the girls’ locker room, where four freshman girls were showering, and joined them in the shower. If Sun Prairie High School still had any students registered there at all after this incident came to light and school district officials proved reluctant to do anything about it, their continued enrollment is an indication of how much our society has already degenerated and grown accustomed to this level of insanity.
Fish and chips in Salt Lake.
Wednesday – woke up in the early hours of the morning to the loud mating call of some Moose. Sounded like they were rutting on our deck.
Saturday – A “Make my day….” sort of moment down at the gun range with a classic 44 Magnum. Wow what a kick it has, but pretty accurate.
Followed by some clay pigeon shooting, not too many were harmed by me.
Dinner at Don Pedro’s with Mike, Marianne and Carmel. Good food and company but what is it with American restaurants who always seem to want to make you wait to get seated at an empty restaurant. Some sort of power play. This time their excuse was to lay a table. For the flying Spaghetti monster’s sake, it’s a Saturday night surely you could have laid tables in anticipation of a busy night. I think they should have “Please wait to be seated” emblazoned on the American flag.
Now what a surprise:
Afghanistan: ‘The Taliban are offering money for Afghans to turn in any Christians they know’
I see the snowflakes and libtards are still at it trying to slim down our dictionaries with their PC Newspeak. This time it’s a stupid attack on the terms “men” or “women”, all sorts of alternatives such as “sperm producers” and “egg producers” have been suggested. If we have to put up with this snowflake babble then how about “toilet seat uppers” and “toilet seat downers”.
Join Islam:
Hardly a day goes by when I don’t have to battle with absurdity from those 10 year olds imbeciles who are writing software or designing web pages these days. They’ve obviously never read the book “Don’t Make Me Think”, whose major premise is to keep it simple. As for common sense or life skills that’s a complete mystery to them.
I really think todays classic deserves a special mention. Apple text me one of those annoying authorisation codes, every web site seems obsessed with them these days. Bless them the message starts off with a message number, the actual code is embedded further down in the message. I wonder how many people get caught by this and spend the rest of the day trying to input a message number rather than the authorisation code. Spectacularly stupid, worthy of a brown envelope and a court judgment banning them from a computer for life. Well done Apple, yet another example of your ineptitude, sadly they’re not on their own with this imbecilic behavior.
Saturday – car has a scratch on the bumper, oh joy. Must have been done by some dolt on a supermarket car park. Of course being dishonest piece of shit they didn’t bother fessing up and leave a note with their details – just scum. This car’s really jinxed what with stress cracked windscreen and now this. Quotes range from $1,100 to $1,800, can you believe that. Almost cheaper to buy a new car. Never mind ditch it tomorrow for a different one. Let’s hope for more luck.
George Carlin – Standup on religion.
Another sickening betrayal: Britain tells Afghans in hiding they can come to UK – but only if Taliban approves documents.
Ministry of Defence ‘apologises unreservedly’ after independent investigation reveals Afghans were asked to get evacuation documents certified by Taliban
Wednesday – pickleball with Mike and his sisters, then lunch with Carol at Zupas.
Thursday – what a disaster. Off down to Heber for PCMSC Bowling. The alleys closed because they haven’t enough staff. That’s it giving up on Heber. The staff they do have are slow and ignore you anyway.
OK, plan B, let’s go for a walk. Then it starts to rain.
OK, plan C, drive down to Salt Lake bowling alley, with Mike, Marianne and Carmel. 42 lanes; only $7 for two games, including shoes; cheaper; better service than Heber City. “This is the place” from now on – bugger Heber City.
Then we’re off to a Mediterranean restaurant for lunch. Pretty good Gyro but lacks Pitta bread.
Friday – pickleball then a trip down to Costco with Mike. Yes, Wendy’s trusted me to get a few things from Costco. Get to try their chicken roll – another awesome junk food, just $3.99. $1.50 hot dog next time.
Saturday – coronation day. Cleaner arrives.
In the afternoon we host a traditional English afternoon tea party to celebrate the coronation with our colonial friends. Don’t you just love the trouble they went to with those hats. And not forgetting Wendy’s stylish fluffy slippers – fit for a trip to Walmart.
Amazing how much our colonial friends know about our Royalty, puts us to shame.
Well done Wendy for putting on such a great spread, including the all-important cucumber sandwiches with the sharp edges cut off. Looks like we’ll be living off sandwiches for a few days.
The signature coronation dish will be a vegetarian quiche. Whatever happened to roast beef and Yorkshire pudding – oh dear might offend the veggies and snowflakes.
Not be long now before Charley has us all talking to our plants; abandoning surgery for homeopathy; installing solar panels on our backs.
Thursday – took Mike down to Salt Lake. Nowhere to park so can you believe I actually had to use valet parking – fortunately it was free – but of course there’s a tip involved. Glad to say despite it my legs are still functioning. I’m convinced a hundred years from now Americans will have evolved into legless human beings – heaven forbid they should walk anywhere.
Friday – a great bike ride on my own down to the White Barn, followed by a stroll to the Christian centre to meet Wendy. Awesome day.
Saturday – clay Pigeon shooting. Wow, I actually hit 16 out of the 25, even beat Marianne. Then it’s pistol shooting with a .44 Magnum (“Make my day” sort of gun), along with 9mm Glock and Rockville. Just can’t get the hang of the glock, a nice gun to shoot but can’t deal with the sites, can’t even hit the target.
Try a Root beer. Actually not bad. Can you believe it, Valet Parking and a Root beer all in the same week. At this rate, I’ll be getting a free green card.
Sunday – shopping and lazy day. Finally finish off my French Learning website. Then in the evening we’re off to Joe and Dans for another splendid dinner with Mike, Marianne and Carmel. A great evening, good food, company and an amazing dinner table setting yet again.
Now what a surprise:
Posted inUncategorized|Comments Off on Is The UK A Kakistocracy Or A Kleptocracy
As we’re here for 6 months the blog will be more sporadic and only on days of interest to me or to vent my spleen on Rants and Religion. Aim to publish an update every two or three weeks.
We’ve an 11:50 flight to Salt lake, as usual with Virgin, as awesome as ever, and Delta is as mediocre as ever.
Only got temporary ticket for our flight from Atlanta so we have to speak to Delta to get the correct ones. After repeating the problem 5 times, being told the tickets we have are valid 4 times they finally print them off. Still for the wrong seats. I realise I might as well chalk pentagrams and stroke a toad.
Try a second Delta desk and finally after two aborted attempts get the correct tickets printed. Do Delta purposely employ people that are as smart as a box of rocks. 6 hour layover in Atlanta is a killer but at least we manage to blague our way into the Delta lounge, one of the benefits of them employing dimwits.
Don’t ever give me crap from Apple that they care about their customers, environment or anything other than milking their customers for all their worth. When they force you to upgrade perfectly good hardware by making their operating system incompatible. The World would be a better place without marketing employees constantly trying to milk you for it can.
“How to install latest macOS on old Mac: run Ventura on an unsupported Mac
Is your Mac too old to update? Maybe not! Here’s how to update old Macs to Ventura, Monterey or any unsupported version of macOS using a patcher.”
Thursday
Hotel overnight by 01:00 at SLC airport and Turo car delivered in the morning.
I now I’m back in the USA when greeted by a classic waffle machine for breakfast, along with bacon, scrambled eggs and of course maple syrup.
It’s snowing for the drive up to Park City (PC, aka paradise) but as we turn off the interstate for PC the sun comes out, Is this an omen. Wow they sure have plenty of snow – see pictures – never known it as good. Why Bob’s even complaining that they have too much snow on the ski slopes.
Dinner out at Sammie’s with Bob and Marilyn. Great to see them again after nearly a year.
“Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him; better take a closer look at the American Indian.”
Henry Ford
Friday
Joy of joys it’s a major shop at Walmart and Smiths.
Friday night we’re off to Mike’s for dinner. Great food as alway and great company.
Yeah, back to Kamas gun club for some clay pigeon shooting with Mike. It’s a gorgeous sunny day with snow all around – good to be alive weather. Those clays didn’t need to be frightened of me, an abysmal score of 11 and 13.
Mike lends me his 1911 9mm Glock.
In the afternoon Carol and Angela pop round to greet us followed by dinner at Bob and Marilyn’s new condo. Brooke’s there, my how she’s grown into such a confident young lady.
Watch the end of the San Diego college Basketball game. Won by one point scored in the last second. If ever there was a case to be made for “never give up” then this has to be it. As they say it’s not over until the fat lady sings.
Day 3 and Wendy’s still not had to cook, still living on invites out.
Yet another example of woke snowflakes gibberish. It’s a classic example of this insidious madness that has a stranglehold on our society. And can you believe it’s from a supposedly intelligent doctor.
‘Our healthcare system is built for the needs of white people – just look at beige plasters and prosthetics’
‘What colonialism did to medicine and to the body was it created very clear structures of who matters and who doesn’t,’ says campaigner and author Dr Annabel Sowemimo.
