Work - Staff Meal Curry

Last night, after work, eight of us out of fourteen, went out for a meal together at the Valley Connection Indian restaurant, in Churchgate st. You will find it in the building that was "Gabe's" restaurant, next to the Queens Head pub.
Having been seated and drinks ordered, we were drawn to the Xmas party menu by the waiter. This consisted of a mixed starter followed by a banquet of dishes to pick from amongst ourselves, for a set fee of £19.95.
There was a mild chicken dish, a medium prawn dish, and my favourite of the three, a spicy hot lamb dish. Plenty of rice both mushroom and special fried, Bombay potatoes, chick pea and spinach dishes, and a Vegetarian dish for one of my colleagues.
I hadn't been keen on ordering this type of layout, and had wanted to order something I knew I liked, but this gave me the chance to try something I hadn't before.
The food was very good, as was the service and the restaurant was filled to capacity. I am keen to go back now, to try one of the dishes I would normally choose in an Indian restaurant, to see if it is as good again.
After the meal we decided to head for the Kings Arms to carry on the evening and at about 11pm four of us left to go home and the other four moved on to Bar 3.
This morning there were some tired staff, me included, as I had waited for my wife to come home, who's working 4pm to midnight this week.

No.5

Web Cams

I've added three live Web Cam links to my blog, and one of them is for the pedestrian crossing in Abbey Road, London, scene of the famous Beatles album cover.
Occasionally you do see a group of people standing on the crossing, holding up the traffic, to have their photo taken.
I found it amusing, and thought I'd share it with anyone who's bored enough to be looking at my blog, and wants something more interesting to look at. Also the New York one is good, they've had a few flakes of snow out their.

No.5

"Christmas Shopping" - Is Off

On Wednesday I mentioned the day out I was having today with my brother. But at about 8am, I'd just got up, the phone rings, and its my Bro' "I can't go, I'm ill, I'm so sorry"
Well it was hugely disappointing, as I was looking forward to it, but if you don't feel good, and your getting very short toilet warnings, you don't really want to be sat on a train for 40 minutes combined with shivers.
So it looks like its the local at lunchtime and maybe M.H.C.C for the football.

No.5

Ring Tone

On my phone I have the ring tone set to go "Cashier No.5 please". Yes I know its a bit sad, but while I was stood in the Queue in Woolworths today, that also has a QMS (queue management system), I did wonder what the man in front of me would do, if someone called me when he got to the front of the queue. Or if I just played it anyway ?

No.5

"Christmas Shopping"

My brother and I, most years, arrange a mutual day in December to go "Christmas shopping" together.
Now this doesn't actually involve entering any shops, or buying presents, it is the name of our get together to have a few beers and a laugh in a hostelry or two, on a cold afternoon.
This years "Christmas shopping" trip, is planned for this Sunday, and breaking with tradition slightly, we will be doing it in Cambridge, via the railway network. Also meeting up with another friend we've holidayed with in the past, who lives out near there.
Apparently there are some Premier league games Sunday, as well.

No.5

Bury St.Edmunds Today @ 08:35

Frosty rooftops

4am

At 4am this morning, the alarm clock went off. I got up, pulled on a pair of jeans, t-shirt, jumper and socks (I already had boxers on, I'm not going commando). Brushed my teeth, put on my coat and a pair of trainers and headed out the door into the dark of night.

My destination was my friend Ian's house, about five minutes walk away, to watch the Rick Hatton v Floyd Mayweather live at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, on Sky TV pay per view.

I had been text by Ian telling me to go to the back door and not knock and wake up his partner and baby ringing the front door bell.
I had been to his house before, but in my "one-up from sleep walking state" I was having a little trouble finding his house, let alone a door.
After realising I hadn't gone far enough up the road, I found the house, side gate, and back door, I let myself in and found Ian sat on the sofa with two of his friends Stu'y and Bunion.
"wanna beer No.5" said Ian. "Nah, can I make a cup of Tea" I replied. I had contemplated taking a bottle of Old Speckled Hen with me, but a beer didn't appeal at the time.
Having made a brew and sat down, I find out the other 3 guys have been up all night waiting for the fight, and with other fights on the bill, the walk down to the ring for this main fight didn't start until about 04:45 and the 3 of them say they are starting to struggle to stay awake.
Round 1 and Hatton lands a punch that has Mayweather wobble or slip, but he couldn't compete with his opponents reach and class on the night, and in round 10 Mayweather lands a left that has Hatton slumping onto the corner post, after which he is able to finish his opponents challenge.
I made the short walk back home, and got back to bed at 05:45. I think an afternoon nap will be in order today.

No.5

An Amusing Work Story (2)

On Saturday I sold a lady a retail item, and never actually handled the box it was in, as it was on display, and she put it in the bag I gave her, with the receipts.
On Monday, our acting branch manager says to me "that item you sold Saturday, was an empty box". A box with the goods removed for security, which I didn't know.
I hope she discovers its empty before she wraps it, gives it to someone for Christmas, and found to be empty Christmas day !
As she hasn't been back yet.

No.5

"One Marcus Evans"

Great news for all Ipswich Town fans, the deal to buy 87.5% of the club has been agreed. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2221213,00.html
Click on the links to read more. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/7125059.stm

No.5

Floodlit

Having had to work this morning, I finished lunchtime and headed back home to change, to go to the Theatre of dreams. Ipswich had won twelve consecutive home games before today, and had a 100% home record this season so far, so what would the 13th bring Ipswich, today.

After a slow start by Ipswich, Barnsley our opponents today, had had most of the possession for the first quarter of an hour, before we started to get the ball forward. Alan Lee looked like he was running around with his eyelids glued shut, and was substituted probably due to injury, before half time.

Second half of the game under the floodlights.

Ipswich had more of the ball in the second half, but couldn't break through the Barnsley defence. With the game ending 0-0, 13 wasn't to be a good number, but we hadn't lost.

