The Life and Times of this Old Git

Name:
Location: Teignmouth, Devon, United Kingdom

I'm married with two grown up children and four grandchildren, My wife of 47 years is Sue and we are the same age. My two children are Pamela (blogging occasionly under Pam-bigbustybikerbaby.blogspot.com and Roy,who was recently Paralysed from the waist down due to an Absys on his Spine. My 4 grandchildren are (oldest first) Gavin, Hayley, Thomas,and Zoe. Sue and I are both retired and we're disabled too, her with a badly Arthritic back and spine, me with lung (COPD) and Heart problems.I have always loved Fishing (all sorts) Sue started fishing with me about 8 years ago, now she really enjoys it too. We both love m'cycles and m'cycling, Sue owns and rides her own bike which is a Custom 1981 250 Honda.I own a 1979 Honda CX500. We are both members of this motorcycle club ( view or join our club on http://www.cx-gl.org.uk/) or see my blog post Dec 2007 blog "Getting old, never", of course we're badly resticted now due to our illness, only riding in really good weather.Just over three years ago we lost our best friend and Baby Mojo the border Collie, Gone but never forgotten. Please feel free to use any of our photo's but do let me know you have used them, thank you.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

If only i had.

I have often wondered what cars i might buy (if they were all still available)if i won a few million pounds on the Lottery.
It was originally going to be a top 10 but that would be very difficult......
So here goes, Here's my motorpool,not necessarily in any particular order.

1. Austin Healey 3000 a lovely classic 1960s sports car, fitted with a 3 litre, straight 6 cylinder engine which gives a beautiful sound to go with its fantastic looks.
This car has been a firm favourite of mine ever since i was able to drive (although i might now struggle to get in it).This is definately my NUMBER ONE


2. Austin A90/A95/105.
A car i loved after driving one in the garage i worked at on leaving school.After passing my test in 1963, this was the first car i delivered for a customer. It has (had) so much power and equipment like heaters, radio, fully retractable windows, sunroof etc, it came in two tone with Walnut door panels and dashboard and deep Red leather upholstery, "Love at first drive",oooooh.
My Step father had the A90/5 (i'm not sure which)and he often took us all out in his showing off its speed, equipment, looks etc.



3. Aston Martin DB4.
The mechanic at the garage (mentioned above)serviced one of these twice a year for an actor that worked at the RST theatre company (i cant remember his name for sure but Hall rings a bell.This car was in British Racing Green and was just so beautiful, both inside and out, with Cream leather upholstery and Walnut dashboard and steering wheel.Our mechanic (Clive)always made sure i was free to go with him when it came to the time for the road test, i remember being awe struck at the acceleration and speed, grinning like a Cheshire cat the whole time.



4. Chryslers..as manufacturers, they make several models that really do it for me. They seem to enjoy making cars that are perhaps considered.... quirky.
I have searched the internet for pictures of someone making a Hot rod from a Chrysler PT Cruiser, it cried out to be made into one. The only reason that no one has i can see is perhaps the fact that the basic model is front wheel drive so doesn't lend itself to Huge wheels and Tyres on the back as Hot Rods do.
The 300c or even better the monster engined SRT8, (so like a poor mans Bentley)are also models i love. The huge "Bull" front, its sheer car and engine size,style is great too,this would be my modern "Luxury, going out car".
As for modern Sports models go, i quite fancy the Crossfire. It has great looks and reasonable modern sporty performance.





5. The Austin 1800/2200 range.(also Wolseley models)
A huge lovely car launched in the mid 60s, with a vast amount of room inside especially in the rear seat (ideal as a passion wagon).The chap who lived opposite me had one brand new and took me out to football matches several times, performance on the 1800 was brisk the 2200 extreme quick, great fun.



6. Nissan Skyline.
This car probably finds its way on to this list via my devilish side, i always fancied a car that externally looked fairly innocuous but was really a "Wolf in Sheeps clothing" especially getting away from other cars at any traffic controls.Early models didn't even carry the rear spoiler which does give it away a bit.Engines have varied so much from the early 70s when they were introduced that any quick engine was squeezed into a large family sized saloon car with the small engine space that goes with them.


7. Mercedes Benz 300SL (Gullwing)
This was brought out in the late 50s when i was a school boy, myself and most of the other boys in my class used to drool over pictures of this fabulously beautiful car and still do to this day, so it was a certain for this blog.




8.Alpine Renault A110
As previously mentioned i worked in a garage in Stratford on Avon as a young man, this garage took on the Agency for Renault back in the times of the R4's and Dauphines.As time went on Renault moved forward with models to R8's R10S R5's R16's etc, during that time they developed sporting, mostly rally cars, some with the help of other firms, one of which were Alpine. Together they developed this and other special rally cars, winning countless rallies with several different types of these (including World rally championships) cars. This model was the one that looked and sounded the bees knees to me then and now.

Before adding my Joke of the day, i would like to try to find out who has been visiting my humble blog lately?.Over the last two weeks people visiting has gone from an average 12 to 16 people most days to between 25 and 34 some days.So if you visit my blog please tell me who you are and what you were hoping for and did you find it? Its very simple to do, at the bottom of each blog is a pencil symbol, press on this and leave a comment in the box. I don't mind criticism or praise or even correcting my mistakes but add either who you are or where you found me!!!. Do not worry if it asks you for a Google account, if it does sign in as anonymous then leave your name or site at the bottom of the message. Thanks.