In healthcare today, many of the ways that racism and colonial attitudes manifest are far more insidious than they once were. But one small example, says Dr Annabel Sowemimo, is symbolic of how much still needs to change. It’s the way medical devices, including prosthetics, contraceptive patches and plasters, are manufactured in a single, supposedly generic shade of beige – which, in reality, only matches the skin tone of a tiny proportion of the global population.
“People think that’s a really minor issue,” says Sowemimo, “but it’s reflective of the system as a whole; all these devices are made with paler people in mind, and everybody else is just supposed to accept it. It’s become so ingrained in our minds that the status quo of some people not mattering is just fine.”
No I don’t think it’s a ”minor issue”, I think it’s a non-issue from someone who wants to create racism.
Sunday
Well it’s time for a review of our first week here in Paradise.
Sunday, Wendy and I have a leisure stroll around Willow Creek with Joe, followed by coffee at Starbucks. The paths are still snowbound and it’s quite hard going.
At last Wendy gets to cook a meal as we have Michael and Laurie round for dinner.
Monday, it’s pickleball drop in at last 09:00 to 12:00. Must be 2 years since I played, but never mind such a great game. Wendy’s off to the Christian centre volunteering for the day. I manage a route march up there to meet her, 17 minutes 30.
At last we have a night in alone.
Tuesday, it’s snowing yet again but we risk a Costco run. I80 a mess to drive down, a tad better coming back.
They don’t accept Master card so we have to rely on our Chase Visa Debit card which only has $230 available. It’s a lesson in humility as we discover what it must be like to be poor when you have to go round keeping a running total to make sure you don’t overspend.
Wednesday, pickleball again followed by gun club with Joe. He lends me his 1911 9mm so now I have two guns in my arsenal, Wendy’s not happy. At least there not kept loaded when in the house.
In the evening we go out to Sammies with Michael and Laurie, who leave tomorrow, Stephen and Barbara come along too.
Thursday, were back into ten pin bowling with Joe and Mike down at the Heber bowling alley, it’s a tradition 1960’s retro bowling alley. This is going to be a regular weekly event.
Take the car into Buick to see if they’ll fix the stress crack across the windscreen under warranty. No they won’t.
Then it’s a booze trip over to Evanstone, Wyoming in Mike’s BMW. Everywhere is wrapped in snow and it’s so nice to be a passenger and enjoy the awesome scenery. Mike stays for tea, nothing special.
Friday, well it’s pickleball yet again, then in the afternoon Wendy and I go a stroll down the Rail Trail, hard going with snow under foot. Pick my bike up from Ruths and have a pleasant ride home.
In the evening we take carol and Angela down to SLC to get their flight to Munich.
Saturday, clay pigeon shooting with Mike. My absence hasn’t improved my aim.
Well it looks like we’ve finally settled in, stocked up with all the essentials including booze. An expensive week but a lot of the one time items that are for 6 months. So far Wendy’s only had to cook twice as we’ve been out wined and dined with friends.
Set up our working week pattern as follows:
Monday – Wendy CC; Tony pickleball.
Tuesday – Tony and possibly Wendy on Easy Hike (stroll).
Wednesday – Tony Easy Bike Ride; pistol shooting in the PM.
Thursday – Tony ten pin bowling; Wendy weekly shop
Friday – Wendy CC; Tony pickleball
Saturday – Tony clay pigeon shooting
Sunday – Tony and Wendy road trip and lunch
What a great job the Christian Centre do with all these Easter baskets for the kids. Sadly no chocolate in them though.
More crap from the liberal, wokes and snowflakes. As for mutilating children’s bodies it just beggars belief.
Younger generations are eagerly embracing issues around birth sex and gender identification, with 23 per cent of those aged 18 to 24, known as Gen Z, using non-gendered pronouns.
Nearly half, or 48 per cent, of those aged 18-24 now state their pronoun on their email signature or social profiles. The practice is intended as an act of solidarity with people who do not identify with their birth sex, but many see it as virtue-signalling.
Nearly half, or 45 per cent, of the 2,036 people polled were supportive of people having the right to identify with a gender other than their birth sex, with 34 per cent against. But older generations are more likely to be dismayed by the creep of gender identification into everyday life, the study by OnePoll found.
The majority of the British public think the debate has gone too far, with 62 per cent saying the issue is now “disproportionately pandering to the wishes of a small minority”. This rises to 78 per cent among the over-65s but falls to 48 per cent among Gen Z.
A similar overall majority, or 63 per cent, think British institutions are overreacting to sensitivities around pronouns. This sentiment peaks in those aged 55 to 64, at 79 per cent, and falls to just 33 per cent among 18 to 24-year-olds, of whom 44 per cent think it is proportionate.
There is opposition among older generations to the removal of pronouns in such phrases as “gingerbread man” in favour of “gingerbread person”.
More than half, or 55 per cent, of those aged over 45 think the English language should not be changed “due to the preferences of a niche group of people”. This falls to a third, or 33 per cent, among younger generations, aged 18 to 44, and nearly a quarter, or 23 per cent, think such changes are needed to “keep up with the times”.
More than half of 18 to 24-year-olds are supportive of customer-facing workers being given the option to state their chosen pronoun on name badges, but that falls to just 16 per cent among those over 55.
Across all age groups, there is widespread sympathy for those who “misgender” transgender people, as the BBC’s Alex Jones did during an interview with the pop star Sam Smith. A total of 47 per cent say it is “understandable”. But 38 per cent agree that a person who identifies as they/them has a right to be offended when someone doesn’t use the right pronouns, rising to 65 per cent among 18 to 24-year-olds.
Posted inUncategorized|Comments Off on 20230329 – Escape To Paradise For Six Months
Drive down to Ghajn Tuffieha Bay and then have a stroll along the cliff tops to Golden Sands Bay. Stop for the daily Cappuccino, really getting into these girly drinks, need to get back to straight unpolluted black coffee. Then have a drive to Paradise bay. What a waste that place is, only about 30 feet of sand beach.
Back home for a couple of beers, Wendy’s agreed to drive to dinner tonight. Off to Ta Peters again. It’s got a good menu, is pleasant and isn’t too expensive. Octopus to start with followed by Beef Bragioli and then some Imqaret – Maltese date filled pastry, almost like a fig biscuit.
Then it’s back home for more wine and Netflix.
Maltese Bragioli also known as beef olives, are slowly braised stuffed bundles of beef. The term olive is a bit confusing as there are no olives in this recipe. It turns out they got their name because they are stuffed and somewhat resemble the shape of an olive when cooked. Whatever you call them, they are delicious bundles of joy!
Vikings: The arrival:
Seems reasonable to me. Guilty by association:
DONALD J TRUMP: The world has finally woken to the truth about the Wuhan virus. Now it’s time to hold China to account
* Former President of the U.S. demands $50trillion in reparations over lab leak
* Comes as FBI say Wuhan scientists ‘probably’ created the Covid virus
A new viral disease (Covid) broke out in Wuhan, China. It turns out China’s major viral laboratory is in . . . Wuhan. If the new virus has been found in the population just outside the lab, chances are good it escaped from it. It probably walked out on someone’s shoe. China obstructs the international investigation into the source of Covid, if there’s nothing to hide why obstruct.
Everything in your logic says Covid escaped from the Wuhan lab —common sense, Occam’s razor.
Sunday
Another lazy start to a warm sunny day.
We were going to go to the Marsaxlokk for the Sunday market but decided to give it a miss as it would probably be a nightmare to park. Instead, we drive down to St Julian’s bay as recommended. What a disappointment that was. Walk along the front and around to Sliema, struggle to find anywhere for lunch. Nothing worth seeing there. At least we got a pleasant stroll.
Speg Bol, wine and Netflix in the evening. We sure know how to live.
More shit from the wokes and the religion of pieces and permanent offense. The terrible news broke on Saturday: rumors were flying that a copy of the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, had been desecrated at a high school. But the authorities had a handle on the situation: the students in question were suspended, the police were called in, and the school assured local Muslim leaders that it was teaching students that the book of Allah must be treated with the proper respect. This is not a news item from Pakistan, Iran, or Saudi Arabia: this took place Wednesday at Kettlethorpe High School in Wakefield, England. This is not the Merrie Old England of Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Dickens, or even the fight-them-in-the-streets England of Winston Churchill. Welcome to the new, Sharia-compliant United Kingdom.
I wonder whether there will be a fatwa out on me for highlighting, on my computer copy of the quran, passages that encourage violence and jihad, there’s a lot of them. And what happens if I delete it into the trash can? Will virtual deletion count?
Why do we tolerate this shit from the islam, wokes and snowflakes?
Some U.S. and Canadian scientists have officially proposed that the scientific community phase out the terms “male” and “female” from scientific language in order to avoid “emphasizing hetero-normative views.”
Rather these experts have claimed terms such as “sperm-producing” or “egg-producing” can be used as they are more inclusive. They also recommended the moniker “XY/XX individual” as a sufficient alternative.
In addition, these scientists with an eye towards inclusivity have claimed that the terms “man,” “woman,” “father” and “mother” are “problematic,” as well as terms like “primitive,” “advanced,” and “non-native.”
Monday
Another warm and sunny day. Up early to swap the Hertz Mobile.
