Bob's Blog Page 64
You are reading Page 64 of Bob's Blog/diary/dream/story/journey/novelistic memoir.
He is 86 years old and counting.
He is also very much aware that this blog is of no significance whatsoever -
at the time of writing!
TIDAL STREAM ENERGY
Tuesday 1st July 2025
Having survived the war, survived 10 years of school and 70 years of work this old blogger thought retirement would be something to look forward to. Perhaps it will be!
Despite all his complaining, lack of sleep, aching limbs and the searing heat OKB is quite bouncy today.
It's #Summertime #And the livin' is easy ~ Sort of.
Wednesday 2nd July 2025.
OK Bob would like to thank his regular reader(s) for persevering. It can't be easy reading about Oxshott all the time but you will appreciate that this blogger's braincell is full of little else. For instance, yesterday he found himself flying over Oxshott looking in the back gardens of the rich and famous. How can that be? You may well ask. You can experience the magic for yourself if you click HERE. The background guitar is magic as well. Sorry about the ad's.
In amongst the trees in the distance is 'The Bench' at Brown's Corner which OKB visited yesterday. Yes, he knows he shouldn't be driving but he knows every pixel of the way, intimately. 'The Bench' will be receiving it's new memorial plaque very soon. Watch this space.
'This space' might also include the progress of OK Bob's Tidal Energy Invention. Might!
Not forgetting the progress of poor old Nannie trapped in a wheelchair with nothing but East Enders and Virgin River to look forward to. And her 24/7 carer of course!
Thursday 3rd July 2025.
OK Bob is quite proud of his twin grand daughters Maddie and Phoebe, they are both 19 (well they would be wouldn't they?) and studying Art at Brooklands Technical College, this is a couple of Maddie's 'scattergun' paintings. There is a familiar look about them, don't you think G? Especially the birds.
Friday 4th July 2025.
A trip and a lunch at Wisley Gardens was enjoyed by Nannie yesterday. Another trip to Waitrose wasn't enjoyed by Granddad. But the Thai Green Curry, a glass of McKendrick's the peace and tranquillity was. Or is it were?
Saturday 5th July 2025.
Dear Reader,
Life as an unpaid 86 year old full time carer for the afflicted is not easy. And, of course, life for the afflicted who need a full time carer is not easy. But which is worse?
OK Bob (that means Old and Knackered Bob in case you've forgotten) thought he had answers to everything but the answer to the above question is elusive and he's come to the conclusion that it's a waste of time and unhealthy trying to find the answer.
So, is it 'Keep Calm and Carry On'? Keeping calm is not easy and most of the time carrying on is impossible so it isn't the answer.
Is it 'Do your best in the circumstances'? Doing your best is often not good enough.
Is it 'Count your chickens'? A great idea but what does that mean when you don't have chickens?
Is it shirk or farm out responsibility? What would you do and where would you go? And too bloody expensive.
Is it unload responsibility on to already overloaded Angels? No.
Is it 'Succumb to Cossins'? (Cossins are a local care home that do have chickens.) Thinks, is that the reason they have chickens? Bloody expensive but sounds reasonable? Only if you are there. But OKB wouldn't wish that on any of his readers.
Is it 'Wait and see what happens' ? Could be the answer but he's always been restless and waiting is not in his DNA.
Loadsa love and hugs, (might be the answer?)
But who from?
Bob.
Reg and Mabel?
They've done enough.
Sunday 6th July 2025.
Reg and Mabel, in case you didn't know, are OK Bob's parents. They never complained and they didn't have central heating, washing machines, dishwashers, a telephone, a car, fridge, freezer, Waitrose or colour tele' but t they did have chickens.
So, there you have it, count your chickens.
Monday 7th July 2025.
OK Bob's Tidal Stream Energy project is now unstoppable (a bit like the tides if you think about it!) but will he be alive to see it? Depends on his chickens!
Tuesday 8th July.
Today, OK Bob had an email from The Advanced Research and Innovations Agency (ARIA for short) encouraging him to apply for £100,000 grant to develop his idea for TSE. Another reason to watch (or listen) to this space?
Wednesday 9th July 2025.
If you were stood outside The Grenson Shoe Factory in Northampton today you would have seen The Red Arrows saluting 30 years of collaboration. The Red Arrows Pilots wear Grenson shoes, and so does Old Bob. How can that be? His Chief Angel is married to the Chief Executive. Congratulations Tim.
