CashierNo.5

Old Lady

2010-02-27T23:28:00.000Z

Sometimes people I meet make the day at work either fun or more bearable, take your pick. I called an elderly lady to my counter position today, and she was (I'm Guessing) 80 years + of age.
Immediately she started moaning about how long she had been waiting to be served. Now today was the last working day of the month, and traditionally each last day of the month we are hammered with people wanting road tax disc's - fact.
So when I said to her "When you came in today you were just a teenager" she left with a big smile on her face, after posting her letter to the U.S.A. ,and me too. It was priceless.

No.5

Conversations

2010-02-21T20:45:00.001Z

This first one took place at 5:20pm Friday, with a well known person who used to sleep rough in Bury St.Edmunds.

Note the time
Customer "Morning"
Me "Just got up have we" ?
Customer "What are the mugs on the counter for"
Me "they are free if you have a life insurance quote"
Me "its from as little as £5-7 a month"
Customer "where am I going to get that money from"
Me "do you have anyone you'd like to leave something to"
Customer "No"
Me "if you believe in re-incarnation you could make your will out, and leave it to yourself" !

Lots of chuckling breaks out.
I don't think I'm going to sell many life insurance policies with that line.

This second one was Saturday morning, with an elderly gentleman (possibly a bit bonkers), with some letters to post.

Me "Morning"
Customer "Morning, I can't get used to this" "I've been away for 40 years" (meaning abroad)
Me "That is a long stretch" (meaning in jail)

He either didn't hear me, or chose to ignore my comment.

No.5

Working Saturday

2010-02-13T22:10:00.000Z

Had to start work at 08:30 today. Met with a colleague in the car park and gave her back some plant seed trays, that she have given me with plants last year, for my garden. This is so hopefully she can grow some more this year, and hopefully gain a few more freebies ;-)
The morning went quite quickly, and come closing time, at 12:30, I called in Billy Hill for a football betting slip and popped in "The Grapes" for a pint, to ponder over my bet.
Coupon filled out and bet placed, back across St.Andrews street, I once again head to Sainsbury's to see if I can get parked and to my weekly grocery shopping.
Shopping done. £44 lighter, and home to pack it away. I changed out of work clothes, and go to my local for a pint. Feeling peckish I ordered a Chicken Korma to eat. A couple of other friends arrive and had a very pleasant chat with them, before walking back home for the evening.

No.5

Phone Calls

2010-02-11T21:18:00.001Z

My home phone number has three zero's in it. I like my number, and wouldn't want to change it, and would go as far as taking it with me, if I was moving house within the area.
But occasionally I get calls from people who have miss dialled. This used to happen more frequently in the past, from people trying to call "The Butterfly hotel" in Bury St.Edmunds. They would turn two digits round and get me, and I would inform them politely of their mistake, after I realised the similarity in the numbers. This has not happened recently, I don't know if the number has changed since it was taken over as "The Ramada".

About a month ago, at 5:15 on a Sunday morning, my phone rings waking me up in bed. I ignored it as caller ID said withheld. Just over an hour later the phone rings again, again waking me, and this time half asleep I answer.
Me "Hello" nobody speaks on the other end.
Me "Hello, Hello, is anyone there"
Woman"Hello, is that the Samaritans ?"
Me "No sorry, you've got a wrong number, this is just a private residence" I say, trying to put her off ringing, and waking me up again, and I put the phone down.
Then I lay back down and the guilt kicked in. What if she was suicidal ? could I have been able to talk to her and help ? Some would joke here, that know me, that I'd of made her worse ! But again the number was withheld, so I couldn't call her back. I haven't had any more calls for them, to date.

Then yesterday, while I'm at work, I get a message left on my BT 1571 answering service, for someone in the NHS from a district nurse.
Nurse "Hello Phillipa, I'm Trying to arrange a walking frame and possibly a chair raiser, for a Mrs XXXX of XXXX address. Please can you contact the ladies daughter Mrs XXXXXXX on XXXXXX phone number, so as not to concern or worry, Mrs XXXX. Thanks"
The strange thing about this message is about the people the nurse mentions. Mrs XXXX, an elderly lady,lives about 30 yards from my parents house, and I've known her since I was about 5 years old. Her daughter and son-in-law live about 100 yards away, and I've known them about 10 years. All a bit bizarre.

No.5

Overtime

2010-02-08T22:12:00.001Z

So much for an early finish today. Worked overtime from 14:50 until 17:35. Tomorrow is my day off but I am going on an Express mails seminar, about Royal Mail and Parcelforce worldwide products, at the Holiday Inn in Colchester. This will be overtime too, including my journey time, plus travel at 40p a mile.
I've been wondering, if it snowed all day tomorrow, whether I can claim expenses if I got "snowed in" there.

No.5

Back to Work Tomorrow

2010-02-07T17:40:00.001Z

Started out today calling in at my Brothers house. He's back home tomorrow but I just checked everything was ok, and I needed to put out a wheelie bin (hope I got the right colour one) for collection tomorrow.
I had been asked by Mum if I wanted lunch with her and Dad, which I accepted, roast rib of Beef sounded too good to pass up on. So I called into Tesco Express for a newspaper, and headed to Horringer.
While Mum cooked lunch, my father and I walked up to the Six Bells in Horringer, and I had a Pint and a half of Greene King IPA (all I had time for) before the lunch was going to be ready, and I was driving.
Nice meal with cheesecake to follow had me feeling full up, before I took the car home and popped to my local for another pint in there, before a neighbour gave me a lift home, thanks Donna.
Watching the Chelsea V Arsenal game, and thoughts turning to returning to work tomorrow after my week off, though luckily I have an early finish about 14:50

No.5

Childrens Car Seats

2010-02-05T12:10:00.001Z

As I mentioned yesterday, I took my brothers family to Stansted Airport yesterday. This involved putting my four and a half year old Nephews car seat into my car, for safety and Law. Well have you ever tried fitting the seatbelt around one of these car seats ? The diagram on this one is none to clear.
First you find out that the child seat won't fit under your cars headrest and have to remove it. Then as your wrapping your seatbelt around certain parts of the child seat, putting it into clips, then round the back, you find that your seatbelt has locked and won't pull out any further. This forces you to let it retracked back a bit, where it goes back through one of the holes you've threaded it through, and has now fallen down the back between the car seat and the child seat.
When you finally get the seatbelt round and plugged in, looking a bit like how the diagram looks, you feel that you need to jerk the child seat forward, and check that the car seatbelt is gonna lock the child seat in place, where it doesn't. So you undo it, and repeat the whole process again, and realise it was correct the first time.

Now with this child seat in place in the back of my car, and my weekly groceries requiring purchasing, I've been wondering ? Can I get away with parking in the Parent/Toddler section of Sainsbury's car park ? (my preferred choice of Supermarket).
Their car park is usually full when I go, and as a hetrosexual male with no children, and thankfully no disablity, it is a nightmare to find an empty parking space, because half of them are set aside for black welsh lesbians with one leg, and I have to park near the Petrol station.
Then when you find the last free space in the car park, as you go to swing in, you find some lazy person has left a trolley in it !

No.5

Poached Egg

2010-02-04T22:50:00.000Z

I got up this morning, at 3am, to take my brother, sister-in-law and nephew, to Stansted airport. They were going to Salzburg in Austria for a few days. Got back home at 6am and went back to bed until 10:30.
When I got back up again, I decided to have my second attempt at a poached egg, as my first the previous day didn't go to well, as the yoke broke.
So I've seen it done, you boil the water, stir the pan and make a vortex in the middle, and pour the egg in. This time I've cracked the egg into a small glass, and poured it in... Perfect.
Once cooked, being an uncouth male, I put it on the top of a... Cornish Pastie. It was gorgeous !
Damn car is filthy again after the mornings journey though.

No.5

New Tyres

2010-02-03T22:27:00.002Z

Went down to Bury Tyre Centre on Station hill at about 10am today and had 2 new Tyres at £74 each put on the back wheels of my car. While it was being done I took a stroll down to Tesco to get a paper and lotto ticket.
Left the Tyre centre, and called in at my brothers to pick up my nephews car seat, as I'm running them to Stansted airport in the morning at 03:30. Unfortunately, when I knocked at the door, my brother jumped up out of an armchair and put his back out, throwing the whole trip into jeopardy. Osteopath appointment quickly made !
Went home and done some chores, before going to my parents house for an evening meal with them of pork loin, followed by apple crumble, and watched a bit of tv. Bed now as I'm up early.

No.5

Rainy Tuesday

2010-02-02T21:55:00.000Z

Got up and saw it was raining, so I phoned the tyre centre and told them I wouldn't be bringing my car in until tomorrow (Wednesday) for the them to be fitted. Rather felt I wanted to leave my shiny polished car in the garage one more day, and hope its dry tomorrow (fat chance).
Knowing my luck I locked somebodies cat in the garage when I put the car away, and its crapped on it.
Went the pub at 12:30 and have to say, it being wet, sat and read my newspaper and didn't leave until a rather naughty 7pm, whilst chatting with a few friends, who called in and out during that time.
Now waiting for Shameless to start on channel 4.

No.5

I have this week off work on holiday

2010-02-01T21:10:00.001Z

I had got a bit lost with the blog, for a while, mainly because of Facebook and most of my friends knowing what I've been up to through that site, and hadn't written for ages.

I've got this week off work, through annual leave, not swine flu ! I was offered the jab and thought prevention is better than cure, I might as well have it.

So having had a fairly boozy weekend, I decided my car needed some attention, particularly after the recent bad weather and all the grit put on the road (until they run out of it) and decided to vacuum, wash and polish it today. Popped down to Motorspares on the industrial estate about 10ish to get some Polish. Then on returning home I rang around some Tyre fitters to get some quotes for a couple of new boots for it too, before setting about the vacuuming.

Not the hottest of days to be outside working, but a couple of sweatshirts had me warm enough.

This picture wasn't taken today, as you can tell be the trees behind, but the car looked as good as this afterwards, and duly parked in the garage after, to avoid any frost or snow tonight. Took a shower and the wandered off to the local for a rewarding pint of lager.
So in the morning I'm off to Bury Tyre Centre on Station hill for the new tyres to be fitted.