Only arranged to swap it because their stupid marketing department offered Presidents circle until January 2024 if you make two bookings prior to 30/6/23 so changed my 12 day booking to a 9 and 3 day booking – god bless the stupid.
What a pantomime Hertz were. Hyundai i20 not quite ready. Then 5 minutes while they photograph it for every minor scratch. When I finally get in the car the tyre pressure warning light is on. Given a cock and bull story about pressures are all checked it’s just the gauge needs resetting. Bull shit, I refuse to drive it with light on. Then have to wait another 30+ minutes whilst they retrieve my previous Kia Stonic.
Drive down to Marsaxlokk For a stroll around the harbour. We passed on the Sunday market visit as it would have been a nightmare parking and who wants to see a tat market anyway.
Have fish of the day by the harbour. The service is terrible, but fish was good. Was going to have a coffee but the service is that bad we pass.
Drive to the Blue Grotto but apparently, the only way to see it is via a boat trip. Not for Wendy so we pass. Settle for a coffee.
Drive back home, call off at the supermarket for tomorrow night’s tea and some cheese. Unusual for us to have a full meal at lunchtime so we settle for some cheese and biscuits, with wine of course, in the evening.
Meanwhile from the snowflakes in the church of England:
The Church of England is considering whether to stop referring to God as “he” after questions concerning the use of gender-neutral terms were raised by priests.
The topic, which has been discussed by those who follow the Christian faith for many years, is being explored by two commissions in a new joint project.
Perhaps they should change the lord’s prayer to “Our sperm producer who art in heaven…..”, that way we’ll keep the woke scientists happy.
Drive down to the end of the St Paul’s bay peninsula. Have lunch huddled on a form admiring the view, not that warm with the wind.
Then drive to the Sea View cafe for afternoon coffee. Finally get to have a look at the spectacular looking church in Mellieha, all locked up to stop anyone praying.
Then I finally get to have a walk around the Majjistral Nature and history park. I’d been wanting to explore this from the first time we saw it on day 2, but what a disappointment.
The Scotland police recently referred to pedophiles as “minor attracted people.” Many expressed outrage over this attempt to normalize the abuse of children. Now comes this.
The West is sinking deeper and deeper into a kafkaesque mix of socialism and depravity, while the Churches remain largely silent instead of protecting Judeo-Christian values and innocent children.
The “EU project’s use of the term Minor-Attracted People (MAPs) to describe paedophiles” is causing a huge backlash. Let’s hope that those who are dissenting succeed in stopping this abuse. The European Commission “is funding the Drag Queen Shows across Europe,” which means taxpayers are funding it, with no say in where their money is going.
Wednesday
Another lazy start to a warm sunny day.
Off down to St Paul’s bay for a pleasant seaside stroll, coffee and lunch for Wendy.
Get packed in the evening.
A university department in the US has said it has removed the word “field” from its curriculum because it may have racist “connotations”.
Under the change, phrases including “field work” and “going into the field” will no longer be used, according to a letter from the school of social work at the University of Southern California (USC).
Explaining the decision, it said: “We have decided to remove the term ‘field’ from our curriculum and practice and replace it with ‘practicum’.
“This change supports anti-racist social work practice by replacing language that would be considered anti-Black or anti-immigrant in favour of inclusive language.
Thursday
Goodbye to Malta today. Drop the car off, processed through check-in and security quickly and soon installed in a great lounge. It’s only Manchester that has crap lounges that have all the ambiance of a Salvation Army canteen for the homeless.
Pretty uneventful Easyjet flight. This time we catch a bus to the plane, another experience for Wendy.
So goodbye Malta. We’ve enjoyed it, one of the better Med experiences but I don’t think we’ll be coming back. If anyone asks we’d rate it as ok.
I’ve often wondered where Belisha Beacons originated from so for today’s really useless piece of information here goes:
A Belisha beacon is an amber-coloured globe lamp atop a tall black and white striped pole, marking pedestrian crossings of roads in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and in other countries historically influenced by Britain such as Hong Kong, Malta, and Singapore. The beacons were named after Leslie Hore-Belisha (1893–1957), the Minister of Transport who, in 1934, added beacons to pedestrian crossings, marked by large metal studs in the road surface. These crossings were later painted in black and white stripes, and thus are known as zebra crossings. Legally, pedestrians have priority (over vehicles in the carriageway) on such crossings.[a]
The first Belisha beacons were erected in the London authorities areas and, following the Road Traffic Act 1934, were rolled out nationally in 1935. In December 1941 a study was made into the cost effectiveness of melting down the 64,000 Belisha beacon posts to make munitions, a plan which threatened to “deprive the right hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) of his last hope of immortality”.
In 1948, the Central Office of Information produced a short film which showed the correct way to use a pedestrian crossing (without the stripes at this time).
Belisha beacons provide additional visibility to zebra crossings for motorists, primarily at night. The UK flash rate is 750 ms on, 750 ms off. Some crossings are set so that each beacon flashes alternately to the other side, but they often fall out of synchronization over time. Beacons with an outer ring of flashing amber LED lights, preferred for their brightness and low electricity consumption, are replacing traditional incandescent bulbs in many areas.
Some of the crossings have plastic poles that are translucent, and lit internally. This is immediately apparent in dull weather and at night. The clearly illuminated white sections announce the presence of the poles carrying the amber beacons, increasing the visibility of the crossings to all road users. These illuminated white sections can, however, obscure the presence of a pedestrian waiting to cross, as a driver cannot see the dark shape behind the brighter light coming from the pole.
To be legally compliant in the UK, every zebra crossing must be equipped with two Belisha beacons. In cases where there is a traffic island or central reservation in the road, the traffic authority can opt whether to place one or more beacons centrally. An exception is crossings over cycle paths, which do not need beacons.
Since the introduction of new regulations in 1997, the number of zebra crossings and Belisha beacons has fallen in the northern counties of England, being replaced by pelican crossings or puffin crossings, with pedestrian-controlled traffic signals; a waiting pedestrian can stop vehicular traffic by pressing a button and waiting for the pedestrian signal of a red and green man to change to green.
Vikings: A Mythology of Peace:
More examples of World Madness. Can you believe the nanny state we live in:
What foods must not be in my child’s packed lunch?
* Sweets
* Chocolate and chocolate-covered biscuits
* Cereal bars
* Processed fruit bars
* Nuts
* Pastry products (e.g. sausage rolls, pies, jam tarts, croissants)
* Sugary soft drinks (including sugar-free ones as they still cause tooth decay)
What happens if I put unhealthy foods in my child’s packed lunch?
Packed lunches will be reviewed by school staff.
If a child’s packed lunch includes items children must not have, the item/s of food will be returned to your child’s lunch box and a reminder included (e.g. a sticker, a copy of this leaflet etc.). If the child’s entire packed lunch is unhealthy, we will see what spare school dinner we have to give them instead.
If a child regularly brings a packed lunch that does not meet our expectations, the school will contact the parent/carer to discuss this.
Healthy Snacks
Children are allowed to bring a healthy snack with them to school to have at break time. The same rules apply to snacks as to lunches so please refer to the list above to see which items children must not bring to school as a snack. As a rule, we recommend a piece of fruit, a couple of plain biscuits or raw vegetables such as carrot or cucumber sticks. If children bring an inappropriate snack to school such as a whole pack of biscuits or a large sharing bag of crisps, these will be removed from the child and returned to them at the end of the school day to take home.
Posted inUncategorized|Comments Off on 20230225 – Malta, A Lovely, Typical “Work In Progress” Mediterranean Resort.
Well, after much campaigning I finally wore Wendy down and we’re off to Malta. Can you believe anyone would not want to go away on holiday to somewhere warmer and sunnier than the hellhole we live in?
Never been to Malta and always wanted to go. It seems to be one of those places people either love or hate, nothing in between, no one says “Yeah, it’s ok”.
Our flights at 14:55 so it’s a leisurely start to the day.
Much to Wendy disgust we’re flying Easy Jet again, what no Virgin Premium. How will she cope. Checkin and security pretty slick. Lounge ok, but not a patch on lounges in the rest of the World Just another aspect of that dump Manchester Airport. But, at least we get a lunch and plenty of drinks. It’s free with our NatWest Dragon pass but if I had to pay £30 I’d think 3 times.
Flights leaves an hour late. We’ve got front row seats so plenty of leg room, but ot’s cold. Complain to the miserable steward and ask if they can turn the heating up only to be told. “Well it’s draught from the door”. “You’re in a tin can”. I say “Bloody hell, you mean this things not pressurised, any minute now the Oxygen mask will be coming down”. They’re useless, rude and miserable. If they were to smile I’m sure they’d shatter into a thousand pieces and no banter with their CUSTOMERS. A budget airline and with service like this will always be seen as cheap, and what can you expect from them. A shame really because they have so many good things going for them just spoilt by money grabbing and useless, rude staff.
Arrive in Malta and quickly through immigration in minutes. Uber for a taxi, just 2 minutes. Brilliant service.
Check into holiday Inn Express it’s in the middle of a trendy up market district infested with youngsters and half clothed birds. Pop out for a cake for our tea and then back to the hotel for a free drink before bedtime.