Thursday 10th July 2025.
Phew! It's hotter than a snake's airse in a waggon rut in Old Bob's back garden at the moment. That's 88°F in old money. Tip of the day. Don't forget to close your curtains, blinds, windows and doors before 9am. No charge. Cool!
Friday 11th July 2025.
You may remember that Very OK Bob was awarded £300 to spend on a respite break. He was thinking that a couple of nights in The Burford Bridge Hotel would be great, a stagger up Box Hill, a glass of wine at Denbies, hitch a ride on a Harley, a stumble across the Stepping Stones, what do you think GJ? Don't answer that. VOK Bob might get the wrong idea!
Saturday 12th July 2025.
Did you know that the Stepping Stones were put there in 1841, removed in 1939 in case the Germans invaded and replaced in 1946?
Sunday 13th July 2025.
You would think that this old blogger would have something more interesting to blog about wouldn't you? Well he does. He had another eye injection for ARMD yesterday. He also gets a lot of earache.
Monday 14th July 2025.
Nothing of interest to blog about today except for The Burford Bridge Hotel mentioned earlier read The Denbies Vineyard Hotel. Definitely worth a visit.
Tuesday 15th July 2025.
OIK (Old and Incredibly Knackered) Bob's visit to The Denbies Vineyard Hotel yesterday reminded him of the up market 'Spa's' in Ibiza with their gazebo's and plush furnishings but with far reaching views over the vineyard. What's not to like? He's decided to spend a couple of nights 'respite' there later, he'll let you know when. You could join him for a Babycham if you like, he might even pick you up if you are available and don't live too far away!
He also fitted the new plaque to 'Brown's Memorial Bench' in Oxshott yesterday, very tranquil.
View of the gazebo's and plush furniture at Denbies Vineyard Hotel
View from the gazebo's and plush furniture at Denbies Vineyard Hotel
Wednesday 16th July 2025.
Dear Robert,
Thank you for your email, and for sharing your proposal.
As I’m sure you can understand we cannot comment on your proposal, but we thank you for sharing.
I am also afraid that we cannot offer any funding for your project.
Apologies if this comes as a disappointment, and we wish you all the best.
Kind regards,
Helena
Engagement and Enquiries
Bank of England
Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AH
Worth a try!
Thursday 17th July 2025.
SOB (Spent Old Bob) is now looking for a live in carer as he is no longer able to cope. The successful applicant will have the run of the house but not the garage.
SOB and Young Mike
on Brown's Bench with the new memorial plaque.
A masterpiece!
Friday 18th July 2025.
Next Friday 25th July at 5.30pm there will be an unveiling of the new plaque ceremony at The Brown's Memorial Bench at Brown's Corner, Little Heath Lane, Oxshott. All are welcome. There will be a video call to John in Redwood, California who is a relation of the Brown's and who kindly had the bench installed.
John and Bob were neighbours back in the late 40's and 50's and were in The Air Training Corps together. A bottle of R. Whites Cream Soda will be cracked open to celebrate the occasion.
Original label form the 1950's.
You could get tuppence a bottle from Vi' if you returned it.
3 bottles = 5 Woodbines!
And don't forget to
in your back garden this weekend.
Saturday 19th July 2025.
What does it tell you when you can't open a bottle of milk? Let alone a bottle of Cream Soda!
Sunday 20th July 2025.
Your favourite old blogger is off for a couple of days on his respite break tomorrow. The destination is a secret but it's not far from The Stepping Stones and might include a glass of wine. Opened by the waitress! Cin Cin!
Monday 21st JUly 2025.
This post is coming from room No 17 at The Denbies Vineyard Hotel. Very tranquil. Good value. A touch opulent. Location excellent. Waiter service excellent. Earache nil. And before you get the wrong idea Granddad had an earache but now he doesn't. But he's not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing!
Tuesday 22nd July 2025.
Full English Breakfast definitely recommended. Art Gallery and Sculpture Park mesmerising.
60 years ago Young Bob took a picture of a young lady on The Stepping Stones with his Brownie 127, you can see it by scrolling back to 11th July. Today he took another picture from the same place.
Another distant memory on display at The Bikers Café nearby.
Wednesday 23rd July 2025.
And if you are worried about Nannie back at the ranch, don't, she is being adequately entertained and looked after during her deserved 'respite' from Granddad by our team of Angels in turn.
