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Spanish Inquisition
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Good morning all
Sorry I haven't been in touch lately - sold my anorak!!!
Only joking, the real reason is I have been busy dealing with
Spanish beaurocracy and officials. I have been Vice President of our
Community and it's a long story but this week we have finally been
declared legal and now have all the documents to prove it. No fault of
ours I hasten to add, just caught up in a tangled web of corrupt
builders, council officials and solicitors (allegedly!!). It has been 5
years since we signed for our house and paid in full so you can imagine
the relief and deep joy here at the moment. We are only a small
Community of 45 houses and all the owners have been co-operative and
patient.
Threw away my anorak when the last steam train was scrapped and
diesels became the norm!! Must admit like you all I have a soft spot for
the steam engine, maybe because my father worked for BR for 48 years as
fireman and driver. Oops, perhaps I should have kept that quiet.
The sun is shining and we have had a fantastic November with only
one afternoon of rain all month. Looks like December is going the same
way. That's why I am in Spain!!!!
Thank the Lord that Christmas here is very low key although every
year a little more commercialism is creeping in. Easter is the big
festival in Spain.
I'm sorry that I will not be able to make reunion, will be in UK
for a few days but return to Spain on 24th. March after trip to
India. I shall look forward to the photos, have the local press
been notified?
When I had that anorak I used to go regualrly to Fry's club on a
Saturday night for Country and Western concerts. Sorry Stu, it did take
some courage to own up to that but I dabbled in most genres before
realising it was blues and rock n' roll that did it for me!!!
Have a lovely day.
Steve
Dec. 2, 2009
(Edited Dec. 15, 2009)
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Hello Steve,
Glad your brush with the local authorities is over (for now at
least !). I too have had my own "tale of woe" when it comes to
communicating with the "faceless ones". It took me three years of "paper
shuffling" to eventually have a meeting with a Inland Revenue Valuation
Officer (whose name funnilty enough was also Williams).
The "face to face" meeting cured the problem we had
with the redevelopment of where we previously lived in the village.
( A very long story ). I always now got straight for the "head honcho"
in any dealings with authority. So, the blue anorak eventually bit the
dust then?
Glad to see that (unlike a few ex-pats from our shores), you are
now a fully paid up member, and a Vice President .. (ken`s gonna
love this ...), and you are now the one in charge of the "Whores asses"?
.. (see Kemble discussion for details.)
Gotta go and check for visitor arrival .. catch you soon.
Dec. 2, 2009
(Edited Dec. 2, 2009)
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It's OK Steve most of us have a skeleton or three
in the cupboard, expressing a juvenile liking for C & W is perfectly
acceptable, after all we all remember Dolly P's memorable attributes.
To be honest I've found that as I've grown older my tastes have veered
more towards C & W, but not the mainstream stuff, people like Townes
van Zandt, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Tom Russell, Dave Alvin and
Jeff Finlin spring to mind, along with Americana, i.e. Josh Ritter, The
Gourds, Fleet Foxes, Sun Kil Moon, and Wilco, who have a country
influence perhaps but are more rock orientated. Although a good Blues /
Rock band still does the business as well.
Regards transport, like you I became disinterested in railways with
the end of steam, I suppose it was also the connections, my brother
fired on the GWR and my dad was a guard also on the GWR, and a cousin
was a draughtsman in the Swindon factory.
As for the Spanish business do we have to call you Don Coffin as of now.
When do you leave for India, and what's your itinerary, I'd be
interested to know about it when you return, It's a country I'd like to
visit but Shirls not over keen, perhaps a suitable endorsement might
convince her.
Speaking of endorsements I've got my final City and Guilds
tomorrow, then with a bit of luck I'll be out on Monday morning packing
heat, (hand held, printer and BAD attitude), although I've got to achieve 82.5% in one of the units, better get revising I suppose.
