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Wed 20 June - Archery with Cubs and Beavers at Leicester Forest East Cricket Ground

Nat and Han attended about four evenings of archery practice at Leicester Forest East cricket ground. They both got quite good at it particularly Han who got three bull-eyes in a single lesson. We only have a few photos that I can find of the session they attended on 20 June.

Sun 3 June - performing Insects at Braunstone Hall

The four of us attended an outdoor theatrical performance at Branstone Hall in Braunstone Park. The performers were all dressed as insects or the humans they were bothering and they performed on harnesses suspended in the nearby trees. Afterward the children had the chance to try out the harnesses and perform acrobatics. We had a great day.

Must Remember to Write

I read the other day that there are something like 200 million (can that be right) abandoned blogs. I've just realised I haven't posted for days so I must make a resolution to write something regularly or my blog will become one of the 200 million.

I Finally Remembered to Start Writing in 2009

At the moment I'm reading all of Richard Dawkins' books and some written by other prominent atheists. If anyone else wants to read these I've added a link where they can be downloaded from - Atheist Texts
Richard Dawkins:
The God Delusion(2006)
The Devil's Chaplain(2003)
Unweaving The Rainbow(2000)
The Blind Watchmaker(1996)
The Selfish Gene S.E.(1990)
Sam Harris:
Letter to a Christian Nation(2006)
Carl Sagan:
Pale Blue Dot(1997)
Demon Haunted World(1997)

Maybe, if we can rid ourselves of these supernatural delusions we can finally realise that we are all human beings sharing one world and it's the World not non-existent souls that needs saving. There's no Paradise, so you don't need to blow me up to get your 72 virgins (by the way that's a mistranslation - it's actually 72 raisins), there's no rapture to prepare for, there's just you and me, each of us with just this one life to live and just this one beautiful planet to live it on!

Hi Music Fans

I'm in the process of up loading all my music and audio files (100Gb+) to MediaMaster. Hopefully I can then set up play lists etc. so that all of you can stream any of this music from my Blog. Maybe I could then put a few adds on the site that will pay for my time and allow me to provide all this content for free.

Plus, you never know, visitors may find what I have to say elsewhere in this Blog interesting, oh well, we'll see.

Monty and Hannah - The Puppy Years + MC Nat

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Hi Monty Welcome to The Jones'

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Monty joins the Family

8 April - A Few Days in Hunstanton

We spent a few days away in Norfolk and stayed just outside of modern day Hunstanton in Old Hunstanton. We had a very pleasant few days the weather was lovely as were the cows and there was a large amusement shop where we were able to buy a kinds of silly rubbish...and Of Course, silly rubbish is always the best rubbish to buy! Here are a few of the photos we took, I'm sure there are more somewhere else.


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Mr Woodsilver

Mr Woodsilver (not his real name) called approx 5 am. I was on his home number for 30+ mins and then I had to call back on his mobile in order to guide him around house in order to find the alarm that was beeping (this is indicative of a battery problem rather than the alarm going off). On mobile for approx 30mins. Eventually found alarm. Unable to deactivate. Found details local age concern for him to tel after 8am for help with removing & replacing batttery. These are the calls I live for. This elderly gentleman was unable to work out where the noise was coming from. I asked if he had a mobile phone - because his land line wasn't cordless. He had but didn't know his number. What make of phone is it, I asked? A nokia he evenutually replyed. Do you know how to find the My number function? No!! OK I've got a Nokia here, let me talk you through it. Well, after I worked out how to find it, I keep my number in the directory, I started to explainb to him what to do. It was about 5 mins later that I discovered he was looking for his mobile number BUT he was looking in the actual phone book! You know, the one made out of paper with all the numbers in it! Most of the hour passed this way with the poor guy not really hearing what I was asking him to do.

Rites of Passage

Didn't get to make it to Rugby yestersday. Must remember to go to bed earlier when the clocks go forward! Shame really, as I missed two highlights of Nats life. First kick in the balls - oouch and first raking with studs. Part of a young Boy's Rites of Passage to Manhood I suppose. Wish I'd been there now to give him a cuddle as it must have hurt. Apparently he had to come off the pitch for a while in order to recover.

