Search This Blog

Monday, 21 July 2014

Front lawn cut

This afternoon I managed to cut the front lawn. It took me 35 minutes, without breaks, which is the fastest yet. Last time it was 45 minutes.  At the end I was well and truly "cream crackered" but again I managed it. Weather permitting our son will cut the rear lawn tomorrow.

Burwell Windmill

Although this has recently been refurbished and now sports four fine sails, there is still an issue with the cap rotation. This is currently being fixed.

Today there has been a man on a hoist undercoating the cap - rather him than me! This photo was taken from our front garden. The man is visible more clearly if you click to enlarge the photo.  He is painting the cap. Imagine doing this on the end of a rope, this far off the ground, and managing not to spill a drop of paint!

See http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk/  .

Newmarket and Bury-St-Edmunds shopping

This morning, my wife and I went into our local market town of Newmarket. We usually shop in the local Waitrose but today also had to call in to the local Halifax branch there as well.

Newmarket is an excellent place for local shopping as it is just 10 minutes away by car. Parking is free at Waitrose for a couple of hours. For clothes, we usually go to Cambridge or Bury-St-Edmunds.

For the next few days we have our "London" grandchildren staying so a visit to Bury-St-Edmunds is likely. Prevsner loved Bury-St-Edmunds describing it as "one of the loveliest little towns in Britain". Indeed it is. A real gem of a place. We love trips there. Our younger son got married there too.

Sunday, 20 July 2014

McIlroy wins the Open today

I see McIlroy has won the Open golf today.

Although I usually follow the golf when on terrestrial TV,  I managed to miss most of the British Open this week. I see McIlroy won by a couple of shots, although he had a 6 stroke lead at one point. He held his nerve in the end. In previous attempts his nerve has failed him.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/28393535  .

Storms abating

The worst of the bad weather seems to have ended. It got very close (nearly overhead) but the centre now seems to have moved away to the east. The sun is now trying to shine again! Whilst it lasted, it was very nasty weather with thunder, lightning and heavy rain. I admit I am glad when nasty storms have moved away.

See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en .

Approaching storm

This week we have missed the worst of the storms but, right now, one is heading our way. Currently it is a little to the west of us, but the thunder is audible and the lightning map shows it moving our way. The skies are darkening. Somehow I think we are going to soon feel its full force quite soon.

UPDATE 1742z: It is here now! Lightning very close and heavy rain.

MH17 crash in Ukraine

If Russia is innocent then why is it not doing far more to help international investigators gain full, unhindered, access to the crash site? Why am I suspicious? If they have nothing to hide why all the secrecy?  All the Russian actions appear to show ever more complicity.

It would be better for Russia to "come clean" and admit that Russian backed separatists shot the plane down. Admit Russia was unable to control rebel factions and then move on. As it is, Russia is likely to face tougher sanctions and yet more isolation in the international community. Both actions are not in Russia's best interests.

It would be in Russia's best interest to agree a permanent downing of weapons in Ukraine and to hold elections to decide the future of Russian speaking regions of Ukraine, perhaps under UN control (of elections)? If some parts want to move to Russia, then let them go.  Bombs and bullets do not solve such conflicts.

UPDATE 1612z:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28389991