Random Stuff!

[TheLocalYokel]

Anyone else got a bucket list done or still to be forfilled?

I don't think we have one per se. There are always other places we'd like to visit around the world. Perhaps Norway might be the easiest to reach once this dratted virus shows us its retreating hind quarters.

Every year we say we must go to Norway but always end up going to other places.

When I read that you are going to see Queen I though for a moment that you had secured an audience with HM.

 

[JENNYJET]

I dream of retirement to Norway, the bit by the Russian border far away from the political correctness that UK is embracing! Nice and remote and a Husky for company.

 

[rollo]

We've been to Norway a couple of times beautiful place visited Bergen, Aleusand and some fjords.
We spoke to some locals and asked them what they do in the winter--- short answer was hibernate or go to the Canaries.

Local Yokel - I'm afraid HM was booked out but I may get a birthday card in the improbable event of me hanging on another thirty odd years
although personally I prefer a couple of hours of the group than 30 seconds with HM.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Anyone else got a bucket list done or still to be forfilled?

Norway is definitely on mine.

I've always wanted to visit to South Africa with a tour of the wine regions and obviously a safari. Everyone I know who has been has absolutely raved about it.

Attending an Ashes series match in Australia. The MCG would be spectacular but I'd happily take any of the venues.

Musically I'd love to see The Rolling Stones live but I doubt that one will happen.

I've never really had any desire to visit the USA but if I did I'd love to drive the original Route 66.

 

[HPsauce]

Sad day for British Airways today. Just watching last 2 B747's about to land at Kemble and St Athan respectively. The end of an era. Shame we didn't see them at BHX very often!!. I rest my case.

 

[rollo]

Mr Finkle.

Safari first the them lions can be dangerous then the wine bit, also a test match in Cape Town under table top mountain wouldnt be bad and brilliant sea front for evening meals apparently never been myself.

 

[Vile8er]

Mr Finkle.

Safari first the them lions can be dangerous then the wine bit, also a test match in Cape Town under table top mountain wouldnt be bad and brilliant sea front for evening meals apparently never been myself.

I have and it's a brilliant place to visit. No cricket when I was there though.

 

[JENNYJET]

There was a time when going to South Africa was frowned upon, as was most of Eastern Europe. I wanted to visit East Germany, and other places behind the Iron Curtain because it was a challenge and being watched by the Stasi or others of the dark arts interested me because it was different to the usual Med beaches.

If anyone does not know what I am talking about, the film Funeral in Berlin will enlighten.

 

[Ray Finkle]

also a test match in Cape Town under table top mountain wouldnt be bad and brilliant sea front for evening meals apparently never been myself.

Now you're talking

I've been chatting to Mrs F about this and she's getting rather concerned about the amount of cricket that seems to be involved in these trips. A tour of the wine regions seems to have saved the day though

Dinner on the sea front with a crisp South African wine, now you're talking my language

 

[thunderchild]

I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights, sadly the closest I’ve ever come was when our plane parked up next to the special Icelandair 757 at BHX!

Machu Picchu is another one.

 

[JENNYJET]

I was never one of those people that found shopping a must do on a holiday. Even at the airport, I avoided shops as it wasted spotting time before boarding. I would much prefer a sedentary activity like the long excursions or indeed a cricket match.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Now you're talking

I've been chatting to Mrs F about this and she's getting rather concerned about the amount of cricket that seems to be involved in these trips. A tour of the wine regions seems to have saved the day though

Dinner on the sea front with a crisp South African wine, now you're talking my language

Fortunately Mrs Yokel is a cricket fan and we've visited the MCG twice on our Oz visits. It's a wonderful stadium. We've been there for a Sheffield Shield game to watch Victoria against Western Australia when fewer than 1,000 spectators were present, and for a World Cup quarter-final between India and Bangladesh when 60,000 mainly fanatical Indian fans made for an unforgettable, joyous occasion with an Indian win the icing on the cake for them. We were sitting amongst them and became honorary Indian supporters for the day. We've never been there when an Ashes series has been on though.

Mrs Yokel is also partial to a drop of wine so we've managed to make quite a number of wine trips in various Oz states. We became very friendly with the president of the Victoria Wine Guild and his wife who live near our daughter and her family on the Great Ocean Road which was extremely fortuitous.

South Africa sounds a fantastic experience. I always think of the Blue Train when anyone mentions visiting that country.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I was never one of those people that found shopping a must do on a holiday. Even at the airport, I avoided shops as it wasted spotting time before boarding. I would much prefer a sedentary activity like the long excursions or indeed a cricket match.

You would get on well with Mrs Yokel. She doesn't like shopping. Neither do I but we seem to manage.

 

[JENNYJET]

Personally, I would clean out the toilet instead of shopping. I do all mine online now.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Personally, I would clean out the toilet instead of shopping. I do all mine online now.

I presume you are referring to online shopping and not online toilet cleaning - hey, you could make a fortune if you found a way to do that!!

 

[JENNYJET]

The idea of a virtual toilet? Nah! I like to do a job well. A certain satisfaction usually follows in a glass, nice!

I note the grammatical nausea of my previous entry, It is happening too often.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Great to see that Jeff Lynne has been awarded an OBE in the Queens Birthday Honours list - thoroughly deserved!

I remember E.L.O. Discovery was the first album that I ever bought. I was aged about 15 and had gone with my Dad to Makro (we had a shop, so qualified for a membership card). Having some pocket money, I went to look at the records and stood for ages with 'Discovery' in one hand and Squeeze 'Cool for Cats' in the other. I finally went for Discovery and have loved what E.L.O. and Jeff Lynne have done since (I also quite like Squeeze). I remember playing the album over and over, with headphones on whilst my family were watching the TV.

Congratulations Jeff !

Kevin

 

[JENNYJET]

Speaking of ELO, can anyone confirm that a Canadian was a part of the band, either as performer or as backstage support? I ask because I had a peripatetic teacher of brass instruments when at school. I was principal trumpet and had a desire to take up French Horn and this chap came along to instruct on the instrument and claimed membership of ELO!

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Speaking of ELO, can anyone confirm that a Canadian was a part of the band, either as performer or as backstage support? I ask because I had a peripatetic teacher of brass instruments when at school. I was principal trumpet and had a desire to take up French Horn and this chap came along to instruct on the instrument and claimed membership of ELO!

Hi Jenny

I think it will be very difficult to identify the musician, especially without a name. I'm not sure whether the Orchestra were a permanent part of E.L.O., or just contracted for a particular tour/album. The album sleeves only ever listed the band members, with an acknowledgement of the Orchestra.
The E.L.O. Wikipedia site only lists the permanent members of the band -

Electric Light Orchestra - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

On a side note, when I was working in the Med Chem labs at the University of Nottingham we had frequent need for a glass blower for specialist glassware. Unfortunately, the University made their glass blower redundant so we had to source equipment externally. On visiting one glass blower for a quote, we went into his office and there on the wall was a 1:1 scale French Horn which he had blown out of glass. It was absolutely amazing and a great example of his skill.

Kevin

 

[JENNYJET]

Thanks Kevin, it was a shot in the dark as it was 1975. As for the glass horn, it would be unplayable as it would shatter from the vibration and frequency of the notes attempted. Easier to play a vacuum cleaner!