Friday 20 November, 2009.

The River Severn is rising. It's been gradually doing so for the past two weeks. Wales has been getting lots of heavy rain and, according to David who walks along this stretch most days, the river has risen about five feet in two or three weeks.
The Council have been doing some small-scale footpath improvements which are already under threat of innundation.

The forecast for this weekend is for more rain (especially in Wales). It will be interesting to see how high the River will be next week. May not be able to stand here at all. And it's only November.

Saturday 7th November, 2009.

This is Birmingham's Town Hall. Since it was built back in the day many great events have taken place within its imposing walls. Political speeches, union rallies, and so on. But every time we walk past it we think of the great rock concerts that have been held there.

So,

'Eye-on Maaaaan', anybody?

Or, what about, 'Fer-rye-daye-night in Birmingham' (well, this was taken on a Saturday evening, but you get the drift)?

Two rawk references. Double points for the second one.

We could have addeda third: 'Oh Kingdom of Madness' but didn't.

Wednesday 4th November, 2009: an apology.

Howard and Vicky have both given David a severe telling-off for using the wrong photo for our visit to Pat and Graham's on Saturday.

Found bang to rights, David could only utter something about 'thumbnails' and 'failing eyesight' as a defence.

Pathetic!

Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November 2009

It's a weekend of cat sitting in Burbage and volunteering at the Evesham Cat's Protection for us. Let no-one say we are not gluttons for punishment. Here we've made the short drive from Burbage to Pat and Graham's and Vicky and Pat are enjoying a spring-like autumnal English garden. Don't worry, winter's on it's way.


Back in Burbage we find that Bob and Sue's Sky TV control won't work.

X Factor's on in a minute!

We suspect Jemma with a 'J' knows something. But, of course, she's not saying.

Worcestershire Grasstrack Club, Sunday 18th October, 2009.

It's hard to believe, but Cladswell Hall Farm is even colder than Silverstone. And there's no grandstands to shelter in here.

This chap's got the right idea for combating the cold. Pin the throttle open and ride like b*ugg*ry and get back to the warmth of his van asap.

Of course, this policy can end in tears and you can fall flat on yer face (don't worry, he got up to ride again). We'll say nowt about the marshal puffing on a fag.

Oi, gerrouttatheway! I'm trying to get back to me van asap!

Some competitors refuse to take the sport seriously. They wear understated garb and, if we're not mistaken, they leave several whole centimetres of their sidecar uncovered by any form of sticker.

Come on guys. Get it sorted.

Historic Sports Car Club, Silverstone, Saturday 17th October, 2009.

We might as well call this blog 'A Tribute to the Lola T330/332 F5000' and have done with it. There were loads of other wonderful cars to gawp at but, when it comes down to it, this is David's all-time favourite single-seater and it reminds him of when he first rode to Silverstone on his trusty Honda SL 125 in 1973/'74 to watch these beasts race, so let's indulge him. On a good day, and in certain conditions (a touch of rain always helped) they could beat the F1 cars of the day.

This is the cockpit. No namby-pamby paddles or digital displays back then. Men were men and wimmin (and they were called 'wimmin' back then) were glad of it.

An iconic engine if ever there was one. Look at it. It's crying out 'boot it, boot it, I can take it!'

Here's one being thrashed down a straight. Unfortunately, this blog doesn't do sound effects. Shame.

Of course, even better than these b*gg*rs, back in the early '70's, was the fact that some drivers (some of whom were very possibly not completely sane) bought a second hand F5000 rolling chassis, took off the single-seater body work and replaced it with a flared-arched saloon car body. Some they called 'Big Bertha', some looked like a Capri (sort of), one was bright yellow and had a Skoda body (yes really). All were called 'Super Saloons'. Not like the anodyne British Touring Cars of today. Whatever happened to those? We demand that the Historic Sports Car Club finds out and brings them back. Now!

There were other cars there. Of course there were. And here's the one that captured Vicky's heart. Amazingly, it's not red and doesn't have a prancing horse badge on the bonnet. Whatever next?

After the meeting we met up with Sue and Billy for a meal and a natter. Here Susan, who had been to Northampton Town's game earlier, has recruited David and Billy to help her vividly explain to Vicky the moment when The Mighty Cobblers stalwart defenders formed a wall to prevent the

dirty cheatin' Red Imps of Lincoln City getting a totally undeserved and definitely against the run of play last minute equaliser.

Blimey, thinks Sue, if these two bang on about how cold it was at Silverstone this afternoon one more time I swear I won't be able to keep my eyes open.

But it was, Sue. It was bl**dy cold!

Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October, 2009.

Some of you may know that we went to Bristol on this particular weekend to see Porcupine Tree at the Colston Hall. Very good it was too.

We took the compact and took a total of two photos whilst we strolled around the city centre.

This one is of Bristol on the Saturday afternoon.................


.................and this one is of Bristol on a Sunday morning.

Makes you wanna go, eh?