BoD

So all this time the tourist board has been telling us they were ancient stones placed there by Druids when in fact they are just ruddy great wickets.

Well since we are talking about it.... Summer of 76. I had just finished my A levels and a few of us spent the summer walking and wild camping in Scotland. The first week on Skye was very wet, but after we came back to the mainland the weather improved. It was so hot that we would get up at about 3 or 4 am, and aim to walk until about midday, when we would find a stream or some shade to keep cool. Any walking after that was really uncomfortable and, being up in the hills, the UV must have been high too. A bit more walking in the evening if we felt like it then pitch tents for an early night to catch the sunrise and start all over again. A really magical six weeks or so. Those were the days before 'lightweight' camping and dried foods so the weights of our packs limited us to between 12 and 15 miles a day, less if we included some of the higher peaks but we still covered a lot of ground that year. It doesn't appeal to all but we really enjoyed 'disappearing' into the hills and then going for days seeing only a handful of others.

Morning all. (Eh?) Re photography. I turned digital a while ago but stuck with SLR rather than compact or bridge, (Nikon, since you asked) but haven't done any for a while because of the cataract in my right eye. I just couldn't get the hang of using my left eye - everything was just wrong, And my nose kept getting in the way. I know they make left handed everything else but I've never seen a left handed SLR. I haven't really been counting up to now but I've just worked out that I have only ten more 'Monday morning feelings' to suffer. Thankfully it's by choice rather than enforced like some poor people on here.

I'm not sure if that Is a good thing or a bad thing - but it certainly is fantastic news. Here's hoping the recovery continues apace.

...... we certainly won't. I look in each day and think that you can't possibly keep coming up with the goods (or passengers)* day in and day out - but you do. I really appreciate you efforts. Thank you. * see what I did there?

A quote from one of the PFA 'suits' when discussing Mr Stirling's habits. 'People are human' No pulling the wool over their eyes, is there?

Strange that.............. so, according to the label, does the packet of crisps I'm eating.

Many (late in the day) happy returns Debs. Really good to see you still paying visits. Don't wait 'till your next birthday for the next one.

I remember an outbreak of sanity on ERs once. It didn't last very long.

You stupid sew and sews.

We don't want to know, we really don't.

Not just long hair I see. Oh sorry, it's a bollard. My cataract operation obviously can't come soon enough.

Good luck Andrew. I hope the meeting goes the way that you want it to.

We had a great time thanks Jock. With going away and then the meal and show last night, her Birthday in effect lasted from Wednesday until last night. Well worth it and thoroughly enjoyed by all. As for the bus pass she was looking forward to it but apparently it is available in Wales, NI and Scotland when one turns 60 but not until state pension age in England. Mrs BoD found that frustrating. Let's refrain from making comment though as I'm sure it would end up being divisive.

I spent the first fifty or so years of my life successfully avoiding being photographed. ....... and then someone went and invented a phone with a camera on it.

Morning all Cooler and cloudier in Edinburgh this morning. Have had an excellent couple of days here. Mrs BoD not speaking to me as on her birthday yesterday (60) I kept asking for senior citizen discounts for her. Catching the train from Waverley soon as we are going out for yet another meal this evening with the family and going to see the show ' 'Wicked' which is I'm told excellent. I'm glad she's not 60 every year.

Given that that song represents the sum total of my attempts at foreign language acquisition they better bloody well finish it soon.

...... So sing Underneath the Arches then.

Don't forget to sing when you cross the bridge.

On a much more serious note... I'm sitting in a hotel room just having a quick catch up and I'm really saddened to read today's news. Jock, Robert (and anyone whose posts I may have missed) our thoughts are with you and the families of your friends.

Perhaps she knows someone who has just had a catheter removed too.

Morning all Sitting on Durham station drinking coffee. It's a beautiful morning with an amazing backdrop - the impressive view over to the castle and cathedral. Bill Bryson thought it one of the best views in Britain. Whenever I see it I know I'm back home. We're off to Edinburgh for a couple of days.

That my well take an extended hospital stay. Good to see you back.

All the BT people from India who phone me have Scottish accents. Perhaps that is because they are trying to sell me something rather than fix something.

If you are going to use it for a car as well, Pete, you need to look at the accessories. An adjustable pressure lance as a minimum, you don't want to be blasting the car paintwork and seals with water at a pressure that can almost take the surface layer of concrete off. If you are lazy like me a special car attachment that mixes the detergent/ wash in as you go is useful.