No.5

Champions Day

2009-10-18T11:20:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I had kindly been invited to go to Newmarket Horse racing, by a friend who works for the "Darley" racing yard, for Champions day. It was a bit of a mad rush to finish work that morning and get home and change, before hopefully getting there before the 1st race at 1:50pm but we made it. It could have been a bit warmer and a lighter wind, but it could have been a lot worse too, as there was a couple of spots of rain, but it was mid October.
A look at the horses in the paddock/parade ring and I still had no better idea which one to put my money on, and generally opted to put £5 on one and £2 on another to win. I had planned on backing 2 particular horses in 2 different races, but neither of them won.
In fact I didn't have a winner all day, although I came very close in one race that generated a little bit of excitement, before it got caught on the finish line. My friend only had a place in 1 race that didn't return much.
It was the 1st time I had gone this year, and was a thoroughly enjoyable day." Thanks" to my friend for the ticket, same time next year, or the guineas ? ;-)

No.5

How Funny

2009-10-04T19:27:00.003+01:00

I was in my local this lunch time "chewin over the fat" and we were havin' a laugh at the Landlords expence with Arsenal losing. So he says if Arsenal win 6-2 I'll buy everyone at the regulars table a drink. Final score 6-2. He should of had a bet to offset his comment.

No.5

Funny

2009-09-30T20:45:00.002+01:00

On Sunday I had lunch at my parents, along with my brother, sister-in-law and nephew. During this time my brother was telling me about a work colleague of his, who had been fishing all week and hadn't caught a single fish.
My brother went on to say that he had come up with a new term for this "Extreme deck chairing". I used to fish a lot, but this tickled me.

No.5

Sir Bobby Robson

2009-09-28T20:28:00.002+01:00

On Saturday 26th September it was Ipswich Town V Newcastle United at Portman Road, (Now know as the Sir Bobby Robson derby) and a work colleague had offered me a spare ticket for the match, which i gratefully accepted. Deciding to go by train with another chap from work, we arranged to meet up in the Grapes pub in Bury St.Edmunds after they had finished work. As usual a certain regular, and one of Bury's best known characters was in the pub too, and I couldn't resist taking a photo. (Thanks Corky).

We wandered down to the Railway station with a plan to catch the 15:23 train to Ipswich, but as we passed The Last Day of Raj, Indian restaurant, on station hill, we could see the train pulling out of the station...ooopps. So a quick look at the timetable and the next train is at 16:23 and will get into Ipswich at 17:05 giving us just enough time for the short walk to the football ground for the 17:30 kick off, also live on BBC2. So to help pass the hour a pint in the Linden Tree was had.

Once situated on the train, I got chatting to Ant and Dec (above). They disappeared off to the on-board toilet one at a time to gel their hair !

Arriving at the ground and I noticed that they had already changed the signage above the turnstiles ahead of the renaming ceremony due to take place at half-time of the North stand to the Sir Bobby Robson stand (following his death on July 31st).

Before the game started 40 Ipswich legends paraded around the pitch with the F.A.Cup and the Uefa Cup won in 1978 and 1981 respectively under the guidance of Sir Bobby.
I don't have to much to say about the match as we lost 0-4.
Returning on the 20:16 from Ipswich we got back to Bury at 21:00 and I decided to go and see the band (DirtyTrix) playing in the Grapes that evening. After chatting with one or two people I knew in there, I went and had a Kebab then wobbled home on my Bicycle.

No.5

Sloe Gin

2009-09-24T21:44:00.000+01:00

Last year I made some Sloe Gin for the first time. I created it the same weekend of the year as I have this year. This will then be ready in time for Christmas. I've used one 70cl bottle and one 1litre bottle, both half filled with Sloe berries, 100 grams and 150 grams of sugar, added respectively, and 1litre of Gin fills up both bottles perfectly. So it should produce 1litre of Sloe Gin.

Just 24 hours after bottling, and the Gin is turning the crimson colour that it should, and will get much darker over the next few days. The bottles need turning on a daily basis for the first two weeks, to dissolve the sugar, then on a weekly basis, to mix up the berries and release flavour. Whilst keeping the bottles stored in a cool (not cold) temperature.
Last years batch produced comments like "that's the best I've ever had" and "spot on". So hopefully this years will to.
If you want to give it a go, this year seems to be a bumper crop/harvest of Sloe's for some reason, and its not to late to get some Sloe's in the next 3-4 weeks, before the berries start to shrivel.
Oh, and to strain it off, I use a coffee machine filter, for the clearest result.

No.5

Keith Floyd - Patrick Swayze

2009-09-21T22:38:00.001+01:00

Whilst on holiday, in Greece, on the Monday, I was saddened when I had a text, from my brother, informing me of Keith Floyd's death. He was aware that my Ex and I had gone to see Keith, at Bury St.Edmunds Theatre Royal.
It was "an audience with..." style show, and as we took our seats, all that there was on the stage, was a chair and table. On the table though was a bottle of wine and a packet of cigarettes, typical of Floyd.
He had been given special dispensation to smoke, in the smoke free Theatre,before the smoking ban had come in, but doubt he would have been allowed to after.
During the first half he talked about his life, growing up, being in the army, and of course cooking. During the interval Keith had laid on a complimentary glass of wine for every audience member. The Ex being a non-drinker let me have hers.
Second half and Keith opened up to questions from the audience, "what would you choose for your last meal" ironic, "do you regret cooking a puffin".
Anyway, we had been inspired by watching his TV programs to go and see this charismatic man. I actually surprised the Ex (wife at the time) with the tickets, for her birthday. I'm so pleased we went to see him.
Also the same day sad to hear about Patrick Swayze's death on the news. He was my sister-in-laws favourite, and unfortunately her father also died of Pancreatic cancer, so I felt for her that day too.

No.5

Nikiti, Sept 9th - Sept 16th 2009

2009-09-18T22:45:00.002+01:00

We departed from Gatwick Airport at 6am, having been picked up from the Moreton Hall Pub at closing time, by a Taxi for six of us. A seventh person who booked independently was also driving down and meeting us there.

No delays and we arrived at Thessaloniki Airport, in Greece, and found our transfer to our hotel (for all Seven of us) a bright Green Volkswagen van, driven by Roberto. Interesting piece of driving us having been up all night, I kept one eye on the road. Anyway the journey took about an hour for the 60 odd kilometers to get to our Hotel/Taverna.

On arrival we crash at a table that will seat seven of us, and order the same number of beers to quench our thirst, before worrying and our rooms. Having drunk our drinks we get our rooms allocated and get rid of our holdall's, change clothes, and head back out to explore the area.

Turning left outside the front of our Hotel we wandered along the sea front, and found this beach bar, run by a guy called Costas (apologises if that's not how you spell it). A few drinks here (and a few complimentary) and we head back to our Hotel to shower and change.

Recommended the Marina (name of Hotel) T-bone steak, I thought I'll have some of that, and so did some of the others, and it just melted in the mouth, well happy.

Next day and the sun is out, so off to get some Sun..she..ine. I've got some tunes on my phone and we're all enjoying them, and I'm reading Tony Adam's auto-biography. A walk along the jetty, and the picture has three of the lads sitting on their sun loungers on the beach. I've also brought along a snorkel and goggles to take into the sea to look at the fish.

Friday (flat out friday)*, and we wander up to "down town Nikiti " high street. There is also a market (not Meercat) going on. We stop off to change up some Sterling into Euros, before having a look around it, then head back to the sea front, about 10 minutes walk.

Now, before we left, it was obviously known that it was going to be someones birthday, while we were out in Greece. Since January it has been a feature of the Moreton Hall Pub regulars, that on they're birthday they must wear the "birthday hat". So it came along with us for Mr Mikey Z's on 9/11. Also the Usain Bolt "pose" appeared in quite a few of our pictures as well. Here we have birthday boy with 1. birthday hat 2. my snorkel 3. his fave team shirt 4. the sea 5. Usain bolt "pose". *(flat out friday) is everyone in football shirts boozing all day. I fall asleep on my bed and miss the lamb kleftico that I've ordered for dinner ! (But i was back out, and the last one home).

Next morning, and its raining, my friends still felt that they had to go and smoke outside, just like our legislation's here. So here is Steve (Meercat) having a ciggie under the phone box in the rain. Possibly in his Pyjama trousers and flip-flops, across the road from the Hotel.

This view looks back from the harbour to our Hotel (centre) just behind the trees.

The sun going down, around 7pm, from the terrace of our Hotel, across the Marina which is being newly built.

Everyone has gone to bed, and I just have a little wander around the front of the Hotel. On the road I spot a Cricket about 2-3 inches long. I've got my camera in my pocket, so I try and zoom in with it, to get a picture to show everyone. After I've Zoomed in, I realise I need to get a bit closer, and stoop down a bit, at which point the Cricket jumps up into my hair ! I scream like a girl and brush the Cricket out of my hair, and it drops back onto the road. At which point a "stray" cat, darts out of the bushes, grabs the Cricket in its teeth (with a crunch) and runs off ! And I never got a picture.

The last evening we are there, all seven of us spend it with friends relations and their friend's. From left to right, Paul, Julia, Craig, Mikey, Cliff, 2 ppl i don't know, Pat, Me (No.5), Stephen (Mini)and Stephen (Meercat).

Happy Days !

No.5

Nikiti - Halkidiki - Greece

2009-09-04T08:43:00.002+01:00

I only have to work 4 hours tomorrow (Saturday) morning, then I have 2 weeks off work, and during this time I shall be spending 7 days with 6 friends in the above named place, on the Greek mainland.
Its just a small village located on the middle peninsular of the 3 in the Halkidiki region, and we have rooms at Hotel Marina, a small Taverna.
Hopefully it will be a great place to chill out and relax with friends, after my divorce 8 weeks ago, but during the week there we have an England world cup qualifier and 1 of my friends has a Birthday.

No.5

Poo

2009-08-26T22:28:00.000+01:00

I left for work this morning, and joined compiegne way, near the railway bridge, to go into Bury St. Edmunds around the Sugar beet factory down to Northgate street.
I straight away became aware of a nasty smell, and thought "that isn't a sugar beet factory smell" and realized that the articulated Lorry in front of me had about 20+ tonnes of manure in the trailer.
So when I got to the dualled section of this road, I thought I'd pass the Lorry and get ahead of the Pong, and moved into the outside lane. Half way alongside the Lorry a stone hit my car windscreen and put a big chip in it. I now wish I'd stayed behind the muck and put up with the smell.
Got Auto glass coming to repair the screen, hopefully, next week. Under insurance policy with only a £10 excess and no loss to no claims bonus.