Cubs Sports Badge

This morning we went to Saffron Lane sports ground ( the 1st time I've been there in 25 yrs) to join all the other local Cub troops and to participate in the a sports badge program. It was great fun. Henri's Dad (a lad from Nat's class and Troop) & I agreed to look after one group. So there we were with 8 (later 9) 7-9 yr old boys and boy did we have fun! I don't remember being so out of control at that age, but then again I was the perfect child. It was exhausting just keeping them together, moving the from event to event was a major challenge.

1st up was the long jump and everyone managed it, with varying degrees of success. We moved on to the Sargent jumps (stretch to a mark on the wall then leap up to see how much higher you can get). On the way from this I foolishly took the short cut down the steep bank and slid most of the way down on my arse! Wow did I look cool in front of the kids - dignity at all times - ah.

Onto the Shuttle (running back and fore) again all got through to greater or lessor extent. However by now discipline was becoming a problem. Henri, who's huge for his age - tallest there and probably the youngest - was starting to get bored and decided the best way to alleviate this was to hit people. Unfortunately he's as strong as he is tall and that's when we started to have tears. Eventually he was told off by both his Dad and me and so decided to have a good sulk.

What was astonishing was the lack of self-esteem of some of the kids. At every event one lad in particular would insist that he wouldn't be able to do it. What on earth have his parents told him all his life to have an attitude like this, as it was he did virtually everything successfully.

Nat was pretty well behaved, as always, very active but knowing when to stop, most of the time anyway. Got on really well with Dave (Henri's Dad) and all our guys got enough points to earn their badges. Deb told me that she'd told Arkala that I would be glad to help out at Cubs on the Mondays that I'm not working and it appears that I have in fact been drafted. All in all a good morning.

To The Bastards The Spoils

It's 03.40 GMT and I've been looking at the Amazon web site for awhile. Somehow ended up looking at books about post communist Russia. What a depressing situation, after 70 yrs of oppression it appears once again that the bastards have got the spoils. From the Mafia to the Oligarchs everyone preys on the least advantaged. No wonder Russia is a nation of alcoholics. Even with their new found Gas & Oil reserves one wonders whether any of this wealth will ever filter down to the masses or will it be spent on buying more football teams for the super rich. This got me thinking :

How should I bring up my children?

Is it in their best interests for me to encourage them to be greedy grasping bastards, always on the look out for Number One,

or

Should I encourage them to be kind caring human beings with empathy and concern for others?

I know what I'd prefer but would that be best for them? Does every thinking parent struggle with this? A few decades ago it could be avoided because the West was King of the Heap. We could afford to encourage concern and compassion (so long as we didn't really act on it), but now with China, India, Brazil and Russia ascendant will they be growing up in a World where this is still possible or will they be in such a struggle merely to survive that compassion will become a luxury that they can't afford.

No matter how I try to envisage it I can't ever see China, or the others, ever sending aid to the West if our economies implore in the face of their competition.

So Devil take the hindmost and I only look out for my own?

This is Me, having negative thoughts

My turn on manuals last night, meant missing my last break again but I at least managed lunch. It's amazing, a few cold days and you'd swear it was mid winter again. Why do people insist on waiting up in a cold house for an engineer to call instead of keeping warm in bad and seeing him in the morning. If the world does go to hell in a hand basket, like the climate change people keep telling us it might, how are these pampered wuckfits ever going to survive? "You must call our and repair my boiler now, I've got young children who are very cold and who might get ill." "How old is the youngest sir?" "Sixteen"! God help them is all I can say, it's no wonder they've got allergies, they've never been exposed to the real world in their lives.

