Tuesday 28 February 2017

28th February 2017 - Choir in the Gradens

Thought for the day: "I hate decimals - I just can't see the point"

Shrove Tuesday - or Pancake day ... so had some pancakes for lunch - I really am a rebel sometimes.
I will not go into the history - I did that before here shrove-tuesday Blogg.

No I will take the opportunity to post a couple of photographs of Cor Curiad at the Botanical Gardens..











Yup - it was blooming cold :)
Time for a hot toddy ...



Monday 27 February 2017

27th February 2017 - Blustery Botanics and Sunny Songs

Thought for the day: "Good judgement comes from Experience. And Experience?? That comes from bad judgement!"

Went for a walk yesterday in the Botanical Gardens near Carmarthen. Well, when I say I went for a walk, it was a bit of a hobble due to the back and leg pain - but inside the dome it was quite sheltered. The wind was blowing a hooley through the open windows in the roof, which did not help the choir at all, who were on the main stage and in direct line of fire to the drafts. But tehy sang well, and cinsidering the poor accousitcs - it sounded good. OF course - as we eft the rain hammered down and a cousin of Storm Doris (which has just passed us) decided to have a visitation. Umbrellas went to the great hat-stand in the sky and it even managed to blow the cover off my camera !!

The  walk back to the caar was "interesting".

Daffodils were out ..

some interesting flowers




and - not quite sure why she was there
Been in the Studio again and this popped out - quite pleased with it ..


Haven't had a good pie chart for a while ...
So Enjoy - Cheers !


Sunday 26 February 2017

26th February 2017 - Off to the Botanical Gardens

Thought for the day:" An author who wrote from his basement had a best cellar. "

For those who enjoy Runes I am going to share this here with no explanation ...
Off to watch Susie with her choir in the Botanical Gardens today. Will have a chance to revisit Elvis Preseli the Blue Stone that we pulled half way across Wales for the Millenium - goodness that was 17 years ago!

Weather is overcast - but will take the camera anyway - you never know !


Cheers !

Saturday 25 February 2017

25th February 2017 - Brexit Right Chased by a Blair

Thought for the day: "Patience .. What you have when there are too many witnesses"


I don't do politics - well not in social media - it is destructive and emotive and does not take me to any form of future karma...    But along with everyone else in this society I have been continually fed a deluge of "Brexit" - a term coined by the media to create division - to identify a two party system, a black and white solution, to allow greater division and polarisation... and to allow what Douglas Adams would have delighted in - the opportunity for bigger and better chat shows .....

But Grandiloquent Word of the Day has come to my rescue ,,,

CODDIWOMPLE

 every reference I hear from now will have an instantaneous translation of CODDIWOMPLE

I look forward to the day  more than I have for a long time

have a good day ..



Friday 24 February 2017

24th February 2017 - Rare Coins

Thought for the day:"My wife told me to stop singing Wonderwall.... I said maybe"

I went to Tesco today. When I paid for my shopping int he pre-scan section - a coin popped out in my change. I had not seen one like it before - it was a 2007 £2 Coin which was issued to commemorate the abolition of Slavery in 1807. It looked a little strange but obviously worked well enough in the machine so I popped it into my pocket and took it home.
As you do - I checked it on Google when I got home and duly found that it was a minted coin. But I also noted an article about the rare "mis-minted" coins of this type. Seems that some were minted with the lettering upside down on the side. Apparentlythe Queen's face - if held to the top, the lettering around the oustisde saying "am I not a man and a brother" should be readable. If it is upside down - it is a rare mis-mint.
Now I am never that lucky but I checked the coin - and lo and behold the lettering is the wrong way around to the queen's face!  Also there is apparently some marks on the silver/gold part where the edging is uneven!!!

The Daily Star tells me :

1807 Abolition Of The Slave Trade £2 – value £300-£360

In 2007 the Royal Mint marked the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 with release of a new £2 coin.
Although available in abundance, some were printed with errors, sending their value shooting up.
On a select few coins the words “Am I Not A Man And Brother” has been engraved upside down.
Due to this mistake they are now changing hands for as much as £360 on Ebay.

So I have a look on Ebay and what do I find?

 Hmm - seems I am about to make some money .... and a check of the details


Yup - seems about right !!

But then I notice that there are only 2 hours to go on this one and there are no bids!..
Further down the page I find several more "Very Rare" coins of this description going for £3- £4.

Maybe they are not as rare as people thought !!!

But I will put it into a special place and not spend it yet - just in case - I can keep an eye on it for the future - you never know - It may become valuable sometime!!

Maybe not today - but it may be worth a pint sometime
Cheers!
 




Thursday 23 February 2017

23rd February 2017 - Flagging a bit

Thought for the day:" Vincent Price is taller than Katie Price, but heavier than Alan Price. I just found all of this out on a Price comparison website!"


On 23rd February 1959, the flag currently in use was officially recognised as the national flag of Wales. Baner Cymru or Y Ddraig Goch, meaning the red dragon) consists of a red dragon passant on a green and white field.

