Saturday 2nd July 2016
Bit of a shame they didn’t take all the ballot boxes to Brussels and empty them all out in the European Parliament Chamber and count them there then we wouldn’t have known that Scotland, London, Elmbridge, David Cameron, my neighbour and many others voted IN but most voted OUT. As it is we are seen (and feel) like a DUK (Dis-United Kingdom) but what is done is done and a year from now everything will be lovely just like my freshly dug new potatoes, Lottie loves them. It was all down to planting them with Bob’s Planter so as soon as I have set up a Trade Deal with anyone who wants to buy them………What’s a Trade Deal Sam? Is that when you want to buy some potatoes at Waitrose but you can’t have them unless you have a free coffee?
Meanwhile Lottie’s new kitchen is fast becoming a reality, heroic efforts are being made by all concerned to achieve and yesterday due to Granddads (both of them), hot and cold water arrived at the new sink but more importantly when the plug was ceremoniously pulled it drained away down the new drainpipe and as soon as we get a new door on the new toilet all will be lovely – just like my potatoes. There might be a picture to follow – of my new potatoes not the new toilet without a door! My sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are still intoxicating. Sorry.
Sunday 3rd July 2016
Well it’s supposed to be a time for looking forward to summer holidays and sunshine but here in the UK it’s not so hot and the future for the short term it has to be said is worrying. Looking at it from outside the UK (including Europe) you are probably all thinking that either we are a shining beacon of hope for all or that all the bungs have come out of the hull and we’ve run out of bungs. I heard a heated exchange on the radio yesterday blaming us old farts for the whole debacle which is fine (if you could prove it) but where does it get you? Nowhere. It’s too late for the blame game so let’s look at the problems from the same side of the table and not across the table (think I’ve said that before somewhere) and design the way forward ‘togezzer’ as Lottie would say.
Talking of designing I have come up with a new invention that will solve all our problems so watch this space. (Think I’ve said that before somewhere!}.
In the meantime my chicken thinks he’s a Spitfire and joined the Royal Air Force. The headwinds are a touch stronger but no problem, he has had 7 propellers fitted to his arse for maximum thrust.
Monday 4th July 2016
Old Bob is lucky enough to have half a dozen grandchildren and yesterday afternoon 10 year old twins Maddie and Phoebe danced their cotton socks off on stage at the Leatherhead Theatre. Along with what seemed hundreds of other young ladies they raised the spirits, not to say electrified the audience. A three hour, 34 routine, non-stop dazzling array of colour, costumes, inspired lighting, changing stage sets and music ranging from ballet, ballad, rock, pop and hip hop. It was energetic, enthusiastic, confident, vibrant and reminded us old farts of what youth was all about. Well done girls and well done SOEL Dance Academy.
Friday 8th July 2016
If you are still keeping up with Bob’s Blog then you are one of the few, and that doesn’t mean you are a Spitfire pilot in 1940, it means that according to my Goggle Analytics you are probably the only one reading this as it seems that interest is declining which, you may think that it’s time for old Bob to quit blogging but far from it so hang on in there as there may be some exciting news to come. (That sentence is crap but I can’t be bothered to put it right).
Take yesterday for instance, I wheeled Lottie in my wheelbarrow over the road to my vegetable patch to dig up some delicious new potatoes (really delicious). I took a lovely picture of Lottie sitting in the wheel barrow but like a plonker accidentally deleted it, now how frustrating is that so if you know how to retrieve a deleted image from your phone you will be my friend for ever Sam. Also yesterday I mended Dan’s lawnmower (again) so the old skills are still there also the old tools I used are still there in my tool box, the tools I was issued with back in 1955 at the start of my apprenticeship – isn’t that amazing? Also yesterday I rolled out Lottie’s sand box (it rolls on 3 cricket stumps) and found a large frog sheltering underneath, how it didn’t get steam rollered by the cricket stumps I shall never know – lucky frog. Now that’s much more interesting than sweltering in Ibiza, isn't it?