Can't win them all.

No.5

Flu

I've got a cold, and I'm a man, so its flu. So it must be bird flu...H5N1.. sniff.
Sinex please.

No.5

Full Moon

I set the alarm clock for 5:15 this morning, to go and pick up the wife at Heathrow, but I was awake at 4:13, and put the TV on. I checked Ceefax for flight arrival times and VS022 was on time (due to land at 07:05) from Washington D.C. I watched BBC news for a while then got up dressed, and made a cup of tea, before getting on the road at 6am.
As I got outside it was apparent it was a full moon, and was shining brightly. With a bit of moisture on the road, you could almost see the way ahead without the car headlights, it was like having a torch shined down on you.
There wasn't much traffic, both going and coming back, on any of the road (even the M25), and my timing was perfect. I was only waiting in arrivals for about 5 or 6 minutes before the wife came through from luggage reclaim, just after 8am.
When we got home I took a look at her photo's and there is literally only 1 that's outdoors and doesn't have a family member in it.

I'm not sure why she took a picture of these three vehicles.

Ohio is known as the Buckeye state, not as exotic sounding as the Great Lake state or the Sunshine state, a Buckeye sounds like it is something like a Deer, but is in fact a tree. There is a roller coaster park in Ohio called Cedar Point, and did boast the biggest, fastest roller-coaster ride, in the world, called The Millennium ride, which I have ridden.

It climbs up to a height of 310 feet before dropping 300 feet and hits a speed of 93 mph, on the bank of Lake Erie. I rode this with my arms up in the air, and when I got off I had dead bugs up my arms, like on a car windscreen. It has since been beaten by another ride.

Washed the car, and went for a pint. Day off tomorrow, so the wife will be fed up with me by dinner time.

No.5

Saturday Off

Day off today, and stayed in bed till 9am. Got up and done some housework, before going to Sainsbury's for some groceries. Filling up with Petrol (Gas if your American) and checking the tyre (tire if your American) pressures ahead of having to pick the wife up from Heathrow airport tomorrow.
Put the car back in my garage in case there is a frost overnight again, and went to the Local for a pint, with headphones connected to my phone to listen to the Ipswich game. Which we loose 0-1.
Back home and close the curtains, turn up the heating, switch on the TV and puter and get toasty for the evening.
Cumberland sausages and chips for dinner, watching X factor.

No.5

An Amusing Work Story

I was serving a lady today at work, and asked her to complete a form. She rummaged through her handbag and said "I can't find my glasses", usual story we get.
"I don't mind filling it out for you, pass it back" I said (unlike me).
"Can you put your name and address on this bit" I enquired. More rummaging in the handbag starts again.
"Are you looking for the glasses that are on the top of your head ? " I ask, and a bit of a chuckling breaks out from both of us.

With the wife away, I thought I might as well go out and watch the England v Croatia game. Something I don't regret at all. Despite the result, it was a good game, end to end. Unfortunately bringing to an end our hopes of being in the tournament. Hey Ho.

No.5

Back To Work

The alarm clock went off to get me up for work at 06:45 after a weeks holiday, and boy did I swear, at having to get back to the usual routine.
Last week had given me plenty to blog about every day, doing something different.
Its funny going back to work nowadays, because half my colleagues read my blog and know what I've been doing.
If any readers have got a minute, feel free to sign my guestbook, but any rude comments will be removed...hahahaha.

A Long Walk (2) Some pictures.

I liked the image of this tree against the skyline.

This is the autumn view in the opposite direction.

The Needle. A memorial to The Marquess of Bristol, Bishop Of Derry.

The plaque dedicated to him.

No.5

My Sunday

I got up about 9:30am, and a short time later went off to Sainsbury's for some groceries needed particularly as I go back to work tomorrow.
Having put the shopping away I went back out for a lunchtime pint. A bit later I'll be cooking myself a couple of pork chops.
I've also now got my bro's pic's from our walk yesterday, in Ickworth.
Enjoy.

No.5

A Long Walk

At 10am my brother and I got dropped off, by my sister-in-law, at the back entrance to Ickworth park, near Little Saxham, and entered the park for a morning of walking, despite it being just 3 deg C.
On the gate was a notice warning of Deer culling in progress and advising people to stick to designated trails, but it said it would finish on last Tuesday 13th Nov.
At the bottom of the long hill down we went off to the right following the stream that comes from the Lake, passed the bomb hole where my brother broke his collar bone many years ago, getting some big air on my mountain bike. About half way along before you reach the road that runs down from Ickworth church we went off to the right up into the woods, where we saw the 1st Deer of the morning, a large male complete with tall antlers. Bearing left through the woods to keep us heading in our original direction we saw 2 more Deer and also ladders against trees where the cullers hide up to shot them. We carried on walking until we came out onto the Chevington entrance to the park, and got on the parks red trail.
This part of the park I know much better, and it takes you past the Needle, a memorial to the Marquess of Bristol, but I don't know the theory for its location in a field. We stopped briefly while my brother took a photo (which I'll post if he emails them to me) before heading down to what I know as the fairy or blue lake in the park, the one that feeds by stream the main lake.
At the fairy lake we had a cheese biscuit and a drink and fed a couple of hungry white Ducks that liked cheese biscuits too, until the were all gone, then it was off in the direction of Horringer.
We came out of the park at the entrance that's after the last house on the right hand side, as you leave Horringer in the Haverhill direction, and walked down through to the village to the Six Bells, arriving there about 12:30pm after walking about 5 to 6 miles.
This pub changed hands a couple of weeks ago, and I hadn't been in there for a long while, and I don't think many of the villagers had either, so we got a pint of Old Speckled Hen and ordered the chicken curry each. The curry was just the right spice temperature.
Leaving the pub, we had planned on phoning my sister-in-law to come and pick us up, but I noticed a man at the bus stop and suggested we got on the bus back to Bury instead. When we boarded the bus, the driver didn't charge us either, I don't think his ticket machine was working.