Stu
Dec. 2, 2009
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Hi Stu
Just a quick one to say best of luck with exam. Don't let the CBTS
down!!!! Be in touch about India after you have sobered up following
celebration!!!
Cheers
The Don
Dec. 2, 2009
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That was very good Bill, but I will keep my mind above
the navel. Is that the orange or belly button spelling?
Nothing exciting happening on this side of the world. Talking of
navels (Oranges) and Dolly Parton, I reckon we should be talking more of
watermelons. Changing the climate, climate change is
certainly a big topic and been at the forefront of our politics. We have
just had the hottest November on record in most places.
Noting that the records are about the same age as Weymouth
House. Christmas is big over here and it is funny but a
lot still have the traditional hot roast dinner even when the temps are
in the mid to late 30's C at this time of year. On to
something technical cause I know you guys love this. I have been
thinking of getting a solar hot water system, but cannot get the wife to
agree. My last big expense some years back was a reverse cycle
air-conditioning unit. It is great in summer, but in winter where it can
get to -7C (warms up quickly from that) the unit freezes up and is
pretty useless for heating. The other big go here are solar systems
where you get 3.5 times the current rate of electricity costs
reimbursed for all power one can generate and return to the
Grid. And while on all things technical Bill, do
you still have the water pumps in Timsbury? I always remember
visiting my uncle who lived in Timsbury and
that the water pump was out in the back yard. Ken
Dec. 2, 2009
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Hi Stu and all.
First of all, I'm sorry that I've not been on of late, but been
having trouble with the old internet connection, thankfully all is OK
now!
Good luck with your exam tomorrow Stu, although I'm sure you'll
breeze through it. Don't forget to have one for me at the celebrations
after. Can't wait to hear of your exploits when 'packin' heat' respec'
man!
Although I've been a life long railway enthusiast, like you all the
shine went out of it with the demise of steam. I was never fortunate
enough to have relatives working for the railways, like you guys. Nearly
all my relations worked at the Westinghouse at Chippenham.
When I was very young my best mates dad worked for the railway, but he was a lorry driver!
The better half's family were the railway people. Her grandfather
was a station master, just after the war her father worked for Wymans
the newsagents and spent most of his time on stations, and his brother
was a driver based at Yeovil Town shed. His regular rosta was Westbury,
Weymouth, but in latter years of steam he had to learn the Southern
road, Exeter, Salisbury. His most favoured locos were the GW 2800s, he
had a lot of respect for them, said one in good condition could handle
most things. Slow and steady, but you knew you were going to get there
no matter what you had on the back.
Delighted to know that the ingenuity of a BTS training was more
than a match for Spanish officialdom in the end, more strength to your
arm, Steve. Seems to have worked for Bill as well with their British
counter parts. Have to keep up the battle with officialdom at all costs,
that's what being past retiring is all about, being a pain in the ass
to the establishment. I'm gonna have a go at Severn Trent Water as soon
as I have a few minutes to spare!
Have to go now.
Good luck guys.
Sticky.
Dec. 2, 2009
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If you want to read about life on the GWR, John,
the best accounts I've read were in books titled "Firing Days" and
"Footplate Days" by Harold Gasson. They're probably out of print now but
if ever you come across a copy of the first one in particular it brings
back all the old nostalgia of steam on the GWR.
Dec. 3, 2009
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Hello all,
Ken, the water pumps are still there, but purely ornamental now.
There is one in Bakers Parade outside one of the old houses there (built
1704). My old house (the one I developed) had its` own stone
tanks, (brick lined and tiles 2" thick tiles about a foot square, It
holds about 600+ gallons). It`s under one of the staircases now, in
the smaller cottage. I guess my wierd humour stems from the fact that 3
of my teenage years involved being in leg irons or plaster on crutches,
so "leg overs" were few and far between for a while. I did however make
up for lost time, hence the pre-occupation with humour of
the dubious kind .. Ha Ha
Stu, just add my wishes for the city & guilds exam. Shall I
give you my registration numbers now to avaid any conflicts if I should
vivit your areas of work. Would a "Stickler free zone" sticker on the
windows hold any sway with your colleagues?