The flag incorporates the red dragon of Cadwaladr, King of Gwynedd, along with the Tudor colours of green and white. It was used by Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, after which it was carried in state to St Paul's Cathedral. The red dragon was then included as a supporter of the Tudor royal arms to signify their Welsh descent. It was officially recognised as the Welsh national flag in 1959.


It is thought that the Romans brought the dragon emblem to what is now Wales in the form of the Draco standards carried by Roman cavalry units. The Draco itself originated with the Sarmatians, a unit of whom were stationed in Britain from the 2nd to 4th centuries.


The oldest known use of the dragon to represent Wales is from the Historia Brittonum, which is commonly attributed to the Welsh monk Nennius around 830. The text describes a struggle between two serpents who prevent King Vortigern from building a fortress. This story was later adapted by Geoffrey of Monmouth in Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1136) into a prophecy by Merlin that the white dragon, representing the Saxons would at first dominate but would eventually be conquered by the red dragon, symbolising the Celts. Geoffrey also tells us that King Arthur had a golden dragon banner.



In 1400 Owain Glyndwr raised a golden dragon on a white background as his banner during his revolts against the occupation of Wales by the English crown.


 and so we have the picture of the day :
Cheers!



Wednesday 22 February 2017

22nd February 2017 - World Thinking Day ! Who'd have thought it?

Thought for the day :"Came second in a Fidel Castro lookalike contest. Close but no cigar."

Apparently today is World Thinking Day. There is a lot to think about these days!


World Thinking Day, formerly Thinking Day, is celebrated annually on 22 February by all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. It is also celebrated by Scout and Guide organizations and some boy-oriented associations around the world. It is a day when they think about their "sisters" (and "brothers") in all the countries of the world, the meaning of Guiding, and its global impact.

Most recently, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has selected an important international issue as the theme for each year's World Thinking Day, and selected a focus country from each of their five world regions. Girl Guides and Girl Scouts use these as an opportunity to study and appreciate other countries and cultures, and equally increase awareness and sensitivity on global concerns. Donations are collected for the Thinking Day Fund which supports projects to help Girl Guides and Scouts around the world.

22 February was chosen as it was the birthday of Scouting and Guiding founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell and of Lady Olave Baden-Powell, his wife and World Chief Guide. Other Scouts celebrate it as B.-P. Day or Founders' Day.


Every year on 22 February, Rangers from Mona Burgin's Unit in Auckland, New Zealand set off before dawn, while it is still dark, and they climb to the top of Maungawhau / Mount Eden. There they set up their little campfire and a flag-staff, and as the sun rises over the sea they raise the Guide World Flag, they sing the World Song, and they speak of some of the people and the countries they are Thinking about - and so they start "The Big Think" which then travels all the way round the world.

One tradition is that every Scout or Guide, ex-Scout or ex-Guide, places a candle in their window that night at dusk:- "This is my little Guiding Light, I'm going to let it shine."

and in other thoughts....

Tiny Trump... too good not to record...


and of course - No 1 Fan Gene Huber


and so...


Tuesday 21 February 2017

21st February 2017 - Of Computers and Crimes

Thought for the day:" Who wants to learn Roman numerals? I for one."

Well - February 21st 1746 was the start of the Jacobite Rising...  Thought I would share that with you.
Also the day in 1981 that Peter Sutcliffe - the Yorkshire Ripper was finally arrested - a day that led to many changes in the way Murders and Serious Crimes were investigate. It led to HOLMES - one of the finest acronyms for a computer system in my view - HOME OFFICE LARGE MAJOR ENQUIRY SYSTEM. I would have been proud to have come up with that one !

It changed my life in the Police. As the owner of a Spectrum 48K machine - which incidentally managed to work out the available dates for recall to court for not guilty pleas - something they were still struggling with as I left the job 25 years later, I remember being called into the Chief Constable's office to be asked if I could write a DOR for a set of computers to include this "fancy new crime system that we do not really need as we do not get that many murders!".

Having no idea what a DOR was (Detailed Operational Requirement it turned out to be) I happily trotted off to find myself delving into the technical aspects of policing for the next couple of years - managed a promotion and commendation for my efforts.

Never managed to shake off the label of "the Computer whizz kid" even though I did nothing in the technical field for the last 15 years of my service, but I can certainly look back on the 23 systems I brought into play - 9 of them written by myself, and the impact upon the policing of the country.

And so to the picture of the day ...

Hmm - hands seem to be in the wrong place !!
Must be somewhere else in the world !
But a noteable clock - getting keyed up !
Cheers -

Monday 20 February 2017

20th February 2017 - Procrastination can be put off can't it?

Thought for the day:"The rotation of the earth really makes my day"

This popped up in my feed for my birthday - is a fair likeness

In other news - Ally Bally Video finalised


Better look at some paperwork today .. been putting it off for too long ..
Well.. Maybe a cup of tea first ...


Sunday 19 February 2017

19th February 2017 - Bread and Paint

Thought for the day: "Do radioactive cats have 18 half lives?"

So - the Lighthouse was finished at the weekend - Time for a video capture ..