I finished grouting around the bathroom tiles I'd had to put up where the old shower had been, then fell asleep on the sofa.

No.5

Makro

I drove over to my parents, this morning, and my mother and I went off to Ipswich. We turned off at the Sproughton turn off, where the Beet factory is, and pulled into Morrison's supermarket, for a breakfast. I had two sausages, bacon, egg, fried bread and toast with marmalade washed down with a cup of Tea.
After eating we had a wander around the rest of the grocery store, mum putting most items in the trolley.
Leaving Morrison's, we got back on the A14 and over the Orwell bridge to Ransomes europark, and to Screw-fix Direct to get some bits for my father's electrical work. (Need a Sparkie - see Ad in red side bar).
Then on to Makro. This is a wholesalers for anyone VAT registered, and you can get literally anything here, that you can by on the high street for a business. We must have been in there 2 hours and had lunch in the diner. I had roast Turkey, sprouts, carrots, roast potatoes, stuffing and gravy for £4.99. What did I buy in the store ? ... a bottle of windscreen washer fluid for £1.79.
Dropped mum back to their house, and then met up with the 5 o'clock club at my local.
Tomorrow, I'm meeting up with my Bro' . More about that, then.

No.5

Last Night

Last night, or rather this morning, I stayed up until gone 5am, and at about 04:30 I had a fry up before I went to bed. At 08:28 the bin lorry came along taking away the rubbish, and periodically after that I was woken up by people trundling their bins back up their driveways. That was until at 12:30 when the postman banged on my door with a recorded delivery, that needed signing for, that I never usually get. Then staring at this letter, I, bleary eyed, put my bare foot in some cold cat puke, Great ! That's the last time I stay up that late.
Deciding to walk into town, this afternoon, when I got to the junction of Mount Road with Eastgate Street, a car driver stopped to let me cross the road. It was about 14:30 by now and I got to the Angel hill traffic lights before the driver of this car, in the slow traffic.
Catching the bus back, it had to be diverted over Station hill, controlled by traffic lights outside the Linden Tree, as Tayfen road was closed off in front of Lucky Break. It would of also been quicker to walk back, and it costs £1.70 now !
I'm going to Makro (wholesalers) in Ipswich tomorrow, I really could of done with our camera this week, for some blog pic's, but the wife has it in the States.

No.5

Tuesday evening / Wednesday

Tuesday evening saw me having a lovely meal at my parents home, Lamb, mint sauce and the veg trimmings. Glad I'm not in the Jungle.
When I got home, I switched on the computer, for a while, and had a look at my blog, to find that Google ads had an advert for "vaginal photos" on it. Well I ain't no Gynaecologist, and emailed Google to remove it.
This morning, and I'm trying to lift the remaining floor tiles and they seem to be stuck down with more glue than the others were. The carpet fitter arrived about 3:30 pm to put down the Lino, right in the middle of Rosemary Shrager's school for cooks on ITV, I love daytime TV.
Pointed him straight ahead at the top of the stairs, and made him a cup of coffee, before watching the rest of the program.
Its amazing how the Lino makes such a difference to the room, it has a light in colour wood pattern. I asked the fitter if he liked a beer after work, and gave him a bottle of old speckled hen, when he said "yes".
Tidied up a bit after he left, and went for a couple of pints myself at the local, then back home for dinner, and managed to avoid getting any numbers on my lottery ticket.
Got a reply from my email to Google AdSense, tonight, telling me to add filters, which I didn't know existed, so if there's anymore rude adverts, I haven't switched these on.

No.5

Bathroom Flooring

I decided when I got up this morning, that the bathroom flooring was coming up. It has been the same flooring since I bought the house 11 years ago, cork tiles with a varnish over them. I don't know why I haven't done it before now, as I have had to re-varnish the tiles 3 or 4 times when it starts to blister and peel, and they have probably looked out of date since whenever they were put down.
I left 7 tiles still to take up, so I don't end up stuck to the floor boards while paying a visit, and went to Allied Carpets for some Lino. I need something like Lino so I can sweep up any spilled cat litter from the box I have in the bathroom.
I had been in the store previously with the wife so I knew already which one I was after, and made my purchase. I also needed to arrange a fitter to put the Lino down for me as there are many pipes, sink, and toilet to cut round. I asked if it could be fitted Thursday or Friday, appreciating that it was a bit short notice, and the shop assistant said, they were all to busy those days, would tomorrow (Wednesday) be alright.
So it had to be, because I'm back at work next week, but had wanted to finish up some tiling in the bathroom where the old shower was 1st.
Never mind, at least it shows good service can be got.

No.5

Playing Marbles On A Slope

1st day of my week off work, after the weekend, and my brilliant dad came round to replace my knackered power shower with a new one. I had to pop out and post off the jeans I'd sold on eBay, get a newspaper, half a dozen bathroom tiles and a 22mm ball valve. So having been to the Post Office, I called into Tesco express for a paper, Topps Tiles 8p per 6" 2 white tile, and Plumb Centre for the valve, and returned home.
Once back home, dad suggested that if I got another additional valve then they'd all be replaced in one go, so I go back to Plumb Centre for another. I pull up outside, walk towards the door and realise I have no wallet and therefore no method to pay, so back home I go again.
On the way back again, down past the Shell petrol station, I am not thinking about where I'm going, and I'm going past Sainsbury's when I realise I've gone past the turning, and am losing my marbles.

