30 August 2017

The Three Amugos

Not a misprint.  Or a typo.

Given the "Wenger Out!" post earlier in the week. We are still going to spend a tenner** each to sit in our grand (cash not surroundings) seats at the Emirates Stadium to watch the second string and yoofs take on League 2 Doncaster Rovers.

History is on our side. In 8 meetings since 1901 they have come out on top only once, 115 years ago.
More credibly we last played them in 2005 and the game ended 2-2.

Given the "sell, sell, sell" attitude of our under-fire manager and the clowns on the board we may see them extend their winning streak to 2 from 9 in 116 years.

Fingers crossed Amugos!


** plus £1.65 charges on top of the ticket!

Car Insurance - Insignia

It's getting on for that time of year again when my car insurance is due. I used to be with Direct Line but the quote gory higher and higher every year and so I started trawling the comparison sites to get a better quote.

Last year this turned out to be the insurers that sell under the banner of the RAC motoring organisation.  They had the cover I wanted and although not the cheapest quote, were the cheapest of the companies I had ever heard of.

This year my renewal arrived and they quite matter of factly tell me that this year my premium will go up £50.  The car is a year older and therefore less valuable.  The risk hasn't changed much. So it is back to the comparison sites.

What has really happened is that premium last year was a new business discounted amount. This year they are trying to get some of it back. Sadly for them I will go elsewhere.

29 August 2017

Wenger Out!

Sunday 27th August 2017. 

A day of infamy.

Our glorious team of Arsenal Gladiators went out in the Anfield sun to do battle with the Lions of Liverpool and came back battered and bruised.  Humiliated some may say.

The lack of fight from highly paid professionals leaves a nasty taste in the mouths of fans. "Wenger Out!" is the cry on those same battered lips. 

"Wenger Out!" is the cry from even committed Gooners and ex-players like Ian Wright.

The apologists for the French Professor keep repeating the mantra that he has done so much for the club in the 20 years he has been in charge. So many victories. Invincible even.

"It's not his fault" they cry in return, but the "Wenger Out!" Cries begin to double, then double again.

"How is it nor his fault?" The cry goes up. 

His starting eleven contains one of the finest right backs in the country starting on the left. He leaves out a German international centre back and plays a rookie who has been shite in his last two appearances. Another German international isn't even on the bench.  He plays a Spanish Left-back at centre back.

Remember who the World Chamions are? Germany.

He leaves the record signing centre forward, who cost £52m, on the bench and plays a guy that has the ball control of  a snail and the goal tally of a retarded sloth.

On top of those slight errors he plays two players that have been agitating to leave.  

One of whom has been "Mr Sicknote" up to now and the other actually leaves the day after for a rival club - see update below - one game player after he had a stomach pull and then a cold, or was it the other way around.  It means that it was late August before he made an appearance.

The former is huffing and puffing inside twenty minutes as the game isn't going the way he wants. Another German international floats through the game ineffectively and then also starts to wave his arms like a sulking school child.

They ship too many goals to lose 4-0. Each one was a personal cock-up by a player that led to Liverpool taking the ball and a few passes later scoring.

With the game lost and beyond the wit of anyone to look like we can drag something from the burning embers,  the great leader brings on £52m man and the other French striker.  Both of them rivals for the same French international starting place. Both of them see little of the ball as it seems the remainder of the starting XI seems unable to get the ball to them. Or simply are incapable.

The shit and the fan come together.  Wenger looks shaken in the post match interview. He refuses to answer the question about the "Wenger Out!" banners and shouts from the fans that have travelled 200 miles on a Bank Holiday Sunday with little of no public transport available and with expectations of getting home sometime in the wee small hours.  Thank you Frank Sinatra for naming them.

He whispers the usual platitudes about players not being on their game. Once again he defends the clowns he put on the team sheet.

At least there is an international break for a week or so before we have another attempt to play.  With 15 clubs above us in the table we are lucky it's one of the ones below us; Bournemouth. 

Another galling thing is that we were f*cked by a Liverpool side playing the game that we used to play before Wenger numbed all the talent out of the players. Pressing to win the ball. Quick passing and a fast counter attack.

When even Thierry Henry and Ian Wright, the club's two highest goalscorers, are both almost in tears to see this humiliation and both sense there is something rotten at the club, then rock bottom can't be far away.

Monday 28th August 2017. 