No.5

Hanging Baskets

2009-08-10T19:31:00.003+01:00

Each year I make a couple of hanging baskets, and this year has to be my best attempt yet. The two are both identical, and each contains two scarlet cascading begonia's.

No.5

Colchester

2009-08-04T18:55:00.003+01:00

I travelled down to Colchester to work today, because they were short staffed, and when I got there, they said we'll put you in No.5.
Well that gave my mates a great laugh when I told them, and I didn't see a pair of white stilettos all day, maybe I wasn't far enough into Essex.

No.5

Lotto

2009-08-02T22:57:00.002+01:00

I was out of routine on Saturday, down to not having to work and a large amount of Lager in the Moreton Hall Pub on Friday night.
At about 11pm I realized that I hadn't bought my Lotto ticket for that nights draw. I do the same numbers for both Wednesday and Saturdays draws.
So I put on Teletext to look for the result. . . . .

I saved myself £2

Phew

No.5

Lance Armstrong

2009-07-26T18:21:00.002+01:00

I think this guy is the greatest sportspersons ever to compete at the highest level in their game. Having won his seventh Tour de France in 2005, after beating cancer, came out of retirement at 37 to ride again in this years Tour, coming a creditable 3rd overall, and making it onto the podium in Paris today.

Lance now plans to ride for Team Radioshack, in next years race.

Respect.

No.5

Friday 10th July

2009-07-14T22:01:00.013+01:00

Got picked up at 08:30 by my Bro' and we headed down to Bury St.Edmunds railway station, to catch the train to Cambridge at 08:55. Having got into Cambridge at about 09:40, we took a leisurely stroll towards the high street. Passing the "Regal" Wetherspoon's pub, with the doors open, we decide to go in for the 1st Beer of the day, at 10:00 After one in there, we left and a couple of doors down See's us stood outside a bar called "All Bar One" and my Bro' liking the continental Beers they sell in there, See's us ordering a 2nd. Left there and wandered through what was the Lion Yard (I have no idea if the name has changed) down to the Archor Pub.

Outside of which you can watch people hiring Punts. I so hoped to see someone fall in, but unfortunately nobody did.
Feeling Hungry my Bro' suggested a Noodle bar around the corner he knew of called Dojo. A bit like Zen, in Bury St.Edmunds.

In here I ordered, for a side dish, six New Zealand Mussels marinated in Chinese spices, and as a main dish, seared Duck strips with seasonal veg with Ho Yo Min tossed in a sate sauce with wok fried noodles. My brother had the same main dish but with a side dish of mini spring rolls.
This we washed down with a bottle of Marcel Hubert dry red wine, between us. Total bill £33.60 without the tip. Well worth the money.

Heading back towards Cambridge station we called in another pub, which was offering a deal on wine on a black...oops.. chalkboard outside. Unfortunately upon ordering said red wine, we were to be told they had run out, so 2 beers were ordered instead, before catching the return train to Bury.

No.5

Breakfast

2009-06-20T11:24:00.001+01:00

I am the self titled "worst chef in the world" but I try, and a few things go OK.
Inspired by TV cookery programs such as River Cottage, Something for the weekend, F-word, and Saturday Kitchen, I decided, in an intoxicated mood, after having all 5 of my 5 a day, to buy a Mackerel to have for breakfast, while in Asda last night.
With no clue on the best way to cook it, or what to have with it, I searched on Google for a recipe, and found this very simple one.

Heat frying pan, with no oil, on medium/high
Place Mackerel skin side down, and put lid on pan, cook for 1 minute
Squeeze fresh lemon over Mackerel, replace lid, and cook for another 1-2 minutes
Serve with a couple of slices of buttered brown bread

The importance of a lid on the pan is to keep in, as best you can, the smell of fish that will end up filling the whole house. The use of the lemon does 3 things

adds to the flavour of the Mackerel
helps stop the Mackerel sticking to the pan
neutralises some of the smell

Done !

I decided to eat this alfresco to further reduce smell in the house, with a lot of interest from my Cat.

No.5

My Day, Today.

2009-06-19T23:40:00.001+01:00

Got up at 7am, and after ablutions, I made a sandwich of wholemeal bread which I mayonnaised, added peppered ham, mustard, cucumber and tomato. To take to work.
Switched on the TV and sat and watched Breakfast news whilst eating a bowl of fruit 'n' fibre. This is the only time of day, approx 1 hour, I get the TV remote control. I always have to mute the sound though, if Lorraine Kelly comes on, what an awful sounding voice she has, always on about a kilt or something, I have no clue.
Cycled to work on my bike, which allows me to leave the house much later on a school day, listening to The Style Council, on my Walkman phone. I love anything by Paul Weller.
Got set up for the day at work and the morning went quite quickly. Come lunchtime and I popped out for a pint down "The Grapes" with the lunchtime regulars, before returning to eat my sarnies.
Hit the wall about 2:30pm when the hops in the beer took effect, and started to wonder if the customers had no homes to go to.
5:30pm, shut that door ! No work till Monday ! Biked home, listening to The Style Council, again, changed my clothes and headed to the Moreton Hall pub, and a catch up with my mates on their week, and mine !
About 8pm, and the soon to be ex-Mrs, calls me and arranges to pick me up and go to Asda to get some groceries. 10pm and I'm almost locked in the Asda customer toilet, as the beer wants out, and have to get the lift down because the staircase is shut off.
10:30pm I'm cooking a stir-fry with chicken and hoi sin sauce. Nice !

No.5

Rolling Stones-Beast of burden

2009-06-14T21:54:00.001+01:00

Only Mick could get away with those trousers and dancing like that. Keith and Ronnie are so freakin cool.

Two Years On

2009-06-08T22:36:00.002+01:00

Two years on and I'm still blogging occasionally. Now and again I think about giving up and shutting it down, then something else comes along to mention.
Today I had my fingerprints taken by the police, in connection with the forged Euro's I impounded, that I blogged about recently.
The Police have an idea who it was and they wanted a copy of my "dabs" to see if they could find the culprits on the notes.

No.5

Joke

2009-06-05T22:06:00.002+01:00

A Man walks into the Post Office with a Girocheque, and he's trying to sign it.
Man "This pen doesn't work"
Counter clerk " nor do you !"

No.5

Take a Walk

2009-05-31T20:44:00.000+01:00

Today, my brother and I walked to Thurston from the Moreton Hall area of Bury St.Edmunds, and back again, after two drinks in the Fox and Hounds.
On Friday, at work, a black gentleman came to me wanting to cash 1450 euros in 50 euro notes into sterling, worth £1167. Straight away the feel of the paper wasn't right and the colour was a bit off (talc powdery). So I told the gentleman I needed to go and scan the notes. This is what we call the "walk away test" and see if the customer leaves. Well he didn't so I had to go back and speak again. Beside me was a genuine electronic note scanner so i fed the notes in one by one and each one registered as a dude. He made out as if he'd been given them as payment and had no idea they were fake. By this time another man in the queue had joined him (without waiting to be served) and no doubt he had a pocket full of fake notes as well, and was waiting to see if his mate was successful. Anyway I told him I was keeping the notes, and we passed them on to the Police, who told us that they had been successful in cashing some at a bank in town.

No.5

It wasn't a Wednesday either

2009-05-28T18:25:00.003+01:00

I served an elderly gentleman at work today, and after we'd finished he moved away and I started to serve another lady. The elderly gentleman then came back again searching for his walking stick. "Its hooked over your arm !" the lady told him.

No.5

Ok, so I was bored

2009-05-25T00:22:00.002+01:00

A lady I know, came in the pub the other day, and I manipulated her keyrings.

Just don't go taking her clubcard points !

No.5

I love Bury St.Edmunds

2009-05-17T00:22:00.002+01:00

We don't have hard hitting headlines about MP's expenses and worldwide flu epidemics, in our local newspaper. We have 2for1 cream tea's. I love Bury St.Edmunds - Priceless !

No.5

Bressingham - Dad's Army Day

2009-05-10T23:20:00.000+01:00

Today, I went with by brother, sister-in-law and nephew, to Bressingham near Diss. It was a "Dad's Army day" related to the TV series, with some of the surviving cast members arriving on an old London routemaster style bus. The cast members sitting and signing autographs.

Right beside the the autograph signing table, was the entrance into the exhibition centre, which my father had been invited to display a selection of his wartime wirelesses (seen below) dating from the late 1930's to the early 1940's. Also pictured are the accumilators that wirelesses of this period were powered by.

While we were there, we took a ride on one of the steam engines that runs around the grounds of Bressingham. A ride on the merry go round horses, and I took my nephew round in the dodgem cars, and I have to say, a bit of skillful driving on my part, to only get rammed once.

Now the guy pictured below was wandering around all day, with an official looking clipboard, looking important and like he was organising events. But his suit was just wrong, with his trousers tucked into his socks, NO !

No.5

Local MP

2009-05-10T16:55:00.001+01:00

I met up with two friends at 11am yesterday and we walked into town for breakfast in the North End Cafe in St.Andrews street. After we'd eaten we called into William Hill betting shop to place a bet, on the Millwall v Leeds match, before going to watch it in the Queens head pub.

Once in the Queens head we were joined by four more friends to see the game with us. One friend being a Millwall supporter we were following them and they won 1-0. Another friends son was playing in a charity football match at Bury Town football ground, in Ram meadow car park, and we made our way down there to see a bit of that game.

There was a £2 entry fee to see a Bury Saturday league XI playing against a Bury Sunday league XI, and my friends son was in the Saturday league side. In the Sunday league side was also somebody I knew, and I also knew some other spectators, and our local MP David Ruffley was there giving his support (Beige Suit).

The game ended in a not very exciting 0-0 draw.

No.5

The Old Joanna

2009-05-08T21:20:00.002+01:00

Today, a Piano was positioned in the doorway of what was the Woolwich building society, or the Market cross for those older readers, in Bury St.Edmunds.

A guy sat across the road taking photographs of anyone who stopped to plink on the keys. Occasionally he would join them and show them a few notes.

I think this may have been part of the summer arts festival St.Edmundsbury put on in the town.

No.5

The Counterfeit Stones

2009-05-03T10:26:00.012+01:00

Yesterday afternoon my Brother, Sisiter-in-law and I went to Felixstowe to see the Counterfeit Stones at the Spa Pavilion.

After a couple of pints in the Buregate Pub (you can see one of the ferries leaving Harwich in picture above) and some time in the amusements, we headed along the seafront to The Alex (or Alex's cafe).

