SteveO

I didn't get my haggis on Burns Night this year, but instead found that our local pub was serving it last Friday lunchtime and had some there. It came as a main course accompanied by swede and potato mash and gravy. Not quite the traditional method of serving that you would get in Scotland, but a tasty and satisfying meal and a snip at £3.95. Washed down by a couple of pints of Whitstable Bay Pale Ale and followed by an afternoon nap, it was a damned near perfect lunch. Steve

The most unusual "rum" I ever tried was a concoction sold in Newfoundland, that went by the name of "Screech" - so called because this is the noise you make after drinking it neat. Back in the days of our forefathers, the Newfies used to export salt cod to the West Indies. As a return cargo they brought barrels of "no-name" rum, which was bottled locally in Newfie. Before you drank "Screech", you had to go through a kind of initiation ceremony, of which I have only hazy memories, but I seem to recall that it involved drinking rather a lot of said rum and I have vague memories of being asked to kiss a fish at some point in the proceedings. The drink accompanied other local delicacies, such as seal flipper pie, fried cod's tongues and a very heavy pudding called figgy duff. As I say, I don't know much about it, but I have got a certificate somewhere to prove it. Great place, Newfie! Steve

Lovely day down in SE Kent today. Had a long walk on the seafront this afternoon, watching the sea anglers. Saw a couple of decent fish caught too. Steve

Having seen that, and as an ex resident of Halifax and Skipton, I want to come back! Steve

Too true, too true, and Common Sense was never particularly common. Steve

Careful where you wear those sweat-shirts. You might end up being strung up. Steve

No snow down here yet. Steve

Well I, for one, am becoming very tired of all the political shenanigans. Britain's Magical Litterland isn't the only show in town and I am half - convinced to sell up and move to waters that might actually welcome my presence. Rapidly becoming disenchanted. Steve

I'd no idea that the Indian space programme was so advanced. Steve

For me, the best pantomimes should have something for everyone. Spectacle, a story for the kids and subtle doubles entendres and jokes for the adults who have to be there. As for writing to the theatre, good luck with that. My wife took her grandson to our local theatre to watch "The Gruffalo's child". The production was rubbish, the kids in the audience were bored and playing in the aisles and the costumes and set design very poor. Mrs O wrote to the theatre and received a reply to the effect that this was drama, and she would not understand. Steve

This is one of my favourite tributes to God's own county: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4sZSWtTg54 Steve

Another good thing about the A12/A14/A140 route is that if, on the return journey, there is a problem on the eastbound M25 or at the junction between the A12 and said Motorway, you can get off the A12 at Junction 17, take the A130 East and then join the M25 via the A13, which brings you out very close to the Dartford Bridge. This alternative route has stood us in good stead on many occasions. One of the factors that, for me, counts against the M11 is that I don't know any alternative routes, should the motorway be congested or blocked. Can anyone out there enlighten me? Steve

It could be my failing memory, but In my day I think they would have been draped all over the boats in their little bikinis. The 1970's were a different country. That ugly git on the last slide was a bit of a shock to the eyes. Steve

Got mine last year. Next pumpout is free Steve

The only thing I lament is that my "old" route fell nicely into 3 sections: M20 to bottom of A12, A12 to A140 and A140 to Horning. There was a "natural" stop at the bottom of the A140, which consists of a run-down Burger King/Little Chef at Beacon Hill services (bottom of A140) and an excellent chippy at Long Stratton. Opportunities for refreshment, fluid in/out and changes of driver seem pretty thin on the ground on the A11/M11 route. Not a great problem though, if it is quicker. Steve

We returned from our flying visit to Norfolk this afternoon and "road tested" the newly dualled A11 on the way back. The road is fantastic and it was great to fly past those spots that were previously potential sources of delay. The new Dartford Crossing arrangements also worked well and we were able to get back in 3 hours and 10 minutes without breaking any speed limits. Our previous best journey time was 3 hrs 15. Steve

We have attended this for the last 2 years and enjoyed both events. Easy for us cos we moor in the village. Steve

Tripe 'n' onions! Luxury! we had to make do wi't watter that t'tripe were boiled in. Steve

The experiences related above, remind me why I left the AA 30 odd years ago. I have been with GEM ever since and have had to call on their services on several occasions over the years. Always quick to arrive, always courteous, always got me moving again, or took the car and/or me home or to a garage, whatever was necessary - sometimes at very odd hours. The difference is that they use local garages to do what is needed, so you tend to get a quick response. You pay up front, but claim back the cost. I have never had to wait more than 5 days for cheque and they have always paid out in full and have looked after me very well over the years. The trouble with vehicle rescue, like any kind of insurance, is that you only find out how good it is when you have to claim on it Steve

We will be taking it easy, having a small drink tonight, ever mindful that we have a long drive from Kent to Yorkshire tomorrow. Steve

Our guests departed yesterday and we've got our house back to "normal" now. The worst symptoms of the "manflubola" have subsided and I'm no longer feeling quite so sorry for myself, especially after the curry that Mrs O cooked this afternoon. Our planned trip to visit family in Yorkshire, with a return detour via the Broads on Saturday/Sunday is now back on. Yay! Happy New Year everybody! Steve

We will be travelling back from Norfolk on Sunday. With the A11 improvements and the "streamlining" of the Dartford crossing, I am expecting great things. Will report back. On the subject of speeding, I came to the conclusion a while ago that, with traffic levels as they are, there is no point in trying to get there than the road will let you. That said, I do get impatient with the (usually) old f*rts who proceed at 25 in a 30 mile limit and 30 in a 40 zone, especially when there is nowhere safe to overtake them. Steve

True to form, I succumbed to the "manflubola" that my daughter and grandson so thoughtfully brought with them. The symptoms proper started yesterday with a dry chesty cough, then I woke up this morning to the mother of all sore throats and painful sinusitis. As I write, I am now fully medicated with paracetamol and sudafed, which seem to be holding the worst of it at bay. We had planned to travel up to Yorkshire on New Years Day to visit my family and then swing back via Norfolk to check up on our boat on the way home. However, my parents are elderly and my brother in law is diabetic and laid low by minor infections, so I fear that our plans may have been Kyboshed. Steve

We bought some suet-based pellets which have bits of fruit and mealworm in them. The great thing is that the birds love them - mainly blue tits and robins, but also green, gold and bullfinches, so we are seeing lots of colourful visitors. The even better news is that our large and pestilential grey squirrel population doesn't seem to be interested in them at all. Steve

We used to love the boat show in the days when it was held in Earl's Court. My dad used to drive us down from Yorkshire in his mini van, back in the 60's. . We would set off very early in the morning, park up somewhere near the end of the Northern Line and then proceed to the show via a circuitous tube journey, arriving between 10 and 11 am. We would typically stay until around 6 pm, before journeying back into central London, laden with leaflets and good ideas, for a meal and then the long drive home, arriving at around 1pm. Now, living 50 or so miles from the present venue, I could be wrong but I don't think I would bother to go, based on the reports I have heard on the show, as presently constituted. Steve