We awake on Monday to the news that Want-Away2 has indeed gone to a rival for what last year would be a mind blowing £35 to £40m!   Why the f**k did Wenger play him at Liverpool the day before.  He must have known the deal was done and all it needed was the player to sign and the Russian Oligarch signs the cheque. 

Rumours persist on the sports channels that the German international dropped in favour of the Rookie also wants away and has been talking to Inter Milan of Italy. We are resigned to players leaving. It's no longer a surprise.

The international transfer window closes in about 52 hours after me writing - 2300 on the 31st August - by then "Sicknote" will have f*cked off to a rival and we will have no room to manoeuvre. Wenger will then do as he has already done in the past,  repeat the same error, and panic buy.

We panic bought a Brazilian centre back from Spain. He's gone back already. We panic bought a Spanish striker and he wants away. He wants a chance to play for his country and from the bar or at best the bench at Arsenal he won't achieve that.  It's World Cup next year BTW.

The apologists go on about it being only three games.  We have lost two. We have a -4 goal difference and we are 16th.  Manchester United have spent more millions on players and have won all three games and are already six points ahead of us and how many goals....... 14!!!!!

In modern football - goals are worth a point at the end of the season.

Time for Arsene to quit. Go back to France and buy a nice cottage and spend the years and years of millions of pounds he must have stashed away.

WENGER OUT!

Wednesday 30th August 2017

And the story has changed.

Want-Away2 has decided that he doesn't want to go the Chelsea  (sounds like a song title) but wants to go to Liverpool.  The club responsible for the shafting on Sunday... So are we supposed to think that he knew this before Wenger picked him to play. Or just coincidence.  

Whilst all this is going on we have shifted a full back with long service,  but into his last year of contract, to West Bromwich for £7m.

Kerrching! 

Sicknote has been pretty quiet after being caught laughing on the bench soon after Liverpool scored their 4th. But reportedly has asked to leave. Manchester City offer £50m. Arsenal turn it down. 

Then WantAway2 is reported to be going to Liverpool for £40m.

Kerrching! 

The club has apparently received two bids for the Spanish striker. From Deportivo, where he wants to go, and Levante, who are the club's preferred buyer.  Read "offered more money" for preferred. 

So that's £47m today. How much tomorrow on the last day of the window.

And no one coming in.

WENGER OUT! GAZIDIS OUT! KROENKE OUT!

Thursday 31st August 2017

The transfer window is closed.  At 11pm it was met with a fanfare and a countdown on Sky Sports 1.

In the end the we have offloaded  Spanish striker to Deportivo on loan for the season. OS that should save the wage bill.

Sicknote stays.  The club made a desperate attempt to sign a replacement from Monaco and had agreed a massive £92m fee but that fell through so he stays with us until the January window at least. Some will say this was a token attempt as it was never going to happen.  A kind of "cover your arse" move in case Sicknote left and we were another man down.

A whole host of lesser cast members left as well either free or for the token £1m. At least we have brought in about £73m in revenue and only spend £46m.  

Kerrching again!

And are the fans happy.  Wait and see when AFC Bournemouth come to the big city.


Cast:

Want-Away2 -  Alex Oxlade Chamberlain
Long Service Full Back - Keiran Gibbs
Another German International - Shkodran Mustafi
German international centre back - Per Mertesacker
Rookie - Rob Holding
Record Signing - Andre Lacazette
Sloth - Daniel Welbeck
Other French Striker - Olivier Giroud
Sicknote - Alexis Sanchez
Spanish Striker - Lucas Perez
Brazilian Centre Back - Gabriel
Spanish Left-back - Nacho Monreal
Finest right backs - Hector Bellarin




Two in One

Two different events on the same day at almost the same venue. How could that happen?

On the Sunday of August Bank Holiday in the UK an event was organised at Dover on the esplanade in the harbour between the two docks.  

The Eastern Docks are primarily for passenger and freight ferries to the France and the Western Docks for cruise liners.  In the middle is a crescent shaped beach and an esplanade. 

At the eastern end of the esplanade the owners of the Pebbles Kiosk and Gift Shop had organised "Bikes on the Beach" for a third year.

At the Western end. The local sailing and rowing club had organised a fun day with stalls and exhibits.  The exhibits included some local classic car owners and the Dover Transport Museum brought some of their collection along.

I was a little late getting up after some overnight dog barking and disruptive sleep because of that.  The Dover event started at 10am and as I rode out of the close I was in two minds whether to actually go.  In the end the Meldrews were on a longish run from the Blue & White from about 1030 so I decided to go there, have a cup of tea and a chat and then see where that left us.  