The Alex is just in the picture on the left hand side (along with the Spa Pavilion in the centre) and there I had DingleyDell sausages, mash and onion gravy for dinner.

The 7.30pm start time approaching, and we are cutting it fine. An usher shows us to our seats (in the front row !) and we are literally the last to arrive in a full theatre. Just in time as the pre-show video starts to play.

The band come on, led by Nick Dagger, and dressed to look like their respective Rolling Stones band member, starting in the line up with Bill Hyman, until he later left.

In this video clip (apologies for the crackling) you can make out me singing along to the song.

No.5

Cashew No.5

2009-05-01T20:50:00.007+01:00

Cashew No.5 please. I had a good laugh with the same four guys I went out with on 30th of May last year, and blogged on the 31st.

We met up at our local, then got a taxi to the Dog and Partridge in crown street. Mr P. you are a good transport organiser.

A couple of other friends met up with us at the D+P before we called in the Queens Head, then on to the Kings Arms.

After the Kings Arms I had a Texican burger, at £4.39 each !, before 1 last beer in town in the Grapes. It didn't look quite like the picture below, but was tasty.

Tomorrow, I'm going to see the Counterfeit Rolling Stones, at the Felixstowe Spa Pavilion with my Brother and Sister-in-law, and hopefully get some pictures of it, from the front row !

No.5

So...

2009-04-25T17:28:00.003+01:00

...my bet nearly came up at 1-3, if Richard Wright hadn't saved the penalty Cardiff were awarded, I'd have been £66 better off. Never mind, hopefully thats the Keano! affect already. Great scoreline 0-3 away.

No.5

Ipswich Town sign Roy Keane !

2009-04-24T21:55:00.002+01:00

What a signing this seems. I think it is a major coup for Ipswich Town Football Club, and can only mean some quality players will follow him to Portman Road.
I just hope the two year contract, Roy has signed, will be seen out, and beyond. With premier league football back at Ipswich.
Click here to see the press interview.
Being a betting man, Ipswich are 9/2 to win at Cardiff tomorrow (the last game to be played at Ninian Park) by any score. This is generous odds in any two horse race, so looking to predict the correct score, Corals are offering 66/1 on 1-3 and 100/1 on 1-4, so I've lashed out £1 on each of those two scorelines.
Get 'em goin' Roy !

No.5

This is not a joke

2009-04-23T23:18:00.003+01:00

Yesterday.....A man walks into the Post Office with a Parrot on his shoulder. When its his turn to be served, he puts it on the letter scale and it weighs 214 grams, and says to the member of staff serving him "He's 30 grams over weight !" Anyway, he did transacted what he went in for and left, with said Parrot.
How strange.

No.5

Overheard

2009-04-20T20:50:00.000+01:00

I was in the Grapes around noon today, and a man came up to the bar beside me to get a pint of Greene King IPA. He handed over £2.50 and walked off without his 10 pence change. The barmaid said "Is this a tip" to which he replied "This ones for Eddy" but he came back and took his 10 pence. I realised what he ment, but he did also say "4:40 at Pontefract"
So I left to get some lunch and put £2 to win on this horse, and I also text a friend the Horses name. At 5:30 I found out it had won at 4/1 so I got a tenner back, and my friend had done it too at 9/2 with a bit more than £2.
Thank heavens it won, but what a way to win a few quid.

No.5

Me, Juvenile ?

2009-03-22T16:50:00.000Z

I was offered a ticket, by a work colleague, for yesterdays Ipswich v Watford match, and as other plans had gone wrong, I accepted.

I was going to go to Cambridge, and meet up with my Bro and his mate from Cambourne and watch the Rugby, but unfortunately my brother had had a full industrial wheelie bin go over his right foot at the printers he works for, meant he couldn't do it on crutches.

My colleagues spare season ticket was their daughters under 20 ticket, which works out at less than half price, but I decided to try my luck at getting in without paying for the upgrade. I'm 39 soon, so it was a bit of an ego boost to get in without being challenged with a juvenile ticket.

The players used to run out on to the pitch applauded by the crowd to music, boosting the crowds enthusiasm. Now it is like a funeral procession to the halfway line, then both teams shake hands, where in a child's voice, it is announced no one is allowed to swear or make racist comments, the latter understandable.
Anyway the game ends 0-0, but Ipswich appeared to have more possession and more goal scoring opportunities than Watford, just couldn't score. I was impressed with Jon Stead's performance and think he was "our" best player.

No.5

Dangerous Territory

2009-03-11T20:50:00.000Z

I decided to have a look in Debenhams new store in Bury St Edmunds today, having decided the novelty factor must have worn off by now, and their would be fewer people in there.
I entered the main front doors, and looked for the "men's" department, and to my surprise this is on the ground floor. Usually this is up or down a floor and the "women's" clothes are on this level, which I've wondered if its due to pushchairs and buying powers.
Anyway I wander through noting Ben Sherman, Fred Perry, Jasper Conran, Red Herring plus many other brands. I pass Sketchers shoes and then I've entered my uncomfortable zone.
I'm on my own and I've now left "men's" and I'm in Bikini's and womanly stuff, I'm a Deer caught in headlights.
Where's the door ? shall I turn back, past the shop assistant, who I'd noticed had nothing to do ? Is there an escalator to take me out of this department ?
I keep walking, daylight, there is the door, keeping my eyes looking straight ahead, I don't need a thong !

No.5

Cattle Market Opening

2009-03-07T22:39:00.001Z

On Thursday 5th March the Cattle Market development finally opened. I took some pictures, but when I got home Thursday night, I found the Camera cable nowhere to be seen. So I have been unable to blog it till now, using photographs, until I was able to locate the cable at my wife's friends house.

Working in close proximity to the Cattle Market development, I've seen it rise from the ground. I can't believe the photo below is dated 06/06/2008 to where the building is now.

On Thursday the offical opening was at 10:30, and in my lunch hour I took a quick walk round the new square, before a quick pint in the Grapes got me back to my senses.

I always feel uncomfortable taking photographs in unusual places, I feel self conscious of people wondering "why is he taking a picture of that". This was reiterated, when the man in the foreground wearing a baseball cap in the picture below, came up to me and said "Do you work for the council" ? "No" I said. "Well I think it looks bloody awful" he said.

I didn't stick around to hear any more, and I haven't been back since. Not in case he's still there, but because it is having its desired effect at the moment, and there are to larger crowds for my liking.

But on opening day, Debenhams were already offering 25% off.

And another thing, someone is going to get hurt in St.Andrews street, the amount of muppets who cannot read the signs at each end of the road that say "Pedestrian Zone" and tear down there at 30 mph is unreal.

No.5

Market Thoroughfare

2009-03-03T20:30:00.001Z

Work has started on removing the link between The Post Office and Stead & Simpson above the Market Thoroughfare. This is just a small gesture on the link between the Arc shopping centre and the old town centre shops that was promised.

Anyway the Arc starts to be opened on Thursday 5th March, it does look nice through there, but how long will it be before the 1st closing down sale ?

No.5

Playing God

2009-03-02T21:00:00.000Z

My wife decided that today was the day to say goodbye to Tiggy. The aggressive tumour had grown back and was causing the Cat breathing difficulties, trouble eating and was affecting her right eye. The Cat had spent the morning laying in the sunshine in the bay window watching the world go by, and had had some Tuna to eat.

My Wife couldn't face going to the Vets herself, so I made the short journey with her to Moreton Hall Veterinary Surgery. While I stood at the reception desk, a man and his young daughter also stood waiting behind me. The young girl pointed out our cat in her pet taxi to her dad. Please don't want to look closely at her, I thought to myself. I didn't want to have to explain why we were there.

Called soon after arriving into a side room, a vet and a nurse, very professionally, undertook the reason for us being there, with one injection to a front paw.

This is one of the last pictures I took of her sitting at our back door. "Sleep well" were my last words to her.

Takeaway

2009-02-22T18:12:00.003Z

This man or woman, lives across the road from an Indian restaurant and a Kebab shop. So their appearance can't be down to malnutrition, or is it. This is on Station hill opposite the Last day of raj, reflected in the window, and appears 'armless.

No.5

The Fish Is No More - Sadly

2009-02-15T16:51:00.002Z

The subway under the road near the Moreton Hall Pub used to look like this, until last night. Which I blogged on Sunday 4th May 2008.

Now it looks like this. The Artists have had a health and safety conscience to point out the wet paint factor on both sides of the tunnel !

What a mess it looks now. Art or Graffiti ? was my question from my original post. Its neither now, Vandalism !

No.5

Cattle Market Car Park Name

2009-02-09T19:55:00.003Z

I read that they are going to call the Car Park by two names, Cattle market / Arc. It struck me that Arc Park is an anagram of Car Park.

No.5

How not to play dead!

2009-02-07T16:03:00.001Z

Sound is equired, to understand this.

This Week

2009-02-05T23:45:00.001Z

This week I have had a weeks annual leave. One or two people have said "not another week off !". But apart from Christmas day and boxing day, I haven't had any leave since the beginning of November, and after 15 years with my company they give me 6 weeks holiday (I am not a school teacher).

Today, Thursday, I had lunch at my parents, and Mum cooked a leg of Lamb which was so tasty. After which, dad, drove us over to the Ipswich branch of Makro.

This is on the Euro park just off the A14, on the exit after you've gone over the Orwell bridge. You have to be VAT registered to be able to shop in here. It ranges from garden, car accessories, electrical, clothes, food, office, anything for businesses. I purchased some screen wash for my car, and some Turkish beer (Efes) for a friend.

After a couple of beers in the local tonight, I decided on a taste test on 3 different brands of cat biscuits on my cats. Having put 10 biscuits on each plate, sadly in funny faces, I put each of my 2 cats one at a time in front of the plates, they sniffed each and walked off !

The plate on the left is Go-Cat Chicken, Duck and Rabbit, made by Purina, a box of 375g costing 93p from my local Tesco express. The middle plate is Joe Jill's made by Joe Inglis Chicken and Rice 1Kg reduced from £4.49 to £2.99 at Sainbury's. And the right hand plate is Sainsbury's complete Salmon, Shrimp and Tuna at £1.05 for 950g.

Result: While tapping away at the keyboard, my female cat, the poorly one, has been out to the Kitchen. Now the left plate, was nearest to the kitchen door, and the 1st one she would come too. The Go-Cat has all gone. The 2nd plate has just 4 bits left, and the 3rd, maybe the face was too scary for her ?

