Home for a day, very poor choice of hotel and art deco

28 May 2013

We're back home after a weekend in Brighton.  We arrived Friday lunch time in the rain and it continued to rain for the rest of the day but having arrived we were not going to sit in the hotel bar just because a little rain!  No we went off for a look around.  By the time we had decided to head back we were fairly wet so we got a taxi back to the hotel.

HOTEL!!!  What a nightmare that turned out to be!  When I booked it I went for one of the cheaper ones.  The room itself was too bad really, clean and so but we had to share facilities.  But some of the other guests were appalling, shouting and screaming and banging door up till around 2 o'clock.  Jan made a fuss about it and they finally went quiet.  Dark looks were exchanged the following morning at breakfast.

Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday was the normal fried mountain and it was OK but nothing special.  Yesterday however it was just toast and cereal; not what I was expecting seeing as we had paid for it.  Anyway, we got back home to Dorktown around 4pm.  Now we have to get ready to go off for another two weeks in the sun.  Hopefully I shall be able to write my blog while I'm there.

Sorry, what was that?  Oh the hotel name ... of course - The Iron Duke!

I love Art Deco architecture and Brighton has a lot of it.  This one I snapped on our first day there ...

And for a funny I offer ...

A man walks into a Welsh pub and orders a white wine spritzer. The bar goes silent as everyone stares at him. "Where are you from? You sound English", "I'm from across the Severn ," replies the man nervously. "What do you do, just across the Severn ?", "I'm a taxidermist." "What on earth is one of those?". "I mount animals." "Its alright boys," shouts the barman, "he's one of us."     

On being busy, getting busier, and A&E problems

23 May 2013

Some days we get very busy; normally that's how it feels but in reality it's just us pottering about doing nowt much at all.  Yesterday was such a day.  By the time we had watched Helicopter Heroes it was time for us to get ready for our ride into town.  We didn't actually need anything but we still spent a load of dosh though.  I spent most on two Les Mis DVDs (the drama version and the musical), and the Hugo book.  I've read Monte Cristo but haven't seen Les Mis before in paperback.  Now I can read that one too.  A big read though, over 1200 pages!

We are going to be even more busy over the next three weeks, so much so that I'm not sure I will be able to post any Dorktown Musings for the whole period.  I shall certainly be making an effort to do so but if not, now you will know why beforehand.

As we lay in bed reading last night we heard the letterbox to the flat upstairs being rattled.  I was getting more and more pee'd off with it because I couldn't see any reason for it.  Then it struck me; are they dealing drugs up there?  So the next time it happened I went to our front door to keep an eye on the stair way through the spy hole.  No-one came back down so we're no wiser as to what is happening up there.  The tenet is a single man called Mark.  He's very poorly really both medically and mentally.  I'm hoping that others have not taken him in and are abusing his trust.  I can't see that there's not much we can do even if they have though.  

A letter has been sent from most of the NHS trusts within the West Midlands claiming that the A&E services are at breaking point.  The Hussy is one of three trusts who didn't sign the letter.  Strange that because they are struggling just as all the others are.  What I find strange up there is that there seems to be a continuing programme of building works going on.  At some point they will stop I'm sure; hopefully the situation there will improve somewhat then. 

It seems that the problems with A&E are actually a nationwide issue with most GP practices no longer provide an overnight call out service.  Here in Dorktown we have an out of hours service based at the Hussy.  To be seen there you need to phone them before you arrive.  A lot of people seem to be being sent round to A&E from there.  So what's the point of going there in the first place?  Many people are going straight to A&E as their first port of call.  It all seems crazy to me.

Anyway ... today's photo is another candid shot in Dorktown centre ...

And again the Sage speaks ...

A man and a woman were having a quiet, romantic dinner in a fine restaurant. They were gazing lovingly at each other and holding hands.
The waitress, taking another order at a table a few steps away, suddenly noticed the man slowly sliding down his chair and under the table, but the woman acted unconcerned.
The waitress watched as the man slid all the way down his chair and out of sight under the table. Still, the woman appeared calm and unruffled, apparently unaware her dining companion had disappeared.
The waitress, thinking this was a bit risqué behaviour that might offend other diners, went over to the table and tactfully, began by saying to the woman, "Pardon me, ma'am , but I think your husband just slid under the table."
The woman calmly looked up at her and said, "No, he didn't. He just walked in the door."      

Busy, sharks and a murder trial

21 May 2013

We were late up this morning with Jan shaking me at 9.50; we must have needed it though.  That isn't the latest though.  In the early 80s I was working at Courtalds in Coventry.  We worked an 8 hour shift there and I was due in at 6am.  Jan shook me awake at 9 o'clock and asked if I was supposed to be at work that day.  She ended with, "Well, you're 3 hours late then."  My reply was, "Sod it!  I'll be 8 hours today then!" and promptly fell back asleep.  Anyway ...

For the next few days we have nothing on.  That makes a nice change; the only delivery we're due this week is on Thursday which is out normal medications for the month.  We'll make up for it though later when we get busy over the weekend.  Should be a good weekend too.  We're both looking forward to it.

My writing has come to a stop again and this time it's because we are both so busy.  I'm wanting to get out and get my hair cut at some time today too.  Maybe after that I shall be able to get few words done.         

