Is Iran on the Point of Melt Down?
History shows that as regimes get close to their end they get paranoid and do strange things. Just look at what happened in the last days of the Toman Empire or Nazi Germany at the end of the Second World War.
The news coming out of Iran seems to get worse and more vindictive and bonkers every day. We have the stories of whether women, such as Sakineh Mohammadani Ashtiani will or should be stoned, Ahmadinejad’s bomber drone and now we now have a fatwa on cats and dogs. I know that pets aren’t that important in the scheme of things, but The Times carries an article today by an Iranian expert, that says that Iran is on the point of melt down!
I just hope that what replaces the current odious regime isn’t more so. But I’m afraid though that dictators be they military, religious or racist do seem to have immense skills on hanging on to power.
The Largest Tea Urn in the World
The One Show on BBC this evening told the sort of tale that I like. It was of a man Ted Simmons, who after Coventry had been blitzed in the Second World War created an enormous kettle, so that people could have a hot drink. The story of the recreation of the kettle is told here.
I sometimes wonder whether we could do such things today, as we often have this negative give-up attitudes to stiff challenges. But as the Coventry Urn tale says, that if you have strong and good leadership, this will inspire others to get the job done in the best and quickest way possible.
A Good Trip to Crewe and Chester
It was a good trip, not only because Ipswich won and I was able to renew old memories in Chester, but also because of the little things that happened and that I discovered.
- Virgin’s First Class lounges made travel in my condition a bit easier.
- The Crewe Arms offered a comfortable bed and good coffee in the morning close to the station and the football.
- I had a very good curry in Passage to India in Crewe.
- The staff and stewards at Crewe Alexandra were pleasant and welcoming.
- Real pubs still exist in the most unlikely places.
- I got a nice complimentary gluten-free salad on the way back. So Virgin can do gluten-free, despite what I said earlier.
I shall definitely go to Crewe again, if Ipswich play there!
The Albion, Chester
I was walking the Chester city walls with the intention of going back to a nice restaurant in Bridge Street, when I saw this pub called the Albion.
The Albion, Chester
What had caught my eye was the various chalked boards on the outside of the building. This one which was readable from the walls, said that this could be pub that was to my taste.
Perfect Advertising for a Pub
So did the Albion live up to what it said on the outside. I just had a half of cider to drink. This could have been better, but then I come from Suffolk, where they make the best;Aspalls. As they do sometimes have Adnams on draught, it shows how much the county of my conception is influencing the taste of discerning drinkers, all over these Isles.
As I said, I was ready for lunch, so I chose a cottage pie from the menu.
Cottage Pie at the Albion
I suspect it was wrongly named as it is more of an individual house pie. It was of course gluten-free. It was certified by the pleasant barmaid, who said that her mother was a coeliac like me!
I should say that the Albion also does bed and breakfast, which if their beds are as well-proprtioned as the pies, might well be something.
Chester Racecourse
Chester is one of the British Isles oldest racecourses and it is unique in that it is only a short circular track, just outside of the city walls.
Chester Racecourse from the Walls
C and myself had one of our biggest successes in racing at Chester when our horse, Debach Delight was second in the Cheshire Oaks. But that was over thirty years ago.
In those days to get to the racecourse was a long slog across to and then up the M6. There was no A14 and it was stop-start all the way through Birmingham.
After this trip though on Virgin Trains, I wouldn’t drive, but would go to Milton Keynes and pick up a train direct to Chester. There is plenty of parking at Milton Keynes, trains are every hour and they take about ninety minutes.
Chester’s Hydro-Electric Power Station
Ever since I first went to Chester and saw it on the Dee, I’ve always wondered about the hydro-electric power station by the bridge.
As you can see from these pictures it is not in use to gnerate power anymore,m but there is still the weir to funnel water through the sluices and turbines.
The weir which was built in the eleventh century isa Grade 1 Listed building and it might appear according to Wikipedia that they may be using the river to generate power again. The site certainly needs some restoration as the photos show.
Rhino Mania in Chester
We’ve had cows everywhere, lambananas in Liverpool and now we have rhinos in Chester.
Painted Rhino in Chester
There was also quite a lot of other street art. I particularly liked this baby elephant.
Baby Elephant in Chester
On To Chester
After a good night’s sleep and some nice coffee in the Crewe Arms hotel, I took a short walk to the station and bought a return ticket to Chester, which would get me back in time for my 15:57 train back to London.
I actually could have boarded my return train at Chester, as it had come from Holyhead, but I wan’t too sure of my plans in Chester. And I was a bit wary of missing the train home!
Crewe Heritage Centre
One of the few places that are worth seeing in Crewe is the Crewe Heritage Centre, which is a railway museum.
Unfortunately it was closed, despite it being the school holidays. But as it is within walking distance of the station and the football ground, it would be an ideal place to waste a few hours before an away match with Crewe Alexandra.
The Anonymous Widower 