And if you are worried about Granddad behaving himself, don't, he had a Fever Tree Ginger Beer with his beer battered cod, chips a la matchstick and peas diarrhoea last night (well that's what they looked like) in the sumptuous restaurant at Denbies Hotel. The relaxing background music was lovely but it would have been better if it was Acker Bilk!
He has a confession to make, he had a date with a Belted Galloway. #Cheyenne #Cheyenne # Where will you be campin' tonight? At the Hurtwood Inn, Peaslake where his Great, Great Grandfather William Jones spent time in the Workhouse and was listed in the 'Pislake' census of 1861 as 'A Scavenger'.
Can it get more exciting? Definitely.
Lucky Bob, Unlucky Belted Galloway!
Thursday 24th July 2025.
Peaslake, a tiny hamlet in the middle of Surrey you would think has plenty of old world charm but in the eyes' of Old Grandad it has plenty of old world tat. Decay and make do and mend is everywhere. Including The Hurtwood Inn. It proudly sports 'BUILT IN 1920' but the windows, paintwork, fixtures and fittings, wiring and plumbing seem original. Although, it has to be said the bedrooms are clean and comfortable.
All this is reflected in the price, not cheap but cheaper than the rest. Grandad was allocated the room in the loft with steps and head banging hazards everywhere. The kitchen area looks decidedly dodgy. The staff are young and friendly and try to make up for the rest. Grandad was able to negotiate a change of room that didn't need ropes and crampons to access.
The Village Sign oak post is decaying fast and is about to collapse so beware.
Perhaps Old Granddads view of the place reflects his earache which has returned with avengeance. Sorry Peaslake, it's back to Denbies next time, if he gets the chance.
Friday 25th July 2025.
Back at The Ranch, earache increased to almost unbearable intensity despite presenting Nannie with a fluffy toy from Denbies. Applied for another £100 million funding for STSE Project. Interesting response from Richard Branson's Virgin Unite.
Dear Robert,
Thanks for sharing your project with us ............ (secret) ..............
wishing you all the best going forward.
Kind regards,
Virgin Unite Team
Don't forget the Brown's Bench Plaque unveiling ceremony tonight at 5.30 UK time. BOB (Busy Old Bob) is hoping to make it despite his earache.
Saturday 26th July 2025.
The Bench Party was a success thanks to Adele, Shaun and Mike, not forgetting John on a video link from California. The story will continue. Meanwhile Old Bob is nursing his earache as well as Nannie. He's thinking of moving into Denbies Vineyard Hotel permanently. Cheaper than Cossins!
Sunday 27th July 2025.
Apologies if this blog is getting a touch introspective. It happens when you very old, are a 24/7 carer, have constant earache and no sleep. He's seeing the ENT specialist tomorrow. If you have nothing better to do today you can read THIS but you don't have to buy it, technology will allow you to flick over the pages if you so wish.
A much better option would be to click HERE and watch and listen to a one handed pianist at The Proms.
Or HERE and watch The First Night. Thanks.
Monday 28th July 2025.
Mr Valentine the ENT specialist lanced an abscess in OB's ear and sent him off with a bucket of pills, painkillers, antibiotics and drops. Count your chickens and see you next week. Next.
Tuesday 29th July 2025.
One of the side effects of OB's antibiotic pills is a 50/50 chance of death, which he thinks is great, he thought he was going to die.
The day before yesterday Angel Dan wheeled Nannie around Polesden Lacey, her spirits were lifted. Meanwhile Granddad stayed at home lifting his spirits.
OB (Old Bob) is considering commissioning a local artist to paint a picture of Brown's Shop Oxshott in the snow in 1947. At the moment the scene only exists in OB's head. It will include Ration Books, prams and bikes and Jack's Ford Popular delivery van. It will require the artist to spend an evening with OB discussing the project over a glass of wine at Denbies. If you know of anyone let him know. Or if you are one what would you charge? Artists who experienced the snows of 1947 preferred.
This will do for starters, the grocery shop was attached to the left of the cottage.
Sweets, cigarettes, ice cream, Tizer and cream soda shop on the right.
YB (Young Bob) read in the news today that President Trump is cheesed off with wind farms contaminating his golf courses in Scotland. Guess what? Dear Donald, Please click HERE. Kind regards, USA Alien Resident Bob 1968/9.
Wednesday 30th July 2025.
Dear Bob,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with President Donald J. Trump.
The White House.
If you are a dreamer, might as well dream big don't you think?