76 Trotters Lane

DR WHO AT 50

"76 Trotters Lane"

The Three Doctors Davidson, Pertwee and Smith AKA William, Paul and Lucie venture out into this cold planet called Glas-gow to seek out Davros, the ringleader of the Daleks.

 Paul in "Pantomime"

William, the quintessential Englishman - Bowls em over

Lucie, Leaving the Tardis

Having successfully guided the tardis into Glas-gows Merchant city, many alien lifeforms were checked. Some had mysteriously taken on the image of Bins and Car Parking meters.

We then took the Tardis and landed right in the midst of a shopping district these Glas-gwegians call "Buchanan Street" There we sought out and fought off some Autons who had taken over the sacred ghouse of "New Look"

 Landing in Buchanan Street (Lucie and William)

 Landing in Buchanan Street (Paul)

Paul fights the Evil Autons

We then temporarily entered the Forbidden planet we we encountered many strange beings including those from the galaxy Star Wars. These were obviously inferior creations and had not even mastered rudimentary time travel. So we moved on, preferring not to extinguish these alien creatures.

Venturing along Buchanan Street, we stumbled upon some University students who interviewed and filmed us as part of their University Project. We were naturally delighted, although the doctor should always maintain a low profile and ensure he is extinguished from Earths historical records.

Finally, we partook of every doctors ultimate adventure and entered the Willow tearooms where we partook of tea, cake and conversaton, reflecting on the day. We never met Davros or any Daleks, theorising they had been visited by the Baker Doctor previously and thrown back to Skaro

The three doctors take Tea

We found this - another hero

France - Holiday 2013 (8 july)

Another hot and sunny day, So we planned that today would be a "long lazy hazy summer day" lazing about in the Gite garden.

And that's what we did.

Little Gecko who lived outside our front door

Early in the morning (well close to 11) we walked to the Gite Garden where the pool is armed with out books, swimming cozzies, magazines, headphones, cold drinks, towels and suncream.

Isn't lounging out in 30 degrees wonderful when you have all that and a cool pool to yourselves?

I was (am) reading The authorised biography of Graham Chapman. I would recommend that you pick it up and learn something of this (at first glance) quintessentially English Monty Python comedian who became more and more flamboyant with fame but still retained a sense of fun without ever being "too stuck up".

The late Graham Chapman

So winding forward, after lunch and a beer and an odd coke, etc...oh yes and dinner, I settled down for a wee while before deciding to use the bikes the owner of the Gite, Jon had kindly left for us to use and that I had used the previous night.

On I got and cycled out the gite gates with my daughter Zoe in tow.

We cycled out through the fields of wheat, vines, sunflower, barley and wheat to arrive at a little grove of trees surrounding a circular pond (with a central island). It made the pond more of a "doughnut" shape.

Golden Pond

We sat down for a while chatting before circling the pond, where there were some local fishermen on the other side.

Pondering at Golden Pond

Weather was superb.

When we arrived back at the gite, we showered and settled in for the night.

Jodie and me (damn bunny ears)

FRANCE - HOLIDAY 2013 (7 July)

Settled into our Gite at last, I woke up to a sore head...I can only put this down to the lack of sleep from the previous few days...travelling, driving on other side of road, etc. Nothing to do with the wine.

Anyway, we woke up to a glorious sunny day. We planned to stay at the Gite today and soak up some rays.

Kids were in the pool early on and I slumbered round with a drink, phone (for music) and a good book. I had picked up a biography of Graham Chapman of Monty Python fame a couple of weeks earlier. so thought it would make interesting holiday reading.

I was soon lying on a lounger in the lovely pool garden, birds singing. a gentle breeze and easily 30 degrees +  today. Sipping cold drings and taking it easy while listening to Jodie and Lucie splashing around in the Pool.

Zoe and I sat for a while chatting about music and we were soon joined by Lucie, Jodie and Angela.

By two o'clock thoughts were turning to lunch, so Zoe and me went off and made a lovely salad consisting of ham, juicy tomatoes, cucumber, french cheese and a traditional baguette.

Soon, I rejoined the book and we all took in more rays  on what was proving to be a lazy hazy day

Thoughts soon turned to dinner and the plan was for pasta salad, but we had mistook gnocci and had bought some tiny potatoes instead, therefore our pasta salad became a potato salad.

The potatoes were lightly boiled and then bathed in melted butter and garlic for 1 minute with some fresh thyme from the garden adding an extra special twist....mmmmm.

This was all added to a salad of peppers, tomato, spring onion, brie, mustard and lettuce with some magnificent local bread and washed down with a lovely cool drink. We had dinner out in the sunnt=y back garden, surrounded by roses in full bloom...magnificent.

Clearing all away quickly, I took the advantage of borrowing a bike from the Gite owner and cycled into the countryside. It was tres formidable. I cycled through field of vines and barley to the vollage of Puy de Notre Dame. We had seen it the evening before in the distance when out walking.

