13/01/2010 by Russell.

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09/01/2010 by Russell.

Went out on my travels again, the roads were very dicey, even in town, had to dig the car out first.

Obviously I upset Emily again, about looking at these postings on the web, childish, but not much to ask for? can’t help but nag unnecessarily ie take some interest in what her Dad does. Am trying my level best to get more interaction from her, but if she’s not willing to at least have a surf even when a link is sent…. then I have no answer.  I know facebook, social networks and friends are far more important, but why do I have to live at the bottom of the pecking order?  Also Telegraph leads today on A level tariff’s going up at the Universities, I hope Emily takes heed.

Looking to Ivinghoe Beacon, from the Ridgeway

The path ahead

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07/01/2010 by Russell.

Out and about, it is great for photography…

Style by the canal

Bridge over untroubled water

Weeping Willows in the park, love thelight on thes branches

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06/01/2010 by Russell.

This is a view of the world around us in Herts/Bucks today

The Car…

On the roads…

The Grand Union canal

Grand Union, Berkhamsted

Here is Baxter…

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23/12/2009 by Russell.

‘Let it Snow…Let is snow..’ is the line from the song and boy did it snow Monday afternoon.

Emily, Greg and I had a lovely shopping day in Milton Keynes, all under cover, no worries of the weather, we left to get a frame from IKEA about 4ish.  leaving IKEA an hour later, a few snow flurries appeared, and thought nothing of it since travelling at rush hour, plenty of traffic, no worries………….

By the time we reached Dunstable, it was settling and it was a slower pace of 20mph.  And we ploughed on up the hills to Tring, which we liked so much, we decided to take it steady and take in the Christmas snowscape.  We waited patiently, and moved and waited all the while the snow lay deep and crisp and uneven.  Wilst we slewed to the Total petrol station in Tring, one kind gentleman asked me to pull over so he could park outside his house, queues of traffic in each direction, numpty! we had already crashed into a kerb by this stage in Dunstable.

Well we waited and waited (hour and a half later) then we made our move, being kindness itself we let a Vauxhall (front wheel drive) out from the petrol station, bloody numpty number 2, he came to a standstill at the r-about, when we we cruising nicely…20 mins later after pushing him up the hill to Tesco’s it was my turn.

Out Emily & Greg went into the snowstrom, push and push with others, and I was off, I ain’t stopping - see ya! Santa’s sleigh ain’t seen anything like it - Emily and Greg chasing after me…once on the flat I went back to help others, but once we were on the flat, we saw a huge queue of cars in the opposite direction, amazing for a slight incline in normal conditions suddenly becomes the North Face of the Eiger.  Cars all over the place.  We stopped to help a car up the hill, the next car in line to tackle the hill (well more like anthill) was a Z4, uhm I knew he wasn’t going to make it, my rear wheel drive was suffering, so I knew what was in store for him.  Oh dear!

We abandoned the Merc on the high street and walked 5 mins to the sanctuary of tv and jacket potatoes. 3 hours later, for a journey of 50 mins
Sadly there was one person who I know would have loved it, my Dad.  He and I have great memories of snowy escapades, Wingerworth 1967, Lavender Hill, handbrake turns in a van, Chesterfield to Manchester 1981, such fun…where are you Dad? I hope you are smiling up there!

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19/12/2009 by Russell.

Well I never, I make contact with Sir Geoff Cathey, only to be shortly contacted afterwards by another old tutor Steve Hodgson (Sports Tutor, Tupton Hall). When it rains it pours.  What wonderful surprise number 2. He is well and he too is looking to retirement, I canna believe it.  He is still in the Nottinghamshire area working in sports.  However, this set of communication is not without sadness.  Jenny Irwin (form tutor 6th form and Tupton Hall tutor) has sadly died, she only retired Summer 2008.  I wrote her a letter upon her retirment addressed to her at Tupton, however, it never crossed my mind she had moved on to another School.

On a personal note, she was my form tutor in the 6th form and was a good cookie, she also passed a few secrets on to me about my status in the school amongst the females! lah de dah.  She also organised trips to see the Harlem Globetrotters, which myself and friends had the plaeasure of going to see.  As we left Wembley, we were racially attacked by a set f black lads, all hell kicked off in the car park, in her calm manner Jenny went to confront the troublemakers.   Sadly she will be missed by all who came into contact with her, my only disappontment I should have had another go to contact her, so readers do not put off today - you may miss an opportunity, and of course the funeral had to be Friday at Bretby Crematorium, Burton on Trent, when we had 6″ of snow.

I am still housebound, packed ice on the roads and I can’t move the car…it is very slippy untilyou can get to the main highway.

Christmas Scenes:

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08/02/2009 by Russell.

Pics from Blackberry walking to the theatre.

What a week, Monday 2nd Feb - snow - and more snow and College closed, no matter I was off to Berlin with the management students. Erm think again.  My colleague braved the elements to go to Watford and collect the travel docs and then take me and two students to Luton Airport.  Roads weren’t too bad (despite the histeria over gritting), we had our moments but sure enough Luton was where we were headed and Luton airport was under snow.  So much for contacting the airline operator, but no worries this is Britain, this is the country which is dogged in its determination to overcome adversity, well not quite at Luton, our 17.40 flight was still up on the board as ‘departure’ amongst all the red cancelled flights.  Copius coffee was quaffed and we settled down to be called. I discovered at 5ish that the flight was cancelled, well not according to the easyjet desk..it was green for go! and minutes later the departure board confirmed this - flight to depart at 7pm…..we waited…we waited, yup - cancelled. What a farce, it was evident to every pseudo Michael Fish, Rob McElwee, Alex Deakin  that there was no chance for a take off.  We all trudged away, knowing that we will have to come back another day….

Tuesday - College closed, worked on my dads estate and watched tv

Wednesday - work - and the BA revalidation

Thursday, more snow, no way would my car be safe, Nick spent two hours in a jam, Rob had a walk round and said there was no traffic up Nashleigh Hill, that was good enough for me, stay indoors! College closed at 3pm.

Friday, even more snow, College closed - off to the Library and still no phone or Internet. Had a walk to the shops.

Saturday - icy weather, had a great walk to the theatre to see my centre forward -Ben Standish - in his latest am dram production, ‘All Shook Up’ with Greg.  Good show, some great singing of Elvis songs and Ben was seen kissing the girls, well done that man! not sure what his mum thought though.

Sunday - shall I risk the car Forecast - guess? snow tonight.  Australia - heatwave and bush fires, in 40 degrees heat, nowhere is safe from mother nature.  The first time I haven’t sledged or built a snowman : (  - kids did.

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23/12/2008 by Russell.

On the downhill slope to Christmas now, goose defrosted, ice cream in the freezer and presents under the tree? what’s missing?

What else could there be?

Food, nah? drink nah? snow? -wouldn’t be amiss,  Morecambe and Wise- ah bless those days eh?, health? nah! - something with a little je ne se quois - well yes…that little extra..

Where is it? what is it? - a little something from the Adirondacks would go down a treat……..

Source:http://www.outdoorbound.com/images/photos/Adirondacks_Winter_Weekend_Getaway.jpg

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