Ricky Gervais
Sunday
Wendy was kept awake until about 02:00 with the monotonous thumping of teenage tribal music from the local bars and discos.
Breakfast was one of the best ever and the restaurant manager came round and had a pleasant chat with tips on where to go. All the staff were very friendly, the hotel was awesome one of the best but sad to say spoilt by the noise overnight.
It’s a nice sunny day and in the 60’s Fahrenheit
Summon an Uber to the airport. Then have a tour all around the airport looking for that well hidden Hertz desk. Finally find it and pick our car up. We’ve had an upgrade to a Kia Stonic, a great medium sized SUV with Apple Car Play – one of the benefits of Presidents Circle.
Then it’s a 40 minute drive to our Airbnb in Mill???. No motorways and amazed how many backstreets Apple Car Play knows.
Welcomed at our Airbnb by our hostess. Gives us the grand tour, explains everything, and there’s even a supply of welcome food essentials, a very nice touch. Our 3 bedroom home along with outdoor pool, patios and barbecues galore, not to forget great sea views over to Gozo.
Soon get settled in and Apple TV set up.
Pool and view over to Gozo.
First day would not be complete without a trip to the local supermarket, and then when Wendy spots an M&S she’s orgasmic.
Go out for dinner. A nightmare parking. Can’t find the intended restaurant but settle for Peter’s. Great food and reasonably priced, I try the traditional rabbit stew – seeing as I was bought up on rabbit courtesy (my Dad used to snare them) I just love rabbit. It seems that every restaurant in Malta serves rabbit – awesome.
Then it’s back home for the rest of Sherwood once we’ve conquered the crap from BBC – those tripehounds couldn’t write an “Hello World” app, never mind BBC iPlayer it’s a travesty, a disgrace to the IT Industry, time for some brown envelopes starting with their IT Director. The house is pretty cool so have the air con on set to 31C.
The snowflakes are at it again.
The rewriting of Roald Dahl’s children’s books to remove language deemed offensive has been branded “absurd censorship”.
The publishers said they had carried out a review of Dahl’s classics to ensure they can be enjoyed by all children.
Content deemed offensive, such as references to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race were removed or rewritten.
Some of the edits reportedly include removing the word “fat” from every book, with Augustus Gloop in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory instead being described as “enormous”.
If they carry on replacing words at this rate the Oxford English Dictionary will only be two pages long. Ridiculous.
Monday
Lazy start to a warm sunny day.
Then we set off for a drive down to St Paul’s bay. Easy to park up and have a pleasant walk along the seafront. Very pleasant and relaxing. Stop off for a coffee and lunch for Wendy.
Pop into Lidl on the way home. Then settle in for a coffee sat in the sunshine around the pool. This is all too relaxing.
Well first impression of Malta are good – in Wendy’s case it could have something to do with an M&S and a Lidl. Yes, it’s a fairly typical Mediterranean resort but not as chaotic or dirty as most. People seem very friendly and a pleasant blend of old and new. Roads are fairly basic which is not surprising given the size of the island.
Quiet night in watching BBC and Netflix – thanks to our Apple TV box and a Smart DNS service.
With a population of about 516,000 over an area of 316 km2 (122 sq mi), Malta is the world’s tenth-smallest country by area and fourth most densely populated sovereign country. Its capital is Valletta, which is the smallest national capital in the European Union by area and population. According to the data from 2020 by Eurostat, the Functional Urban Area and metropolitan region covered the whole island and has a population of 480,134, and according to the United Nations, ESPON and EU Commission, “the whole territory of Malta constitutes a single urban region”. Malta increasingly is referred to as a city-state, and also listed in rankings concerning cities[28] or metropolitan areas.[29]
Malta became a British colony in 1813, serving as a way station for ships and the headquarters for the British Mediterranean Fleet. It was besieged by the Axis powers during World War II and was an important Allied base for operations in North Africa and the Mediterranean. The British parliament passed the Malta Independence Act in 1964, giving Malta independence from the United Kingdom as the State of Malta, with Elizabeth II as its queen. The country became a republic in 1974. It has been a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations since independence, and joined the European Union in 2004; it became part of the eurozone monetary union in 2008.
5 Megabyte IBM hard drive.
Happy days when we had proper mainframe computers.
One of the first mainframes I wrote programs for was the height of sophistication, as well as tape drives we had 2 Megabyte Exchangeable hard Drives. Can you believe that I ran all the companies accounting etc on an ICL 1903 with just two 2 Meg drives. The computer had a dedicated air conditioned room.
Tuesday
Lazy start to another warm sunny day.
Drive down to the local beach at Mellieha, for a stroll, coffee and Wendy’s lunch. Sit by the bay enjoying a coffee and lovely views over the bay. Beach is typical Mediterranean travesty, a real shame on such a lovely bay and the swimming looks great, shallow and crystal clear.
Call in at the Red Tower but are too tight to spend the E5 to go in. Call in the supermarket for our daily fix and some “essentials”.
Afternoon tea and cake by the pool, enjoying the sun and warmth.
Tea tonight consists of a dinner kebab takeaway from the Kebab Factory, not quite up to Number 39 standards.
Meanwhile to prepare Wendy for our Israel trip we watch the rest of season 3 of Fauda. All she keeps asking me is “we won’t be going to places like that (Gaza and West Bank)? Will we?”.
No there aren’t 365 churches in Malta only a mere 359 churches, cathedrals and chapels dotted around the Maltese Islands. Given that there are about 516,000 residents that means a church for every 1,437 residents. Not a bad ratio.
Mediterranean Life
I’ve been saying it a long time but never really formalised my views on the Med holidays. Well here goes with my views on anywhere in Europe South of Latitude 43 degrees North, in line with the Pyrenees:
1 Everything is a work in progress. Nothing’s finished, pavements are like an SAS obstacle course; bare wires protrude from the ground like nettles; rubbish is a work of street art with overflowing bins and black bin bags; wasteland and tourist areas that look like a rubbish tip.
2 Service and way of life is lackadaisical (lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy). SNAFU’s come as standard. No one seems to really give a damn and you can forget any ideas of customer care.
3 Manyana, perhaps. Nothing is hurried or even at what civilisation would consider a normal pace, life is slowed down to the pace of an arthritic turtle – perhaps it’s the heat. We’re spoilt by our expectations of a civilised life and struggle to cope with this laid back, careless life in the Med.
4 Driving standards are reflected in the state of most cars, they look like they’ve survived a war zone. You never really learn to swear until you drive in the Med.
5 In the main most resorts are dirty, littered and graffiti abounds.
6 Flying there may be somewhat cheaper and shorter, but it’s still a day of hell, best written off. The standards of the flights are barely tolerable. Certainly not Virgin Atlantic.
7 Toilets, last but by no means the most disgusting aspect of Med life. They usually stink like the shithouse door of a shrimp boat, but at least it stops you lingering and reading the newspaper; the toilet seat thieves from France frequently operate in most resorts (I still wonder where they all go, perhaps there’s a 3rd world market – Ten toilet seats and a door and window made of aluminium, have been stolen from recently refurbished public conveniences in St Paul’s Bay, the locality’s council said.); occasionally they meet minimum EU standards with a mere hole in the ground; and most disgusting of all is the pathetic plumbing that means you have to deposit your shit laden toilet paper in a bin to ensure the stink is maintained.
On the plus side they have a lot of historic buildings, along with the sun and warmth we crave these days. Scenery can be spectacular.
Conclusion
Both Wendy and I have the come to the same conclusion:
1 Wherever possible avoid anywhere in Europe South of latitude 43 degrees North.
2 Whilst there are cheaper and shorter flights to the Med we are better off going to either America or can you believe, even France!
Wednesday
Lazy start to another warm sunny day.
Drive over to the Silent City, Mdina. Flying the flag as a “Quiet American” with my 4th July tee shirt.
It’s a lovely walled city. Yet more churches and even a cathedral, daylight robbery it’s $18 to get in. What about if my immortal soul is wanting to repent and see the light. Tough shit if you don’t have $18, to line the already overloaded koffers of the Catholic Church, you can just go rot in hell. So much for “In my house there are many mansions”, none of them FOC. Needless to say we pass on the spiritual experience.
Have a spot of lunch at a cafe with great views, try the strawberry meringue with walnuts and lemon curd, very tasty. Really getting into Cappucinos.
Call in at one of the many bays. You know Malta’s a very religious place when you notice a women crossing herself before stripping off to reveal her bikini.
So here I am a 73 year old body enjoying the delights of Malta. Meanwhile my 16 year old mind wonders what the hell it’s doing here.
Burnt ends of pork for tea tonight followed by an over dose of TV and wine.
And the majority of those will be Christians. Does our press bother to report these events? Sadly no as it doesn’t fit their snowflake agenda and might offend some in the religion of pieces and permanent offence. Let’s wake up to this pernicious ideaology before it’s too late and our daughters and granddaughters are nothing more than sex slaves aparaded around in black bin liners.
A woke university has been criticised for discouraging use of the phrase ‘Christian name’, claiming it is offensive to non-Christians.