They left about 1100 and I togged up and decided that as I had my camera slung over my shoulder I'd go to Dover after all.  Rather than go the A20, I went up the road a bit and then onto the M20 south and cruised to Dover.

There didn't seem much traffic around and it was pretty clear and warm. Glad I had the Joe Rocket on again.  Even though it is getting a bit "tired"  it is still comfortable in hot weather.

Amazingly for us in the UK, the Bank Holiday weather was dry and hot for the entire three day long weekend. I expect that the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey will make itself felt later in the week. We usually get the bad weather generated by hurricanes on the US east coast a week or so after they hit.

It was also good that after a year or more the ridiculous 40mph limit on the last five miles into Dover has been scrapped.

On arrival I was directed by a volunteer onto the esplanade via a drop down kerb and told to ride along until I found a space.  It was about 1120 or so.  I had to go about 100m down to find a space and back into it.  I locked up, and took a walk to the Western end first.  The stalls didn't really interest me much but the cars and buses on show did and I expended a lot of MB of memory card to get some pix.


I had a chat with a guy showing his 1958 Oldsmobile 88.  The 50's and early 60's must have been a great time to have been able to buy these cars.  They are so big and look like they are worth a million dollars.  It seems that each maker had to have something to stand out. Cadillac with their fins. But on the 88 it is the tail lights.  A real golden age of design.


Back towards the eastern end I hadn't seen the RBLR crew I had expected to be there form the FB page.  They were meeting a guy called Aaron Mitchell, who was returning home after riding around the world.  (See http://www.aaronmitchell.net/

I didn't realise that there were bikes etc the other side of the Pebble Kiosk! DOH! And that's where they were.  It's only after when I looked at my pictures, mostly of individual bikes, but some shots of the esplanade with multiple bikes, that I had got him by his bike.  What a plum! Me not him.

I missed them leave for a massed run to Rochester in North Kent as I was in one of the little shaded seating areas out of the sun and enjoying a tea.

All the pictures are on Flickr and linked here:

20 August 2017

From the Shoebox Archive - Variety Pack

There are many shoeboxes in the archive. 

Like many archives like this a lot of the photos are pretty uninteresting to anyone else. Plus the other problem...

Where the heck were they taken!! It's easy to remember who the people are in them. But so many I have no idea where or when they were taken.

This couple of scans are places and events I do remember! It's a bit lazy but I have scanned three together! !

First up. A trio of Lisbon photos. 

Secondly,  a mixed bag from Rome (top), Murcia, (bottom left) Madonna in procession around the city at Easter and bottom right, me and Andrew Pratt after the National Rally.

Lastly a picture of my TDM850 outside the old house in Hythe.


SP18 - Tour de Extremadura - More Hotels Added

After a look through the Rough Guide to Spain and then TripAdvisor a rough plan was established that we should do a clockwise circuit around the central region of the region.

The distances involved in this trip won't be too great so we should have time for a good look around without too much driving about.

I have booked another Parador in Trujillo for two nights. On the booking sites there weren't too many hotels available for our dates. I thought about an anti-clockwise trip around the circuit but that didn't help. So a quick trip to the Parador.es website and I signed us in there.

I booked another hotel in Mérida,  Again for two nights. This one a little less luxurious but it looks very nice.

As we have seven nights to play with, the above leaves two to book.   So I have gone ahead and booked a single night in Badajoz and the last night in Cáceres. These are also decent looking hotels. We will have to get used to the standards after the Paradors. 

That will give us time to meander back to Madrid to return the car in good time for the return flight.  As usual these are on the free cancellation basis.

All of the hotels look pretty decent but finding any with parking other than in public parking was a problem.  Although we will have a hire car.  it needs to be safe.  

Why Extremadura?  Why not?  The area is well served with archaeological stuff to visit and is somewhere we haven't been before.  

Of course. I'd much rather be on the bike than in a hire car, but it's the trip that counts this time. 


17 August 2017

SP18 - Tour de Extremadura - First Hotel Booked

With the Extremadura as the destination for some serious touristing I have booked the first night just short of the border from Castille.

A bit of luxury before we enter the "Frying Pan" of Spain.   The Parador at Oropesa.

I was looking last night and the Parador site has discounted rates for over 55's and in the Extremadura there are quite a few Paradors in the area.