Going to Karate

Today Deb had to go to the Dentist, so Hannah & I took Nat to karate at the community center. we all walked up together, my God it was windy, nearly got blown back down the hill. Hannah claimed that she had left her coat in the car and had to wear Nat's old combat jacket. Fitted perfectly!!! I was going to drop Nat off and take Hannah to the play-ground in the Park. However we decided to stay and watch Nat, nothing to do with it being cold & windy outside! Nat needs to improve his concentration when performing Kata's but otherwise is doing fine. Deb met us there and we all drove home.

Home made curry - yum!!!

So, I've Finally Done It!

This is it then, finally taken the step and created my very own blog, however will I find that I have anything to say, either to myself or others? Only time will tell.

Tonight, at work, has been interesting. I seem to be on the line reserved for non-liberated women. Virtually every water leak from a woman tonight has been from the kind of lady who thinks it's not feminine to be able to turn off a stop-cock.

I'm So Sari...you should be that's a terrible pun!

Hannah being very very Indian after a friend of Deb's from work gave her these for Hannah. unbelievably these were the friend's saris and she's an adult...a very small adult

Sofa So Good

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Rocket Man (s) - Millfield School

This weekend Nat and I attended a special event, along with a number of other dads and sons ...there were no girls, where we built water powered rockets from plastic bottles, water (naturally) and pumps. Well actually the pumps weren't put of the rocket they just provide us with a way of pressurising the water in the bottles. here are a few photos from the day;

Some Vipers Under 9's Photos

Tuesday 2 Jan - Panto at the Little Theatre

The annual Panto at the Little Theatre. I think it was Alladdin but I can't remember for certain cos I'd had too much to drink and couldn't stay awake!

Monday 18 December - Work Xmas Dinner at Las Iguanas Belvior Street Leicester

The whole team turned out for a mexican afternoon of munching followed by a later afternoon of imbibing next door at Yates Wine Lodge. Some people, who shall remain nameless, didn't like the food but I thought it was grand. just like ne old non-existant mexican grand used to make. We what remained to frequent Yates was the tough ones and finally when only Ash, Dawn, Carol and Myself remained Dawn's better half Terry picked us up and drove us all home. What an absolutely spiffing chap he was to do such a kind thing...if I ever meet him again I must remember to say thanks, that is, if I haven't turned into Bertie Worcester by then! Before I sayhere are the photos...I must remember to add that Sara paid for everything, what a girl she is, now, here's the photos:

Birthday Girl - Six Years Old Today

Another year has flown and Han has reached the ripe old age of Six; here are her birthday morning photos.

December 8 – Han’s Birthday Party At Bumpies

Deb booked Bumpies, a kind of Whacky Warehouse place, which is located at the Meridian Pleasure Park in Leicester. It Think it’s since closed which is what seems to happen to most of these businesses. It’s a shame if it has because Han and her friends had a great time there!

Sunday 12 November - Man of the Match

Nat final lands the Man of the Match trophy after putting in a brilliant effort at this morning game; unfortunately I can't recall who they were playing...Never Mind!

From Vipers Man of the Match

From Vipers Man of the Match

From Vipers Man of the Match

Halloween - Trick or Treat with Henry and Amelia

Nat and Han dressed up in their best Mummy and Witches costumes respectively and we drove to Henry's house on Cleveleys Avenue. There they joined Henry and Amelia Trick or Treating around the avenue. It was very dark and I was armed only with a phone camera with an LED flash so the pictures aren't great but they're all we've got.

Nat's Ninth Birthday MegaZone Leicester

Nat's Ninth birthday party which was held at MegaZone (Laser Quest) in Leicester.

14 October - Nat's Ninth Birthday - Alton Towers

Nat was nine years old today, where the heck does the time do, and after he had opened his presents we set off for Alton Towers for the day. From the photos it would appear that we spent most of our time in the kiddie areas; NOTHING could be further from the truth. Nat and I rode everything it's just that Deb didn't photograph us doing so. Deb and Han came on a few of the rides but Nat and I did them ALL, well apart from one ride at the entrance that broke down while we were queuing. We rode on, Oblivion, Nemesis, Rita Queen of Speed, Air and many, many more!!! We had a whale of a time, I've been hooked on wild rides since we went to Orlando and so has Nat so it was like we'd died and gone to heaven. We must do it again when Han's bigger so that she can ride with us; wimp Deborah will stay on the ground in order to hold our coats no doubt!