The University of Kent has told students to stop using the term because it claims it only relates to Christians, instead suggesting students say ‘first name’ or ‘given name’.
The university also took against using the word ‘surname’ because it derives from ‘sire-name’ and is therefore deemed to be patriarchal.
Thursday
Lazy start to another warm sunny day.
Off to Valletta for the day. Amazed how pleasant the place was. Easy to park. Did a great walk around, the best way to see a place. Great street cafes, pass on all the shops.
Wendy starts off bitching why is it that women always have to queue for the toilets. It’s oh so simple, they’re badly designed.
Lovely lunch in one of the parks with views over the battery. Finally get to try pasties, chicken, pea and cheese varieties. Amazed how good they are and even more shocked that I preferred the pea one.
Tonight’s tea at Il Barri restaurant started with a free starter of Sally the snail, about 20 of them in a tomato sauce, Wendy passed, followed by a mixed grill of Peter rabbit, Quincy the quail and Red Rum the race horse. Delicious.
Back home for some beer and wine. sadly Wendy does not fancy driving over here.
I’m not eating one of them.
Friday
Another lazy start to yet another warm sunny day.
Today we’re off to Gozo so we need to catch the ferry. All very slick.
Arrive at the capital Victoria. The roads are a nightmare and there’s only one public car near the Citadel. It’s chock a block along with underground car park. Get fed up of driving around trying to park so quit and head back. Apart from the Citadel, and god knows how many churches, there doesn’t seem much worth seeing. We’re so pissed off with the parking we even pass on a couple of the bays and cut our losses.
Back home for lunch followed by a stroll up to M&S, Wendy’s treat, and then the supermarket.
Tea tonight is pizza with beer then wine.
Sweden Bans Burning the Qur’an, but Burning the Scriptures of Other Religions Is OK
How parasites work:
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Usual lazy start to the day and then we take our life in our hands and go out for a drive amongst the crazies. Decide to follow the hop on off bus route.
Miss the monastery en-route, perhaps god knows where it is but he won’t split.
Finally find the gorge and a quaint 4 person church, complete with confessional built into the rock. Alas the gorge isn’t that pretty.
Then head to a fountain but thanks to a village map not having the all important “you are here” we give up on it.
Let’s head into town and visit the municipal gardens on the route. Apart from parking on zebra crossings, which seems to be a Crete favourite along with double parking and anything to stop the flow of traffic, there’s just no parking to be had. The pay car park is blocked with a Brocken down heap of rust. There’s not many car’s around here without dint’s or scrapes. Pass on the municipal gardens.
Head home and stop off at a bakery and coffee shop for some coffee and cakes sat in the sun.
Decide to head up to the Arkadi Monastery which despite popular belief and web information is open. Lash out on a 3E visit.
Then it’s off back home for dinner.
The Arkadi Monastery (in Greek: / Μονή Αρκαδίου) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery, situated on a fertile plateau 23 km (14 mi) to the southeast of Rethymnon on the island of Crete in Greece.
The current catholicon (church) dates back to the 16th century and is marked by the influence of the Renaissance. This influence is visible in the architecture, which mixes both Roman and baroque elements. As early as the 16th century, the monastery was a place for science and art and had a school and a rich library. Situated on a plateau, the monastery is well fortified, being surrounded by a thick and high wall.
The monastery played an active role in the Cretan resistance of Ottoman rule during the Cretan revolt of 1866. 943 Greeks, mostly women and children,[1] sought refuge in the monastery. After three days of battle and under orders from the hegumen (abbot) of the monastery, the Cretans blew up barrels of gunpowder, choosing to sacrifice themselves rather than surrender.
The monastery became a national sanctuary in honor of the Cretan resistance. 8 November is a day of commemorative parties in Arkadi and Rethymno. The explosion did not end the Cretan insurrection, but it attracted the attention of the rest of the world.
Thursday
Lazy start to my 73rd birthday, then we’re off out with Brett, Karina has to work, for a trip up to Heraklion. A major busy city with the usual death wish drivers and car parking. One silly bitch decides to step off the pavement as we’re going past, alas we missed her so the gene pool remains polluted.
Had lunch in a nice restaurant overlooking the sea.
Pass on a walk around the town so we head off to Knossos a famous Greek Palace that’s even older than me.
Then it’s back home for afternoon tea and birthday cake.
In the evening we head out to Raki ba Raki for yet another splendid meal. Nice end to a birthday. Birthdays, such a damn pain as a reminder you’re getting older.
Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and has been called Europe’s oldest city.
Settled as early as the Neolithic period, the name Knossos survives from ancient Greek references to the major city of Crete. The palace of Knossos eventually became the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace was abandoned at some unknown time at the end of the Late Bronze Age, c. 1380–1100 BC; the reason is unknown, but one of the many disasters that befell the palace is generally put forward.
In the First Palace Period (around 2000 BC), the urban area reached a size of as many as 18,000 people.
Friday
Call in at the garage to get a slow puncture fixed. Typical Mediterranean business.
Quiet day in as we all get the house ready for departure. Highlight of the day is a drive out to get some milk.
In the evening we all set off to Zorba’s taverna, as you can guess with a name like that it’s a typical Greek restaurant with some great food. Like sitting in someone’s lounge with Grandma doing the cooking.
Saturday
Our balcony, with views of the Acropolis.
Earlish start and off by 09:30 for Heraklion airport for our 40 minute flight back to Athens. Quick check in and TSA, sadly no lounges are open – Wendy was brave and coped. Then a pleasant 40 minute flight when they just about had time to throw a drink and biscuit at you.
Restaurant district beneath the Acropolis.
Pick up an Uber to our hotel. Brett and Karine drop their luggage off at our hotel and then head up to the Acropolis. We have a leisurely afternoon on our sunny balcony with great views of the Acropolis. Room is very luxurious along with the hotel.
Then meet B&K at a typical Greek restaurant for yet another typical Greek meal, finally get a stifado and some great starters.
Stroll back through the restaurant district at the base of the Acropolis, such an amazing choice of restaurants and nowhere nearly as seedy as the surrounding area.
Then it’s a quiet night in watching TV.
Sunday
Good continental / Greek style breakfast. Then a lazy morning before setting off for a walk up to the Acropolis. It’s quite a way. Stop off for a beer and sandwich for Wendy. Fortunately it’s a sunny day so a pleasant walk up and a stroll around.
Dinner in the restaurant area under the Acropolis. Pretty good but having 4 cats watching every mouthful can be a tad off putting – only in Greece.
The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. The word acropolis is from the Greek words ἄκρον (akron, “highest point, extremity”) and πόλις (polis, “city”). The term acropolis is generic and there are many other acropoleis in Greece. During ancient times the Acropolis of Athens was known also more properly as Cecropia, after the legendary serpent-man, Cecrops, the supposed first Athenian king.
Acropolis view from our balcony.
While there is evidence that the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium BC, it was Pericles (c. 495–429 BC) in the fifth century BC who coordinated the construction of the buildings whose present remains are the site’s most important ones, including the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike. The Parthenon and the other buildings were seriously damaged during the 1687 siege by the Venetians during the Morean War when gunpowder being stored by the then Turkish rulers in the Parthenon was hit by a Venetian bombardment and exploded.
Monday
Lazy breakfast again then around lunchtime we set off for a hop on / off bus tour around Athens. Typical our starting bus stop has no indication of where the bus stops – only in Greece.
Tours pretty good and weathers sunny. Get off at the Olympic stadium and have a stroll through the gardens followed by lunch. The we notice the guards (Evzones – see trivia below) outside the parliament are off on one of their marches, a performance not to be missed – this must have been where John Clees got the idea for the “ministry of silly walks”, bizarre see the video.
The ministry of silly walks.
Have a walk from the last stop to the hotel and pick up some delicious looking cakes for supper, the pattiseres around here are amazing.
Afternoon tea on the balcony then yet again we have to walk down the slum street to the restaurant district. The restaurant district is very pleasant it’s just that slum street with a pavement more dangerous than a PC mountain hike. After strolling around aimlessly we finally find a restaurant that does sardines and pastico. All very tasty but I wonder if the sardines came out of a tin. Wendy manages some of the green turd like vine leafs and chicken dinner.
Back to the hotel for some wine – find a good wine shine shop for a merlot – and some more TV. Wendy’s convinced the moans, groans and slaps from the next door may indicate we’re in a brothel. Actually the hotel is a very swish 4 star with excellent service. Great big executive suite with settee, comfy chair, dining table and big balcony, with great views of the Acropolis. Just a pity that it’s in one of the more salubrious areas of Athens.
The Evzones is a special unit of the Hellenic Army, also known as Tsoliades, who guard the Monument of the Unknown Soldier in front of the Hellenic Parliament and the Presidential Mansion.
Through the historical movement of Greece, the Evzones have become symbols of bravery and courage for the Greek people.
The Presidential Guard, as the unit is now called, was constituted in 1868 and has taken many names through centuries (Guard of the Flag, Royal Guard, etc).