I think to make this test fair, I need to reverse the order of the plates, and make the Sainsbury's food look less Scary.
No, I haven't had to much time on my hands !

No.5

Officers Club Designer Underpants

2009-01-29T19:20:00.000Z

I walk past this shop quite frequently, its a couple of doors from where Woolworth's used to trade, in Bury St.Edmunds. A couple of weeks ago the dummies in the window didn't have any clothes on at all. Then last week they were all fitted with their current designer underpants, or rather the shops bags, around their middle.

I wondered whether a complain(s) had been made about their bulge. But I do know the shop maybe going the same way as Woolworth's as the writing on the shop window suggests. A chap I work with joked about going in and asking to try a pair on.

No.5

Poorly Pussycat (2)

2009-01-28T19:18:00.000Z

Warning: Don't scroll down if your eating a meal or squeamish.

On Thursday 22 January I blogged about a lump I found on my wife's Cats neck. More surgery has now been done.

On Friday the Veterinary Surgery called and the young vet, who had not been comfortable in trying to remove the Tumour, said that we could take Tiggy to their partner practice in Stowmarket, where a more experienced Vet would try and take it all out.

This was scheduled to be performed yesterday. So we left the Cat with them at 08:30. We got a call at 12:40 from the Vets to say it was taking a long time and the Cat would have to be kept there overnight.

We got a call this morning from them at 09:00 to say that we could collect her. She had to have a drain put in to stop fluid from building up where the Tumour was.

You can see the drain hanging below her neck, while being rewarded with some Tuna. The drain has to remain in until Saturday.

No.5

Andrew Lloyd-Webber Give Up Now

2009-01-26T20:05:00.001Z

This is Turkeys Eurovision song contest entry for 2009, and it gets my vote, and the song isn't bad either.
I think Andrew Lloyd- webber is going to have to go some to beat this if the judges are male from each country.

My Dinner

2009-01-25T17:55:00.001Z

I walked down to Sainsbury's this afternoon and purchased some Rump Steak. This I cooked tonight with some boiled new Potatoes and Broccoli and some Range dressing "drizzled" over the veg. The Steak I oven grilled, just melted in the mouth and my mouth watered with expectation of the next fork full.

I don't claim to be a good cook, but I know what I like, and repeat dishes I find enjoyable and adjust them with different things until I think they are as good as I can get them, to my taste.
The Steak had Steak seasoning, minced Garlic and salt on it.

No.5

Poorly Pussycat

2009-01-22T21:45:00.002Z

Last Tuesday night (13th Feb) at 8pm, I was just settling down on the bed to watch Oz Clark and James May on BBC2, so my wife could see another program on TV downstairs.

I was immediately joined by one of our 2 Cats, Tiggy, who seems to always want petting whenever I'm watching TV in the bedroom.

Anyway within seconds I realised the Cat had a lump on her neck, and it was quite prominent. Our Cats are house Cats, having been De-clawed in the States, and never meet face to face, other animals.

So I picked her up and carried her downstairs, and my wife saw me coming and said "What's wrong with the Cat ?" The Cats are nearly 12 years old, I said "You need to feel her neck" and we couldn't believe how we hadn't noticed it before now, and she hadn't been behaving any differently.

The next morning, Wednesday, I'm on the phone to Moreton Hall Veterinary Centre at 08:15 and they tell me they can see the Cat if I can get there for 08:30, I'm on my way ! Teeth brushed, Car started to De-thaw the frost off it, I hastily put the two halves of the animal cage together and find the Cat to put in it. On the way the Cat miaows continuously on the backseat of the Car, and I get there at 08:25

After a short wait the Cats name is called to see the Vet. After an examination and questions asked, the Vet took the cat to another room to insert a needle to take a biopsy of the lump, before returning. "We'll look at it under a microscope, and let you know what it is, by phone, by Friday". "Okay, thank you". Tiggy walks back into her cage, with no encouragement, and we're on our way home.

Thursday afternoon, and my wife and I decide to go for a short drive to get out of the house. We've only gone 500 yards and my mobile phone rings, "You'll have to answer it wifey as I'm driving", Its the Vet "I'm afraid it is a Tumour" our worst outcome. My wife's in tears, shes had the Cats since they were 3 days old and hand fed them, after their mother abandoned them.

So we arranged to have the Tumour removed, if possible, on Wednesday morning of this week. We were told the Cat must not have anything to eat after 7pm Tuesday night, and no Water after 7am that Wednesday.

Wednesday morning we both take the Cat to the Veterinary Centre to leave it for surgery, but I then had to go to work. My wife would have to go back and collect the Cat on her own later that day at 15:30. When she collects Tiggy she is told the Tumour was growing around the Cats jugular vein, so it was impossible to remove 100% of it, and also that tests shows she is in the early stages of a renal problem that can be controlled by medication.

Tiggy is doing fine and behaving like she always has done, and has to go back and have her stitches out in 10 days time.

My Pretty Girl, not looking so pretty.

In the mean time I have to give Tiggy one and a half tablets twice a day, because my wife doesn't want the Cat to get mad with her !

No.5

Woolworths

2009-01-16T15:01:00.006Z

What now for the building below. Someone told me that Woolworths rented this one and if that's true, it does mean the owner will probably be looking for a new tenant. A suggestion though has been made in the press by a councillor, to level it along with Stead & Simpsons, and make a larger town square.

Lots of family and friends have suggested businesses that they would like to take over this property. The one mentioned most is a Witherspoons pub. Maybe because Witherspoons have recently been advertising a pint of bitter for 99p. When I saw it empty, I thought re-establishing Rollerbury in there on the wooden floor might be a good idea, but there are quite a few concrete pillars, ouch !

This is how things at the back of Woolworths are looking now. Planning applications are being submitted, from the various shops taking up these units, for things like illuminated signs and air conditioning units.

I'm sure "The Arc" is going to look very nice when its all finished, and you might be able to get a pair of Levi 501's in town again.

There will be the obvious initial curiosity when it opens, but when it all dies down, what then in these times of recession for the shops in both parts of town.

Thats why I think the idea levelling the Woolworths building and those up to the market thoroughfare, beside the Post Office, is a good one.

No.5

Credit Crunch (1)

2009-01-13T18:20:00.002Z

In the present financial climate, someone told me "If you want to borrow money, you have to prove you don't need it".

I labelled this post (1) as there will probably others at a later date.

No.5

Is Darts The New Football ?

2009-01-11T10:18:00.000Z

I heard, or read, someone say "Darts is the new Football". I do like watching Darts over the festive period, and particularly the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) competition, as opposed to the BDO (British Darts Organization).

The PDC was set up in 1992 when darts split in two. Although it has a large following, the TV coverage is on subscription based Sky TV (Which therefore probably offers higher prize money) and the PDC has lower viewing figures. This includes the players Phil (The Power) Taylor 14 times world champion (12 PDC, 2 BDO) and Raymond (Barney) van Barneveld, seen in background above, who switched to the PDC and won it at the first attempt in 2007.

The tournament which is held in Alexandra Palace, has crowds holding up humorous placards like "The bloke behind me can't see", and some wear fancy dress. Then you have Sky TV commentator Sid Waddell, with his own unique brand of commentary with comments like "Tungsten tickling" and "He's meaner than a scrapyard Dog", is a cult figure.
Me, well I'll be watching the Manchester United v Chelsea Football game this afternoon.

No.5

Sloe Gin (Update 2)

2009-01-05T20:12:00.001Z

I acquired some Coffee filters I had been wanting to use to filter the "stewing" Sloe's from the Gin, having asked around, and refusing to pay for any, as I don't have a Coffee machine, I finally got some.

With a filter placed into a funnel, the liquor was poured, and some berries from the bottle, ended in the filter during the straining.

Once strained, I returned the Sloe Gin into the bottle it had been stewing in, after the bottle had been cleaned.

Found a small glass in the cupboard to sample a small drop. This was the bottle containing the berries I picked first from on the housing estate, before going to Culford for a second batch, which are still bottled.

This is a lovely, warming, drink in the evening after dinner. One I'm looking to enjoy, and repeat next year in more quantity, due to people asking for a drop.

I have been challenged to a competition, by a friend, involving my Sloe Gin against his spiced up Mulled Wine, to be judged my the pub regulars. If it happens I'll blog the result of it.

No.5

Stanningfield Walk

2009-01-03T19:40:00.004Z

Saturday 3rd of January, and I've arranged to go for a walk with my Bro'. My Sister-in-law drops us off in Stanningfield, just off the A134 Sudbury road, with the plan to walk back to Bury St. Edmunds.

A bit of Suffolk countryside in Stanningfield, and walking by houses with the smell of log fires burning, makes you wish you were sat beside one.

I should have taken more photograph's along the route we walked, but weaving our way along the public footpaths we work our way to the Rushbrooke Arms, which we call in and have an Old Speckled Hen.

Leaving the Rushbrooke Arms, we walk back up to the public footpath and a man shouts at us "Oi, the public footpath is between the two fields, this is private" we are possibly about 200 yards from where the man says. The Ordinance Survey map (to our error) shows where it is on a scale of 1:50,000 so you might be a few feet out sometimes, Get Off My Land !

We came round a corner on a road in Rougham and there was as a sign warning us of four guys in the road singing " that's neat, that's neat, I really love your Tiger Feet". Sorry about that !

Getting near Rougham, on the bend of the A14, between there and Bury St.Edmunds, we pass the fields the Pigs are grazing in, before going under the underpass onto the Moreton hall industrial estate.

We hobbled to the Flying Fortress, by which time I've got a small blister on my heel, where we congratulate ourselves on making the journey, and I brag I could do it all again if I'd laced my boots a bit tighter and hadn't got said blister. Total distance was approximately (wow 13 letters, I thought wheelbarrow was the longest word I knew) 8 miles.

Having parted company, I called into the Moreton hall pub and took this pic of the sun setting.

I've since filtered off, one of my two bottles, of Sloe Gin, and "Pow" it hits you in the face.

More to follow....