John, David and all into steam. I had a friend called Leslie Price,
he used to live in the pre-fabs in Hillside Road, Bath .. (right
alongside the S & D line as it left the Claverton Tunnel). His dad
Tony was a driver and we were always invited to the sheds in Green Park
to nose around and collect souveniers from the locos ready for
scrapping. I never got on the footplate for a ride on any, but Leslie
used to go all over the place with his Dad on them.
I gave up train spotting, so did Johnny Reed from my class, when the books had more numbers than names. If you know what I mean.
Well, the Sun ..yes, Sun beckons me .. time to get the bike out .. see you guys later.
Dec. 3, 2009
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Many thanks for all the positive words guys, just
to let you know that a pass was achieved, although I'm afraid I let the
side down a little, managed to score 100% in five of the units, but only
93.5% & 87% in the other two.
As for the passing on of vehicle registrations for potential
favourable treatment, I can only say that I will treat everyone the
same, i.e. a bit like Genghis Khan and the Golden Horde's progress
across Central Asia.
Got to go now, I've got a hangover to work on.
Stu
Dec. 3, 2009
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Hi guys.
First of all, congratulations on your exam results, Stu, and hope the hang over is better now!
Thanks for the tip on railway reading, David, I will keep my eye
open for them. Worth a read also are 'Tales of the old railwaymen' and
its sequal 'More tales of the old railwaymen' by Tom Quinn, also
'Signalman's morning' by Adrian Vaughan. Smilarly they are probably out
of print, but worth looking for.
Your account of the sense of humour and your theories about it are
very interesting Bill, not sure what Freud would make of it though!
People accuse me of having a strange sense of humour also, occasionally I
will engage a conversation with a double entendre, everyone laughs, but
then I react as though I don't understand why they are all laughing and
observe their reactions which I then find amusing. Difficult to
describe the scenario, really, but that's the best I can do! Our middle
aged secretary at work has led a rather sheltered life and is a regular
'Victim', much to the amusement of others present. Engineers are
awful!!!!!!
Gettng late now.
Have fun, all.
Sticky.
Dec. 4, 2009
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Just a quickie, head's thumping a bit too much for
any deep thought, but for those out of print books, try e-books, if
available you can usually download for free.
Stu
Dec. 4, 2009
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Hi all.
Thanks for the tip Stu, will try it out later. Guess the head is a
bit better now judging by your activity on the Pub Pals subject!
Have to go now, more catching up to do.
Sticky.
Dec. 4, 2009
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Glad you still have the water pumps at Timsbury
Bill, even if they are just ornamental. My trips to my uncle
in Timsbury were few and far between but always good
fun. It usually meant a lift home in a motorbike
sidecar. My cousin had some sort of motorbike with a sidecar
and he would take my dad and me back to Weston, Bath in same.
On a new subject and one most of us should be authorities on.
Just reading a report in our local newspaper which was taken
from your Independent Newspaper has the sub editor title 'Single-Sex schooling lingers in men's lives' The story
starts off with ' Boys brought up in single-sex schooling
environment would find relations ships with girls difficult
to handle. Now research proves it and on it goes.
Some survey by Prof Diana Leonard from London Uni. One quote
is ' All research shows single sex schools are good for girls but bad
for boys - both in terms of academic performance and
socialisation. Any comments or are we CBTS boys all freaks. Ken
Dec. 5, 2009
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I've been reading those reports, Ken. I suppose the
people who did the research looked at a wide range of modern schools
whereas I can comment only on personal experience. Also, my experience
does go back many years and may be irrelevant to today. I left Bath Tech
at age 15 and went to a mixed sex High School in Dunfermline.