Puy de Notre Dame was a small olde-world place with crumbling buildings but amazingly neat and tidy streets. The big church walls were quite crumbly when I touched them. I think they consisted of limestone.

Church at Puy de Notre Dame

Some information on the region

Street view of the church

After circling and touring the streets on the bike - time to return. Soon I was pedaling out of the small village and back out amongst the vines and fields of the Loire region. Cycling through legions of flys I stoppes alongside a quiet lane to watch the sun as it dipped below a small grove of trees in the distance. It was a lovely sight and it was unexpectedly nice to be on my own, nothing but evening bird song and a gentle breeze as the Sun decended into the grove, casting its orange/gold glow in my direction.

The winding roads of The Loire

More quiet country roads

Sunset

Sunset behind the trees

I was soon cycling again and reached the gite in no-time. I retired with a well deserved cold beer and my feet up on the couch in front of the TV. What a nice way to round off another glorious day.

FRANCE - HOLIDAY 2013 (5 July)

Hooray, at last, it's that time of the year again...holiday time...whoop whoop.

Set out this morning (Friday 5th July) from home at 1am, driving to Liverpool, John Lennon Airport.

A fairly uneventful journey despite the growing tiredness that almost surpassed me a couple of times.

Reminds me, I tried that "Red Bull" or an ALDI supermarket cheaper derivitive. Gave me wings for about 10 minutes before reentering land of the slumbering driver.

We made it to Liverpool at approx 4:30am and were greeted by an elderly scouse gentleman who parked up our can and took our cases etc over to the Airport Shuttle Bus.

The park was about a mile away and we disembarked right next to a yellow submarine (Beatles and John Lennon influence there)...still will be easy to remember where we will be collected on the return.

Into the airport we went, threw our bags at the easyjet rep...I have to say easyjet have been more professional than I last remember them and efficient too.

Had a sit down and a crappy snooze for 2 hours on an airport seat then went to our gate to embark on the plane.

Waiting on a Jet Plane

Allocated rows 21a-f, we set off and landed at a cloudy Nantes approx 1 hour later.

On achieving the impossible (retrieving our bags with no delay) we went to the Alamo desk for our car and were given the keys to a Mondeo...actually ok but still warm from its last user.

I sat for half an hour like a novice at the controls of a Jumbo jet, bemused by the gear stick on the right and the drivers seat where the passenger should be. Zoe and me caffuffled the sat-nav for ages, wondering what was a street and a postcode and deciphoring French like it would ancient Greek.

We eventually punched in the coordinates and set for the off. Sortie in French means exit, however in this instance it was exit via a carwash...strange...could we be wrong....well we went through and soon were on the open road...nails chewed to the qwik.

Have you driven abroad? its daunting at first, but you soon grasp it and the lady on the sat nav kept us right.

We travelled and stopped after about 40 miles at a large Carrefour Supermarket at the town of Cholet for some provisions and had lunch at a place called frunched...some French chain of restaurants.

Sun was out now an 24 degrees - wooooo.

We set off again and eventually made it to Doue la fontaine and the hotel Auberge de la Rose.

View from Hotel Balcony

We are staying in the hotel for one night as our Gite only becomes ready on Saturday at 4:00pm...so a longish day tomorrow.

Dinner in the hotel was tres superbe...I had a pate starter as did zoe, the kids had a half canteloupe melon with cous cous and Angela a salad. This was followed by a selection of steak, chicken and fish and cheese, ice cream, creme brulee and rasperry soufle.

Jodie tucks in

Ohhh and there was red wine too, a local speciality from Saumar.

Afterwards we went for a walk.

Took an attratcive picture of the Planet Venus. Spotted some Bats flying overhead.

Venus over Doue-La-Fontain

Back for bed and another day tomorrow.

THE STONE ROSES - GLASGOW GREEN

THE STONE ROSES - GLASGOW GREEN

15th June 2013

Planned months in advance, my daughter Zoe and myself were thrilled when the day came to watch the great and reunited Stone Roses play their anticipated gig at Glasgow Green.

Having left at 11am, we parked at Woodside Crescent, and walked along Sauchiehall street. We stopped of for Lunch at a local noodle bar before slowly sauntering through the carefree Saturday shoppers.

As we trudged along Buchanan Street and into Argyle Street, the number of bucket hats and Hunter Wellies grew as we neared the Saltmarket, by which time there were multitudes of them.

Zoe stopped off en-route to buy two bucket hats and insisted I should wear one - what the hell - I was in the spirit so did what I was told.

Entering the Green, we were greeted by the sweet smell of smouldering weed which had grown to an industrial output as we neared the entrance.

Here and there, groups were assembled, dodging the June showers to picnic on the grass along with messr's Tennents, Stella and Budweiser.

