3rd September 2017 - Of Firepits and Smoking

Thought for the day:"If I wanted to kill myself I would climb your ego and plunge to your IQ"

Sunday and it is raining - seems that Summer has been and gone ....
But we had a good couple of days int he week...

Don't often use the firepit in the garden - but family visiting seemed like a good idea for Gin and Tonics and German Beer from Mythodea and a few flames... Of course, the one big log that you put on the fire will be the one that will suddenly belch forth smoke in great plumes, and this will happen just as the wife comes through the front door and rushes around closing the windows and doors - which would have been fine if the smoke had not already been inside the house!!
A couple of pieces of paper form the hamper should have fixed it but the earlier experiment with an hour of making paper logs to my grand-parents design and specification had shown me that the paper might be a tad damp and the lighting exercise was improved by a liberal use of cooking oil, so the extra ignition took a few minutes to kick in!!

As a result - when the flames were reaching to the skies and the smoke was gone - it was all trapped inside the house - leading to a situation where I was rushing around opening the windows to let the smoke out as she was rushing around closing them. I wouldn't mind so much but I had been complaining that the wood burner from next door had allowed a tiny bit of wood smoke into the bedroom - and I was now responsible for the whole house smelling like a bonfire - not bad really - quite like the smell now !!!

Cheers!

2nd September 2017 - and so the little books come out again

Thought for the day:“‎Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.”
Voltair..

Back in the day when I wore less bling at event ..

Also saw this little gem today and thought I would save it here for posterity

But, life gets back to normal and the Masonic Season is upon us - the little books are coming out and the next few days will be with a head in the pages as I have left it a little late for some of them - ho hum ...
Perhaps I will get some breakfast first
(Never procrastinate today what you can procrastinate tomorrow!)

1st September 2017 - And another month starts

Thought for the day:"To make a sword from the blood of your enemies - you will need to kill 359 of them to gather enough iron to construct the sword…. Oh well - a few more to go.. "

So -  I did not take any photos this event - never really had the time to get the camera out - seemed to be working most of the time - or chatting - but there are a couple of Vollsanger :

And of course - Fitt'n Elfie made and appearance ...

and so - busy day ahead -
Cheers!!

31st August 2107 - And Home....

Thought for the day:"I'm not a fan of the new pound coin but then I don't like change"

So, back from Renewal 2017 and tired !! And worse - did not get the camera out once so have no photos to show for it at all - but sang a lot, and may have drunk out of wet glasses so there may be some pictures to come in the days that follow.

And the media are taking the opportunity to stir up national emotionalism with the 20th Anniversary of Princess Di's death - which reminds me of the inappropriate song "The Dodo"...

 Dido's Alive

But that is me
Better unload the Bothy and find a firepit ...

Cheers

25th August 2017 - Gone Larping

Thought for the day:"Common sense is not a gift it is a curse - you still have to deal with those who do not have it "


So- the Bothy is ready to go - but Andy Smuggler sent this link to me - this is something that has been on my mind for a long time ...

Castle Truck

and so - "On the road again.."

24th August 2017 - Still at Home

Thought for the day:"For my next Birthday was thinking of having a tattoo, but don’t think the neighbours are too keen on the Marching Scotsmen and bagpipes."

Should be on the road to PACCAR today - but enforced stoppage in Llanelli waiting for the Bothy to roll.

Al the photos finally upon Flickr as well as Facebook -

and a little music form What the Folk

So - still need to work upon the last lot from Mythodea - but time seems to be running out.

Cheers!

23rd August 2017 - Of Pirates - Thieving and British Gas

Thought for the day :"I am holding a Charity function for those who cannot achieve Orgasm - let me know if you can't come"

Not so good news today about the Bothy. Looks like it is the clutch after all - but they cannot tell for sure until they strip it down and check - parts could be £500 and four hours work as long as the gearbox is not damaged... Not really the news I wanted today - and will affect getting to Renewal this year...

So - some photos from the pirates:

The Velvet Buccaneer - Cocktail Bar
Hopelessly overcharging but everyone to their own

Crocodiles at the Moon

Some lovely costumes

Axe throwing with Avalon Axes

and temptations

multiple temptations

The Volls Wagen proved useful 

Some more fine costumes

and Black Powder and Smoke
Failed to get the muzzle flash timing 

Giraldus and Pirates

Nice lighting later for portraits

Cap'n Blackheart of Brixham

Becki - as non-mermaid

Bruce in the Tavern Fight

And some good news from British Gas at last - you may recall some of my previous hardships shown here in the blog : well it all got worse at the end of June this year.
They decided to estimate the bill and rather than look back over the year to see that the average bill was about £7 a month they decided to estimate it at £435.68 and proceeded to take is as a Direct Debit - which of course failed as I do not keep much money in the business account anymore. On returning from Germany I find that they have read the meter the day after the estimate and have given a credit note for - yes you guessed - £435.68 !!
However there was also a letter saying that they had been unable to get the money paid - and a bill from Santander saying that they were charging me £32 for the refusal to pay the direct debit as there was insufficient funds...

I decided to give British Gas a call and they told me to send the details to the Customer Services which I duly did as they promised to refund the bank charge.

Well a call ten minutes ago from a very nice young lady who apologised on behalf of the company and decided to credit the account with £100 - the £32 bank charge and the remainder because of the inconvenience! Well - I don't get the £32 back in the Bank but I will not be paying any bills for a year it seems ... So well done British Gas for a change!

So ...  A little good news for a change...

Cheers