Monday 11th July 2016
There has been further progress on Lottie’s extension the kitchen is now fully functional but skirting, flooring, painting, decorating, snagging and signing off by the building inspector are yet to be done. 42 years ago when I finished my own extension (built single handed by the way) there were also many things left to be done which I might get round to someday! When we moved in to this house some 45 years ago I remember the previous owners saying that they had lived here for 18 years and I can remember thinking how utterly unthinkable living in the same house for 18 years would be, now, here we are some 45 years later and the utterly, utterly unthinkable has happened. Could that mean that the utterly, utterly, utterly unthinkable may happen and one day one of my inventions might make it on to the market place? Meanwhile Granddad is about to dig up some of his new potatoes, plenty of beans to come.
Sunday 17th July 2016
Time flies doesn’t it? Since I last blogged there has been triumph and tragedy in the news I just hope that you dear reader have triumphed and not been struck by tragedy, struck down with a trapped sciatic nerve, had tooth ache, back ache, head ache, gut ache or any other ache because if you have you have my sympathy. Overcoming any affliction can be helped by taking a trip to Nirvana, and that’s not a rock band or a State in the Union, it is a place that you won’t find on any destination board but somewhere within or without that is worth seeking so let me know when you have found it and I’ll join you…….. but then it won’t be Nirvana if I’m there, I’ll only cock things up by drilling a hole in the wrong place, driving erratically or upsetting the neighbours and that’s not what you want in your Nirvana. Charlotte Bronte I’m pretty sure found Nirvana when penning Jane Eyre so it’s out (or in) there somewhere. In the meantime my cockerel has been joined by the Stars and Stripes in honour of a visit from Renton Lill, who’s Renton Lill? Maybe tomorrow.
Thursday 21st July 2016
Now, Lynnwood Lill and Renton Lill (perhaps derogatory names for two lovely people) who were the spouses of two other lovely people, Chic and Bob, who met as rooky recruits of The Boeing Aircraft Company in September 1968. The relationship of the two families (they both ended up with 6 lovely children between them - 3 apiece) grew over the years as they all possessed that magic ingredient for making a relationship work but I don’t know what you call it – it doesn’t happen very often - let’s call it true friends. Anyhow to cut a long story short Renton Lill popped by for a couple of days on her way back to Heathrow after a reminiscing tour of the UK, unfortunately Chic couldn’t make it as he had to look after the dog back in Detroit. Perhaps I should explain that one family persevered with life in the US and one didn’t but the one who didn’t has always wondered whether or not that perhaps it should have (persevered). Could have, should have, would have?
Forgot to explain that Lynnwood and Renton are two towns in the USA, Lynnwood on Highway 99 40 miles north of Seattle and Renton on the south end of Lake Washington 20 miles south of Seattle which was where the two families lived, Renton Lill lived in Renton and Lynnwood Lill lived in Lynnwood, obviously!
Friday 22nd July 2016
I’d just like to wish all you lovely people out there, including you Sam, rushing off to work earning money in order to pay the bills and taxes and have enough left over for food, shoes, clothes and holidays – have a lovely Friday – it’s POETS day and I wish I was young enough to join you. Excuses!
Monday 25th July 2016
For those of you who can’t wait to hear the next episode from Lottie’s extension I can tell you that Granddad has received a Final Building Regulations Completion Certificate issued by the Local Council, so, apart from a bit of pipe boxing, a spot of decorating and the laminate flooring sorted – job done as they say, Lottie celebrated yesterday by putting on her new fairy’s outfit (with wings, wand and sunglasses) but declined to pose for a picture – maybe later.
Meanwhile Granddads excruciating pain down his left leg from his trapped sciatic nerve is receiving treatment from his Ozzy lady Acupuncturist, he doesn’t normally complain or expect any sympathy but this time any help gratefully received. He did have a flash of inspiration which helped somewhat on Saturday morning (no it wasn’t chatting to you Sam, although it was lovely to see you) it was another idea to change the world, it was the Universal Doorstay which is being evaluated by no less than two global manufacturers as I write so watch this space – think I’ve said that before somewhere! Currently the materials and method of construction are on the secret list but I’ll show you a picture anyway.