No.5

11-11-11

Just before 11am I was at home watching The Championship on ITV, as Ipswich was the main feature game on there today, and we had spanked Bristol City 6-0 yesterday, at the theatre of dreams (Portman Road).
When the program temporarily changed over to the chimes of Big Benjamin, and the two minute silence, I got up off the sofa to observe it, and saw the pictures of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, over 100 of them.
What a waste of life. Young men and women, in their prime, younger than myself, and not even really "defending their country" more kind of humanitarian reasons, needlessly killed.
So, who do you point the finger at ?
Nowhere near the numbers who died during the 1st and 2nd world wars. Thousands more than these recent conflicts, men of the same age, but you can say Adolf Hitler was to blame. So should it be Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, George Bush or..good old Tony Blair ?
Wear your poppy with pride and "salute" our heroes.

No.5

eBay

I'm selling a couple of pairs of jeans on eBay at the moment, and have had a bid on each pair. Now, on eBay, you get to see what feedback other people have been given to see how reliable someone may be, and also you can see what else they have bought and sold.
Well I had a look at one of the bidders of my jeans and looked at what else they had bought, and recently they had purchased an ear flesh tunnel (sounds gruesome) for £1.20. This is one of those stainless steel (for hygiene) rings that is force into the ear lobe to slowly make a big hole through it.
I do know someone personally who wears two of these, but I felt I had to click back off this item immediately, at the thought of it. I done a search for these similar items and found 144 other items.
But I don't care what people wear if they buy my old jeans...Laughing out loud.

No.5

After work

After work tonight, I parked the car in the garage, went in the house, changed the clothes I was wearing and left the house, to walk to the pub....happy days.
I have next week off work, and if you've read previous posts, you'll know I'm Macaulay Culkin (home alone) for three weeks at the moment, while the wife's away. I happened to find a pen advertising speed dating, on its side, at work today, and brought home with me. I wonder what will happen if I leave it in our pen jar.

No.5

Hhhmmmm

I got up this morning at 5am, to take the wife down to Heathrow (she's got the camera for 3 weeks). When I got up, I went down stairs, put the TV on, and then the Kettle, for a cup of tea. Once the wife had finished packing her case, I went back upstairs to brush my teeth, opened the curtains in the bedroom, and Fog !.....Great.
Because it was Sunday, and early morning, it was still possible to drive relatively safety at 70mph.
I generally have to do all of the driving responsibilities and am never aloud to choose the music in the CD player when we go anywhere, so it was Back Street Boys and Westlife during the Journey down.
Having dropped her off, in goes the ModFather, Paul Weller, in the stereo, and the speedo starts creeping up to 100mph on the M25, wooooo...ease off or I'll be walking if plods about.
Still patchy fog about, although its now daylight, I get back to Bury' and pick up some groceries at Sainsbury's before going home.
Having put them away, I try my 1st beer for 6 weeks, an Old Speckled Hen,...Hhhmmmm... that doesn't taste like I remember it.
After a swift Lager in the Moreton hall pub, I went across to the community centre to see the Narridge v Ipswich game. Half time and its 0-2 to the Super blues and all is well. But 2 goals in the second half to Norwich sees a 2-2 draw, D'oh.
Now tonight I'll have control of remote for the TV, so I can watch Top Gear from the comfort of the sofa, and some American football on Sky.

No.5

Derby Day

I sold a dining table and 2 chairs on eBay this week and the man who bought it came to collect today. So I can now get my car in the garage again, where I had been storing the table, just in time to avoid fireworks landing on the top of the car.
I bought some beer today, 8 bottles of Old Speckled Hen. This Sunday the wife is going to see her family for 3 weeks, and I'll be running her down to Heathrow airport. Then when I get home, what could be better, I'll be ripping a bottle top off with my teeth, and settling down to watch Narridge v Ipswich live on Sky at 12:30pm.
It will be exactly 6 weeks since the last beer I had, I reckon it will go straight to my head. Come On Ipswich ! Do it for Marcus Evans.

No.5

Sugar Beet Factory

The campaign is well under way, and the smell of the processing once again fills the air in and around Bury St.Edmunds. Its a smell I don't actually dislike, and when the wind is in the right or wrong direction, which ever way you look at it, the smell can enter my bathroom here at home, as I only live about a mile from the site.

When I was at school, at about the age of 15 in 1985, the whole of the school year had to choose where they wanted to go on their work experience. This would ideally be 2 weeks with a company that you felt would benefit you in your chosen career path. I'm not sure if the schools still do this ? I applied to go to the electrical department at the Sugar Beet factory, which was my 1st choice, and got to go there. On my 1st day I was given my card to swipe in with, so they know who's on the plant, and was taken to the electricians workshop. I was introduced to a man called Ozzie, who I would shadow for the 1st week, you can guess his surname.

During that week I went to the top of the silo's, that create the blot on Bury's landscape, but boy what a view from up there. That is about as much as I remember of the 2 weeks there, other than getting to see the Carp lakes and now and again walking past another male worker there, known as Marigold, who always wore pink rubber gloves of the same name.
On my last day they gave me a genuine Swiss army knife as a gift for my time there, which I had kept until January of last year. Which is another story.
My brother and I were on our way to Munich for 3 days and nights, which was going to involve taking in a Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen match at the Alliance Arena, and a few Steiner's of beer. At Stanstead airport I forgot I had thrown the Swiss army knife in my wash bag of toiletries. So having kept it nice for 21 years, I have it confiscated, did it piss me off.

No.5

lettuce In

Last night the wife asked me to cut up a lettuce to go with our dinner, which I duly did. Having done so and before I washed it, I found a small earth worm in it, and pointed it out to the wife.
"Yuk" she said. To which I replied "Its better than half a worm" and it would of been handy a couple of weeks ago when I went fishing.

No.5

Sunrise Today

This was the view of the sky from my back garden, when I got up this morning around 7am.

Red sky in the morning, shepherds warning. Red sky at night, barns on fire !

