WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Marilyn]

Oh yes...some days.

Though I am looking daggers at him today, after last night. It is "Schoolies" here this weekend, when thousands of school leavers come to town (I have explained it all before). That meant loud Rock Music from their concert until 3am ( and I heard every bloody beat of it). So 3 am, all finally quiet, I drift off to sleep. At 4am, Dave got cramp, screamed like a mad man, bashed the bedside table to put on the lamp, hit the clock radio by mistake. It was up at full volume and he was so busy hopping around the room he couldn't turn it off. So he put the overhead light on instead of the bedside lamp when he was finally composed enough to find the off button for the clock radio.
He has done this entire scenario many times before. I could have strangled him. Why he can't die quietly, I don't know.
I am exhausted this afternoon, but determined not to nap, as there is another concert tonight ( and another grand finale concert on Sunday night) so I just hope I collapse into bed and sleep due to exhaustion tonight.
Plenty of Police and Ambulances in town, strategically placed in quiet corners. I believe there has been some need for both so far. They have also completely closed off one road we call "The Big Dipper" as hoons love to race up and down it. That was good planning. It is a death trap at speed and with a few drinks on board.
Supermarket shopping today, there were loads of kids all having the same breakfast - McDonalds clutched in one fist and "Energy" drink/Gatorade in the other fist. Dreadful sight...

[Marilyn]

Early news suggests 7 overdoses dealt with by ambulance crews and a couple of fights dealt with by police....
Two nights to go!!!! ( it's like Woodstock!)

[Stanley]

"McDonalds clutched in one fist and "Energy" drink/Gatorade in the other fist. Dreadful sight..."
The same thing occurs to me every morning Maz when I see what the kids buy in the Co-op with the 'breakfast money' they are given. It would be far better if they were forced to get up in time to have a bowl of porridge or better still a full breakfast. My mother wouldn't let us go out of the house in the morning until we had eaten, no matter how late we were. Old-fashioned and neglected these days. Yes, I put it down to lazy parents.

[Marilyn]

And I am not being awful, Stanley, but the majority of these kids were quite overweight...the girls much more than the boys. They are "much bigger units" than we were in the 70s!!!!!

[Stanley]

I never said you were Maz. No need to defend a perfectly sensible opinion.
You are right and the recent report that around 80% of kids world wide do less than an hour of physical exercise a day bears out what you say. Diet isn't the only culprit and again, I blame the parents for not supervising young people better.

[plaques]

Thinking how a butterfly develops, eggs, caterpillars, crystalists, = beautiful butterfly.

With humans its something different , Cuddly baby, sylph like young lady, 300 lb couch potato, now it looks like we missing the Sylph phase out.

[Stanley]

P. You've reminded of the time in St Louis when I saw the annual migration of the Monarch butterflies. An amazing sight and yes, we don't seem to have managed the progression through life as well as them!

[Marilyn]

No Stanley this morning? Now...that IS odd!

[Stanley]

Forces beyond my control Maz. See computer thread for the full SP but my connection went AWOL and is only now up and stable. I hope they do better!
However, there was no way I was going back to bed so I did what I always recommend others to do, go back and look at old files, you will always find something that you had forgotten. This morning's pic fest found a nice image of me and all the kids and a copy of a Telex that will be of interest to the Science Museum....
Every cloud has a silver lining!

[Marilyn]

I did think that it was an Internet problem...either that or you didn't have any coins for the leccy meter...
I was fairly sure you weren't laying behind the bathroom door...

[Cathy]

I’ve been wondering where you were too Stanley. I was hoping you had slept in - wash my mouth out. Anyway, all is well so that’s good.

[Stanley]

I quite enjoyed trawling my picture archives....



I found this from 1992, me with all three of my daughters and for a bonus, Eigg the Jack Russell as well. I've sent it to the kids, it will cause a tear......

[Tizer]

Talking of Eigg,Stanley, have you seen this obituary of Keith Schellenberg (1929-2019)? LINK

[Stanley]

No, I hadn't seen that Tiz. I was invited to the Lodge one day and introduced to Balvenie in the days when it was a well kept secret. It was the only Single Malt in wine bottles. I knew many of the old islanders and their main bone of contention was the Annual Eigg Games. I remember watching his wealthy mates arriving in their yachts, one man dressed in full Kriegsmarine uniform (he was a retired admiral) stood on the prow of his yacht saluting as they sailed in. They used to have 'War Games' and charged all over the island in 4X4 vehicles paying no attention at all to the customary rights of the islanders. My mate was his Factor on the island and went with him to Killean where he had almost exactly the same effect and for the same reasons.
A colourful character who made some small improvements but never won the locals over. Incidentally, one of the leading examples of the pot-smokers, a Lancashire hippy, founded the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust and eventually bought the place. Maggie was still a leading light in the Trust least time I spoke to her.
I've just emailed her asking if she is still sat on the river bank watching the bodies float past!

[Tripps]

introduced to Balvenie in the days when it was a well kept secret.

That rings a bell. I bought a bottle of Balvenie Doublewood on the recommendation of Calluna, of this parish, a long time ago. She was raving about it. I agree - it was pretty good so I got another bottle. That one has stayed in my cupboard ever since since. Too nice to open, and I see today at Tesco it has increased nicely in value. Investment grade whiskey.

I think I'm saving it for a special occasion.

Balvenie.jpeg

[Stanley]

David, if you want to treat yourself seek out 'As We Get It' an overproof cask whisky originally produced for the fishing fleet by a grocer. (LINK) It is good neat for a sensation but better if a drop of water is added to it, you can get all the flavours then. The darker Islay one is the best in my opinion.



The horrible quality of the small castings for my cylinder and the fact that the base casting is entirely wrong, it has a gland on it when it should be flat bottomed. I shall check again this morning but will be mailing Stuarts to let them know I am not best pleased. I shall survive but may have to make my own parts from scratch.

[Stanley]

Have you ever heard of a Gender Reveal Party? (LINK)
Another US import and there are firms specialising in 'helping' you to run one. All I can say is ARGHHHHH!!

[Cathy]

Oh give me strength - only for the hyped-up and gullible.

[Stanley]

I couldn't agree more Cathy. One of the things that equally annoys me is the modern usage, referring to daughters as 'Little Princess'. Nobody ever called me a little prince and I don't think it did me any harm!
The response from Stuarts to my gentle complaint. Entirely satisfactory! My confidence is restored. Associated with this, the satisfaction of converting a pigs ear into a thing of beauty!

[Wendyf]

Happy Birthday Ian, hope it's a good one!

[PanBiker]

Thanks Wendy, going to the Music Venue (Cellar Bar) for tea and then downstairs to see a turn tonight.

[Cathy]

Happy Birthday Ian
: Enjoy.

[PanBiker]

Thank you Cathy.

[chinatyke]

Happy Birthday. Enjoy your birthday meal.

[Tripps]

Happy birthday youngster - have a good day.