Saturday 30th July 2016
There’s nothing more beautiful, wonderful and uplifting as having a computer that responds instantly to the buttons on the keyboard, is there? There is also nothing more beautiful, wonderful, and uplifting as when you are not in constant pain but when both of those things are painfully not the case then blogging becomes impossible. So, until something changes I’m off to do my exercises, plug in my TENS machine, get more physio, yoga, acupuncture, pain killers, an MRI scan, defragment and scan for bugs. I’m out of it – sorry. In the meantime I’ll leave you with a picture of Lottie enjoying her new extension. Aaaaahhh!
Wednesday 10th August 2016
Well it’s a good job I’ve got nothing better to do than to blog because if I did I couldn’t and if I didn’t I couldn’t anyway. Which makes sense to me but probably not to you, but thanks for checking on me anyway. I’ll try to have something more interesting to chat about tomorrow as I’m down for an MRI scan which they tell me will reveal all – not sure I want to know!
Sunday 14th August 2016
Without wishing to bore you with a monologue on coping with back pain all I would say is that experiencing an MRI scan is like flying to the moon in a noisy 3 foot diameter rocket (which I’ve always wanted to do) so for me it was on my bucket list and now it isn’t. Results yet to be revealed. In the meantime I would recommend a TENS machine for coping with pain, the instructions on how to use it are a pain in the backside (no pun intended) but if you’ve gone through the list of pills, potions and all the other therapies, give it a try.
Images of Red Arrows temporarily removed.
Might be copyright!
Thursday 18th August 2016
There’s nothing like good news to take away the pain, is there? Today Eliza my other granddaughter (I’ve got 5 of them} achieved her A level results necessary to gain entrance into her favourite University (Newcastle) so many congratulations to Eliza – no pressure Ivan!
Also Tim, their father, who happens to be married to Julia my daughter, celebrated 150 years of shoemaking at Grenson’s Northampton yesterday; the celebrations were topped off by a flypast by the Red Arrows (no less) over the factory in Northampton.
Why the Red Arrows? Because Tim, who is the driving force behind Grenson for the past 20 years has been supplying shoes for the Red Arrow pilots. Lucky them. Good news, I’ve got a pair of Grenson’s as well so does that mean I can fly a Red Arrow?
Monday 29th August 2016
Normally I get a couple of hits a day probably from Sam and friends who are obviously worried how the sciatica is, well today it’s a bit better thanks, so don’t write me off just yet. However I have been shocked into action today as Bob’s Blog got 1000 hits yesterday – unbelievable – all of them from a small town in Virginia USA, now either the old Goggle Analytics has gone Ape or there are 1000 people out there who have a genuine interest in old Bob’s Blog – an email from any of you would be interesting.
Just returned from another visit to Branscombe with Lottie and parents, this time in a caravan – (large static trailer for my American friends). The week was topped off with a crab sandwich and another spectacular display by the Red Arrows seen from the top of the cliff above Sidmouth. Sad day yesterday as the old CRV had to go, after 12 years safely ferrying us all over the place she had become one of the family, and now she’s gone.
Wednesday 31st August 2016
Before I descend into oblivion along with the CRV and this crap computer I would like to put the record straight regarding my grandchildren. Lottie, Maddie, Phoebe, Eliza and Hannah have already had a few mentions on this fantastic blog but our ‘one and only’ grandson Ivan Robert, bless him, has not, so, I would like to put on record that his grandparents are genuinely filled with pride at his achievements. Apart from surviving 16 years with two elder sisters he has put in a heroic effort to achieve highly impressive results in his recent GCSE examinations so many congratulations Ivan. It puts my one GCE in Geometrical and Technical Drawing into perspective – rubbish.