Oddly, booking.com had a much cheaper rate than the official site. Even with the senior citizen discount the cheapest rate is non-refundable and was way more than the booking.com refundable price.  How? I have no idea.

The Parador's official booking site used to have a special "bulk" purchase rate. Something like four nights for the price of three or something along those lines.  Worth checking out.

I need to get the Rough Guide out to see what we can see in the area.

I have also bought a copy of the regional Michelin map #576. It covers Extremadura and across to Madrid and the east. Although I have the satnav it's good to have paper too.

From the Shoebox Archive - 'Cade in Spain

Those of us born before the digital revolution must have one - a shoebox archive.

This one is from way back in 1990!  The campsite is in Tarifa which can claim to the be the southern most tip of Europe in the west of the continent.  

From the beach you can clearly see the coast of Africa.

Behind the Cade is Audrey's XJ900. The bike we took across to Morocco later that week. It was so hot down there that I had problems with the clutch as the grease on the lever dried out as it was "cold weather" rated and 40ºC temperatures in the day simply reduced it to dust.


In Malaga on the way home it rained a little and turned the highway into an ice rink - water on months of rubber.......   

As you are braking and sliding with both wheels locked just stopping short of the car in front and then hear the car behind sliding faster than you and then seeing it go past makes you wonder about life.....

And here is another from the same trip:


16 August 2017

SP18 - Tour de Extremadura

The Tour d'España has come about really because we wanted an early holiday.  Most often we have been to the US in May but with the changes to my contract at work, where I am stuck with school holidays for the bulk of my leave, it has meant that two week trips are out of the question unless done at Easter or Summer.

I would like to have gone back as we did in August 2014 on the Explorer - Revisita España 2014, and on the bike but it is not practical with Claire's hip and her gradual worry about being on the bike!

The next best thing is to fly/drive. I have been checking on Skyscanner and the way it works it seems impossible to get the flight out and back into UK when you want them at a reasonable price. 

A quick click to one-way revealed a lot more flights. It also revealed that their website creates round trips groups of flights that when checked as singles come out at a very different (and lower) price. 

In the end I booked Iberia out from London Gatwick to Madrid for €141 out for the two of us and with British Airways for €100 back and that includes rounding-up to the nearest € for charity.

The single fares check produced flights when I want to fly and at acceptable prices for both legs but they needed to be booked as single journeys. Also at a saving against the round trip fares it put on screen. As an example the two flights I booked didn't get offered by the system as a round-trip, and the nearest to them came out about €120 more.  At the paltry Brexit blamed exchange rate that's about £110 or $140 - not to be sneezed at.

BA and Iberia are part of the same trading group and both flights are operated by Iberia Express, the budget wing of Spain's national carrier. The downside is that there is a hand luggage only stipulation. We have smaller cases that are airline approved for hand luggage use.

Over the coming months I will start looking for car hire and places to go in late May 2018. The dates are in the team diary at work.

15 August 2017

Hythe Venetian Fete

The Venetian fete is bi-annual in Hythe and uses the Royal Military Canal as the base for a series of free concerts and a river pageant on rafts.

The third evening was Abbalicious, an ABBA tribute group but there must have been a falling out as only AA were onstage. What happened to BB we have no idea.

When we arrived with Reggie there was plenty of free parking in Waitrose and we walked along just as they came on stage.

After a few numbers we set off for a walk around over the bridges that brought us back stage.  My arm got tired waiting for them to turn around and not face front only.

A good evening,. And free.

14 August 2017

Bird Toilet

Had a run into Folkestone today as I had a dentist appointment and thought the bike would be better.

Nice and sunny. Parked almost outside and was early. Went for a coffee at the cafe over the road. They couldn't make change for a tenner and trusted me to go back. Biker friendly.

After the scraping around I had a walk to Debenham's for another drink and make change.

Back at the bike I couldn't believe it. Bird shit on the screen and tank. Spattered on the chrome work too.

I stopped at the café and paid my £1.30 and rode home to clean the bike.

A short ride that would have been longer without those bloody birds.

11 August 2017

Custom Screens

I have been looking at the smaller flyscreens as the big screen on Pepé can be a bit of a pain in the wet as no matter how much polish it has on it, it still becomes a little hard to see through and you have to look over.

I have thought about hydro-dipping but have yet to fnd someone that will reply to an email enquiry or in fact show an example of a Rocket flyscreen suitably decorated. The ones I have contacted can't be short of business as they can't be arsed to come back with a price.