No.5

New Year

2009-01-02T21:10:00.003Z

New Years Eve and I finish work at 3pm. I Got home and can't be bothered to go out (totally unlike me !).
So I stay home, with the wife, reading Lee Sharpe's autobiography, that someone had lent to me along with Roy Keane's that I'd already finished, thanks Sue. Anyway I must have read about 80 pages and didn't have a single beer, Seeing the New Year in.
New years day, and I went to my parents in Horringer with my Brother, Sister-in-law and nephew. Bro' and I called in the Six Bells, just after 12pm and sampled some bitters, before returning to theirs for lunch at 1.30pm, of roast pork. After lunch I helped to rebuild a Lego fire station I'd made back in June for my Nephew to play with, that had taken a bit of rough play. We all had some sandwiches for tea, before going home in the evening about 7.30pm. I went to bed about 10pm, as I had to work today, and I still felt bloated from Lunch and tea, it felt good though. My mum does the best roast dinner.

Happy New Year Everyone, for 2009

No.5

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T10:00:00.000Z

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, to family, friends, and blog readers both old and on a new P.C. for the first time.
I hope Father Christmas brought you everything you wanted, and you have a great 2009.
I'm going to bawl now watching Noel's Christmas Present on Sky One.

Best wishes,

No.5

Virtual Shoplifting

2008-12-14T09:53:00.001Z

This is when you load up a shopping cart on a website, then you don't finish check-out, and not pay for anything that you put in it, and log off.
I have noticed with one website (Amazon) it says items will remain in the cart for up to 90 days. Does this possibly mean that the last one (or however many items) could sit on a shelf in a warehouse, gathering dust, until the time runs out or you go back and pay for it ?
This could be like reserving yourself something until you can afford it, if its like one of those "must have" Christmas presents.

No.5

Great weekend....

2008-12-08T21:52:00.001Z

...apart from one thing.
I left work Friday lunchtime, and after a quick pint in the Grapes, I had a bet on a horse for the first time in weeks. It won at 14/1 so my £2 returned £30, nice start to the weekend. Friday night and I had an invite to a party at a friends house, the couple who got married at Smeetham hall in July. They had a lot of drink left over from their wedding, and wanted to use it up, so there I was until midnight.
Saturday I had a couple of lunchtime pints, before returning home to watch Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports 1. Then at 5pm I went off to another friends house (who supports QPR), to see the QPR v Wolverhampton match live on TV. After the game I went into town with the intention of getting a Kebab, but ended up in the Grapes first, listening to the live band that was performing there, before going to Charlie's Kebab shop in St.Andrews street, and then home to bed.
Sunday I again had a couple of very quick pints, before returning home to the disappointment of the weekend. Ipswich losing to Norwich live on Sky Sports, and my phone starts beeping with messages from friends enquiring what the score is, knowing full well what it is.
Monday sees me going to Cambridge and grocery shopping with the wife. Wishing I had the whole week off, and didn't have to go back to work in the morning.

No.5

2008 MLS CUP: New York Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew

2008-11-24T19:50:00.001Z

I follow this team "Columbus Crew" and have a subscription to MLSnet.com for $19.99 a season to be able to see some games live on the internet. Finally I have an alliance to a team thats won something. "The Crew" are "2008 MLS Champions"

15 men went to mow....

2008-11-02T10:51:00.012Z

It should have been 17, but 2 people who had paid for their ticket didn't come. It was the whats becoming annual fixture between Ipswich Town V Queens Park Rangers (until 1 team gets promoted or relegated) where an increasing group of regulars from the Moreton Hall Pub make the journey to Portman Road. Last year it was only 12 in size.

To start the day, and line our stomachs, we had agreed to meet up in the North End Cafe, on St.Andrews Street in Bury St.Edmunds. After a fry up, mug of tea, and a bet on the score on today's game at William Hill, we made our way down to the railway station to catch the train to Ipswich.

Once off the train we made the short walk across the road from the station into the Station Hotel, and I see something new in all the 22 years I've been going into pubs. In front of the curved window is a burger grill and they started cooking in the room, and it stunk. I think I preferred the olden days of cigarette smoke, than grease, in Pubs.

After leaving the Station Hotel, we all went on to the Golden Lion, a Witherspoon's pub (pictured above) in the centre of Ipswich. In a Witherspoon's pub the beer is cheap, and the Golden Lion was no exception. They had some bitters on in a beer festival at £1.69 a pint, and lager from £1.89 a pint, so more than one round was purchased in there. On the way to the ground 3 of us in a round together stopped off at the Black Horse for one more.

If Carlsberg done signs, it'd probably be the best sign in the world !

Of the 17 tickets purchased, 11 of them were for the away section of the ground, as we have a small number of QPR fans in the pub, and hence the reason for the annual trip to this fixture. The away section is pictured here in the far end of the Cobbold stand, from my seat in the North stand.

For as long as I have been going to support Ipswich, the North stand has always been called the same, but a suggestion, on Facebook, has been made that it be changed. Now I would normally be horrified at this apart from the fact the name suggested was the Sir Bobby Robson stand. This I would be happy with as he was the manager who brought us the most success on the football pitch, and went on to achieve so much in the game, a true gent and legend, who is now battling Cancer for the 5th time.

The players of both teams lining up to kick-off the 2nd half of the match (picture taken through the window in the bar in the corner of the North stand). The game ended 2-0 to Ipswich, after 2 second half goals from substitute John Stead. After the game we all met back up in the Golden Lion again, before going back to the station to catch the train back to Bury St.Edmunds, and a final pint and regroup in the MHP before going home.

No.5

Belarus v England

2008-10-15T23:54:00.001+01:00

After work tonight, I got changed and went back into town, to see Belarus v England. I had not made any arrangements to meet anybody I knew, and headed down to the Queens Head public house, in Churchgate street, where I hoped and expected them to have Setanta Sports TV channel, that the game was going to be shown on.

Kick off for the game was 7:30 pm, and I wandered through the front doors of the above mentioned pub at 7:15pm. I couldn't see anyone I knew in there, but got myself a pint, and took up a space at the bar where I had a good view of one of their six(6) flat screen TV's.

I'm more than happy to walk into a bar on my own and not talk to a soul (except for asking for a drink), if that's what I want, but struck up a conversation with a guy called Rob, who's job had brought him to Bury St Edmunds, and who was staying in the Angel Hotel, and had been directed to this pub by the Hotel staff, to see the game.

After a fairly reasonable game in which England won 3-1 with goals from Gerrard and two from Rooney, I made my way to the Angel hill to await my lift home, and took a picture of the Abbey gate illuminated in the darkness as I waited.

No.5

Beefy In Bury

2008-10-13T18:54:00.000+01:00

Sir Ian Botham was in Bury St Edmunds at 10am this morning, on part of his walk to raise money for Leukaemia research.

The walk is Sponsored by Marks and Spencer, and it was outside the store, in the Buttermarket, that the cricketing legend, set off to walk to, and around, Ickworth Park, with members of the Public.

I managed to duck (cricketing term) out of work and get these photo's on my phone during my teabreak.

No.5

How Much ?

2008-10-02T20:18:00.000+01:00

I was asked today "How much would £50 of Euros cost ?"

My Reply was "£50". and I get a blank look.

So I explained to the lady that she would get 60 Euros for her £50.

Anyway she toddles off, and comes back a bit later with her money, and the deals done.

Look out Malta...

No.5

Sloe Gin - Update(1)

2008-09-29T20:26:00.002+01:00

48 hours after bottling and the Liquor is turning Crimson, and all the sugar has dissolved. I have noticed though, that I have a couple of "floaters".

No.5

Home Brewed - Sloe Gin

2008-09-27T17:13:00.002+01:00

On the 20th of February this year, I put a post up about making Sloe Gin. I had noticed in the last few weeks, some Blackthorn bushes on the Moreton Hall estate, during my Bicycle ride to work. So this afternoon I felt the time was right to plunder them for their berries (Sloe's) above Dog leg height, before someone else beat me to them.

Having gathered about a pound in weight, and taking the best of the fruit I could find, I headed home to make my brew. Walking in the opposite direction to me was a couple with empty ice cream containers. Were they after the same thing, or some of the other fruits that grow in the hedgerows in the area ?

Back from foraging, and the three ingredients required. Sloe's, Sugar and Gin.

Time to prick the berries, and this should traditionally be done with a thorn from the bush, but I used a cocktail stick. A time consuming job that takes as long as picking the berries themselves.

Half fill the Gin bottle with berries, then add the Sugar.

Then add the Gin. I Purchased a bottle duty free on the way home from Turkey. Leave a small space in the neck of the bottle, so that you can turn the bottle to dissolve the Sugar, for the first few days. Then store in a cool cupboard for a few months.
Doing it this early can mean its ready for Christmas. Quantities are not essential, and if in doubt keep it simple.

No.5

Holiday

2008-09-21T19:32:00.002+01:00

Friday 5th September, saw my wife and I, flying from Stanstead at 10pm to Olu Deniz - Turkey, with the couple who's wedding we went to, this time last year.

With it pouring with rain, it was with great excitement and joy.

This is what we arrived to. This is taken from one end of the beach at Olu Deniz.

Sunday night saw us attending a Turkish evening, which included this rather talented belly dancer. She did rope a few of us into her routine, me included. Unfortunately I only have this poor quality phone camera photo.

Tuesday we were walking along Fethiye habour and spot these two Pelicans, which didn't mind having their heads stroked. I didn't try in case I ended up on You've been framed.

Fethiye harbour, and we booked up to go on a second boat trip from here, on the following Monday, despite already going on one the forth coming Thursday from Olu Deniz.

Thursday's boat trip from Olu Deniz see's us stopping first at the Butterfly valley. There is a "hippie commune" here and people camp on the beach in tents and shacks.
The boat stops here for one hour, and me and the guy from the other couple, paid five Turkish lira each (approx £2.50) to follow the trail through the valley.
We did see some Butterflies, but they were difficult to photograph.

As we got further along the path we could hear the sound of a waterfall getting closer. It started getting more rocky, and involved scrambling over large boulders. I got under the water and it was a bit cold.
There was a pipe catching the water which carried it all the way down to the commune. The route back involved retracing our steps, and we got back with not much time to spare.

St. Nicholas island and again I scrambled up the rocks to capture some pictures of the ruins of old houses and religious buildings.

The view from near the top looking back at the boat we arrived on, which is the middle one. It has a water flume on it at the front and slides you down through the hull of the boat and out the side of it.

Monday's boat trip from Fethiye See's us stop at this flat island, where you could sit under the canopy and have a pancake cooked fresh for you.

Also on the flat island was a couple of "hubbly bubblies"

Coming back into Fethiye and this is the harbour and apartments overlooking it, seen from the boat.