The duties of the soldiers are part of a ceremonial nature. Every soldier guards for about an hour, 3 times in total every 48 hours.
Throughout these 60 minutes, they have to stand perfectly still until it is time to switch with another guard.
During the changing, they work in pairs so they can perfectly coordinate their moves. The steps that the official ceremony requires at the time of changing are carried out in really slow motion to protect their blood circulation after 60 min of immobility.
The soldiers of the Presidential Guard are selected according to their height, excellent physical condition, and psychological state as well as character and morality, as they follow a hard training before they become part of this honorary unit. The training lasts for one month and includes exercises to keep the body and mind still. Apart from staying still, the soldiers must also not make any face or eye move and must not show any expression.
Their uniform has a historical meaning. It refers to the uniform of the Kleftes and Armatoloi, two groups of Greek warriors during the War of Independence in (1821) against the Ottomans. In fact, the white skirt of the uniform has 400 folds to represent the 400 years of Ottoman occupation over the Greeks.
The uniform consists of: - the phareon which is the Evzone’s hat, made from red baize with a black tuft - the white shirt with loose leaves - the phermeli, which is the waistcoat and it is the most difficult part to construct, handmade with many shapes wrought on it - the Greek kilt (or else foustanella), its structure requires 30 meters of white cloth - the tsarouchia, the traditional shoes of Evzones which are red, made of leather, with a small tuft in front. Each shoe weighs three kilos - the fringes, blue and white standing for the Greek flag - the garters which are made of silk - the leather belt - the inside garnet - and the gun which is the most difficult piece to carry, not only for its gravity but also for the physical pressure that exerts to the soldier’s body.
This is the official version of the uniform that the Evzones wear only on Sundays and National holidays.
The other days, the white shirt, the phermeli and the Greek kilt are replaced by the doulamas, a special uniform that the soldiers of the Macedonian Struggle (1904-1908) used to wear.
This uniform is blue in winter and brown in summer.
In official ceremonies, the Evzones also wear the traditional uniforms of Crete and Pontus, as recognition of the contribution of these regions in the national fights.
Tuesday
Awake to wind and rain. Spend most of the day hunkered down, but it all clears up mid afternoon.
Wednesday
Athens, typical Mediterranean place.
Uber to the airport and back home via Easy Jet.
Memories of Athens.
We’ll what did we think of Athens? When you consider that Ancient Greece gave us democracy and philosophy, it seems a shame that modern Athens has sunk to graffiti, dirty streets and noisy motorbikes, probably driven by yobs with shrunken dicks
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Joy, up at 03:00 to catch a flight to Athens and then onto Crete.
Easy Jet to Athens much to Wendy’s disgust. Wot no virgin premium economy or upper class how will she survive. Have to say the Manchester airport experience was very slick and although I detested the automated easy jet check-in it was very efficient. Even the TSA experience had no queues. Only let themselves down by rejecting my bag. When I asked why it was because my plastic bag of liquids wasn’t perfectly sealed.
Then Wendy had the shock of her life, apoplectic as she discovered she had to walk out on the tarmac to the plane. Obviously slumming it. The flight was good.
Athens airport was the usual queue for passport control. EU citizens had a shorter queue, hopefully we do the same in the UK for non-UK citizens.
Managed to swap our flight to Crete to an earlier one. Wendy was even brave enough to accept a middle seat and ended up necking her tablets down in the queue to check-in. When we eventually found the lounge it was great with some good food, even if a tad vegan-ish. Everything was fairly slick and the short 50 minute flight was good. Unlike Easy Jet we even got a FREE bottle of water and a cake thrown at us.
Brett and Karine were there to meet us.
Tea was a donner kebab, brilliant for only E3.80. Pork not lamb – I thought we were in lamb country.
Then we get a workout as we lug our suitcases up 42 steps. Finally at Brett and Karine’s new home.
Thursday
Lazy start to the day then we’re off down to Rethymno – hereafter referred to as rhythm – for a stroll along the front. Espresso by the harbour and then of course a merchandising opportunity down the shops. I have come to the conclusion the Crete economy is run on slippers. More shops selling slippers than Muslims at a stoning – unbelievable. There’s an excess of shoe shops and plenty of shops hawking provocative dresses and lingerie.
Then Wendy gets her daily fix with a trip to the supermarket, oh joy.In the evening we’re off down to Raki ba Raki for dinner, well tea. I get to try Oxtail, love it in soup, but never got to try the meat until now, tasty. Have a great meal, good service, good food and wine, all very reasonably priced and followed by two free desserts and some Raki (Greek fire water).
It seems like there’s a Santa marathon on complete with a band so the place is swarming with Santas, and of course, women have to get into the act, so there are even female ones.
Finally stroll home through the street bars with sexy young things all flaunting their bodies in a bid to tempt me into their cafe, a very pleasant end to the day.
Friday
Off down to Chania for the afternoon. Have a stroll around the harbour and old town, followed by dinner at back street restaurant. Good food and I even get to have some goat. Wow, it’s so sweet and tender not at all like I expected it to be.
Then it’s an hour’s drive back home to some Greek merlot and Netflix. Sadly Greek wine is nothing to get excited about.
Saturday
New Year’s Eve, lets go down to Rhythm, “I bet it’ll be heaving with it being new years eve” says Brett.
It’s almost a ghost town. Have a meal at a very popular Greek restaurant – but even it’s nearly empty. But at least I get to have rabbit, a tad tough.
Stuffed olive leafs. Look like little green turds but not too bad to eat.
Sunday
Off out to Bali bay for Karine to have a swim. Lovely bay but a tad too cold for Karine, nesh. Then have a drive down to the cave but as expected it’s closed. Back home for lunch. A spot of rain.
In the evening we venture out to a Greek taverna, very family orientated, and good food.
Book our flights back to Athens with Brett and Karine, then we have 4 nights in Athens, followed by an Easy Jet flight back to Manchester – Wot no Virgin Atlantic, Wendy’s slumming it again.
Monday
Lazy start to the day then we drive down to Rethym for a wander around. Have a coffee and everyone else has a pancake.
Supermarket for a collection of cheese, most of the famous ones I wanted to try they didn’t have. The woman serving needed a good slapping as she pulled her face at every request. Luckily found some Carmenera wine.
The evening meal is bread cheese and wine, just like in France, and finish off watching Treason.
Tuesday
Lazy morning sorting out passwords. Meanwhile, we wait for the lazy car hire company to get back to us to put me on the car hire. Typical Mediterranean attitude to customer service not a clue what it means.
Finally, get put on the car‘s insurance so Wendy and I drive down to Rethymn. It’s a stick shift with a worn-out clutch. Takes me 5 attempts to get it into reveres until I realize the clutch is dodgy and to make matters worse there’s no manual handbrake. Interesting driving a stick shift again, at least I don’t stall it.
Have a stroll along the front down to the harbor, followed by coffee. Then for Wendy’s treat we go to Lidl for meat, water and I’m orgasmic as they still sell packs of 20 two blade razors, buy 40 as they’re not available anymore in the UK – it seems that everyone needs at least 5 blades these days – bizarre. Wendy’s orgasmic with Lidl, it’s just like England with an awesome fresh bakery.
Back home for dinner, baked beans at last.
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Set off down to Savannah. Just over two hours drive, in an Americans mindset hardly worth getting in the car for. We’ve been there before but it’s a lovely city and a convenient stopping-off place on our way back to Orlando.
Stop off at a moonshine factory and I am tempted into buying a jar of traditional moonshine.
Wow, it’s hot, in the 80’s and the suns out.
Yeah, tea tonight consists of a Tacobell Spicy Supreme Burrito, at last. Pretty awesome, I’ve saved the recipe. Wendy has a Panera bread sandwich and soup. How bizarre can the Panera Bread menu get with a Grilled Mac and cheese sandwich – perverts.
Quercus virginiana, also known as the southern live oak, is an evergreen oak tree endemic to the Southeastern United States.
Although live oaks retain their leaves nearly year-round, they are not true evergreens. Live oaks drop their leaves immediately before new leaves emerge in the spring. Occasionally, senescing leaves may turn yellow or contain brown spots in the winter, leading to the mistaken belief that the tree has oak wilt, whose symptoms typically occur in the summer.[7] A live oak’s defoliation may occur sooner in marginal climates or in dry or cold winters.[8]
Sunday
Pretty good breakfast. I finally succumb to biscuits and gravy. Looks pretty gruesome but is quite tasty. I think the gravy has mushrooms in it.
Cloudy day mid sixties
We’ve been here back in 2015 (what an awesome road trip that was) and our memory is of a lovely relaxing city that can be enjoyed on foot. Catch the hop on off trolley tour to get a good overview and some history. Have a coffee at the slowest coffee shop in the World. Then hop off at Forrest Gumps form – they’ve moved it a museum not even a plaque or an imitation to replace it. Have a walk around the market district and then back to the car. Take photos but as it’s mostly cloudy we’ve rescued our photos from 2015 and imported a few. After lunch the sun brightens the place up.