I have seen the work from Chris at Custom-Sculpt.  He does all kinds of different work and has a portfolio of bike work and a lot of R3 stuff.

You can design your own but I have always liked Iron Maiden's "Eddie".  A quick email confirms that Chris has the mould and can make one. I can decide on any colours I want as the mould starts off plain.  He has work piled up and so I'd have to fit in. That's fine with me. Time to put some pennies away.



Update 9/9/2017.

After a few days of looking at hydrophobic liquids I decided to risk buying one to try on the paintwork of Pepe and also on the seen. 

I still like the idea of one of these custom jobs but in the end delivery and cost is a major factor.


Update 15/11/2017

I think this has gone about as far as it is evet going to.  Chris came back to say that it might be a while before he can do it as he hasn't been well.  It's over two months and he hasn't come back apart from a price of £195 for Eddie (above).  I am looking at other options. 

It's back! The Premier League kicks off tonight

It kicks off again tonight and Arsenal has the inglorious task of being the first new season to kick off on a Friday evening.  I suppose it means we can have football and a free weekend.

http://www.totalpremierleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Arsenal-Vs-Leicester-City.jpg

Update: 11/08/17 22:00

Won 4-3.  Supporting Arsenal isn't the easy job it might be if you have a tame billionaire from Russia or a middle east oil state that spends money as though it is going out of fashion.

Mr Wenger decided that the potent striker Vardy for Leicester wasn't a threat and chose to play a rookie centre back and no other recognised central defenders.  That proved wrong. As Vardy scored twice.

In the end what he will call "mental strength" seemed to work and we came from 2-3 to 4-3 in a two minute spell in the last ten minutes of the game.

At least we won it.  Usually, we lose or at best get a draw to start the season.



10 August 2017

Sinterklaastreffen 2017

It's a bit early to be booking bike trips into December. But seeing a special offer where the return fare to France for bike and rider was only £22.50 ($28.50 or so) for what amounts to two 90 minute (not luxurious though) cruises is the cheapest I have seen it for many a good year.  Book now!! Thank you P&O.

As every other year since we stopped going for the weekend, the plan will be to go over early but not too early. Fill the tank with slightly cheaper EU benzine and go to Ostend. Check out the chocolate shops and have lunch. See St Nick. Then ride home after a good day in Europe.

I'll probably put it on the Meldrews' Facebook page  at some stage in case there are any takers for the trip.  I have been Johnny No-Mates a few times and the last time it was just me and Cal.

Still a while to go before December 2nd.

Paul Devall shared an album with you from the Flickr app! Take a look: https://flic.kr/s/aHskn4opxt

8 August 2017

Community Shield - August 6th 2017

Another chance to go to Wembley Stadium to watch Arsenal. Once again against Chelsea.

Arsenal were in this traditional fixture as Cup Winners and Chelsea as League Champions. Back in May Arsenal had beaten Chelsea in the FA Cup Final also at Wembley Stadium. This stopped them wining the "Double" of League and Cup in one season.

Another warm sunny day when we were glad to be in the upper tier and under cover rather than being burned to a crisp in the sun. The view is pretty good from all around the stadium.



Before the game there was the usual tedious build up but this was relieved by the Choir for Grenfell coming to sing after the minutes silence for those that died in the terrible tower block fire some weeks ago. The Choir and celebs have made a charity record to raise money for the families that lost everything. I took a short video of it.




The game was pretty even although statistics will show that the Arsenal had more possession, 54% to 46%, more attempts on goal and fewer disciplinary cards. Chelsea getting another red card for a reckless tackle. More stupid than malicious.

Both sides seemed to be saving players for the start of the Premier League this coming weekend. But did give new signings a start.

In the end Arsenal won their 9th successive game at Wembley. After finishing 1-1 they won the penalty shootout 4-1.





Pano at the end.  One half very empty

1 August 2017

BE17 - Day 2

We were up early for breakfast. The paperwork said that the parking along Beselarestraat from near Beselare towards Zonnebeke was open until 10am.

The first problem was leaving the A19 as instructed that the junction wasn't policed on this section and we took nearly 15 mins to get the left rurn onto the N303 road into solid traffic through the town. Way before the start of the parking we were directed into a field and told to walk up the road.