Its been pretty cold cycling to work as well. I did start wondering this morning, while cycling, if the cranes on the Arc development get frost on there cab windows in the winter. Because it would be interesting with a scraper and a can of de-icer up there.

No.5

Disappointing week for English sport

Wednesday and the England football team throw away a one goal lead to Russia, which means we now need to rely on Israel getting at least a draw with Russia, then we need to beat Croatia, to qualify for Euro 2008.
We then lose the rugby world cup final to South Africa, in a match where we were denied what looked like a perfectly good try, to every English person in the world.
Then Lewis Hamilton only needs to finish the Brazilian grand prix in 5th place to be crowned world champion in his first year, and he only manages 7th, and ends joint runner-up.
We never seem to be able to produce dominant world champions like Michael Schumacher, Lance Armstrong, Pete Sampras, Carl Lewis. We only get the likes of Jenson Button, David Millar, Tim Henman and Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards.
Maybe Lewis Hamilton will do it next year. After all, no rookie driver has ever been world champion in their 1st year, which is why it would of been that bit more special, had he done it this time.

No.5

No.5's Big No.2's

Since quiting the beer for a few weeks, the absence of it in my diet, appears to have affected my visits to the loo. I have experienced this before so I know I need to add some fibre to my diet, to avoid my legs going numb from the thighs down, while trying to crimp off a log.
I've been sat on the loo and the wife shouts "what you doing". Now with the bathroom window open a fraction I usually reply "I'm riding the porcelain horse" just in case the neighbours are in ear shot in their garden, it just sounds better than a more accurate description.
Some people won't use any other toilet than their own, which brings me on to going at work. The work loo is usually cleaner than a public loo, but still not your own, its a case of, to crap or not to crap.
There can be a sense of satisfaction dropping one off at work, being paid on the company time, but in the work place toilet there is usually two cubicles. Now imagine you go for a dump and one of the cubicles is already in use, what do you do ? Yep, you leave ! I don't want to hear or smell someone dropping their guts, grunting and straining, no thank you. Use another loo, or come back later.
It is horrific to hear someone else doing a turd. First off, they have a little wee, then maybe a precursory fart, often moist sounding, which should not be shared, and you can never tell how loud or smelly a fart will be. Then a No.2 is like a load of farts wrapped up in a ball of crap, very unpredictable.
The second cubicle is for emergencies only, I don't have enough hands to plug both ears, hold my nose, and carry on browsing Vodafone live football news on my mobile.

No.5

Mount Road Carpark

This is the regular scene in the morning on a school day, of the traffic queueing back from the Angel hill traffic lights. If you want to drive into Bury St.Edmunds town centre, you have to allow about 30 minutes to go the mile and a half from the Moreton hall estate, if you leave home at about 08:15.

I really don't understand how and why people put up with it each morning, and its possibly going to get worse with more houses being built in the area of The Flying Fortress pub.
My solution, in an idea world, would be a mono-rail that ran from the bottom of Appledown Drive to the railway station in town, continuously back and forth, parallel with the existing railway line.
But anyone sitting in their car each morning could be walking or cycling the short distance into town and getting some exercise at the same time. A "mum" I know who lives near me, cycles with her children to school because the children want to, and not go by car, and its admirable cycling with them past this line of traffic.

No.5

My Day Off

Not quite in the same league as the film "Ferris Bueller's day off" today. I did try making my teeth as white as his, by flossing and brushing, before leaving the house. I dropped the wife off at work, and put some petrol in the car. Then called at Pets Place at Moreton Hall Veterinary Centre to get some cat food.

Then I drove into town and parked the car behind the Arc development, before heading down King's Road to my Dentists in Guildhall Street for a check-up, hence my tooth polishing.

Is the missing plaque because of a retiring Dentist or a disappearing NHS one ? After a few prods and pokes and £30 lighter, and I didn't even get to rinse out with any of the liquid in the little cup beside the Dentists chair, it was green in colour, that Is mine ! It was there for me !
After the Dentists, I called in my usual Hairdressers for a haircut with Mark, so it was out of one chair and into another, no green mouth rinse in here, and I was in this chair longer for only £10.

(Its not my bicycle).

Having got my ears lowered, I called in Boots the chemist to see my mum, before I went home. Mum asks if I'd had lunch and suggested we went to Palmers as it was almost her lunch hour. Nice idea, I was in no hurry to be anywhere, and the car park ticket was for way longer than I had needed, because I hadn't had the right change for the meter.

We had some sandwiches and a pot of tea each, then walked back up St.Andrews Street and took this picture of the 4 cranes that now stand on the Arc site, before getting back to the car.

Back home and its time for a shower to get all the hair off me making me itch.

No.5

2 out of 3 wasn't bad

Of the England teams, the footballers and especially the rugby players, done us proud yesterday and we're in the rugby world cup final , next Saturday. Unfortunately we will be facing South Africa, who whooped us 36-0 in the group stage of the competition, but hey, who thought we would beat Australia and France after that hiding. So bring on the Springbok's, again.

I went over to my parents today for Sunday lunch, and my Brother, Sister-in-law and Nephew were there as well. Before lunch my bro', sis-in-law and I went to the Beehive for an hour, for a drink.

Today was as hard as yesterday, watching sport, when it came to not having a beer, being in my favourite pub and watching my brother drink a Kronenberg in front of me, while I had a Coca-Cola.

Its my day off work tomorrow, and I have a couple of things to do which I'll post about after then.

No.5

Come On England x3

What a day of sport ! The England cricket team (gets the ball rolling...hehehe) at 10:00 with the 5th one day international in the series with Sri Lanka.
At 15:00 its the England football team who are playing Estonia, at Wembley, in the Euro 2008 qualifier. This game out of the 3 would be the home banker, if you were putting your money on the treble bet.
Then at 20:00 its the Big One, when the England rugby union team take on France, in Paris, in the World Cup semi-final. With the support of Kenny Rogers, yes, the country and western singer, who apparently the rugby team have been listening to, after prop forward Matt Stevens was strumming it on his guitar, in their build-up to matches.