Wednesday we discover this bar (Tequila bar) that we hadn't been in before, in Olu Deniz, and wish we'd found it sooner. They played mainly rock music, but on the day I took this picture it was Motown night.

In the evening you can sit on the beach, on bean bags or chairs, and watch the sun set. I decided to use the sunset picture to end this post.
But if you read the previous days post you will see a great holiday didn't end with a great journey home.

No.5

Back Home - Eventually

2008-09-20T19:09:00.003+01:00

I flew home from my summer holiday today, having spent 2 weeks in Turkey. We had arranged our trip via Stanstead airport, but about half an hour from landing the Pilot informs all the passengers on the plane, we are landing at Manchester !
So I've had an unplanned coach tour of Moss Side, Birmingham and a service area on the M6, as the driver had to take a compulsory rest break, driving us back to Stanstead, great.

No.5

Blogging Holiday

2008-09-01T19:51:00.003+01:00

I am having a blogging holiday, and will not be posting any new posts on here until about September 20th.You might see me on the Buzz Beach Bar webcam though. in the evening.

No.5

Fish Pond (2)

2008-08-09T23:45:00.000+01:00

I posted this time last year about a friends Fish pond that I was looking after, while he was away on holiday with his family.

Well he's away again this year, for 2 weeks in France, but this time I'm also in charge of watering the flowers and vegetables, feeding the Hamster called sandy and moving the post from the doormat.

On Thursday morning I had a text from him, asking is the house O.k. To which I replied "House fine, Fish fine, Hammy fine" and also "Guess you've heard about St Felix". Back came "What about St Felix". Uh Oh you haven't I take it.

My friends wife is a teacher at the school in Newmarket, that burned down on Tuesday, and I thought that they would have heard about it from her colleagues, but they hadn't. Had I just ruined their holiday ?

I text them a few more details about what had happened, and a picture of Sandy.

No.5

Bike Thefts

2008-08-02T12:05:00.003+01:00

The BFP reported on their website, on 31st July, that 67 Bicycles have been stolen in the past 3 months totaling £12,000 in value, and the mojority of the bikes have not been recovered.

I have been the victim of bike thefts in the past, and I accept I was a bit careless about how the bikes were left.

The first one happened when I was only about 8 years old. I had been given a bright red Raleigh Tomahawk by my parents, for either a birthday or Christmas present. I hadn't had it long and one evening I had left it leaning against the side of our house, in the front garden, and forgotten to put it away in the garage overnight night.
The next morning it was gone, and there was no sign of it around our small village housing estate. My Dad was kind enough to replace my bike but only with an old fashioned one, that had rod brakes, that he had got from Bury market, and had had to put it back together and painted it blue with white mudguards.
The wheel rims were a bit rusty, but it got me back out cycling around with my friends again. At this time some friends were getting racing bikes and Raleigh Grifters, so I did regret losing that Tomahawk, because my blue replacement was just not "cool".

Years later (1999) and I have a mountain bike, which I'd bought about five years previous from Halfords in Bury St.Edmunds, when it used to be where Superdrug is in town now, for £230.
It was about October time and the evenings were dark, and I had left by bike outside the Moreton Hall pub in the afternoon, with a lock just going around the frame and back wheel.
I go to go home just after 6pm, and its gone. I went back in the pub and asked if anyone knew where it was, if it was a prank, but the barmaid told me she'd seen two men putting a bike in the back of their car, as she arrived for her shift at the pub.
She was able to give me a description of the car (not a common one) and the two guys had been wearing jackets with the name of the company they worked for on them.
I reported my loss to the Police (a Policeman came to my house) with all these details, but I thought I would never see the bike again. Anyway I had taken out specific household insurance on the bike, and put in a claim.
About 3 weeks later I get a call from the Police saying that they have recovered the bike, and when I got home with it that night, there is a Cheque from the Insurance company, waiting for me. Dilemma !
I send the Cheque back !

A couple of weeks before Christmas, that same year, I've ridden my bike (that I've just got back) on a Saturday evening down to the Fox in Eastgate Street, when it used to be a proper Pub, to meet a mate.
Now with a new longer thicker lock, I locked the bike to the tressel fence at the back of the pub, that obscures the toilet block, and gone in the pub for a couple of pints.
My mate and I then decided to go on into the town centre, and I left the bike where it was, thinking it was safe enough. We end up going into one of the nightclubs and at 2am I make my way back to the Fox to retrieve my bike, and as you can probably guess, its gone.
There is now a small chunk cut out of the tressel fence where a saw was used to remove the lock from the fence, you can still see it missing today, but its obscured slightly by a honeysuckle plant now.

I had learned my lesson by securing the bike to something, but my bro' winds me up by saying I should have used something better than a Daffodil ! (Ha bloody Ha).
He had borrowed my bike one afternoon, and taken it down Ickworth Park with some other people. They had been doing some jumps and my bro' "got some big air" and came off my bike breaking his collar bone, and spent three months off work.
I'd cycled home from Horringer late one Sunday night on it, from the Six Bells, and I'd gone over the handlebars, outside what is now the Hairdressers in Lawson Place, then the bike went over me. The next day I had a black eye, from where my face hit the ground, luckily it was on the grass !

I reported my loss to the Police again, who don't seem so interested this time, and put in another claim to the Insurance company, glad that I had returned the first cheque I'd received.
The Insurance company had deducted from the value of the bike/claim, what 5 years wear and tear the bike would have received, for the first Claim I made. The second time I claimed they sent the full value (£230).
I'm not sure if they think I'd lost a second, new bike, but my conscience was clear from returning the first Cheque, so I was pleased with the second one, and bought another bike.

No.5

Bury or Bayern

2008-07-28T21:10:00.002+01:00

In the past I've visited Munich and been to the Allianz Arena to see Bayern play. This is a picture of the stadium.

Now look at the building going up in the cattle market development. Have Bury Town F.C. secretly been bought by their own Roman Abramovich and building a new stadium for them ?

View from Kings road in Bury St.Edmunds.

No.5

Smeetham Hall - Wedding

2008-07-20T11:40:00.004+01:00

Last night I went to the wedding of the couple, who's grooms stag day I went on 3 weeks ago at Newmarket.
A courtesy coach had been laid on to take 30+ of us from the local to, Smeetham Hall barn, for the reception, which departed at 7pm.

Smeetham Hall is just the other side of Sudbury, and in the morning I had driven 3 of the guests, who were there for the whole day, over to it. The wedding was performed in the barn (the white building) followed by the meal and evening reception. The barn had a large Marquee attached to the back of it, and the whole organization was very impressive.

This is the bride and groom having the 1st dance

The other end of the barn, and guests, including mufc fanatic, enjoying the music and the all night free bar. All evening there were also waiters bringing round trays of sandwiches, fish 'n' chips and other nibbles.
The whole thing went really well, the food was excellent, and it was a brilliant evening which included a magician doing card tricks and a characterist (dunno if thats right) drawing the guests (I didn't have one done) and a chocolate fountain.
To me the evening went so quickly, before I was being called to get on the coach back to Bury St.Edmunds, just before midnight.

Skimmer's

2008-07-11T20:50:00.001+01:00

I popped down to Sainsbury's this morning to get a newspaper, sandwich, and a marinade for some Chicken I had planned for diner.
Outside the store, on Bedingfield way, was a Police car that had, again, been called to a card skimming device place on one of the cash point machines (aka ATM's).
I hadn't used the machine, although I have in the past, but I do try pulling about any machine I put my card in, before it asks for my PIN.
A member of my family had their card skimmed, at a petrol station in Bury St.Edmunds, and about £1400 was taken from their account in Malaysia. But the bank they were with were superb, and gave them the money back really quickly.

No.5

Want To Test Your Broadband Speed ?

2008-07-05T00:57:00.002+01:00

If you do click here to take you to the BBC website that will give you your download speed. I'm getting on a good day between 4-4.5 mbps.

No.5

My Car Failed Its M.O.T. Test

2008-07-04T14:40:00.000+01:00

I took my car to A.P.T.E.C in Eastgate street again yesterday, for its annual MoT test. I left it with them and wandered into town to do a couple of other things. Any way the phone didn't ring, so as I wandered back to pick the car up I thought everything must be O.K. ...wrong.

"Mr No.5 its Failed" The pound signs start going through my head, how much is this going to cost ? "We couldn't do it for you now, we don't have the part". I start to read the test report "Near side rear shock absorber has a serious fluid leak".

That would explain the patch of fluid on my driveway roughly where that back wheel stops. "We estimate it will be £116.00". Not as bad as I first feared.
So with the MoT running out this coming Tuesday, the cars going back to the nice people there Monday.

No.5

A Small Cough In Scotland

2008-07-02T01:41:00.003+01:00

aka... a wee cough (week off)...its my soh alright. And today (actually it was yesterday now) I decided to make the most of the superb weather and put a pair of shorts on for the first time this summer, exposing my lily white legs. Yes, I've heard it before 1,000,001 times, "you've got a bit of white string hanging from your shorts", but actually for an "athletic" chap I think my legs are my best feature, due to cycling a lot.
So I get to the local at 12:45 ish of a Tuesday, and there isn't a cloud in the sky apart from a aeroplane vapour trail, and I decide to stay put for the afternoon, as I hear the weather is supposed to turn wet, Wednesday/today.
Anyway, for a Tuesday, there was a nice amount of regulars also there, enjoying the sun too, including the Stag from Saturdays day out and his Fiance (who's off to Dublin this weekend on her hen party), and also Jim and his hounds.

Fourteen stone of hounds, between the two of them, seeking some shade.

No.5

Stag Day at Newmarket July Course

2008-06-29T09:55:00.002+01:00

Yesterday about 40 of us went to Newmarket on a Stag day for a friend. This was to be in one of the corporate hospitality suits on the other side of the race course to the grand stand.

After a bacon roll and a pint in the local at 10am we set off, on 2 buses at 11am, for the short journey.

Arrival at the Newmarket July racecourse

The view down the race track as we make our way to our hospitality suite. The red and white disc indicates the finish line.

A bite to eat from the buffet.

Drinks on the decking out the front of the suite, and the stag/bride groom is beside the man in the white shirt.

Down at the on course bookmakers, with the main stand behind, some of our group are in front of the bookies looking for the best price for their chosen horse.

