Aussies Get a Pasting from the Germans
It certainly looks that way with just a few minutes to go, but there is nothing that cheers a real Englishman more than Aussies losing. Except possibly a bunch of chippy Scotsmen doing the same!
I know we weren’t that good, but remember where Robert Green learned to keep goal – Norwich City! It was also the altitude, as it’s rather low in Norfolk.
Scotland Must Get Their Act Together
Ths report on the BBC is a real warning to Scotland.
What is astounding is that the report says total employment in Scotland is only about a quarter of a million. That is not much, so what do the others do?
Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster is one of these stories that refuses to go away.
Now, as the tourist season approaches the National Archive of Scotland have released documents to show that there were worries that Nessie would be hunted and shot in the 1930s.
In 1938, the chief constable of Inverness-shire raised concerns about protecting Nessie from hunters.
In a letter he wrote: “That there is some strange creature in Loch Ness now seems beyond doubt.”
I don’t believe that the monster exists.
Loch Ness has been closed off from the sea for many thousands of years, so if a monster exists it is either that number of years old or they have lived and bred happily in the Loch.
The first premise is unlikely, so there must be at least two. But then if there were only that small a number, then they would have so many genetic problems because of in-breeding. So if they were more, then surely they would have provided more evidence.
It’s a myth designed to get tourists to Scotland.
Think Different, Think Plaid
This was the slogan for the Welsh Nationalists today. I thought plaid was Scottish!
Seriously though, the two Nationalist parties can help the removal of this Labour government. If they do, it would make negotiations interesting in a hung parliament.
Anyone but England
So the Scots are supporting England by selling “Anyone but England” T-shirts for the World Cup.
I don’t care, as if the Scots could manage to inject some proper spirit into their team, rather than the local brew, they might do better. Just read about Allan McGregor in the Scotsman.
But I have a better idea.
As the Scots economy is not in the best of health and has just been propped up by the UK government bailing out two major banks with big Scottish connections, would it not be a good idea if England fans, who can’t afford the trip to South Africa, went and watched their team in Glasgow.
I’m sure that the local economy would benefit and that the English would be welcomed with open arms.
Left and Right, Up and Down
Of all the roads in England, few are as notorious for a good burn-up as the A68, that runs from the Scottish Border to Darlington. It’s up and over a blind summit, then fast left, fast right or possibly both. In places you can see the road stretching several kilometres in the distance.
Yesterday, as I returned from Scotland, the road was pretty empty except for a couple of wagons and a few cars, so it was great fun. And safe too, as if you drive the road properly in good visibility and fairly dry conditions, you have no problems unless you take some of the blind summits too fast.
As I said in the related post on Taking the High Road, it’s the sort of road for which Elans were built!
I have rather an affection for the A68 as several times I drove it on the way to see the first Metier customer, Ferranti, in Edinburgh. In those days though, it wasn’t in an Elan. But there weren’t any speed cameras!
An Unnecessary Sign?
This sign is displayed both ways at the English-Scottish border on the A68.
Keep Left - Unnecessary Sign
Do we really need it?
There are three reasons it might be there.
- It could be that it’s an EU regulation if you pass between countries. But then I pass between Belgium, France and Holland regularly and they don’t have the sign.
- Someone had a budget and needed to spent it.
- There was a commission from the sign manufacturers.
But the sign is still unnecessary.
Peebles Hydro
On Sunday, I went for lunch with my friends at Peebles Hydro.
Everything on the menu that was gluten-free was marked as such. All restaurants should follow their example. about half the menu was gluten-free, so I had a lot of choice.
In the end I had melon followed by pork medallions. It was delicious and if you need to a gluten-free meal, then it is definitely a place to try.
They are part of McMillan Hotels. I don’t know if the same policy applies across their five hotels.
Taking the High Road
I got up early on Sunday morning and by half-past-seven, I was on the road to see an old friend near Peebles in the Scottish Borders.
First stop was Wetherby Services on the A1(M), just north of York and Leeds. So the petrol was it’s usual expensive price, but the service area seemed better than most. Perhaps it was just a mirage as service areas in the UK, tend to be very poor, tired, of bad design and serving the same crap food. At least Wetherby had a Marks and Spencer, so if I had wanted to buy some decent food, then I could have done.
I should say here, that I never stop unless I absolutely have to in a motorway service area, that does not have either an M&S or a Waitrose.
I took the A1 or A1(M) all the way to Newcastle and past the Angel of the North before taking the A696 through Ponteland and towards Scotland. Things must be getting more civilised up in the North East, as I noticed that Ponteland has a Waitrose, which until a few years ago was restricted very much to the South.
The A696 and A68 route from Newcastle to Edinburgh is one of those roads that needs driving. It also needs a nimble car with lots of acceleration. In other words it’s a road fit for a Lotus.
I didn’t hang about on a road that was almost free of traffic with snow to both sides and a good bit of mist. But the smooth trip to Peebles was interrupted by bridge works at Jedburgh, which meant that I had to take a detour via Hawick and Selkirk.
The latter did slow the Lotus, but I still arrived in time for lunch in Peebles.
The Anonymous Widower 