So don't phone me today when these games are on, I won't remember a word you say, and it won't be because of beer ! I've still not had one, and its tough on a day of sport like today, and I plan on watching the football in the pub.

Come On England !

No.5

GGGrrrrrr

I was asked, at work, if I wanted to go to a broadband seminar, in Newmarket, that is being launched very soon, in conjunction with our home phone service.

As the wife and I share a car, I had to go on the train, to it today. I arrived at the station and the what I call kennels, for locking your bike in, were all in use....GGGrrrrrr, So I took my bike on the train.

I got to Newmarket at 09:15, and with a bit of time to kill before the seminar started at 10:00, I decided to cycle up past the clock tower to the green where some of the horses get exercised, and take a couple of pictures. I took my camera, out as a bunch of horses had just arrived (I'm not sure of the collective name for horses), turned it on and beep, beep, beep..low battery and it shuts off...GGGrrrrrr. I replace the batteries with 2 more (rechargeable AA's) and their dead too...GGGrrrrrr.
Not defeated yet, there is a BP petrol station across the road and I go to see if I can buy some there. No, they don't stock any...GGGrrrrrr.
So I gave up, and only managed to get this pic of Bury St.Edmunds station, before I left for Newmarket on my excursion.
Anyway, from the 29th of October, if you want to know the fastest download speed you can get at your house, ask in, you know where.

No.5

Sober, not So Bar.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I like my beer or lager. Well I haven't had one now since the 23rd September, not for any particular reason, but it has been tough, mainly because I don't like the alternative options.
Yes I like a cup of tea in the morning, and a can of Dr.Pepper during the day, but its the evening I miss the flavour of an Old Speckled Hen.
Water is to plain, squash doesn't improve it much, and I don't enjoy coffee. Orange juice is too acidic for my stomach and tends to give me a headache, and fizzy drinks supposedly rot your teeth, which is what I tend to end up drinking.
I called in the Moreton Hall pub today, it is nice being able to drive to and from it, and if the Australia v England rugby match hadn't of been on to distract me, I don't think I could of stayed there for as long as I did, because I would of been bored and also tempted to have a beer.
Do I feel better for not drinking ? In a way yes, its nice getting up in the morning without a hangover, but I don't usually drink that much to give me one.

Conversation I had with a young Australian woman yesterday.....
Me: Are you watching the rugby tomorrow ?
Woman: Yes
Me: I don't know whether too or not.
Woman: Yeah, we always beat you.
Me: Well you didn't 4 years ago!...hahahaha. (In the World Cup Final)

Great rugby result today though, and we're in the semi-finals.

Just got to also mention the song I found by my favourite musician, Paul Weller, called, Call Me No.5 ! I had never heard of it till last night. Hear it by clicking at top of right column, it rocks, although I have noticed it does disappear, sometimes, from the blog.

No.5

Nod Your Head

This is paul McCartney's Video that has created a YouTube craze, of posting similar Videos

Very St.Edmunds

Thats what the developers are promoting the Arc with now (Very St.Edmunds). Quite a clever name I think. The two pictures below were taken this week, I don't know which each one is going to be at this stage, I'm not to bothered right now, but as they rise from the ground I may as well share their appearance with anyone who cares to know whats happening on the cattle market site.

The picture above taken at the top of the market thoroughfare is Palmers side, and the picture below is looking towards kings road and when the sorting office stood. This one looks a much more complicated construction.

No.5

Wedding pictures

Thursday 13th September 5:15pm, Hotel Meri, Blue Lagoon, Olu Deniz, Turkey. This is the scenery across the Blue Lagoon from the hotel at which the wedding took place. The wedding I attended of our friends.

Vows over, and the signing of the register. In the picture is the bribe and groom, the two bridesmaids, the minister, the wedding organiser (lady standing) and a hotel staff member.

The bride and groom

The bride. Which my wife done her make-up for her, and also for the bridesmaids. I think she could possibly make a bridal magazine, not with my pic's but the official photographs.

Time to cut the cake

After dinner speeches and the toasts

It really was a lovely location for their wedding, they love Turkey, and had got engaged out there on a previous visit. I wish them many happy years together.

No.5

Lavenham

Took a ride in the car over to Lavenham today. Most surprised I didn't have to go to the Discount Warehouse, after getting groceries. On the way to Lavenham you can pass through Cockfield and I wonder whether it covers the largest area for a village in England ? it seems to stretch for miles.

There were lots of tourist visitors and a coach party wandering the village looking in the shops, pubs and tea shops.

This is the crooked house in the high street, I bet the owners have to answer a lot of questions when they're trying to Insure the place. I wonder how many photographs have been taken of it.

No.5

Fishing

Having got the cob-webs off my fishing tackle last night, I went out to look for some worms, as an alternative to the sweetcorn, for bait. The easiest way to get worms isn't as you might think to dig for them, but to go out late at night and grab them laying out on grass, particularly if its been raining like it had. Now for some reason public grassy areas are always better than your own lawn for finding worms on. There I was with a bait tub in one hand and a torch in the other at 11pm when I spot a "hoodie" coming my way. As he gets close he says "you lost somefing mate?" as I'm shining the torch on the grass. "No, I'm looking for worms" I replied, and nothing else was said as he walked past.

I got up this morning at 6am and headed off to the lake I had planned to fish, arriving at about 6:45 am and there was only one other mad person already there, as daylight was just breaking. I started off using sweetcorn as bait, hoping to catch the Carp that inhabit the lake, but after about 2 hours without a single bite I switched to a worm to see if a Perch might be interested, which produced instant success.

