Eighth photo comp. – results

Jokers wild

I’m absolutely delighted that I was able to extend the deadline for the 8th competition by a couple of days, we attracted a couple of additional entries which of course doesn’t make the job of judging any easier. I was of course saddened that a particular cameraless member (their own words) wasn’t able to beg, steal or borrow one and contribute, perhaps next time.

In essence, I selected a theme (wild) which was open to many interpretations and the Charioteers didn’t disappoint.

I’m no photography critic and won’t be going into the merits of each entry, I did enjoy Jahn’s pink dolphin, I’ve written elsewhere about our efforts to prevent dolphin captures down here and the keeping of them in captivity.

LW’s wisteria is a beaut, I’m no gardener but I did enjoy the old house, swing chair and of course the subject, thanks LW.

For pure impact, colour and in your face photography I have to award this months prize to OZ, his wild boar has all the attributes that I was looking for. A great pic OZ, thanks, over to you for number 9!

Freedom Fighter

‘I know they have an army at command, but if every hair on the head of that officer or soldier they have at their command were a legion of men, I would fear them no more than so many straws, for the Lord Jehovah is my rock and defence, under the assured shelter of whose wings and I am safe and secure, and therefore will sing and be merry; and do hereby sound an eternal trumpet of defiance to all the men and devils in earth and hell…’

From The Tower of London, April 3, 1649. Continue reading “Freedom Fighter”

One of the better weekends!

No Bank holiday here and it is raining, so one must amuse oneself somehow.

In a spirit of utter triumphalism what a truly splendid weekend.

The score thus

Gaddafi’s son and three grandchildren. (4points)

Bin Laden, his son (2 points) and his wife who he was using as a human shield, what cowardice!(5 points) Executed neatly, (1 point) no trial for the BBC and bleeding heart liberals to emote over (1 point) No need to listen to all the self justifying claptrap (1 point) No costs of World Court trial (10 points) and to crown it all dumped in the seas to feed the sharks with no appropriate martyrdom site (1point).  Perhaps they can issue a fartwah against sharks?

A truly splendid, trouble free, dry, happy Royal wedding (5 points)

Score more than enough to nil to the WASPS.

Not a good weekend for jehadist ragheads and republicans.

Quite enough to totter off and open a celebratory bottle of alcohol to go with one’s Duchy Original pork bangers! For once I do wish I lived in New York. I’d join the party at Ground Zero.

RIP ‘Enry

Ah well a British legend and a really nice guy Henry Cooper has passed away. I remember watching the famous match at the cinema when he knocked down the then Cassius Clay (Mohamed Ali).

I met him a few years ago at a reception really funny and a true gentleman of sport, unlike the yobs that infest sport today.

This amused me – I hope it amuses you

A week ago there was an article in The Punch, an Australian site which many of you had difficulty with when I gave a link to an earlier article about Michael Clarke.  This article was about the monarchy and the “forth-coming” wedding – the author was, shall we say, not in favour of either.   Many comments followed, most of which were unexceptional or irrelevant – that is, they were mainly off-thread, debating the merits or otherwise of certain UK national newspapers.

But then came this gem from a British gentleman (I swear I have not edited a single word) –  Continue reading “This amused me – I hope it amuses you”

Wind farms – crazy!

We briefly touched on this debate a while ago when I confessed to not knowing much about it apart from liking the idea in principle. Several enlightened charioteers guided me gently into the font of knowledge and as such I have been looking out for similar stuff in my occasional BBC dippings.

Found this yesterday…..BBC LINK…. what a mad world we live in! Can’t even blame the government for this one!

Meanwhile I saw an interesting episode of “Coast” last week where they went to a natural gas field processing plant in Norway where up to 30% of the Uk’s gas is supplied, but only for the next 40 years before it runs out. It seem the Norwegians don’t need any of it because they have so much hydro-electric power. Good on them I say, but why doesn’t the UK use it too?

Mrs C, who always has a slightly different view of the world as she hates all politics with small p and capital P said – can’t we just lower the amount of electricity we use and find more efficient ways of using it?

Well, probably, but not in the Highlands it seems!

I do tend to turn off things when not using them, but to save me cash not to save the planet! But I do frown heavily and disapprove of stupid things, and this story struck me as a classic example of stupidity!

Author’s note: I am neither pro or anti wind farms, have no agenda nor mean to cause any offence with this blog. I am not a AGW activist, I am not trying to provoke or influence!

Perhaps I am beginning to understand …

Impelled by Sheona’s post and the recent heated exchanges, I have been researching this “Monarchist/Republican” thing in your UK media, and there is little doubt that the blogging fraternity in the UK has gone completely bonkers.

Now, before you all start attacking me, or flouncing from the Chariot in high dudgeon, just take a deep breath and listen to dear old Daddy Bear.

In Australia, the Republican debate is merely a debate.   Nobody gets particularly heated about it, or insults those with a different view or submits hysterical diatribes to the MSM.   It’s something that needs to be sorted, sure, but it’s nothing to have a war over.   I’m sure Donald will back me up on this.

Quite obviously this is not the case in the UK.   Tempers are high, claws are out – the subject is being treated with – as I remarked before – religious fervour.   No prisoners are being taken, there are no calm and dispassionate analyses, only the feral screaming of two opposing mobs in a lunatic asylum.   No wonder Ferret, Sheona and Bravo have attacked Cuprum and Julie with such uncharacteristic acerbity – it’s what you’re all doing in the UK.   You have been stirred up by rabble-rousers to such an extent that you can’t tell your arse from your elbow.

So here’s some advice.   Keep firmly in mind that the Chariot is a civilised Australian site.   We don’t lose our rags over something as trivial as a constitutional monarchy or its possible republican replacement.   Personally I couldn’t give a stuff about whichever side of the divide you’re on, but the descent of the Chariot into a poor imitation of MyT is greatly deplored, particularly when the offenders are those who normally – when the red haze hasn’t descended on them – are some of the most interesting and thoughtful contributors.

Go sit down in a darkened room with a nice cup of tea and a biccy, and don’t come out until you’ve calmed down, children.

May Creative Writing Competition

Inspired by Pseu’s intriguing story, the subject will be “The Royal Wedding“.

The connection may be as tenuous as you like, but it must be there, somehow.   The words ‘grace‘ and ‘shovel‘ must be included, and each entry should contain a minimum of 1,250 words; there is no upper limit.

The Competition will close at midnight on Sunday the 15th May, AEST – so get your skates on!