I had 2 winners on the day. Bailey's Cacao in the 2nd race, and Maghya in the 6th. I think this is the 3rd race and my money was on the second placed horse, unfortunately to win.

Some of the guys under the trees, in front of the suite, enjoying some liquid refreshment.

Bus journey back, and chance to reflect on a fantastic day out, and a bit of bad drunken singing.

I ended the day £40 down on what I had taken with me. It would have been a bit less if I hadn't bet, on the Tote, on the last race at Windsor and Newcastle, but I'm certain everybody enjoyed themselves.

No.5

Stag Day

2008-06-27T21:36:00.002+01:00

Tomorrow, Saturday, I'm going to Newmarket with about 40 other males, on a stag day, which involves one of the marquees with free food and drink all afternoon.
The wife has told me to take my pillow, and sleep somewhere else tomorrow night.
Breakfast is at 10am in the local, coach departs at 11am...bring it on, pillow and all !

No.5

Route to work today.

2008-06-19T21:17:00.000+01:00

I didn't have to start work today until 10am, so with the wife back and the camera, I decided to take a few pictures on my way to work.

I swung into the Abbey gardens from the Mustow street entrance, and the groundsmen were busy watering and replacing weak plants.

The Abbey Gate, and overseas tourists were already arriving to look around, hearing their accents.

Angel Hill, and traffic is flowing smoothly.

Norman Tower, with the Cathedral beside it.

Cornhill, town centre, I was in the shade so it doesn't look so bright.

Arc development, and the building goes on and upwards.

No.5

Shell Petrol Deliveries

2008-06-15T19:40:00.002+01:00

There was a petrol delivery today, despite industrial action by Shell drivers, but it was in Lego Land.

I went to my parents (Happy Fathers Day, Dad) and my Brother, Sister-in-law and Nephew were also there for lunch. Recently my father had come across our old Lego in a bag up in the loft, complete with instructions, and brought it down for my Nephew.
After lunch my Nephew didn't get a look in, as my Bro',Sister-in-law and I built the Fire station and Petrol station. The picture is our finished models complete with vehicles.

No.5

Gatwick - I nearly didn't make the A14

2008-06-15T18:32:00.000+01:00

I left the house at 7am to go to Gatwick airport this morning. I drove the road around the Sugar beet factory, down to the Tesco roundabout, to pick up the A14/A11/M11/M25/M23.
On the dualed carriage way (A143) approaching the Tesco's roundabout I pulled into the right lane to turn right. There was a Jaguar car in the left lane, and nothing was coming round the roundabout, but the elderly Jaguar driver decided to turn right, across my bonnet, and go round the roundabout the wrong way towards the off ramp.
I skidded to a halt, avoided any contact and blared the car horn, and he didn't even flinch. It wasn't until a large van came round the roundabout, did he stop and back up.
Was he listening to his Sat Nav telling him to turn right ? Words fail me.

No.5

BBQ and an Early Night

2008-06-14T19:57:00.003+01:00

I have to go to Gatwick Airport in the morning, and this afternoon was a friends BBQ. So I had to bail out early so as to be able to drive in the morning, below the drink/drive limit.
I have had to put £70 of petrol in the car this week. (If your American this is $129.50 @ an exchange rate of $1.85 to £1, to cover approx 500 miles in a 2.2 litre engine car at £1.18/$218.3 a litre of Petrol !).

No.5

I Missed my 1st Birthday

2008-06-12T21:19:00.002+01:00

Sunday 8th of June was, my blogs 1st birthday, and I missed it. I had in mind it was sometime this week.
I just want to take the time to thank everyone, around the world, who has visited in this first year, and hope you keep coming back.

No.5

Film Offers Considered for Rail/Road Trip

2008-06-11T23:18:00.008+01:00

I left work on Monday at 4pm, so that I could get home and get ready to catch an early evening train into Liverpool street London, and then across to a hotel near Heathrow airport, for a sales conference I had been offered the chance to go on, over Tuesday and Wednesday.

So my father kindly gave me a lift to the station at about 5pm to catch the 5:23pm train from Bury St.Edmunds, to Stowmarket, so I could meet a colleague who was getting on the Norwich to London train at Diss. While I waited for the train, my father walked up to the platform with me, and we walked to the far end of the station, and chatted and I listened to his railway stories and reminisces from his Steam engine era, while we enjoyed the sunshine.

The train arrived on time and got me to Stowmarket, where I had about a 15 minute wait for the London train. My colleague had text me to say that they were in the 3rd carriage from the back, and we met up.

The train pulled into Ipswich station, and as we sat waiting, an announcement came over the tannoy that we may be delayed a few minutes. After about 30 minutes we departed and when we got into Colchester came the news that the train was terminating there and going back to Norwich. Due to power cables down between Chelmesford and Shenfield, on the line, great !

So back we go. And we discuss whether to go back and get my car and drive down, just go home, or try going via Cambridge. Via Cambridge turned out not to be an option due to the time element having to go to via Ely ! So we order a Taxi, from on board the train by phone, to meet us and get my car from home.

After needing to fill up with Petrol, which I did at Sainsbury's , we get onto the A14. At the second Newmarket turn-off there are blue and red flashing lights ahead, fantastic, it now looks like the A14 is shut. A container had come off the back of a Lorry after it had jack-knifing.

Luckily, it was possible to get around the recovery by going onto the slip road (off ramp) and then across the chevrons back onto the carriageway.

We finally make it to the Thistle Hotel at about 11:30pm (no sat nav in this car) and I had a quick pint in the bar, before retiring to my room for a shower and sleep.

Tuesdays conference start time is 11am, and we ( my colleague and I) meet for breakfast at 9:30 and sit and watch the planes taking off, after eating.

Some people, after hearing about our journey, seem a bit nervous around us, and our bad luck. Tuesday goes well and we finish the day at 6pm with a meal available at 7:30 for us all. A chap from another office and I, leg it (about a 7 minute walk) to a pub nearby that I spotted, on the way past, the night before.
Back in time for the meal, and later, the 10 people on "our" table, for the conference and the meal, are the only table that has all its guests still around, while other guests had gone to bed, we had such a laugh !
Wednesday, and its an 8:30am start, and the dreaded roll play, pretending to be staff and customers. Lunch, lectures, writing, presentations and video's and a 4:15pm departure, after worthwhile trip.

No.5

"Who Will You Support ?"

2008-06-07T09:20:00.010+01:00

...that's the question being asked by the BBC to get viewers watching the Euro 2008 games, on TV.
As Ipswich don't have any players involved, I had decided, that Turkey would be my Team as I went their last year, and am going again this year, and had a thoroughly nice time.
But then last evening in the local, a sweep stake with a £5 entry was done, and I ended up with Spain. I believe this will pay £50 for the winner and £30 to the losing finalist. So now I have two to follow. (Flippin' English Champagne Charlie's).

I have also staked, at Corals, £2 on an 8 match group stage accumulator, which must be all correct to win, and would pay £723.64

these are

Czech Rep to beat Switzerland - 07/06-------CORRECT
Portugal to beat Turkey - 07/06--------------CORRECT
Croatia to beat Austria - 08/06---------------CORRECT
Portugal to beat Czech Rep - 11/06-----------CORRECT
Turkey to beat Switzerland - 11/06-----------CORRECT
Germany to beat Croatia - 12/06--------------INCORRECT
Portugal to beat Switzerland - 15/06---------INCORRECT
Croatia to beat Poland - 16/06----------------CORRECT

Simon's Cat 'Cat Man Do'

2008-05-31T18:24:00.001+01:00

My cat tends to bite my ear, without claws.

Friday Off

2008-05-31T17:59:00.000+01:00

Yesterday (Friday) I had the day off, another friend had the week off, and the other two in the picture, took the day off, and we went out for a few beers in Bury St.Edmunds town centre starting lunchtime.

We started off in the Regency Hotel, before moving across the road to the Kings Arms, where the picture was taken in the courtyard.

After one in here, we went to the Grapes, and again sat out the back in the courtyard there. After a quick Big Mac at the golden arches, it was the courtyard at the Masons Arms that hosted us next, before moving on to the Queens Head and shooting some pool.
A Taxi back to the local was called for to end an enjoyable day, nice one guys.

No.5

Bank (Blog) Holiday Monday

2008-05-26T16:56:00.003+01:00

I haven't been blogging much lately, mainly because I haven't done much outside of the usual 9 to 5 routine.
I have, this weekend, run the wife down to Gatwick airport, and the rain was horrendous. I'm sure if we'd left the house 10 minutes later, the M25 would have been shut off, as a car had aquaplaned into the central reservation barrier, and was facing the wrong way in the fast lane, and we would have been waiting for the vehicle to be recovered. I heard on the way back that the road had just re-opened at the place of the accident.
Today, Bank holiday Monday, was no different to much of my spare time, as in its spent in my local. Apart from a pleasant chat with fellow blogger, GrumpyOldWoman (who doesn't actually look too old, and had been to Turkey, as did I last year, and do again in September, and her legs were browner than in her photograph, she showed me!).
As I sat with the regulars, a member of staff came across and said, a couple at the end of the bar (from America, who read my blog) would like to meet me. So I went over, and they were from Des Moines in Iowa, and had a nice chat with them for 20 minutes, or so.

No.5

Ipswich Town Shirt for 08/09 revealed

2008-05-20T15:24:00.002+01:00

Ipswich Town F.C. have today unveiled their new shirt sponsor for next season, and not surprisingly it is the company owned by the football club owner Marcus Evans Group. The deal will last 5 years until the summer of 2013.

No.5

Art or Graffiti

2008-05-04T17:15:00.002+01:00

Is this art or graffiti ? This handy-work has appeared in the subway near the the Moreton Hall pub, and I have to say it is very impressive.

When it is a picture like this (as opposed to just a signature (tag)) it is very stunning, and shows the very clever use of the colours used to create it, and the detail (not fish tail).
It generally gets painted out it the subway, but something like this is cheery.
Can it be moderated ? or should it be kept in the youth club ? or, indeed, was it a youth ?

No.5

May Bank Holiday

2008-05-03T17:06:00.003+01:00

May Bank holiday weekend and my wife has gone to London with her friend, who got married in Turkey last year, for two nights. They are going to see the Mama Mia show tonight at the Theatre, and she has the camera, so I hope to get a picture or two.
This gives me a free (long) weekend, and I'll be watching the Ipswich v Hull City game tomorrow which kicks off at 2pm, hoping we can make the play-offs.

No.5