Friday 2nd September 2016
Reading through page 10 of this blog there seems to be a lot of questions unanswered so I’ll attempt to put that right by reporting that the Runner Beans were a disaster as the black fly took over and decimated two rows, the potatoes are pretty much OK although the bind weed sent tentacles in all directions strangling everything and it’s a bit of a nightmare getting at them, the rhubarb produced but not very well so all in all not very satisfactory and not much to show for the effort but that’s gardening. I was never cut out for it any way.
I found out yesterday that I am officially ‘incredible’ which is a satisfying feeling and makes up for all the balls ups I’ve made recently. How is it that I am ‘incredible’? Well yesterday there was an obituary in the Telegraph of Joe Sutter Chief Designer of the Boeing 747 :-
Joe Sutter, who has died aged 95, was the chief engineer behind the Boeing 747 – the world’s most recognisable aircraft and the “jumbo jet” that revolutionised commercial air travel following its launch in 1968.
The stakes for Boeing could scarcely have been higher. With a fuselage 225 ft long and a tail as tall as a six-storey building, 747 dwarfed its rivals in both expanse and expense. No production plant in the world was large enough to accommodate it, so the company bought more than 750 acres of land on the corner of Paine Field in Everett, Washington, and set about clearing away the dense forest.
Over four million cubic yards of earth had to be moved in the process, leaving room for a building so capacious that clouds would form near the roof. At the head of it all was Sutter, who had at his disposal a 50,000-strong team of mechanics, engineers and administrators. Their industry nickname was “the Incredibles”.
So, I was one of the 50,000 ‘Incredibles’, something I always knew but only found out for sure yesterday. Isn’t that incredible?
PS. The new front door was fitted yesterday and it looks great the only problem is that the whole house now needs redecorating to match the new front door - anybody know an incredible decorator?
Tuesday 6th September 2016
Despite personally breathing new life into my aging computer and achieving a state of equilibrium without pain killers or a walking stick you might think that I should be pleased with myself, well I am, but, after yet another visit to a ‘care home’ visiting poor souls who don’t want to be there, don’t know who they are or where they are, surrounded by carers who also don’t want to be there it takes the wind out of your sails. Yet, more and more ‘care homes’ are popping up all over the place waiting to suck in many of us who have survived the storms of life, climbed our mountains and yet are destined to descend into oblivion into the clutches of a ‘care home’. Not a pretty prospect and decidedly depressing. So what’s the answer? You never see this happening in the bird world so I’ve decided to become a bird, I’ve already said my favourite bird is a crow so if you happen to spot an old crow flying around without navigation lights at night in the vicinity of Heathrow or Gatwick – it might be me!
In the mean time I have recently learned that every other tide is caused by the moon, which is common knowledge, but I bet you don’t know what causes the second tide of the day, that is, the tide that is generated on the side of the planet away from the moon? I can tell you that it is not the ‘bulge’ caused by the moon or any other of the answers you will find on Wikipedia or Google. So what is it?
Saturday 10th September 2016
OK nobody knows so if you want to know you’ll find the answer in a book called ‘SKYFARING’ written by Mark Vanhoenacker. It’s about the reflections of a commercial airline pilot mainly as seen from the flight deck of a Boeing 747. In his preface he requests pictures you have taken from the window seat so needless to say I sent him a link to my blog about my part on the 747 which includes a shot from a Boeing 707 in October 1969 on our return from the USA. He kindly replied as follows – ‘ Dear Bob, Many thanks for that link, a very enjoyable read! I love the test rig photo for the 747 and got a laugh at your caption. Thanks again for writing and all the best, Mark.’
So there you are, there is actually somebody out there who actually reads this blog that is apart from you Sam and maybe Mac and Judy out there in Ottawa on occasions.
Sunday 11th September 2016
Well there's a lot going on out there this weekend but I found comfort in the mundane, the trivial, the rituals, the routine and the everyday things and so did Dr Sarah Goldingay - click HERE to share the experience.
Thursday 15th September 2016
Bob's Blog has now moved on to PAGE 11.