dull and gloomy
Chaser 2
Yvonne Chapman
Sat 17 Jan 2009 18:17
|
Gloomy, a word that we've not used much for the
past couple of years, but it sums up the BBC news and the weather perfectly.
The news is as cheerful as the weather, we need
sunshine and optimism.
The pictures show Susie scanning a catalogue for
anything baby like, our new 4 wheeled transport for the coming weeks, nice car,
and bleak, cold snow in Susie and Billys garden.
From behind you wouldn't know Susie was pregnant,
but she only has a couple of weeks to go, maybe less.
Yvonne and I went to the London boat show at the
Excel Exhibiton Centre, we managed to get an 8 pounds discount on the entry
tickets by saying we were members of an English rowing team, bringing our ticket
price down to 22 pounds and the day previous we made a visit Bob and
Ann, some old friends, well not old at all really, and had a good day and
lunch with them. They haven't changed at all, though health not as good as it
was, but it was good to catch up with family news and reminisce over our old
Telecom and boatbuilding days, much of our boatbuilding of course being
sponsored allegedly by BT.
The show was a disappointment though, more a
fashion show than boat show. I remember when you would go to this show,
where you would find motorboats from the very large to the very small, and
equally sailing boats of all sizes, aswell as most of the chandlers nationwide.
There would be upholsterers, sailmakers, gadgets and gizmos. But this year, and
I'm sure nothing to do with the alledged recession, there was one small hall
with mid size to small motorboats, maybe a dozen sailboats under 40ft in the
other hall, the rest of the space mainly being taken up with deck shoes, cloths
and all fashion with a slightly nautical theme or name.
Mailspeed marine had a large stand, with much of
their stock for sale, but none of the other major players. In sailing there was
only two Bavarias, two Hunters, an ugly Moody and some Jenneaus but that was
about it, no Oysters, no Rasseys, an absolute disappointment. No windsurfiing
stands, no fishing stands or equipment, and no scuba. It really was a waste of
money. I even checked with information to see if I'd missed another hall or
extra stands but no.
The following day we drove to Kent where Yvonne and
I were brought up, and where we lived after we married prior to moving to
Spain in 1992. Its the first time I've been back to this area since we moved.
Some hasn't changed at all, other parts I didn't recognise. It was interesting
to see and good to visit our friends, but I won't be moving back. In fact what
I've seen of Birmingham and the surrounding countryside I would prefer to live
there than my part of Kent, never thought I'd say that. The pace of
life is so fast, supermarkets are packed, as are the roads and motorways.
Everywhere I go the council wants to take my picture, hopefully catching me
doing something wrong so they can ask me for a donation to the government
coffers. Life revolves around shopping and TV, I'm not being unkind to those
living here, but there is little else to do that doesn't cost a small fortune.
One of the attractions of Spain for families with children, entertainment
outside the home is free or inexpensive. Still, all for now.
These pictures were sent with Picasa, from Google. Try it out here: http://picasa.google.com/ |