I caught about 6 or 7 of these very quickly and this was probably the biggest of them at about 6 ounces, but it was the Carp I had come to the lake to catch, so I switched back to the corn and the bites stopped again.

As the morning became afternoon I needed to get home, so having had no luck using sweetcorn I switched once again to worms, to put a bend in the rod, and pulled out about another 6 small Perch, before packing up.

Two fish swim into a concrete wall and one says to the other "Dam"

No.5

Thinking Of Dusting Off My Rod.

In my teens and twenties I did loads of fishing, and one year I won the Bury Angling Association Pike trophy with a 24lb 8oz fish from the Little Ouse near Hockwold.
I have been fishing on the very odd occasion, but I've just learned of a new day ticket lake to open this year, and I fancy getting my rod out Saturday morning.
If I can get myself motivated enough, I bought some Sweetcorn for bait today, and I need to get a rod licence, I plan on being at the lake for 1st light.
So hopefully, after a rummage through my tackle tomorrow night, I'll have everything ready to go again, and remember the camera to photograph any specimens I might catch.

Tight Lines

No.5

Life Sentence Award

This morning, at work, I was presented with my Long Service Award, which I have covered up my real name on for the post.

I also have the choice of a gift from a Watch, Bicycle, Camera, DVD player, Circular saw, Fly-mo, Microwave or £80 in Vouchers. They're all worth about the same value.
I might take the vouchers because I can choose something else, that I will use.
I might sound ungrateful but I'm not, I am proud of my achievement, and appreciate the option of a gift.

No.5

20 Years Ago Today

It was this day in 1987 that I joined Royal Mail as a Postal Cadet at the age of 17. I started off doing 3 easy deliveries on a 3 week rota, 2 on the Horringer court estate and 1 in the town centre which took literally about 15 minutes around higher and lower baxter street, the rest of the duty was indoors, in the now knocked down sorting office in St.Andrews street.
The 1st day I went out on a delivery, accompanied by a postman showing me the round, I was bitten by a Cocker Spaniel up Scarlin road, Great start !
About a month later and it was the hurricane of '87, the one Mr Fish said wasn't coming. I normally cycled from Horringer into Bury to and from work each day, but on that particular morning, my father seeing the weather gave me a lift to town in his car. On the way we had to negotiate fallen trees on the road. At work that morning we weren't allowed out on delivery until quite late in the morning because of the risk of falling roof tiles.
Once I got my driving licence I was allowed to transfer to a rural delivery and started delivering to Norton, Hunston and 2 streets in Walsham-Le-willows. On my 1st day being shown this delivery round I was attacked by an German Shepherd in Hunston and it scratched down my back with its front paws, drawing blood, when it jumped up at me.
Another day while doing this delivery, in a Morris Marina van, I managed to end up in a ditch in Walsham-Le-Willows on a really foggy, damp day. I had to climb out of the passenger door up above my head. The Royal Mail breakdown Land Rover came to pull it out, and it hadn't got enough traction to pull the van out from where it was. A passing oil delivery tanker offered to hitch his truck to the Landy and together they pulled the van out.
I broke both front Indicators and one headlight on the van and it was back on the road the next day. My only injury was I bit my lip, and I didn't have a seat belt on.
I had to take a driving assessment after that, and while going along the A140 the assessor says turn right here, and we're at Mickfield fish centre, "I need a new pump for my pond" he tells me.
In 1990 I transferred to working for the counters, which back then involved a six week training school and two weeks on the counter with someone with you, back when it was all paper and pencil and no computers. I did this at Ipswich P.O.
There are so many more memorable incidents, colleagues and customers. A couple spring to mind the most. One involved my manager at the time. We had gone down into the basement to get some metal radiator covers that needed to go back on the radiators after the decorators had painted. In the corner of the room by an old, (empty) mail bag was what looked like a Rat. While my manager is trying to jab it with a broom handle, I've got two radiator covers, back to back, standing up on end that are about four foot long. Well one falls away from me and slams on top of a fluorescent tube, lying on the floor, with an almighty explosion. I will never forget the look on his face holding that broom handle, prodding what turned out to be just a ball of frayed mail bag material.
Another was one time when shredding some confidential waste with another guy. He lent over the shredder to compact the waste into the bag that catches it and his neck tie went in the shredder. He managed to pull it out, as it dragged him down, and his tie had perfect stripes up it. I laughed so much it hurt, my stomach ached, I tried telling someone and couldn't get the words out.

They all seem like yesterday, the time seems to have past so quickly.

Will there be another 20 years ? I can get it in before I'm 60 but the retirement age will probably be 70 by then.

No.5

Ruby Anniversary

Today is the 40th/Ruby Anniversary of my parents, so it is a big heartfelt "Happy Anniversary" to them from me today.

I went over to see them this morning with a card and gifts, and also with something to thank them for looking after our 2 cats (thank you) while we were on holiday.

No.5

10th - 17th September 2007

Monday 10th September.

The wife and I, Departed from Luton airport at 09:50, under the grey skies that has plagued England all this summer, for the 4 hour flight to Dalaman Airport in Turkey, with no delays.

When entering Turkey you have to get a Visa, a tax I guess costing £10, to enter the country. This looks like an extra large postage stamp and is stuck into your passport and datestamped, and is good for 90 days. Every tourist getting off every plane needs one, and you queue. Now you would think the same person could then do passport control, oh no, you then get in another queue for that.

From Dalaman Airport we were transferred to Olu Deniz, by coach, which took about an hour and a half. Once in Olu Deniz we dropped off people at about 3 other hotels, in close proximity to ours before it was our turn and arrived at the Mavruka Hotel about 18:30. I chose this hotel because it was only finished in 2006 and it didn't disappoint inside or out.

This is the view from my sun lounger of the pool and the back of the hotel. Having hung up some of our clothes in the wardrobes we headed out to eat, and meet up with the bride and groom and another couple there for the wedding. (There won't be any wedding pictures on this blog, until at least 30th September, until the happy couple have returned from Turkey, and shown people their pictures themselves first. I don't wish to steal their Thunder).