Academically, the high school was way behind Bath Tech which greatly
surprised me and my parents as 'Old Nick' told them it would be a big
step up for me. Discipline in the high school was almost non existent at
times, despite all the teachers carrying leather straps and using
them almost non stop. Compare that with the Tech's policy of the cane
being adminsitered only be Bill Hayman or Old Nick. Makes you wonder.
Did the boys play up in class just to get attention from the
girls? Debatable. Did we suffer in our sexual relationships from going
to an all-boys school? Well, I reckon that's something we each have to
decide for ourselves but I can't really say it did me any harm. Purely
social interactions with girls were always there outside of school and,
to be honest, that's were I kept them, even when at the mixed school.
Academically, in the high school classroom one's attention did tend to
wander at times from the blackboard to the shapely bits of the girl
sitting at the desk in front. Having a girl you fancied sitting beside
you in class was an even worse distraction. Maybe that's why I got a low
score in Biology exams.
Dec. 5, 2009
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Hello all,
Well reading these comments only confirms what I had discovered.
The lack of exposure to females during my education process was the
foundation for the pre-occupation in later life.
I am still recovering from this lack of exposure .. the mind is willing, very willling ... but ...
Dec. 5, 2009
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Writing that comment brought back memories of that
lovely Welsh girl who used to sit next to me in biology classes.
Beautiful voice and ... oh dear, I must go and lie down before I come
over all faint ... You younger guys had the pleasure of being taught by
Mrs Williams, of course, but it's not the same as having a young female
sitting next to you.
Dec. 5, 2009
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During the summer these pages were awash with memories
of buses and trains bursting with pulcritude wrapped in numerous
uniforms providing more than an unequal diversion from the homework
calcs set by Dicky Harbour on springs, pulleys and inclined
planes, the revision given by Mr Alder on the Midland Triangle
(remember those neatly drawn chalk maps with motorcycle/car
manufacturing taking place across the whole WM?) and the mind-numbing
clause analysis in Ridout 4 set by Spider Webb.
No, guys I
think we had it just about right. Plenty of testosterone fueled
interest and God (as well as bus drivers and train guards) willing the
opportunity to pursue them as time and fellow travellers would allow.
I am now ashamed to admit that one of the determining
factors in our choice of education for our two daughters was the thought
of exposing them to the unpeakably vile behaviour of pubescent boys -
hence the but-clenching cost of independent education and our extreme
poverty. However they still discovered boys and seem none the
worse for that. Perhaps we should have left nature to take its
course and I certainly wouldn't now be moaning about a £409 vet bill for
one our moggies who got himself jaundiced last week....hey ho its only
money.
Mike
Dec. 5, 2009
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Hello,
After all that .. wow ! . I thoght I had it hard !!! .. occasionally it was ..
The pets .. they`re just like children .. worth every penny..
Dec. 5, 2009
(Edited Dec. 5, 2009)
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I think the main problem with unisex edn. ( despite
having been at coed primary and 2 years at a rough secmod...where some
of the girls were very scary... and having a sister....umm...that sounds
BAD....) was the tendency to idealise the female species. The result
was that the discovery that they had NATURAL FUNCTIONS too was a bit of a
SHOCK. And still is! Bit like poor old Ruskin seeing pubic hair on his
wedding night and preventing consumation.
The worst thing a woman I really fancied once said to me was " I
like you, Chris. I feel really safe alone with you".
AAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!
Still, as Bill implies age helps. Do you find yourself staring at
women and then wondering why? All helps to stick to more fulfilling
matters. although I suppose we shall all be like old Betjeman sitting in
his wheelchair and answering the question " any regrets?".........."not
enough sex " he replied. Oh hum!
Still I've got Parrotty who is very keen on me AND NOT for my mind
Dec. 5, 2009
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I'm seriously worried about you Wiltshire.
Stu
Dec. 5, 2009
(Edited Dec. 5, 2009)
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