I Really Hate Haggling

Look, I promise I’m not going to make a habit of this but this is another of my MyT blogs, this time from the end of 2008. I’m in the process of copying all my MyT blogs over to my blogsite here just  in case I’m the next one to be consigned to  oblivion over there. Apologies to Tina who I know does not approve of such retentive behaviour but hey, we’re all different and entitled to march to our own drum, in my opinion.

My excuse for inflicting this one on you is that it is, I believe,  relevant to omg’s blog. It also explains the avatar which I am using here and which is on the way out in the near future,  for your information.

I really hate haggling, dickering, bargaining or whatever else you wish to call it. I would have been a severe disappointment to my Highland ancestors who thought that a good day out could always be had by nipping over into the next glen to negotiate the transfer of cattle from some neighbouring clan, usually at the point of a claymore.

Continue reading “I Really Hate Haggling”

The Art of Haggling

Even though most of us transact by card these days, there are times when a bit of cash can come in handy. Turn your attention to the rugged looking guy in the riding coat which in no way would I wish you to think  in anyway depicted Oldmovieguy, I gave up smoking years ago. But rather look at the coat which is from the Marlboro ‘Classic’ range and is called a riding coat. Since the weather turned a bit nasty on us a few weeks ago I realised my old coat was just not up to the job as it was a bit light weight, ok for summer and the odd shower but not much cop in a blizzard. So I went of to seek the Australian ‘drizabone’ coat but something about it did not quite fit, so I left it. Then a friend told me about the Marlboro range and after a bit of a ‘google’ found a stockist. The coat you see is the coat I bought and very pleased with it I am indeed. It’s warm, stylish, waterproof in the extreme and, being 6’4″, keeps 90% of me dry. Continue reading “The Art of Haggling”

Greetings folks!

Not entirely sure I know my a** from my e**** here yet but this is just a quick one to say ‘Hi!’

Looks quite spiffy here and so nice to see all the familiar folks without waiting ages for the site to load and battling past the pesky ads.

Forgive me if I turn up in unexpected places, Bearsy.  You might see me wandering lost in the dark corridors of the WordPress  basement heading for the bins but I’ll probably find my way back to civilization….

Will post a bit of a blog later. With pics if I can manage it.

Bfn!

ps:     I don’t think I’ll be trying a  ‘manual excerpt.’ Doesn’t sound very nice. Only to be attempted if desperate, I feel.

Well ‘ard

Cold, wet, miserable, droopy tail and frizzy fur (again).  It was not the good morning that had boded so much early promise.  At OFFS hrs this morning, Mother Nature put on the most magnificent dawn display.  The sun was still just below the horizon, but the low, grey clouds were already lit from below and shone in places bright red, orange and pink.  It was only two degrees above freezing as I cocked a contemplative leg against a convenient tree and considered the forthcoming day. Continue reading “Well ‘ard”

All in a good cause, continued…

Well last week’s plans to swim twice to kick start the training for Swimathon, (http://www.swimathon.org/index.php ) were only half fulfilled. An ill child, a cat with an unexpected fit and sheer exhaustion were the excuses. I hope to do the 100 length challenge in April and have not swum very much over the last year.

Well last week’s plans to swim twice to kick start the training for Swimathon, (http://www.swimathon.org/index.php ) were only half fulfilled. An ill child, a cat with an unexpected fit and sheer exhaustion were the excuses. I hope to do the 100 length challenge in April and have not swum very much over the last year.

But now the child is better, the cat released from the vet and I’ve had a lie in this morning, so those excuses are no longer valid …. Continue reading “All in a good cause, continued…”

Talents

This may be a bit rambling – the discussion on the OU blog set off a couple of thoughts.

First thought; talent. It would seem reasonable to say that people are talented in different areas. Such a statement seems to raise no controversy when talking about footballers, tennis players, ballet dancers, opera singers, carpenters, mechanics, engineers, or any other physically expressed talent. It would also seem clear that the great majority of people can be brought to a basic level of competency in most things – for example, my early training in the Army was as a tank crewman, so I am reasonably competent with a hammer, a screwdriver and an adjustable spanner, (as well as a 12-pound sledgehammer and a crowbar.) It also seems to be the case that most people, given the opportunity and instruction, can be brought to a higher level of competency in some things. It is, however, equally clear that some people have the basic equipment which allows them to excel in one – or more – particular thing – Andy Murray, Dame Kiri Te Kawana, Auguste Rodin, Michael Phelps – I can play tennis, sing, make models and swim, but… Continue reading “Talents”

On This Day – 14th February 1400

Richard II 1377-1399

The 14th of February 1400 is allegedly the day that Richard II, last of the Plantagenet Kings, died in Pontefract Castle. The cause of death is said to have been starvation.

Richard was born on the 6th of January 1367 in Bordeaux. He was the second son of Edward, the Black Prince, and Joan, later known as the ‘Fair Maid of Kent’. Richard’s grandfather, Edward III, and his father were renowned soldiers.

Richard’s elder brother died in 1371, by which time his father was already an invalid. The Black Prince died in June 1376, leaving Richard, aged nine, as heir to the English Crown.

By 1377, Edward III was also an invalid and declining into senility. He was unable to open the last Parliament of his reign in January 1377, and Richard stood in for him on the opening day.

Edward III died on the 21st of June 1377, and Richard was crowned just eleven days later. Richard swore the, by now, traditional oath to uphold the laws and customs of his ancestors, to protect the Church and the clergy, to do justice to all and, finally, to uphold the laws which the people would ‘justly and reasonably’ choose. He was carried shoulder high from the church and in the process lost a shoe. This was later described as a ‘bad omen’. Continue reading “On This Day – 14th February 1400”

Life in the Centre Lane

Sometimes, my job is not too bad.

Thought I’d write a bit about life, the universe and everything. Been knocking abround this old world for close on sixty years and, though I moved out of the slow lane many years ago, I can’t say that I really live in the fast lane, apart from the odd time when I pull out, cruise along at speed for a bit, then drop back again 🙂 Continue reading “Life in the Centre Lane”