With the ongoing problems with vacuum cleaners we could well do without another of our appliances joining the unreliable club, but only a couple of weeks after the vacuum, followed by the computer, broke down, our cooker has now followed suit.
All seemed normal when the roasting tin was put into the oven for the fat to melt this morning, but when the potatoes which had been put into the fat to roast were taken out raw, and we discovered there was no heat in the oven even though it was switched on and the fan was working (it is a fan oven) it was not cooking anything.
So we are now spending tomorrow morning waiting for someone to come out and repair it.
Monday, 19 January 2009
Thursday, 15 January 2009
TV's latest canine is not cute or cuddly!
Pablo in a scene from the advert
The usual TV canine is a cute and appealing creature - think "Lassie", "Benji" or "Littlest Hobo" and you see what I mean. Now, the latest TV canine is a puppet corpse which is here to show the horrors of cocaine.
Pablo the Drug Mule Dog appeared on UK screens at the end of last year, and already has made an impact on discussion forums and on Facebook, where he has his own rapidly-growing fan base.
Pablo is not cute, nor is he cuddly, but if he manages to turn people away from the horrors of drugs then he will be worth everything!
Watch the Pablo videos below (please note these videos are not suitable for young children).
To read more about the anti drug campaign click here.
Just for a change - Belgium by ferry
Sorry for the late arrival of this post, as my computer developed a boot problem and was away for eight days being fixed.
We went to Belgium for Christmas, as usual, but this time we were going by sea. We sailed from Hull overnight to Zeebrugge. It was good fun, but not as good as the plane!
The weather in Belgium was very cold, but we had some great food (including very nice chips and a Chinese Christmas dinner).
To see the pics from the trip click here.
I don't know when I'll see my beloved Belgium again.
We went to Belgium for Christmas, as usual, but this time we were going by sea. We sailed from Hull overnight to Zeebrugge. It was good fun, but not as good as the plane!
The weather in Belgium was very cold, but we had some great food (including very nice chips and a Chinese Christmas dinner).
To see the pics from the trip click here.
I don't know when I'll see my beloved Belgium again.
Friday, 2 January 2009
More on domestic appliances, with reference to vacuum cleaners!
A post in April told of how we never have any luck with vacuum cleaners. Now that story is about to be updated.
The vacuum cleaner referred to in that post was discarded in late June, and replaced by a Black and Decker cylinder type. This one was bagless, which was an advantage in that you never had to scour the shops looking for bags which were the right shape and size, and also it was light to pull along and it had a powerful suck.
Yesterday, 1st January 2009, this once-reliable cleaner gave up the ghost, it just stopped working when I was almost at the end of the daily vacuum in the flat.
Thinking it might have been caused by overheating due to a full dust bowl and filter, I cleaned it out. Still no luck. The I replaced the fuse in the plug and tried again. Still nothing.
So today this cleaner is going back to the shop to be replaced by another one which, hopefully, will last longer than a few months!
The vacuum cleaner referred to in that post was discarded in late June, and replaced by a Black and Decker cylinder type. This one was bagless, which was an advantage in that you never had to scour the shops looking for bags which were the right shape and size, and also it was light to pull along and it had a powerful suck.
Yesterday, 1st January 2009, this once-reliable cleaner gave up the ghost, it just stopped working when I was almost at the end of the daily vacuum in the flat.
Thinking it might have been caused by overheating due to a full dust bowl and filter, I cleaned it out. Still no luck. The I replaced the fuse in the plug and tried again. Still nothing.
So today this cleaner is going back to the shop to be replaced by another one which, hopefully, will last longer than a few months!
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Seamer Road Mere to be ruined
Those who have read my blog from the beginning may remember this post about a pleasant Sunday afternoon walk to Seamer Road Mere in Scarborough.
I have a big soft spot for the Mere, its wildlife is better than Peasholm Park, its waters are cleaner than the dank pools at Peasholm and it is not infested with feral pigeons and grey squirrels, unlike Peasholm.