Saturday 7 October - It's All Going Swimmingly

Here's a couple of photos I took of Han this morning when she had her swimming lesson at Winstanley College. She used to be very hesitant of the water; when Nat had a birthday party at Saffron Lane Baths a few years ago she adamantly refused to enter the water. Through out the whole time there she clung to granddad who was obliged to sit with her for the whole time at the edge of, but not in, the pool. Everything has changed since we went to Florida. when we stayed in Naples you couldn't keep her out of the pool whenever we were at the hotel. She was jumping in, swimming under water and in alls ways acting part dolphin.

From 2006-10-07-1634-40

From 2006-10-07-1634-40

Saturday 7 October - It's All Going Swimmingly

Here's a couple of photos I took of Han this morning when she had her swimming lesson at Winstanley College. She used to be very hesitant of the water; when Nat had a birthday party at Saffron Lane Baths a few years ago she adamantly refused to enter the water. Through out the whole time there she clung to granddad who was obliged to sit with her for the whole time at the edge of, but not in, the pool. Everything has changed since we went to Florida. when we stayed in Naples you couldn't keep her out of the pool whenever we were at the hotel. She was jumping in, swimming under water and in alls ways acting part dolphin.

From 2006-10-07-1634-40

From 2006-10-07-1634-40

Duncan Committed Suicide

Unbelieveable news when we came into work this evening. Our collegue, and someone who I've worked with elsewhere AND KNOWN SINCE 1997,  Duncan Hastie HANGED himnself today. No one could quiet believe it when JDM broke the news to us (he was virtually in tears doing so) and it was only months later, when I attended his inquest, that we finally got some insight into what caused him to take this drastic and final course of action. I had a wonderful collection of emails I'd exchanged with Dunc over the years especially during the time when he had joined the night shift and I was still working in day. Unfortunately these were somehow deleted when the company erased his email account so I've only a few left that I'd saved externally...such a shame

Here are the few I managed to save

Ooh, the plot thickens...

-----Original Message-----
From: Hastie, Duncan
Sent: 07 June 2006 00:57
To: xxxx
Subject: RE: Team meeting.

Gotta be honest John, NO!

Every opinion Carol has is forced onto everyone else and unfortunately, you (and I think Sara) back her. I'm sick of it.

Your comment at the beginning was actually quite positive, about us all being individuals, but after she'd started ranting, you back tracked and agreed with her. We have to be individuals who do exactly the same, i.e what she wants.

I don't listen to MP3's or watch DVD's because it puts me to sleep. That's why I always ask the Manuals Wallah for lots of writing up. The reason I do all the writing up on my own when I do Manuals is...her! I cant stand her complaining about every aspect of the writing up, so I do it. It's purely to avoid arguments.

If someone wants to sit with an earplug listening to a film, ready to put it on hold and take a call (we're here to work, remember?) I don't see a problem with it.

It's only because Carol has one or two people less to tell her sad stories to or inflict her opinions on, that she has a problem. Let's not forget that Amit brought his DVD player in on this shift and when he and Carol were bestest buddies that was fine. She even watched a few films and some episode of 24 with Amit and Meyrick. Since they've had a falling out (and since Meyrick had the nerve to ask her not to shout as he was doing something) she's made it her mission to stop it. Where's the sense in that? It's unbelievably one-sided and unfair.

We sit apart as a "team" because no-one wants to sit next to her. Even her 2 closest friends here (Ash and Amit) sat away from her last night because of the incessant noise coming out of her. I cant sit near her.

:-(

Dunk

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx
Sent: 07 June 2006 00:29
To: Hastie, Duncan
Subject: RE: Team meeting.

Hi Dunc,

Thank you for your comments so do think that there are any positives to come out of the meeting, I guess not?