Joke of the day.
Two aliens landed on the Salisbury plain near a petrol station that was closed for the night. They approached one of the petrol pumps Greetings, Earthling. We come in peace. Take us to your leader."
The petrol pump, of course, didn't respond.Annoyed at the pump's haughty attitude, he drew his ray gun and said gruffly, "Greetings, Earthling. We come in peace. Take us to your leader or I will fire!"
The older alien warned his comrade saying, 'You probably don't want to do that! I really think that will make him mad.'
'Rubbish,' replied the cocky, young alien. He aimed his weapon and opened fire. There was a huge explosion. A massive fireball roared towards him and blew the younger alien off his feet and threw him in a burnt, smoking mess about 200 yards away.
'What a ferocious creature!' exclaimed the young, fried alien. 'He nearly killed me! How did you know he was so dangerous?'The older alien leaned over, placed a friendly feeler on his crispy friend and replied, 'If there's one thing I've learned during my intergalactic travels, you never mess with a guy who can loop his penis over his shoulder twice and then stick it in his ear.'

Monday, September 06, 2010

Great Dorset Steam Fair 2010.







Today's blog is my third on the annual Great Dorset Steam Fair. Every year i extol the virtues of this magnificent event yet i still can't seem to be able to get people interested, i suppose the name "Steam Fair" could put people off, with them imagining Steam Rollers, Tractors, fairground vehicles even Trains. All this of course is the mainstay of the show and what it has ben built around for the last 42 years.The Steam side of it doesn't really float my boat either but i do like the atmosphere, smells and noises associated with it.Let me now tell what else is available at this Annual 5 day event.Firstly it is impossible to (even skimping)see all of this show in one day, the whole site including Show ground,car parks, caravan/camping covers over 600 acres and is larger than Blandford village.Last year over 27,000 people stayed on site during the week, Well over a quarter of a million people visited it too.Here are just a few of the things to see and do, One of the Largest and most modern fun fairs in the country, all day and night till midnight.7 full sized Marquees, all of which have bars in them and each one putting on its own style of music (free) from midday until 11.30 pm.There are Country, Folk, Rock,Marquees as well as 3 mixed music ones. The main Arena has a huge Bar attached and groups who played there this year included Planet Abba,The Wurzels,Ultimate Madness, The Bohemians, Too Rex etc. For you lovers of a bargain there are over 900 car boot style stalls in a huge area, divided into 10 rows.On the Classic side there are Vintage/Classic, Cycles, Cars, Caravans, Lorries, Tractors,Buses, Motorcycles all which parade daily in one of the three outdoor arenas, with each one getting its full history read out as it stops in front of the commentary box.A real spectacle at night was the Tractor pulling, with smoke and flames from Exhausets lighting up the night sky.Heavy Horses parade daily and show there skills with the plough or Farrows.Also a Dog show and Sheepdog show, rounding up amongst other things Ducks, Chickens, Sheep, and children !!!.
A seperate area is set out for Static Steam engines such as Pumps, Generators, Threshing machines, Huge Saws etc.There are three full sized shops housed in Marquees selling just about everything you need to stay here.The Craft tent houses all sorts of Skills in two full sized Marquees, including, Painting, Wood Carving, Metal Cutting, Knitting, Crochet,Wicker work, Dolls Houses, Lace making etc etc.
If your hungry there are over 80 stalls scattered all around the site, selling such varied items as Curry, Chinese food, Bangers Mash & Peas, Faggots & Chips,Burgers and Dogs of all shapes and sizes,Donut stalls, Pastie & Pie stalls even one selling Pancakes (Crepes)and lots lots more.Then of course there is the Food Hall where vendors give tasters prior to selling of, Cheeses by the dozen,Pasties, Pies of all varieties,Wines, Beers, Sausages, Burgers, Faggots, Sanwhiches, Bread of all types, shapes, and types, etc etc a real Culinary heaven.
There is just so much more going on that i could easily do the wrong thing putting you off by the length of this babbling.
What i will say is post next years dates in your Calendar and go, i promise you will not be dissapointed, Dates Wednesday 31st August until Sunday 4 th September 2011 inclusive.






Joke of the day.
A young boy went up to his father and asked him, 'Dad, what is the
difference between potentially and realistically?'
The father thought for a moment, then answered, 'Go ask your mother if
she would sleep with Brad Pitt for a million Pounds.
Then ask your sister if she would sleep with Brad Pitt for a Million
Pounds, and then ask your brother if he'd sleep with Brad Pitt for a
million Pounds. Come back and tell me what you learn from that.'
So the boy went to his mother and asked, 'Would you sleep with Brad Pitt
for a million Pounds?'
The mother replied, 'Of course I would! We could really use that money to
fix up the house and send you kids to a great University!'
The boy then went to his sister and asked, 'Would you sleep with Brad
Pitt for a million Pounds?'
The girl replied, 'Oh my Gawd! I LOVE Brad Pitt I would sleep with him in
a heartbeat, are you nuts?'
The boy then went to his brother and asked, 'Would you sleep with Brad
Pitt for a million Pounds?'
'Of course,' the brother replied. 'Do you know what a million Quid would
buy?'
The boy pondered the answers for a few days and then went back to his
dad.
His father asked him, 'Did you find out the difference between
'potentially' and 'realistically'?'
The boy replied, 'Yes, 'Potentially' , you and I are sitting on Three
million Pounds .
But 'realistically' , we're just living with two hookers and a queer.