Getting as far as we could go, we were fourth from the front of the temporary turnstiles approximately one hour before the 4pm opening. Time passed slowly and the throng of sweet weed mingled in the air to the tune of various Roses songs. It grew louder as 4pm approached.

4pm arrived, The gates to the park were now opening to the crowd, however we were still held at bay while security performed their last checks. Suddenly the first fans were through and Zoe and myself were eager to get to the gates but had to be patient as tickets were scanned.

When we reached the gates, Zoe and I linked arms and ran at a speed that Usain Bolt would have been proud of. There ahead of us lay the large stage on which the bands would perform. As we ran, hundreds and thousands ran too, however we were near the front and our distance got us to the stage first (I like to think it was our speed and agility). We were suddenly inside the central arena (one of only 700) and when in we ran to the stage to gain a front of pitch stand.

As we stood there, it rained but soon went off and onto the stage came the first act, "The View". It was busy and their performance was moderately good. Next was Jake Bugg. I had personally anticipated that he would be the worse act (not really knowing his stuff) however I actually enjoyed his throaty trip through electronic and acoustic guitaring and the sway between rock and somewhat country style music. I might be tempted to investigate him further.

The penultimate act was "Primal Scream". I have followed them for years and by now the crowd was building up an appetite for the roses. Their gig passed with some of the old favourites and some stuff from their new album. Soon they had left stage and things were being prepared for the Roses.

The change in set was awesome with lights being assembled, sound systems being checked and a throng of people on stage carrying out sound checks, etc.

Just before the gig, a torrential rain shower drenched the whole park. People all around were being soaked to the skin but...hey who cared. 5 minutes before the Roses entrance, the sun came out and a rainbow stretched from the stage to the end of the park like a promise of something good to follow. The rain went off and 9pm had arrived.

Boy, it did not disappoint.

The crowd (50,000 strong) were by now surging in anticipation and suddenly on came a lone piper to various Scottish folk songs. Then, at last, to the cheers of thousands, the main act, The stone Roses came on stage, greeting the piper and their adoring fans. Ian Brown being very noticable in his Canary Yellow hoody style cagoule.

Quickly they broke into "I wanna be adored" and the crowd went completely ecstatic. Smoke streamers went off left and right of us, bottles threw through the air, the crowd lept to their feet in full  voice and the party started. At one point as I looked back into the crowd, bottles and people were flying like Salmon swimmimg up a river.

Early into their act, a fan surfed the crowd and made it over the barrier, only to be huckled away by security. The funny thing, just like the Roses, he too made a second coming and surfed in again 10 minutes later, gesturing (nicely I add) to Ian Brown who gestured "respect" right back.

The whole night rocked, the weed and drink flowed, the crowd were on cloud nine, I was happy, Zoe was happy. It Rocked.

Towards the end Ian Brown exited the stage and greeted his fans. Zoe even got to touch this prodical son (I dont think she has yet washed her hands).

Soon it was over (I counted 18 songs), the four band members greeted the crowd and left the stage.

Time to go. The exit was not as timely as the entrance but we left to the streets so full of fans as to stop the traffic.

Zoe and I walked towards woodlands, stopping halfway for a bite to eat where we exchanged the thoughts that would soon be memories.

A trully great gig, a fantastic act. At 50, they still have it. Heres looking forward to seeing them again.

Here's my youtube link to the gig, where you can watch them perform fools gold and you can see the surfer who was good enough to surf in twice (respect):

Youtube - Stone Roses perform Fools Gold

Paul Clark: Rocket Competition

Paul Clark: Rocket Competition: NORTH LANARKSHIRE ROCKET COMPETITION 29th & 30th May 2013 Golfhill Primary School, Ballochney Street, Airdrie In association with ...

Rocket Competition

NORTH LANARKSHIRE ROCKET COMPETITION

29th & 30th May 2013

Golfhill Primary School, Ballochney Street, Airdrie

In association with the Galilean Society and for the eighth year running, the North Lanarkshire Inter School Rocket Competition will be held as shown above.

The competition engages Primary 7 children into the science of Astronomy and Engineering and allows them to build a proper water rocket (Aquajet) from basic materials and turn them into something that will easily fly for several hundred feet.

To build such a rocket, you will need:

1. A 2 Litre carbonated drink bottle (must have held a carbonated drink).
2. 1 sheet of  A3 Thick paper / Light card.
3. Scissors.
4. Sticky Tape.
5. 3 or 4, 2 pence pieces.
6. A few old carrier bags.
7. Pens and paint (to decorate).

To fly a rocket, you will need:

1. A footpump (or even better a compresser).
2. Water.
3. Rocket Launcher.
4. Waterproof clothes

So if interested, please come along and see how its done for yourself by contacting me direct...Loads of fun.