I've just found another job we have to do.  Being a short shanks I need my trousers turned up even when we buy 29" inside leg trousers.  I've just found four pairs of trouser that we both keep forgetting about.  Later today I shall try them on and Jan will mark them to where they need turning up to.  She's very good at sewing and really knows what she's doing.  Good job that cos if I tried to do it I'd make a real mess of it ;-)))

January last year the body of a woman was found in the boot of her here in Dorktown.  The trial of her boyfriend is now finally due to start.  He's trying to make out he was mentally ill at the time he killed her.  Of course some cynical people might say that he was so mentally ill he knew what he was doing that it caused him to try to hide the body in her own car.  The couple were living together but she was expecting him to move out at some time soon in the New Year.  He was seen looking at her earlier that night and the looks were not friendly.  The jury is being asked first of all to decided if the man was mentally ill at the time of the killing.  Of course. he's pleading not guilty to murder but also to manslaughter as well.  An interesting idea that, maybe a story in there somewhere.

Yesterday I got my photos sorted after my Sunday jaunt in London.  However, when I came to sort then there were a number of shots from here in Dorktown too.  Here's one of them ... 

a close up shot of Jan's orchid.  Nice flower that.

According to the Sage it might be dangerous to go swimming in the waters off Australia - and not just because of a shark attack ...

A bloke's wife goes missing while diving off the West Australian Coast
He reports the event, searches fruitlessly and spends a terrible night wondering what could have happened to her.
Next morning there's a knock at the door and he is confronted by a couple of policemen, the old Sarge and a younger Constable.
The Sarge says, 'Mate, we have some news for you, unfortunately some really bad news, but, some good news, and maybe some more good news'.
'Well,' says the bloke, 'I guess I'd better have the bad news first?'
The Sarge says, 'I'm really sorry mate, but your wife is dead.
Young Bill here found her lying at about five fathoms in a little cleft in the reef. He got a line around her and we pulled her up, but she was dead.'
The bloke is naturally distressed to hear of this and has a bit of a turn.
But after a few minutes he pulls himself together and asks what the good news is.
The Sarge says, 'Well when we got your wife up there were quite a few really good sized lobsters and a swag of nice crabs attached to her, so we've brought you your share.'
He hands the bloke a bag with a couple of nice lobsters and four or five crabs in it.
'Geez thanks. They're bloody beauties. I guess it's an ill wind and all that...
So what's the other possible good news?
'Well', the Sarge says, 'if you fancy a quick trip, me and young Bill here get off duty at around 11 o'clock and we're gonna shoot over there and pull her up again!

Camera Fair, Skaters and a word from the Sage

20 May 2013

I have looked forward to going to Photographica for years now and yesterday I finally made it - and it was nightmare!  I had to use my scooter to get around of course but with the crowds it was slow going and I had to keep a watch on where I was and what I was doing as well as doing the same for the everyone else there.  They all seemed far more interested in what they were doing to think about anyone else, whoever they were.  I saw people being pushed or forced out of the way so that the pusher could get at what he wanted.  As for looking for anyone using a scooter - forget it. 

More than once someone walk straight in front of me from right beside me, giving me and evil look as if I shouldn't have been there.  The overwhelming feeling I got was that disabled photographers were not at all welcome there.  Only one person actually stopped to talk to me properly. 

Add to that an announcement for everyone to keep an eye on their valuables because five reports of theft or attempted threats had taken place already.  Even one stall holder had a notice asking that if you were interested in any item to ask for it to be handed to him and not to pick it off the shelves - all down to thefts at earlier fairs.  Top and bottom of it all - i will not be going again!

For the rest of yesterday I just rode around the Westminster/Victoria/Belgravia area.  A few pubs, lots of embassies, sports cars and Rollers.  I was slowly getting more and more tired so I made my way back to the car.  On the way I came across a large group of roller skaters as they waited patiently for the lights on Victoria Street.  Here's a photo for you ...  

They all seemed to be enjoying it.

And my all knowing Sage has been in touch again ...

 
Upon arriving home, a husband was met at the door by his sobbing wife.
Tearfully, she explained, 'It's the pharmacist. He insulted me terribly this morning on the phone. I had to call multiple times before he would even answer the phone.'
Immediately, the husband drove down town to confront the pharmacist and demand an apology.
Before he could say more than a word or two, the pharmacist told him, 'Now, just a minute, listen to my side of it. This morning, the alarm failed to go off, so I was late getting up. I went without breakfast and hurried out to the car, just to realize that I'd locked the house with both house and car keys in side and had to break a window to get my keys. Then, driving a little too fast, I got done for speeding. Later, when I was nearly at the pharmacy, I discovered that I had a flat tyre. When I finally got to the store, a crowd of people were waiting ting for me to open up. I got the shop opened and started serving these people.'
'All the time, the bloody phone was ringing off the hook.' He continued, 'Then, I had to break open a roll of 10p pieces against the cash register drawer to give some change, and they spilt all over the floor. I had to get down on my hands and knees to pick up them up. All this time, the phone was still ringing. When I came up I cracked my head on the open cash register drawer, which made me stagger back against a showcase with a load of perfume bottles on it. Half of them hit the floor and broke.'
'Meanwhile, the phone is still ringing with no let up, and I finally had time to answer it. It was your wife. She wanted to know how to use a rectal thermometer.
And believe me, mate, as God is my witness, all I did was tell her!!!