Someone just popped into view a bike this morning, he said he'd another to look at for 1pm. I said view that one and then come back to me.
Eye test done, no problems found and exceeds the DVLA requirement. Blood taken for a check on kidney function after a medication change. Now just waiting on a mate turning up with the pistons and con rods he wants help assembling. Busy day Andy
Today is Darwin day, remembering Charles Darwin's birth. One of Britain's and the world's greatest men, who made a real contribution to the advancement of science and the reduction of superstition. RIP.
Eye test to check on the progress of my macular disease and an assessment for contact lenses; net result £423 poorer, contact lenses & compatible reading glasses ordered.
Unfortunately I can’t say the exact location, but if you know the area you can probably guess which big infrastructure project has been underway for a while. Luckily parking wasn’t an issue as we could park in the compound we were visiting. But can understand exactly what you are saying as didn’t look an easy place to own a car. Not knowing the area makes it hard to describe exactly where we were. We drove in through some properly grim tower blocks (due to be demolished apparently- where will those people go?). I have looked at the map and we were always west of Battersea park. I couldn’t live anywhere an hours walk from a green space (I live 1mm from a nature reserve so very lucky to have that on my doorstep). What I don’t understand is why so many people drive, if I lived there I would walk or use public transport everywhere. I can’t believe everyone on the road was a visitor like us. There seemed cars parked in every tiny space on any property that had a footprint 1mm2 bigger than said car. Totally different mindset from me, I haven’t lived in London but spent a long time in Rotterdam and The Hague and loved those. And smaller cities in the U.K. And I dread to think what the house prices are like! By comparison I did an eighty mile round trip to a HS2 site today, even the M6 was ok and went back through Cannock chase. Delightful.
Today I had the pleasure and a dream come true of being invited to RAF Waddington to spend a day with the Red Arrows.
I thought that might be the case. I'd be pretty sure where you were if you were east of the park, half an idea where it is if you were west, but neither is anything like an hour's walk from the park. You are right re the car parking, it is at a premium and not helped by the ever increasing size of modern cars, and I agree with you, quite why so many people drive up there beats me too. The property prices are ridiculous that close in and if I had the money I would never buy one there for precisely the reasons you list. But... I spent the majority of my working life there, my family comes from there, my wife comes from there, I got married there, my best mates come from there, I watch my football there, I go to concerts there; yes, there are better cities in terms of design & facilities (both here and abroad), there are cheaper cities, there are less flawed cities but there is no other city that I can call home and my mindset is to a degree formed by it so I don't struggle with it the same way as others might.
Now about 50 years old. No digital tech onboard, all old school. They said they will be taken out of service in 2030. As yet the RAF have not started a procurement process for any replacements. That is as a fast jet trainer for all RAF pilots to learn on. So Red Arrows think they will not have aircraft in 2030-31!!
Incredible, just like Royalty/propah VIP stuff, Very envious and can't compete with that. I did go to a helicopter garden party in Send once as a kid. Shirley Bassey and Jack Hawkins were in attendance as guests. no pictures, so probably didn't happen, it's only remaining in my head now.
Bike packed and ready to go, it’s pissing it down so this will be fun. Next stop Beer (the place not the drink!).