Now, Scarborough Borough Council have announced plans to "regenerate" the area, so you can guarantee it will no longer be a peaceful haven for wildlife!
The plans include a surf or ski dome or a water park, a hotel, a visitor centre, "eco huts" and provision for cyclists.
Now, as everyone who is familiar with the idiots who ride cycles round Scarborough will know, they regard the pavements as their own personal racing tracks, so this arrogant, smug attitude will soon be apparent at our beloved Mere. On a brighter note, they could always position the cycle tracks across the local quick sands!
Read about this potential environmental desecration here.
I have a big soft spot for the Mere, its wildlife is better than Peasholm Park, its waters are cleaner than the dank pools at Peasholm and it is not infested with feral pigeons and grey squirrels, unlike Peasholm.
Now, Scarborough Borough Council have announced plans to "regenerate" the area, so you can guarantee it will no longer be a peaceful haven for wildlife!
The plans include a surf or ski dome or a water park, a hotel, a visitor centre, "eco huts" and provision for cyclists.
Now, as everyone who is familiar with the idiots who ride cycles round Scarborough will know, they regard the pavements as their own personal racing tracks, so this arrogant, smug attitude will soon be apparent at our beloved Mere. On a brighter note, they could always position the cycle tracks across the local quick sands!
Read about this potential environmental desecration here.
Saturday, 13 December 2008
Reading
Over the past few weeks I have been reading some of the books written by Joyce Stranger, who wrote some brilliant animal stories.
The first Joyce Stranger book I read was "Kym" about a Siamese cat, and after reading that I would buy any Joyce Stranger book I saw in the shops, so I had quite a good selection. One of my favourites is "Casey" about a farm kitten which makes friends with a bull.
However, the books I have read recently have all centred around the Lakes. The first one, about a sheepdog which is born wild and then becomes tame and devoted to a small boy was called "Rex".
The last one I read was "The Running Foxes" which is set in the same Lakes village as "Rex" and features some of the same characters.
Tonight I will be starting "Lakeland Vet" which, again, is set in the Lakes village. This will be the book I take on holiday with me when we go to Belgium for Christmas.
The first Joyce Stranger book I read was "Kym" about a Siamese cat, and after reading that I would buy any Joyce Stranger book I saw in the shops, so I had quite a good selection. One of my favourites is "Casey" about a farm kitten which makes friends with a bull.
However, the books I have read recently have all centred around the Lakes. The first one, about a sheepdog which is born wild and then becomes tame and devoted to a small boy was called "Rex".
The last one I read was "The Running Foxes" which is set in the same Lakes village as "Rex" and features some of the same characters.
Tonight I will be starting "Lakeland Vet" which, again, is set in the Lakes village. This will be the book I take on holiday with me when we go to Belgium for Christmas.
Friday, 12 December 2008
Long tailed tits
For the past couple of weeks, the tree outside our flat window has been a feeding ground for a flock of long tailed tits.
We have had the pleasure of seeing these acrobatic little birds flying from branch to branch in search of insects, and the fact that they keep returning means that there must be plenty of insect life in that tree!
That is one advantage of watching birds in winter - it is easier to see them when the leaves have gone from the trees. They seem to come most in the early morning and towards dusk, around 3:30 pm.
We also get other types of tit on the trees, and sometimes goldfinches. We will be putting some food out to try and ensure that none of our smaller feathered friends starve this winter.
More on the long tailed tit here.
We have had the pleasure of seeing these acrobatic little birds flying from branch to branch in search of insects, and the fact that they keep returning means that there must be plenty of insect life in that tree!
That is one advantage of watching birds in winter - it is easier to see them when the leaves have gone from the trees. They seem to come most in the early morning and towards dusk, around 3:30 pm.
We also get other types of tit on the trees, and sometimes goldfinches. We will be putting some food out to try and ensure that none of our smaller feathered friends starve this winter.
More on the long tailed tit here.
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