Goodwood revival 2014

Well, another Revival has drawn to a close. This is my 16th revival and it still enthuses me in the way the first one did!! The period atmosphere, clothes, music, cars, bikes, and general ephemera all combine to ignite a heady toxic wave of nostalgia...Mmmm,,,just lovely!

This year had many specific tributes, Jackie Stewart, the World of Vintage Maserati, and D Type Jags However, the most moving and poignant was the tribute to the role RAF Westhampnet  played in the air defence of the UK during WW2. A eulogy by Lord March and a parade of 100 WW2 vehicles and 400 personnel made for a cracking spectacle!!

The Goodwood Revival,with its trade mark attention to detail, authenticity and style, always delivers....... Long may that continue!

Venice

I never tire of Venice - with its intoxicating charm, its ability to exude beauty in decay and its unique haunting atmosphere. A City with a remarkable history that survives and revolves around and on the water, from the Grand Canal out onto the Lagoon.

Early mornings are best for tourist free wonderings, late evenings for eating, drinking and strolling. There are many sights, sounds and smells, but for me, two of the best, are the fish market -Pescheria and the vegetable and fruit market Erberia - operating out of the rear of the Rialto with their heavily laded barges unloading their wares early in the morning -  an activity that hasn't changed in centuries

People watching is also a must - stop for coffee just abut anywhere and well....... watch!!!!

Mille Miglia 2014

What a Week!!!!!!

Just back from what Enzo Ferrari called "the worlds most beautiful road race" Everything about 2014`s Mille Miglia was just perfect! - cars, drivers, organisation and above all... the weather - the complete opposite to 2013

This annual visit to the Brescia Motor Clubs most prestigious event is, for me, probably the most exciting and anticipated motor event of the year - second only to the Goodwood Revival. The usual number of famous faces were taking part including Brian Johnson (AC\DC), Jeremy Irons, Jodie Kidd, Jochen Mass, Bruno Senna, Martin Brundle.

However perhaps more importantly, there are  hundreds of individuals, many family members - fathers, sons, brothers, sisters, mothers, daughters who take on the Mille Miglia simply because of its history, its beauty and above all....their passion........and you can`t get better than that!!!

The winning car this year was a Lancia, driven of course, by an Italian pairing.

If you have never been to MM or are perhaps thinking about going ........don't dawdle .....get on and organise it!!!!!

Hello - I`m back!!!

Hello Everyone,

I`ve been absent for a while - after all that building work, Christmas and New Year I needed a break - but now I`m refreshed and ready to go - so watch this space over the next week!!

The Build Week 10 - The Finale!!

Well here we are, albeit very late we have week 10!!

When I last spoke to you we had a hole in the electrical ring main, second fix plumbing to complete and the worktop was about to come through the door!

Gareth fixed the ring main and left a nice little bill for the fitters, Malcolm finished the second fix – nice! - and the worktop went down well, mind you, the two chaps lifting the pieces of granite out of the van and into the kitchen looked more like weight lifters, tight large belts wrapped around the waist, powder on their hands and the pre-requisite body build!

Next, enter Gary our painter. He does/did a great job – as always. Loves white coffee (I say white because even after him working for us for over 15 years I still forget the milk!!!) and a chin wag – there’s always something going on in Gary’s life!!

How many grandchildren have you got now Joe, Gary asks, Four I say, the youngest being just 10 months – do they visit often Gary asks, yes quite often I reply - best have Dulux Endurance on those kitchen walls then says Gary – tougher than tough!!..............how right he was!!

Now that it’s all done, it does (even if I say so myself) look pretty good. It’s a relatively small space but makes a HUGE difference to us and I hope to those who visit us.

The whole project has been fun and a great learning experience for a novice building project manager – for what its worth, here are some items from my yet to be published “Little Book of Little Building Project Management” (they say it`ll never sell?!?!)

• Get as many of your chums as possible to help with demolition
• Always make sure one of hem looks like a YMCA member
• Never light a fire when the roofer is using a blow torch
• Always provide spectacles for your digger driver (in case he’s unable see bright blue water pipes)
• Make sure you can get EASY access to your mains water valve in the street
• If not, have a heavy hammer close by so that you can smash the cast iron cover
• Make sure you know where the valve is in the first place
• Never let you chum repair circular saws
• Stay on good terms with the building inspector by smiling lots, never disagreeing, let him walk in with muddy shoes, and pretend you know what he is talking about
• Tell kitchen fitters where the NO GO areas are in terms of electrical cables
• Hire grab lorries rather than skips – much cheaper
• Choose a builder with a flexible approach because YOU WILL change your mind lots!
• Order industrial quantities of tea!!


One foot note - Brock House has, however, despite all my best efforts become a shed again!! – will I ever get a space of my own I ask ….oh well better build another extension

See you all next time!!

The Build - Week 9

Well, we are very nearly there. Last week saw guttering and down pipes put up and then .......the soak away - a monumental hole in the ground ridiculously wide and deep (7 ft deep and 3 ft square) I know we are a wet country but really!!!! then its filled with rubble and finished off with some of the soil that came out of the hole - where is the rest of it going I hear you say.......good question I respond!!

Kitchen is nearly in - just waiting for a few bits that disappeared in transit between the order being made and the kit leaving the warehouse?????

Electricians arrived yesterday to complete second fix (for my readers in the US - Hello Carol! that means fitting plugs, switches etc)

All went well until time for testing......why is there a break in the ring main asked Gareth - search me said Pete - I’ll have a closer look said Gareth - bu**er he said the kitchen fitter as put a fixing bolt through the ring main!!!

Right said Joe have to take the cupboard down - (you know the rest of the song) - call out to fitters - awaiting reply.........

Second fix plumbing going well - hope I haven’t jinxed that one now!!!

Granite worktop being fitted this morning - what can go wrong with that.........??

All in all it’s not been a bad build with just a few niggles and snags - talking of which - SNAGGING - that’s the next job...

Let you know how that went next week!

The Build - Week 8

Week 8 and we are continue to gallop ahead!! - Phil has been here for the past 4 days and completed tiling the floor - the door in the dining room is in as are all the windows. Phew.....turn that heating down Karen!!- the draughts from the make shift plastic have now gone!

Its all begining to look habitable now.

We are still performing culinary delights with the microwave (art art form in itself!), washing up in the utility sink and occasionally find ourselves singing campfire songs!!

So....floors get sealed tomorrow, second fix plumbing and electrics start on Thursday morning, kitchen arrives on Thursday afternoon and gets installed on Monday and after that, the decorating starts - now comes the tricky bit......COLOURS!!!!!!

Outside, the soak away needs to be constructed (2 mtre hole filled with rubble and stuff) drain pipes and guttering to be put up, and a bit of hard landscaping to do ahead of the winter.

I`m not sure I really I want this to end - its becoming quite addictive - should I become a property developer?........I dont think so!

Be back in a week........