We met up with them in the BuzzBeachBar restaurant that I had put a web cam link to on this blog. What the web cam doesn't show is this bar/restaurant also has an upstairs with a better view of the setting sun over the Mediterranean, more of that to follow.

Tuesday 11th September.

Their is a market held every Tuesday in another town called Fethiye, near to where we were staying, so we hopped onto a Dolmus to take us their. A Dolmus is basically a minibus that will hold about 12 people. It cost us 3 Turkish Lira each, approximately £1.25, each way, for a journey up and down the mountain of about 10 miles. The driver goes along slowly until he's filled all the seats, then turns into Lewis Hamilton on winding mountain roads that have no crash barriers.

The market sells fresh fruit and veg including chillies, pistachio nuts, Turkish delight, leather and clothing goods (all genuine brands - not).

The overhead cover is to keep the sun off, unlike Bury market where its rain covers. The temperature was in the low 30's the whole week and I never saw a cloud in the sky.

Tuesday evening and the wife and I were having our evening meal, the wife was writing her postcards (I'd done mine, they're in the post !) and I notice this large sign over her shoulder, not that I have a medical requirement for them.

Wednesday 12th September.

Today was a pool day. The hotel features a poolside bar and restaurant. We just went bed and breakfast because I prefer to eat in a different restaurant each night. Food and drink at our hotel is charged to your room number so you don't need your money around the pool. The mountains rise up behind and create such nice scenery.

This is Mohamet who works the bar from lunchtime until the last person leaves at night and he closes up. He was always ready with a card trick when it wasn't busy, and wouldn't explain how it was done. He had studied English and was an entertaining guy.

Wednesday evening, England v Russia. We went to eat at a restaurant on the sea front called Help. This was the view from my table as the sun went down. With a sirloin steak and topped with Prawns (surf and turf), washed down with a couple of glasses of Turkish red wine - Perfect.

After the meal I done the gentlemanly thing and walked my wife back to the hotel before I went back out to see the football. I had been told of a bar (Phillips bar) that would have good atmosphere showing the game, and made my way back out to it. I walked past other bars on the way, also with it on, but got to it before kick-off, it started at 10pm Turkish time. Great result 3-0 England, I hope now McClaren now sticks with the same players who covered for injuries, for the next game.

After the game, walking back to the hotel, I saw this truck laden with wood, pull up and couldn't help take a picture of it.

Thursday 13th September.

Day of the wedding, and the wife had the responsibility of doing the brides make-up, she used to work on an Elizabeth Arden counter. She showered and hung about in the hotel room to avoid getting hot and sweaty, and left, via a Taxi at 2:15pm, to the bride and grooms hotel just 2 miles up the road.

I chilled out around the pool, had a shower, put on a shirt, tie and trousers, and also had a taxi to the happy couples hotel, at about 4:30pm. On the way there I was surprised to see a Camel on the side of the road.

It was a wedding where the service and reception is at the same place. It was hot weather for a shirt and tie, and while waiting for the service to start I seeked shade and a cold beer.

The groom came down, and the 20 odd guests including the wife, made our way to the area of the hotel, outdoors, that the service would take place at. When the bride arrived escorted by her father and bridesmaids, my wife had done a good job, she'd done the bridesmaids make-up as well. I looked at my wife and I could see her eyes well up with tears of happiness, at how beautiful they all looked.

After the service and many photographs being taken, we had a meal, followed by the speeches. The best man said "I was asked if I was nervous" to which he replied "yes I'm nervous, my 19 year old son is at home alone in my house!"

As mentioned, pic's to follow at a later date.

Friday 14th September.

The day after the wedding, and after a short time spent at the pool during which time I finished a book I had taken with me to read, it was Lance Armstrong's autobiography. It is an amazing story, he's never known his father, of his battle with testicular, lung and brain cancer before going on to be seven times Tour de France winner, it was followed by a walk around the shops in Olu Deniz to get some souvenirs.

At the bottom of the road you can just make out the sea between the buildings and trees. When we ate out that evening, I found the meal disappointing as it was bland and tasteless, in a restaurant called "Waterside".

Saturday 15th September

We arranged to meet the happy couple and the other couple, that met with us Monday night, and went on a boat trip for 15 Lira, approx £6 each. These are the excursion boats lined up ready to take out their day trippers.

When we got to the seafront I was hoping that it was this ship, that had moored up in the bay, that we were going on, as I hadn't made the booking. The ship has a Helicopter on the back of it. The ship's name was Anna, and was registered in George Town, if anyone knows how to look up how to find who its owner is let me know.

This is the view of Olu Deniz looking back from the stern of the boat I was on, the Voltan 4. If you enlarge the picture you can see the road, on the left, coming down the mountain that all the traffic has to use to get here.

The boat stopped in many places allowing us to dive in off the top of it, swim, paddle, snorkel and also had a built in flume that started on the top deck and plummeted down through the hull and threw people out into the sea. It also had a barbecue on the back and everybody had the choice of chicken or trout for lunch included in the excursion fee.

Another stop and this time at St.Nicholas island complete with ruins. The big posh ship was still in the bay when we got back at about 17:30.

Sunday 16th September.

Last day and in the afternoon I watched the Belgium Grand Prix beside the pool, then in the evening going to watch the glorious sunset for the last time on this trip. The coach was picking us up at 02:15 Monday, and we decided to just stay up all night, after packing our cases, to go back to Dalaman for our 06:40 flight back home to cloudy Luton.

It was a great place to visit and if you're inspired to go there it was made special by a great hotel. http://www.mavrukahotel.net/ To which I would like to go back to sometime. Thomas Cook offers a package including the transfers.

No.5