Finally head off to explore Tybee Island. I wonder if the Einstein who run tourism there ever question why the place is deserted in December. I’m sure weather is one factor and out of season another but $7 to park for 2 hours anywhere is ridiculous. We would have had a stroll around and at least a coffee but at that extortionate price they can go hug a parking meter.
Tea tonight is a lemon ricotta mixed berry crepes from IHOP, tempted to have the French toast, and some Jalepeno Humous. It’s an alcohol free night.
Monday
Warm and sunny. Back into shorts and tee shirt as we drive down to Orlando. 4 hours past so many familiar places.
Sign on the road side “Jesus saves, liberals withdraw”. Also great to see in one state, can’t remember which, “litter fine maximum $25,000”. Now that’s just about right.
Spanish Moss, Street, Savannah, Georgia, America
Fairly easy drive back into Florida and then the traffic light Center off the universe, Orlando.
Florida’s motto is “In god we trust” should be replaced by “Dangerous Dickhead Drivers”. This has to be the worst state I’ve ever driven in, especially Orlando. As for Orlando it has to be the traffic light capital of the World. People can die of old age waiting at the traffic lights.
Road with Live Oak trees lining it.
Hotel is a home 2 suite, great recommendation Phil, our 2nd one. Very comfortable,5 star, so far. Sadly the girl on reception has all the personality of a grizzly with tooth ache, not a smile but at least she didn’t snarl.
Wendy’s orgasmic as there’s an Aldi next door and I’m so excited as there’s a cheesecake factory in walking distance and there’s even pavements to walk on.
Walk to Cheesecake Factory. 17:00 and there’s already a 15 minute wait, just hate this ludicrous aspect of American life. Why do people wait so readily.
Wot still no Toblerone Cheesecake.
Well it looks like another dessert tea for me as my entre consist of a Key Lime Cheesecake and take home a Cinnabon Cheesecake for tomorrows dessert. Wendy has strict instructions not to touch it, unlike the Toblerone Cheesecake she stole from me.
Sunrise on Spanish Moss in Savannah, Georgia
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is an epiphytic flowering plant that often grows upon large trees in tropical and subtropical climates. It is native to much of Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Central America, South America, the Southern United States, and West Indies.
Most known in the United States, it commonly is found on the southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) in the lowlands, swamps, and marshes of the mid-Atlantic and southeastern states, from the coast of southeastern Virginia to Florida and west to southern Arkansas and Texas.
Tuesday
Breakfast not bad.
We’ve decided to have a relaxing day before the ordeal of two airports, Orlando and Manchester. So a lazy day, starts with a very lazy morning and then after lunch we take the car to be cleaned and Wendy saunters around Walmart, dithering with her choice of sweets etc for the kids Advent calendar – more weight to traipse home. What an exciting life we lead.
Wednesday
Lazy start to the day as we hang around for airport drop off of the car. Our flights been moved back 2 hours, bloody typical. Drop car off, it’s been so comfortable and easy to drive, Trip was about 4,500 miles. Then we have 4:45 minutes to hang around in the MCO lounge. Well at least TSA manages to pass 46 minutes away for us, how kind.
One of the more sociable receptionists has a great personality and even very kindly pays for Wendy’s washing powder because it cannot be put on our room bill. Then, when Wendy finds some money, she refuses to accept. How generous that a guy in the line for lounge access allows Wendy in as his free guest and saves her having to pay. Just two examples of the friendliness and generosity that makes America so great.
Thursday
Highlight of the trip has to be a proper traditional Thanksgiving with Kim, Phil and their family. It was awesome. They all made us feel so welcome and at home we never wanted to leave.
We didn’t have to say what we were thankful for but I think we have to be greedy and say there are at least two things we’re thankful for, so here goes:
1 Thankful for great friends Kim and Phil they made us so at home. We never understand how we’ve been so lucky to have them as friends.
2 Thankful for being able to spend so much time in the USA and for all our friends there. Americans are just so friendly.
Visited Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia on this trip. That’s 16 states in all, Oklahoma and Nebraska being two states we’d never been to before and to be fair we’d hardly seen anything of Kansas and Little Rock on our 2015 trip – http://blogs.4uand.me.uk/2015/09/20150902-georgia-and-the-deep-south/. That leaves us with 4 states left to visit (Wisconsin, Michigan, North and South Dakota – hard to justify the last two). Visited 4 more National Parks, all amazing, which leaves me with 26 left to visit.
My most memorable aspect of this trip is the nothingness of Oklahoma and the facts around “The Trail Of Tears”, the sheer brutality and cruelty to the Indian nations stands alongside slavery in the annals of America’s bad past. Dumping what was left of the Indian nations (The First Americans) onto desolate, nothingness, with the sop to their survival being a casino, fits in with my image of today’s Indian tribal lands.
On the downside, America seems to be infested with non-English speakers and generally crap service. Suspect this is mainly a by-product of the chronic labour shortage. For instance, the Cheesecake Factory had nearly 50% of their tables empty yet there was a 15-minute wait because they didn’t have the staff. Have to say our server was one of the best waiters we’ve encountered on this trip.
The American hotel industry is plagued with appalling management and apathy. Do hotel managers ever bother to read the reviews and do anything about the problems raised, I think not. I don’t think we’ve stayed in any hotel that didn’t have problems that competent management couldn’t have fixed. Problems range from the reception staff who shouldn’t be allowed within 5,000 feet of a customer; heating that doesn’t work; dilapidated fixtures and fittings; crap Wi-Fi; Breakfast not even fit to be served to a hungry rabid raccoon; Staff who fail to turn up; noisy rooms. And of course, they’ve all hopped on the Covid wagon, no daily room service “because of Covid”. They’d be better off being more honest and saying because “we can save money”.
Meanwhile looking at the depressing news back home do we really want to be going home. The countries up shit creek without a pound to pay the debt incurred with Covid etc., and these cretins want to inflict more misery on the rest of us. When will our government grow some gonads, pay the nurses their 17%, they deserve it after Covid and who’d do that job, then tell the rest of the greedy cretins to go forth and multiply, the countries in a mess and needs help. I think the whole country will be on strike, including Borderforce which on the surface sounds good as hopefully, it’ll stop the illegals, but of course, it will mean airport chaos over Christmas. No doubt they’ll make special arrangements for border force to help get the illegals into their 5-star accommodation as quickly and safely as possible and screw citizens using the airports. It’s simple if you don’t like your pay resign.
A couple of years from now the train drivers will be whining that their jobs are being replaced by computers that don’t go on strike and postal workers complaining that no one uses their snail mail services as private delivery companies do a better job. Well serves them right, remember the miners!
Well, that’s our American travels over with for the year. Now have 19 days at home before our next escape – Crete for New Year with Brett and Karine. 19 days how will I cope. Then we have a diabolical wait until the 1st of April until we can escape back to paradise – Park City, Utah. Hopefully, if our visa application is successful, it’ll be for 6 months in paradise and save us four flights, three TSA queues and six airports.
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Help Kim and Phil set up their outside Christmas decorations.
Then in the afternoon we have a drive out to Leipers Fork and yet another supermarket. Wendy’s discovered Publix.
Sunday
Drive down to the Carnton House to have a tour and discover some more about the battle of Franklin. Very interesting house tour. Kim and Phil stay home to fix the damage to their outside Christmas decorations that were wrought by the overnight winds.
Chinese takeaway for tea, along with more beer and wine.
Franklin, TN | Nov 30, 1864
The scale of the Confederate charge at Franklin rivaled that of Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. The action resulted in a disastrous defeat for the South and failed to prevent the Union army from advancing to Nashville.
HOW IT ENDED
Union victory. The devastating defeat of Gen. John Bell Hood’s Confederate troops in an ill-fated charge at Franklin, resulted in the loss of more than 6,000 Confederates, along with six generals and many other top commanders. The fighting force of the South’s Army of Tennessee was severely diminished, but Hood continued to chase victorious Union general John M. Schofield to Nashville.
IN CONTEXT
After the fall of Atlanta on September 1, 1864, Gen. John Bell Hood and his 30,000-man army raced into Tennessee, hoping to divert Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman’s attention by threatening his supply base at Nashville. Sherman did not take the bait, and instead dispatched Maj. Gen. John Schofield’s Army of the Ohio, 30,000 strong, to protect Nashville while the rest of Sherman’s army simply left their supply line behind and marched to the Atlantic coast, forcibly securing whatever they needed to sustain themselves from the Confederate citizens in their path. Twenty-five thousand Union soldiers under Maj. Gen. George Thomas were entrenched in Nashville. If Schofield could reach them before Hood, he would command a numerical advantage on the battlefield. Hood’s hopes for a successful campaign rested on defeating Schofield before the two forces joined. After a missed opportunity at the Battle of Spring Hill on November 29, Hood pursued Schofield to the town of Franklin, where the Confederate general led an assault on November 30 that cost him 20 percent of his men and allowed Schofield to progress toward Nashville.
For more details go to https://boft.org/history and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvNMTpAlalk.
Monday
Say farewell to Kim and Phil. Great company. Great excursions. Great hosts. Awesome Thanksgiving and even get to experience putting up Christmas decorations first hand and America getting ready for the next main event, Christmas. Never stayed with anyone where we felt so at home. In fact it’s wonder we ever left.