What a clever girl I married - and the smell of fresh bread is all around the house - I shall not lose weight that way...   Ho Hum

Cheers!


Saturday 18 February 2017

18th February 2017 - Vegetating Slowly

Thought for the day:" What do you call a chicken staring at a lettuce?  Chicken sees a salad!"

Had your Four a Day ?? Found this and decided that it would be useful to keep as a reference for the future

Me?? I shall try some wine I think ..
Cheers!




Friday 17 February 2017

17th February 2017 - Post Birthday Blues

Thought for the day :"My wife sent a text that she was in Casualty - I rushed home and watched 3 episodes but have not seen her yet !! Am Starving!"

Well, Facebook stands up to my normal expectations of the algorithms used by Mr S. If I have just over 3,000 followers on Facebook - and Facebook allows about 20% of the traffic through without "boosting" then I would expect about 550 to 600 birthday wishes, which is exactly how it panned out.

Thanks to all of those who took the trouble to post - there were some very nice things said amongst the good wishes and the "Green Ones"

In particular it was nice to get all the foreign links.. A real test of Google translate but a welcome reminder of good times with people from other parts of the world.

And so another year starts.
In actuality - it seems no different to last year - a very quiet evening at home with a nice bottle of port and some Cheese. Oh - and finally watched one of the early Star Trek Films - or rather a Film about the early days of Star Trek...

And so...
Cheers!


Thursday 16 February 2017

16th February 2017 - Celebrity Birthdays...

Thought for the day:"I've started a business selling explosive prayer mats. Prophets are through the roof."

Celebrity Birthday ?
well - one birthday anyway ...   Happy Birthday Me !

Oh - and I'll drink to that !!

Cheers!



Wednesday 15 February 2017

15th February 2017 - Signs of the times

Thought for the day:"I've just bought a new aftershave called 'Breadcrumbs' The birds love it."

So - some signs of the times....



King Harald Blatand, ruled the Denmark in tenth century AD. He is a famous historical figure for making the Danish tribe. The King was often named as the “Bluetooth” because his love for blueberries and there was a permanent blue tint on one of his teeth.
The technology of Bluetooth has been designed for uniting more than one devices with a single connection or network. Two Scandinavian runes represent the symbol of this technology. These are “Hagall”, forming the Latin “H” analog and “Bjarkan” for the Latin “B.” These two initials have formed the name of Harald BlÃ¥tand. And the device color of first Bluetooth was blue and resembled the tooth shape.


The symbol ampersand (&) has been derived from the Latin conjunction “et” which means “and” in English. Tiro was a personal secretary of Cicero from the Ancient Rome, and she was the one who invented this ligature. In order to speed up the writing process, an abbreviation system is known as “Tironian Notes” was invented by Tiro.
After many centuries, Europe and America were taken away by the popularity of ampersand and for a very long period of time, English alphabets were concluded by it. It was until the twentieth century that it started to diminish. The word ampersand actually means “and per se and” reflecting a contraction of phrase. Today, the symbol that we use is merged form of the letters “E” and “T”

The medical symbol; a staff with wings and two snakes is known by everyone, but the interesting part is that it was implemented by mistake.
The theory states that Hermes (Greek God) possessed a mystic staff called Caduceus, which precisely looked just like this medical symbol. The fact is that Caduceus had no relation with medicine, he was meant for reconciling enemies and stopping disputes.
The truth how this symbol was adopted is that many many years back, the doctors of US military confused the symbol of Caduceus with Asclepius who is a Greek god of medicine and healing because they were similar looking. The mistake was understandable, but since then medicine is represented by this symbol.

Nobody knows the orgins of power symbol. It was in 1940’s early period, that binary system was used by the engineers for the representation of certain switches. On was represented by 1 and 0 was for off. The power button in the coming years was something like zero and a vertical line featuring a zero and one.

In 1958, during a protest against nuclear weapons this peace symbol was invented. The letters “N” and “D” semaphore signals have made the symbol and means “Nuclear Disarmament”
The letter “N” in this semaphore alphabet is communicated by the two flags in between as inverted ”V,” whereas letter “D” is shaped by one flag holding pointed upwards and the other in the downward direction, hence forming the peace symbol.

So - last day of being 62 - but not ready for the Beatles yet ..
Cheers!





Tuesday 14 February 2017

14th February 2017 - Have a healthy Valentine's

Thought for the day:"If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?"

So, it is Valentine's Day and the card shops and the rose salesmen are rubbing their hands - for me it is a mizzy rainy day on Exmouth - but the forecast is for an improvement by lunchtime - and a possibility of going on to the beach to film a pop video for Ally Bally - or staying in with a cup of tea...  We shall see...


Love this Japanese Doctor!
Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: Oh no. Wine made from fruit. Fruit very good. Brandy distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Grain good too. Bottom up!
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of one, sorry. My philosophy: No pain...good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetable be bad?
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: You crazy?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable! It best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whale to me.
Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!

Well... I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
And remember:

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!!"
AND......
For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Some more pictures of the lighthouse in progress...

Cheers...