Regards

John 

-----Original Message-----
From: Hastie, Duncan
Sent: 06 June 2006 23:58
To: xxxxx
Subject: Team meeting.

John,

        I have to say that meeting was a shambles. Carol has gone too far and I think what she said and did was disgusting. The reason there is any animosity in the "team" is down solely to her. That's not just my opinion, most of the others feel that way but are afraid to speak up.

The reason I sit on my own is that I am sick and tired of her rubbish. She's mouthy to the extreme, rude, belligerent to customers and her "team mates" and is the most opinionated person I've ever had the misfortune to meet. Most of the others feel the same, that's why we all sit so spread apart. All this nonsense from her that she wants us all to sit together and chat is ridiculous. She just wants a platform with a captive audience to listen to her regurgitate her boring old stories AND arguments she's had over and over again.

The way she spoke to Meyrick, Me, Prashant, Sue and anyone else who DARED to disagree with her was nothing short of disgusting.

 

Unless you confront the people one-to-one I don't think they'd have the bottle to speak up like this.

She is bringing the team down with her attitude, viciousness and "holier than thou" attitude. From now on, I will be sitting on my own and will not be attending anymore "team" meetings. Sorry to be so blunt, but if she thinks she's got problems, she should have a look at my life! My problems run rings round hers, but I don't sit there bleating about it in "team" meetings. It's unprofessional and unnecessary.

As for making Meyrick feel that he had to tell a group of 16 or so people about his dead daughter, I really felt for him. I was at Powergen in late 1999 on the same team as him and was there when he announced that his daughter had died that morning inside Deb at 8 months of her pregnancy.

Sorry to be the bringer of doom and gloom but I cant let this go. I've had enough.

Dunk

Duncan "The Instigator" Hastie

Extn 21639

Night Shift - Leicester ASC

Hi Meyrick,

                hope you don't mind, but I felt compelled to send this to John after that meeting.

Solidanosch!!!

-----Original Message-----
From: Hastie, Duncan
Sent: 06 June 2006 23:58
To:xxxxx

Subject: Team meeting.

John,

        I have to say that meeting was a shambles. Carol has gone too far and I think what she said and did was disgusting. The reason there is any animosity in the "team" is down solely to her. That's not just my opinion, most of the others feel that way but are afraid to speak up.

The reason I sit on my own is that I am sick and tired of her rubbish. She's mouthy to the extreme, rude, belligerent to customers and her "team mates" and is the most opinionated person I've ever had the misfortune to meet. Most of the others feel the same, that's why we all sit so spread apart. All this nonsense from her that she wants us all to sit together and chat is ridiculous. She just wants a platform with a captive audience to listen to her regurgitate her boring old stories AND arguments she's had over and over again.

The way she spoke to Meyrick, Me, Prashant, Sue and anyone else who DARED to disagree with her was nothing short of disgusting.

 

Unless you confront the people one-to-one I don't think they'd have the bottle to speak up like this.

She is bringing the team down with her attitude, viciousness and "holier than thou" attitude. From now on, I will be sitting on my own and will not be attending anymore "team" meetings. Sorry to be so blunt, but if she thinks she's got problems, she should have a look at my life! My problems run rings round hers, but I don't sit there bleating about it in "team" meetings. It's unprofessional and unnecessary.

As for making Meyrick feel that he had to tell a group of 16 or so people about his dead daughter, I really felt for him. I was at Powergen in late 1999 on the same team as him and was there when he announced that his daughter had died .

Sorry to be the bringer of doom and gloom but I cant let this go. I've had enough.

Dunk

Duncan "The Instigator" Hastie

Extn 21639

Night Shift - Leicester ASC

Snap Happy with the Nokia N73 - The Start of the Addiction.

Having recently received a Nokia N73 (a smart phone sporting a decent camera) I went a bit wild photographing any and everything. Here are a selection of these random snaps for posterity. This was the start of my addition to photographing everything I come across. an addition that has only worstened since I also started keeping a blog.