31 January 2017

Shocker!

Something that might affect future holidays/vacations is a change to the procedures at work. They have now decided that we can only have a maximum of three days consecutively outside school holidays.

This is a huge restraint on a lot of us as we don't have kids.  Prices rocket in school holidays and of course, another downside is that everywhere you go will be full of other peoples kids.

They have agreed that 2017 dates will be honoured as long as we have already booked them before they made the change to our contracts.  What of the trades unions?  They are powerless.




16 January 2017

New Posts added

If only there was a way of moving posts easily from one blog to another, easily.

Today I have found in another of my blogs some travel posts from back in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

After some messing about I managed to copy them into Devall Travels and they can be seen in the archive list.

There are so many more that were on my old Geocities website that have been lost forever.

Anyway, they are there should anyone want to view them.

FR17 - Dordogne

It's way back in October when we signed away our lives for a week in the Dordogne. At that time we hadn't even thought about going to the US again!  Luckily, the Dordogne trip is in May.

In the last entry for this trip I mentioned that we were having second thoughts about taking Reggie. He went through a period of not wanting to go out and becoming a refusenik on walks.  Whatever was causing that seems to have ended.  

He was also seemingly uncomfortable in the car.  Fidgeting all the time and not settling down.  I have since changed the seat cover in the back and bought one that is more padded under him and that is also like a hammock, so under braking he can't fall off the seat into the foot well. 

We have also bought him a new bed that fits on the seat.  He was okay on the FR16 trip, although that was far less travelling for him.  I am confident that he will be okay.

I have begun route planning as well. The standard Google Maps route from Calais to Orleans, the halfway point, is through Paris or at least towards Paris and then the terrible clogged Perephique. NON!

So I am looking at a more westerly route around the Paris/Ile de France area by going as far as Rouen then cutting south to Chartres and Orleans.  Excuse my spelling but this keyboard doesn't have the fancy accented letters to be really French.

Once again, what to and what to see in the Sarlat la Caneda area will be determined by whatever is dog friendly and whatever the weather is like.   I am hoping that it will be pretty decent down that far south in mid to late May.  The idea is not to be top-tourist, but to enjoy being away from work and travel before we become pensioners and live on a much lower fixed income!





5 January 2017

MAG starts the New Year happy after ‘fast and furious’ 2016

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the UK’s leading voice for riders’ rights, has everything to look forward to in 2017: here’s why.

‘It’s breath-taking how much has happened in the world of riders’ rights over the last three years.’  So says Selina Lavender, the Chair of MAG, speaking about the prodigious output of the movement over the last twelve months.  ‘Our staff had a fast and furious 2016 with immense challenges.  These included legal, political and logistical issues, and they pretty much defined a year of hard graft.  It also means we begin 2017 far ahead of where we were this time last year.’

What’s on the agenda for 2017?  ‘We’ll be taking the same inclusive and team-spirited approach’ continued Selina.  ‘We’re not looking for fights, we’re looking for allies - and that’s the hallmark of the organisation’s way of operating.  We’ll be visiting the Department for Transport a lot, to discuss everything from how you get a bike licence through to the challenges presented by autonomous vehicles.  There’s the threat of bikes being charged to use Thames crossings, a motorcycle and scooter theft epidemic, especially in London, and the use of overly-restrictive injunctions to control anti-social behaviour, which could potentially harm the freedoms of legitimate riders too.  In every case we engage, debate and propose better solutions to shared concerns.

‘It’s not glamorous work, and it requires a great deal of research. But our team has proven its ability to deliver, and they’re building their credibility all the time.  Let’s be clear: 2017 is going to be a big year for riders’ liberties.  MAG is right up there defending your right to ride.  We also invite dealers and the manufacturing sector to support our work.  What we do sustains the market by defending the freedom to ride.  It’s got to be a team effort, and we hope the sector as a whole will work to protect and promote riding in the years ahead – starting in 2017.  If we can do that, it really will be a happy new year for biking.’

MAG invites riders, dealers, mechanics and manufacturers to join MAG and help create a united voice for the common good of the riding community.

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or central-office@mag-uk.org

1 January 2017

Decembeard 2016

Another month of facial hair growing has come to the end and I have not managed to meet my target of £100.

Every penny counts towards the research so I guess that I shouldn't be too disappointed.

At the time of writing  I have raised about £35.


In the UK the SMS page is still working - send a text to 70070 with message:

PAGD99 £1 to send a quid or any amount you like.

PAGD99 £10 sends a tenner.....

Manhattan Bluetooth Headphones

No sooner than I had found the Jabra's than Santa came with a new set of wireless headphones.

They are in a rather fetching purple colour. Connecting them to my phone was very easy.

The sound is very good and clear.  Unlike the Jabra set they don't have bright blue lasers lighting up all around.

Happy New Year

And all that jazz.