We’re sorry to be leaving after such an awesome week.
It’s a short 90 minute drive then up to the Mammoth Caves National Park. After watching the almost obligatory video I’m booked on the two hour history tour which takes you underground into the longest cave system in the World – all 426 miles of it and still being explored to add more. It’s a great two mile underground exploration. Most of it’s fairly easy going but a lot of steps, over 500, and some low roofs. Then there’s Fat Man’s Misery a 50 yard stretch where you have to walk sideways, bent double through a very narrow passage – see photo – hence the title. Buy yet another NP hat for the collection.
Wendy stays on the surface and catches up on some Netflix she fell asleep through, she can’t do enclosed spaces.
Check into our Sleep Inn hotel. Nice hotel but noisy room, had to unplug the noisy air con and fridge, along with a crap breakfast.
Mammoth Cave National Park is an American national park in west-central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world.
Since the 1972 unification of Mammoth Cave with the even-longer system under Flint Ridge to the north, the official name of the system has been the Mammoth–Flint Ridge Cave System. The park was established as a national park on July 1, 1941, a World Heritage Site on October 27, 1981, an international Biosphere Reserve on September 26, 1990 and an International Dark Sky Park on October 28, 2021.
The park’s 52,830 acres (21,380 ha) are located primarily in Edmonson County, with small areas extending eastward into Hart and Barren counties. The Green River runs through the park, with a tributary called the Nolin River feeding into the Green just inside the park. Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest known cave system with more than 420 miles (680 km) of surveyed passageways,[3][4] which is nearly twice as long as the second-longest cave system, Mexico’s Sac Actun underwater cave.
Tuesday
After a crap breakfast we set off on a 380 mile, 6 hour drive to Buckley in West Virginia – the Almost Heaven state. It’s just a long hard slog, fortunately the roads are pretty quiet and fairly scenic.
Drive along the Bluegrass Parkway with more distilleries than Muslims at a stoning. Pity we didn’t split this over two days and do a few famous distillery tours, but as I had to drive they would have been wasted on me.
Arrive at our Country Inn and Suites for a two night stay. Seems a nice enough hotel but air con isn’t working so they move us. Next room has a curtain hanging off the rails and no air con controls – no one told us that in this room they’re hidden behind the TV. Third time lucky and all seems ok.
Off to a Texas Steak house for tea where I finally get my ribs, all one pound of them. Then it’s back to the hotel for beer and wine.
Wednesday
Up early for a pretty good breakfast, rare in most of the hotels we’ve stayed in.
Then it’s off to explore The New River Gorge National Park. We start off by driving up to the the Sandstone Falls visitors centre. Alas it’s closed except at Weekends. Do the the Sandstone Falls drive tour. Then we’re off to Grandview for an awesome view down the gorge as the river horseshoes around a bend. Sadly it’s over cast and jus stopped raining. Half an hour later and the sun would have been out. Next stop is the Canyon Rim visitors centre – yeah, it’s open. Watch the video, explore the exhibits and buy another NP hat for my collection.
Do the Fayetteville audio driving tour down to the bottom of the gorge . Then take a leisurely drive back to the hotel over country back roads.
Subway for tea tonight.
The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is a unit of the United States National Park Service (NPS) designed to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains. Established in 1978 as a national river and redesignated in 2020, the park and preserve stretches for 53 miles (85 km) from just downstream of Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted.
The park is rich in cultural and natural history, and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities. New River Gorge is home to some of the country’s best whitewater rafting, mainly from the Cunard put-in to the Fayette Station take-out, and is also one of the most popular climbing areas on the East Coast. The New River itself originates in North Carolina, flowing north through Virginia into the West Virginia mountains to the Kanawha River which continues to the Ohio River.
Thursday
A five hour drive down to Columbia for our next National Park encounter.
Drive through West Virginia (almost Heaven should be renamed All Them Roadworks), Virginia (Virginia is for Lovers should be renamed Virginia is for Lovers or Roadworks), North Carolina (First in Flight; First in Freedom) and South Carolina (The Palmetto State) all very picturesque, lovely scenery. The trees down here are just starting to turn so there’s some lovely autumnal colours and the leaves are dancing along the interstate.
Check into a Home 2 Suites, as recommended by Phil, seems great and so far one of the best hotels we’ve endured. Let’s see what breakfast is like.
Nip to Total Wines for some wine and Basil Haydn Toast bourbon. Then it’s Publix for coffee and Wendy’s lunch. Finally, it’s been a long time coming, I get to try another landmark in my Junk Food Pilgrimage as we go to a Sonic. Have to say the Sonic double cheeseburger supreme was well worth the wait. Next time need to try a Jumbo Hotdog.
Today’s woke fiasco. Another victim of the CANCEL culture.
Some lady of the royal household asks a black woman at a reception ‘Where are you from? Where are your people from?’, at least that’s the limited version of the questions in the press release I saw. Although the Times has a detailed list of the complete conversation – this I find bizarre. And now there’s an uproar of righteous indignation and a resignation. Bear in mind the women is in traditional African dress, has a record of accusing Charles and Camila of Domestic violence, has a anti-establishment Marxist agenda and amazingly has either recalled perfectly (yet she claims the rest of the evening was a blur) or she must have recorded the conversation (was this a setup).
Despite being born in Hackney, she went dressed like a Carry On Film version of the Jungle Book – lion’s teeth necklace, dreadlocks, beads and more leopard print than a Liverpool hen do. Obviously anyone meeting her would assume that her heritage is important to her as she’s proudly wearing it on her body.
Nigel Farage presents an interesting take on this event – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDWB3_45yPg. Spot on Nigel. OMG I must be racist.
Not forgetting that this person is head of a charity for Domestic Violence against BLACK Women. Not for violence against WOMEN, not for violence against PERSON (yes men also suffer domestic violence), how racist and sexist is that. And while we’re at it would an organisation for Domestic Violence against WHITE women be tolerated.
Finally an interesting view on being colourblind – https://www.prageru.com/video/should-we-be-colorblind
Well guess I must be racist as I can see no harm in what was asked. Sounds typical of what is in the Royal playbook to make conversation at these events. I’d not think anything of it if King Charles asked me ‘Where are you from? Where are your people from?’. If anything I’m disappointed in the royal family tossing 60+ years of loyal service to one side on the word of this friend of Megan’s without even an independent investigation.
Can you imagine a white person dressed as a Viking in Nairobi not being asked where they’re from?
OMG I’ve just been racially offended, twice today I’ve been asked “Where y’all from?”. How will I cope?
Oh well that’s me cancelled.
Friday
Breakfast has to be one of the best so far this trip.
Off to the last of our National Parks on this trip – Congaree.
Yes, the visitors centre is open, even if they don’t have any hats for sale. Take a 2 mile walk around the board walk with interpretative notes. The swamps are fascinating, with Bald Cypress knees sprouting out of the swamp surrounding the trees. Not exactly the most exhilarating NP but an important protection of the largest remnant of old-growth flood plain forests in the US. Over 35 million acres, 99%, of old-growth flood plain forests have been lost in the US. Most of this parks 27,000 acres is actually designated as wilderness.
Then we’re off to downtown Columbia to visit the state capitol building. Yes, another palatial exploitation of taxpayers dollars. This place is only in session for 100 days a year. There’s a free guided tour which starts with an interesting 15 minute film followed by a guided tour that then bores us into a catatonic zombie state as our guide repeats almost verbatim what the film has just said. Even with my memory I was able to remember the films content. Well at least it’s free and you get to see an interesting aspect of state
Wendy with Washington – not the first President of the USA, despite popular belief. In 2015, Samuel Huntington (1731-1796) of Norwich, Connecticut was officially recognized as the First President of the United States in Congress Assembled.
Fascinating, the placing of the ceremonial sword in the lower house and the mace in the upper house completes an electrical circuit to turn the lights on either side of the podium to indicate that the house or senate is now in session. I wonder if the official placing these items wears rubber gloves?
Tea tonight consists of a Stromboli and baked beans, all home cooked in our kitchenette, followed of course by some Carmenera.
National Park is a 26,692.6-acre (41.7 sq mi; 108.0 km2) American national park in central South Carolina, 18 miles southeast of the state capital, Columbia. The park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. The lush trees growing in its floodplain forest are some of the tallest in the eastern United States, forming one of the highest temperate deciduous forest canopies remaining in the world. The Congaree River flows through the park. About 15,000 acres (23.4 sq mi; 60.7 km2) are designated as a wilderness area.
The park received its official designation in 2003 as the culmination of a grassroots campaign that began in 1969. With 145,929 visitors in 2018, it ranks as the United States’ 10th-least visited national park, just behind Nevada’s Great Basin National Park.
Bizarre, as coffee is the oh so dominant hot beverage here in the USA yet go into any supermarket to try to get a decent selection of coffee, no chance, and any single estate coffee is rarer than a bible seller in Tehran. Yes, I know I’m a coffee snob, but I do enjoy some quality coffee. As for tea well you’ve no chance, especially Assam. It says it all when you see Earl Greyer for sale.
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