I had put a way marker into the TomTom for the road junction at the bottom of the parking. It was still some 600m to go. We were stopped by police and could see buses up ahead and a queue of people. By the time our column got up to about 200m  long the queue at what was Bus Stop F has disappeared. We were then told buses would come.

With the traffic we were far too late to have a look around the museum site and went through accreditation and straight onto buses to Tyne Cot.

We eventually arrived there about 11 o'clock. We were supposed to be seated well before 1145 when the VIPs would arrive.

Instead around 1145 the bands arrived. RAF, Guards and the Royal Marines.

We had really good seats with a clear view of the memorial cross and the microphone where the readings would be from.

Then the honour guard arrived and formed up next to us. Then to our dismay the choir came and stood in front of us. To have taken photos through their ranks may have been "inappropriate" as they were teenaged girls, at least the ones in front of us.

Luckily after several short blasts of the National Anthems the Guard marched off. And the choir moved into their vacated space. So as the VVIP's arrived we had a decent view. 

Although we were told to remain seated unless instructed. The people in front nearer the Royals stood up. We could see eff all.

I have a few photos of the King and Queen of Belgium, Prince Charles and Prince William and Katherine.

Prince Charles opened the ceremony with a reading. He was followed by Theresa May, our Prime Minister. During the session there were actors and serving soldiers from UK, Commonwealth and Belgium that read out letters, poetry and diary entries from men that died during the 103 days of the Battle.  Third Ypres also known as Passchendaele.

I was interested in going as many years ago my great grandfather Joseph Shaw, once or twice only, mentioned the mud and rats when there with the Lancashire Fusiliers. Luckily he came home and lived until the mid-1960's.

Following  the readings,  Queen Mathilde and Katherine, Duchess of Cambridge, laid wreaths at the graves of unknown soldiers.

There was a German soldier there . He read out a letter home from one of their men who was also killed. His wreath was laid by Queen Mathilde.

After this,  the party sort of broke up. The VVIP's left by the entrance to our rear left. Too many people spoiled the photo op.

Then began the long long wait for buses. We decided to try the infirm access after about an hour.  Just as people started to flock to that same exit point.  It worked and after a few minutes waiting we were on a bus back to Zonnebeke.

Once there we were directed to our picnic lunch.

There were displays set up for visitors and we looked at a few before joining the bus queue. The use of dogs to work as a team to tow equipment was highlighted. With two large dogs towing a machine gun on its small limber. 

It had been sunny all day and without a hat I knew that I would become lobster man. I am. We found shade eventually. The queue for the buses back  to the parking was generally good natured humour.

Traffic was heavy as the bus went to the parking and went from A to F. At F our driver chucked us off and we had to walk the full 600 plus metres to the cars. No consolation was that the buses behind came right there!!

The hit or miss system meant that the 5 kms of solid traffic from the morning didn't happen. It was all pretty plain sailing past Ypres and Poperinge and back into France and to the Tunnel. 

The A25 was free running northwards. It is in far better condition than it used to be. Being a free motorway it has less spent on it than the toll roads that criss cross France.

We stopped in Auchun to fill the tank. Even with the shitty exchange rate diesel is still cheaper there than here. But nowadays not as much as it used to be.

At the tunnel the screen seemed to be offering us an earlier crossing at "no extra charge " but actually was the 2020 we were booked on! Nice to know they hadn't changed the fare when we were away and after we paid...
The delays at our immigration weren't as bad as in previous visits.

We were waved through and then on the screen saw that our crossing was timed to load at the same time it was due to leave.  Blame for this was laid at immigration's door.

By some fluke though we were loaded onto the train before the one booked. It was 13 minutes late leaving but we were 5 minutes earlier than booked. This in no way clears them for the last four or five occasions when we have been upto two hours late.

In the end a great trip and a great event and another display that Britain truly is great at pomp.

There was a casualty on the trip. On Sunday I bought some chocolates to take to work. There was a selection of white, milk and dark chocolate discs about 2.5 ins in diameter with nuts and candied fruit. Sadly they were in a bag in the back of the car. When we came back we had a molten mixture.


The Tyne Cot Memorial 

Irish Guards

Tyne Cot Cemetery 

Katherine, Duchess of Cambridge 

Prince Charles

Marine Buglers before Last Post

Dog team towing maching gun

Tyne Cot Memorial built on top of concrete German bunker

1917 Renault tank

Field dressing station and ambulance

Molten chocolates

Royal Irish Regiment Pipers and Buglers

Views of the Tyne Cot Cemetery